Lisa Myers Bulmash 2/25/15 Lisa Myers Bulmash 2/25/15

But what if my art doesn't sell?

First rule of being an artist who sells their work: get into the studio.

I wish I could say my collage portraits flew out the door of Alki Arts so fast that my head is still spinning.

*Talking to O. David Jackson at Alki Arts' celebration of Black History Month. Credit: Alki Arts*

But no, not true. Lots of lovely compliments, but apparently people don't really know what to do with it. Recently art business consultant Alyson Stanfield blogged on what to do about fangirls/fanboys who love your work, but not enough to buy it. Not surprisingly, my artist friends had some intense discussions on Facebook about it.

Of course, selling art and making it are two different things. And perhaps galleries aren't the way I should go right now: perhaps I would be better off setting up trunk shows at friends' houses, or pursuing museum exhibitions, or making one type of work for festivals while exhibiting work like this elsewhere.

When things aren't going right... go left. Speaking of which, can you give me an example of what you've done when things aren't going the way you want? Leave a comment or tell me on Facebook.

Lisa Myers Bulmash 2/6/15 Lisa Myers Bulmash 2/6/15

Alki Arts reception: so much love in the room

Can I just tell you how much looooove there was at Alki Arts Gallery last night? Maybe it was because there were so many PEOPLE at the opening reception.

I talked myself hoarse about my work with interested visitors, which is a lovely problem to have.

*Talking the ear off of O. David Jackson, co-creator of the annual show. Credit: Alki Arts*

Like most art walks, it's a little more "walk (and see gorgeous work)" than "(buying) art (on the spot)." But My Wall, as I like to call it, will be up for another 23 days. So we'll see if someone comes back to collect a piece they've fallen in love with.

*My fellow EDGE program grad Mary Lamery and me.*

Special thanks to the following:

my artist peeps who came out to show support, including Jennifer Chin, Mary Lamery, Mary Freiburger, Esther Ervin, Al Doggett and Earnest Thomas
my new friends, including O. David Jackson and fellow artists Robin Weiss and Carol Braden
and the enthusiastic people who've Liked my art Page.

These are the connections that support artists emotionally. And don't forget financial support: Rembrandt doesn't have bills to pay, but living artists like me do!

Lisa Myers Bulmash 1/30/15 Lisa Myers Bulmash 1/30/15

Serious play: teaching art classes

So... it's really gonna happen. In a couple of months, I'll start teaching classes! This week, I've been working on creating class samples:

The above collage is on an 8" x 8" wood panel, using specialty paper from ARTSpot and an wash of acrylic paint over one of my favorite images. The David Hockney quote is created using the paint-resist technique I'll be teaching in April. More info to come as soon as I have a link for you to click. (P.S. If you're on my newsletter mailing list, you'll get the details first! Go to the sidebar on the right to sign up.)

FYI, each class will be very small -- about six people, so I can give my students more individualized attention. So when I say "go," register on the ARTSpot site and save your space ASAP. Got it?