I've given much thought lately of where I want to go with my art career in the future and I find it rather difficult to project a five year plan. In the past I worked on a program to assist me to see the future goals for my art career with the ultimate goal of running my own art center. After some trial and error, I am well on my way to seeing this goal through by running Galerie Spectra. However, this is just a step in my total vision.
Several years ago I had a dream of running an "Art Amusement Park". It seems like a lofty goal but this was my plan. I wanted to build a place where artists could not only work and sell their artwork but also live. I envisioned a camp where children could spend the summer, learning art. This also included a farm growing organic food and serving it right there on site, as I believe cooking is also an art, not to mention farming. In the center of all this would be a theater / stage where their could be bands playing and entertainment, theater, musicals, plays, all types of performance art.
Oh it was a lofty dream!
I'm not sure I want to do that now. If I were younger I might still pursue it but after running a gallery and spending most of my time managing this, I find myself yearning to paint more, to write art lessons again and spend more time off. Management of any business is a real time consumer. I don't have as much time now even to dream. I image running my Art Amusement Park would be even more work and take away more of my time affording even less time to paint.
My five year plan is yet to be determined. I keep asking myself, what are my goals? Where do I really want to be in five years?
Friday, January 8, 2016
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Sale! Sale! Sale!
As an artist, it is often difficult to place your artwork on sale. I like to keep my prices steady so that when somebody buys one of my pieces they realize the value. With that said, there are times when I just need to clean out the closet. My older pieces are of very high quality and most have not had full exposure, but there are just so many walls available to me and I hate it when they are stuck back in a closet.
The art business is like any other retail business. Sometimes you just need to have a sale. January seems the perfect time. All the hullabaloo of the holidays has past and everybody is on the cusp of tax season. A new year sometimes signifies a change of life and perhaps a change of environment. What better way to change your environment than by brightening up your space with new colors.
Here at Galerie Spectra, there are several artists who feel the same way. They are also offering once a year sale prices of up to 50% off. This is a win win! You get great pieces at discount prices and the artists get more space.
Want some new color in your life? Buy something new to hang on the wall. You will enjoy it for years to come.
Here are a few pieces I have at the deep 50% discount.
The art business is like any other retail business. Sometimes you just need to have a sale. January seems the perfect time. All the hullabaloo of the holidays has past and everybody is on the cusp of tax season. A new year sometimes signifies a change of life and perhaps a change of environment. What better way to change your environment than by brightening up your space with new colors.
Here at Galerie Spectra, there are several artists who feel the same way. They are also offering once a year sale prices of up to 50% off. This is a win win! You get great pieces at discount prices and the artists get more space.
Want some new color in your life? Buy something new to hang on the wall. You will enjoy it for years to come.
Here are a few pieces I have at the deep 50% discount.
Monday, January 4, 2016
Life at the Gallery
In 2015, I was fortunate enough to be presented an opportunity to open a gallery in Memorial City Mall, which I couldn't pass up.
This year has been fantastic for not only myself but also for Houston area artists, having an opportunity to display their artwork for sale at the mall. The gallery has turned out to be beautiful.
Galerie Spectra is located on the north side of Memorial City Mall between Macys and Dillards.
The space is large, bright, and very flattering to the artwork displayed.
Allot of work has gone into making this gallery one of the premier art spaces in Houston, thanks to all the area artists who have helped me in realizing one of my life's goals.
Now I spend a great deal of my time running the gallery. I love being surrounded by great works of art everyday and giving easy access to the public to stroll into the gallery anytime, leisurely taking their time to absorb all the wonders. Creativity runs high in this city and there is no better place to experience it than in Galerie Spectra.
In 2015, we have had the pleasure of displaying artwork by over 130 area artists. We offer something for everybody who enters. All genres and media are represented. All skill levels are welcome. This place is where artists come together to experience the joy of creating, learning from each other, and fellowship.
The community finds a place of art education and wonder. I see families from all walks of life. It warms my heart to see children asking their parents to walk in the gallery to enjoy the artwork together. The people who frequent this space may not all become customers but they leave with a deeper appreciation of art and a smile on their faces.
The population of Houston are turning into art lovers. The people are so diverse and from so many different background. This is what makes this city so great. This is reflected in the artists who display their work in the gallery. It is a joy to meet all types of people from around the world who have moved to Houston and enjoy creativity as much as I do. I have been introduced to new and different views, media, genres, and ideas. Thank you artists for bringing joy into my world.
This year has been fantastic for not only myself but also for Houston area artists, having an opportunity to display their artwork for sale at the mall. The gallery has turned out to be beautiful.
Galerie Spectra is located on the north side of Memorial City Mall between Macys and Dillards.
