At a Crossroads

Many of you don't know this about me, but for the past 13 years I worked part-time in the DC area in a completely different field. I called it the "other job." Countless times I watched my kids all day then pulled a 10 hour night-shift. I was like Jekyll and Hyde working two jobs: one as an analyst, the other as an artist. This week I finally quit the "other job."

For the past year and a half I was on sabbatical from the "other job." In fact, every time I had a child (three!), I was able to take 6 months to a year off. During those times, I focused on my family while also painting my tail off. At some point during this time in and out of the office, my studio practice took off. So why did it take so long to quit the "other job"?! I can't tell you how many times I told friends and families that I was done working nights, and how many times they asked me if I was going back. The "other job" was the definition of a safety net. Most people would die to have a stable and flexible job like I had. It gave me the ability to slowly become a full-time artist, without the complete pressure of failure. I finally told myself that if I didn't quit now, I never would. I've sold almost 80 paintings this year and have been able to pay for my kid's school, groceries, and activities, but the fear of not knowing what the future holds or if people would continue to support my art kept me uncertain. I feared the unknown.

I'm incredibly grateful for the "other job", and although it wasn't a perfect fit for me, it is where I met my husband, where I learned how to write, and where I learned how to be professional. I learned new tradecraft that had been completely foreign to me, and I was afforded the financial ability to maintain a studio space for the past 13 years.

This week was huge because I finally found the courage to resign. I was at a crossroads, my sabbatical was set to end in November and it was now or never. I knew this day would eventually come where a decision would need to be made and I prayed that I would be freely capable of making it from a financially sound and non-emotional standpoint.

My message to young artists is this: don't lose hope if you need another job, even if it is for a decade. You will learn new things you wouldn't have otherwise. As long as you consistently work on your art with passion and patience while continually planing for the future, you can realize your dreams too.

#contemporaryart #artgallery #acreativedcwashingtondcartartshowgallery #bythings #artblogger

Instagram Growth for Artists

I've recently been asked how I grew my instagram following to over 28K in just over two years so I wanted to spread the love and help some of you creative types who may just be starting out on the platform. I believe that sharing always brings good karma, and since I've benefited so much from this amazingly supportive community I wanted to share some of my tools with you.

1. Post every day! This is so important! You want people to get to know you and your artwork, so be sure to post every day. Instagram is paramount in marketing art on social media, so use it to your advantage. Post a variety of content including detail shots, studio scenes, shots of your work in a gallery or in a collector's home, process videos, photos of what inspires you, photos of your favorite places. If you're going on vacation, stockpile your images in advance and plan your posts so you won't be disrupted while relaxing. Try to keep all of your content related to your creative niche. For example, if you're a painter, don't post about your latest cooking endeavor or your kids playing soccer because it creates confusion. Sure it's ok to share what is important to you so your followers can know you from a different perspective, but you also want your account to be professional and concise. It's a delicate balance, but I recommend creating a separate account for your family life so you can preserve those memories while maintaining your privacy. Also try to share what is inspiring and what will connect you to others. Of course not every day is roses and sunshine, but nobody wants to follow someone who constantly complains about the difficulties of being an artist. It's ok to post when you're having a bad day because instagram is one of the best places to find support, but be mindful how often that happens. Try to minimize your posts to once or twice daily so you don't over-saturate anyone's feeds.

2. Have a clear profile. Be sure to use a profile name that is clear, concise, and easy to remember. Why not try to use your given name? Make sure you list your city in your profile so collectors will know if they can expect to pay for shipping. Also set your account to public so potential collectors can find you.

3. Be genuine and consistent. What makes your work unique? Write down words that people use to describe your work and how you would describe it including styles, subjects, and mediums. Narrow down your findings and focus on the top three results. I believe my work is unique because it is focused on texture and color, therefore I use those as common elements for all of my posts. Perhaps your work is unique because of your unique medium or social message. Whatever it is, make sure collectors and followers have a clear idea of who you are and always remain genuine to yourself.

4. Hashtag away! Don't be shy about posting at least 25 hashtags in your comments. This is how people will find and follow you, so use it to your advantage! Post a variety of hashtags from different topics. For example:

-Art Hashtags: #painting, #art, #artoftheday

-Geographic-based Hashtags: #acreativedc, #dcarts, #washingtondc

-Design-related Hashtags: #interiorinspo, #interiorstyle, #designlife, #interiordesign

Try to switch up your hashtags daily so new people will continue to discover your work through different channels. Use a mix of more popular and wide-ranging hashtags like #painting or #artdaily along with some very specific hashtags like #womenartists, #southernartists, #thickpaint. Also brainstorm a new hashtag that is unique to your work. People can use this to easily find your work and it will continue to help with brand recognition. Some examples of mine are: #annmariecoolick, #GoSnapArt, or #avisualdelicacy. You can ask your followers to post using the hashtag and you can repost some of the best to your own feed or on your stories. Your followers will feel more invested in your content and will want to participate more.

5. Start a community on instagram. Networking with fellow artists both on-and-offline is a win-win. Many times artists are turning down shows or pop-ups due to scheduling conflicts and such, so why not start a mini-community of artist friends to share info and opportunities? Last year I started the East Coast Art Collective as a way to network and host joint studio sales through our platform on instagram. It's a fantastic way to leverage the power of everyone's combined following. These mini-communities are also a great way to mutually support one another by commenting and liking on each other's work.

