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Lake Oswego fine artist and photographer, Anna Porter of Anna Porter Artist has been chosen as the October/November Featured Artist at Cascade Sotheby's Lake Oswego. The Opening Reception for the artist's solo exhibit will be held on the Third Thursday, October 20, 2016 from 4:00PM to 7:00PM and is open to the public. The exhibit will feature the artist's works of art from nature, including her brilliant watercolor and acrylic paintings and photography from her beautiful gardens, Anna's Gardens, at her home studio in Lake Oswego, Oregon, as well as paintings and photography by the artist from other public gardens in Portland, Oregon, and favorite places throughout the Pacific Northwest. 

 

 

Recently, Anna Porter was one of the participating artists in the Lake Oswego Plein Air Paint Out from September 22-25, 2016.  An annual event sponsored by the Arts Council of Lake Oswego, local Lake Oswego artists paint outdoors "en plein air" at locations throughout the city. Three of her paintings from the event will appear in the Arts Council of Lake Oswego (http://artscouncillo.com)'s Lake Oswego Plein Air Exhibit at 510 Museum & ARTSpace, located at the corner of B Avenue and Second Street in Lake Oswego, Oregon from October 7, 2016 to October 28, 2016. 

 

Many of the artist's works recently were featured in her first showcase in the RAWArtists Portland Showcase VERVE at The Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon on September 29, 2016. An active member of Oregon Society of Artists, Anna Porter's paintings and photography appear regularly in group exhibits in the Gallery at Oregon Society of Artists in Portland, Oregon, where her stunning abstract realism painting, In Full Bloom, won Best in Show at the 2015 Portland Rose Festival Art Show, and her beautiful ethereal painting, Harmony at Twilight won Honorable Mention at the 2016 Portland Rose Festival Art Show. 

 

 

Anna Porter is thrilled to have the first solo exhibit of her professional artistic career in Cascade Sotheby's beautiful offices in the city of Lake Oswego, Oregon, where Anna has resided with her artist husband, George Porter, for over 25 years, and where the couple raised their only daughter, Christina Lynn Porter, who is currently completing a Ph.D. in Physics at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado.

 

"I am so excited to be able to share my love of nature, and especially the images from my gardens at my home in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where I truly feel blessed to have lived all these years. My hope is that my artwork will help people notice and appreciate the beauty that is all around us, and that they will experience the same sense of awe and tranquility that I do in nature. I hope they enjoy looking at my art as much as I did creating it." ~ Anna Porter

 

Known for her use of vivid colors and a high key palette in her paintings, and the ability to capture brilliant colors and details in her floral photography, the show is sure to brighten the grey days of late October and November frequently experienced here in the Portland area.

 

 

Anna Porter invites you to join her for the Opening Reception of her solo exhibit at Cascade Sotheby's, 310 North State Street, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034 from 4:00PM to 7:00PM on Thursday, October 20, 2016. The exhibit continues through November 16, 2016 and is open to the public during normal business hours, Monday to Friday 9:00AM to 5:00PM.

 

 

I am pleased to announce that the Advance Ticket purchase deadline for RAWArtists Portland Showcase VERVE at The Roseland Theater on Sept 29th at 7:00PM has been  extended and you can buy tickets from Anna Porter Artist at http://rawartists.org/annaporterartist THROUGH SEPTEMBER 28th.

 

SAVE $5.00 OFF THE DOOR TICKET PRICE AND GET A FREE RAFFLE TICKET!

 

Save $5.00 off the door ticket price and get a free raffle ticket for a free limited edition fine art print by Anna Porter Artist WHEN YOU PURCHASE YOUR ADVANCE TICKETS ONLINE AT http://rawartists.org/annaporterartist BY SEPTEMBER 28th !

 

You could win a beautiful signed limited edition fine art print of one my artworks featured in the show! 

 

 

 

 

For more information, please check out my RAWArtists Profile at http://rawartists.org/annaporterartist. Use the BUY TICKETS button there to purchase tickets from me and then simply pick up your free reserved raffle ticket at my booth upstairs at The Roseland Theater, 8 NW Sixth Avenue, Portland, OR 97209 on Sept 29th and enter it in the drawing at the show!

 

Doors open at 7:00PM. 21+ ONLY PLEASE!

Please join Anna Porter Artist at RAWArtists Portland Showcase VERVE on September 29, 2016!

PURCHASE ADVANCE TICKETS ON MY RAWARTISTS PROFILE PAGE AND SAVE at http://rawartists.org/annaporterartist!

 

 

Roseland Theater

8 NW 6th Ave

Portland, OR 97209

SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

7:00PM TO 11:00PM 

RAWArtists Portland Showcase presents: VERVE 

• Art
• Film
• Photography
• Music
• Performance Art
• Fashion
• Jewelry and Accessories
• Hair/Makeup

Portland Artists from every genre under one roof for one night only!

