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May 1st is RSS Awareness Day...are you ready?








I know as artists it's hard to get our heads around some of this technical stuff
...but you need to understand the importance of RSS to you, to your collectors and your (potential collectors).

Sure your collectors can bookmark your site and you can HOPE they remember to go back and check for updates or they can (if you offer it) subscribe by email. I for one, don't want anymore stuff going into my "inbox", so I'm one of those you would loose.

RSS groups new updates from the sites I've chosen to a file in my feed reader as they happen. I sit down with my morning coffee, open my reader, and settle in to see what everyone has been doing. I don't have to check my email and weed out the good stuff from the SPAM MAIL...I don't have to go to my favorites and click on your site.

The other thing nice about RSS is that it is anonymous...you don't know if I'm "watching you or not"...this makes me a little like Santa Clause, so you had better be good!

I like reading the blogs of artists who's work enjoy...it's a personal connection. Your collectors feel the same way and they may especially like being anonymous. You can make it difficult or you can make it easy by giving them choices.

It's like this, when I do Art Fairs I offer (in addition to the Originals and Prints seen on my website) a few smaller, lower priced open edition items ($5-25). If you walk into my tent and like my work there is something there in your price range...I make it easy for the customer to take home my work. RSS does the same think for your website and blog.

Offering RSS will boost the traffic to your site. Tell your readers about RSS and how to use it...if you're not comfortable explaining this technical stuff...you can provide links to others who explain it well.

If you are still unsure about RSS, you might want to read...Feed Know How...for the Feed frazzled, an article I wrote in March. This article explains what RSS is, why it's important, and how to set it up on your computer. (You may re-publish, "Feed Know How...for the Feed frazzled", on your site...just let me know and be sure to include a link to my blog.)

If you need even more assurance of the importance of RSS to you as an artist...Clint Watson of Fine Art Studio Online wrote a great article about how to "Feed your Artwork to Your Friends with RSS".


Links:
The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot fine art blog
My Squidoo ...Drawing Techniques
Feed Know How...for the Feed frazzled
Feed your Artwork to Your Friends with RSS


PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment

Posted by Marsha Robinett on 4/29/2008 12:48:28 PM | Permalink | Make the first comment



 
The Hostage is Free



The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot has been released. I want to personally thank all of you who went to battle for me by posting on Blogger's Forum.  This was a great injustice and I hope they will change the way they go after Spam Blogs. 

Blogger's present methods of flagging and shutting down a blog before they even review it is just wrong and a total breach of trust. This method punishes the innocent.

I just posted an article on
The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot
I have lots more to say about this experience and a warning for others.


PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment

Posted by Marsha Robinett on 4/22/2008 10:26:19 AM | Permalink | Make the first comment
Topics: Headline News


 
This is an Emergency Appeal...please help!!



Blogger is Wrongfully Holding "The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot" Hostage. 

This is an Emergency Appeal to everyone who supports The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot with their readership and comments. 

My blog on Google's Blogger has been shut down as SPAM as of Friday, April 18, 2008. I know it's hard to understand why, but they did. Apparently from what I've been able to learn from others this has happened to many in the last month.  Bloggers automatic bots system flags a suspected blog as a "spam blog" and they locked it immediately.

I received no notification from Blogger of any issues...I discovered the shut down on Saturday as I was trying to write a post to be published today (Monday).  According to what I've been able to find out by reading forums, it will remain locked until they get around to reviewing it and realizing it is not a SPAM blog.

Apparently there are deadbeats out there who create blogs using an aggregate robot to steal content from legitimate sites (like mine) and they post a bunch of ads on it attracting people using keywords to lure them in. It's an annoying practice that I am in favor of shutting down. However, my blog is not one of those with ill intentions for the world.

This process of unlocking my blog has already lasted four days and could take weeks to unlock it. The scary part is the longer it remains locked, the less chance it will ever be unlocked. It's sickening to be going through this right now...I feel as though I'm at war with an invisible enemy and the only way to say anything to Goggle Blogger is through their forums!!

