Rockstar Mentor

Today’s Fan mail Friday question is from Noah from New York. He writes in and asks, “I have been painting for a few years and recently have sold my work at some outdoor shows. I sold a painting the other day and the customer asked me if he can pick up the painting after I finish it and varnish it. I have never been asked this question before and was taken back by this because I don’t varnish my art and I never have. I am I supposed to be doing this on my canvases, I paint in acrylics waterbed paint. Thank you for your time."   I am so glad that Noah asked this question, I have had this conversation with several artists in the past and believe it or not, not all artists seal their work. I certainly wanted to address this valued question here on the podcast so that others can benefit from it as well.   This is a decision that is entirely up to the artist, unless you are working to achieve a specific high tech looks with heavy polyurethanes to lacquers. Use a varnish or sealer that is waterbed and will work well with other acrylic applications.   Using a sealer will also help with achieving a consistent smooth look. The point of preserving your work for years to come is essential for the art and your reputation as an artist and it will benefit more ways that one.   Always test a swatch on a piece of mat bored or heavy paper to see how well the mediums will reach or compliment your paints.   Reference:  Liquitex, http://liquitex.com Golden Brand Paints http://www.goldenpaints.com Nove Color Paints: http://www.novacolorpaint.com   Many thanks to Noah for this valued question today. I want to point out also that if you do not intend to varnish or protect your artwork, keep true to yourself. There is nothing that say that you have to do this, but as an artist that also collects others works, I highly recommend that you at the very least explore some of these finishes.   My Fan Mail Friday episodes are here every Friday to help benefit you as an artist and get your weekend started. Maybe you have projects coming up or an exhibit that you're going to be in and need an extra boost of confidence to have you Rock it for your exhibit!

For the full summary of these show notes visit me at http://rockstarmentor.com/blog

Please visit our website to sign up to be on the front lines of amazing information and free downloads that I have prepared especially for you at. http://rockstarmentor.com

Visit me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/crushitmentor

To learn more about me, my art and colorful product line, visit Sonya Paz through my artist website, http://SonyaPaz.com

These podcasts are free to you and I am thrilled that you are tuning and (and hopefully) subscribing to the Rockstar Mentor Podcast. If you need more in depth or one on one private coaching, contact me directly at http://rockstarmentor.com/privatecoaching/

Thanks to "The Brush Guys" they can be located at http://thebrushguys.com they offer the best in all things brushes for all mediums and amazing specials on art supplies. Save 5% on your online order, use promocode: ROCKSTAR

For the full summary of these show notes visit me at http://rockstarmentor.com/blog
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Today’s episode we have a real treat - our first interview guest here on the Rockstar Mentor Podcast with amazing glass artist and fellow podcaster Jason Michael.

Glass artist Jason Michael has been creating works of art full time for more than 17 years.  Currently employed by The Arribas Brothers at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, he demonstrates his craft live on stage to thousands daily. 

Jason is also the host of his own podcast. "The WyzGuy Radio Show" which is dedicated to educating and inspiring today's glass artist while helping them grow their business's. His passion for his medium shines through his art and dialogue on his show.

We candidly discuss the excitement and challenges of being a fine artist in the world today, share some laughs and talk some smack.

Jason Michael’s Website
http://wyzguymedia.com/

For the full summary of these show notes visit me at http://rockstarmentor.com/blog

Please visit our website to sign up to be on the front lines of amazing information and free downloads that I have prepared especially for you at. http://rockstarmentor.com

Visit me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/crushitmentor
Visit me on Instagram: http://instagram.com/rockstarmentor

To learn more about me, my art and colorful product line, visit Sonya Paz through my artist website, http://SonyaPaz.com

These podcasts are free to you, and I am thrilled that you are tuning in (and hopefully) subscribing to the Rockstar Mentor Podcast. If you need more in depth or one on one private coaching, contact me directly at http://rockstarmentor.com/privatecoaching/

Thanks to "The Brush Guys" they can be located at http://thebrushguys.com they offer the best in all things brushes for all mediums and amazing specials on art supplies. Save 5% on your online order, use promocode: ROCKSTAR

 

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Today’s Fan mail Friday question is from Cara from Ft Lauderale. She writes "Hi Sonya, I'm just getting started with my art business and I want to start applying to exhibits and shows. I don't know the first thing about writing a bio and would like to know what else do I need to put in there and what to include."

Excellent question from Cara, thank you so much for writing and asking. Believe it or not a lot of people write a bio and have no idea what to put in there so they either put two less information or far too much information.

Of course through my art career I have written have had several versions of my bio written and it certainly has evolved. What you need to really focus on is what are The essentials.

1), Influencers. Tell the reader who you are and what drives you as an artist.  

2) Accomplishments, if you have exhibited in an exhibition or a group showing at a gallery or in an open studios format. 

3) Public or published works note those as well, shout it out to the world!

4) Awards. if you have won awards for any your work, write it down and tell the story. People want to know what types of award you have been involved with, if you're a watercolor artist and have one something from your local watercolor Society or special group interest of ceramics and received an award for 

5) Specific collector base. if you cater to a specific collector base, you can mention that as well. The point is to let folks know that you're out there in the community.

Your artist bio is a growing document if you have a website this is great because you can change your bio up pretty easily. If you are going to print this to include with other documentation that you provide to your collectors or handout it shows realize that it will evolve and change and for you may want to consider smaller print runs so that you can keep your bio current. 

Don’t forget to add your contact info, studio address (if applicable) website, phone number and social networking links.

I am so glad that Cara asked this question, I do get this question asked often but certainly wanted to address this valued question here on the podcast so that others can benefit from it as well.

My Fan Mail Friday episodes are here every Friday to help benefit you as an artist and get your weekend started. Maybe you have projects coming up or an exhibit that you're going to be in and need an extra boost of confidence to have you Rock it for your exhibit!

For the full summary of these show notes visit me at http://rockstarmentor.com/blog

Please visit our website to sign up to be on the front lines of amazing information and free downloads that I have prepared especially for you at. http://rockstarmentor.com

Visit me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/crushitmentor

To learn more about me, my art and colorful product line, visit Sonya Paz through my artist website, http://SonyaPaz.com

These podcasts are free to you and I am thrilled that you are tuning and (and hopefully) subscribing to the Rockstar Mentor Podcast. If you need more in

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If you want to be serious about connecting with your collectors and building a loyal client base to create from your heart and tell a story with your work this episode is for you.  In this episode I explain the facets necessary to set the stage to tell your story to increase interest with your collectors.
Be honest and passionate about your work, no matter if it's paintings, jewelry, sculpture, textile etc.  When you can relay your experiences and heartfelt story to your audience, you will connect with your customer and the relationship will evolve.  This will certainly ignite the sales of your work!

For the full summary of these show notes visit me at http://rockstarmentor.com/blog

Please visit our website to sign up to be on the front lines of amazing information and free downloads that I have prepared especially for you. http://rockstarmentor.com

Visit me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/crushitmentor

To learn more about me, my art and colorful product line, visit Sonya Paz through my artist website, http://SonyaPaz.com

Thanks to "The Brush Guys" they can be located at http://thebrushguys.com they offer the best in all things brushes for all mediums and amazing specials on art supplies. Save 5% on your online order, use promocode: ROCKSTAR

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Episode 018 Fan Mail Friday Burnout  

Roberto from Laguna Beach:

  "Sonya I am very happy for you that you are back doing the art marketing workshops! Your energy and enthusiasm is admirable! I've always wanted to attend but could never get up to the San Jose area.  We met a number of years ago  in LB while I had an art show here and I'm hoping you can help me. I feel like I am burning out from all the shows, did you ever experienced this burnout and how did you get over it."  Warmly, Roberto T.    First of all, Roberto! I am so excited to hear from you and I am thrilled to know that you're still exhibiting. I do recall us meeting probably 10 years ago and having a conversation about art marketing.    I knew at the time you were only creating originals and very small prints, and they were absolutely amazing!   So for the question of burnout, have I ever experienced it? Absolutely, time and time again! There were times where I felt so burned out that I needed to step back and almost threw in the towel a few times, but my commitment to myself and to others was on the line and I wasn't going to let a little burnout get me down.    Now burnout can come in many ways shapes and forms, it can cause you to be so overwhelmed with work and projects that you feel as though you can't even produce, or create anything.  Burnout can be from doing way too many shows in a short period of time or overcommitting on shows in any length of time.    Now I've been an artist for over 20 years and I will be the first want to tell you that the moment you try to take any downtime even if it's staying at home doing nothing but watching old movies on the TV or reading, the guilt factor starts to creep in at full force and it's quite a monster  to wrangle.    I'm not exactly sure what burnout you're experiencing would like to think that it's too much work on your plate right now which is a good thing or perhaps not. Everyone works through these things so differently, there was a point I had about 12 commissions on the calendar and I didn't know which end was up. I was trying to be so accurate and completing the commissions based on how they were scheduled in and that was really stifling to me so instead I ended up taking and sorting them out so that I could manage an easier, with the smaller pieces and the simpler designs I would do those first and worked myself up towards the larger detailed works.      I also know that when doing the art shows it's important to spread them out so that they're not every single weekend, that is the most quickest way to get instant burnout. And I know that a lot of us want to take on those dates of the shows because we need because this is our livelihood and this is what we do for a living, but the reality is you won't be your best at the show you won't be the best you that you can be and that could cause your presence at an event or at an art show to be jeopardized.    The most important thing as an artist is when you're inspired act on it when you're tired and you don't feel like anything fresh is coming to surface, take a break, take a walk, take the dog for a walk have some downtime and just chill chilax. We're human and we need some downtime, I am on the go go go 24/7 and sometimes I just need a day to reflect and re-collect my thoughts and my energy.   I hope that these words for you Roberto and for anyone else that's in countering the same type of burnout that this will help you and allow you to take care of yourself.  

For the full summary of these show notes visit me at http://rockstarmentor.com/blog
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For those of you who are new to listening to this podcast series, I am recapping the first  episodes to give you an idea what's in store for you.  This is not counting the (FMF) Fan Mail   Friday episodes but this is an overview of the past episode since I launched this podcast.
 
Everything from branding to art show prep, meeting and greeting to applying to public art shows.  These first podcast episodes are packed full of great tips and amazing value, learn from me,  Sonya Paz who had done everything in this art industry from product development to owing my own   galleries.

If you are new to the podcast, please keep listening and subscribe, if you have been listening  each week - THANK YOU and please sign up to receive my newsletter at my website page at  http://rockstarmentor.com/

If you are on Facebook, join us there at http://facebook.com/rockstarmentor

I want to thank you all for the incredible feedback on my podcast series so far, your feedback,  comments, questions - you are all amazing and I appreciate the support that you have all provided  - ROCK ON!

For the full summary of these show notes visit me at http://rockstarmentor.com/blog
Please visit our website to sign up to be on the front lines of amazing information and free downloads that I have prepared especially for you. http://rockstarmentor.com

Visit me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/crushitmentor
To learn more about me, my art and colorful product line, visit Sonya Paz through my artist website, http://SonyaPaz.com

Thanks to "The Brush Guys" they can be located at http://thebrushguys.com they offer the best in all things brushes for all mediums and amazing specials on art supplies. Save 5% on your online order, use promocode: ROCKSTAR

Support the show

Episode 015

"Get that video camera out of my face" that is what I would say anytime anyone with a video camera came around me. I was never comfortable being in the view of video camera. This fan mail Friday is touching on an observation one of my collectors had seen recently on one of my Facebook live videos that I had on my Sonya Paz gallery page.

Randall who is a videographer out of the Los Angeles area as well as a collector of my work stumbled onto my Facebook live video on my art page and was stunned at what he saw. For several years he wanted to capture me in my studio and I was apprehensive each time he asked.
This episode covers a bit of why I was apprehensive and how I really seem to now gravitate toward the strange medium of my video on Facebook for the whole world to see.

In my excitement on covering this topic, I failed to read Randall's email to me on the air. So I will post it here:

"Sonya I recently viewed your live video feed on Facebook and I was pleasantly surprised, shocked yes, but very pleasantly surprised. I know for several years when heading up to Northern California I wanted to capture you in your studio, and you were very honest about how you felt about being video taped. It looks like you're having a great time on Facebook live and you seem to be a natural at it, I think we need to do a Facebook live the next time I'm up in Norcal, I think it would be a blast! Keep up the great work"

Randall, thank you again for your email! You have absolutely no idea how fun is medium is and how the spontaneity of the moment seems to really pull me in and I gravitate toward that. The thing I've mentioned is that this is live video feed and it's a "one take Jake" so it's more organic and I feel I can really be myself  because I don't have the painstaking task of having to rehearse the script or won't be able to see how I will interact until the video is done. The live feed is great because I can view myself doing the video therefore I feel that I'm actually more engaged with the audience. Not to mention that the audience can participate and give acknowledgments by way of likes and comments which only enhances the engagement and then I get to call out the viewer and they really  like that too.

I apologize for not reading Randalls question over the air, my mistake (eeeekkkkkk!) and I will correct  those things in the future. But for now have a listen to the podcast, try something new, get on Facebook live, engage with your group or your collector base and rock 'n' roll!

For the full summary of these show notes visit me at http://rockstarmentor.com/blog
Please visit our website to sign up to be on the front lines of amazing information and free downloads that I have prepared especially for you. http://rockstarmentor.com

Visit me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/crushitmentor
To learn more about me, my art and colorful product line, visit Sonya Paz through my artist website, http://SonyaPaz.com

Thanks to "The Brush Guys" they can be located at http://thebrushguys.com they offer the best in all things brushes for all mediums and amazing specials on art supplies. Save 5% on your online order, use promocode: ROCKSTAR

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I'm not one that knows much about online gaming even though I have two sons who play different types of gaming and gaming tournaments, specifically this whole Pokémon Go movement.

Apparently a public art project of a painted utility box that I painted with the "Art Box Project" in San Jose in 2013 made it to  one of the locations for Pokémon Go. I guess this is a big deal and aside from getting into the logistics about Pokémon. I've received a lot of emails comments and acknowledgment that the art box that I painted is referred to as "silly flowers painted box". But aside from getting into a whole discussion about Pokémon I wanted to touch on public art projects in general.

There are public art projects all around the country, it where you can submit your work to be part of public art projects all around the United States, in your local vicinity, and so many other cities.

What kind of public art are you doing and if so what are you doing? I would love to hear more  about this from you.  Write to me and share with me what you are doing?

 For the full summary of these show notes visit me at http://rockstarmentor.com/blog
Please visit our website to sign up to be on the front lines of amazing information and free downloads that I have prepared especially for you. http://rockstarmentor.com

Visit me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/crushitmentor
To learn more about me, my art and colorful product line, visit Sonya Paz through my artist website, http://SonyaPaz.com

Thanks to "The Brush Guys" they can be located at http://thebrushguys.com they offer the best in all things brushes for all mediums and amazing specials on art   supplies. Save 5% on your online order, use promocode: ROCKSTAR

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Episode 014- Fan Mail Friday

An awesome question from Betsy from Detroit Michigan asks
“How long do I wait to follow up with someone after the exhibition?  Same day, a week or when?”

Great question and many thanks to Betsy from Detroit! There is no perfect science in the follow up, in my personal experience allow a good 24 buffer and each person is different and each circumstance is different. Send a friendly email, let them know that you remember them and that you are simply following up.

Be sure to include in the email the picture of the works they are interested along with the size and the price.  Offer to have them view the work again in a less congested setting, or if they are local, offer to bring the piece by to see if it the art will work in their space. Email is good, post card is also an option as a great follow up.

Give it some time, if they promise to get back to you and don’t, perhaps ping them in a week.  Be assertive but don’t be a stalker.  If they are indecisive then simply let them know that you are available and also let them know how long your show is hanging and/or when your next exhibit is.

For the full summary of these show notes visit me at http://rockstarmentor.com/blog
Please visit our website to sign up to be on the front lines of amazing information and free downloads that I have prepared especially for you. http://rockstarmentor.com

Visit me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/crushitmentor
To learn more about me, my art and colorful product line, visit Sonya Paz through my artist website, http://SonyaPaz.com

Thanks to "The Brush Guys" they can be located at http://thebrushguys.com they offer the best in all things brushes for all mediums and amazing specials on art supplies. Save 5% on your online order, use promocode: ROCKSTAR

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Why do people fold and get so discouraged when they get told NO...? Don't allow anyone step on your dream, overcome the NO and turn it into the ultimate YES! Get through these obstacles with a positive midset and realize that you CAN conquer the No's with a powerful YES!

Continue to be amazing, rock your artwork, create new things, meet new people, inspire others and try something new.

For the full summary of these show notes visit me at http://rockstarmentor.com/blog

Please visit our website to sign up to be on the front lines of amazing information and free downloads that I have prepared especially for you. http://rockstarmentor.com

Visit us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/crushitmentor

To learn more about me, my art and colorful product line, visit Sonya Paz through my artist website, http://SonyaPaz.com

Thanks to "The Brush Guys" they can be located at http://thebrushguys.com they offer the best in all things brushes for all mediums and amazing specials on art supplies. Save 5% on your online order, use promocode: ROCKSTAR

Support the show