Category: Maven Bootcamp

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Not Quite Really Spring

Just as I was prepared to take the snow image off of this blog, I woke up this morning and lifted the blinds only to see snow flying yet again…and accumulating, though as the day wears on and the temp slowly rises, it’s muddy slush now. Whew, that was a mouthful! Sorry. Guess I find myself in a reflective mood, writing is almost as soothing painting. I’ll get to that shortly too. In the mean time, for those of you who are my students…or will be, I’m wondering something. My DVD, “How to Paint a Poppy That POPS” is selling, albeit not as quickly as I hoped. I’m hoping that you’ll post some comments here so that I can figure out what you would like me to do next. Is the DVD too specific for you? Would a more general painting or drawing lesson be better? I have all kinds of ideas, and I’ll likely make some new videos that are short lessons in both…and post them here so you can watch them FREE. Before I figure how to do that (make the camera watch me paint) I’d really like to know what you’d like to learn? Some options are: Learning to draw what you see…not what you think you see; How to let the paint lead you on Yupo paper; Painting a floral in two minutes or less on Yupo paper; Painting watercolor on Canvas; Fun painting with stuff from your kitchen. I could keep going… but I’d like to hear from you.

On other matters, I got the schedule for Angel Fire Mountain Theatre from TTU last night. It is now up at www.angelfiretheatre.org/Season_XII.html

It looks like a great line up. We’re also moving full steam ahead with the 27th Annual Angel Fire ArtsFest. The show is full and we have artists coming from literally all over the country! This small but rich show just keeps getting better every year. Check out www.morenovalleyarts.org/ArtsFest.html for more information about that. Artists: mark your calendars for January 15th and head to that page to download the application for next year. We don’t mail them anymore…too expensive. Shoot me an email from the site above to be added to the email list for notification.

In the meantime I’m still up to my ears in homework and assignments for the now infamous Maven Bootcamp I attended in Orlando. I can hardly believe it’s been nearly two months. Maybe that’s because I barely get one assignment done before the next one comes down the pike! Talk about intense! At least it keeps me distracted during the long quiet days at the gallery this time of year.

Oh, yeah….video! Need to get that done too! That’s fun for sure! I think I’ll shoot Jacqui’s work next. It’s nice and bright, with a bit of mystical whimsy. It’ll look good on camera, I think.

In the meantime…..post your comments! I want to hear from you. Like that old movie..don’t even recall the name of it…..”input needed!”

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Having fun

I know it’s been a few days since I was here. Had to be out of town for a couple days and then there is always the catch up from that. Got back on Thursday afternoon just in time for a Chamber Board Meeting and then spent Friday preparing for my Fourth Friday Reception. Whee! Passed myself coming and going!

This is Sunday, my day off, and I’m having fun. I was building a new web site for the Northeast New Mexico Arts Alliance that will become the primary site for disseminating information about the upcoming Art Trail that you may have read about. I don’t remember if I wrote about it here or not, but our press releases were picked up by the Raton Range and the Sangre de Cristo Chronicle.
Anyhoo….I got the website essentially built and then started learning about how to use Google Maps. Way Cool! and so very easy to learn! Wahoo! Check it out at www.nenmarts.org
and be sure to click on the tab that says “3Ts Art Trail with clickable map” It’s too cool!

Now that the trail is moving ahead (almost taking on a life of its own) I’m breathing easier. If you are an artist, artspace or gallery along the trail, be sure to download the application after reading the eligibility requirements. Get those applications completed and in as soon as possible! We’d like to be ready to work on promotional materials for approved sites by May 30! (yes, this year.) I know it’s a tight time frame, but required for our start up funding.

So, did I say I’m breathing easier? That was dumb. I’m still up to my ears in the Maven bootcamp materials and now I’m trying to digest Butterfly Marketing all at the same time. Have I lost it? Not likely. Just madly driven. I’m learning so much it makes me hungry for more! Education is a good thing! (too bad I didn’t figure that out in school!)

So, the next video I’ll do (I hope tomorrow) will feature the work of Jacqui Binford-Bell. A local to this lovely valley and a huge support to me, Jacqui is a fabulously creative lady. I’ve talked before about her masks (from which she retired, but I still have a handfull) and her new bright and somewhat mystical paintings. They are getting better all the time. I think you’ll enjoy seeing it so I’ll try and keep the camera still!

The snow is melting here, and the spring winds have returned. I’ve still got 4 feet or so of snow outside my living room window, along the north side of the house. As it slowly melts I’m optimistic about a plethera of columbine waiting to sprout underneath it. Take a look at this pic taken in January. Now you can see that it will take some time and warm temps to melt this pile of snow!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Introducing Danny Stewart’s Jewelry

I told you, I’m having crazy fun with this! Here is #2:

So, yes, I fully intend to do this for each of the artists in my gallery. And keep in mind, that is something that changes regularly, so this could go for a long time. This week, as an example, one artist left, and I added a new one. Why does an artist leave the gallery? Most of the time it’s due to the fact that the work just isn’t selling…meaning it’s just not quite right for my current market. Bear in mind, the market also changes, as the tastes, desires and needs of the market fluctuate. Staying in tune with that requires an ongoing investment in understand my clients and customers. I want and to be able to understand what you are looking for, even when you may not know. Understanding human nature, and what effects us can only come from a heartfelt thirst to experience and share in the community. Careful understanding of who I am, what’s in me and what effects me is a core part of that. If I don’t know who I am, how can I possible come to know who you are and fully enter into that relationship? It’s an ever emerging process and experience.

