#TheLilyPadProject and Human Trafficking

I tell you about #TheLilyPadProject and how you can get your own lily pad to help fight human trafficking and sex slavery. Yes all of this in 5 minutes.  The lily Pad Project is part of an art exhibition that I will be having in April at the University of Wyoming and a couple other venues.

I use the lily pads to talk about human trafficking and some specific aspects of modern day slavery.  Watch the video to find out some of the many connections I use to compare water lilies and lily pads to human trafficking.

I would love to have work up in more places so contact me if you have a venue or if you are an organization fighting human trafficking.

If you enjoy my art be sure to subscribe to my YouTube art channel.

Join My Art+ Newsletter and $ave

If you are not currently receiving my Felicia Follum Art+ News you are missing out on several opportunities to $save big.  I send an E-news letter about once a month or every other month.  The letters include upcoming events, special deals, announcements and more.

Follow this link to subscribe to Felicia Follum Art+ News or use the QR code.

Open Studio Tour

My open studio was a hit.

I had a large variety of work on display.  My current work took up about half of the space.  Snakes and lizards on one wall and water lilies and lily pads (see image) on a second wall.  I had some of my posters as well as a portfolio of my Make it Plain show on display. Some photographs of the building just for fun and jewelry were on display as well.

I am so very thankful for everyone who came to my Open Studio night. We estimated that between 60 and 80 people trickled in and out. The studio space is pretty small so it stayed full most of the night which made the evening go quickly.

If you were not able to make it, be sure to subscribe to my monthly newsletter, follow my Facebook page and keep up with this blog to see some of what you missed.

It was great to share my art with everyone.  There will definitely be another studio night in the future.

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Works of Wyoming Internship

Fellow artists, family and friends. I would like to introduce you to Works of Wyoming. I am currently the AmeriCorps intern working primarily on social media marketing as well as working in the gallery space and gift shop. (Last year I worked as the Graphic Design Intern for WOW and the WWBC. You can see my blog for that here.)

As the social media marketing person (I would love to say coordinator, though I do not officially have a title) I have been posting some marketing tips on the WOW blog. My current goal is to post every week on either Tuesday or Thursday and sometimes both. In addition to weekly social media marketing tips, there are basic professional development tips for artists, some fun projects and of course announcements for our workshops and shows.

It would make my day if you would check out the blog and share it with your friends, especially artists and small business owners who could benefit from our services.  In addition to sharing the blog with people, I would also love to have more examples to post.  If you would like to have your social media site, plans, or strategies in the blog, please comment below or contact me on the WOW Facebook page.  If you would like to contact me through WOW feel free.  Their phone number is 307.742.6574 and the email address is wow@uwyo.edu.

If you are not from Wyoming and would like help with your social media comment below for more info.  If you are from WY not a part of WOW you should look into becoming a member.

Contact

WOW
WOW Blog
WOW Facebook
307.742.6574

Personal
Art Facebook Page (I don't add people I don't know in real life to my personal page, so be sure to go to FeliciaFollumDesign not FeliciaFollum. Thanks!)

Photography Blog

I just redesigned my photography blog.  The reason for having it is so that I can reference photograph.  It is a bit like a photo archive.  The new design allows me to scroll through and see all of the work at one time.  I can then click on the image I want to see, or change it back to a typical blog view.  I am quite please.  Check it out.

Images from Felicia Follum Photography Blog...Haiti and Beautiful Haitian People

Do you have a favorite photograph?  Which one?  Why?

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My new site

I just launched my new portfolio!

Felicia Follum Art + Design Website

A couple weeks ago I went to a lecture on artists web presence.  I have known for a while that my website was in dire need of serious redesign (I am still in that process).  For now I created a portfolio of my work.  One factor that has been stressed over and over is the idea that an artist should have a brand and all design should look consistent. In response, I also redesigned my blog design and my Facebook page. When I figure out the website situation, I will be sure to share.

My photography blog, which is mostly an archive of photographs has also been redone, but does not use the same style.

Felicia Follum Art + Design on Facebook

The next step to improving my online presence will be figuring out my website will and purchasing a domain name.

What is your favorite project on my website or FB page? Why?

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You are Invited!!!

Dear blog reader,

Who: You are one of the first few people to be cordially invited to my next art show.