 

PURCHASE ADVANCE TICKETS ON MY RAWARTISTS PROFILE PAGE at http://rawartists.org/annaporterartist

AND RECEIVE A FREE RAFFLE TICKET FOR A LIMITED EDITION FINE ART PRINT!

Advance Purchase Ticket Price: $15.00 plus $2.95 online fee

Door Ticket Price: $20.00

21+ Only Please

 

Your advance ticket purchase on my RAWArtists Profile helps support my participation in the show.

Everyone who purchases an advance ticket through my RAWArtists Profile will receive a free raffle ticket for a fine art print of one of my works featured in the show. Drop by my booth at the Showcase to fill out your free raffle ticket and enter it in the drawing.

 

Thank you kindly in advance for your support! It is going to be a fun evening and I am looking forward to seeing you at VERVE! 

 

Anna Porter

Fine Artist and Photographer

RAWArtists Portland Showcase VERVE

http://rawartists.org/annaporterartist

Contact Anna Porter Artist

Spring Fling, limited edition fine art print, copyright ©2016 Anna Porter Artist (http://annaporterartist.com). A stunning image of a gathering of pink camellias from the artist's gardens in Lake Oswego, OR, Spring Fling, digital photography by Anna Porter, copyright ©2016 Anna Porter Artist (http://annaporterartist.com), is now available to purchase in a limited edition of 25 on the artist's website at http://annaporterartist.com/workszoom/2013955 . Printed on high gloss aluminum with a float frame attached on reverse, it arrives ready-to-hang, proving a contemporary "frameless" floating look for your home or office. Priced at $200.00 for a 16" X 24" limited edition (1 of 25) fine art print on high gloss aluminum. Other sizes, substrates and optional framing are also available. For more information and a complete product and price list, please contact the artist at [email protected].

Aqua Dreams, limited edition fine art print, copyright ©2016 Anna Porter Artist (http://annaporterartist.com). The artist created this lovely image of spring flowers in her studio gardens in Lake Oswego, Oregon, from a photograph taken with a Canon EOS Rebel SL1 that she edited with Aviary photo to create the lovely colors in this unique and beautiful fine art print. Aqua Dreams is now available in a limited edition of 25. Printed on high gloss aluminum with a float frame attached on reverse, it arrives ready-to-hang, proving a contemporary "frameless" floating look for your home or office. Price shown is for a 20" X 20" limited edition (1 of 25) high gloss metal print. Order online on the artist's website at http://annaporterartist.com/workszoom/2013959 . Other sizes, substrates, and optional framing are also available. For more information and a complete product and price list, please contact the artist at [email protected].

Red Rose Duet, limited edition fine art print, copyright ©2016 Anna Porter Artist (http://annaporterartist.com).

This beautiful digital photograph of two backlit red roses taken by fine artist and photographer, Anna Porter, in her artist's gardens (http://annasgardens.org) in Lake Oswego, Oregon,  is now available in a limited edition (1 of 50) fine art print. Red Rose Duet is professionally printed on high gloss aluminum and mounted with a float frame on the back. The metal print arrives ready-to-hang without framing, appearing to "float" 1/2 inch off the wall for a clean, contemporary look.

 

Red Rose Duet recently was featured in the "For the Love of Red" Exhibit at the Gallery at Oregon Society of Artists, February 7-25, 2016, and is now available for purchase on the artist's website HERE: http://annaporterartist.com/workszoom/1989229 . Press the "Buy Now" button to order. Red Rose Duet will be professionally printed-to-order and shipped directly from the printer within 3-5 business days of receipt of order and payment.

 

Price shown is for a 16" X 24" limited edition (1 of 50) metal print on high gloss aluminum and includes shipping in the continental United States. Other sizes and substrates are available. Sizes above 16" X 24" require special crating for additional protection, and will incur additional shipping charges. For a complete list of products and prices, please contact the artist.

Drift Creek Falls, watercolor on 140 lb. cold press paper, 25" X 19" (framed dimensions), copyright ©2016 Anna Porter Artist,. 

 

Recently featured in the "Urban & Rural Landscapes" Exhibit at Oregon Society of Artists in December, 2015, Drift Creek Falls by Anna Porter is a contemporary abstract landscape in watercolor, painted by the artist in her signature palette of clear high key colors. The painting is now available for purchase on the artist's website here: http://annaporterartist.com/workszoom/2006341.

 

The 19" X 13" watercolor painting is matted with a white bevel cut single matte and professionally framed by the artist in a 3/4 inch dark cherry wood frame. Framed dimensions are 25" X 19". 

 

Price shown includes shipping in the continental United States. For shipments to Hawaii, Alaska and international orders, please contact the artist for a shipping quote. 

I am honored and thrilled to have some of my paintings and photography included in Concordia University’s Tribute to Oregon Society of Artists, January 17 to February 26, 2016, George R. White Library & Learning Center, 2800 NE Liberty Street, Portland, OR 97211. Please join us this Sunday, January 17, 2016 from 2PM to 4PM  for the Opening Reception. The exhibit and catered reception are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Many of the works on display are available for purchase, and 30% of the proceeds benefit Concordia University's Multicultural Arts & Events program. For more information, please contact Linda Church, [email protected], (503) 493-6370.

