 "I was born with a demanding muse and an insatiable curiosity, and was always creating something as a child. I've been painting ever since I was 17, over 33 years ago. This is the one constant in my life. Perseverance means that your essential identity is that of being an artist. Nothing changes that; no life circumstances, no economic lows, no outside criticism, nothing. If you have to work a regular job five days a week, then you paint inside your head during those five days. Life changes all the time, pendulums swing. Things are good, then they slow down, the situation becomes disappointing, and then one day something shifts and whole new worlds of opportunity open up. If you are truly an artist you never give up. You don't listen to those outside voices that say to quit - ever. You only listen to your muse - your inner voice. You create and grow no matter what."
Alexandria Levin has exhibited her oil paintings in galleries, museums and cultural centers across the country since 1981, including ten solo shows. Her paintings are in private collections from Boston to Japan, as well as in the state of New Mexico's Capitol Art Collection in Santa Fe. She has lectured on her art in the San Francisco Bay Area, Philadelphia and Tokyo, and was awarded major state grants from the California Arts Council and Massachusetts Arts Lottery Council, plus she has received various exhibition and purchase awards. Ms. Levin attended Massachusetts College of Art to study painting for two years and later returned to school at the San Francisco Art Institute where she received a BFA with honors in 1989.
There are many benefits to being an artist. We are often around interesting people. We live surrounded by artwork. We have a keen observation and an inherent means of expressing our emotions and ourselves. We have a purpose in life. This is an enormous gift we have been given.
Consider these aspects of your artist life as valuable assets. In the end, these factors will sustain you until the thunder stops and the money rolls in again.
"Tapping Your Inner Strength - Perseverance"Wednesday, March 18, 20091:00 p.m. Hawaii; 4:00 p.m. Pacific; 7:00 p.m. EasternClick here for info and registration$19.95 includes Live Class, Recording, PDF Outline
 In the class, Alexandria shares how positive results are born of persistence and will introduce concepts and tools from her book "Creatively Unblocking Creative Blocks" Available Here.
Here are a few sample tips to tide you over:
Direct your thoughts and focus your energy
Don't drive yourself crazy. Get busy with something.
Organize your slides and digital images or re-organize your studio.
Avoid energy vampires and build your community
Stay in touch with your most positive artist friends.
Commiserate for a while about current economic circumstances (put a timer on it), and then brainstorm ways to make it better. Volunteer with arts organizations - this will also help to expand your networking opportunities.
Follow Artist Career Training Basics
Re-evaluate your goals in light of your current personal economy.
What is the lifestyle that would make you truly happy?
(art, business, people)
What do you really want from your career, short, medium and long-term?
(1 year; 10 years; 25 years)
What is your bottom line for yourself as an artist
(for what you do in your studio)
What is your bottom line for yourself in your career?
(for how you make money)
Keep a Gratitude Journal
When you feel yourself sinking, stop and list everything that you're thankful for. The use of your eyes, your hands, your mind. Your unique abilities. Food in your kitchen at the end of the day. The way the setting sunlight reflects off of a brilliantly glowing wall. Keep going. The world is full of simple and wonderful gifts. You will begin to feel pretty rich after a short while.
Don't quit
The broader society and culture needs you.
The more diversity of vision there is, the richer we all become. If you are lucky enough to have a paying job you like, put most of your energy into that for now, and in your few spare hours create for yourself. If you're not showing right now, think of this time as a gift when you can experiment and try all those wild things you were told the market has no room for (which is in itself a lie, bit don't get me started....).
Alexandria is currently living and painting in the Philadelphia area, and has recently written two books on the arts and creativity. She is also working on two collections of poetry and song lyrics. As always, and as the top priority in her life, she is painting whenever possible and is continuing to build her two current bodies of work with well over a hundred and seventy paintings to date and going strong. www.alexalev.com
Help yourself make a better living making art.Join us in March for a taste of her wisdom by participating in her teleclasses or applying her books to your art business. "Tapping Your Inner Strength - Perseverance"Wednesday, March 18th, 20091:00 p.m. Hawaii; 4:00 p.m. Pacific; 7:00 p.m. EasternClick here for info. "Pricing Your Art with Confidence"Part 1 - Math is Your FriendThursday, March 12, 20091:00 p.m. Hawaii; 4:00 p.m. Pacific; 7:00 p.m. EasternClick here for info. "Pricing Your Art with Confidence"Part 2 - Balancing Value and Price with the MarketThursday, March 26, 20091:00 p.m. Hawaii; 4:00 p.m. Pacific; 7:00 p.m. Eastern
Click here for info.
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Can't be there in person? No worries! You can listen to recordings while you make art and read the handouts when you can make the time to work on your finances.
Prefer to read? Buy Alexandria's books here:
 "Pricing Your Work with Confidence," by Alexandria Levin.
It is a detailed guide to understanding and calculating the actual cost of creating artwork. It helps artists of all kinds become well-informed and self-confident, while developing a solid pricing structure. Topics include raising prices, growing your career, being comfortable with money issues, and how to separate business and creativity when necessary. It is written by an experienced artist who believes that knowledge is power.
Books and recordings are ideal if you prefer to learn at your own time and pace in the comfort of your studio. Artist Career Training Art Business workbooks and recordings present clear, practical information on art marketing, art business systems and art career management for fine artists.
"Creatively Unblocking Creative Blocks," by Alexandria Levin
Paperback book, 204 pages. A detailed guide to discovery learning through new ways of seeing, thinking, doing and awakening your inner muse. Helping artists of all kinds become aware of inspiration anywhere, anytime, anyhow. Topics include working with restrictions, translating from one medium to another, finding inspiration in 11 areas, with 300 ways to creatively unblock artists' creative blocks. Written by an experienced artist who believes that sharing knowledge is power.
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Prefer talking about your art business in person?
 Meet Aletta de Wal and Robin Sagara in Los Angeles on Saturday March
28, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Starbucks just north of LAX.
Meet with others in your local area who make a living making art.
All forms of 2D and 3D fine art, including painters, photographers,
sculptors, artists who draw, etc. to discuss the business side of
art, and offer advice on art marketing on the Internet and on the
ground.
Register now for this live Social Networking Event (we'll send you a map and info): Click Here
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