What: This show is still in progress but will be addressing topics in the realm of African American history and African American Religious culture. The current goal is to look at the American history that is often left out of our education and use it to help people understand the historical context that various American heroes such as Malcolm X and James Cone were responding to.

When: The show will be up from November 8th through November 17 (possibly a bit longer).  The opening will be Thursday the 10 from 6 - 8pm.

Where: The University of Wyoming UpGallery.  In the Fine Arts building.

Here is the Facebook event page and my art page for those of you who use FB (you don't need a FB account to view the pages).  Feel free to RSVP. 

Hope to see you there!

Marketing Ideas

Marketing is essential to the art field (and many ohters).  I found some fun and creative ideas to try out.  I hope you enjoy.

Here is a list from a previous post of mine.

Marketing calendar - when to use various techniques (great techniques)

This QR Code Resume is one of the best resumes I have ever seen.  This idea could certainly be used in marketing (and has been).  The trick is to find a new way to use it. 

Pinterest: A useful Tool for an Artist

Some of my favorite uses for Pinterest.com

Last Thursday Portland

For those of you who were unable to attend Last Thursday on Alberta in Portland,
here is a bit of what you missed

My Art

And a whole bunch more craziness....

How Bazaar!

A couple weeks ago, our church had a Bazaar/Garage Sale to raise money for Haiti (not the group I worked with, but another one).  I sold photographs and ink drawings.  It was a great time and a significant learning experience. 

It was fun because I was able to sit and draw and people really enjoyed watching…Someday, I would love to go to a downtown somewhere and draw.  I need to get faster or have some pre-made initial pieces (I’m thinking book marks for $5. Anyone interested?), but am seriously considering it.

Here is one of the graffiti style name ink drawings I completed.  I love the graffiti style (and the fact that it is all black and white) and have been enjoying improving my ink drawing skills and techniques.

I will also be going to Last Thursday in Portland this Thursday...Maybe I will see some of you there.

My New Business Cards July 2011

I just created new business cards.
The top image is from my Haitian Orchid drawings.

The flowers are both ink drawings from my Flower Postcard series (previous post) that I plan to finish this summer.  The completed series and progress will be poster here.

Racial Sterotypes

Here is an older graphics project. It is from a class that I took with David Carson.  We spent most of the class on one series of projects.  The assignment was to create a lecture that we would give about ourselves or our art work.  My talk and book were all about the myriad of racial stereotypes and prejudices that I have seen and experienced.

This 24"x36" poster was accepted into the AIGA Denver's Annual Student Exhibition in 2009.  

This quote is from my grandma.  When she found out that I was getting married she was overjoyed, not because I was getting married, but rather because I wasn't marrying a "nice white boy."  She then continued on about why she was glad that I was not marrying a black man.

Both my parents are white yet I am black, and maybe Native American (but I didn't know that was even a possibility until I was in college).  When I was little, kids would ask why I was black...

Summer Goals

My summer art goals.
1. Complete work for my African American Black Beauty/Social Justice/Culture show. I would like to have some extra work and then narrow it down from there. Here is what I would like to create (I am not sure what will go in the show yet and these are just ideas )
   a. 5 – 10 poster designs
   b. A black hair care line
   c. Some (5 - 10, see below) ink and wash drawings or water color paintings – for a challenge. I am not sure that they will be included in the show.
   d. A t-shirt stencil or some type of graffiti art (maybe ink and wash)
   e. C and d can be used in a poster design and will still count.
   f. zines

2. Along with having all the work for the show, create promotional materials and press releases given out to the community on time. I know little about this, so it will be a learning process.
   a. I would like to find a checklist of some sort and
   b. actually use it.

The Career Options for an Artist are Endless

Art is fun, but it is also hard work. Honestly it is the hardest work I have ever done.

As artists we are constantly being told that “you can’t make money doing that” and “maybe you should get a real job.”

These sayings are misleading and quite honestly become obnoxious.  Of course, art can be a hobby and that may be best for some people, but for others, art is a real job that generates a steady income (yes there are also artists that make $30,000 every 4 – 6 months).  This article is for those of you who want to be a professional working studio artist, with a steady income, but are not quite there. It also applies to those of you who would like to create part-time, study art in a formal education setting or pursue one of several fields in the humanities.

