April 7, 2020 10 Tips for Artists & Makers, Magazine

10 Tips on dealing with Quarantine

This time can be very stressful and unpredictable. We are all trying to figure out how to navigate our temporary "normal" and what that will mean for the future. With so many of us relying on face to face interactions to sell our goods, we have to find new ways to interact with our customers.

In addition, when we are forced to be at home with a bit more time or lack of time from all the distractions, what can work for each of us is unique. Join us for a virtual roundtables on Tuesdays 4:30-5:1-PM every week to discuss how you are all pivoting your business during this time and what you plan on doing after we go back to “normal”

With so many Spring fairs cancelled and the threat of the Fall ones also at risk, we are all making adjustments in this uncertain time. And sound off on the comments section about some of your favorite tips!

You may be dealing with a lot of distractions at home. Whether it is having to homeschool your kids or multiple adults trying to use WiFi during video conferences, try to set up some expectations on how you can work within this temporary situation. It may mean having to change your schedule to accommodate the inflexible schedules like scheduled video conferences. So it may mean getting up early or staying up a bit later to have that creative time. Or it may mean setting up a workspace in a spot that means that when you are working and need to be left alone. Having a door helps but setting up a sheet or other partition can help. Communicate to others about your needs but remain flexible with the situation. Here are some tips from CNBC.com how to work from home with your kids during the coronavirus outbreak.

June 28, 2019 Magazine, Q&A

Q&A: Art Stroll with Organizer Laura Saravia Bott

I have always been involved in putting on art-based events since my first ones as a teen. After attending Pratt Institute, I have gathered over 20 years of experience in graphic design and marketing. In my last full-time role as Design Director / Senior Designer at Time Warner Global Media, an integrated marketing department of Time Warner Inc., I worked with leading brands to create custom marketing designs.

During those years, I started Stage 84, which was an art and music venue. After leaving Time Warner, I started Bott & Co. Productions, Inc. in 2014. With Bott & Co. I strive to help all types of businesses, from the local spot, like current clients Walter Hot Dogs and Good Shepherd Distillery to international, global brands like Citibank with a tailored approach to any budget. In late 2015, I expanded and opened the art gallery & gift store The Bott Shoppe in Mamaroneck. Recently, I created the group Westchester Handmade, as a way to unify the local creative scene starting in Southern Westchester.

During the Summer months, the village residents often flee to other locations leaving the local businesses with diminished foot traffic, especially on weekends. Along with various venues throughout the village, residents and visitors alike can follow along with a printed or custom Google map to various locations hosting artists and makers, various demos and activities as well. The Art Stroll is a way to not only showcase local talent but also bringing in people to the village to increase potential customers to local businesses.

Over 30 Westchester artists showcasing digital art, drawing, fiber, glass, graphics and print-making, metal works, wood, mixed media, ceramics, paintings, photography, sculpture, jewelry, and fashion.

On Saturday Night, we will be hosting a ticketed reception party VIP event where you can meet the artists and local business owners and will feature locally-made products, entertainment, and a raffle to win gift certificates and goods from a wider range of Mamaroneck businesses. Yet another opportunity for locals to support locals.

Yes, I have volunteered in many ways including providing graphic design and marketing services pro-bono to the Village of Mamaroneck Arts Council for many years. I also organized and curated the two Food Truck & Maker’s Markets in the Industrial Area, now known as the M.A.K.E.R.S. Zone. Every year, I also work with the Chamber of Commerce and Rec Department to help with the Halloween Spooktacular. Most recently, I worked with the Emelin Theatre with their event “Made In Westchester” performance series specially curated to celebrate the many talented performers in the Westchester Area with a series of art showcases. It was a great collaboration and look forward to putting on more shows there. We will also be featuring an artist in the lobby as we did with that series. And that’s really when we relaunched Westchester Handmade. They will be one of the featured locations during the Art Stroll.

Yes, we are planning the “Live Art at the Barn” project thanks to the generous support of our Leading Sponsor Murphy Brothers Contracting, as part of the weekend’s festivities where will have two artists Dennis Dempsey and Dan Sciacca that we featured at our “Made in Westchester” series creating temporary murals at the barn. We will also be doing a communal portion where participants can help paint. In addition, artist Johnny “Skinz” that is going to live paint on sneakers during our reception party.

