ArtBizJam Interview with Guest Instructor Anne Brown

This week’s interview is with Anne Brown, Director of Product Development for Magnet Works and Studio M. As an artist, I find it completely spellbinding listening to Anne talk about the development side of creating product lines. You can have the opportunity to learn from Anne as one of the instructors at ArtBizJam, an artist retreat/workshop taking place in Destin, FL September 18-22, 2013.

Anne Brown ArtbizJam

You can join Anne, licensing artists Lori Siebert, Paula Joerling and myself for fun on the beach, a little wine and lots of information about the business side of art licensing as well as creative play time with new techniques!

We want to keep it small so that some of the discussions can be tailored to your specific needs. We are almost full and registration closes August 10.

You can find all the details at  ArtBizJam.com

Among other things, Anne will be discussing the following topics at ABJ.

1. Finding Your Creative Spark. Everyone has one but some have yet to define and commit to it. Anne will discuss the importance of identifying your Spark, what ignites it and how to stay true to it.

2. Share Your Spark. Learn from a Product Developer ! Anne will discuss her perspective of what a product developer wants to see in portfolio presentations and their expectations during development. You will learn how to determine which products best work for your artwork.

3.  Ignite Your Spark. A trending field trip to learn the in’s and out’s of determining trends, plus much more information on correctly predicting trends.

You can see the full class schedule for ArtBizJam.

Artbizjam date

Anne’s Interview:

Why did you want to be involved with ArtBizJam?

When Lori, Paula and Phyllis called me to share their vision for the retreat, I was inspired by their passion and purpose. I was thrilled to be included as a guest teacher.

What will people get out of attending this particular workshop?

I hope the participants walk away with a better sense of their creative purpose and tools to enrich their business and art.

What makes this workshop/retreat special and different from other workshops?

ArtBizJam is a creative renewal that encourages realness, vision and kinship. I love that it was tailor-made for an intimate group of artists who are interested in growing personally and professionally while having a blast doing it!

How do you reconcile your passion of developing product with the business side of art?

My passion and job is developing products with licensed artists and designers. As a Product Developer, it is crucial I am always looking through the lens of my retail customer and end consumer. This means there are times I have to pass on an artist I admire personally because it is not the right fit for my product.

What are you looking forward to fun-wise with ArtBizJam?

I am looking forward to a long weekend of learning, sharing and creativity…on the beach. Our hostesses have taken great care in planning every detail and know this will be a memorable weekend!

We look forward to seeing you at ArtBiz Jam!

Phyllis

Interview (with myself Phyllis Dobbs) for ArtBizJam!

This week we are starting a series of interviews with the instructors at ArtBizJam, which is a creative/art business retreat being held in Destin, FL September 18-22, 2013.  The instructors along with myself are Anne Brown, Director of Product Development at Magnet Works and Studio M and artists Lori Siebert and Paula Joerling. My name was drawn out of the proverbial “hat” to be the first interviewee!

ArtBizJam artist retreat

Why did you want to be involved with ArtBizJam?

Conducting a retreat has been in my mind for quite a while. I love attending retreats and enjoy teaching so it was natural to want to host one. This one came together almost as a product of a magic wand being waved with some fairy dust – the four of just all wanted the same thing and were so excited about it. As a teacher at ArtBizJam, I feel that I will get as much out of it as will the students. Any time you meet someone and network, you automatically gain from it, whether you are the teacher or the student.

What will people get out of attending this particular workshop?

The attendees will benefit on several levels. They will have fun and create cherished new friendships and an experience that they will treasure. They will learn how to improve their business to get it to the level that they want as well as work smarter with their business side. Working smarter makes us more productive while giving us more time to enjoy the benefits of being creative. And the attendees will also relax and rejuvenate by being being creative in new areas, taking these techniques and incorporating them into their creations. Taking time to creatively play will give you the energy and spark to create new ideas. We have some fun surprises that will delight everyone there – you will love every minute in this beautiful gulf coast area.

What makes this workshop/retreat special and different from other workshops?

Most workshops focus on only one area of your business, mostly taking creative classes.  This one also focuses on the business side as well as the creative. You can have a creative business but if you don’t know how to promote and grow it, you will not get as much as you can from it.
We are also keeping ArtBizJam small so that its a more intimate retreat where individual  business or creative needs can be addressed.

How do you reconcile your passion of creating art with the business side of art?

All our art and creativeness comes from the right side of our brain. We tend to really love that area and want to stay there. But when our art is our business, we need to venture into the left side of brains. I know its not as much fun, that left side, but there are ways to make it that way.  We can be just as creative with the business side and that’s what I strive to do to make my business side as interesting as the creative part. Its all the same coin, just different sides, and I find it fun to flip it back and forth, well at least some of the time!

What are you looking forward to fun-wise with ArtBizJam?

Laughter and camaraderie! When ever a group of women get together, no matter what the reason from serious business to just relaxing, it always turns into laughter at some point.  And that’s especially true with artists. We become close knit as we get to know each other and that forms into friendships. We always enjoy getting together any time that we can. The laughter is the perk that always happens!

Phyllis

 

ArtBizJam, A Unique Artist Retreat

I’m so excited to be part of a new and unique artist retreat, ArtBizJam  with Lori Siebert, Paula Joerling and Anne Brown! It will be held in the beach resort of Destin, FL, home of sugar white sand beaches and turquoise blue water, September 18-22, 2013.

ArtBizJam artist retreat

ArtBizJam is different from other retreats as half of the focus, the Business Side, is devoted to the business aspects of being a professional artist to give you the tools to maximize your business growth. I guarantee it won’t be “business boring”, but filled with exciting classes that you will love and with information you will take to your studios and begin using immediately. The Creative Side of ArtBizJam  will rejuvenate your creativity.

Artist Retreat in Destin FL

Being creative is the nature of the artist, however, its easy to loose our spark or get in a repetitive rut.  We all need to try different things and techniques to keep our art fresh and exciting. All of the classes are being taught by 3 professional artists with years of experience in creating art for textiles, giftware, garden and stationery products, and wall art publishers and by a product developer who has worked with leading top gift companies and will share her expertise in developing concepts, product lines and working with licensing artsts.

ArtBizJam Sept 18 2013

To quote Albert Schweitzer (1875 -1965) In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.

Join us and light your inner fire! All information about this unique artist retreat can be found at ArtBizJam.

Due to the small intimate setting of this jam, spaces are limited, so BOOK EARLY to insure you will be a part of ArtBizJam!

Phyllis