Guess I’m just a midnight blogger. Never seem to get to this until after 11 pm.
I have 13 minutes for this post to be ‘in’ on the 5th day of #SMCSFBlogOff.
My dear friend/artist/designer, Macarena Zilveti exhibited 2 paintings in
the Clouds and Oceans show at Ave 74 in the Bird Road Art District.
Congratulations to all of the participating artists on many very impressive works.
A Kreative Blogger award has recently been passed to me by fellow Miami artist, Rosie Brown and I’m honored that she chose me to receive it. I’m also delighted that it was presented to Rosie by Monique Lassooij. Both artists were participants in an 8 week long Art Marketing Salon* that I facilitated at the Windisch-Hunt Gallery in Coconut Grove, FL in 2009, and, in passing along this award, they are affirming the value of social media marketing as one of the most effective marketing tools around today: blogging!
Since I’ve become a bit of an information addict, I couldn’t do this without a little background research. I quickly found reference to the original ‘Kreativ Blogger’ post and requirements for nominated Kreativ Bloggers. I believe they have been edited and abbreviated over time and cyberspace.
Kreativ Blogger originated in May 2008 in a post by Huldas Verden as noted by Clay Garden author in this April 2009 post:
“Finally I found that it was started in Norway by a blogger named Huldas Verden.”
When the Clay Garden post was written in April 2009, the author’s Google search came up with 712 entries for Kreativ Blogger.
When I searched today, Feb 28, 2010 for ‘Kreative Blogger’ awards, Google comes up with 23,200,000 entries! Hence, the power of blogging!
Here are the requirements that I found, and am passing on to 7 fellow Kreativ Bloggers (names and links to blogs at the end of this post):
The Kreativ Blogger award comes with the following requirements:
1. You must thank the person who has given you the award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link the person who has nominated you for the award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 other Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs to let them know they have been nominated.
Seven things about me that may be of interest:
1. I’ve always loved nature and art and just knew this was my path in life.
2. I did, and still question, my choice of life experiences and have finally come to terms with accepting that whatever happens, as long as I pay attention and learn something, I can move forward.
3. I’ve been married 3 times – divorced twice and widowed. I have two amazing daughters that I’m very proud of. My third husband died when my youngest daughter was 4. I’ve been a single mom for the last 14 years and must say, I really don’t enjoy being the responsible adult all of the time.
4. Self sufficiency is admirable and it gets the job done, but the ability to ask for help and help others empowers everyone.
5. Travel is now high on my to do list. My youngest daughter will graduate high school this year and she has plans for college so the timing is right for me to go on my walk-about. Thus far, I’ve only been out of the USA to Canada. Mountains, lakes, rivers, oceans, deserts and cities all around the planet are out there, full of fabulous nature creations that I’ve yet to see and can’t wait to photograph!
6. You really do teach best that which you need to learn, and actions do speak louder than words.
7. I truly believe there is magic (healing, restorative power) in the energy of nature and that is what I hope to share with my art.
Sample of my nature’s energy photo-digital art: “South Beached Man-O-War Reflection”
MY KREATIV BLOGGER NOMINATIONS ARE:
Alyson B. Stanfield http://www.artbizblog.com/
Tara Reed http://artlicensingblog.com/
Eric Francis http://www.planetwaves.net
James Echols http://www.soulofmiami.org/
Tom Falco http://coconutgrovegrapevine.blogspot.com/
Heather Allard http://www.themogulmom.com/
Catrien Ross http://www.energydoorways.com/category/blog/
* Art Marketing Salon is a group or community, guided, do-it-yourself workshop with all materials provided by Alyson B. Stanfield, Art Biz Coach. I highly recommend Alyson’s book, “I’d Rather Be In the Studio” and signing up for her newsletters which are full of valuable marketing information for artists and business people alike.