The always-delightful Chocolations will be doing “Design your own chocolate bar” bar and tasting samples or Mamaroneck Flowers, “Paint your own mini pot” and take home seeds to plant.

Other art activities and demos at various locations including The Bott Shoppe, M.A.D.E., Pinot Palette or Bullseye Glass Resource and go check out artwork as well at local businesses like the Fine Men’s Salon of Westchester or go rock out at School of Rock of Mamaroneck for an interactive demo. We will also have Radiant Janes doing a tie dying activity as part of the “Live Art at the Barn.”

You should also drop by Chatsworth Antiques & Consignments for a mini version of their Market at Chatsworth with various makers selling their wares and lawn games by The Dad Shop who’s woodworking fabrication studio is also part of the Art Stroll.

As mentioned before, the main purpose of the Art Stroll is to promote local businesses but I also created the Art Stroll with a goal of featuring the creative diversity of Westchester. You don’t have to go to Brooklyn to find cool things. (Sorry Brooklyn!)

We are bringing back some of the other artists from the “Made in Westchester” series along with various artists from all over Westchester. We have tape artist Richela Fabian Morgan, as well as others from as close as Larchmont all the way to Yonkers and Tarrytown, and includes several from New Rochelle, Port Chester and Rye. All featured artists are currently living and working in Westchester.

November 26, 2018 10 Tips for Artists & Makers

10 TIPS FOR VENDORS AT FAIRS & SHOWS

Contact the organizer as soon as your spot is confirmed. Find out if you will be next to complimentary vendors, the type of lighting that will be available to you, and the proximity to an outlet or electrical source (if needed). It doesn’t hurt to ask the organizer BEFORE the show what is the best spot for you with regard to your items, especially if you have a display floor rack. Once the show has started it will be harder to move you and the organizer won’t be happy making last minute adjustments on the fly.

Make sure to have a banner with your logo, descriptive tagline, and website. All pricing signage should be clearly visible and legible for customers with consistent branding. Provide branded shopping bags, which can be just a sticker or stamp added to generic bags. You want to make sure people can tell it’s YOUR brand and can easily remember your store. Banners can get damaged, soiled or maybe the design is dated. Prep in advance to ensure your materials come in on time or to avoid rush fees. Usually October is a good time to access what you will need for the upcoming season.

Just because you are limited by floor or table space you are usually not limited by height. It’s also sometimes an option to extend in front of your table. Use EVERY bit of space allowed--you pay for it! Make sure that everything is easy to grab and view. Showcasing options are great for customers to see, even if it means having duplicate items on your table. Invest in some display items. Getting a few quality displays really can help bring the whole look together. Try garage sales or second-hand stores for some cheaper alternatives. Or if you can’t purchase items, then make some of your own. Upcycle a wine box or fruit crate; they are usually free and incredibly versatile.

Cash is still King! So make sure that you have plenty of change. But don’t lose sales because you don’t take cards. Using Square or another mobile credit card payment system, make sure your items are in your system and to add in appropriate sales tax. If you only sell at craft markets, you don’t have to include prices in your item listing unless you make it available on the online store, that way you can adjust pricing on the fly but keep track of what items sold. Use our referral link, and receive free processing on up to $1,000 in sales.

Sometimes customers are gathering ideas and may not purchase right away from you. Have business cards or postcards with your contact info and website where they can buy from you later. Let them know that they can purchase from you online or maybe at another upcoming fair. And with every sale you make, include your card in the shopping bag. Having a newsletter sign-up sheet is also great way to follow up with potential customers! Using their email, you can potentially offer a special discount for those interested in your products and turn them into customers.

October 8, 2018 Q&A

Q&A: Richela Fabian Morgan

I was always a crafty kid, but I never considered myself artistic until I was in my early twenties. At some point in college, I thought that I wanted to be a writer. So after graduating from NYU with a history degree, I landed a job as an assistant in the production/design department of Knopf Publishing Group. But instead of learning the ins and out of editorial, I learned about color and design from the people that worked there. I also learned about photography and art from the artists that were getting their work published. Everyone was happy to answer questions and let you look over his or her shoulder. Because of that work environment, I began investigating my intuitive, creative side.