You can still read my blog for now and post comments, but I cannot post or reply to anyone nor can I post any new articles. This dreaded scenario could go on for weeks unless some sort of intervention takes place. And that's where YOU come in. Without your intervention to inform Blogger that "The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot" is NOT a "spam blog," it could just sit there inactive and slowly DIE.  I've worked so many hours on this blog...if it dies, I may just die too.  This is such an unfair way for Blogger to handle things.  It seems they have no regard for the innocent. They've created a breach of trust!

What seems to have worked for some is a large scale appeal to Blogger from others through their support forum asking them to unlock my blog. I need your help to tell Blogger that "The Extraordinary Pencil" is not a SPAM BLOGCLICK HERE  for the link to the post I made on the Blogger Help Forum under "log in issues" and you can post a comment here where hopefully it will get read.

The above link will take you to the post I made asking them to please unlock my blog as soon as possible. My plea to you is to PLEASE leave a message asking them to unlock my blog by clicking "reply" at the end of the post. Spread the word to your friends and other fellow readers of "The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot" about what is happening. I appreciate all of your support and assistance with clearing this up.

You do have to join the group to post, but it's super-easy. If you already have a Google account, then just click on the link along the side bar on the right-hand side and give yourself a nickname. Post your comment and VOILA! You've done your part to help me out. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Shutting down legitimate blogs for "suspected spam" before checking them out is damaging to everyone. Blogger needs to find a better way to go about doing this in the future. Hopefully with your help I can get my blog unlocked and begin posting regularly again...SOON!

Thank you so much because I know you will go to war for me. Take care!

Sincerely,
Marsha Robinett


PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment


Posted by Marsha Robinett on 4/21/2008 9:19:08 AM | Permalink | Make the first comment



 
The Seven Characteristics that Distinguishes Older Artists over their Younger Peers



By: Sue Smith

I went back to college when I was 51. I sat in chairs designed for the young, next to my fellow students who were also...well, young. Adding insult to injury, I needed tutoring -- from the young -- to learn the new technology that these kids in their late teens and twenties grew up with and used as casually as I once used the rotary phone.

It was culture shock. But more than that. It was the shock of realizing I was rapidly approaching the gray realm of Old Age. My first small encounters with...ageism.

Ageism is insidious in that it is so acceptable. Logical. It is also based -- at least with regard to late-life creativity -- on scientific research that reinforces traditional views about aging and the mental and physical decline models.

Even when it comes to "creativity" -- something that can't be touched, tested, or accurately measured, let alone understood -- the scientific community still relies on research that is "objective" and "measurable" -- sort of like trying to catch a fish with your hands. The easiest one to grab becomes the archetype for the "Creative Old Guy."

But I recently started reading a book by Martin S. Lindauer, titled AGING, CREATIVITY, AND ART...A Positive Perspective on Late-Life Development.

This is a very recent book, with a copyright date of 2003, and reads like a research paper with numerous citations.

It is still worth the effort.

Because here is the good news. According to Lindauer, new research reveals that over time, creative people increase both the quality of their artistic output, and the quantity, over their lifetimes, with productivity peaking during their 60's, but the quality of the output remaining steady at the lifetime highs well into the 70's.

Even for artists working in their 80's, their quality ratings were higher -- get that, higher! -- than when they were in their 20's and 30's.

How can this be?

According to Lindauer, there are seven characteristics that distinguish "old artists and late art from young artists and youthful efforts."

  • "Older artists have more knowledge and are less career oriented.
  • "They also have less energy - the only case where older artists were at a disadvantage to younger ones..."
  • "...which they compensated for with greater maturity, concentration, and self-acceptance."
  • "Older artists were also less critical than their younger counterparts."
  • "However, in two areas, creativity and experimentation, older artists were seen as equal to younger practitioners." (2003, pp.187-188)

Further, while discussing the age at which an artist's "Old Age Style" might emerge, Lindauer wrote, "...the 60-year-old artists, and many of the 70-year-olds who were studied, were 'too young' to have an old-age style."

Re-read that last part again: even the 70-year-olds were too young to have an old age style!

Sometimes the challenges of reinventing yourself at mid-life can seem so daunting that you want to give up. I know that for me, discouragement became my constant companion to the point where I nearly gave up on the whole "career" idea, caught up in my fear of having "missed the creative boat."

