What I've Learned So Far in Transition

by Kate Dardine

So here I am, a few months into my “transition” from full time employment to full-time self-employment. I am currently working three days at Fine Print, and two days in my studio. In my last post, I wrote about coming up with a schedule for my studio days, to keep me focused on producing and marketing my paintings. 

 

So, what have I learned?  That I still don’t have enough time!  That I much prefer painting in daylight than under artificial lights – but since two full days of painting/marketing doesn’t give me enough time, I must still paint at night.  I’ve discovered it’s better to start the painting at night and finish in the day – my colors are more true.  Also, finishing a painting takes much more mental acuity – a slower, more analytical process.  Beginning a painting is when I can let raw emotions loose, and it is much more physical – perfect after a day at the computer.

Speaking of computers, I’ve also learned I need a new one.  Not that I didn’t know that before (heck, mine is almost 10 years old and is still running XP!) but having to rely on the old, bogged down machine causes me frustration.  I guess I’d better write a letter to Santa!

I’ve learned that it is better for me to get computer/marketing work done in the morning and paint in the afternoon, so I’ve had to modify my self-imposed schedule to accommodate this preference.

I’m learning how to paint more consistently, in that I am discovering repeatable motifs and processes. I believe this comes from more consistent painting time and an evolving appreciation for my own “voice”. Self-doubt (my inner critic) still plagues me, but I’m learning to step away from a painting when self-doubt strikes – distance and time let me look at the painting with fresh eyes and an open mind. At the same time, I’m able to assess my compositions better and determine how I want the eye to move through the painting. Now for some of you, this skill comes easily.  However, it’s been my nemesis. I “knew” that I needed to direct the eye, but for some reason never gave it much consideration.   Now I liken it to a treasure hunt – what delights can I (and the viewer) discover?

I have discovered Pinterest – and have created a board called “inspiration”. On this board I pin paintings by other artists that intrigue me – either by use of color, composition, technique or subject matter.  I refer to the board when I’m feeling stuck on a painting. It really helps to see how other artists have solved similar problems. Click here to follow me on Pinterest.

Another trick I am trying is keeping a small sketchbook with me at all times for painting ideas – sometimes the title of a painting will pop in my head, with a vision of what the painting could look like.  If I don’t write it down and quickly sketch it, it’s lost.

And how about the other side of my business –the marketing end? That has proven to be a bit of a struggle as well. I am trying to be more consistent with posting on social media, writing blogs, writing my newsletter (you can sign up for it here).  On my “to-do” list for this week is to come up with a master schedule for posting, blogging, newsletters, mailings.  Applying to galleries is something I plan on starting in January – instead of a hit or miss way of contacting galleries, I want to create a schedule and method.

And lastly, for now… I realize how hard it is for me to talk about my work. This is something that has plagued me throughout my life – the fear of public speaking! (Hey, I’m a visual artist and a writer, not an orator! ) However, the time has come for me to face my fears and get over it!

Kate Dardine has been helping artists and photographers with their marketing and printing needs for over 26 years. She is now making the transition to full time artist, and invites you to follow along on her journey. You can see her work at www.katedardine.com.

Time is on My Side...Or Not

Back in July of this year, I cut back my hours at Fine Print Imaging, where I’ve worked for the past 26 plus years.  I am now working Monday – Wednesday at Fine Print, while Thursdays and Fridays are reserved for my art business.

 

I think somewhere in my head I believed that I would have so much time to paint in these two days. And so much time to devote to marketing my work. And so much time to build relationships with other artists.  The first month I got absolutely nothing art related done on my “art days.”  In my defense, I just moved  into a new home, and that first month was spent trying to find stuff. 

 

So now, after a month of devoting those two days a week to art I am laughing at my naïve self!

 

“So much time” seems to fly by quickly, especially if I get caught up in the distractions of having my studio in my home.  Distractions like laundry, Facebook, yard work, Pinterest, etc. – all things I do to avoid staring at the blank canvas or the blank blog post.  Oddly, it was one distraction – Pinterest – which was an “aha” moment for me

.

A schedule.  Not the kind of schedule I would have made for myself, which would have been a “nose to the grindstone, get up at 6 AM and paint until noon…take ½ hour break…get back in studio and paint until 4” kind of schedule.  Which is not the way my creative mind works, but is the way my “inner boss” wants it.  No, this schedule accommodates shorter “work times” interspersed with thinking time and reading time and exercise time and meeting friends for lunch time.

