On not being poor vs. doing what you love 31 May 2009
Posted by pcNielsen in Affluenza, Business of art, Entitlement, Modern culture, Northwest Arkansas, Personal reflection, Siloam Springs.12 comments
“Screw cash. Do you know what it’s like to wake up knowing that you’re doing what you love?”
Over the course of the past ten years or so I’ve heard a few different people declare that they aren’t going to “be poor!” This is usually in the context of college majors, career choice or current job. I haven’t probed when it’s come up, but I’m guessing the sentiment is often the result of personal past impoverished experiences. If I recall correctly from a book of his I read five years ago, Dave Ramsey’s wife has a bit of this complex.
My wife and I are in a pickle, as I explained a week or so ago, and might be on the poor road very soon (if we’re not already). Just after moving to Arkansas in 2003 we were in a similar financial situation. Needless to say it’s not a fun place to be. We’ve given ourselves to the ministry we moved down here to serve with and making money, beyond what we need to live on, has not registered on the radar.
The question all of this is raising in my mind is as follows: Is American affluence driving people away from their gifts? In other words, does the cultural pressure in our consumerist culture keep people from pursuing careers they might enjoy and excel at, instead wooing them to pursue more secure and higher paying marginal careers?
It’s on my mind in a personal way as we think about what will come of the rest of this year, and the years to come. The hope is to move to a place with lower housing costs and more part-time work to supplement our continued service with the ministry. In theory, our living expenses would be cut to the point we wouldn’t have to maintain full-time employment, freeing up more time for both of us to work on our crafts.
It seems to us that our plans are pretty modest. We’re eager to pursue the things in life we’re passionate about — missions, sculpture, writing, the fiber arts. Despite these seemingly modest aspirations, though, I’m wondering if we’re actually going to be able to execute this plan. Learning the house isn’t worth as much as we figured and noticing yesterday that we haven’t paid off as much as I’d thought in the past four years were chinks in our armor.
I’ve never developed or cultivated an aversion to poverty, assuming we still have a roof over our head and food on the table. Regardless, our present circumstances have been testing our faith. I really like the so-called plan we’ve sketched out (on a napkin, so to speak) and hope it works out. If we can’t make it work, I have positively no idea what we’ll we be doing or where we’ll end up.
And while I won’t refer to that as “scary,” it’s certainly the kind of situation that makes most of us humans very uncomfortable.
Grab hold of your passion [and monetize it] 19 May 2009
Posted by pcNielsen in Art, Business of art, Christian art retreat, Modern culture.2 comments
This post is largely a follow-up to yesterday’s synopsis of Gary Vaynerchuck’s interview with CNN.
“If you [don't have a web presence] you’re not living in the society we’re living in anymore.”
— Gary Vaynerchuck at the Big Omaha conference in May 2009
I thought of heading up to the Big Omaha conference — dealing mainly with the internet — last month but ultimately decided against it. Today I caught up on some of what what I missed by listening to Gary Vaynerchuck’s keynote (be warned, he curses like a sailor in this speech).
The crux of the keynote is to grab your passion and monetize that passion using the internet. If you love dogs, talk about dogs and solicit advertisers. If baseball cards are your thing, set up a blog and dish out your two cents. He cites one such instance where Upper Deck approached such a blogger with a $40,000/year contract.
I write about what I love on The Aesthetic Elevator, and what I love generally has a pretty keen focus. However, I’m skeptical that I can turn the content on this particular website into beaucoup advertising dollars, as much as I’d love to. The ideas that I write about on this blog — becoming an artist, founding a faith-based artist colony — aren’t money-makers in this respect. Then again, I haven’t really ever entertained the idea of selling ads on this website. A certain amount of professionalism flourishes, in my opinion, on an ad-free website.