 

 

I have had the privilege of being a member of Oregon Society of Artists since 2012, and I show my work in the OSA Gallery at 2185 SW Park Place, Portland, OR 97205 on a regular basis in monthly group exhibits. Oregon Society of Artists is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the education and nurturing of talent in the arts. For more information about Oregon Society of Artists, or to apply for membership, please visit www.oregonsocietyofartists.com, drop by the OSA Gallery, email [email protected], or call (503) 228-0706. 

 

My hope is that my paintings and digital photography in Concordia University's "Tribute to Oregon Society of Artists" will help you notice and appreciate the beauty that is all around us, and that you, too, will experience the sense of awe and tranquility that I do in nature. I hope you enjoy looking at my art as much as I did creating it, and that you enjoy the show. 

I am sitting The Gallery at Oregon Society of Artists today. It is a beautiful day to get out and see some art and enjoy a stroll around this beautiful NW Portland neighborhood! Spend a little down time in our gallery and sunny garden! Not to be missed, the "Not Just Portraits and Figures" show runs through October 31, 2014. Gallery open Mon. to Sat. 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. 2185 SW Park Place, Portland, OR 97205. You can read my review of the show in my art blog at http ://annaporterartist.com/blog/82297/works-in-portraiture-by-anna-porter-on-display-at-oregon-society-of-artists-oct-2014 I have two portraits in the show and I will be sitting the gallery in the afternoons on October 16, 21 and 29, 2014. I would love to see you there! Drop by and see the show. You will be glad that you did!

Photo of Oregon Society of Artists gallery and gardens by Anna Porter, copyright 2014 @annaporterartist, iPhone5, edited in #Snapseed, layout in #fuzel @fuzelapp .

I am pleased to announce that I am participating in the October Fine Art, Photography and Print Show at Oregon Society of Artists, 2185 SW Park Place, Portland, OR 97205  for the month of October, 2013. In addition to the three prints shown here that are featured in the show, I have a canvas rack with an assortment of my original artwork, collector photography books, photography prints, canvas prints and fine art cards available for purchase. Now is your chance to get some great prices on amazing artwork by all of the participating artists in this month's show at the Gallery at OSA.

I will be sitting the OSA Gallery on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 and Saturday, October 26, 2013 and would love to see you in person then to answer any questions that you may have and to give you a private tour of all of the exceptional artwork on display this month. Show runs through November 1, 2013. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 1:00PM to 4:00PM. Closed Mondays and holidays.

fall leaves-portland japanese gardens-orange maple leaves 2005, canvas print, copyright 2013 annaporterartist

annasgardens-magnolia, 2011, canvas print, copyright 2013 annaporterartist

Abstract Rose in Fuschia, Yellow and Orange (A Rose by Any Other Name), 2013, acrylic print, copyright 2013 annaporterartist

Anna Porter, Fine Artist and Digital Photographer, will be sitting the Gallery at Oregon Society of Artists this Sunday, September, 22, 2013 from 1:00PM to 4:00PM! Meet the artist to view and discuss her painting, textural plantings, watercolor and watercolor crayon, and get a personal tour of all the beautiful artwork on display in the 2013 Fall Juried Show! Mark your calendar! 

Note from the Artist:

I am so thrilled and excited that my watercolor and watercolor crayon painting, textural plantings, was accepted into the 2013 Fall Juried Show at Oregon Society of Artists, 2185 S.W. Park Place, Portland, OR 97205. Gallery hours are Tues. to Sun. 1:00PM to 4:00PM (closed Mondays and holidays). Show runs from 09-08-2013 to 10-03-2013. Hope to see you this Sunday afternoon 09-22-2013! I am looking forward to meeting you at the Gallery at Oregon Society of Artists, where I will be available to discuss my painting in more detail and answer any questions that you may have. I am also delighted to be able to give you a personal tour of all the beautiful artwork on display in this year's 2013 Fall Juried Show at OSA! Don't miss it! 

This original painting is available for purchase $500.00 USD. Contact [email protected] for more information.

A poster for the painting is available for purchase in my Instacanv.as Gallery here:

http://instacanv.as/annaporterartist/piece/538769493010568782_33853476

Anna Porter

Anna Porter Artist

Fine Art and Digital Photography

email: [email protected]

website: http://annaporterartist.com

prints: http://instacanv.as/annaporterartist

facebook: https://facebook.com/AnnaPorterArt

instagram: http://instagram.com/annaporterartist

pinterest: http://pinterest.com/AnnaPorterArt

twitter: http://twitter.com/AnnaPorterArt

art blog: http://annaporterartist.com/blog

photography blog: http://annaporterartist.tumblr.com

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Recently my partner, George Porter, the Managing Director of Lake Oswego Consulting Group shared a few tips on what it takes to sell art. I have been getting a fair amount of feedback on my blog post, Advice for a Newbie, Revised, that was syndicated by Fine Art Studios Online and published in their Fine Art Views Blog on 2013-07-15. Some of it is from artists who seem to be confused about the difference between selling art and marketing art. And you can substitute the word “art” with “product of your choice”. Here, in his very succinct and tongue-in-cheek fashion, are the Five Essential Elements Necessary to Sell Art (or anything else), according to George Porter:

