Lisa Call

Tracy left the following comment on my last post and I was going to respond to in the comments but I’m in the middle of moving everything out of my studio and bedrooms and office so they can do carpet today and writing a longer blog post about this seemed like a good diversion.

Facebook’s Image Policy

Be careful about the Facebook transfer. I know that they did have a policy of owning the rights to images that you post, including art images. I pulled mine off of the site. There was quite a backlash about it, including a few high profile news articles, but I don’t know whether they have actually changed anything.

First off – I really appreciate the concern – I love that artists are always looking to help other artists. What an amazing community we have – so thank you Tracy.

Facebook changed their policy back after the uproar and they are working on a new one with input from the user community. I do not view facebook as the bad guys – they were doing a bit of CYA and went a bit overboard then quickly responded to the concerns raised.

I don’t think facebook was ever after owning the copyright on artwork images and even so what could they do with a low resolution small image intended for viewing on a computer? It wouldn’t print very well so it’s not going to take them very far. Facebook is not in the business of marketing or licensing art. They are a software a service provider.

But wow – just imagine for a minute that they were in the business of stealing art and they stole mine and generated a huge buzz and got really rich. Woohoo! Wow – that would mean there is this huge market out there for my work (which really, I know there is, I’m just starting to tap into it). It would just be a matter of a bit of work on my part to jump onto the buzz that they would create.

Images on the Internet

I don’t believe that putting images on facebook is any different than putting them here – if someone wants to steal them and do things with them I do not authorize it’s kinda hard to stop them – it’s the internet. There are risks involved.

There are also risks involved in driving also – but the benefits far far out way them so I take a few precautions (seat belts, being a defensive driver, etc) and hop in my car almost daily.

Same thing with putting my art on the internet. I think the benefits far far outway the risks so I take a few precautions (only post low resolution images, include a copyright notice on my sites and in the descriptions next to all of my images) and upload new art as often as possible.

My thoughts on the subject, not intended as the right way to do things, just my opinion. Everyone has to assess the risks/benefits themselves and take whatever precautions they are comfortable with.

Now back to carrying stuff from Point A to Point B.

Structures #1
Textile Painting
74" x 38"
©2005 Lisa Call
$12,000

Snow and Building

I was going to write a blog post about social media last night, and then today, but I decided nope, time to take a bit of a break from doing stuff. So that will have to wait. I need to spend some time chilling out as the construction comes to a close. Basically I’m tired. Need to get my energy back.

Only 1 more week and I think it’ll be done – or done enough that I will be moved in and just have minor things here and there to fix. The major stuff will be done. Tomorrow and Saturday carpet and maybe my studio closet then next week paint. I need some studio furniture built, put up some design walls and then I’m in business.

The weather did it’s best to put the brakes on the project but it didn’t win. They finished moving my studio closet door to a more discrete location then did the drywalling and texturing just as the storm was at it’s peak. Then the blizzard kinda gave up and it’s just regular kinda snowing out there now – no more blowing horizontally – which is always interesting.

The First

I’m uploading images of my artwork to facebook so thought I’d share what I wrote over there here also:

Structures #1 is the first textile painting/quilt I made in the Structures series. I started the painting in 2000 in a workshop in Ghost Ranch, New Mexico.

When starting a new series the first thing I do is make sketches and since I work in fabric my sketches are also constructed with fabric, usually black and white. So after that I was ready to jump into a lot of color. I love the richness of my handdyed fabrics.

This artwork, along with all of my textile paintings, is heavily textured with stitched lines less than 1/4″ apart across the entire surface. The tactile nature of this type of detail makes them nearly irresistible to touch.

Detail:

Carl and Jerry bolting the last of the lights to the ceiling.

Perfect

Yay! The studio lights are finally installed. It only took 4 attempts and 2 months but it happened. And they are perfect.

I didn’t hire a lighting designer so with a bunch of online research I took a big guess and a big check and ordered some top of the line commercial lighting fixtures for the studio.

I’m going to do a series of posts about building a studio later on and don’t have time to go into details tonight – just wanted to do a little happy dance with you all.

The lights installed (not easy taking a photo of lights but it’s as bright and white as daylight in my studio now – 24/7):

Structures #41
Textile Painting
©2004
44" x 31"
Private Collection

Create Denver Expo

Yesterday was an excellent day at the Create Denver Expo. I attended some interesting workshops, got my portfolio reviewed and my presentation on social media went well.

After the event many of the artists attended a city sponsored happy hour at a local bar where I connected with some fun and interesting artists. Its such an awesome thing to connect with other artists and talk about life and art.

It reminds me that on the deepest level my Structures series is more about connections than boundaries. We all put up our barriers to protect ourselves but what most all of us really crave is a real connection with others. We have to knock down the walls first but when we take the risk and really connect, it’s very rewarding.

