Tip #97 announcement letter
Hi all...well, wow, this time the letters went out via email with only minor glitches, but since some folks aren't on my announcement list, I'm putting it here too, as I usually TRY to remember to do!

We've been very, VERY busy lately...we had a death in the family and needed to make a flying trip to California just as I was preparing for my new online class, "Keeping an Artist's Journal." My brain is melting, but we got home, got the class up and going, and it is FULL! Very active and enthusiastic group...we got started last Monday, and I'm amazed at their inventiveness...
We've been very, VERY busy lately...we had a death in the family and needed to make a flying trip to California just as I was preparing for my new online class, "Keeping an Artist's Journal." My brain is melting, but we got home, got the class up and going, and it is FULL! Very active and enthusiastic group...we got started last Monday, and I'm amazed at their inventiveness...
Please keep your fingers crossed concerning a new book proposal, too! I'm excited...
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Tip #97 is on exploring flat brushes--they've become a staple for watercolorists, oil painters, and acrylic painters alike. FUN. Check it out on my website at http://cathyjohnson.info, and as usual, feel free to print it out, save it to your hard drive, share it with friends--that's what they're for!
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OH, AND SPEAKING OF COOL JOURNALS:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37479296@N0 6/ Skyeshell's wonderful pages are clean, crisp and inspiring...
And so are Stefano Faravelli's travel journals. Look under "Image gallery" and "Scrigni di carta" on the left, and enjoy--just browse! His color and composition are enchanting...makes me REALLY wish I read Italian!
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AND INTERESTING BLOGS:
URBAN SKETCHERS on Charlie Parker's LINES & COLORS
As you may know, Urban Sketchers just celebrated its one-year anniversary, and has had a LOT of press, worldwide.
http://www.linesandcolors.com/2009/11/16/u rban-sketchers-turns-1/
Catriona Andrews' blog http://inkling-blots.blogspot.com/
http://www.linesandcolors.com/2009/11/16/u
Catriona Andrews' blog http://inkling-blots.blogspot.com/
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NEW SHIPMENT OF BOOKS
I just got a brand new shipment of my latest North Light book, Creating Nature in Watercolor (you can see the cover above!), and I'm offering a discount on signed copies--if you want one for someone for Christmas, just let me know and I'll be glad to sign it to them!
and of course the NEW book from North Light will be out in February...watch for it, or pre-order it here: http://www.amazon.com/Watercolor-Tricks-T echniques-Classic-Painting/dp/160061308X/r ef=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258826313&s r=8-4

This is the cover on that one, a fun little painting done on Clayboard
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TWIITTER/FACEBOOK Amazon link
Ooops, forgot to mention this URL...if you are trying to make a living as an artist or other freelancer and you have an Amazon store, check this link...I don't Twitter, but it might be helpful to YOU!
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/15/twi tter-facebook-amazon-affiliate-marketing/
This is the cover on that one, a fun little painting done on Clayboard
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TWIITTER/FACEBOOK Amazon link
Ooops, forgot to mention this URL...if you are trying to make a living as an artist or other freelancer and you have an Amazon store, check this link...I don't Twitter, but it might be helpful to YOU!
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/15/twi
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NITA LELAND
My friend and fellow North Light artist/writer Nita Leland has a treasure trove of helpful articles on her website....including color, techniques, presentation, marketing, and much more. We can ALL benefit from her clear, crisp advice...
Nita Leland's http://www.nitaleland.com/articles.htm
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THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF WAYS TO BE CREATIVE!
Leslie Hamlin's jewelry on Etsy is SO inspiring...quirky, individual, evocative and beautiful.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LeslieHamlin
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LeslieHamlin
And of course my friend Muriel Areno's artwork is also on Etsy--I keep drooling, and WILL own something soon! http://www.etsy.com/shop/toucanne
Don't miss Mariana Musa's delightful Floating Lemons site on Imagekind for terrific prints of her original work, especially if you're looking for wonderful, wildly affordable Christmas presents. (Yes, I bought myself something, too!) http://www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.a spx?MID=54d31cb9-e0b9-43d6-8dbe-ea3adc4a 77af Sorry, I couldn't find a shorter link...
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SELLING YOUR WORK
Of course there are all kinds of ways to go about this...a gallery, a show, on eBay, or on your own sales blog, as Duane Keiser http://duanekeiser.blogspot.com/, Nel Jansen at http://nelseverydaypainting.blogspot.com/ , and Ann Nemcosky http://nemcoskyart.blogspot.com/ do.
I'm learning--though I can't seem to keep up, with all I have to do! Juggling just a few too many plates in the air...
For most galleries, you'll need at least SOME works framed. But if you want to prepare your work in a clean, professional way in order to show without framing, you might want to consider clear plastic sleeves. Daniel Smith offers a presentation kit with mat, backing and plastic sleeve, or check out http://www.clearbags.com/ or http://www.redimat.com/.
I used to wrap my matted pieces in sheets of plastic and tape them on the back, but this is SO much more professional looking--and ever so much easier! Things don't get shopworn as they do with the plastic and tape, either!
For selling on my Gallery blog, http://cathyjohnsonart.blogspot.com/, I usually tell my buyers that they save on the initial cost as well as on shipping, because I sell things both unmatted and unframed for the most part. I think it's a bonus that they are also able to pick their own mat colors and framing style--that's pretty individual!
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Back to work! I need to finish writing Lesson 3 for the online class...I hope you are as happily occupied as I am...
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Best--
Kate (Cathy Johnson) kate@cathyjohnson.info
http://www.cathyjohnson.info/
NEW-Original Art: http://cathyjohnsonart.blogspot.com/
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