Business Never Takes a Holiday

Successful artists that I know, handle their business all the time.
As quiet as it's kept, art is a business.
With the end of the year approaching, all of the serious artists I know,are booked through half of 2011. These artists know that business never takes a holiday.
I handle my own business all the time.
I don't take any holidays in the normal sense, I just keep on going and I get paid.
My art life is steady.

Soft Landing

I had an AIR gig for 14 years. The gig ended in May of 2009.
I was working in a public school, the gig was great froa while, it paid good money, which I stacked diligently.
I knew that the fine art program I ran ,was always on the bubble.
It ended, in favor of the students getting art credit digitally.
I had a soft landing because I saved my dough.
An artist ain't nothing without some money.
My colleague Dean Mitchell, speak about this all the time. Money is a great buffer against all the stuff artists have to deal with.
I just ahd to write this.

Be Responsible

Artists should be responsible for their own progress and success.
No one wakes up in the morning and decides to buy some art from an
artist.
People are busy doing all the life stuff they have to do.
Artists have to do outreach all the time, on purpose!!!!!
If an artists starves , it's their own fault.
Real artists are responsible, all the time.

Business is Business

I am a year older and wiser, I am really going to focus on the promotion of me. The art life is whatever an artist wants it to be.
No effort, no results , I say.
I have a lot of fun, dreaming up different ways to get my work sold.
It's an artful process to me.
I am like Miles Davis, I just improvise. DIG?!!!!
I intend to heat and eat as an artist, no matter what, to old and bold not to .
I am having a great art life on purpose.
My friend and colleague Lorenzo Chavez and I, brainstorm on the phone often, about making the art life work for us.
It' just part of the process of being a successful artist, I am old enough to say that.
I'll pass on my information to any artist that want's to know how to not starve.
Just hit me with the Google.

Who Knew me @ 72

Well, here I am not starving and making art . Today happens to be my birthday.
No big plans, just happy to be here. I am will however, kick up my survial/business plan a little more for 2011.
I get a kick out of not having to be in the traditional art system in Denver.
Guerrilla marketing has gotten me good results. I intend to keep on keeping on.
I'll make the Bob Ragland brand more popular on purpose.
I am grateful and thankful for having a great art life so far.

The Saturation Point

The small works season has started in Denver.
I visited a gallery last week that had over 500 small works on view.
I think that many works is over whelming for viewers.
The exhibition is one of many to be seen until the end of December.
I would feel lost in such an exhibition.
If I was an exhibitior, I would bring people in to see the work , during the run of the show.
There are hundereds of works to be seen and bought at this time.
I think there is an over saturation of art at this time of the year in Denver.
I'll stick to my home shows.