Website and Book are launched!

Well, after 2 full years of writing and editing my new book "Create Your Art Career: Practical Tools, Visualizations and Self Assessment Exercises for Empowerment and Success" has launched. I've created a website for the book http://www.createyourartcareer.org It has the table of contents, and 2 brand new meditations to try, and in the reviews section - you can upload comments and images so we can form a community. Please let me know what you think! And I will let you know when the big launch party is. Thanks to everyone for your love and support. I could not have written this book if you had not been open to my ideas.

What's an artist to do?

As most of you know, among the manner things I create, I provide creative career coaching at the School of Visual Arts and spend a good part of my time helping art students and professionals think strategically.  My mantra has been (yes I have many, but this is the latest one) Relationships, Research and Referrals as a guiding light to building a creative career.

You cannot do career alone. You have to have community.  You have to have spirit, whether that is emotional or spiritual, and you have to share. Build community, participate in community, grow community. I've been saying this for years now, many of you I know have taken these ideas into your art practice and into the world. The world is a better place because of you.

I firmly believe that all of us have unique talents, and together we create micro-markets of value.  It is our values that matter in the world, and the value we create in the marketplace is simply an offshoot of who we are, and what we believe in. It is felt in what we make.

So what do you believe in? Why does it matter?

The world is in flux - everywhere. Be prepared means who has your back? Who will you help? How can your pursuit of beauty and change help create a climate of value and inspiration?

We must inspire change, motivate ourselves and others in the pursuit of beauty, and allow the spirit in all things to flourish through our creativity. That's how it looks and feels to me.  Together create beauty and value, share beauty and value, support beauty and value by purchasing beauty and value. Whether it is clothing, art work, music, ideas.

How does it look and feel to you?

Like minded

I was reading the other day about Noah Brier, and a group he founded called Likemind, where creative people in cities around the world get together for an early coffee before the work day begins to talk, share, stay in touch. It's grown to thousands of creative people. Think about that - it's awesome.

Why don't we - the alternative art and spirit folk do that? Maybe because we don't get up early, or designers and marketers understand that they need each other, they hire each other and fine artists don't quite get it. Well time to get it. Time to reframe it. Don't you think?

And not in a what's in it for me mode - or how do we turn this into the next big thing mode, or the what about me, what about me, what about me refrain. I guess I'm looking to encourage and inspire perhaps an inclusive vs exclusive art mind, that is open, respect based, honestly community sourced, and builds business appreciation inherently in its structure.

Who wants to meet for coffee?

Check out this site http://likemind.us