#33 Craig McInnis: Artist, Musician, and Creator of Haunted Houses

Artist Craig McInnis has taken his talents into so many areas of his life. He’s a fine artist, a musician, a muralist, a painting and drawing teacher, and the Creative Director of Fright Nights, a Halloween event in West Palm Beach, Florida. Craig has also formed artist groups and helped to create a yearly large pop-up gallery that showcases the work of over 70 artists.

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New Freedom of the Press
Fluffy
Blind Patriotism
Fascination
Flight to the Pinnacle
Amidst It All

Craig McInnis, as Egg Man, his alter ego at Fright Nights.

Here are some of the things we discussed in this episode (click on the names to follow the links):

This is Craig’s website: craigmcinnis.com

You can also find him on:

 Facebook 

Instagram

Craig’s band, Raised by Wolves

You can find Craig’s artwork at The Brewhouse Gallery and Contemporary Living.

Craig teaches art classes through Lot 23 and the Center for Creative Education.

Craig works with Anthony Burks and Trina Slade-Burks each year on the Continuum pop-up gallery.

If you live in Palm Beach County, Florida, you can take a little tour of Craig’s public art murals at the following locations:

West Palm Beach — Narcissus and Banyan parking garage stairwell, collaboration with Steve Marino; police department garage, collaboration with Eduardo Mendieta, Tony Hernandez, and Jay Belicci; inside Hullabaloo restaurant, Respectables, KAPOW Noodle Bar, and Subculture Coffee. Jupiter — Subculture Coffee. Lake Park — The Brewhouse Gallery inside and back alley. Boynton Beach — East Ocean Ave.; Boynton Beach Art District; Boynton Beach Community Center. Lake Worth — adjacent to City Hall.

Here are some takeaways from this episode:

  1. Find artists who are putting on art shows in your area. It’s a great place to sell your work and to meet other artists.
  2. Meet other artists. Whether it’s from teaching or working at the local art store, or joining an artist group, get out there and meet artists you can learn from and collaborate with.
  3. Make your own opportunities by forming art groups or creating pop-up galleries.
  4. Try other ways of earning income with your art, like painting murals, doing makeup or body painting, teaching, or set design.
  5. Look for non-traditional spaces to show your art, like Craig has at The Brewhouse Gallery.
  6. If you want to teach but don’t have experience, read about techniques and work on writing down the steps you take to make your art.
  7. Work to develop your style of fine art, like Craig did when he started painting abstracts.

I hope Craig has inspired you to get out and meet the artists in your community and to try new types of art.

#32 How to Develop Your Online Brand

Artists can use their website and social media to develop their online brands. Your brand is simply what people think of when they hear your name. For artists, you’d like them to think of your art. But with the advent of the internet, and the ease at which you can tell stories, you’ve greatly expanded what your brand is. In this episode, I’ll give you lots of tips for how you can build that brand so that your customers can form a relationship with you and they will want to buy your art.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, CastBox, or Stitcher.

What do you want to include in your brand? What do you want your customers to know about you? You’ll decide what you’re comfortable with so that you can expand the story of you and your art.

#31 Jodi Ohl: Author, Artist, and Creative Instructor

Artist Jodi Ohl lives in North Carolina, but travels far and wide to teach her painting classes. Her style ranges from whimsical to abstract, and she has published a book called Abstracts in Acrylic and Ink. She also teaches online classes and hosts art retreats with her partner Jean Skipper. Because Jodi previously worked in the corporate world, she has created a successful business with a left brain strategy.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, CastBox, or Stitcher.

Jodi Ohl

Zen Houses
Wandering Heights Zen Houses
Bird Collage
Far and Away, abstract on paper
Coddiwomple
Art journal sample
Art journal face
Serenity Shore, coldwax
Minis, coldwax
Freefallin

Here are some of the things we discussed on this episode (click on the names to follow the links):

You can find Jodi’s online classes, live classes, retreats, and her book on her website.

You can also find her on:

 Facebook 

Instagram

Pinterest

Twitter

Her Etsy Shop

Her Blog

Her online group classes are on this page of her website.

Her classes are also listed on CreativeWorkshops.me.

Her studio and some of her art can be found at Art Works Vass in Vass, North Carolina.

She and her ReMe business partner Jean Skipper host ReMe Retreats at two locations in North Carolina.

Jodi previously taught at the Art is You Retreat in Stamford, Connecticut.

Jodi has written for many publications, including Cloth Paper Scissors magazine.

Jodi worked with Tonia Jenney on her book. Tonia has her own business where she helps creatives with editorial, writing, and coaching services.

Here are some great takeaways from this episode.

