Getting YOUR art out there in the world!

This week, Bean Up The Nose Art has been feeling the love. Folks' responses to the Marin Independent Journal's Sunday "Snapshot" article (which you can check out here) have been overwhelmingly kind. Superduper nice postings on our Facebook page. And even on OTHER PEOPLE'S Facebook pages! And great comments to the I-J website. Feels so darned excellent.

(This photo and the following: curtesy of Meghan Roberts and the Marin I-J.)

Want to know how this piece came to be?

Well.

Fabulous sales coach Anna said during a coaching session many months ago, "You have a great story!"

And so, being the adult version of the tot who'd stuck a bean up her nose . . . I sent a funny e-mail to the Marin I-J "Lifestyles" editor and flat-out asked, "Well, want to do a story about me?!?!?!"

To which she replied, "We'll put that information in our files . . . ."

So, we went about doing our work.


And then, many months later we got an e-mail: "We would like to do a story about you!" HOORAY!!!

Then, because of scheduling issues, another several months elapsed.

And THEN, we got ANOTHER e-mail: "We can do that story about you now!" DOUBLE HOORAY!!!

So, there was a phone interview, and a very terrific photographer came out to the studio. And, voila: Sunday's article and photos.

What can we learn from all of this?

1. Wow. We've got some really nice friends! Thank you so much, everyone, for your kind e-mails and phone calls and posts and links and comments in response to this article.

2. You never know how long something is going to take, or when it's going to pop back up on the screen of your life.

And, what we believe is the really big important lesson here . . . drumroll, please . . . .

3. YOU'VE GOT TO BLOW YOUR OWN HORN!!!!

Folks, we've got to drum stuff up for ourselves!!! We've all got to enter into the world with both feet, and with purpose and intent, and with that darned sort of determination to stick the bean up your nose and see what happens!

Yes, there is magic in the world. We believe in lots and lots and lots of it, and in the mystery of how things appear and reappear and pull themselves together and then rearrange themselves again.

But we also believe that folks need to enter full-force into that mystery and MAKE SOME STUFF HAPPEN.

It does not serve you, your art, or anyone to be reluctant. Nope! WE NEED YOU OUT HERE!!!

So, to get this party started, here are four quick suggestions of ways and places:

1. Post your art on your Facebook pages. Please! Really! People love to see what you're doing. It is a great, free, easy, fast way to start getting your art out in the world. (Do whatever you want re: watermarking, reserving rights, etc. We don't claim to have any expertise in that regard.)

2. Become a member of the Marin Arts Council and get your work into any of the several shows now scheduled for the remainder of 2011, and into 2012. (Click here for a list.)

3. If you write, consider entering REAL SIMPLE's 2011 essay contest. (Click here to check it out.)

4. Take an internet stroll over to the wonderful world of Inspiration at Art Chix Studio and enter their ongoing contests and swaps. (Click on "activities" there to see what they've got going on, and the deadlines.)

Voila! We're hoping you'll take us up on at least one of these suggestions :) More art = more better life. For you. And for all of us. THANK YOU FOR PLAYING!!!!