Business
Writing An Article About This
I’m writing an article about this subject right now. I thought I would post this video to explain the topic. VIDEO NO LONGER AVAILABLE
It is about something called the Orphan Works Bill. This bill is not supported by most artists and will really be detrimental to our lively hood. I can hardly believe that it is being considered. If anyone reads this and would like to help please e-mailyour senator and tell the you do not support the Bill S.2913
Be Careful- A Word About Copyright
I had someone call me and ask if I could create an award for them. Not unusual, but they wanted my to recreate an award that they already had. My response to them was, “I am sorry, but I cannot recreate your award unless you have written permission from the artist.” I was unclear as to why they could not have the artist do the award, and they were in a hurry. “We paid the artist to create this sculpture,” they said. “Unless the artists contract states that you have the rights recreate or pour from a mold you cannot cast this piece. If you get permission from the artist I would be happy to help you out. ” Because of their time frame I quickly sent a photograph off to the foundry to see if they could give an estimate, then we would be ready if they could receive the permission. They recognized the artists work. It turns out the client could not reach the artist, and the foundry said they would help.
THE LESSON
Copyright is a bit confusing.
All of my work is by commission. Though clients pay me a lot of money to create sculpture, and many times in the likeness of their loved one, I retain the copyrights. They do not have the rights to recreate, cast or pour other pieces. Sometimes a contract may state it is a one and only sculpture, usually this costs more. Note the artist can still cast an Artist Proof (AP). This is just like the clients sculpture but is used as a proof by the artist. AP can also be in an edition. Often AP’s are sought after by collectors.
Typically I request that I have the rights to pour up to 10 additional pieces of my work and sell them at what I feel is a reasonable price, which is often much lower than my client originally paid. The reason is that the client is paying for the design, the personal likeness, and the original creation of the piece. Creating pieces as an edition of 10 is a wonderful way to gain a body of work.
Copyright is tricky and really not understood by many. It is there to protect the artist, their careers and their work.
My Apprentice Is An Exchange Student
I have not posted anything about Russo yet. She is an exchange student that has been helping me in the studio. Here is a picture of her working on Professor Hathaway. Russo is from Georgia.
It Pays To Pay Someone Who Knows What They Are Doing
I am excited because I have hired a professional to help with some areas of my website that I just could not figure out, and they did it! There is a bit more they will do and you will soon see this blog with a header and the colors of my https://creativesculpture.com website!
Judging Another Show
I judged the Woodlands Waterway art festival yesterday. In both sculpture category and digital art. I was surprised to see such little entries compared to the Culture shapers contest. It made me think that artists should really investigate each art show. How many people submit art? Having to compete against 18 compared to the 200 in Culture shapers is really much better odds. I saw some of the same work from Culture shapers, and one in particular I really wanted to advance in Culture shapers but could not, I was glad to see it again and give it another chance! I wondered what my work looked like at 17. I still have some pieces, two I am trying to give away. My medium in those days was watercolor, pastel and pencil. I did not enter shows as a young person, I think I would probably have done alright. It was a very reflective experience.
The Article In Skirt
The article or interview with Skirt Magazine has been posted. It can be found on the Houston Skirt Website.
I am absolutely exhausted. I have completed a milestone. It took me about 3 months
I am absolutely exhausted. I have completed a milestone. It took me about 3 months, but I now have a shipping department! WOW!
Besides having to research and purchase all of the necessary materials, scale, hopper to hold peanuts, boxes, bubble wrap, and because each piece in my gift line comes with a card and a note from the artists, I had to purchase filing cabinets to hold cards, sales material, and create box labels. That was the easy part. Our garage was filled to the brim with things. I moved everything out and purged. We had to have AC/HEAT in the garage so when they put in the new unit we had it run to the garage as well. A new garage door was installed and the old rotten jams replaced. (I have lived in this house for 23 years and don’t think I have opened the garage door more than 10-20 times.) All of the drywall needed repair and then it took 4-5 coats of paint, the last coat was bed and bath paint to prevent mold. Every crack has been sealed. The floor spray washed, and then an acid wash before it was painted with fancy little sprinkles added. A threshold was added under the garage door, and weather stripping to the sides. New plastic bins for storage and plastic shelves for both storage of some garage stuff, and then the entire inventory was moved in.
We have not checked to see if the laptop and Internet connection works in the garage. That would be ideal, with a small printer. Then I could print off my labels from FedEx right there. But for now I have to run to the other building and up into the offices, a minor inconvenience. IT is so good to have my house back in order. IT seemed like the garage just vomited into the house, studio, porch etc. I have not been in the studio in a day and I kept telling everyone, “move this box into the studio, I’ll go through it in there.” I know I’ll scream a bit when I see the mess down there, but for now… the house is clean and I HAVE A SHIPPING DEPARTMENT!
How To Subscribe To This Blog?
I have heard it time and time again in the marketing on the interent. Words like feed, subscribe, ping etc. If you would like to know what changes on this blog or others, and don’t want to have to go to each just click on the orange link on side of this blog, next to it the copy says subscribe to a reader.
If you are reading this information somewhere else and can’t see the orange icon the blog is located at https://creativesculpture.com/blog. Clicking on that links is step one. Here is a wonderful and simple video that someone else did on this subject. Spending a moment listening to it and following the steps may save you a ton of time in your surfing on the web. The video is called RSS in Plain English.
Don’t you just love learning things!
Creating Videos, Podcasts And Art
I’m enjoying creating the videos and am just learning about all of the places to post them. Please keep coming back and checking on my productions. Future plans for production include
* Creating a mold and casting the Dick Hathaway memorial
* The travel to Vermont and the installation of the Dick Hathaway memorial ( I am searching for Vermont College and Goddard College alumni between Texas, where the studio is located and Montpelier, where the sculpture will be placed. I hope to shoot footage of the professor along the way).
* Creating the Newsboy ( this is a video version of what was created as a blog years ago)
* The inspiration behind each of the God’s Word Collectible Gift pieces http://www.godsword.net
* A spiritual testimony
* The creative process and spiritual enlightenment, how do they go together
* Marketing in the arts
and the list goes on.
Of course I may be sidetracked by my podcasts that I want to create. These too will be on several topics, including an ongoing series called Generations. My daughter, my mother and I will be discussing different topics, Three generations of Christian women!
Meanwhile… I still must create. and I am thankful for the apprentices that have applied. Soon I will be introducing them.
Goodbye To My Most Recent Helper
Layne has worked for me for a few months now. She has been a wonderful worker. I wish her the best. She is planning on getting a paying job so she can go to Europe in the summer after graduation.
