Hey Y'all,

Today, I'm kicked back in my recliner enjoying a lazy pj day, recouping from last night's art walk. I didn't know what to expect because of Covid 19. All the work of setting up and I might not have anyone come by. Let me tell you...that wasn't the case. I guess people are anxious to reconnect and get outside, because people came out in record numbers. Not very many masks around, but  at 98º in the shade the chance of any live virus was minimal. Thankfully, the First Friday Art Walk in Hollister stations it's participating artists inside businesses for the most part where air conditioning and fans were cranked to the max. I would have melted if I'd been in the courtyard at Vintage Paris. My heart goes out to you Kim and Debra.

I kept spaced from the people coming through by my table and had plenty of Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer handy. It was only my third venture out, but was a great night with a joyful, energized vibe.  Everyone needs nights like that to get through all the chaos going on in our nation right now.

The painting I'm sharing this week I finished just in time for the art walk. It is a decorative art piece designed by Jill Fitzhenry, aka Jillybean. I learned how to paint through decorative art, which differs from fine art because of the use of patterns. When you first start out, using patterns is a great way to develop skills. Not everyone who starts out in decorative arts moves beyond painting other people's patterns. They are painters but not really artists. Artists have original thought and perception. But that is not to say if you are in the decorative arts field you are not an artist. There are some amazing decorative artists, who create their own designs to sell through patterns and instructions for others to paint. If you work at it, decorative arts can be very profitable. Then there are artists who start out in decorative arts and leave it entirely to move on to fine art with their own original ideas and paintings, Elisabeth Robbins comes to mind as an example. And of course, not everyone even starts out in decorative arts.

I do all three. For the most part these days I'm a fine artist. I create one of a kind paintings. But I also create downloadable patterns to sell on  artapprenticeonline.com. I hope to develop more to offer on my own website also. And in the near future I will load photos of everything I have at Art Apprentice with a direct link to them for purchase. And lastly, whenever I get into a funk with my techniques I'll find a pattern I like and paint it brush up on my skills. That's what I did this week. Most pattern designers don't mind if you sell your rendition of their design, as long as they get designer credit.  You'd be surprised the number of artists who are taking credit for paintings they didn't design.

So if you are an artist I encourage you to explore all the different avenues for generating income. My marketing mentor, Matt Tommey, suggests setting up your art business like the Parthenon, each pillar being a different income stream. By offering both fine art and decorative art you create separate streams that draw a different target group. Decorative art offers you a lower price point to draw people in who might balk at high dollar originals. But once following you, may become a fine art client down the road. Not only is it a point of entry for aspiring artists it is a point of entry for aspiring collectors, as well.

Another consideration if you decide to diversify is to be true to your aesthetics and brand. I'm known for painting florals, so creating a floral pattern would not be unreasonable. On the other hand, if I decided to paint some cutsey gingerbread men that would only confuse people. No matter what genre there has to be a common thread throughout to keep your branding clear.

Well I hope I've given my fellow artists some food for thought. I'm about talked (typed) out. So until next week keep safe, healthy and in God's shining light.

--Signing off

Lynnette Horn