Artist Services project on display now at The Frame Maker

Reception this Friday May 15! at The Frame Maker, 3102 Reynard Way, 92103 (in Mission Hills north of Little Italy) for "Artists' Proof", a show of all six artists currently on staff at The Frame Maker exploring the digital reproduction capabilities of the my new San Diego Artist Services project(I wrote about this before both here and on the The Frame Maker Events and Design blogs as well.

Here's a picture of my contribution to the show, a series of 4 original collage/mixed media pieces digitally printed with outdoor,UV resistant inks right on to a new "advanced environmental composite" called ECOR™, stable, 100% post consumer waste panels that can be made to any size or depth.

Introducing San Diego Artist Services

This project started coming to life at The Frame Maker, where I've been seeking new ways to develop sustainable work and cash flow, a concern central to many small business these days.

As an artist, I have always sought to find service providers who understood my business as well as I did, but rarely have I ever been able to find more than a couple of people at a time to create a cohesive working unit.

Now in San Diego I am blessed with four savvy business partners in the art services field to create an expert service network for professional artists, called San Diego Artist Services.

The first collaborative fruit of us working together is the new show at The Frame Maker and the cool booth spaces we've created this weekend for southern California's largest outdoor art gallery, Mission Federal ArtWalk.

I've posted a few development details on The Frame Maker blogs, but here is the first look of my overview of the San Diego Artist Services project as a private sector economic stimulus action that dovetails nicely with our green objectives by acting locally to serve the community we love in a stressful time.

This is actually a detail of one of the print graphics I prepared for The Frame Maker booth this weekend that's been printed beautifully by Peter Moebius, Mike Miller and the team at Moebius Color, one of our collaborators on the project:

Current faux finish and mural work?

I've had more than a few inquiries from friends asking what I've got going for faux finish and mural projects right now, and the right answer is not one I've ever admitted before.

Right now? None.

I don't have an active contract right now to paint anything for anyone.

Fortunately, this isn't the same concern for me right now it could be otherwise. In the too-rare instance of me practicing what I preach, diversification has allowed me to remain relatively unstressed by economy, media gloom & panicked peers.

Rather, many of the business and marketing skills I had developed over the years to grow my mural and faux-painting business are now much in demand as everyone's business (and outlook) contracts to some degree.

If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you know I've been heavily involved in someone else's business for over a year now at The Frame Maker. I link to their website here because it is my most developed example of helping a business both 1) strengthen its bond with existing clients and 2)actually gain new clients in a shrinking marketplace driven by uncertainty and fear.

Designed and built by my company from scratch, The Frame Maker site and blogs (always featured on the left panel of this blog) help deliver real value to existing clients looking for info and examples and potential clients looking for the best custom picture framer in town.

These new web design and marketing consulting services will be fully documented and presented on their own at some point in the near future, but for the next few months you'll be able to find updates, links and testimonials here as I prepare to officially launch the "Artist Services" part of my "Art & Artist Services" tagline.

Stay tuned.