I’m really good at making lists. I’m a list person. Without lists I watch too much tv, surf the web, or read too much.

I create lists that are too ambitious as I rarely ever complete the jobs on them. Which in some ways shows the masochist in me as I know I’m setting myself up to fail, but in other ways it gets me off my fanny (I have always wanted to use the word “fanny” in a sentence as it makes me laugh. In Australia the fanny is different to what a fanny is in the US).

Here’s my To Do List for Art News Blog this year. I figured if I published the list it would make me more likely to do it.

• Create or pay for a new blog design. Art News Blog has a pretty ordinary design and it hasn’t changed much in more than 5 years. I might even get a designer to create a new logo. I might even add a little color to the design.
• Move the blog to another blogging platform. Blogger is making some hosting changes so I figured now might be a good time to jump ship. Not because I don’t like Blogger but because I just want change.
• Post at least 5 times each week.
• Allow more guest posts by other bloggers and artists.
• Monetize the blog. I currently make about $0,000.00 on the blog so it shouldn’t be too difficult to increase that amount. I’m thinking, offer advertising spaces to artists, which might be a challenge as artists are TIGHT, like duck’s ass tight when it comes to spending money on marketing themselves. So I might look at approaching some art supply companies, galleries, art publications or just go the affiliate route.
• Post reviews on more products. Encourage companies to send products to me (I love receiving gifts in the post) and mention them. It could be win/win/win if done right. I get a surprise in the mail, the company gets exposure, and you learn about a wonderful new product! Competitions could be an option too, where I just tell the company to send the products to a reader of the blog.
• Respond to emails and comments!! Argh, sorry if I haven’t replied to you! Don’t take it personally, I suck. I do read everything, I just haven’t been replying to much lately.
• Keep up to date with what is happening and write about it! Pretty straight forward this one, I just have to look at my domain name to remind me; artnewsblog.com.
• Do more artist profiles. If I find an interesting artist online, I should do a post on them.

Anyone know of reasonably affordable blog designer that can make me a spiffy new blog and tranfer Art News Blog from Blogger to.. umm.. Wordpress or that other blogging platform that I can’t think of right now? Perhaps I should see a logo designer first.

Happy holidays!
Don’t eat or drink too much.

Relax
Dion

The santa painting was stolen here.

Happy holidays!
Don’t eat or drink too much.

Relax
Dion

The santa painting was stolen here.

The good thing about those pathetic art scammers has been that their story never changes. They’re moving from place A to place B, they need some of your wonderful art to hang in their new home, and for some strange reason the stupid woman is always pregnant (God help the world if these people do actually breed).

Well, the idiots are evolving now and are starting to change their stories up a bit. Now they’re “art dealers” and “art exhibitors” looking to buy your work. Here’s an example by the scammer Hanks Thomas..

Hi Andrea,My name is hanks.I’m an art dealer/exhibitor based in bradford in the united kingdom.I deal in original artworks and also showcase them in exhibitions all over the world.I got to see your works via the search engine while looking for artworks of great impression and i’m willing to buy from you the artwork stated as the subject of this email.Kindly let me know if it’s available for sale.If yes,quote the price and let me know the method(s) of payment that is acceptable to you.I’m looking forward to reading from you.Have a wonderful day… Regards,Hanks

Lesson for today: Don’t accept checks/cheques online when selling artwork. Use Paypal.com or Escrow.com.

Thanks Andrea for sharing. There’s more of the email exchange with Hanks Thomas posted on a previous Art Scam post.

The Art Calendar magazine is accepting entries for their self portrait magazine cover competition. I’m not sure if artists outside of the United States can enter, but I entered it anyway. Entries are submitted online and it’s free to enter, so it was pretty easy.

Here’s my self portrait entry..

Here’s their blurb..
“Entrants will have the chance to win one of three great prizes. Our first place winner will receive a $500 gift certificate to Blick Art Materials and have their artwork featured on the cover of the March issue of the magazine! They will also be interviewed by one of the Art Calendar editors for a one-page profile, where we’ll feature a picture of the winner and their winning work. Our second place winner will receive a $150 gift certificate to Blick Art Materials and our third place winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to Blick Art Materials. Both our second and third place finalists will have a half-page profile with an image of their work and a short biography about them inside the magazine.”

Find out more about the art competition on the Art Calendar website.

Basquiat is my favorite movie about an artist.

It’s hard to make a good artist look interesting as they’re usually just working.

I sometimes wonder why? What’s the point? Why make art at all?

It’s usually only after days like today, days that are physically, mentally and emotionally draining.

Everything will be alright tomorrow.

ARTINFO has reported on the new retail outlet of gallery mogul Larry Gagosian..
“The sleek, 2,500-square-foot, bi-level space, which opened to the public this past weekend, also inaugurates London import (and Gagosian artist) Damien Hirst’s publishing company and retail shop Other Criteria on the lower level, making for a kind of casual art emporium with a fancy ZIP code.” ArtInfo

I’m not against making money from art, but I can’t help thinking some of the super-famous art dealers and artists are taking advantage of poor rich folk. At the end of the day though, it’s a reflection of society rather than the gallery or artist. People love stuff, especially expensive stuff that can make them feel a part of the cool club. So, I’m sure the Gagosian retail store will be a great success.

See some of the products available to buy on the ArtInfo article.

I have been grocery shopping and brought home some meat and vegetables.

There’s the t-bone steak for the carnivores.

They say carrots are good for the eyes.

Chicken is a popular.

Potatoes are boring, I don’t care how they’re cooked.

Minced meat for spaghetti bolognese.. mmmm.

And some bacon if you don’t mind eating pink squealy things.

Art News Blog is FIVE years old. That must make me some kind of blogger or arts writer or something. I’m most comfortable with the “something” label though. Someone called me an art critic recently and I didn’t know how to react. He said it in a way that was supposed to be flattering but I was actually very offended.

If I was forced to label myself it would be Wanderer or Watcher of things. If I had to put something serious on my business card (which I don’t have.. even though ALL artists should have one) it would be Painter.

I’m really not a fan of labels and boxes though. We get too comfortable wearing them and before long we can’t live without them. It doesn’t matter if the label is one of power and influence or it’s one of lack and degradation, we cling to them like our life depends on them. A lot of opportunities are missed and interesting paths not taken because of labels and our fear of peeling them off.

Ok, I’m starting to rant and getting off topic. Happy Birthday Art News Blog!!

Thanks for reminding me Woo