The space is large, bright, and very flattering to the artwork displayed.
Allot of work has gone into making this gallery one of the premier art spaces in Houston, thanks to all the area artists who have helped me in realizing one of my life's goals.
Now I spend a great deal of my time running the gallery. I love being surrounded by great works of art everyday and giving easy access to the public to stroll into the gallery anytime, leisurely taking their time to absorb all the wonders. Creativity runs high in this city and there is no better place to experience it than in Galerie Spectra.
In 2015, we have had the pleasure of displaying artwork by over 130 area artists. We offer something for everybody who enters. All genres and media are represented. All skill levels are welcome. This place is where artists come together to experience the joy of creating, learning from each other, and fellowship.
The community finds a place of art education and wonder. I see families from all walks of life. It warms my heart to see children asking their parents to walk in the gallery to enjoy the artwork together. The people who frequent this space may not all become customers but they leave with a deeper appreciation of art and a smile on their faces.
The population of Houston are turning into art lovers. The people are so diverse and from so many different background. This is what makes this city so great. This is reflected in the artists who display their work in the gallery. It is a joy to meet all types of people from around the world who have moved to Houston and enjoy creativity as much as I do. I have been introduced to new and different views, media, genres, and ideas. Thank you artists for bringing joy into my world.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Happy New Year! - 2016
Most of us make new year's resolutions. This year, mine is to be more active than ever in my art career from all angles. Yes, it is difficult to keep the momentum going all year but I have learn from previous years not to raise my expectations too high. For example, for years I vowed to quit smoking until one year I vowed not to even try to quit smoking. Why drive myself crazy? Other years I vowed to make one painting per day, but then I went away for more than one day in a row and the resolution went out the window.
So this year, my resolution is more generalized and something I can have more control over. I thought of vowing to write this blog everyday but then thought there are days I won't have time. That's the simple truth. Painting every day is out of the question. I already paint almost every day, so the goal would not be too high but there again, when I do find myself away from the easel, my resolution is shot.
So in the spirit of finding ways to be more active in my art career, I resolve to combine all these things I normally do and just make a more conscious choice in what I am doing and not to just go about my days without thinking of how my daily actions effect my art career. Just being present will help me tremendously.
I will write my blog when I can, I will paint when I can and I will continue to focus on the gallery when I can. Since there are many aspects to building an art career, I will consciously conduct my days and manage my time with a focus on where I am going and the steps I need to take to get there.
Perhaps I can also apply this self-consciousness to other areas of my life as well which will also benefit my career. Time management is important in all aspects of life. I don't want to disrupt other areas of my life just to focus on my art career but enhance all areas of my life while focusing on my art career, if that makes sense.
2016 promises to be a banner year. I have so much going on and so many plans. I'm just so excited and happy with my life that keeping up with momentum will be my greatest challenge.
So this year, my resolution is more generalized and something I can have more control over. I thought of vowing to write this blog everyday but then thought there are days I won't have time. That's the simple truth. Painting every day is out of the question. I already paint almost every day, so the goal would not be too high but there again, when I do find myself away from the easel, my resolution is shot.
So in the spirit of finding ways to be more active in my art career, I resolve to combine all these things I normally do and just make a more conscious choice in what I am doing and not to just go about my days without thinking of how my daily actions effect my art career. Just being present will help me tremendously.
I will write my blog when I can, I will paint when I can and I will continue to focus on the gallery when I can. Since there are many aspects to building an art career, I will consciously conduct my days and manage my time with a focus on where I am going and the steps I need to take to get there.
Perhaps I can also apply this self-consciousness to other areas of my life as well which will also benefit my career. Time management is important in all aspects of life. I don't want to disrupt other areas of my life just to focus on my art career but enhance all areas of my life while focusing on my art career, if that makes sense.
2016 promises to be a banner year. I have so much going on and so many plans. I'm just so excited and happy with my life that keeping up with momentum will be my greatest challenge.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
New Year Looms - 2016
I began this blog years ago with a view to write something everyday. After taking a look at it today, I realized that it has been over a year since I wrote anything. As the year 2016 looms ever closer, I have been thinking about my goals for the year. Writing a daily blog is at the top of the list. I have studied "The Artists' Way" and have always wanted to get a group together for a group study of the course. One of the very first exercises is to write at least 30 minutes every day. The author suggests doing it first thing in the morning, while your mind is still fresh from sleep, however, sometimes that doesn't always fit into the schedule. So I'm opting for using this blog as my 30 minute writing exercise.
