This is “Heading For The Weekend“, a new original (watercolor) figurative painting, size 15 1/2″ x 11 1/2″.

‘Debi Watson’ No More

I recently wrote in my newsletter that I feel ‘Debi’ doesn’t sound like a serious artist.  I asked a gallery owner and he agreed.

After all, Andrew Wyeth wasn’t called Andy.

And initials are even better.  (think N.C. Wyeth)

After getting a lot of feedback from my readers, I decided to go with D. Watson.  It sounds serious, maybe mysterious and possibly male, or who the heck knows?  It turns out many artists use their initials to sign their original paintings, so I’ll be in good company.  I’ll be changing over gradually.

Oils Vs Watercolor Con’t

And I rapidly found out that I don’t have the convenience of cropping oil canvases like I do with my watercolor paintings.  That means I have to do more planning, maybe a watercolor sketch to test my diminsions before I start the oil……..

Remember your New Year’s Resolutions?   Are they hanging on your wall somewhere, or just buried completely? 

It’s tough to stay focused in the modern world, because there’s so much to do and learn.  While  there are tons of good information at your fingertips on the internet, there’s also tons of bad information.  How do you sort it all out? 

Art Marketing NOW 

If you want to learn about all the ins and outs of art marketing I’ve discovered - Kelly and I are giving a one day workshop at the York Art Association on June 5, covering art marketing in person and on-line, with space for 45 students.  We’re still putting the details together, but you can put your name on the list to reserve a spot – just call or email YAA at (717) 755-0028 or yaa1@comcast.net .  I’ll be giving you more information on it as it gets finalized, and sharing a lot in this blog.

Juried Show Opportunities – One for now and one for later 

Deadline fast approaching - the Baltimore Watercolor Society’s 2010 Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibit  (last year $8,000 in awards and over $15,000 in sales.)   My award winning original watercolor painting above, Wannabe Lap Dog, was accepted and shown in their 2009 exhibit.  Also, the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society’s juried show prospectus is available on-line, for anyone who wants to get an early start. 

This is my third year sending calendar magnets to galleries, buyers, etc.  Yesterday I mailed fliers for my upcoming art show at Hanover and watercolor workshop near Hershey.  The lady working at the local post office glanced at my return address on the envelopes and smiled suddenly.

“Oh, you’re the artist!” she said.  “I have your magnet at my desk.  We love it when you send new postcards.  Everybody at the post office passes them around to see.”

Okay, it’s the local post office, but I have name recognition and people who care about my art.  It’s all about making it personal and keeping it in front of their faces.

New Watercolors! –  Hanover Art Guild Oct 3 – 24  Reception is Saturday Oct 3 from 2 – 4 p.m.

PWS Workshop – October 26 – 30 at Union Deposit Fire Hall (near Hershey, PA) contact Rose Sivar at (717) 564-4899

This is Dussman’s Auto, a small watercolor of the view from my local convenience store in Lancaster, PA.  I take a lot of photos when I run out to pick up milk or other odds and ends – morning and evening are the best photo times.

Good Advice For Watercolor Artists

Years ago, Dean Mitchell advised wannabe artists to enter the juried art exhibits and keep trying to improve your painting skills until you can get in.  That’s what I did.

Lots of times in the beginning, I didn’t get in.  I studied the accepted art, took classes and  worked hard.  Now my entries are accepted in the juried art exhibits more often than not, and I’m winning awards!   Now what?

Currently, I’m looking at exhibiting in art museums and contemporary art centers.  I feel it’s the next step.  Watercolor artists need to keep in mind that there are only steps in an art career, not destinations.  Even the most respected artists in our great nation are only known to a handful of people. There are no “rock stars.” You keep working or you’re history.  So enjoy your painting, whatever level you’re at. That’s the best advice.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

Last week, I went to Virginia to the Contemporary Art Center in  Virginia Beach and the Chrysler Museum of Art.  There are so many places to see and think about, it’s overwhelming.

What do you do in that case?  Look for a mentor: someone who has been there and done that.  On an artist friend’s advice, I contacted the Ratner Museum in Bethesda, and I’m going today to talk to the director.   I’ll let you know what happens!

It’s not about who you know, it’s about who knows you!

I’m always gathering information’ on how the art world works.  The gallery owner said, to get into a gallery, they need to know who you are.  The curator said, to approach a museum or art center, they have to know who you are……

A friend,  back from a vacation, called me in amazement.

“Debi!” he said excitedly. “I talked to the watercolor people up there and they know who you are! ”

He was more impressed by this than any of the awards I’ve won.

How do you get people to know who you are?

From Gallery Space in 717 magazine:  “Although a devotee of representational watercolor, the Lancaster County artist is cultivating a more painterly quality in her work.  Watson’s treatment of foliage combines traits of exactitude and impressionism that are blended with consummate skill.  Some paintings, which appear tightly rendered at first glance, eventually reveal to the viewer indistinct and suggestive passages.”

News of an art award or article in a magazine reaches some people, but probably not the important people in your art circle.  So send it to them. Share it with them. Put yourself in front of them again and again (without being obnoxious, of course.)

Were you mentioned in the paper or a magazine?  Put it on a postcard with a great image and send it out.  Won an award?  Share it with as many people as possible, but especially the ones who can further your career.  And always make a connection with a real person.  When you pick out a gallery or group you want to target, find out who would review your images and address your cards specifically to that person.

It’s OKAY to brag!

When some people have heard of you and your art, you’ll start to get a “name.”  If you do really well, you’ll become a “big name.”  You have to learn to brag.

I still have a problem with it, that delicate balance between promoting yourself and being too forward.’ (I think it’s a woman thing.)  My daughter helps and encourages me, pointing out when I’m downplaying myself.

(If you want to read more about women and marketing, check out her free website, just for women, One Woman Marketing.) I think it will always be easier to brag about my daughter than myself, but I’m learning.

There are thousands of good to great artists out there, but the ones that market are the ones that sell, so start marketing today!

My artist friend Sharon Benner recently had a showing of her original oil landscapes.  While preparing the promotional postcards marketing the show, she tried  to think of new markets who might buy her art.

Sharon reasoned that every funeral home needs quiet, comforting art, so she send cards to all the funeral homes in the town!  She didn’t have any sales to funeral homes, but said the owners were talking about her art.  In a bad economy, try every option for art marketing …

I worked all day getting a watercolor painting ready for a juried art show.  The painting I was trying to get finished just wasn’t done, so I tweaked two other paintings to make them more effective.

This is “Art At Rest. ” It’s very long and I worried that the best part of the painting was getting lost in a sea of “not best” areas, so I  sent a cropped  image.  If it gets in, I may crop the actual  painting.