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Regularly
check out our new blog:
www.arizonapleinairpainters.blogspot.com
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Letter from the Vice President of APAP
Cody Delong
I was thinking recently about
the times we live in. Last week I went on a night
hike with a friend. Why a night hike in a blizzard
you ask? Because I got a new jacket for Christmas
and my buddy had a new headlamp, and they needed to
be tested out, of course. The dogs loved the idea,
although for some strange reason our wives elected
to stay at home. And FYI -- no headlamp shines very
far when the snow is falling hard and heavy. We got
lost for awhile and our two-hour hike turned into
three. Luckily, my new coat performed better than
the headlamp.
Modern technology is truly
amazing, and so are these times. Even though there
are a lot of bad things happening today –
proliferation of scary weapons, disease, poverty,
political corruption / ineptitude – there is also
much to love.
I love digital music storage,
and my digital camera is just awesome. Digital
printing - so great, email (good or bad, it’s up to
you), websites, social networking, modern vehicles
and, if you have insurance, modern medicine. Not to
mention today’s superior art supplies delivered
right to your door.
Excellent training is at
one’s fingertips online or in workshops all over the
world. Globalization of markets and the
opportunities to express your creativity have
multiplied, and this is mostly good. True, it’s a
faster-paced world, and people are stressed by a
multitude of things these days. Still, we have
freedoms, conveniences and opportunities that our
grandparents never even dreamed of.
Winter seems to be a time of
extremes, no frostbite intended. I’ve had a lot of
visitors in my studio this month despite the
weather, collectors and artists alike. The
collectors have been mostly upbeat, but with the
artists it’s been a real mix. Some have been very
excited about their latest project or class, while
others have been quite down, complaining about the
economy and their lack of sales, etc.
It’s true that in these times
there are many more of us creating than collecting.
However, most of the artists I’ve heard complaining
are not the struggling artists who actually eat or
starve by their art. Ironically the “complain-air”
painters are generally the ones who don’t need to
sell every day: people who are already financially
stable. The most unhappy artists are those who
judge their worth and success only in terms
of sales. They are missing the point – art is for
the soul, not the wallet.
Your quality of life is not
entirely determined by the size of your bank
account. Sure, we all need enough to live on, but
remember, you can’t take that Mercedes with you.
You can, however, leave behind some inspired art if
you have a true love of it and your motives are
genuine. There’s nothing wrong with being motivated
by sales. It’s great validation. Just make sure
it’s not your only motivation.
As for the times, if you want
to increase your sales, you have to build your name
and your skills. Both are long-term propositions
and as a member of APAP, you have some wonderful
opportunities at your disposal – shows, paint-outs,
classes, camaraderie and so on.
Sometimes when you
participate in a show or event, just like when you
invest in advertising, you don’t always experience
immediate results. There may not be instant
gratification. But you do get exposure and
hopefully some feedback. People see your work, they
may be looking at your website or dropping your name
at the dinner table. They may be planning to buy
something as soon as the economy improves just a
little more.
Take advantage of your
membership. Get involved, participate, encourage a
fellow artist, and keep painting strong – as though
your work is in great demand – because it is, or
should be, in your own heart.
Brush the ice from your
eyelashes and realize the opportunities of our
times.
Cody DeLong
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Congratulations to Founding Member
Linda
Dellandre , she the won the Award of Merit
at the
Richeson75 Pastel Competition for the painting
"Barn in the Corner".
She has also been invited to participate in
Sedona
Plein Air 2010.
Feb. 23- March 9th, 2010
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The
SunDust Gallery in
Old Town Mesa presents the
Arizona Plein Air Painters
"Small
Gems"
APAP Winter
Show!
48 W. Main St. in Downtown Mesa
Prospectus
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Mark your calendars for March 6th, 2010 for
our
2nd Annual Hassayumpa River Preserve
Paint-out and Show.
This is a non-juried event, open to all APAP members.
Please get down to
the preserve during the next year, catching each of
the seasons.
We would like the 2010 show to really
show off the Preserve in all its color and glory.
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