1.  a piece of beautiful and/or interesting art that is well crafted;

2. a qualified buyer who is interested in buying your art;

3. an enthusiastic presentation, preferably by you, the artist; or by your artist sales representative, art dealer or art gallery;

4. a question: Do you want to buy this piece of art?

5. a price and payment method that is mutually agreeable.

If you are missing any one of these five essential elements, George would say that a sale is not going to happen, period. I would say that if you are missing any one of these five essential elements, unless you are extremely lucky, a sale is not going to happen, period. Every once in a while the art angels smile down on us and a miracle happens. But miracles are not something that consistently put food on the table. Creating and selling your art can. 

So that is it. It is as simple (and as challenging) as that. Our job as artists is to:

Create and produce beautiful and/or interesting art (and I would add unique if you want a better chance at success) that is well crafted;

Put our art in front of qualified art buyers who like our art;

Present our art enthusiastically or hire someone to do that for us;

Ask for the sale or hire someone to do that for us;

Set a fair price and provide a variety of easy payment options so buyers can buy our beautiful piece of art RIGHT NOW!

So why do we, as artists, have such a hard time with this? We spend countless thousands of dollars getting art degrees, attending workshops, joining artist societies and taking classes to improve our craftsmanship, so one would think that we must have Item 1 pretty much nailed.

Surely we, as artists, we love our art and are proud of our work, so we should be able to handle Item 3 and present our art enthusiastically and not require someone to do that for us … if not, I would be asking myself the question, why not? And figuring out how to solve that problem.

Are the words Do you want to buy this piece of art? in Item 4, really that difficult to utter? And yet there are so many of us who freeze at the thought. There are even some artist societies and online artist groups who try to make it sound evil to even be trying to sell your art, if you are a member of their society or in their group. Those societies and groups you want to avoid, if making a living as an artist is as important to you as creating your art.

 

We are frequently willing to give away one half of our income or more, because that one question terrifies us so. I ask you, what is the worst that can happen? Your suspect says Nope, not interested. Okay so MAYBE this is not the time for this buyer at this moment. It does not mean that you are a bad artist, or that this person will never be interested in your art, or even that this person is not interested in your art right now.

Have you ever gone into a restaurant not really sure what you wanted, and at first nothing seemed to interest you? Then the server comes to your table and tells you a little bit about the dishes and the specials, mentions the wonderful fresh ingredients, and maybe gives you a glimmer of how the chef uses his culinary wizardry to create it. And then your server comments on how many people have ordered the dish and told him or her how great it tastes. Suddenly your appetite is whetted. It’s not any different with selling art, or selling anything else for that matter. As long as you are telling the truth and you believe it. If every dish on the menu is a disaster and the server tells you how great it is and how much everyone loves it, well then you, the server and the restaurant have a big problem. It is time to leave our insecurities behind. Hunger makes the bravest souls out of the most timid of men and women.

A little market research on Google can tell you what art is going for in any market in the world, so setting a fair price should not be an issue. You might not like that price, or think that it is high enough, but if that is all that people are willing to pay in that market at that time ...

you can sell elsewhere; you can try again later; or you can adjust your expectations accordingly. There are things that you can do to increase the perceived value of your art, and you should never sell your art at a loss; because you cannot make up a loss on every piece of art with volume. However, fair market price is the overriding factor. If you are not internet friendly, or you don't have a computer, then go to some local art fairs and galleries to get an idea. With the ability to take payment by credit card, debit card and paypal on your hand-held mobile device, inflexible payment issues are a thing of the past. So cross off Item 5.

So the real stumbling block then must be Item 2 - finding qualified art buyers who like your art. I ask you this:

How many homes are there in America or insert “country of your choice”? What do they have on the walls?

How many people buy vacation homes? What is on their walls?

How many people travel to new places and want a souvenir of their blissful vacation to take back home with them?

How many new businesses start up every day in your town, city, or state? What is on their walls?

How many new restaurants start up and need some great ambiance to make customers want to stay and order more food and alcohol? What is on their walls?

What about those government buildings like the post office and DMV, where you have to stand in line for interminable hours and would give anything to be able to look at something besides the the long line and grey walls?

There are qualified art buyers everywhere. You just need to put yourself and your art in front of them, be friendly and enthusiastic about your art, and ask that magical question. Over and over again.

We all want to succumb to the idea that if we simply post it online, they will come … Sadly it just doesn’t work that way. Not unless you and your art are already known and already famous. And even then, the general public has a very short memory.