When my kids were little, I often took them to our local hardware store. You have to understand that our local hardware store sells a lot of things other than hammers and nails to stay in business. They have quite a variety of candy for sale at the check-out counter--which was the big draw for my kids. But the idea of going to the hardware store simply for the candy...it felt a little wrong. So we always pretended to shop for something other than the candy. It was during one of these sojourns that we discovered a rack of colored duct tape: red, blue, yellow, green, white, and black. All three of us were drawn to it and that day we bought one roll of each color...plus 4 packs of Hi-Chews (yum). When we got home, we covered tin cans with it. Weeks later, I was still playing around with it. And over a decade later, I’m still playing around with it.

I am constantly coming up with ideas for craft books, and not all of them are winners. I thankfully have a literary agent who can advise me when I have a crap idea. She also tells me when I have a golden one. When I have a solid premise, I usually have 15 projects already made and photographed. So then I will put together an outline and write a sample chapter. I’ll run it by my agent, and then put together a full book proposal that contains the outline, sample chapter, and photos of the finished projects. She then sends it out to various publishers.

When I do have a newly published book, I work with a publicist for the bigger things like public appearances and interviews. I hate the sound of my voice and am awkward on camera, so I’m grateful when it’s a written Q&A (like this). The stuff that I do on my own is more social media-related. I’ll make little how-to videos on YouTube (just my hands!) and post photos from the book. I’ll do a give-away contest.

November 10, 2017 Magazine Post a Comment

How To Ask for Help with Your Art

You’ve faced this conundrum before. Maybe you’re having difficulty following your map, and you’re reluctant to ask the car next to you at the stoplight for directions. Maybe you’re too proud to ask your parents for help with this month’s rent. And if you’re an artist, or you want to be an artist, you might have found yourself hesitant now or at some point when it comes to seeking out help with your art.

There’s no shame in asking for help. After all, nobody becomes a skilled artist overnight. Vincent Van Gogh famously practiced sketching day and night, year after year, before he even let himself attempt to paint with a brush. Pre-Raphaelite painter John Everett Millais studied for years under John Ruskin, taking much inspiration (as well as Ruskin’s wife) from him.

Although there are many people who certainly seem to have a knack for creating art, bear in mind that they had to start somewhere, and that drawing, painting, sculpting, or any other artistic skill can be learned. But if you’re too proud, you won’t be able to take advantage of the greatest resource that an aspiring artist could ask for: the help of others.

Here are five ways to ask for help with your art:

1. Contact an artist whose work inspires you

Who knows? Maybe that famous artist will respond to your email and you’ll have found a mentor who can not only give you some tips on improving your craft, but also advice on breaking into the art world. If you don’t get a response, don’t be discouraged! They’re probably very busy.

2. Talk to your art teachers, former or present

Are you taking art classes currently? Did you take them some time ago, in high school or college? There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to reach out to your art teachers. Their advice could prove very helpful. After all, they already taught you some of what you know! If they’re available locally, stop by, or drop them an email if that’s easier. If you’re still in school and taking art classes, talk to your teachers after class. They can give you one-on-one advice that makes the class all the more worth it.

3. Join a local art community

Try to see if there’s a local community with artists who have similar interests to yours. It could be something hyper-specific, like a collective of Etsy pottery artisans, or something broader, like a local arts center. But look around, because you can learn just as much from your peers as you would from a mentor figure.

4. Join an online art community

If you cannot find an art community locally, join an online one. There are online art communities such as DeviantArt, as well as online forums such as Reddit that promote discussion and constructive criticism between artists. It’s also very cool to know that if you join an online community, people from all over the world will be seeing your art! You can either ask for help with your art or just post it and see what people say.

5. Go to one of Westchester’s art establishments

If you live in Westchester, there are a number of resources at your disposal. The Bott Shoppe has materials for all sorts of art, as well as lessons, tutorials, and exercises to help you develop your skills and portfolio. There are classes and workshops at ArtsWestchester, and the Mamaroneck Artists Guild is a great community with around two hundred members that you can join if you’d like to get your work out there.

