Jackie Battenfield’s new book, The Artist’s Guide – How To Make a Living Doing What You Love, is an excellent resource for visual artists at any stage of their career.  Battenfield writes in a professional and yet easy manner and provides invaluable information, inspiration and resources on making a successful career in the art world.

Battenfield’s words do more than just dictate the “how to” and “why for” of the business end of art.  She speaks from the heart and addresses such topics as knowing when you are ready to circulate your art (the difference between nurturing your artistic soul and preparing for business), how to take charge of your professional life, your marketing kit, creating your own opportunities, Introducing your work, building relationships and maintaining your practice.

This former gallery director, artist and teacher has supported herself for over 20 years through sales of her art.  She and her husband (also an artist) have successfully paid the bills, purchased life insurance, funded their pension plans, took vacations and put their son through college.  Jackie attributes this success to diligent planning and pursuing opportunities.  She freely shares this wealth of experience and knowledge with her readers.

Inspiring quotes and advice from dozens of art world professionals are sprinkled throughout the pages providing a “reality check” for the reader.  Real life examples and step by step exercises will teach you how to self promote, network, build relationships, broaden your funding resources and explore a wide range of exhibition, commission and sales opportunities beyond the walls of the traditional commercial gallery.

I highly recommend this book as someone who works on a daily basis with artists and as a graphic designer seeking opportunities for myself. Battenfield’s advice was helpful and smart.  The biggest praise I can give is that in reviewing the book I found a new resource which helped me help a client submit to a call for entry in NYC.  This book should be on every artists desk!!

So begins the introduction to artist Casey Shain’s latest exhibition, Local Colour – The Past Presented Today, now on display at the Keyes Gallery, Stony Creek, Connecticut.  What better way to spend a lazy summer afternoon, then visiting the Keyes Gallery, on Thimble Island Road and taking in a little art after a day at the shore.

Keyes Gallery presented approximately 80 of the artist’s works.  The Sunday afternoon opening was well attended indeed and despite the gloom and doom of the economy red dots were going up on the walls.

It isn’t painting, it’s not sculpture and it’s not typical New England landscape/still life gobbledegook.  Bits of parchment, silver foil, flowers and vintage photographs lovingly culled and affixed to barn board, shingles, and antique board. The work is etched, scratched, buffed and burnished and titles include such descriptions as Hoohoo’s Honeymoon Harley, Left Behind, Roses are Green, American Beauty Goes and Thank you, Nut Lady.  All works are personal to the artist and each one has a story and historical message.  Shain’s mixed media works range in palette from the most subtle pastels to bold saturated color and the subject matter takes the visitor back to perhaps our parents or grandparents time.  For those of us past that 60 year old set… a reminiscence of youth.  Perhaps we too, have photographs and love letters tucked away in our attics but never will they be so kindly displayed as when artist Casey Shain brings history to the present and reminds the visitor of a time not so long ago.

For some time I have been considering returning to school.  While pondering this attempt, I also know that I barely have time to do laundry let alone attend classes and do homework.  About a month ago, I rediscovered Lynda.  Lynda.com has been around since I first began to surf the web twelve years ago and is an award-winning provider of educational materials, including Hands-On Training™ instructional books, the Online Training Library®, CD- and DVD-based video training, and events for creative designers, instructors, students, and hobbyists.

The best part is that lynda.com provides online courses that the student can digest at their own pace.  Courses include Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Flash, CSS, Office, Web design, brochure design, digital photography and many many more.  Each course varies in length (2 hours – 12 hours) and is broken down into bite size Quicktime movies that allows the student to view 2-10 minute clips on a sub-topic at their convenience.

It’s brilliant.  If I find myself with a half hour before heading off to a meeting, I can go and take in a few movies on the new features of Photoshop CS4.  If I’m feeling particularly cerebral, I can watch for a few hours.

For anyone who thinks that being a designer just entails owning a copy of Photoshop, one should visit Lynda and view the instructional videos given by top professionals and experts in the field.  You will quickly see that while you may think you have it all down pat… there is much more to learn.  Tips and tricks, keyboard shortcuts, technique and insider secrets will lend themselves to professional and emerging designers alike.

It’s always good to brush up on your skill set and learning at lynda.com will inspire you to use new techniques to improve your workspace and your design work.  Library subscriptions begin as low as $25 a month, with no long-term commitment required.

I’m happy to share the news with you that INK Publications has rolled out their new website.  INK, Connecticut’s culture and lifestyle magazine, now offers complete monthly issues as a PDF download. Get all the articles, news, and fabulous profiles of Connecticut’s most highly skilled and talented artists, designers, photographers, businesses and eateries in one place.

Rarely does one go treasure hunting without a map… Make INK yours.

Check out this months issue with a feature article on photographer Jody Dole written by yours truly.