  1. Use what you know in business to start as a creative entrepreneur.
  2. Consider submitting articles to publications that are in your genre. If you are emailing your submission, be sure you have great photos of your artwork.
  3. Don’t discount the years of posts you made on your blog. It’s still your history, and you can use that as the source for class material or magazine articles.
  4. Work your favorite social media site, like Instagram or facebook. It’s a great way to get noticed within the art world.
  5. To find teaching venues, look at where your peers are teaching.
  6. When creating artwork for a book, you don’t necessarily need to create large pieces.
  7. Don’t be afraid to ask for referrals for teaching.
  8. Keep pushing yourself and honing your skills in art and business.
  9. The stronger we can be on our left brain side, the more successful we can be as artists.

I hope Jodi has inspired you to try your hand at teaching a class, or writing an article for a magazine, or painting some abstracts.

Would you like to sign up for Jodi’s newsletter? Click here.

#30 Creating a Pop-up Gallery

A pop-up gallery can be an excellent way to show and sell your artwork. They are becoming extremely popular because they allow immense flexibility, while not requiring a large commitment of time and money. By offering this opportunity to fellow artists, you will increase the sales and be able to use them to help you work and promote the gallery. In this episode, I detail what should be included in a proposal to a property owner and how to write a Call to Artists to attract other artists to join you. I also talk about the many events you can have at the gallery to attract more visitors.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, CastBox, or Stitcher.

Here I am at Continuum Pop-up Gallery, created by Anthony Burks (Episode 27) and Trina Slade-Burks (Episode 29). Artwork in the foreground is by Anthony Burks.
Artwork at Continuum 2015
Guests at Continuum
Suzanne Redmond, Anthony Burks, and Trina Slade-Burks at the Continuum Black Tie and Sneakers Opening Night
Promotion for the Pop-up Gallery included Lettering on the Front Windows.

You can visit the website for the Continuum pop-up gallery here.

#29 Trina Slade-Burks: Artist and Businesswoman

Trina Slade-Burks and her husband Anthony have created a business that develops a few pop-up gallery shows per year, providing exhibit and sale opportunities for hundreds of artists. They also teach classes to students and adults and provide mentorship for artists who would like to develop their business. In this interview, Trina is generous with her advice and encouragement toward artists.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, CastBox, or Stitcher.

Trina Slade-Burks with her artwork titled "Shirley," after her mother.

Dollbaby
Energy: Artwork and Poetry by Trina Slade-Burks
Guests at a Book Signing for Trina
Written by Trina Slade-Burks
African Diaspora show at the Armory Art Center
African Diaspora show at the Armory Art Center
Continuum Pop-up Gallery
Artist Chad Steve receiving his Best in Show award from Trina at Continuum.
Trina with one of her collectors.
Fundraiser for The Lord's Place at Bar Louie
Collaboration IX Pop-up Show and Book Signing
Trina teaching at the Center for Creative Education in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Facilitating at the Palm Beach County Green Dot Workshop.

Here are some of the things we discussed on this episode (click on the names to follow the links):

Trina’s business with her husband Anthony is ATB Fine Art Group (formerly ATB Fine Artists & Designers).

Trina can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Some of Trina’s books can be found on Blurb.

Two of her books can be found on Amazon.

Trina teaches students at the Center for Creative Education.

Trina was an early member of the artist group the Artists of Palm Beach County.

Trina has also taught at Easel Art Supply in Lake Park, Florida and the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The largest pop-up gallery put on by ATB Fine Artists is Continuum WPB Arts.

She utilizes callforentry.org, also known as Cafe for her Calls to Artists.

Here are some other great takeaways from this episode.

  1. Join an artist’s group to meet other local artists and find out about the art scene. If there is no local group near you, consider starting one. Trina was instrumental in the formation of the Artists of Palm Beach County, which became a great resource for her in her business.
  2. If you are having trouble getting your artwork seen in local galleries, why not host your own art exhibit in your home? Invite other artists to join you.
  3. Alternative spaces are great for art exhibits because they give a different feel than that of a traditional gallery.
  4. When hosting a show with multiple artists, provide them a mailer or artwork for social media that they can use to invite all of their contacts.
  5. Using a Call to Artists to find artists for your pop-up gallery will up the seriousness and professionalism that you receive from the artists. This will also make it easier to keep track of everything.
  6. Develop relationships with local businesses that you can utilize when you do a pop-up gallery. This includes local art schools, chambers of commerce, and restaurants and coffee shops.
  7. If you can, have entertainment in front of your pop-up gallery to draw people in.
  8. Offer a variety of events during the time of your pop-up to appeal to all kinds of people. Some people may like the loud splashy opening night, and others may like a quieter, less crowded time to look at the art.
  9. When you approach people for sponsorships, make sure they have the same goals as you.
  10. When planning an event, try to include other forms of art, like music or literature. Trina has included book signings, fashion shows, art demos

In episode 30, I talk about how you can do a pop-up gallery. I summarize what Trina talked about, and try not to leave out any of the major details. Trina and her husband Anthony have created shows with as many as 70 artists and have had thousands of people come through to see the artwork. They utilize a team of helpers to accomplish this, and you can too.