Garyvee might reply that I could make some money, and that I should still pursue what I love and attempt to monetize it. Would Dick Blick want to advertise on The Aesthetic Elevator? Or maybe a company selling sustainable goods such as solar panels. Although, according to Quantcast, this website attracts a “less affluent” audience in general (artists, perhaps!); maybe solar panels aren’t the ticket.
I’ve made a few new posts this year about my interest in an artist colony, and those posts have garnered some responses. In truth, that’s what I hope happens as a result of my Web presence. Like I said yesterday, “I believe in the Web as a tool — and have for a few years now — that connects people with like interests. It allows communities to be created, that formerly didn’t have a chance, as we’re able to find people with similar niche interests.” The Aesthetic Elevator exists to connect and mobilize.
Gary’s underlying desire is for people to be happy. This, he says in the the aforementioned keynote, is why he urges people to pursue what they love. Are some things easier to monetize online than others?
Can the Web turn your art into cash? 18 May 2009
Posted by pcNielsen in Art, Business of art.1 comment so far
I’ve followed Gary Vaynerchuck (@Garyvee on Twitter) since 2007 when I was looking into video blogs (in anticipation of M-DAT’s website for aspiring missionaries, PreparingToGo.com). Back then he was known just for his daily wine vlog, Wine Library TV. Since then he’s turned into a veritable web celebrity and sought after internet marketing guru.
Part of Garyvee’s premise is that a person can make money doing what they love because of the connections and networks created by the World Wide Web. He did a spot on CNN this weekend where he talks a little more about how the internet can work for anyone, supposedly, if they’re willing to put the time into it. Some of his points are as follows.
- Everyone is talking, everyone has something to say, but success online using social media is about listening, it’s about caring.
- You have to be passionate and know your stuff.
- Use Search.Twitter.com (or, I’ll add, clients like Tweetdeck if you want to get really serious). Garyvee spends 7-9 hours a day online cultivating community by responding to emails and monitoring his brand on Twitter etc.
- Twitter and Facebook are just tools; don’t think too much of them and keep your long range goals in front of you.
- Content is king. Create good content and people will listen. This relates back to Wine Library TV, which is at the same time a very popular and lo-fi vlog.
He likens Twitter to a cocktail party and points out that when you go to a party you don’t just talk about business. You talk about other things you care about; in Gary’s case that’s the New York Jets and pro wrestling. Social media is just a translation from the real world. Don’t just talk about yourself.
I believe in the Web as a tool — and have for a few years now — that connects people with like interests. It allows communities to be created, that formerly didn’t have a chance, as we’re able to find people with similar niche interests. Any thoughts on how well the internet does work or will work to make artists money?
No more clay for Northwest Arkansas 16 May 2009
Posted by pcNielsen in Art, Business of art, Ceramics, Northwest Arkansas.add a comment
After dropping my wife off in Prairie Grove this morning — she participated in a sheep-to-shawl gathering of spinners, weavers and knitters — I tootled on over to Flat Rock to purchase some clay. I’ve been productive in the past month or two, thankfully, and was in the mood for some more Texas White. I’ve been out of it for six months or so. Last time I went to pick some up the truck was two-plus weeks late, and they’d run out of just about everything. Much to my confusion, the store was closed this morning during its posted hours.
It was only 14 months ago that I found Flat Rock Clay Supplies in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In a phone call with the presumed prospective owner today I learned, much to my dismay, the store is closed pending a change in ownership to be followed by a move to the Russellville area of Arkansas. I didn’t ask why the new owners plan to move the business, but for ceramic artists and potters in Northwest Arkansas this is bad news.
Flat Rock Clay is the only ceramics supplier in Arkansas. The next nearest is an un-vetted outfit in Colcord, of all places, Oklahoma, and as I recall they only stock two or three clay bodies. There was also a clay store in Tulsa last I knew, which is a 90 minute drive (plus tolls) from Siloam Springs. From the I-540 corridor it’s more like two-and-a-quarter hours.
