Saturday, June 29, 2013
Loss and Grieving
On June 21, CBTC lost a friend, brother, father, uncle, and board member. Jesse Ben passed away after a long illness. Please pray for the CBTC family as we process. I am grateful that I had the chance to know you, Jesse. Your soft spoken nature and gentle manner was so appreciated. I'll miss seeing you at the office drinking coffee and enjoying conversation with Leonard.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Summer Intern
Jill is from Lubbock, TX and she is interested in missions and Anthropology. .
Jill's task this summer is going to be work with mother tongue speakers to record children's Bible stories and create a DVD. Also, she will also being doing interviews and participating in community activities.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Abby's Learning Adventure: Making, Marketing, and Selling Artwork
About six weeks ago I went with my friend Lily to Jackson, MS to drop off some of her watercolor paintings at a gallery in Fondren. Lily is a very talented artist who paints portraits and animals using watercolors. As we were driving back, Lily and I discussed the challenges of making art, finding venues to sell it, and finding a niche market.
Shortly after that trip, we began a creative journey. Like most things, it's been a learning experience for me!
I'd like to share some things I've learned!
Make the most of social media, like Facebook. I got a free e-book from Amazon. It's written for publishers, however the principles are applicable to independent artists. "Social Media Marketing for Publishers" by Liz Murray is available for download
First, find a niche market. Lily's experience at the gallery showed me that you need to find the right venue to reach the right folks. The gallery in Fondren wasn't ideal for a number of reasons. The ladies at Magnolias and Sassafras are WONDERFUL! They asked for pencil drawings (from me) because they wanted to feature a variety of mediums. This is a deciding factor in my subject choice. The niche market of M & S is things made in Mississippi. Lily has watercolor pictures on display. For both of us, this gallery is a good fit!
The second thing I've been working on is a Facebook page for my artwork. (I titled it Abigail Farmer Artwork.) I uploaded photos of my artwork. Admittedly, it would be better to scan and upload them. Also, some of my photos of framed pictures are crooked and there's reflection off the glass. I invited my friends and family members to "like" my page. I joined the group Mississippi Artists to connect with similar folks. Finally, I offered a set of note cards in a drawing for people from Mississippi Artists who "liked" my page.
I set up a free online gallery at FoundMyself.com. I'm still learning about this interactive artists website!
Marketing. This is a hard one for me because I'm not a natural salesperson. I'm an introvert. And I'm sensitive. Knowing this about myself - that putting myself out there is out my comfort zone - has been important! Artists, musicians and other creative types will appreciate this. It takes a great deal of courage to put something so intimate as your artwork (or music, or stories) on display for others to criticize. Because, no matter what others say, it's personal. I know that I have more confidence in myself now than I did as an undergraduate art student. I know that the things I create are my best and I'm always challenging myself. My value as an artist is from know I've exceeded my own expectations, but this has to be balanced with a bit of humility and the ability to filter input from others. I place a lot more value on input from others who understand the creative process. Finding the right venue with friendly and helpful ladies was so important for me and my personality.
Subject matter. What do people in your niche market want? What are they buying? This is another careful balancing act. I have asked my Choctaw friends what they like. The answers are different from what my White friends like. Asking and listening gives great insight. This way you can choose subject matter to meet the market need.
Do you criticize your audience because they're not responding? Be careful here - not everyone is going to like your stuff. Not everyone understands the ups and downs of the creative process. Offer people grace. Be mature enough to move on if folks aren't interested. As Lily says, "There's a chair for every behind." There's folks there who will understand your work and appreciate it. There's a place where you'll find a natural fit. Be encouraged and persevere!
Next steps?
I'm making sure to respond to requests, questions and comments in a timely manner. I make sure to follow-up quickly with commissions.
I'll be sharing more in the future about this process. Thanks for your support!
Shortly after that trip, we began a creative journey. Like most things, it's been a learning experience for me!
I'd like to share some things I've learned!
Make the most of social media, like Facebook. I got a free e-book from Amazon. It's written for publishers, however the principles are applicable to independent artists. "Social Media Marketing for Publishers" by Liz Murray is available for download
First, find a niche market. Lily's experience at the gallery showed me that you need to find the right venue to reach the right folks. The gallery in Fondren wasn't ideal for a number of reasons. The ladies at Magnolias and Sassafras are WONDERFUL! They asked for pencil drawings (from me) because they wanted to feature a variety of mediums. This is a deciding factor in my subject choice. The niche market of M & S is things made in Mississippi. Lily has watercolor pictures on display. For both of us, this gallery is a good fit!
