One Simple Way to Stand Out from the Crowd

Experts tell us that to be successful at anything we need to stand out from the crowd. 

But... how??

The short answer: BE DIFFERENT

Umpteen years ago I taught a class on illustration to high schoolers. On the first day of class I put up a huge poster with just one image smack in the middle of it: an ugly hairy fly! 

At the bottom in tiny print: First rule of advertising: Get their attention!

That's the memory that was triggered as I listened to an interview by Antrese Wood on the  Savvy Painter Podcast. She was talking with Errol Gerson, long time teacher of entrepreneurship, business and leadership skills for artists and designers. (Link to that Podcast Here)

He was sharing ideas on how to succeed by standing out from the crowd. 

One topic I found riveting was his ideas on how to answer the question: And what do YOU do? 

Mr Gerson tells the story of once meeting a lady and asking her "And what do you do?".

She replied: "I'm a Photographer."

He yawned in her face.

She was insulted and became very angry!

He explained to her his ideas about getting peoples attention. She calmed down, and he went on to teach her how to capture imagination and interest with a more intriguing answer, one that would help her stand out from the crowd.

He teaches that we each need our own unique answer to "What do you do?".

Such as:

I reveal the invisible.

I capture the invisible in paint.

I use color to transform people.

I create smiles.

I write dreams.

I spin straw into gold.

I point to mysteries.

I take people to other worlds.

I time travel.

After listening to this fascinating interview with Teacher Gerson, I'll never again just say "I'm a painter", or "I'm an artist."

(Detail from Time Our Companion.

Cards, prints & more HERE)

The Errol Gerson Challenge

1. Imagine you have just met someone and they ask: "What do you do?"

2. This is not an elevator pitch. Think about why you create and what effect it gives your audience. 

3. Use your imagination and power to connect. How can you answer that question in such a way that the person you are talking to wants to know more?

This idea is applicable to ALL expressions of creativity: painters, writers, dancers, photographers, crafters, quilters, singers, etc etc.

My new answer: I reveal the invisible (and hope they want to know more, ha ha).

 So... how would YOU answer that question: What do you do??

A New Free Quote Poster for ya!

And here she be, feel free to snag a copy:

(don't forget to click on the pic to get the largest size before saving)

Thanks for visiting today!

Retta

Flashback Friday: Nite Owl Nugget time

I like this one because it reminds me of a favorite quote from theology professor Abraham Joshua Heschel:

"When I was young, I admired clever people. 

Now that I am old, I admire kind people."

Here, then, is the short post from February 2006:

(can click to enlarge)

I had fun drawing the wooden frame around this illustration...was just in the mood for a "different" border.

Happy reminiscing,

Retta

Living A Beautiful Life At Any Age

Over the years I've received a variety of interesting responses to both me and my art. I've been called naive, credulous or Pollyanna. I used to think that was a bad thing. Now... I'm not so sure 'bout that!

I've been told I'm not cutting edge, and that my art was not edgy enough to be relevant today. Hmmmm...

It's taken me a long to time know what it is I want to "say".

And that is, in a nutshell: 

Carpe Diem! 

Seize the day. Life is short. 

Live it to the fullest each day, with Love and Joy.

Living Flamboyantly

by Retta Stephenson

There is a special essay written 92 years ago by Samuel Ullman that says it better than I ever could. I'll tell more about him another time. Suffice to say, he is special to me. 

Below is his essay. After you read it, you'll know why it's special to me, and why I want my art to be UPlifting. 

It may not be cutting edge or "cool", but it's what is in my heart: A zest to live a beautiful life, and to Love the best I know how.

"YOUTH"

by Samuel Ullman

Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.

Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the appetite, for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of 60 more than a boy of 20. Nobody grows old by deserting our ideals.

Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.

Whether 60 or 16, there is in every human being's heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing childlike appetite of what's next and the joy of the game of living.  

In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the Infinite, so long are you young.

When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old, even at 20, but as long as your aerials are up, to catch waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young at 80.

In our hearts, we are Forever Young,

Retta

Hey ya'll, it's Artists Appreciation Month!

Did you know that August is "Artists Appreciation Month"?? Me neither!

Well, alrighty then, I'm one of those... so count me in!

But I wouldn't BE one of those if I hadn't been influenced in my life by other creatives. This post will honor some that influenced me most.

