It seems everywhere I turn I’m seeing pins and pinterest and look what I just put on Pinterest and here’s how to use pinterest…

My niece told me about it months ago, I looked at it briefly and decided I was too busy to go down that rabbit hole.  I still haven’t joined personally but I’m getting very confused, a little concerned, and want to see what everyone thinks.  So here goes…

First – Paul Brent emailed me and asked if I’ve jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon. (Not in those words but that was the jist…)  Answer – “No, I’m busy fighting a sinus infection and packing to move, should I check it out?” Yes is his reply.

Then I read a blog post by John R Math about how Pinterest can be a great way for artists to market their art - I’m definitely seeing lots of artists sharing inspiration with all the “I just pinned this or that” posts on Facebook.

Two days later, someone on Twitter sends me to this article -How You Could Get Sued For Using Pinterest.  Well that’s a little disconcerting, so I go to the terms of use and find this:

Member Content
We may, in our sole discretion, permit Members to post, upload, publish, submit or transmit Member Content. By making available any Member Content through the Site, Application or Services, you hereby grant to Cold Brew Labs a worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, royalty-free license, with the right to sublicense, to use, copy, adapt, modify, distribute, license, sell, transfer, publicly display, publicly perform, transmit, stream, broadcast, access, view, and otherwise exploit such Member Content only on, through or by means of the Site, Application or Services. Cold Brew Labs does not claim any ownership rights in any such Member Content and nothing in these Terms will be deemed to restrict any rights that you may have to use and exploit any such Member Content.

There sure seem to be a lot of things granted by choosing to use the website… and what if the “application” and/or “services” expand beyond what they are now?  I put the grant section in bold.

I like that they are very specific about not claiming any ownership rights so there is no confusion about copyright issues… or are there?

Attorney Kyle-Beth Hilfer (who recently did an Ask Call with us) wrote a post – Pinterest’s Predicament: Legal Issues Prevent Social Media Maturity

More artists are weighing in on pinterest on their blogs -

• Here is what Lori McNee has to say about How to Use Pinterest and Still Respect Copyrights
• Alyson Stanfield, the Art Biz Coach, talks about How Artists Can Harness the Power of Pinterest

SO are my concerns valid or similar to the uproar about Facebook’s usage rights to pictures and images that was hot and heavy a while back?  Anyone else wondering?  More informed?  Let’s discuss.  Would love your perspectives in the comments.

Here’s to your creative success!

– Tara Reed

I came home with a new prescription and cute new glasses – I kiddingly tweeted that maybe I would see things differently, now that I have these new lenses.  This lead me to wonder if I needed to do that figuratively as well as literally.

Would looking at my art business through different lenses make a difference?

It’s a good idea to do a regular check on how you do things and what you believe on a regular basis – do it every 3,000 miles while you wait for an oil change.  Are your beliefs about the economy, your abilities, your business – giving you headaches and holding you back?  Watch this 2 minute video and see what you think…

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I know that lots of artists that read this blog earn money with their art in other ways as well.  Here are a few blogs and resources for artists that I have found along the way, that aren’t licensing specific:

• Alyson Stanfield – The Art Biz Coach* – Author of “I’d Rather Be In the Studio”, workshop leader, blogger, etc. etc  She’s been helping artists earn more from their art since 2002
• Aletta De Wal – Artist Career Training* – a working artist who helps artists make a better living making art.
• Ariane Goodwin – smARTist Telesummit Founder* -the only annual telesummit covering a multitude of topics for artists from experts in the industries.  Live each January and home editions available as well.
• Lori McNee - an amazing fine artist who has an equally amazing blog with tips about fine art and marketing
• Daniel Tardent – Art Marketing Secrets* - a great site for art marketing of all kinds, SEO for Artists eBook* and more.
• Maria Brophy – art licensing and art business – great info on her blog! “Helping creative people to design the career and lifestyle of their dreams”
• Carolyn Edlund – author of the ArtsyShark.com blog – an amazing and inspirational resource for artists
• Barney Davey – art print market information
• Cory Huff – the abundant artist – Dispelling the starving artist myth
• Helen Aldous – an art blogger from the UK I just discovered on Twitter – check out her Artonomy Blog for lots of marketing tips
• Art Bistro - a great art resource and community by Monster.com

And another feel-good inspirational song to make you smile…

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Here’s to your creative success!

– Tara Reed

FTC disclosure: links with an asterisk are affiliate links – if you click them and make a purchase, I will earn a referral fee for leading you to these great resources.  Which helps me spend time on free resources here so I appreciate your clicks and support!

This is also a great example of how you can interact with others and have some fun in your day on Twitter…

It started with her tweet:

@abstanfield: Need an inspiration for making my #Valentine cards.#wheresmymuse

To which I replied:

<< in Cabo w/my muse? slow start today…

She was surprised by this location saying:

@ArtistTaraReed I had no idea my muse was in Cabo! I was thinking, maybe, Florence

I had to double-tweet back to get my next thought out (remember, you only get 140 characters at a time on Twitter!)

Part 1:  I think Cabo since I’m not a huge fan so it’s a good hide-out for mine… rumor has it our muses are friends!

Part 2:  but maybe WE should go to Florence and find NEW muses… would show them, huh? (And be fun!)

Now she’s on the same wave-length with my early-morning logic and replies:

@ArtistTaraReed Got it! So my muse wouldn’t be hiding from me anywhere I’d look. Must be in the Russian Steppe

Getting to know people on Twitter is as simple as that. And if you are an artist on Twitter – you want to follow Alyson – she’s a wealth of great information, advice, and fun.  Alyson is the author of “I’d Rather Be in the Studio”*  – a great resource I believe should be on every artist’s bookshelf so be sure to check it out if you don’t have a copy yet.  Be sure to check out her blog – The Art Biz Blog* – as well – also great information about art, organization, inspiration and more!