This will certainly be a challenge for me because I write daily on many topics, mainly promotion of my gallery, but to have the freedom to write whatever is on my mind is great. In "The Artists' Way" it is also suggested that after writing for 30 minutes in a journal, put it away and don't read it. This task might not be too beneficial to me since I need to also exercise proof reading. I am a sloppy writer and often make mistakes simply because I don't always take the time to proof read everything. I need to get in a habit of doing this.
So here's a challenge for the new year. I have so many challenges staring me in the face. It actually feels good to be challenged. For me, every year presents a time for a fresh beginning, making goals, seeing how long I will stick to them and see tem through.
In review, last year, I didn't not meet my writing challenge. But that's okay. I think I accomplished many other goals I had set out for myself.
I did meet a very important goal, that of finding a new location for an art center. My establishment is not quite what I had in mind since I do not have a true "art center" but more of a visual gallery. I'm very happy in reaching this goal. It is just another step in the evolution of my own personal creation.
The next goal I feel I did accomplish is to start a new art group. I had been struggling with the group previously lead because there had been long standing negativity with some of the leadership. Dissolving that organization and growing a new one has eliminated the stress of attempting to uplift a failing organization. Now the new organization has grown larger and stronger than I could ever have dreamed. This sense of accomplishment has truly uplifted me to confirm that I can accomplish my goals, no matter how lofty.
Part of being an artist is to create lofty goals, dream of greater things, make plans. Sometimes those creations are not just things you can look at or listen too but they are something that is felt deep down inside. Something that is not only created but also emoted to others. I have devoted more of my time to the creation of my gallery and my art group in 2015 than I have to creating new works of art. I feel good about this. It is another step in the process of my life as an artist and as a creative person.
This will certainly be a challenge for me because I write daily on many topics, mainly promotion of my gallery, but to have the freedom to write whatever is on my mind is great. In "The Artists' Way" it is also suggested that after writing for 30 minutes in a journal, put it away and don't read it. This task might not be too beneficial to me since I need to also exercise proof reading. I am a sloppy writer and often make mistakes simply because I don't always take the time to proof read everything. I need to get in a habit of doing this.
So here's a challenge for the new year. I have so many challenges staring me in the face. It actually feels good to be challenged. For me, every year presents a time for a fresh beginning, making goals, seeing how long I will stick to them and see tem through.
In review, last year, I didn't not meet my writing challenge. But that's okay. I think I accomplished many other goals I had set out for myself.
I did meet a very important goal, that of finding a new location for an art center. My establishment is not quite what I had in mind since I do not have a true "art center" but more of a visual gallery. I'm very happy in reaching this goal. It is just another step in the evolution of my own personal creation.
The next goal I feel I did accomplish is to start a new art group. I had been struggling with the group previously lead because there had been long standing negativity with some of the leadership. Dissolving that organization and growing a new one has eliminated the stress of attempting to uplift a failing organization. Now the new organization has grown larger and stronger than I could ever have dreamed. This sense of accomplishment has truly uplifted me to confirm that I can accomplish my goals, no matter how lofty.
Part of being an artist is to create lofty goals, dream of greater things, make plans. Sometimes those creations are not just things you can look at or listen too but they are something that is felt deep down inside. Something that is not only created but also emoted to others. I have devoted more of my time to the creation of my gallery and my art group in 2015 than I have to creating new works of art. I feel good about this. It is another step in the process of my life as an artist and as a creative person.
Friday, November 28, 2014
All Artwork On Sale!
Big Sale
I'm announcing my end of the year holiday sale!
You can find my artwork on
I have marked down my regular prices, Some to 50% off or more.
All small acrylic paintings on canvas board, sizes 9" X 12" to 12" X 18" are on sale for $20 each (regularly $25-$50). See www.paintingwithsuzanne.blogspot.com
All 16" X 20" Oil and Acrylic Paintings are now on sale for $125 each (regularly $200-$250).
All Gallery Wrapped Oil, Acrylic and Mixed Medium Pieces are now $25 off list price as priced on www.fineartamerica.com .
This sale will end Dec. 31, 2014.
These deals are only on original artwork pieces, no reproduction sales. Sale must be made in person within the greater Houston area, or through paypal online. Any orders requiring shipping, the buyer pays for the shipping cost. Delivery is available in Houston area only. I will also be at JoMar Visions Studio for the Artists Alive and Well 2014 Showcase event.
For more information see www.artistsaliveandwell.com
Contact me directly at confident_realm@yahoo.com for orders.
These painting are all on sale for only $20. Many more to choose from.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Painting with Suzanne: Painting Class on Sale One Day Only at Michael's i...
Painting with Suzanne: Painting Class on Sale One Day Only at Michael's i...: Art Class Open House Saturday, Nov. 15 Sign up for a painting or drawing class and save $10. Koh-I-Noor Drawing Clas...
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