Web Hosting

This week I almost jumped into a webhosting site to get myself going with a real website. I've been looking at inmotionhosting.com, and artspan.com. I emailed a techie friend for his opinion and he's suggested being part of some education and rural business grants that would provide free technological assistance, free server, domain and hosting for a year. Of course he wrote the grants and needs participants! I am trying to decide whether I'm ready to go ahead on my own, or wait for all the red tape and get the FREE assistance. It would probably mean at least a year wait while students are trained, participants screened, and paperwork completed. In a lot of areas, I'm currently more technology savvy than the students who would be helping me! But, my participation would help out the students, too.

Meanwhile, my weekly blogposting has fallen behind due to a big weekend trip to Kearney/Lincoln and a pretty nasty virus that has me dripping and moving slowly. I spent 3 hours in Lincoln's Hobby Lobby and got some really great frames in their 80% off clearance aisle. I worked on 2 miniature collages while in the hotel, watching PBS's birthday tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. They are not done, but showing potential...one is shown here (4"x 6"). My mother did the scherenschnitte for some Christmas packaging several years ago!

Free Notecards...Happy Valentine's Day

The morning has been spent reading several art blogs and being inspired by other artists. I've followed EmptyEasel.com for several months and enjoyed the interview with editor Dan Duhrkoop found in a link there. Yesterday's EE post mentioned an Austrailian artist who has some really great, intelligent discussions of art. I recommend his February 2nd post with pictures showing his portraiture method: http://paulwruiz.wordpress.com From all this information, I am encouraged to keep going (persevere) and to expand my online presence. As a part of that effort, I will send 3 blank notecards/envelopes printed with my artwork to anyone who comments on this blog post, then emails me with their snail-mail address (if your are sure I know your slow address, a comment is good enough!) . That's free!...no shipping and handling! Have a happy, happy Valentine's Day!

PERSEVERANCE- scary step toward goals

Nearly a month ago, I talked about writing down goals. Now, after lots of procrastination and lack-of-commitment issues, I am ready to take the scary step of stating my art related goals here, and thus being held accountable to whomever reads this post (and to myself). So, with a nod to Christine Kane, I state my theme word for the year: PERSEVERANCE--the act of persevering; continued, patient effort. Last summer I found Therese May in Alyson Stanfield's Get Organized class. Therese writes a daily blog with quilt images and inspirations based on single words. Her post on perseverance states, "I never give up! I love being an artist and doing art, making things and sharing them with others. I work at marketing my art by asking for shows, applying for grants. I sell my art. I exhibit the work....I keep on keeping on."

And now for goals towards this theme:
1) Post on this blog at least once a week.
2) Add 15 followers to blog.
3) Add 100 to mailing list.
4) Enter and get accepted to National Collage Society Show.
5) Sell $2000 of art--will need to MAKE MORE ART!, find venues, explore PayPal.
6) Renew website and make it an official .com thing.
7) get tax number, instead of sharing husband's.
8) Submit for NE Arts Council Governor's Mansion Show.
9) connect with other artists at least 5 days/week through Internet, guilds, classes.
10) Give back to community without compromising sense of self-worth (limit donations of art, time, expertise or teaching to 4 worthy causes.)

There. I'm committed. Please encourage me to persevere!