The art community can seem intimidating and at times extraordinarily pretentious, but if you talk to artists, you may find that many of these people would enthusiastically give you a helping hand if given the opportunity. Whether they’re tutoring you in technique, providing you with resources to learn and grow as an artist, or just provide moral support, it’s always good to have somebody in your corner.

Although your art is all yours, and depending on your medium of choice, may not be collaborative, it’s still very helpful to have somebody there to critique or advise you. Don’t be scared to reach out to artists in your community, or stop by a local establishment of the arts where you can get all the encouragement and help that you need to get your art career rolling!

October 27, 2017 Magazine Post a Comment

Keeping Local Art Alive

With the New York City art scene just a train ride away, residents of Westchester might not be as inclined to patronize local art establishments.

Yet there is a thriving art culture in Westchester!

When imagining classic Americana, one might recall old Saturday Evening Post covers, featuring hardscrabble Americans of yesteryear–soldiers, Boy Scouts, baseball players and fans, students, parents, families. What many people may not know is that Norman Rockwell grew up in Mamaroneck, and spent much of his career in Westchester. The artist who tackled such difficult issues as race and Communism, and has a portfolio full of works that demonstrate what it means to live in suburban America, was undoubtedly inspired by his time in Mamaroneck. Many of the models in his early paintings were from Mamaroneck and New Rochelle. Had the residents of those towns not supported local artist Norman Rockwell, he might never have gone on to have such an illustrious career.

Another hallmark of art in Mamaroneck is Archie Comics. Although the long-running publishing company relocated to Pelham in 2015, Mamaroneck will always be embedded in the comic book’s blood (or ink). The comic tells the stories of a group of high school friends in the fictional town of Riverdale, a small suburb not unlike Mamaroneck. While the comic generally portrays a bygone era, anachronistically set somewhere between the 1940s, when Archie and co. made their debut, and modern times, it has been updated for TV recently. The series “Riverdale” brings Archie and his friends into the twenty-first century, although its humble Mamaroneck beginnings are acknowledged–in one episode, Jughead walks by a Mamaroneck-bound bus. Although the comic book company has moved to Pelham, Mamaroneck has certainly made its mark on the world of Archie.

A controversial figure who lived in Mamaroneck for a spell was the filmmaker D.W. Griffith. Although he pioneered groundbreaking filmmaking techniques, his most famous film is The Birth of a Nation from 1915, which glorified the Confederacy and is said to have helped inspire the next generation of the Ku Klux Klan. However, D.W. Griffith used his success in the years following his racist epic to move to Mamaroneck in 1919, where he bought a sprawling estate and began making movies locally. The films he made in Mamaroneck include Orphans of the Storm, which required him to transform a portion of Mamaroneck so that it would resemble Paris! The local townspeople obliged Griffith, and hundreds of residents participated in his films as extras. Now there’s a story of people supporting local art.

It’s crucial that we support local art establishments and local artists. In Mamaroneck alone, we have places like the Bott Shoppe, Pinot’s Pallette, and the Mamaroneck Artists Guild. Local art establishments help to encourage local artists. Goodness knows where the art world would be if great artists, including some of our local artists, hadn’t gotten any encouragement and support. It’s very important to offer support to local art establishments and the artists that visit them.

Perhaps the next Norman Rockwell, or Archie Comics, or D.W. Griffith (albeit a more tolerant and diversity-friendly one) will come from Mamaroneck. For such a small town, it has such a rich history of talented artists–and will hopefully produce some of the artists of the future.

October 13, 2017 Magazine Post a Comment

Art Museums In and Around Westchester

Westchester is great because of its proximity to so many fun activities, and art is no exception.

There are several art museums both in Westchester and nearby that are just a short drive away, making for easy and fun day trip locations. Depending on what kind of art you’re interested in seeing, you could be just an hour or two from discovering your new favorite museum!

If you’re looking for an art museum in Westchester, you don’t have to go much further than Purchase, which is home to two wonderful art attractions.

The first is the Neuberger Museum, located at Purchase College. The Neuberger Museum is notable for its vast collection of African art, which has been growing since the museum’s founding in 1974. The collection includes masks, figures, and sculptures.