Yesterday was one of those perfect days where all went well and I am very excited about my art and the direction my career is going.

Studio Lights and Closet Door

Which is all great because I got home to discover the studio lights that were supposed to be hung while I was gone, were not. Due to a mixup there was no way for them to get into the house (it’s a mystery where the lock box key has gone off to).

So try #3 and still no studio lights. Amazing – but really just funny. They are going to try again tomorrow.

By friday the house passed all inspections (electrical/plumbing/mechanical) and they did a pre-inspection for the final building inspection on friday and everything got a thumbs up. Yay! This doesn’t mean the house is done but it means we are very very close.

I was a bit bummed the crazy door high up on the wall over the stairs for my studio closet passed inspection cause I don’t really like where it is. I was hoping the city would force us to move it. They didn’t.

So now I’m going to move it anyway. It’s going around the corner so it can’t be seen from the rest of the house. It will make the closet easier to get into, be much safer, and the house will look much much better. Not sure what it will cost me but it’s the right thing to do.

Too bad I didn’t think of this plan before they did the drywall. But no big deal – I can fix it now and a year from now I will be very very happy I didn’t settle from something that isn’t what I want.

This means I’ve pushed the carpet back to friday/saturday of this week. The house should be done by then. I am most most excited. Just imagine – I’ll get to make art again – in a real studio! Woohoo!

Social Media

If you’d like a copy of the handout from my social media talk you can find it here: Social Media: Marketing Miracle or Waste of Time?. To jump to the punch line – it’s neither (although it has the potential to be a waste of time if you let it).

I’m thinking about expanding the outline and include all the content from the presentation in the write up and create an ebook on social media for artists. Other things are a higher priority but it’s a thought. Would you be interested in reading something like that?

Structures #40
Textile Painting
©2005
44" x 44"

Create Denver Expo

This saturday I will be giving a talk, titled Social Media: Marketing Miracle or Waste of Time, at the Create Denver Expo. I’ve attended this expo the past 3 years (previously called Building Creative Businesses Expo) and am looking forward to both participating and speaking this time around.

The talk will be from 3pm-4pm.

Web 2.0, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, Blogging etc., etc. Everyone’s talking about social networking. What is it? How might an artist use it? What can you expect in return? Is it really a valuable marketing tool or just another way to waste a lot of time on the computer? My first hand experiences with social networking as an artist (and a bit of geek-talk based on my 26 years as a software engineer online).

They’ve already had to move my talk to a larger room based on registration so that’s pretty exciting. You can sign up for the expo and my workshop if you are interested here. It’s only $5 for the entire day.

Structures #40

I made the above textile painting a few days after driving up to Grand Lake from Denver in the fall of 2005. The colors in the valley were incredible: dusty greens, purples and oranges – different grasses and bushes that blended together into a beautiful drive.

I don’t think I’ve ever shown this textile painting in public, it’s one of those that was made and then I moved on to the next. Back in the days when I was very focused on just making work and pushing myself forward and not putting much thought into marketing or even showing the work. Fun time!

Construction Update

They contractors are working feverishly to get everything done for the final inspection on friday so there is a lot of activity at my house these days. The house won’t be finished but it will be very close after the inspection. I didn’t upload images last night but here are the first few days of the week:

March 16: Moving Day (I hired movers to put my piano up on my hardwood floor & bring my stuff home from storage).
March 17: Flooring/Sidewalk/Lights/Fridge

Home #9
Textile Painting
©2009
8" x 8"
NFS

The Cabin

My family spent quite a bit of time at our cabin in the mountains of New Mexico when I was growing up. It was up near the pecos wilderness area so we also did quite a bit of backpacking in the area.

I have many many fond memories of the place – no running water, no electricity, a wood burning stove – it was pretty darn cool. Nothing is better than burnt pancakes cook over a fire.

My mom asked if I could make a house textile painting that looked like our cabin with fake redwood log siding and bright green trim. Home #9 is the result of that effort and also her birthday present (sent only a month late – not too bad given the construction).

Happy Birthday mom!

Hotel Room
 

Construction Update

It’s been a while since I posted as the last moments of the remodel project are taking up much of my time. Big events like finishing hardwood floors and putting in carpet require a lot of movement of belongings.

Nothing is yet in it’s permanent position but tomorrow movers arrive to start that process by putting the piano up on hardwood floor.

Last week the floors were sanded and finished. They look great – the old and new boards blend well together and they did a nice job. But a smelly job – so I splurged and spent a night at a gorgeous 4 star hotel one night. What a treat. I’m so ready to trade in my twin sized bed for a king again.

Taking the time out for some totally indulgent self care (waffles and fresh berries and cream in the hotel restaurant the next morning was yummy) was perfect. I’m so ready to be living in my house so taking a break from the mess was great.