Process of Becoming A Working Artist
 

If you are in the process of beginning a professional artist career, you may be interested in working part time while you figure out what exactly you need to do to get you art career/business up-and-running.  Which is what I am doing now. Below are some art related and non-art related jobs that could be inspiring but also can help with networking and learning necessary business skills. They could also be long term career options.

You can read about my art jobs here

Art vs. Non Art-Realted Jobs
There are benefits to both art and non-art related jobs.

A job in an arts related field can help “get your name out there” and be incredibly inspiring, while at the same time offer great networking opportunities and awareness of community events and/or venues that could use your skills.  A non arts related job could give you a needed break when you are feeling burnt out or you need some non-art inspiration.  Some of the places I listed below will hire people over Christmas or over the summer.  If you are interested in a short term job, be sure to specify that when you apply.

Continue reading for career lists.

Respect the Arts & Business of Arts Series

This series will feature discussions such as the famous Art vs. Craft debate, what are some good art careers/jobs, how to make a living as an artist, Marketing and Self-Promotional strategies, networking, organization, goal setting, and stereotypes that are believed about artists and by artists. 

I will begin this series by explaining some reasons why art is an integral part of society.  I will then move on to some of the topics above and some new ones of my own.  I do not plan to conclude my research in these specific and related topics, so I think I will continue posting to this series and not really have it end….

Is there anything that you want me to post about?  Please let me know below and I will try.

Figure Show: Go Naked! Go Clothed! Go Figure!

This piece is also for sale in the WOW gallery! 

Go check it out.

It will be up until April 1

My drawing that got into the show.  This one is actually from 10th grade.
It is a long story as to why...maybe I will tell it another day.

Felicia Follum – Untitled Drawing

 Artist Statement

I am currently a senior studying Graphic Design and Art at University of Wyoming.  From the time I was a little girl, I have wanted to be an artist and am happy to say that this dream is coming true.  One of my main goals is to use my art to help, and work with, people.  I have had the opportunities to give private art lessons to young kids and to work with an art therapist.  Both of these experiences have given me the chance to see the power that art has on an individual and in society as a whole.

In school, I focus on conceptual design and believe this often carries through to my other work.  I love creating work that makes a statement about society and believe that figure drawing is a wonderful way to begin a dialogue about what it means to be human.  This fifteen-minute gesture drawing was created when I was in high school; before I had taken the drawing class that would help me develop this dialog further.

In addition to the challenge of working with a live figure, there is also the sense of understanding the beauty and design of the human form.  In a life drawing class you memorize all of the muscles and bone groups in the body.  As you study the figure from the inside out, you begin to understand the purpose of the forms we live in.  A major problem in popular culture is the idea that we need to conform to a certain stereotype, and if we don’t we often feel or are told that we aren’t good enough.  Our bodies were not created so that we could perfect them; they were designed to walk, talk, breath, process food, do yoga, go rock climbing, hold hands, and a variety of other activities.  Through life drawing, I have gained an understanding that every body is different and that real people are much more beautiful than the airbrushed and over sexualized ideals we are forced to see on a daily basis.

My poster design and another one of my drawings.

Favorite Washington Coast and Ocean Images

Here are some of my favorite photographs from past posts on my photography blog.  I hope that they can provide some inspiration and enjoyment.  It is fun to look back on past photographs.

13. The bottom Starfish
12. Lillies
11. Life and Death
10. Giant Slug
9. Rock Stacks on Ruby Beach
8. Anemone Crack
7. Seaweed
6. Driftwood
5. Pirate Movie Scene 
( Ruby Beach (color pirate scene)
4. Calla Lilly
3. Dancing Starfish
2. Rock Stacks
1. Barnacles (color version)

Enjoy!

My Current Business Cards

My Not-So-Currently Business Cards
See my real current cards

Here are some of my business cards that are floating around out there.  They are nothing special but I like them.  My overall goal was originally to design a conceptual baseed identity that was for my website, business cards, and everything else that involved me.  For now I am just using these cards.  I like the various designs and I like my name logo.  I know that I can come up with something better.

One thing that I do like about these cards is that I can get them printed for around 5 cents a page.  Then I cut them myself.  It is super cheap but for now it works.  I don't want to spend the money until I have a design that I know I want to stick with for a while.

I think that ones without photographs are my favorite because they represent my work better.  What do you think?  Which are your favorite?
See my real current cards