Now it’s your turn – if your muse goes missing, where would she hide?

Remember, it’s probably somewhere you’d rather not be… leave your location in the comments – or come tweet me!  Twitter tip: If you want to ensure someone sees something that you tweet, you have to put the @ symbol and their twitter name before  you tweet – then it comes up in their “mentions” stream.  I try to follow everyone who tweets directly at or with me but admit that I’m not the best at keeping up with checking new followers – it takes a bit of time so I follow those that interact.

Here’s to a little fun and interaction while building your business!

– Tara Reed

How does this affect the gallery and or collectors who hold the originals. As the artist we retain the right to the image, yes? So, do we have to notify the gallery that it’s going into licensing? or the collector who purchased the original?

Yes, it’s true that you retain the right to the image. I encourage artists and galleries to educate collectors* of this fact at the time of sale.

No, it isn’t required that you notify a gallery or collector that their original image has gone into mass reproduction. BUT, it is a courtesy. If you want to maintain healthy relationships with people, you should look at the situation from their point of view.

Collectors of original artwork aren’t necessarily savvy about the reproduction market. They have no need to be because it’s not where their interests lie.

Imagine being a collector of originals who happens to run into a work of art you think no one else in the world owns? You and I both know that owning reproductions isn’t the same as owning the original, but it has the potential to be an unpleasant surprise to the collector.

With a little bit of effort on your part, the collector will be thrilled to own the original source of such a popular image.

Now, about those galleries.

You should always notify a gallery that your work is going to be licensed. If you think a collector might be unpleasantly surprised coming across multiples of your work, increase that unpleasantness tenfold to get a gallery’s response. Or, just say bye-bye to the gallery.

The gallery has invested time, space, and sweat into selling your work. Check your contract with the gallery first and then discuss the situation with the gallerist. I would encourage this step before signing a contract with the licensing company. I would further hope that you would discuss this in advance of joining other gallery stables.

Why risk important relationships?*

It’s much harder to overcome damage to a relationship than it is to notify collectors and galleries in the first place.

– Alyson Stanfield, The ArtBiz Coach

– Tara Reed

P.S.  Alyson is the author of “I’d rather be in the studio!”* a great business reference for any artist serious about their business.  I highly recommend it for your art library.  She also has a wide array of audio and live class options that you can see on her site at www.ArtBizCoach.com*

* I’m proud to be an affiliate of Alyson’s and the links in this post are my affiliate links.  I will earn a commission if you click them an make a purchase.  I appreciate your support – it helps me keep blogging!

1) I really like it and think it is a great resource for any artist wanting to make a business out of their passion and

B) Alyson is having one hum-dinger of a sale!  (thru 12/17)

Not only will you get the book for $24.95, but you will also receive 7 other valuable bonuses and no – they aren’t Swans-A-Swimming.

So… grab one for yourself.  Check an artist off your holiday list and give them a gift that will be motivate them to greatness… go check it out now.

CLICK HERE*

Here’s to your creative success & saving money in the process!

– Tara

P.S.  While you are at it, if you have any hard-to-shop-for women on your list, my friend Mary Foley has a new book out that’s sure to please – “How to Live Like Your Nail Color – Even if You Have Naked Nails” – here’s the link to check that out as well. CLICK HERE*

*disclosure: Although I never recommend anything I don’t know and like, these are affiliate links and I will earn a referral commission if you choose to make a purchase.

That’s where you want to be, right?  Safe & stuck? (hmm… well when you put it like that…)

I’ve heard all kinds of excuses (and made them too, don’t get me wrong!) for where people are or aren’t in their art business.  “Well so-&-so is successful because her husband is a marketing genius.  Mine isn’t…”  “I could do that if I didn’t have to spend all day wiping runny noses and doing laundry…”  you get the idea.  We could go on for years this way.

Apparently Alyson Stanfield has heard her share of excuses as well.  And genius that she is, she organized her book around the biggies that artists of all kinds face. (Not just artists who license their art – this is a great book for any artist looking to earn an income from their art.)

I read “I’d rather be in the studio! The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion” a few months ago.  It was on my drawing table and my friend / business sanity manager swooped it up and took it home to read.  I just got it back with a warning:  “Now I understand even better what you should be doing to grow your business, I’ll be watching…”  (be careful who you loan your copy to!)

While some of the topics don’t really apply to my business, most did, and having another perspective on promotion, organization, and planning is never a bad thing.  The book has 16 Actions based on 14 excuses… how cool that by Action 15 we should be over our excuses and ready to just get ‘er done!

If you are an artist who is comfy-cozy in the studio creating but sweaty-nervous when it comes time to tell the world about those creations, this book is a must read. See if any of these excuses sound familiar:

• “There aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all.”
• “My art speaks for itself.”
• “I don’t know where to begin.”

That’s just the first three.  Imagine if Alyson could help you be better with those – fabulous, right?  Guess what? She can!

I could go on and on but I think I’ll stop now and let you decide. Suffice it to say I enjoyed the book, learned from the book and am implementing some of the strategies in the book.  CLICK HERE to learn more.

– Tara

She included my “Zen of Twitter”
“Don’t worry about what you
might have missed when you weren’t looking,
just assume that the tweets you are meant to see
are the ones on the screen when you are inspired to look.”

But that isn’t the only reason I liked the post.    Of course, I was extremely flattered.  Her advice to artists about social networking is definitely worth a read so instead of recreating the wheel, here is the link to hear it from Alyson:  Carve Out Time for Social Networking

Now go forth, be creative and be social!

~ Tara