Do you need a website or online gallery or physical gallery? Yes, unless you want to be constantly knocking on doors with your portfolio in tow, something that generally sets fear into the hearts of every artist that I have ever met, and takes up virtually all of your time. You need a place that you can tell your qualified prospects, and your customers can tell their friends and business associates, to go to look at your art and keep up with your recent creations. Some place professional and friendly. And search engine optimized, or located in a part of town with lots of foot traffic and nice big front windows. And easy to find and navigate. Where there is always someone available to present your art enthusiastically and ask the all important question, Do you want to buy this piece of art? One that takes cash, debit cards, credit cards, paypal, travellers checks, money orders - any and all forms of cash and cash-like substitutes.

Can a good website or online gallery replace a traditional gallery or art fair or art show? Honestly, probably not. Because walls don’t sell art. People sell art. People buy fine art from people - from artists, artist sales representatives, art dealers and art galleries that they know, like and trust. 

But can a good website, online or traditional gallery help your marketing and your sales? Definitely, yes. In this digital age, you need a strong marketing presence. Like it or not. People want to buy art from successful artists. Having a website and a gallery, shows that you are serious about your work and others are serious about it too - serious enough to bet their livelihood on it.

Do you need social media? It’s free, there are a lot of people on it at any given moment. Use it and your time wisely. Because it can be a giant sucking hole in terms of time. Have you ever seen the movie, “The Money Pit”? It is a hilarious comedy that shows how a fixer upper can become a giant sucking hole for your finances. Same thing with social media for your time. Just because it is free doesn’t mean it isn’t costly. The most valuable resource you have as an artist is your time, because YOU have to create the products that YOU sell. So use it wisely. Your time is best spent creating and selling your art.

A few regular social media posts linked to your website can do a world of good for your “known” factor, but you won’t necessarily be getting known by qualified art buyers. Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn are great at creating likes and follows and shares on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.  But as have all discovered, a like on Facebook does not equal an art sale. Facebook and many other social media sites do; however, have great prospecting tools built right into them, that you can use to get your messages out to a targeted list of possible buyers. You just have to know where to look and how to use them.

If your biggest problem is that your art is not selling, the first question you need to ask is who is selling my art? If the answer is no one, that’s where you need to begin. If the answer is someone, or some gallery, or yourself, then you need to ask what am I, or they doing that is not working? Which of the five essential elements am I, or they, missing?

Trying to make a living as an artist means that you are in business for yourself. And as any small business owner can tell you, it takes a tremendous amount of effort to do a start-up. For every success, frequently there are two or more failures that came before it. But if an artist is who you are, and not just what you do, then I think it is worth the effort. 

For more information on how to create a sound, realistic and achievable artist business and marketing plan, check out Lake Oswego Consulting Group’s Marketing Your Art Workshops, created by artists for artists. And yes, this is a shameless plug for one half of what puts food on my table. In addition to creating and selling art as Anna Porter Artist, I am also the Marketing Director for Lake Oswego Consulting Group.

 

In future blog posts, we will take a look at the difference between sales and marketing and why both are important to us, as artists - if we want to make a living creating our art.

Enjoy the journey!

Anna Porter

 

Anna Porter Artist

Fine Art and Digital Photography

(503) 697-7666

http://annaporterartist.com

http://instacanv.as/annaporterartist

[email protected]

 

 

 

 

Anna Porter

Marketing Director

Lake Oswego Consulting Group

(503) 360-7260

http://lakeoswegoconsultinggroup.com

https://facebook.com/LakeOswegoConsultants

https://facebook.com/MarketingYourArt

In memory of Amy Elizabeth Howell Wagner, Fine Artist, 1971 to 2013

 

Yesterday afternoon, May 28, 2013, I had the honor of attending one of the most beautiful memorial services that I have ever attended, the Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Amy Wagner, http://amycolors.com, held at Agnes Flanagan Chapel, on the grounds of Lewis &  Clark College, in Portland, Oregon.

The daughter-in-law of our dear friends, Karen and Frank Wagner, daughter of parents Susan and David Howell, wife of James Wagner and mother to Kobe and Hunter Wagner, Amy was a gifted artist who loved painting as a child and carried that love throughout her too short life. She captured the beauty and joy of life with exquisite pure colors and bold designs that never fail to astound and inspire me each time I view them. The large chapel at Lewis & Clark College was filled with friends and family yesterday who came from near and far to celebrate Amy's beautiful life, her art, her friendship, her courage and the many ways that she had touched their lives with her art and her lovely spirit. At the request of the family, everyone was dressed brightly in honor of Amy's love of color. It was clear from the stories shared by her husband, youngest son, brother, father, creativity coach, Kris Balle, and friends and relatives from around the country; from the slides of Amy's childhood, teenage and college years; and from her beautiful artwork on display at the front of the chapel, that Amy was dearly loved; that she lived life to its fullest, sharing her exuberance with all who had the privilege of knowing her; that her presence touched many, and though she will be missed terribly, she left something of herself with every person present, a gift that will continue to shine in and through them. Amy was an artist who embraced life and others, whose mesmerizing smile could light up a city and draw people in, and whose infectious joy and optimism always left you feeling better, whether you were in her presence, or viewing her art from afar.