The Neuberger Museum also has collections of paintings from artists such as Georgia O’Keefe, Milton Avery, Jackson Pollack, and even Mark Rothko. It features prints from Chuck Close, Andy Warhol, and Sol LeWitt. There are sculptures outside the museum, but if it’s outdoor sculptures you’re after, the next stop in Purchase has many to offer.

The Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens are located at the worldwide headquarters of PepsiCo. Having been closed to the public for years, the Gardens reopened earlier this year, now with a smartphone app that allows for those touring the sculpture gardens to listen to audio tours. Pick a day with nice weather, and tour the Sculpture Gardens alone or with someone!

Both of these attractions make for fun, easy day trips, and since they’re so close to each other, why not visit both in a day?

A little ways upstate, in Beacon, Dia:Beacon is worth the trip if you want to see modern art. It features works from Sol LeWitt, Andy Warhol, Richard Serra, and Louise Bourgeois, among others. There are sculptures outside, so be sure to walk around the whole museum, inside and out. Dia:Beacon offers free guided tours on the weekends, at 12:30 and 2 PM. When you’re finished with the museum, check out Beacon, NY, a small, lovely town with coffee, lunch, and thrifting opportunities.

Also in upstate New York is Storm King Art Center, a sprawling, beautiful sculpture park which has both permanent installations and temporary exhibitions. Featuring a curated collection of sculptures that has been growing since the 1966 purchase of thirteen David Smith sculptures, Storm King is breathtaking. The sculpture park was recently used as the location for an episode of the popular Netflix series Master of None, and has become greatly respected in the art community over the last five decades.

If you are less interested in modern art and would prefer to see some incredible works from centuries past, consider the Yale Center for British Art. This museum, home to the largest collection of British art outside of the United Kingdom, features works by artists such as John Constable, John Everett Millais, and William Turner. It encompasses many eras; medieval, pre-Raphaelite, and even some modern art can be found here. Although this museum is a little farther away than the other two, it is certainly worth the visit!

Any one of these museums makes for a great day trip. If you’re wondering what to do this weekend, look no further. Pack a lunch or plan to get lunch locally, and set out to discover art not too far from home!

September 29, 2017 Magazine Post a Comment

How to Write an Impressive Artist Bio

I cannot stress enough how important an artist’s bio is.

Especially because it helps people get to know the artist more and get insight into their artwork. If not written correctly, it can turn off people to looking at their work. An artist bio is seen on websites, articles and even quoted in interviews. This means your bio has to make a great first impression.

So, what exactly should be included in a bio?

Your bio should contain:

1.Where you were born and where you live currently

2.What your education or training is

3.Related experience (this includes achievements)

4.Who or what influenced your artwork

5. A summary of your “artist philosophy”

6. What techniques you use, themes, etc.

7. What you want to accomplish with your art

The bio should be short and to the point (approx. 250 words). It also needs to be written in third person! The bio should highlight what is it you are working on now and should be updated whenever you do something new. Show the reader what it is you have accomplished and where you want to go from here.

Make sure to spend a lot of time writing your bio. It is crucial that there are no spelling errors and it is readable. Most people will copy your bio verbatim in articles and this can either make or break your reputation, so be careful! Proofread, edit and continue to update your bio every so often. Now start writing!

September 15, 2017 Magazine Post a Comment

How to Inventory Your Artwork

Say Goodbye to Post-it Note Chaos

Thanks to the beautiful world of the Internet with sites such as Artwork Archive and Gyst, artists can easily manage their artwork sales with no stress! When having an online art inventory management system, everything you need is right there. There is no need for countless files on your desktop, notes scattered everywhere or even the struggles of using Excel.

Once you have set up your online inventory account, it’s time to punch in those numbers. It is important to have a numbering system so you can track your work chronologically and know basic information about the piece just by looking at the label. Some ideas would be to start with your initials or even the type of medium used (P= Painting, C=Ceramic, etc). There are lots of ways to number inventory so come up with things that are simple and easy to remember.

You should then record the title, dimensions, inventory number, creation date, price, medium, and sub
ject matter. The more detail each description has, the more easier it will be to find. I would also assign each piece to a location. That way you’ll always know which gallery or venue is showing your work. It is also important to know who bought your painting and keep a list of contacts for buyers, vendors and other networks in order to inform them about what is new in your inventory.