Paying to ship wet clay is just plain not desirable. Buying raw materials and mixing your own is great, if you have the space and money to buy a mixer, neither of which I have.
Documenting my sculpturing in Posterous 7 May 2009
Posted by pcNielsen in Art, Business of art, Ceramics, Sculpture.add a comment
I’ve begun using Posterous as a way to share images on Twitter. It seems more stable and easier to use than TwitPic. The result is an interesting photographic feed documenting my time in the studio.
The images are low quality, conveniently taken with my cameraphone, but they do the job. Posterous is extraordinarily simple. You sign up (you can use Facebook Connect if you use Facebook), choose which services you’d like your Posterous Feed to show up in (if any) and then use your email to upload photos to the stream. If anyone’s feeling generous, today is my birthday and I’m wishing for a Flip camera in order to take better snapshots and video of my three-dimensional works in the future (insert emoticon here)!
If you’re interested in the stream, follow the Posterous feed at pcNielsen.posterous.com, or my Twitter feed at Twitter.com/pcNielsen. I’ve also been doing a little more targeted marketing using both Twitter and Google Reader by following the feeds and blogs of storm chasers. The reasoning for this is two-fold. First, I hope to find some inspiration in the photographs and videos posted by the chasers. Secondly, I hope to reach out to potential patrons. The thought is that storm chasers might be interested in a sculpture of a thunderstorm for their living room or foyer.
We’ll see if that actually pans out.
God in the Gallery 30 April 2009
Posted by pcNielsen in Art, Art and faith, Business of art, Christianity, Criticism.1 comment so far
There’s a new book out titled God in the Gallery, written by Daniel Seidell. I intend to read the the book at some point; it’s already on my Amazon wish list.
Seidell was curator of The Sheldon when I was a studio art student at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Heather Goodman reviews the book over at L’Chaim. It’s a good review which includes the following quote:
The church, with its liturgical practice, is most definitely not the place to incorporate art that forces the worshiper to ‘ask tough questions,’ ‘challenge previously held beliefs,’ and so on. Those are absolutely important practices, but not in liturgy.
Bear in mind that Seidell is a curator, not an artist or clergyman.
I’m not sure what I think of this particular statement. As someone who thinks often and in detail about the space I visit for regular corporate worship, I can see his point. However, as a visual artist I think I have to disagree. Goodman’s own comments might sum up this discord as well as I can (emphasis mine):
I don’t agree. To be fair, Siedell doesn’t believe that the church stymies imagination but can inspire the imagination, especially through engagement with Nicene theology. But I don’t like this separation of art for the church and art for the world. First, in our teaching (sermons, Bible studies, Sunday schools, small groups), we “ask tough questions” and “challenge previously held beliefs,” so why not in our art in the church? Second, if drawing into the church encourages and prepares us to go out into the world, why should we compartmentalize aspects of our life? Shouldn’t it all flow together?
(I want to note that in addition to stimulating the imagination, Siedell also believes the church can patron the arts and should, not just through funding, but through training the artist spiritually. I wholeheartedly agree with this.)
I allow that there’s an expectation level. You don’t want to shock the worshiper so that they can’t worship. This requires discernment, gentleness, and education. I’ll also allow that not every bit of art is appropriate because it may not be an art that a particular culture engages in. Sometimes this should be challenged, but sometimes it is in line with contextualization. But art that a culture engages in as part of their everyday lives is fair game.
All in all Goodman thoroughly enjoyed God in the Gallery and recommends it for anyone interested in the conversation between art and faith. I’ll add that I’m glad Seidell took the time to write the book from his point of view as a curator.
Raise money to fund your creativity 29 April 2009
Posted by pcNielsen in Art, Business of art.add a comment
A new fundraising service launched this week called Kickstarter. It’s apparently an expansion of SellaBand which is geared towards musicians. Kickstarter is aimed at pretty much everyone, “Kickstarter is a great tool for artists, writers, designers, filmmakers, musicians, journalists, entrepreneurs, athletes, adventurers, inventors, bloggers, comic book creators, explorers, curators, promoters, philanthropists, performers, and lots of others.”