 

In 2009, Amy was left paralyzed from the neck down when a tumor burst in her neck close to her spine. I will never forget the shock that I felt when Karen and Frank first told us about that tragic day - how one minute Amy, a young mother, was walking down the sidewalk with her two adolescent boys to school, and the next minute her life was changed irrevocably forever. While doctors were able to remove the tumor, they could not repair the damage to her spinal cord, or stop the cancer cells that relentlessly migrated up and down it. She spent much of her time in and out of the hospital in the remaining four years, enduring a vent that enabled her to breathe, MRIs to detect more tumors, more surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy treatments, and when all else failed, a new Novocure TTF treatment, Oregon's first patient to receive it. Sadly, none helped. In between, thankfully, Amy was able to spend much time at home with her very brave and loving husband, James Wagner, who cared for her until the end; and with her two lovely boys, Kobe and Hunter Wagner, who now show a sensitivity, wisdom and maturity that is well beyond those of typical teenage boys.

 

Of his mother, young Hunter stated at the memorial service that "Amy was the kind of Mom that if you were having a bad day, you could go and talk to her and suddenly you would be having an amazing day". Amy was that kind of person. Always able to see the best and brightest in life, even when that life became more difficult than most of us can ever imagine. And James, dressed in the Taos inspired brightly woven wedding vest that he and Amy both wore at their wedding service in that same chapel on July 3, 1993 when they made their vows to love each other forever, stated that he "felt blessed and grateful for the four years that he got to take of Amy at home; that it was a small repayment for the twenty years prior that she had taken care of him". A kinder and more loving acknowledgement, from such a selfless and loving husband and partner, I cannot imagine. Always one to stand up for what she believed in even when she could no longer stand, Amy, with James by her side, found the energy to join a protest to fight against proposed cuts in Medicaid, so important to their family, and other families across the country in similar situations. You can read more about her courageous life in the blog entries by friends and relatives, lovingly maintained by Bud and Trina Pate at http://amyandjameswagner.com. I have one regret in writing this post. I wish that I had taken the time to get to know Amy better; more than the few times that we met at social events or celebrations at the invitation of Frank and Karen. My life would have been richer for it. For the balance of this post, I will focus on Amy's gift to us all - her beautiful and courageous spirit and her colorful art.

 

From 2009 to 2013, while fighting the ravages of cancer and paralysis, Amy learned to paint all over again, this time with her mouth. Karen told me once that Amy loved those art sessions. She looked forward to them all week. Not one to be able to put a smile on my face when tears are welling inside, I broke down completely yesterday when I saw the photos of Amy, clearly tired but determined, her face inches from her artwork, putting brush to paper; working her magic in Tempera paint, the end of her mouthstick held resolutely between lips and teeth that struggled to hold and maneuver it; placing each mark, each bold stoke of color, resolutely on the page; letting each stoke just "be". No erasing. No regrets. As an artist with many other responsibilities, I struggle sometimes to find the energy to paint even with all of my faculties; and on those days I now think of Amy, of all that she suffered and struggled with, and I find new resolve. Because no matter how hard you think your life might be as an artist, and for many it is exceedingly difficult, I cannot imagine it being more difficult than what Amy contended with during the past four years. And yet she painted. She painted with joy and hope. She painted even when she was so tired she barely had the energy to speak. She painted to the end.

 

Upon viewing her work from before and after her injury, what you notice immediately is that Amy kept her glorious pure colors to the end. Although life became very muddy indeed, it did not create mud in her artist's soul. That clear beauty, love of color and life continued to shine through her "ish" series of paintings from 2012 which you can view at http://amyandjameswagner.com/amy-art-2012/amys-art/

, the way it did in all of her earlier works, some of which you can see in these blog photos of Amy's art at http://amyandjameswagner.com/photos/artwork-at-spoons/, taken when her paintings were on display at Spoons Gourmet Deli in Salem (4093 Commericial St SE).  In her "ish" series of paintings that she painted with a mouthstick after her paralysis, Amy's artwork, once very controlled, stylized and carefully planned, took on a new vibrancy and urgency, a freedom of expression and exuberance not as evident, at least to my eye, in her earlier works. Amy's long brushstrokes and the perfect edges of the bold shapes that she once so carefully laid down, lines that her creativity coach, Kris Balle, stated that Amy once held her breath in order to place perfectly on the page prior to her injury, became much more animated and free in her "ish" series afterwards. Never one to be tentative with color and line, Amy's previous works speak to the viewer through their bold color and design. That same bold color is present in her "ish" series, but a multitude of small colorful brushstrokes replace the larger bold shapes. No less colorful or bold, these strokes weave a pattern of color and depth that create a tapestry of life as seen through Amy's eyes. Her most recent paintings exude energy that speaks volumes about Amy's exuberance for life, her patience, her determination, and the pure joy that she felt and shared with others every day of her life. From “Dancers-ish”, to “Caterpillars-ish”, to “Roller Coaster-ish”, and my personal favorite, “Butterfly-ish”, Amy's colors speak about the beauty and joy that is all around us, about the thrill of life that we can all experience if we only allow ourselves to tap into it. At the memorial service, Kris shared that Amy fell asleep painting her last unfinished piece, the beginnings of a beautiful fire-like fuchsia flower, evolving out of a translucent pool of blue water. She closed her eyes, brush in mouth, too exhausted to continue, and fell peacefully asleep.

 

My husband, George Porter, and I responded to the news of Amy's worsening condition in the last few weeks of her life by painting our own remembrances of Amy, which we gifted to James, Frank and Karen after her death on April 26, 2013. I want to thank the family for sharing those paintings at the reception for family and friends at Frank and Karen's beautiful home in West Linn, Oregon, yesterday after the memorial service. It meant a great deal to us to have our paintings be part of Amy’s memorial.

 

In my painting, Flowers for Amy (shown above, 24" X 24", acrylic on canvas, photography by John Telford, http://www.photonjohn.com 2013-03-29), I sought to capture Amy's beautiful smile in a portrait of her as a flower. I painted it in response to Karen's request to friends and family in March to please send flowers to fill Amy's room at home with the colors of the beautiful Pacific Northwest Spring that were beginning to unfurl outside her bedroom window, when Amy was sent home from the hospital for the last time, knowing that she would not be returning for any more treatments. To me, Amy was and will always be the brightest flower. At the time that I painted it, I was taking a class in acrylic at Portland Community College, to learn a new medium. We had been instructed to paint something that had deep emotional meaning to us, and I had been watching the video of Amy's  "ish" series of paintings, posted on Vimeo at http://vimeo.com/44896294,  over and over again, unable to get the images of her paintings, and the haunting melody and words of an upbeat reggae version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" that accompanied it, out of my mind. When I had to present my painting to the class at the end of the term, I let excerpts from Amy's blog, lovingly kept up-to-date by Bud and Triba Pate, and Amy's Vimeo video and her artwork speak for itself. There was not a dry eye in that classroom afterwards. And I hope that those bright young college students and fellow artists, ages younger than me, with their whole lives left to unfold before them, learned a lesson that came thankfully not too late for me - that now is the time to paint and keep on painting, every single day of your life.

 

My husband, George Porter, created his own version of what Amy meant to him, a very different and beautiful painting, an anthology of symbolism representing Amy's life and art. Titled, Amy's Colors (shown below, 24" x 18", acrylic on canvas, photography by John Tellford, http://www.photonjohn.com 2013-05-22),

it shows Amy swinging freely on a swing suspended from the moon, set in a deep cobalt blue sky full of twinkling stars. Amy's arms and legs are joyously working as she swings high above the desert in Taos where she and James once lived, and where she was inspired by the desert colors and the works of Georgia O'Keefe. In the painting, Amy is kicking flowers upwards into that deep blue sky, where they transform into souls entering a church at the gates of heaven, a church in New Mexico that Amy once painted against a brilliant fuchsia sky. George's wonderful painting, rich in Native American and Taos-inspired images and symbolism and natural wildlife - coyotes, birds, flowers, and my favorite, two lovebirds nestled in the bottom left of the painting, representing Amy and Jamie's love for each other - is a joyful celebration of everything about Amy's colors, art and life that touched his heart, as an artist and longtime friend of the family.

 

For those of you who have read this very long blog post, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time out of your very busy day to honor Amy in this way. I urge you to take a few more minutes to watch Amy's Vimeo video at http://vimeo.com/44896294, to read more about Amy's inspiring art and life in her blog at http://amyandjameswagner.com, and to view the paintings from her 2012 "ish" series in more detail in her online gallery at http://amyandjameswagner.com/amy-art-2012/amys-art/ .  To order a digital reprint of “Butterfly-ish”, please go to http://amycolors.com/amy_wagner/amy_wagner_paintings_butterfly-ish_order.html To order digital reprints of the other paintings from Amy's “ish” series, please contact her art curator at [email protected] . Like everyone who had the pleasure of knowing Amy, you will be glad that you did. I hope that you, too, will find your own inspiration and renewed joy and sense of purpose in Amy's Colors and in the story of her amazing life.

 

Anna Porter

Fine Artist, Writer and Digital Photographer

http://annaporterartist.com

This is a repost of a blog article that I wrote for Lake Oswego Consulting Group in its entirety. It has been reprinted with Lake Oswego Consulting Group's permission:

How linked in can LinkedIn be if its software cannot get links right?

Friday, May 10, 2013

BEWARE THE LINKEDIN SHARE FEATURE!

Anna Porter asks the question “How linked in can LinkedIn be if its software cannot get links right?”