NOTE: I only recommend products or services that I have experience with, believe in and support. When you click on a link in this blog and make a purchase, I will receive a referral commission. This is one of the ways an artist can earn a little extra income and support her family!
In keeping with my goal to paint every week, I started sketching late (around 11 pm) monday night. Images were dancing around in my head and needed to work them out on paper. I’ve always LOVED geometric shapes. Am a fan of MC Escher’s work, see: M. C. Escher Other Worlds 2010 Calendar (Wall Calendar)
Images of a couple of the sketches and the paintings – set # 2 of the Transitions series – in the first stage of painting:
more to come as I progress and finish set 2 of my Transitions paintings.
Just wanted to share a few photos of the fashion accessories and the
designers from Tuesday night’s event with Life is Art/Creative Connections
at the Epic Hotel’s River Lounge in Downtown Miami.
Fashion Accessory Designers at River of Art Showcase August 11th at Miami's Epic Hotel, River Lounge during Life is Art/Creative Connection event.
PinUp Vixen Brown Betty and her one-of-a-kind hair accessories
Cindy & Gissi Jimenez
Gi and Pindo, The newspaper Jewelry Collection
Me (Debra Cortese) with my display of Cortese Design Bags at Epic River Lounge
You can see many more photos (including the artists and Adriana’s clothing line)
at Carlos Miller’s facebook photo album at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=95263&id=647684635,
and article at: http://www.miamibeach411.com/news/index.php?/news/comments/life-is-art1/
Thank you to Bobby Brandt and the staff at Epic River Lounge,
and James Echols, Annette Pickert and everyone at Life Is Art
Creative Connections for putting together this fabulous art and fashion event.
Sign up here to be elibible to win theCortese Designs Bag of the Month Giveaway
Attended my second event/presentation hosted by the South Florida Association of Women in Communications tonight. Once again at the Havana Club (make that Miami City Club…everything changes so often here in Miami. maybe other places as well. I liked the name Havana Club, more of the Miami flavor I’ve grown to love – a subject for another post perhaps).
Working solo and from a home studio is part of being a self-employed artist. It is wonderful in almost all respects, except you get a bit fuzzy brained if you don’t get out of the studio and talk to actual humans every so often. Since this is Miami and there are at minimum 3 interesting places to go every night, discernment is critical. My time is very dear to me so I choose to attend events that I feel will not only be interesting and within my budget, but also where I can meet people with similar interests. (#pizzatweetup at Spris on Tuesday fit this criteria as well)
Agenda for tonight’s meeting was a panel discussion on how to diversify your professional offerings to compete in a tough job market. With the highest unemployment rate in decades, the job market is becoming increasingly crowded and competitive, and even the employed worry about job security. The 3 panelists, Jessica Garvar, Community Relations Director, Jobing.com, Rochelle Broder-Singer, RB Editing and Writing, Violet Lowrey, President, A+ Professional Resumes, and moderator, Charlotte Libov, Freelance Author/Public Relations Professional discussed ways to expand and transform your skills and talents to increase your value, switch industries, or transition to freelance or consulting work.
Fabulous networking before the discussions began. I met Life Is Art Directors, James Echols and Annette Peikert, Juan Campos of NY Life Insurance Co., writer, Marvin Glassman, Marylene Gacon an Independent Mary Kay Beauty Consultant, Shervin Bain a recent PR graduate, and got to chat with several people I follow on Twitter: Blanca @miamishines, Maria @vicequeen and the newly elected President of the SF Women in Communications, Julia Wakefield. All of this was greatly enhanced by the outstanding view of Miami from the 55 floor of the Wachovia building, and of course, the complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. Women in Communications get the gold star rating for making guests feel like VIPs!
Jessica Garvar, Community Relations Director, Jobing.com
Rochelle Broder-Singer, RB Editor and Writer
Violet Lowrey, President, A+ Professional Resumes
Nature's Energy design process melds plant image pixels into eco-trendy, fractal patterns and more! Click here for full post and images.
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