An Interesting year coming to an end

In March, I completed my original 15-year plan to become a professional artist. To my surprise, my new 15-year plan began a bit early, around the middle of 2023, fueled by the rise of AI and eCommerce. This shift came from SIP and my commitment to seniors and empty nesters looking for something new in their lives. Art has always been a strong draw, especially for those who once dreamed of an art career but were sidelined by life’s challenges—especially women.

At 83, I never imagined I would not only complete my first 15-year plan but also start another one. Yet, here I am.

When the world stopped with COVID, eCommerce took off. It changed the way we shop, and bricks-and-mortar businesses struggled to keep up. Many didn't survive, and the ones that did had to adapt quickly. The iPhone, Amazon, and other technologies were primed for a major shift. Thanks to COVID, we now have a truly global economy where anyone can participate. Blockchain and crypto also found their footing, continuing to thrive despite government and banking attempts to curb their rise.

What does my new 15-year plan look like? It’s about legacy.

What happens after senior artists like myself are gone? What becomes of our 70-year copyrights? At Crossroads Art Center (CAC), we have a sobering realization: nothing. The estate has no idea what to do with the art, and the works end up discounted on walls until sold or donated to charity, if they’re lucky. Many pieces end up in dark attics, or worse, simply thrown out. Some survive thanks to family, and good paintings tend to endure. The SIP painter is different—dedicated and focused on creating professional, high-quality artwork that is properly captured digitally. These pieces find good homes, and the copyrights, along with digital captures, remain with the artist and their estate.

Younger generations, unfortunately, aren't thinking about this—nor is the estate unless we act during our lifetimes. There’s a whole world out there looking for art to enhance their homes and workplaces. Why don’t more artists recognize how important this is? The reproduction market is vast, a global business that thrives on this very principle. SIP artists understand the need to market ourselves—no longer relying on someone else to do it for us.

In the past, we needed galleries to show our work. If you were lucky, you might get into a few, but the chances were slim. Locally, Crossroads Art Center offered wall space for artists, and it served as a good starting point for any artist’s career. It works well—until you outgrow it. In my mind, CAC is the best place in town to begin your career as an artist.

Regardless of your marketing approach, you must be proactive to make it financially viable. There’s no point in losing money if you’re working as an artist. Social media and technology are vital for getting noticed, but they require time and effort. eCommerce, for instance, is complex—not a quick, 24-hour success story as some YouTube videos might lead you to believe.

For me, it all began in 2013 after a gallery exhibit when I was repeatedly asked, “Do you have prints?” People loved my work but couldn’t afford the originals. I got to work, and fast forward to today—everything is in place. What’s in place? The ability to sell SIP Artist "reborn originals" and original paintings worldwide through Dream Big Artworks (DBA) using eCommerce!

Last week, we added an important feature to DBA, offering the original masterworks of the SIP artists. Look for the red dot to see if the original masterwork is still available. Now, our visitors have a choice between the originals and the reborn versions.

This week, a new feature was added to DBA: “SIP Weekends”—a booking service for studio and class time. SIP Academy was born.

When SIP introduced the "SIP Summer Boot Camp," it was born out of necessity. Our studio rent increased significantly, and we needed new members to cover the costs. Up until that point, we occasionally added a new member, but the response was overwhelmingly positive, revealing a serious need for seniors and late bloomers wanting a career as a professional artist. Painting with experienced artists is an immersive experience, and it accelerates the process for new recruits. As a painting coach, it’s incredibly rewarding to see how well it works.

SIP and DBA need a bricks-and-mortar home base to operate independently. All the pieces converged in 2024—a great year in my book!

What about the 15-year Legacy part? Good question. I may not finish this one, but I expect SIP and DBA will continue long after I’m gone—and well beyond. There’s another service coming in the near future.

To further secure the legacy of artists, we’ve added Verisart certification and blockchain technology to our platform. These advancements ensure the authenticity and provenance of every artwork, giving artists and collectors peace of mind. The transfer of ownership is now a seamless, verified process, allowing artworks to be bought and sold with confidence. This makes DBA not just a marketplace but an incredible resource for any artist—preserving the value of their work for generations to come.

Check us out and let the magic happen!!

Follow us and join the journey. SIP is all about creating "The Best Wall Painting."

Fifty Steps up - It's all about the view

Here we go again, aiming high for those very best walls we artists crave for!

Fifty Stairs Up is a great title for a new painting by SIP artist, Joan Layne - could you imagine  walking up 50 steps to the entrance of your home? It would have to have a great view! 