6. Feed the machine. Follow other creative accounts on instagram and be a good instafriend. Comment on other's work, follow them, be supportive, and try to become real-life-friends if/when you can. They will in turn support you back, and if they don't reciprocate, don't be afraid to unfollow. Also set an advertising budget and advertise on big accounts when you can. I try to advertise on other accounts every 3-4 months. Some accounts will suggest some of your pieces that might fit in with their feed, but if you know what piece has generated the most likes and comments on your own page, then it could possibly do even better on a larger page so don't be afraid to speak up. Some good accounts to advertise on are @ratedmodernart and @popcultureinpictures (this is not a sponsored advertisement).

7. Create a sense of urgency. Growing a following takes time and daily commitment, but you also need to make sales. Creating a sense of urgency may be just what you need to give a boost during slow periods. Many artists accomplish this through "painting releases." Personally I like to work on a wide variety of pieces at a time so this model does not work for me. You can also host flash sales where your work is a certain percentage off, but limit your sales because you don't want buyers to just keep waiting for the next sale. You also don't want to give the impression that you can't sell your work at full price. Also remember that just because your work hasn't sold in over a year doesn't mean it never will. Sometimes it takes a couple years to find the perfect collector, so definitely don't paint over your work unless you really don't like it anymore. It's also important to look back on what you've created over long periods of time to see your growth.

8. Use your best photos. I've seen so many wonderful artists on instagram who can't take a good photo. Use natural lighting any chance you can and always photograph your work during the day when the lighting is good. I usually photograph outside on cloudy days and then edit in photoshop. You can also reach out to local photographers who may be interested in swapping a piece of work for a photo shoot. It's also great to see posts of the real you in your messy paint-covered shirt, so get yourself a tripod or improvise a setup with your phone.

9. List your work for sale! Make sure your profile is linked to your website and always list your prices. Nothing is more irritating than seeing a button that says "inquire to purchase." This exudes an air of snobbery and also discourages potential clients from asking about the price because they might be embarrassed that it could be out of their range. Why not avoid all that discomfort and list the prices up front?

10. Collaborate! There are so many ways to gain exposure through collaborating. You can collaborate on a joint piece of artwork or simply exchange posts with another artist. Recently I collaborated with a woodworker for some custom frames, a local photographer for some great in-work shots, and hung a few pieces in a local high-end shop.

What have you learned about marketing your art specifically on instagram? Please share!

#artblog #acreativedc #art #artist #contemporaryart #bythings #artgallery #modernart #marketing

Inspiration Here and There

It's funny how we are inspired by different things around the universe but somehow they are all similarly connected. Are any thoughts completely original? After viewing the Yayoi Kusama Infinity Mirrors exhibition at the Hirshhorn this past winter I was completely in awe of her use of polka dots. I wondered how I could maintain the textural complexities of my work while focusing on the beauty, simplicity, and infinite possibilities of the polka dot. It became clear to me that I could deconstruct my paintings to the most simplest form of texture with the same tubes in my supply drawer that I regularly use. I mixed up my palette in a similar fashion and slabbed the paint straight onto a previously gridded canvas in a simple pattern. I named this series my Polka Daubs paintings. I thought this manifestation of the polka dot was completely original in contemporary art while still respectfully paying homage to the great Kusama. I soon learned I was slightly wrong.

Below: Polka Daubs, oil on canvas, 14" x 11" by Ann Marie Coolick. In private collection.

First, someone pointed out the uncanny resemblance of my work to Damien Hirst's Spot paintings. I was amazed and dumbfounded by the similarities especially in the color palette. How could this be when I had never seen this series of his?! I'm very familiar with his sculptural work but somehow his Spot paintings had never been on my radar. Perhaps they were buried so deep in my subconscious after 15 years being out of art school or had I truly never seen them? Hirst's artist statement also rung a similar bell. He said: "To create that structure, to do those colours, and do nothing. I suddenly got what I wanted. It was just a way of pinning down the joy of colour.”

Below: Damien Hirst's Spot paintings

Second, another person pointed out the likeness of my work to John Grande's polka dot portraits. Again, I had never seen his work before. Now I'm really beginning to feel like I don't know as much about art as I thought I did!

Below: John Grande, Courtney Dot

Perhaps it is the universal language of the polka dot that has us all subliminally connected and inspired by this simple form? After all, aren't we all inspired by similar things yet manifesting our responses in a slightly different manner? I believe that the inspiration I found in Kusama's work and the expression of my response were completely pure and honest, and I hope that while we as artists can find inspiration in other's work, that we always pay respect to the root of our inspiration. If you are an artist, has anyone ever pointed out your work as closely related to another contemporary artist? Please share your thoughts.

"A polka-dot has the form of the sun, which is a symbol of the energy of the whole world and our living life, and also the form of the moon, which is calm. Round, soft, colorful, senseless and unknowing. Polka-dots become movement... Polka dots are a way to infinity." Yayoi Kusama. Photo via Welker Media.

Below: Infinite Polka Daubs, oil on canvas, 36" x 36", Ann Marie Coolick.

Below: Confetti Polka Daubs, oil on canvas, 20" x 20", Ann Marie Coolick. In private collection.

#acreativedc #art #bythings #artartblogacreativedcwashingtondcartshow #painting #contemporaryart #artgallery #artnews