It's Summer in Colorado!

With the longer days and fewer scheduled activities, summer is my most productive season. I've settled into my new studio and renewed my passion for making art. Feels great to have my groove back.

I'm about to crank up the studio time to new levels as I have a deadline fast approaching in mid July. I'll be getting plenty of time in front of the window above, as I sit at my sewing machine working.

I can't yet share details of the exhibit this new work is for, but I do have good news below about another exhibit coming up in early 2010.

With this issue, my newsletter moves from quarterly to monthly publication, so look for my newsletter in your inbox during the second week of each month.

Enjoy, and as usual, thank you for subscribing and supporting my art and sharing my journey.

---lisa

PS: If you'd like to keep in touch more than through my newsletter, please check out these locations:

• Lisa's Blog
• Lisa's Twitter Profile
• Lisa's Facebook Profile
• Lisa's Facebook Fan Page

 Structures #73
 ©2009 Lisa Call
 Textile Painting
 54" x 64"
$15,000  
 

More Big Art! Structures #73 is the first large artwork, over 5 feet wide, completely quilted in my new studio.

The royal purples and blues combined with grays and blacks give this quilt a rich, luxurious feeling. To me it brings to mind stained glass and velvet.

As usual, dense surface stitching on the surface compliments the composition with a wonderful texture that's hard to keep your hands off of:

Solo Exhibit
I'm very excited to announce my 3rd solo show at the Macky J. Gallery at University of Colorado at Boulder will be held February 17-March 17 2010. Although I have not finalized my plans, I anticipate this show to feature all new work from my ascending series.

As I am focusing on expansion and integrity this year it seems only fitting to focus on artwork that explores the idea of moving upward and rising beyond ones current position.

South Africa Tour
For most of August of 2009, I will be traveling in South Africa. I can only imagine that my artwork will be influenced in some amazing ways as a result. I am going to be offering a very small number of collectible small art pieces inspired from this trip shortly after my return. Stay tuned to my newsletter for further details of this opportunity.

 
Shown here are the newest collectible small art pieces available for purchase. These 5 ACEOs were inspired by Structures #73 above. They look great alone or in a grouping.

For a complete view of all of my available collectible small art check my website.

	ACEO #31  ©2009 Lisa Call 2.5" x 3.5" $40 Purchase Here
	ACEO #32  ©2009 Lisa Call 2.5" x 3.5" $40 Purchase Here
	ACEO #33  ©2009 Lisa Call 2.5" x 3.5" $40 Purchase Here
	ACEO #34  ©2009 Lisa Call 2.5" x 3.5" $40 Purchase Here
	ACEO #35  ©2009 Lisa Call 2.5" x 3.5" $40 Purchase Here

A comment from a collector:

Ok, now I have to tell you I am blown away with your workmanship! One of the reasons I wanted to get this ACEO was to get a chance to look up close at your work. It's so hard in photographs to see the detail. I am totally amazed at the precision of your stitches and finishing detail!

Thank you again for offering this piece. One day I look forward to purchasing a larger piece!

ACEO stands for "art cards, editions and originals". Originally known as ATC, Artist Trading Card, and are traded between artists. When sold to the public they are referred to as ACEOs. The primary rule for an ACEO or ATC is they measuer 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" - the size of a trading card. They are created in many different mediums and are collectible, trade able and affordable art for everyone.

Making a Living as an Artist

Many of you may have noticed a change in my prices from 2008 to 2009. This issue, pricing, seems to be one of the most difficult ones for artists to wrap their minds around. Being no exception I have struggled with this topic myself.

In 2008, the year I decided I was going to start marketing and selling my artwork, I priced my collectible small art fairly low and sure enough I sold it faster than I could make it. It was absolutely awesome.

Problem was I was wearing myself out packaging and shipping artwork every day. When I began to do the calculations for all of the time spent making, marketing and then shipping the artwork it was clear I wasn't even making minimum wage.

Fortunately the construction on my new studio started in earnest and I had to take a break from producing. This gave me time to question if my art business was truly a sustainable business model. I decided it was not.

What you see now as my prices are the result of much reflection on pricing, sustainability and my desire to sell my art to everyone that would like to own my original artwork.

I wrote a long blog post that has received a lot of attention on this topic and you can read it here: Pricing Revisited.

I cover a lot of topics in that post such as valuing ones artwork, the need to build gallery commissions into the price of the artwork, the need for consistency in pricing, why the art is only 50% of the cost of a piece of artwork (marketing is hard work!), etc.

I also spell out in detail my pricing structures for 2009. I believe in transparency and think the relationship between artist and collector (and galleries) doesn't need to be obscured, so my reasoning and calculations are there for anyone to see.

I have no doubts about the value and quality of my work in terms of my prices and my ability to make a living as an artists with these prices. I am sure the art is worth my prices and I'm sure that within a few years time and some concentrated effort on marketing I will be able to make a living from my creative efforts.

My only doubts in the situation are around the affordability of my art for some of my fans. I save up over several months to purchase most of the art in my collection as my personal budget for buying art is not yet huge. I'd like to make an offer to my collectors to do the same.

If there is a piece of art you'd like to buy please email me and we can work out an installment payment plan. This way you can be sure to reserve the artwork your heart desires and pay for it over a period of time that suits your budget.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.

Chartreuse Orchid Cuff
©2009 Julie Powell
Embroidered glass beads and stones, backed in faux suede
0.5in H x 1.5in W x 7.0in L
(reprinted with permission by the artist)

I met Julie Powell several years ago in an art group devoted to mostly quilt makers. Over the years her passion switched from textiles to beads yet you can see the influence of her love of quilts in her amazing beaded cuffs and jewelry.

As Julie says:

"I am interested in creating a kind of fabric using glass beads with a needle and thread. The colors and myriad surfaces of seed beads and stones play upon each other in endless combinations and moods."

Julie has a brand new website, JuliePowellDesigns.com , and you can also purchase her work at artfulhome.com.

A new feature of my newsletter will be the introduction of a different artist each month to my readers. I love learning about new artists and also love to share the talent of the amazing artists I know and admire with my readers.