One thing I came away from the conference (New Beginnings. LIVE! with Rich Schefren) with is the realization that I don’t have to wait till I’m perfect to enter in. In fact, I can’t, since that won’t happen in my life time. Gary Vaynerchuk (www.winelibrary.com guru) said it best. Know who you are, then be there, just as you are, zits and all. (paraphrase, but you get the idea). Thanks, Gary. I never would have tried the video thing if he hadn’t gotten that through my extraordinarily thick head. Passion is great, but it’s nothing without embracing the whole.

I am still so blown away by that conference and the intense work I’ve been doing as a result. It’s real. Paradigm shifting, life altering. If you haven’t figured out what I’ve been talking about for the last month yet, click here to read about it.

As I close this post, let me extend the invitation again…Please comment. I’m not writing a diatribe. I want to hear from you!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Cool new tools

Hey, Fun and cool stuff. Check out these cool new tools! http://www.360desktop.com/ This is an awesome tool. If that doesn’t do it for you see this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_ncr1Ee9e8 Looks like the perfect thing to solve the “what file did I put that in? Where did I put those business cards? What was that URL? I can hardly wait!

Looks to me like everyone who’s anyone is at SXSW in Austin this weekend. I didn’t even know about it (how can that be? I haven’t exactly had my head in the sand). I’ve been following the tweets (www.twitter.com) of Rich Schefren and Gary Vaynerchuk ( winelibrarytv.com) and am determined to get there next time around. In the meantime I’m still working through the 100 page business growth strategy template I came with from the Maven Bootcamp. Not easy, believe me, but worth every moment of effort.

On local matters, we have a new Mayor and Village Council in Angel Fire! Wahoo! Landslide Larry (Leahy) will be sworn in tomorrow, as will Stuart Hamilton, Deb May, and Leahy appointed Al Lott. It’s not lost on me that Larry, Stuart and Deb all campaigned on a ‘Unite Angel Fire’ platform. Voters made it clear that this agenda superseded even the lunar landscape roads around the village. Clearly, the attitude is that if we’re working together those seemingly insurmountable issues will be manageable. While I couldn’t vote (I don’t own property in Angel Fire, just a business) I wholeheartedly support this and am excited about the future of our Village for the first time in years. I know it won’t be easy….but nothing worthwhile is.

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Brain Dazzling Conference with Rich Schefren & Jay Abraham

Wow. Believe me, that (Wow) is an understatement. If you get my newsletter you know I actually canceled the February Fourth Friday so I could head to Orlando for the “Live” Dream Team New Beginnings Conference from Strategic Profits. First, the conference packed in the value experience for participants. The “Dream Team”: Rich Schefren, Jay Abraham, John Carlton, Frank Kern, Gary Vanerchuk, Maryellen Tribby, Jeff Walker, Tom McCarthy, Paul Scheele, and… Mike Filsaime. I don’t think you could have put more power on that stage. Part of what made it so awesome was two-fold: the Dream Team was accessible. The conference, interactive. Here’s the sweet end of the deal for you….you can experience it too. The Live 08 home study course will put the Dream Team in your living room.

As the days sped by, they gained intensity as I then hit the space limited “Maven Bootcamp”. The three day intensive, exhausting, exhilarating interactive exclusive still has my head spinning….in a way. I have clarity and vision like I haven’t had in years. Confidence packed with intent, purpose and plan. And there’s home study of this one too…but be careful….it’ll change your life!

I’m on a new and living course. I know what I want and am developing a plan to get there. Clarity and focus have given me an exhilarating weightless experience. Here’s proof: I had been home less that 24 hours when I was notified by American Express that my card had been compromised. Since the card was in my possession, it was immediately evident that I’m somehow a victim of id fraud…on my gallery accounts.

This is the second time in less than 6 months. First my mastercard was compromised, the villain, whoever they are, using Western Union to access the cash advance feature and cleaning it out up to and over the limit. It took four months and 20 hours of phone calls to get that fixed. Then, pow, the crooks hit my AMEX card. How? Beats me. American Express, true to their exemplary customer service, had it fixed in 24 hours, new card and everything.

But here’s the evidence: No tears. No pacing, tense overriding fear. I took care of it. Called in the claims, filed the reports (police report will get done tomorrow) gave notice to credit reporting agencies. It’s not that I don’t care, or that I’m numb. It’s that I’m focused. Not dissuaded. Not shaken. Not beaten.

In this unsteady, uncertain time in which we live it is imperative to know who you are and where you’re headed. It’s purpose that sustains, vision that empowers and strength that is leveraged.

That’s not focus looking inward, but outward. Consider the home study, but don’t buy it and let it collect dust. Let your decision be commitment. It’s worth it.

Now onward and upward. Back to work in laying out my strategy and plan. It’s hard…and exciting. Can you see the smile on my face? Have a fabulous day!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM