February is Here

I continue to slowly incorporate changes into my home studio habits.  It's staying tidy and when I do walk in to work there,  it's welcoming.  I am having issues with wanting to work - I'd rather do my own pieces than commissions, but commission work calls.  So I struggle as an artist with the need to be creative and the obligation to produce.  It can be overwhelming and sometimes lately I just turn around and don't do any work at all.  Counterproductive and something I'm working hard on dealing with.

In the meantime, Susan B. continues to come here once a week to put my files and records in order.  She has been a godsend.  For the many hours she has put in, I'd have taken twice as long.  We finally have most of my art images on the MAC and most of my client list moved as well.  And we're using the eArtist application to pull it all together.

So I'll upload "Sprite."  This is an acrylic on panel which I actually did last May, but am now donating to the Richmond SPCA for an auction. (if you are local - it's a good cause!)

The panel is wood (ash, I think) and 4 x 4 inches.  Tinier than I usually work, but seemed right for a tiny dog.

Just for fun. This is my porch.  Those are my cars under snow. 

I'm really not fond of snow or cold, BUT, I've been able to get more done while inside. 

Studio Energy

This past Friday was our monthly 4th Friday Opening night.  Mike and I always have the studio open for those who wander over from their visit to Art Works next door or Art Space within Plant Zero.  We both went in exhausted and cranky from the week just ending, but it didn't take long for us to get into gear and enjoy the rest of the evening.

We both noted how much the studio along with our guests and other artists energize us.  I set up my easel and began a new painting and painted for most of the night.   It's fun to be able to share the birth of a piece with anyone who wants to watch.  I love the questions.  How do you decide the color?  Why do you paint in layers?  What makes you choose your subject matter?  Even though it is officially a "work night" for us, it's more of a social event.
A cocktail party where I get to wear jeans!  yahoo.

Mike greeted visitors and wandered around to see what else was happening.  Several times we were asked if we were married to one another.  I think we get along so well as studio-roomies (it's been a year now) and we mesh well as artists, it does lead some to wonder.  We like to give the emphatic "no way!" but really, I enjoy sharing the studio with Mike.  (shhhhh- don't tell him I said that).

At the end of the evening, when things wind down, we get to hang out with assorted friends and fellow artists.  I look forward to those moments.
If you haven't been out, we're there every 4th Friday night of every month, but December.

The Art Software

My friend and fellow artist Susan Singer has asked me to share my quest for a program to help me keep my records straight.

I'll start with my needs so it all makes sense.  I have over 130 images and counting.  I create notecards and have a monthly income from those sales.  I sell prints on request, due to the number of images available.  I paint on commission, so I have a large database of clients and a wait list to refer to.  I keep a mailing list that is organized into various categories.  In addition I have gallery and retail contacts.  Lastly, I keep track of when and where I met someone.  So I want a program to keep all of that information stored in one place and that has the ability to link most anything if needed.  (For example, if I do a show in another city, I would like to be able to organize a postcard campaign via zip codes.  Or if I sell a print, I'd like to link the image, the print and the client together, yet also keep the print edition and image in their own files)

I have used and liked Working Artist, which is on my old PC.  It is not MAC compatible, so I had to find another option.  First I went to Google and searched for programs for artists.  That led me to a variety of options, so I became more specific and looked for office management software for artists.  Then I found most were not MAC compatible, so I added in for MAC.  That led me to just a few.  I also had an article from a favorite art magazine that had a few listings.

I downloaded trial versions of eArtist  http://www.artscope.net/eArtist/
and Artist's Butler  http://www.lynnsoft.net/
and currently am also using a trial version of the made-for-MAC Bento http://www.filemaker.com/products/bento/features.html.

All are quite useful and none are perfect.  eArtist seemed the most complete for my needs, although not as easy to use or navigate as I would like.  Artist's Butler was the easiest to use and was no doubt designed for a MAC by and for an artist.  I came close to purchasing, but there was no way to keep track of prints that made sense for the number of images I have.  Combine that with the print size options  and attaching a sale to a client, then I would have had to create multiple, unlinked records.  Otherwise, it was just about the perfect program.  And Lynn at Lynnsoft answered my e-mailed questions within hours.  (nice!)

Then I discovered Bento.  It's a fun program and easy to use, with template options in the program and downloadable for free from other Bento users, but I'm seeing that I'd still have to create databases elsewhere and link them.  I like the ease of use in Bento, (oh, drag and drop, how I love my MAC!) and may just purchase it for other purposes at home, but for now eArtist is the program of choice.  I only wish it weren't quite so, I don't know, "officy."  If another program came along that met most of my needs and was simpler to use, I'd probably switch in a heartbeat. ( I'll keep my eye on you, Artist's Butler.)

Thanks, Susan, for the blog-sharing idea.  And thank you to Susan B. who is the one actually DOING all this data entry and organizing for me.