The most important thing is having high quality images of your work. Art collectors, buyers, and galleries want to see the artwork clearly and know that you have a professional business.

Now that you have a clear and detailed list of inventory, you can spend more time doing what you love- art! Rest easy knowing you can access your work from any device, your data is all in one place, and everything is backed up.

September 1, 2017 Magazine Post a Comment

Advice for Pricing Your Artwork

After hours, days or maybe even months spent on a piece of work, you are finally ready to sell. But at what cost?

There’s always the fear of either underpricing or overpricing your work. Either one can potentially hurt your chance of selling your pieces. Here are a few factors to consider when coming up with prices for your artwork.

Time, Labor and Cost of Materials

A good starting point is basing the amount of time spent making the piece and what was used to make it. For example, if materials cost $50, you take 20 hours to make the art, and you pay yourself $20 an hour to make it, then you price the art at $450 ($20 X 20 hours + $50 cost of materials). If the price still seems too high here are some other ways.

Compare to Other Artists

Another way you can price your stuff is by looking at what other artists charge. Look at artists with a similar style and background to yours. You can also research online, visit galleries, studios or other venues.

Background

You may also consider how well-established you are as an artist, if you are self-taught or studied at a well-known school, etc. If you are a new artist with no former sales, your prices should be lower than a more advanced artist. Once your reputation begins to grow, you can start increasing your prices.

Supply and Demand

Say you are constantly creating artwork. This means there is more to buy, therefore they should cost lower than if you are only creating one new piece per year. However, if your pieces are too cheap and sell too fast this can cause problems and you won’t be making back the money needed to make more work.

Know Your Audience

A New York audience is always willing to spend more on artwork than a small-town local audience. Again, research local artists in your area and compare prices. The venue is also a factor. A customer is going to be more willing to buy a more expensive piece if it’s in an art gallery and they will be less motivated to buy a costly piece if it’s in a flea market.

The most important thing to note is to be consistent with your pricing. Also, always have confidence! If a buyer sees you are professional they will believe the price way more instead of an artist that makes up prices on the spot. Always know how much your artwork is worth. Good luck and get pricing!

This time can be very stressful and unpredictable. We are all trying to figure out how to navigate our temporary "normal" and what that will mean for the future. With so many of us relying on face to face interactions to sell our goods, we have to find new ways to interact with our customers.

With so many Spring fairs cancelled and the threat of the Fall ones also at risk, we are all making adjustments in this uncertain time. And sound off on the comments section about some of your favorite tips!

Take fresh pictures of your art/goods.

Set up (an online) shop

Get some help!

Online Video

Keep/Change up the schedule

Stay connected

Plan for the Holidays

Offer gift certificates

Fine tune your marketing plan

Relax

Laura Saravia Bott

What is your background in regards to putting together the Art Stroll? Can you talk a little bit about yourself to learn more about your background, your working experience, and your business?

So, what is the Art Stroll?

What made you decide to organize the Art Stroll?

You have collaborated with many groups and businesses before. What are some of the projects you have worked on?

You plan to feature some live art, can you tell us about that?

On the Event page, it notes that there are going to be family-friendly activities. What are some activities that participants can expect?

Tell us about the artists that is going to be showcased.

And how will that impact the small and local businesses that are participating in the Art Stroll?

Can you tell us more about the reception party on Saturday Night?

How has your experience in putting this event on?

Consider the location of your table or booth.

Make branding and styling a priority.

Promote the Event

Maximize the full space available to you.

Bring items appropriate for the fair.

Be ready for all sales!

Look attentive!

Take a lap around the venue.

Make sure potential buyers can find you after the fair.

Have fun!

Richela Fabian Morgan

When you were a kid, what did you want to be?

What sparked your initial interest in art?

How has moving to the suburbs changed the way that you pursue your craft?

What experiences have inspired you recently?

What would you say has been one the most defining moments of your artistic journey?

What have been the some of the challenges of running your own business?

What was the best advice you have received? (or a bit of advice for the reader)

What made you decide to focus on Duct Tape?

You’ve written several books. How is the process of writing, creating and selling your own craft book?

Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, 15 years?