Working Class Artist -Me

I like being a working class artist. My ambition is, to be able to heat and eat and make my work.I am writing this because, I was asked about being in catalog exhibitions. I just want to be free to do, what I want to do,I am doing exactly that.

Being Prudent

I am being very prudent, I recently discovered a story about an artist, who has made a lot of dough in his career. Found out that there was some bad money decisions made.
The artist has to reboot his career. He has mad skills on the art making side.
Me , I am like a turtle when it comes to spending money. I don't want to be broke.
It seems that some people like to gloat , when some one has a fall from grace.
I have found having some money, is a good barrier, between me and the gloaters.
I am very, very, prudent on purpose.

Recent Press

I have a story to appear in the Denver Post Yourhub section.
I tried to post the data on FB. It got blocked, so I mention it here.
Sorry to have you dig for the press.

Behind the Scenes

One never knows what an artist is dealing with. I just became aware that an artist colleague and friend, is in rebooting mode. I guess I am fortunate to be some what stable in my art life. I have bread and shelter, I have my skills to make art. I have a cash buffer against some stuff. I have tried to make certain, to keep my furniture in the studio and not on the sidewalk, if you get my drift.I will continue to labor away behind the scenes to be as stable as I am able.

Yourhub.com/Denver

I got me some ink. See yourhub/denver.
I am my own best press agent, always have been and will be.
I am a proactive artist. I don't make masterpiece art, but
I try yo make masterpiece business.

Getting Ready

I am getting ready for the rest of 2012. I am making my work, inventing ways to stay financially able to run my my artlife, with out too much strife. I am constantly honing my business skill set. I know I don't have to make masterpiece art all the time,
I do try to make masterpiece business.Doing masterpiece business matters, more than the art, for me at this point in my artlife. I am getting ready for the last three quarters of 2012. I will stay ready.

A Hundred Dollar Marketing Tool

I was just thinking what an artist can do with one hundred dollars, too market themselves. Eight bucks can buy first class stamps, to do out reach to possible studio visitors. Part of the money could buy some petrol,to go see an exhibition for ideas. Buy art magazines,for a couple of ideas, buy lunch for a colleague,to have conversation about career game plans.Oh yes, the petrol can get you out to a location to paint or draw some subjects. That's all I can think of for the moment.More later.

So Cool

Johnny Depp owns an island in or near the Bahamas.
To me a great thing. 45 acres , to escape to.
Marlon Brando owned an island in his life time.
The actor would retreat there, rest and when he needed to top off
his bank account, he'd leave make some dough, then go back to the island.
That's what I call a very cool thing.

Real Artists Don't Starve!!!!!

i originated this slogan many years ago to remind my self, to do what ever it takes, to have an art life. I love being an artist , I made up my mind long ago, to do what ever I needed to do, to support myself as an artist. I have developed a whole bag of cool art career tricks that work. I will continue to develop more cool art tricks.
REAL ARTISTS DON'T STARVE!

Some Money Beats No Money

I know of an artist who, just quit a regular source of income.
A regular income is a good thing for an artist to have.I found myself in a similar
situation three years ago. I lost a considerable amount of regular income, my AIR
art gig was shut down at short notice. I always had a an escape plan.
I SAVED MONEY FOR JUST SUCH AN EVENT.
I was unsettled for awhile.
To supplement some of the dough I lost,I devised a plan, to get some art money.
I planned on paper some possible ways to get paid by art.
Long story short , I did many art jobs to have some money and not,zero money.
So far, so good.

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.

The Helpless Artist

I have found that many artists, take their art to the gallery, and that's it. I always wonder why, artists are not more proactive about getting people in to see their work, before the exhibition closes.
Many artists don't think of doing the extra stuff to get paid.
I hear to often the cliche, that it's the gallery's job to sell.
Well, surprise,nowadays with so many artists in the mix. Real artists need to go the extra mile.If they do , they won't be so helpless.

WAM

I made some WAM yesterday. WAM is, walking around money.
I sold a number of my showbox paintings.
I do like the little money makers.
I am happy that peolple like them also.
I am glad to be able to have people who, are willing to
host the shoebox shows. We artists need all the art sensitive
people we can muster.
In this day and age of a soft economy, any sale, is a good sale.
I am trying to get as much art into the hands of the public
as I can. So far, so good.

I am on You Tube

I am always looking to market myself in new ways. Now I am on You Tube.
I always wanted to find out how to do that. My friend Gerald Trumbule
shot and posted the video.
Another tool in my skill set, to keep on going.
I need all the help I can get.
My art life is steady as usual, I do the business part, like art, as well as I can.
I am such a maverick artist in Denver, I have to be learning new stuff all the time.I do it gladly.
Knowledge is power!!!!!

I had to pass on this

I got a call on 10-25-2010, from someone wanting me to show in a new art gallery. I had to decline. My reason is, the gallery was going to be another afro-centric gallery.
I don't like galleries that limit my art life and career.
I just want people to see my work , and not make a judgement on my ethnic background.

Bragging Rights

I just remembered to post this. In September 2010, I sold paintings to people who, just told me to send them something, sight unseen.
I felt very special because of this. I have toiled away in the art trenches
for a long time. I guess, I get to brag a little.
I do work steadily to do the best business That I can for my art career.
So far, so good.

More Sales, Shoebox Art

I am selling the little latte priced works , like candy.
I just need walking around money, the little works are priced, at $50-100.
These works fit a shoebox.
I also show them at people's homes. All I need is a table top, or any surface to show 25-50 works. The sizes are 5x7inches to 6x8 inches.
I am having a great art life, brain power is my main power!!!!!!!!!!
My business skills are being sharpened regularly. ON PURPOSE!!!!
NO starving art life for me.

People Who Don't Get Back

I just need to get this said, er written.
I think it's a big mistake when people are slow to get back to anyone.
I also think, it's a costly mistake when people fail to respond, they miss decent information and often financial opportunities.
I make it point to move non responders to the back burner ,business wise.
I also make it point to amp up my personal game, when this stuff happens.
STR people are not my favorite people,I am glad I don't have to depend on them.