The Messy Studio with Rebecca Crowell - Episodes Tagged with “Entrepreneurship”

Episode 218: About Teaching Workshops

Rebecca Crowell — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 13:00:00 -0500

Last week we talked about workshops from the point of view of artists taking them, what they look for, and how to make choices from the many options available. Today we want to talk about workshops from the perspective of workshop instructors. Many artists who have ideas and experience to share are drawn to workshop teaching. And teaching can be a very rewarding, interesting, and lucrative side job that fits well with an artist’s own studio practice. But it’s also a completely unregulated territory where success depends largely on personal reputation and endorsements, and where sometimes the best laid plans fall apart. What does it take to do well as a workshop instructor? What are some of the rewards of teaching workshops and what are some things to watch out for?

For those of you who are thinking of getting started with teaching workshops, it's important to carefully consider your own qualifications. You need to evaluate honestly whether you have the experience about the topic, and whether you have something original to contribute to your students. And no matter how developed you are as an artist, you may not know much about teaching itself. So, you also need to learn what you can about effective teaching methods, respond to feedback from students, and constantly evaluate and tweak your approaches.

There are many considerations for choosing what to teach, where to teach, the pay you want to receive, the number of students, and your own accommodations. And once you make these basic decisions, you need to be prepared with an accurate description of what you will teach, a detailed supply list, and if you are teaching outside your own studio, a list of what you would like the venue itself to provide.

Teaching workshops can provide not only a decent income, but there are also intangible benefits. Experiencing the fresh energy and perspective of beginners, and the sharing of tips and tools that often happens spontaneously in class, and hearing people's ideas and motivations is uniquely rewarding.

Going into teaching sometimes begins as a casual, gradual process among people you know, but once you are fully in you need to take its responsibilities seriously. Are you really serving your students in the best ways you can? Are you continually evaluating and revising your teaching agenda? You need to provide something important for your students and exhibit a basically generous and altruistic attitude. At the same time, it is also important to be treated well, and be well compensated for your time, experience, and dedication.

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What's new at Cold Wax Academy?
The Summer Quarter of Cold Wax Academy's membership program is now underway. Rebecca and Jerry's upcoming weekly live, online sessions will explore Personal Voice and Composition and continue the topic of Professional Development with some special guests. Member Critiques and Painting Clinics, Cold Wax Academy's new feature, are ongoing. You can join the membership program anytime and catch up with past recorded sessions at your own pace. Please visit http://www.coldwaxacademy.com for more information.

Also-- stay tuned for information coming soon about Rebecca and Jerry's newest project, Espacio, dedicated to providing beautiful living and working spaces for artists and writers. Espacio's first offering is Casa Clavel, a modern, fully equipped house opening this September in the beautiful cultural city of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. You can learn more and make a reservation by emailing info@coldwaxacademy.com. A dedicated Espacio website is coming soon!

Here is what a member named Sandy has to say about her own experience with Cold Wax Academy:
"Rebecca and Jerry have presented the most professional, authentic and structured approach to a creative activity I have ever come across. Their selfless sharing of all their knowledge and encouragement is a gift in my life unsurpassed."

Have an art related product, service, or event you would like to advertise on the Messy Studio Podcast?
Email Ross at rticknor.core@gmail.com for current mid-roll advertising rates.

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The Messy Studio Podcast is a Tick Digital Media Production.

Episode 213: Artists as Entrepreneurs, with Jerry McLaughlin

Rebecca Crowell — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 20:00:00 -0500

For many of us in the art world, making art is only part of what we do. The other big role most of us play, that of businessperson, can be one that comes less naturally. Many artists resist getting involved with art as a business, seeing it as something that dilutes creativity and true voice. At the same time, most of us get a lot of satisfaction from exhibiting our work and would like to be able to make a living doing what we really love, and it is gratifying to provide something that enriches the lives of fellow humans. Can we learn to see the business aspects of art in a more positive light, and bring to our art business the same skills we use in the studio?

Today Rebecca and her partner at Cold Wax Academy, Jerry McLaughlin discuss the exciting possibilities of integrating art and entrepreneurial ventures. As artists we have passion, commitment, focus, the willingness to take risks, and ability to make decisions and move forward with projects. All these qualities can also help us create income streams as related to our core identity as artists.

As a term, entrepreneur may be more appealing than businessperson because we may associate the idea of business with something restrictive or overly structured. Entrepreneurship, on the other hand, implies a more creative and expansive focus and can include other people on an informal basis as well as more formal collaboration.

Examples of entrepreneurial ventures for artists include writing, teaching, mentoring, developing products and materials for artists, creating studio/living spaces for artists, licensing artwork in various ways, working with the film industry or real estate staging, and starting a small gallery. None of these need to be entirely separate from your life as a studio artist. Though they do require commitment and focus, they can also help you grow creatively as well as providing income.

Our advice is to welcome the idea that other ways of generating income can be exciting and rewarding and can play a very positive role in your creative life.

Special Guest: Jerry McLaughlin.