“Currently the ability to start projects is by invitation only,” the website states. Only a handful of projects have been published thus far, and only one seems to be what I’d qualify as the visual arts. Photographer Laura Kicey is raising money for an excursion to Iceland. She’s being backed by three people at this point who’ve pledged — you can sign up and pledge even though you can’t create your own project — who’ve pledged $180. Kicey’s goal is $350. I was surprised and encouraged that money had already been given to some of the causes. Donors are rewarded not with tax deductions but objects from the artist, based on the size of the donation.
I’m trying to think of what kind of project I’d post on Kickstarter, if I were given the chance. At this point people are asking for as little as $20 for a drawing and as much as $80,000 to fund a film.
On the lower end, I’d probably set up a budget to help me function more easily in my garage studio over the next year or so. I have a goal to create enough new work in the next 12 months to fill a quality portfolio for an MFA program. This would probably amount to something around $1,000 and would include tools and materials such as clay, glaze materials, website finagling and a bandsaw. Of course, I could also ask for dollars to fund a stint in an MFA program. Now we’re talking in the $50,000+ range. A happy medium might be $5,000 to cover studio expenses over the next three years for me, as an aspiring mixed media sculptor.
Via TechCrunch.
More on marketing art with Twitter 19 April 2009
Posted by pcNielsen in Art, Business of art, Fiber, Sculpture.add a comment
Regina Anderson contributed a post to TwiTip titled Using Twitter to Market Your Art. She’s a little more specific than I was in my post earlier this week.
I am a handcrafting artist, so I made a list of ‘artsy’ cities, located their media names in Twitter, and began following them one at a time. Almost all of them followed me back. As I read through the tweets, I found business names, mostly shops and boutiques, mentioned in each city, so I started following them.
Since my tweets describe the project I’m working on at that moment, I was able to generate interest and credibility as an artist. This is in addition to the artists I follow on twitter who regularly provide me with creative ideas, venue possibilities, and trade show information. I’ve even been interviewed and showcased on two different sites as a direct result of my Twitter connections. As all these relationships developed, I started adding more city twitters to follow.
So far I have targeted six cities and identified at least two shops in each city as potential new venues for my handcrafted art. This Twitter technique has proved to be a very valuable marketing tool. I have products in two shops right now and I am discussing consignment placements with a few others.
I am really at the tip of the iceberg. The potential for business connections is unlimited.
Anderson uses crochet to create sculptures. My wife has done some of this as well, including the bamboo below which sits on her writing desk.
Social media as marketing for art 15 April 2009
Posted by pcNielsen in Art, Business of art, Ceramics, Sculpture.4 comments
My day job largely involves marketing and the internet. Thus, I try to keep up with the latest fashionable websites, at the least as a way to inform my online marketing ventures.
I joined Twitter more than two years ago, but never used it. Last month the boss and the wife began tweeting, so I thought I might tag along. When I learned about the plethora of tools now available that allow you to use Facebook and Twitter somewhat simultaneously, I decided to stick with it (Right now I’m using TweetDeck.).
I’ve learned in my relatively brief Twittering career that the website requires focus and moderation, self-editing in the boss’s words. It’s easy to get carried away, sharing every little detail about your lunch. How you couldn’t decide what to order. How there was a hair in your soup. That you tipped the cute waitress 25%. To the right kind of social scientist, these otherwise inane tweets probably hold a certain amount of value. To the rest of us, they’re simply inane.
Twitter, even the internet, is a very new technology. It’s users are, in essence, figuring out how to use it as they go. A lot of people deride the service. Millions more are using it and, despite the website’s notorious instability, it continues to grow at a phenomenal rate.