Once a painting is completed, what to paint next is the question.... and the search begins. If you paint one at a time as Joan, I and some other SIP artist do it's nice to have another fresh subject to fall back on. If you will, a change of pace. Joan can pretty much paint anything. She also has a signature style, a consistency which shows up regardless of what she decides to paint. 

She decided on Lilies shortly after signing off on Fifty Steps UP Saturday. She quickly started a new almost square vertical linen canvas below. It looks to be a 44x40, an SIP standard size. At the end of Sunday, Joan was well on her way to a new Best Wall Painting.

What if you really are just starting out on your journey as an artist? You have some references you might like to paint. Never has a lesson, just decided one day to dive in. Sunday, we had a new recruit, Leslie, who brought in a few canvases for show-and-tell plus a fresh canvas...all 36x48, a good size to paint on. This one caught my attention at 30-feet - straight up.  One of the things I look for is originality.... a diamond in the rough? 

It gives the coach a clue where their heart is, and most important a place to start. Not to make a clone but expand her natural talent, instincts, life experiences, whatever you want to call it. The thing that makes a person buy paint, canvas and pick up a brush.  

Leslie wants 2 paintings over 2 sofas in a room in her home. People need art in their lives, they either buy it or DIY it! Love it! 

After a bit of discussion, Leslie started her new 36x48 best wall painting. At days end I introduced her to the Apple IOS Smartist Pro app. A room mockup app that runs about $80 a year. A tool for testing and marketing your art to scale in actual room settings. The app confirms visually if  your canvas proportions will work, small or large.

Shown 36x48 (actual size) with 3.5 inch wide frame with white linen

Shown 48x60 with white floater 

SIP Summer Boot camp attracted a whole spectrum of skill levels. One or two recruits are ready for the big show, just never felt they were. Others need to work on their brushwork, subject selection, and streamline how they make wall art. They have enough experience but need a bit of outside direction. The summer recruits brought a new excitement to the SIP table that is immeasurable in value to the whole team.  It's contagious! 

Looking forward to seeing everyone’s homework!

Follow us and join the journey. This summer, it’s all about creating "The Best Wall Painting."

Good Art Survives - Best Wall Painting

Here we go again, aiming high for those very best walls we artists crave for!

 

When I decided to enter the art world it meant starting at the beginning, learning how to paint everything and anything. Just like our SIP recruits are doing this summer. Because you must have a quality work of art that shows good workmanship and attention to detail, an absolute in art and design. Sloppy work and happy accidents simply don't fly!

SIP Rainbow Palette

The rainbow palette evolved over the first few years from lots of designer colors paired down to a group of primary colors, mostly pure tones represented on a color wheel - many are transparent. I just added a permanent Orange from Harding to the list. A few colors like Sap Green fall away from every day use. There are no earth colors, those come from mixtures off my palette waste. My palette is always arranged the same. 

THE BEST WALL PAINTING:

I knew exactly what I wanted from my new career move. I wanted my work to hang on the best walls available. My advantage, I knew what that meant as a designer..... not before as a young artist though. A Best Wall Painting is primarily large works of art able to hold an equally large wall. How large is large? I can tell you it is not measured in inches, but feet. Very cozy environments are not excluded but not the norm here. The market is flooded with small works of every description imaginable. Why add more? 

 

Size is always relevant to a need. Think more about a 60x48 or a 60x60 canvas... even bigger if needed. 

 

A BIG BLANK 48x44 OIL PRIMED LINEN CANVAS

The reality, the norm is somewhere between small and large. Really large works are harder to sell. Because there are some boxes to be checked for any painting small or large to find a home. After 15 years you get a fair idea what your bread-and-butter size is. Mine falls just below the two sizes I mention above, a 48x44 or a 48x48 with or without a frame. A 4" frame can increase the size dramatically. 

My overall preference is an almost square canvas 44x40 with a 4" frame. The painting will finish out at a 52x48 best wall painting.... perfect fit for my SUV. Paint the largest canvas your transportation will allow.... I do. Not a bad size for a professional digital capture either.

Good art survives

A painting once sold starts its life on the treasured wall of a collector. An owner who was happy to live with it for a while.... as we know, not forever. The painting will continually face challenges at every estate sale as it passes through history. Like everything, art will have its ups and downs through history. My hope is "Summer Stroll" will have a bright future after it leaves my care. 

  "Summer Stroll" 

 Reborn into the digital world of art.

 Dream Big Artwork

Looking forward to seeing everyone’s homework!

Follow us and join the journey. This summer, it’s all about creating "The Best Wall Painting."