But knowing that, at 60, I am still decades away from having an "Old Age Style" has renewed my energy, sending me back out into the creative world with rekindled optimism.

I hope to see you all there!

_________________________________________

This article is reproduced with permission.
Copyright...2008 Sue Smith

To Get more of Sue Smith's thoughts about art visit her blog at:
Ancient Artist: developing an art career after 50
Sue Smith fine Art
...website

This article originally appeared at the following URL:
http://ancientartist.typepad.com/ancient_artist_developing/2008/04/the-seven-chara.html

__________________________________________

PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment

Posted by Marsha Robinett on 4/14/2008 10:17:48 AM | Permalink | 1 Comments
Topics: The Wisdom of Others


 
Tooting My Horn...






Headline News:
As artists we all struggle to let the world know of our work and our talent...the move forward is slow and difficult.  Yet every once in awhile someone does see and responds.  Bet at Mighty Art Demos was one of those people...Thank You




I'm excited...Mighty Art Demos has picked up my Still Life Tutorial on The Clubs.  The WIP photos for this tutorial were taken before I purchased my good camera and we've been working the last couple of days cleaning up my photography.  they were even able to salvage a photo that I had decided not to use.

They were great to work with and my tutorial looks wonderful, very professionally presented...yes, you could say my buttons are popping!



Links:
The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot
My Squidoo
Mighty Art Demos...The Clubs, still life tutorial

PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment

Posted by Marsha Robinett on 4/11/2008 7:06:09 PM | Permalink | Make the first comment
Topics: Headline News


 
Commissioned Portrait...Inga







...Inga Perdita...

Carbon and Graphite on Cream Tone Fine Art Paper

Commissioned Portrait




Inga, Age 2, was all dressed up as "Tinkerbel"
at her sisters costume birthday party. Grandma captured this moment as Inga purposely avoided her request for a smile.

As we talked more about Inga, I learned she had a quiet, spunky, independent, and sometimes wary nature.  The portrait of Inga was just part of Grandma's Special Present her children received that year for Christmas.

The finished portrait reflects Inga's personality perfectly.  You can almost hear an audible 'no' in response to grandma's request for a smile.  You can actually feel the moment.
___________________________________

The Story Behind the Image..."Tinkerbell's" wings were a bit of a challenge.  I used graphite to give them a translucent appearance and some shine.  I also used a little graphite on her cheek and forehead to pull them forward.  Carbon pencil was used for the rest of the drawing and applied with various blenders except in the darkest areas where I applied 6B carbon directly to the drawing paper.
___________________________________

I'm Booking Commissions Now...for later this year (October- December) and the first part of 2009 (January -March).  I do my commission work in the fall and winter months, heading out to exhibit at Art Fairs during the spring and summer months.

I only have time for 8-10 commissioned pieces each year and I'm generally booked by the end of summer.  You can learn more about the commission process at this link.  You'll find lots of helpful information.  The process isn't difficult but it does take time.  After all, were creating an heirloom that will be passed down through generations to come.  If this is something you want, together we can make it happen.


Links:
Fine Art Blog...The Extraordinary Pencil...blogsopt
My Squidoo...Drawing Techniques



PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment

Posted by Marsha Robinett on 4/8/2008 11:26:51 AM | Permalink | Make the first comment
Topics: Story Behind The Image


 
2008 Art Fair Schedule



2008
Show Schedule


This is a photo of my display the first summer I exhibited my work...my how things have changed!


Hope to see you this summer.



June 7-8

10-4:00 Saturday and Sunday
Junction City Art Fair
5901 N. Prospect Rd.
Peoria, Illinois

June 14-15
10-5:00 Saturday and Sunday
Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival
Burlington Park..next to train station
Hinsdale, Illinois

June 21-22
10-5:00 Saturday and Sunday
Danville Arts in the Park
Historic Lincoln Park
Danville, Illinois

June 27-29
10-5:00 Saturday...11-4:00 Sunday
Midsummer Arts Fair
Washington Park...5th and Main Streets
Quincy, Illinois

July 5-6
10-6:00 Saturday and Sunday
Lake Side Music and Arts Festival
Nelson Park
Decatur Illinois

July 12-13
10-5:00 Saturday and Sunday
Naperville Woman's Club Juried Fine Art Fair
Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster Street
Naperville, Illinois