From our friends at Artsy Shark, here are the first ten places on the The Big List of 125 Places Artists Can Sell Online originally posted by Carolyn Edlund (reprinted with permission):

1.   20×200.com – Jen Bekman’s site focuses on art, prints and photos, priced affordably. Juried (not currently accepting submissions, but sign up for their newsletter to get updated when submissions reopen.)

2.   500px.com – Photography site – store your photos, share them and sell them. Features work of beginners to experts. Sell your work by opening a “store” account, which is available to free as well as paid memberships.

3.   AbsoluteArts – Claiming to be “the most trafficked contemporary arts site” it offers levels from free to premier. Artist bio/statement and portfolio displayed with shopping cart.

4.   AffordableBritishArt (UK Site) – Artists sell their work with no middleman, commission free, but there is a charge to have an account (4 tiered levels). You must have a PayPal account to receive payment for your work.

5.   Amazon – Upload your images to sell on one of the biggest marketplaces on the web. Jewelry is a huge category here, but you are competing with manufactured items.

6.   Art.com – This highly ranked e-commerce site has a division called Artist Rising, where emerging artists can upload images. They provide a print-on-demand service to sell your work. Two levels of membership – free and paid.

7.   ArtBreak – Describing themselves as “a global community of artists sharing and selling their work on the web,” this site is a commission-free way to upload images and sell with a shopping cart. Curiously, their blog and social media sites are inactive.

8.   Art-Exchange – B2B site where artists can get connected to interior designers, architects and others in the trade. Work is sold wholesale here; they take 10% commission.

9.   ArtFire – Huge marketplace of crafts, art, supplies, vintage and more. Customize your own shop on this site. $12.95 monthly fee.

10.  ArtFortune – Create your own online art gallery here. Site visitors can see the images that you have uploaded, and click through to your website, where you make the sale. They charge a monthly fee, and have several different plans. There is also a forum and community on this site.

To see the entire list, go to http://www.artsyshark.com/125-places-to-sell/

I will be one of the featured speakers at Marketing Your Art Workshop II created by Lake Oswego Consulting Group. This is the second in a series of three workshops for artists and other creative professionals that will be held at Oregon Society of Artists, 2185 SW Park Place, Portland, OR on October 18, 2012 from 9:00AM to 1:00PM. With hands-on demonstrations and interactive slide presentations I will be:

• showing workshop participants how to quickly set up and optimize social media to help drive traffic to their websites; and

• providing tips for writing press releases, internet ads, email newsletters, art blogs, artist statements and resumes.

George Porter, the Managing Director of Lake Oswego Consulting Group, will be presenting a newly revised Art Gallery database that he has been creating for the Portland, OR area. Using examples from his extensive research, he will examine traditional versus non-traditional channels of distribution that are available to Portland artists, photographers, sculptors, artisans and other creative professionals in the Portland, OR metropolitan area.

A poster that I created for the workshop is shown below:

This is a link to a blog post that I did on Wordpress for Lake Oswego Consulting Group recently. It addresses the issue of whether or not 50% is a reasonable amount to have to pay for art gallery representation, and outlines things to look for in a gallery, when selecting one to represent your art. Through a comparison of visits that I made to two art galleries, I illustrate what "attentive customer service" and "actually trying to sell your art" should and should not look like, from a customer's perspective. Just press on the link below to see my original blog entry on Wordpress. Feel free to leave any comments there or here. If you need to copy and paste the actual link text in your browser here it is:

http://lakeoswegoconsultinggroup.org/2012/09/02/to-art-gallery-or-not-to-art-gallery-that-is-the-question/

Enjoy!

Anna Porter Artist

Fine Art & Digital Photography

[email protected]

(503) 697-7666

Following are links to blog entries that I have authored for Lake Oswego Consulting Group. Go to http://lakeoswegoconsultinggroup.org to select from a variety of articles on how to improve sales and marketing your business or profession:

http://lakeoswegoconsultinggroup.org/about-us/

http://lakeoswegoconsultinggroup.org/2012/06/28/hello-world/

http://lakeoswegoconsultinggroup.org/2012/07/08/why-your-business-needs-a-master-marketing-plan-by-anna-porter/

http://lakeoswegoconsultinggroup.org/2012/07/08/the-benefits-of-a-well-thought-out-master-marketing-plan-by-anna-porter-2/

http://lakeoswegoconsultinggroup.org/2012/07/08/the-first-p-in-the-master-marketing-plan-people-by-anna-porter-2/

http://lakeoswegoconsultinggroup.org/2012/07/08/lake-oswego-consulting-group-has-a-new-blog-and-website-address-by-george-porter-2/

http://lakeoswegoconsultinggroup.org/2012/07/08/we-have-arrived-by-anna-porter-3/

For more information on how Lake Oswego Consulting Group can help you better sell and market your art, products, services and business online visit our website at http://lakeoswegoconsultinggroup.com, email [email protected] or call (503) 360-7260 today!