(Long post, but like a comic book... mostly pictures, mwa ha ha ha!!)

My Artist Appreciation Month 

Thank-You-for-Influencing-My-Life List:

(Difficult to narrow down!! )

(Can click any images to enlarge)

For incredible skill and beauty both in painting and sculpture:

Michelangelo

Moses

marble c.1513-1515

For color, design, and more color:

Wassily Kandinsky

Henri Matisse

My Dining Room 1909

Vincent Van Gogh

Almond Blossom 1890

The Fauves, such as Derain and Braque

For storytelling ability and beautiful illustrations:

Maxfield Parrish

Ecstasy 1929

Howard Pyle

 The Mermaid 1910

James Gurney, Imaginative Realism (I own these 3books!)

For imagination, whimsy and, of course, color:

Robert Burridge

Juggling Clown

Stilts & His Magic Rabbit

Jane Filer

For bold and colorful art; he paints "the color of emotions":

Jeffrey Hessing

But from a young age there was one that influenced me first and the most. 

The Master.

He captured my imagination...

He had an amazing ability to tell a visual story... 

He could touch hearts...

He portrayed goodness in life...

He used gentle humor or tenderness...

But most of all, his undeniable and under-appreciated skill in painting: 

Norman Rockwell

I want to thank Patience Brewster for inviting me to join in posting about Artists Appreciation Month! I've thoroughly enjoyed revisiting old "friends" and seeing their paintings once again.

When I checked out Patience's art, oh my... talk about ADORABLE! And since I enjoyed it so much I thought I'd pass on the link for you. 

It's wonderful stuff, so here be ye the link to Patience Brewster.  Be sure to see their ornaments and check out my favorites, the Zebras named Zeke and Zelda! Too cute!

Happy Artist Appreciation Month!

Retta

How to Create a Product from Nuthin to Sumthin

Once in a while, you create an image your reeeaaallly like. 

"Jaguar Sunset"

A few years ago I painted a 3 foot tall cat statue for a charity auction. It was titled Little Cat's Four Season Fantasy. Each side featured the different seasons of the year.

It was the second one I painted, the previous statue having sold at auction for $1100. So of COURSE they nicely asked me to paint another! I was happy to help, since it was for C.A.T.S., Committed Alliance to Strays.

But since I donated it to charity - and seeing as how I loved some of the images on it - I decided to photograph them for my own collection. This fantasy setting of the jaguar swimming in a cool pool at sunset was one of my favorites. 

To put it into context, here is the completed

 3 ft tall statue from different angles:
(can click on any images to enlarge)

But how do I translate that into a product to offer collectors??

Here's what I did.

It all started with a nekkid statue:

Underpainting  getting started:

Giving him some spots:

Continuing around the jaguar:

All done:

So how does he look when you put his image onto products? I found a site that does "POD"  (print on demand) and I'm very happy with their quality. Here are some of the things they can do with my jaguar. I was so tickled when I saw these for the first time!

This is the main page for my "Jaguar Sunset"

And here is how he looks on a throw pillow.

The newest to join the product line is this cute Tote bag

I think the metal prints are cool!

They even have smart phone case covers.

Naturally there are also greeting cards, framed prints, canvas prints,  and posters.

And there you have it. From blank white statue to all kinds of fun stuff to put your image on. 

I hope you found this interesting. I sure had fun seeing my little jaguar on all these items. If you have any questions about Fine Art America (FAA), the folks who do my printing, just give a holler in the comments and I'd be glad to share my experiences. 

Now, imagine something YOU created.  If you have paintings, images of your creative endeavors, or photographs that you'd like to have printed, I can wholeheartedly recommend FAA. You have your original, yes. But by creating "multiples" of your efforts, you can offer your art to more people in many more forms, including gift giving.

If you try FineArtAmerica, I'd love to hear how it went for you. :-)

Thanks for reading,

Retta

Free Quote Poster Day!

It's Word Wednesday again! Time for another free Quote Poster.

 A favorite author of mine is Ray Bradbury, and I find this quote from him very meaningful:

  (click to open for larger file to save, re-post or print)

Please feel free to save and use this poster if you like it, though I'd appreciate that you leave it in it's original form without alteration, other than sizing. Be sure to download and save it to your computer, not "hot link" to my blog by linking to the url. Thanks ever so much!

I hope you enjoy it! It's my gift to you.

Thanks for visiting today,

Retta