Episode 187: Role Reversal: Interview with Ross Ticknor

Rebecca Crowell — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 15:00:00 -0500

As artists --engaged for the most part in fairly traditional and long-established ways of working—it may be hard to understand or embrace new technologies. Yet artists have always been involved in revolutionary advances in culture and technology. Today we will discuss some technologies that have liberating potential for artists. In a bit of role reversal, our guest today is Ross Ticknor, and his focus is on the uses of 3-D printing for artists.

New technologies are always evolving and gradually becoming accepted and expected aspects of our lives. Many of us remember the time before microwaves, cell phones, and personal computers. Each of these no longer seems radical or difficult to integrate into daily life. It’s helpful to be open to learning about new ideas that can benefit us as artists, and not shy away because they are unfamiliar.

A few years from now, cryptocurrency and 3-D printing, to name two examples, will likely be commonplace in our lives. These technologies have the benefit of empowering individuals in that they allow us the freedom to depart from current systems of banking and corporate production and exercise more control over our personal lives in these ways.

As artists, how can we explore the benefits of 3-D printing? The equipment and materials are relatively inexpensive, and there are many designs (including a mini-printing press) that are free online. Once you become familiar with the technology, you might also explore making custom studio tools, texture rollers, storage units, or even sculpture with a 3-D printer.

As cultural influencers, artists can help to shape the use of new technologies in our society in positive ways. Those of us who get involved in the early stages of a technology reap the most benefits.

websites referenced in this podcast:
https://www.thingiverse.com
https://openpressproject.com

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Rebecca and her partner at Cold Wax Academy, Jerry McLaughlin have wrapped up an exciting Spring Quarter and have announced their lineup of topics for Summer quarter which begins July 7. Their weekly live, interactive sessions will focus on Mark-making, Composition, and on Setting and Following Intentions to create strong, cohesive work.

All sessions are recorded and fully accessible in the Member Library, and you can watch and rewatch at your own pace. In addition, joining at any time gives you access to all the perks of membership and the benefits of being part of a growing, knowledgable community of other artists.

Here is what a member named Sandy has to say about her own experience:
"Rebecca and Jerry have presented the most professional, authentic and structured approach to a creative activity I have ever come across. Their selfless sharing of all their knowledge and encouragement is a gift in my life unsurpassed."

And just in --for a limited time, Jerry and Rebecca are offering a new membership level that provides access to their extensive video workshop only-- the cost is $249 for 6 weeks of streaming access, plenty of time to watch and rewatch all the in-depth content provided in this unique video.

Episode 109: Interview with Paula Roland: An Uncharted Journey

Rebecca Crowell — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 14:00:00 -0600

Rebecca Crowell interviews Paula Roland about her life as an artist and entrepreneur.

(From https://paularoland.com/roland-bio/)

Paula Roland is a life-long artist and teacher with an MFA in painting and sculpture from the University of New Orleans. After many years teaching painting and drawing at the college level, Paula found a niche specializing in encaustic monotype printing and related encaustic topics. Since 1996, these processes and materials have informed her own works, and in turn inspired her teaching.

Born on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Paula spent much of her adult life living and working in nearby New Orleans. Her works address the extremes in nature and the natural world’s nexus with ecology, science, art, and spirit. Since the early 1980s her works have examined natural phenomena and human interaction. Drawn to areas with a strong sense of place that are culturally rich, diverse, and visually inspiring, Roland moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1989.

“Living near Los Alamos National Labs and Chaos Theory think tanks has led to a heightened interest in science, including systems, fractals, and strange attractors. In recent works, I examine ecology through intuitive mapping, finding my way in rapidly changing environments in the natural world through my art. I choose materials for their ability to be somewhat unpredictable or have the ability to change and therefore partner with me in making the work. This process circumvents preconceived ideas and opens me to new possibilities. I engage with the image and medium in a direct and intimate way. With encaustic printing, thought and action are one, much like improvisational music or dance.”

Roland’s awards include commissions from the National Endowment for the Arts and for the US Department of State’s American Embassies in South Africa and Uganda. She was awarded residencies at VCCA in Virginia and in France, and two at the Santa Fe Art Institute, working with Lynda Benglis and with Elizabeth Murray. Articles on Paula Roland have appeared in New American Painting, Surface Design Journal, Artist’s Magazine, New Mexico Magazine, the Santa Fean Magazine and Vasari21 online art magazine. Her works are included in books and media on art, encaustic and installation.

Check out Paula's websites:
https://paularoland.com/
https://www.rolandworkshops.com/

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Special Guest: Paula Roland.

Episode 29: Ginny Herzog's Architectural Abstractions: Success as an Independent Artist

Rebecca Crowell — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 01:00:00 -0500

Rebecca Crowell interviews Minnesota artist Ginny Herzog, an independent, self supporting artist for over 35 years known for her unique architectural abstractions. She discusses her journey into the art world and how she conducts business as an artist, with a focus on high end art fairs.

https://herzogart.com/home.html
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