The second thing I've been working on is a Facebook page for my artwork. (I titled it Abigail Farmer Artwork.) I uploaded photos of my artwork. Admittedly, it would be better to scan and upload them. Also, some of my photos of framed pictures are crooked and there's reflection off the glass. I invited my friends and family members to "like" my page. I joined the group Mississippi Artists to connect with similar folks. Finally, I offered a set of note cards in a drawing for people from Mississippi Artists who "liked" my page.
I set up a free online gallery at FoundMyself.com. I'm still learning about this interactive artists website!
Marketing. This is a hard one for me because I'm not a natural salesperson. I'm an introvert. And I'm sensitive. Knowing this about myself - that putting myself out there is out my comfort zone - has been important! Artists, musicians and other creative types will appreciate this. It takes a great deal of courage to put something so intimate as your artwork (or music, or stories) on display for others to criticize. Because, no matter what others say, it's personal. I know that I have more confidence in myself now than I did as an undergraduate art student. I know that the things I create are my best and I'm always challenging myself. My value as an artist is from know I've exceeded my own expectations, but this has to be balanced with a bit of humility and the ability to filter input from others. I place a lot more value on input from others who understand the creative process. Finding the right venue with friendly and helpful ladies was so important for me and my personality.
Subject matter. What do people in your niche market want? What are they buying? This is another careful balancing act. I have asked my Choctaw friends what they like. The answers are different from what my White friends like. Asking and listening gives great insight. This way you can choose subject matter to meet the market need.
Do you criticize your audience because they're not responding? Be careful here - not everyone is going to like your stuff. Not everyone understands the ups and downs of the creative process. Offer people grace. Be mature enough to move on if folks aren't interested. As Lily says, "There's a chair for every behind." There's folks there who will understand your work and appreciate it. There's a place where you'll find a natural fit. Be encouraged and persevere!
Next steps?
I'm making sure to respond to requests, questions and comments in a timely manner. I make sure to follow-up quickly with commissions.
I'll be sharing more in the future about this process. Thanks for your support!
Monday, May 20, 2013
Gallery update
Two more of my drawings are at Magnolias and Sassafras in Philadelphia, MS.
They are located on the square and will soon be in a new store. The drawings are in frames and are featured in the gallery.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
The past two weeks have been rough. I had a bout with anxiety that kept me from really functioning. It's happened a few times before - during my last months in Ukarumpa, after my first year of graduate school, and in 2011 when I crash landed in Dallas on medical leave.
What is it like to have an anxiety attack? Imagine that you are afraid of something that you cannot see, you can only feel. Imagine that your world shrinks down to feelings of loneliness and helplessness.
Then, imagine that you slowly start feeling like yourself again.
I am grateful for my counselor, Cindy, and my Mom for helping me to work through each day and see things for what they are.
I've been thinking about the Prayer of St. Francis.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
An instrument is a tool that is used for a specific purpose. When we ask God to use us, we must put aside certain comforts and be prepared to make sacrifices. We have to "get out of His way" and realize that we our His vessel.
God calls us to love one another. The command is so simple, but is the hardest thing to do. Love one another? Love, when we don't feel like loving? I'm still wrapping my mind around this.
How can I be an "instrument of God's peace" today? I can offer words of encouragement and kindness. I can offer people the "benefit of the doubt." I can make the world a kinder place to live.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
The past two weeks have been rough. I had a bout with anxiety that kept me from really functioning. It's happened a few times before - during my last months in Ukarumpa, after my first year of graduate school, and in 2011 when I crash landed in Dallas on medical leave.
What is it like to have an anxiety attack? Imagine that you are afraid of something that you cannot see, you can only feel. Imagine that your world shrinks down to feelings of loneliness and helplessness.
Then, imagine that you slowly start feeling like yourself again.
I am grateful for my counselor, Cindy, and my Mom for helping me to work through each day and see things for what they are.
I've been thinking about the Prayer of St. Francis.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
An instrument is a tool that is used for a specific purpose. When we ask God to use us, we must put aside certain comforts and be prepared to make sacrifices. We have to "get out of His way" and realize that we our His vessel.
God calls us to love one another. The command is so simple, but is the hardest thing to do. Love one another? Love, when we don't feel like loving? I'm still wrapping my mind around this.
How can I be an "instrument of God's peace" today? I can offer words of encouragement and kindness. I can offer people the "benefit of the doubt." I can make the world a kinder place to live.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)