So for now my Thursday/Friday schedule looks something like this:

7:00 AM – 8:30AM.  Walk dog.  Yoga/meditation. Breakfast.

8:30 – 9:00  Email correspondence

9:00 – 10:30  Painting

10:30 – 11:00 Laundry/etc.

11:00 – 12:30 Painting

12:30 – 1:30 Lunch/walk dog/ read, etc.

1:30 – 3:00 “Marketing” (writing my blog or newsletter, posting to Facebook, designing postcards, etc.

3:00 – 5:00 "Flex time" - errands, painting, marketing, as needed.

This may be subject to change – after all, one of the great things about working for oneself is the ability to be flexible. If I want to drive down to the Denver Art Museum one day, I can. If I want to meet someone for lunch I can.  But what the schedule does is give me a framework and helps keep me on track.

I’ll let you know how it goes!

If you want to see the “pin” that helped me organize my day, go to www.pinterest.com/katedardine,  and look on my “other cool stuff” board. (Someday I’ll organize my Pinterest boards better. Probably the same time I get all my old photos out of boxes and put them in albums. Ha!)

How do you juggle your art business with your "day job", family, other interests? Do you have a schedule? 

Kate Dardine has been helping photographers and artists market their prints for over 26 years. She is currently the newsletter editor and new customer liaison at Fine Print Imaging, as well as a professional artist selling original paintings and prints.Her website is www.katedardine.com

A Look Back

by Kate Dardine

As many of you know, I’ve been a part of Fine Print Imaging for a long time. I started out in 1989 as a part-time “spotter.”  These were in the days before digital printing, when we printed from negatives.  Instead of printing onto sheets of photo paper, we utilized large rolls of 11”, 20” and 30” wide paper.  After being exposed and wet processed, the rolls came through the dryer and had to be caught up on a cardboard core and rolled.  Then the individual prints had to be trimmed off the roll, counted and spotted.  When printing from negatives, sometimes dust falls onto the negative during exposure, which results in white spots on the print. The “spotters” would use Kodak photo retouch dyes to paint in the spots, making them disappear. It was painstaking, sometimes grueling – but FUN work (at least for me)!

Along with catching, trimming, counting and spotting prints, my job also entailed packaging print orders and shipping. After a few years, I moved into customer service, where I took in and scheduled orders, organized negatives and guide prints and started our monthly newsletter.  Fast forward a few more years to the late ‘90’s and my job changed again as I concentrated on bringing in new customers, following up with current customers and teaching our customers about marketing their work and about that new-fangled technology, digital printing.  At that time we started using the IRIS printer and dye-based inks.  Not long after that, we bought our first Chromira digital photo printer and the ICG drum scanner.  As the technology for ink printing improved, we up-graded to the Roland printer, and now print with Epson wide-format ink printers.  We no longer print from negatives – having closed up the last of our darkrooms a few years ago.

Even the way our customers can order has undergone metamorphosis. “Back in the day” customers could mail in orders, or phone them in. Then we got a new-fangled machine and we could accept FAXed orders! A little while later, email orders. Now fine folks can mail, phone, email, use our online order form or utilize our completely online ordering system, Fine Print Express!
 

The point to all this being, that over the years, there have been lots of changes as Fine Print grows and integrates new technologies – but one of the things that hasn’t changed is our company-wide  dedication to bringing you the very best, archival reproductions at the very best price. And to give you the very best customer service while doing it.  Many of us have been here for over 20 years.  At 26-1/2 years, I’ve been here the longest, and have probably assumed more “hats” than anyone else – with the exception of Mark Lukes – Fine Print’s Maintenance Engineer, IT Specialist and President/CEO.

And the point to THAT is…I have decided to reduce my hours at Fine Print to part time in order to pursue my other love – painting.  I am grateful for Fine Print’s support as I take this step into what will eventually be a full-time business.  I hope you will follow along with my progress in my monthly blog posts, and I hope I can impart some of what I learn to help those of you considering making the leap. (Of course, my leap is more like walking up to my belly in the waters of full-time painting!) 

Kate Dardine has been helping artists and photographers with their art businesses for over 26 years. She is now transitioning to full-time art and invites you to follow along on the journey. www.katedardine.com    www.fineprintimaging.com