I’ve Been Thinking

"Spring" My Latest Work, can you guess what I'm thinking about?

When an artist has a blog called “Artist Thoughts” and they don’t make a post for 3 months, does that mean they haven’t been thinking? I just realized that I haven’t made a post on this blog since November, but I have been thinking a lot. And working.

I’ve been thinking about how long winter is and how hard it can be to get motivated when I’m cooped up in the house without enough sunshine. And it occurred to me that my work is my sunshine and I need to do more of it, not less in the winter. I also think that I need to take time out next winter and go somewhere warm and sunny for a few weeks.

In the meantime, I’ve been expanding the work in my “Essence” gallery. This body of work has been and remains incredibly popular and is quite fun to work with. The above pictured works is are limited edition pieces that are available on canvas and fine art paper in sizes up to 60″ on the longest side.

Goodness

"Goodness" © Ann Teliczan 2010

Every so often I take a break from creating new work and notice that it has a profound impact on how I feel. I actually NEED to be doing this or I simply feel like something is missing from my life. I don’t know why I take breaks, but I do.

So, my latest “break” is officially over and I now present you with “Goodness.”

The Choices We Make

We can stay in the darkness, or choose the light in our lives.

I’ve been thinking about the opportunity we all have to move from dwelling on the darkness in our lives and choosing the light instead.

No one said it was always going to be fair (and if they did, they were either lying or misinformed). But, we can choose light and happiness when things are rough. And the sooner we do, the better life will be.

For now, I’m in a great place in my life but believe me, I’ve had turmoil and know the struggle it can be to try and actually do this. Choose light, choose happiness and joy.

What Is It?

The most common question I get when people see my work is, “what is this… a painting, photograph, pastel? It’s different and I can’t identify what this is. ” And, that’s the response I’m looking for but this sure does make it hard for me to categorize what my work is for art galleries and exhibitions.

Truth is, my work is a multi media painting that uses unconventional methods to arrive at the final result. As technology evolves, there are going to be more and more artists like me who look at all the available tools, both old and new,  to produce their work and then come up with their own set of rules. This is going to result in work that doesn’t fit into a neat category. It’s just art that has come from a creative place in someone’s soul.

For those who are curious, here’s how my process usually works. It starts with a search for botanical material on walks, in the woods, in my flower garden, or at the flower shop. I then scan the botanical on a flat bed scanner and redraw it on my computer combining other scans and layers, changing shapes, colors and textures until I am happy with the result. Sometimes there are over 100 layers used to make one painting, other times it is less or more. Once I am satisfied with the result I print and sign limited editions on special paper and canvas, for prints 12″ x 18″ or smaller, I print them myself, for larger prints, I personally proof each one. Each edition size has one print that I also paint with mica, a translucent mineral. The mica produces a stunningly magical effect under the right light.

So there you have it, that’s a simplified description of what it is.

Blogging About ArtPrize

Check out what I’m up to during my free time for the next couple of weeks over at my other blog, www.MichiganSweetSpot.com. I’ll be blogging about ArtPrize and sharing my discoveries.

Now I’m at the Bindley Collection Gallery

"Smile" by Ann Teliczan is one of 14 works available at the Bindley Collection Gallery in Middleton, WI

Last week end I had the pleasure of meeting Colleen and Dennis Bindley, of  Bindley Collection Gallery in Middleton, WI, just outside of Madison. They are featuring 14 of my pieces, including the one pictured here.

I love the collection of artists in this gallery, which is eclectic, top notch and unique all rolled into one great experience. If you’re anywhere near their gallery, it’s well worth the visit. Here’s their address and phone:  Bindley Collection Gallery, 6771 University Avenue, Middleton, WI 53562   phone: 608-831-7780.