Earlier this week I somewhat timidly added links to my Facebook and Twitter profiles, to both the Contributors page on The Aesthetic Elevator and my bio over at pcNielsen.com, basically inviting the world to friend and/or follow me. I did this for one reason: To market the brand that is Paul Nielsen, mixed media sculptor.
As much as artists claim to despise the marketing side of their career, the need for a certain amount of (humble) self-aggrandizement is part of the gig. The advent of the internet puts certain tools at an artist’s disposal that make getting your name out there — wherever there may be — easier than in decades past.
I hope to make my Twitter feed something of a miniature Aesthetic Elevator. Such services are referred to as microblogs, after all. I’m starting out by posting a link to a Han Dynasty clay sculpture that my wife forwarded me.
Photo from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Is an MA in studio art useful? 7 April 2009
Posted by pcNielsen in Art, Art education, Artist as genius, Business of art, MFA, Personal reflection.13 comments
My wife and I continue to be overwhelmed with options and a lack of direction in our search for the next stage in life, as it were. Yesterday her sister — with whom she’s quite close — suggested we move eastward to Muncie, Indiana, so they could be in the same city. That rationale doesn’t hold much water, though, as she and her husband hope to leave Indiana when he graduates in a year.
Regardless, since we have so little apparent direction, I gave my sister-in-law’s idea a few minutes worth of internet research. I learned that real estate in Muncie seems to be very inexpensive (from what a person can tell on the internet, not knowing the quality of a neighborhood and such), and found in particular a swell old house on the historical registry for under $45k.
I also surfed around Ball State’s website and learned that BSU offers an MA in studio art, but not an MFA. This was a bit surprising; I expected a university of that size to offer the latter.
I haven’t given serious consideration to an MA up to now, mainly because it’s not a terminal degree, required for teaching at the college level. I asked a friend at JBU if they’d hire someone with an MA, and he replied “Yes, if they’re working towards a terminal degree.” That makes an MA pretty much worthless to me from what I can tell, unless it counts towards an MFA program in the future — which it might (if you know, please comment!).
I’ve had some conversation about MAs and MFAs with artist Sarah Irani. Sarah has a friend who earned an MFA from the University of Dallas and had a terrible experience. She quotes her friend: “As for grad school, it’s a waste because it is 1% useful instruction on making/becoming an artist and 99% a vetting and indoctrination process to weed out ‘the unworthy.’” I have to hope that my own alma mater, the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, is more than this based on my knowledge of its ceramics department. However, the Art School Confidential stereotype has all to much basis in reality.
Sarah has an MA. She listed her reasons for not getting an MFA in an email:
* I was working at a college that offered an MA. I got tuition reimbursement for working there.
* I didn’t want to deal with the crap that they dish out at art schools.
* I was working as an apprentice to a sculptor on big commissions from the time that I graduated until after I was married. There was no sense in paying to get an MFA when I was operating my own studio and getting paid to do big sculptures.
* By the time I was done with the commissions, I was married and wasn’t in the position to move to be close to a school. I could have driven over an hour each way to Baltimore or Washington, but the expense would have been unbearable.
* The expense. My friend who went to University of Dallas is so overwhelmed by student debt that she’ll never afford a home. I do not recommend getting into debt with an MFA. It doesn’t pay off.
“All of that being said, an MA works for me and my situation. What are your goals? If your goals are anything other than being a college professor, I say skip the MFA. It is probably a waste of your time. If you want to be a professor, then you more or less have to go,” she continued, and then suggested Notre Dame, which apparently doesn’t charge MFA students tuition. Sounds too good to be true, but I plan to look into it anyway!
Of course that’s just what I need, another option.
Sarah reminded me this afternoon, as we chatted via Gmail, that such a circumstance as my wife and I find ourselves in is also an exciting time. She quoted her father, who used to tell her “that if I didn’t have a word from God, to move in the direction of my desires and trust God to care for me.
Not my selfish desires, mind you.”