August 2-3
10-5:00 Saturday and Sunday
Festival of the Arts
Cook Park in downtown Libertyville
Libertyville, Illinois

August 23-24
10-4:00 Saturday and Sunday
Lincoln Fine Art Fair...Lincoln Art and Balloon Fest
Latham Park
Lincoln, Illinois

September 13-14
10-5:00 Saturday...10-4:00 Sunday
Art Spectacular at the Carillon
Washington Park...Chatham Rd. and Fayette St.
Springfield, Illinois

September 19-21
10-5:00 Saturday...10-4:00 Sunday
Arts in Central  Park
Central Park...Down Town
Decatur, Illinois

Contact Me
If you have questions or need directions.


PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment

Posted by Marsha Robinett on 4/3/2008 10:49:12 PM | Permalink | 2 Comments
Topics: 2008 Show Schedule


 
It's the Journey That Defines You! (part 4)





"On a personal note:
  I've been touched by everyone who sent emails and posted comments...the response to this series has been overwhelming.  I believe as we share our experiences we encourage others.  Thank you"



Developing Real World Marketing Strategies:

As an artist, it's my creativity and my passion for the "vision" that inspires and moves me forward.  The process involved in the development of a new piece gives renewed energy and purpose.  Where as the idea of "hitting the streets" with portfolio in hand to garner gallery representation can put me in a fetal position in the corner of my studio!  Well...sort of.

The internet is a great marketing tool for today's artist, but it's not the only answer.  If you read the blogs or websites of professional artists you will notice they are also mentioning other venues...private shows, juried exhibits, teaching, and galleries.

The truth of the mater is this...unless you get out there and promote your work you're going to end up with a huge private collection...your own "private collection" to pass on to your children.  I would much rather be in my studio working, but it didn't take long to realize that I needed to get out there and personally market my art....
The entire article can be seen at the link below.

Click here to read more.


Posted by Marsha Robinett on 3/31/2008 9:49:07 AM | Permalink | Make the first comment
Topics: Artist Resources | Blogging Tips | Marketing 


 
It's the Journey That Defines You! (part 3)





The internet is here to stay.
 

Business, large and small, are making their presence known to the world.  Why should you as an artist be left behind? 


Read any art marketing blog...they all say the same thing "Today's artist needs a website and a blog".

I'm just guessing, but I'll bet if you are familiar and comfortable with computers you already have a website.  It's those of you who don't know how to do much more than send an email or do a simple web search that find the idea of setting up a website overwhelming.

I've been there...I was you.
I exhibited my art for the first time in the summer of 2004.  At every art fair as I passed out my brochure people would ask about my website.  I told my friends that just hearing the word WEBSITE was a threat... and they told me I needed to get over it.  I have brutally honest friends.


Click here to read entire article
The Extraordinary Pencil...blogspot


Posted by Marsha Robinett on 3/24/2008 7:26:08 PM | Permalink | Make the first comment
Topics: Artist Resources | Blogging Tips | Marketing 


 
It's the Journey That Defines You! (part 2)





Preparation is Key:

Whether you're just beginning your art career or you're a seasoned professional preparing for a gallery opening, inadequate preparation is opening the door to failure.



For the seasoned professional artist, you've achieved many of your goals and gone on to set new ones...don't forget the goo habits that got you here.

If you're a college student majoring in art, I envy you...absorb all you can, knowing that you will be getting on the road to success closer to your destination than many of us.

For those of you without professional training who are "thinking about", "dreaming about", or wondering "could I really" become and artist...I say, choose your destination, get out your map and start planning your trip!

The "To Do" list for your journey.
  1. Make a Conscious Decision...say to yourself everyday, "I am an artist".
  2. Refresh and Fine Tune Your Skills.
  3. Create and Artist's Statement.
  4. Develop a Plan.
  5. Build a Strong, Cohesive Body of Work.
Missed Part 1 of this series...click here.


The above is a condensed version...you can see the full article at the link below.

It's the Journey That Defines You"...part 2

Posted by Marsha Robinett on 3/21/2008 8:30:39 PM | Permalink | Make the first comment
Topics: Artist Resources | Marketing 


 
    

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