Post by Ann Teliczan

ArtPrize 2010, My Entry

Presence by Ann Teliczan

Here’s the thing about being a perfectionist, and an artist… it makes things really tough when the bar is set high. And, it’s incredibly high with ArtPrize, which will be held in Grand Rapids for the second time from September 22 – October 10. Spectrum Health’s Butterworth Campus will again be hosting me, my entry will be located in the main lobby.

Word has it that most of the hotels in town are booked due to visitors coming to Grand Rapids for the ArtPrize. Everyone I know who visited it last year was tremendously impressed and can’t wait to see what this year will bring. This year features 1,730 artists in 192 venues sprinkled throughout the city.

Artist Support for Galleries & Consultants

Ann Teliczan, Wind. Hybrid Image, 36"x24". ©The Artist

At the beginning of my career as an artist I decided to make a consistent effort to be supportive of the galleries and consultants representing me. I’ve stuck with this policy and have found it to be rewarding.

I’d like to share some of the things I do. These actions not only help those representing me, they have promoted my career.

1. Build a great website with low resolution images that can be saved to a desktop. This helps galleries and consultants recommend your work to clients. Initially I was reluctant to do this but found it paid off immediately when I made the change. Here’s a link to my website, www.Anntopia.com

2. On your website watermark images, but place it discretely in an area that doesn’t compete with your image, usually the lower right corner.

3. Don’t sell your work direct to consumers for less than the retail price that your galleries and consultants are selling it for.

4. In the event you are contacted directly by a customer, find out if they have viewed your work, or heard about you from a gallery or consultant. If so, give the gallery or consultant a commission. I know this may sound extreme to some artists, but having strong relationships with your reps is worth a lot more than a cut in profit.

5. Promote your work. Have a blog and website. Enter contests and send out press releases. Place your work in high traffic areas with signage about a nearby gallery representing you.

6. Have a professional bio, artist statement and information about your work easily available and on your website. In other words, make it easy to sell your work.

7. Learn about promotion from some of the great resources online such as Art Biz Blog by Alyson B. Stanfield. She has great ideas and knows her stuff.

The last few years have been really tough on a lot of art galleries (I know, on artists too). Establishing that you are serious enough about your career to take these actions signals that you are worth the valuable time and floor space they are committing to you.

ArtPrize 2010 is Rapidly Approaching

A little something to keep you occupied before I show you my ArtPrize entry for 2010. This is a commissioned piece I recently completed.

I’ll be participating in ArtPrize again this year and have mixed feelings about it. Last year’s event was great. My venue at Spectrum Health was well organized and they treated me wonderfully. The atmosphere at ArtPrize was like nothing I’ve ever experience, there was a tremendous artistic energy in the air that I could literally feel as I neared Grand Rapids during the event. I loved being surrounded by all the artists and art lovers as well as seeing art forms I had never been exposed to before.

This is not to be missed. Soon, I will show you my work that will be on exhibit at Spectrum Health (Butterworth Campus). First, I have to finish it, the pressure’s on! In the meantime, here’s one of my recent commissioned works for you to look at.

Why do I have mixed feelings? I’ve set the bar so high for myself, I hope I can meet it… we’ll see.

Birthdays

I think we grow stronger over time, when we decide to use life's challenges to make us stronger.

Tomorrow is my birthday. It’s funny how they change meaning over time. When I was young, I couldn’t wait for my birthday because I was anticipating the gifts that I had been hoping for. Later, I learned not to get excited, because it was too disappointing when my “orders” weren’t filled properly.

I’ve been thinking about how much I’ve changed over time and in many ways am closer to the person I was when I first entered the world. I love getting presents, but, I’ve learned that possessions are second to being happy with who I am right now, and what I have already. I’ve also learned that if I want something, to go for it myself rather than waiting for someone to give it to me, or let me have it.

More than anything, I’ve learned to be really, really grateful for all the goodness in my life. And actually, I’m also grateful for the tough times too. They have made me resilient and taught me to hang in there and let life happen, sometimes there are happy surprises where they are least expected.