It’s not looking very likely I’ll be making much art this week but I’ll try to do a couple blog posts. I’m giving a talk next saturday here in Denver about social media so I need to post info about that event (Create Denver Expo).

In the meantime – here are links to the newest construction photos:

March 10-12 – Misc and prep for hardwood floor
March 13 – Refinished hardwood floor and some lights installed.

Lines #23
Textile Painting – Mounted on stretched canvas
©2009
3" x 3"
$75
Purchase Here

More New Art

Two days in a row – new art. Although truth is this one was done yesterday also. Just wanted to have something to post today as I knew there would be no art making today.

Much day job work to be done and doing a bunch of paperwork for the art business and planning for the construction. Speaking of the construction….

Colors

The painting is done! So wonderful to pay someone else to finish things up. They did in 3 days what would take me a year to paint.

I’ll tweak a few of the placements of colors now that I see it on the wall – the dark reddish brown from over the stairs will be pulled into the kitchen under the chair rail. And I’ll extend the brown that is currently there a bit more around the kid’s bedrooms.

But other than that I’m pleased. You can see the rest of the colors that they painted here:

March 9 – Construction Photos – Most of the paint
March 7 – Construction Photos – the kids bathroom paint and some in process paint photos
March 5 – Construction Photos – my bedroom (old news but incase you missed the best color – purple!)

With the colors I painted and the upcoming painting of my bathroom (it’s not yet ready for paint) there will be a total of 19 colors in my house (not counting the white studio walls and off white trim).

It’s so fun to have color and it’ll be even more exciting once I can put art on the walls.

But first they hardwood floor will be sanded and finished (wed and thurs). After that the rest of the stuff isn’t huge – well, okay, the carpet is pretty big cause it involves moving furniture. That is planned for around March 24 – and that should be pretty much the end of things, other than some furniture upgrades in the studio.

Might it be I’ll have my life back soon?

Lines #22
Textile Painting – Mounted on stretched canvas
©2009
3" x 3"
$75
Purchase Here

New Art

This weekend I was determined to get at least a few minutes in the studio and get some artwork finished. And I succeeded – yay! Lines #22 is fresh off the needle and ready for purchase.

It’s a bit more bright fuchsia in real life than what I can get on my monitor.

I started a group of small 3″ square pieces using the bright colors from Structures #106 and intend on completing all of them this month.

A No-Excuses Art-Marketing Seminar

Long time readers know that I highly recommend Alyson, from artbizcoach.com, for her wonderful seminars, blog and book (I’d Rather Be In the Studio) on art marketing.

She’s holding a workshop in Estes Park, CO on online promotion titled How to Use Email, Websites, and Blogs EFFECTIVELY to Promote Your Art, see her website here for more details.

The two-day workshop will be held in beautiful Estes Park, Colorado–the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park and I’m very happy to announce I will be in attendance as one of her helpers (signing people in, enjoying the views, etc).

Workshop Details:

May 2-3, 2009
Just $165 until April 1 ($195 after that)

You’ll learn:

* How to decide which online formats are best for you
* Five email secrets that produce results
* How to use an email newsletter to cultivate collectors
* How to expand your mailing list
* The Dos and Don’ts of artist Web sites
* Where to splurge and where to save
* Why you need a blog right now
* How to start your blog
* What to write on your blog
* How to increase traffic to your blog (and website)
* What to put in your website media room
* Why you can’t afford to ignore social networking sites

Please join us in Estes Park for what is sure to be an awesome weekend!

My House is Painted

Paint

With total happiness I came home from work today to a painted house. I love love love my purple front door. Life without an HOA is joyful.

They moved the bottom beams down a bit on the gable – which solved my "there is something seriously wrong here" feeling every time I looked at the house. I thought about painting purple behind the beams but thought that might be a bit much.

They will start painting inside tomorrow or friday and I’ve asked them to paint everything so I won’t be left with a big unfinished task to drain my energy. I still need to finish my bedroom but they will do everything else – yay!

The back:

 
And for those that have forgotten or never saw here is the before photo (it’s hard to believe this is the same house):

Studio Lights

Sadly the studio lights were not installed last week. Turns out they were longer than the lighting store told me they would be so they didn’t fit based on where we put the electrical boxes in the ceiling.

So time for plan F, which better mean final. I had to pull one of the light fixtures from the run and we’ll center what is left. We won’t try hanging them again for a while because the kids are currently living up in the studio.

Everything Else

There isn’t much left to do on the house. The indoor painting, a bunch of electrical, which seems to be a never ending task, some clean up, finishing the plumbing and cabinets and then some little stuff – like a fire wall between my garage and house up in the new attic.

Oh yea – there is the refinish of the hardwood floor and carpet still also. Big tasks requiring furniture moving. But soon soon it’ll be done and I’ll get my studio back.