845-887-3156 debra@debracortese.com

Exclusive Custom Design Bags for Business, Charities & Events

pattern for new morning glory blue designs

Very busy and excited to be creating custom designs for several organizations, businesses and individuals whose goals and ideals I admire and support.
I’ll be sharing the new designs here on the blog as soon as they are ready 😉

Child’s Voice – Celebrating their 15th Anniversary of empowering children with hearing loss. Event is coming right up on February 11th at
The Meadows Club, 2950 W. Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, Illinois
Sunil’s Home Orphanage – one of the most entertaining events on my calendar 😉 in March
Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade – Annual Power of the Purse Luncheon in April
Badges of Courage Foundation – Providing support and financial assistance to breast cancer patients.
Upside Thinking – Excellence in motivational and educational empowerment!

Contact me (Debra Cortese) to discuss a nature’s energy custom design bag (or other products) for your business or special event! debra@debracortese.com 305.298.2023

Nature's Energy Cortese Design - Morning Glory Blues for Tote Bags

The Business of Art Licensing – A Workshop For Artists

If you’re an artist in the Miami area and would like to know more about the business of licensing your art, you may be interested in a workshop that I’ll be presenting in Coconut Grove and on Miami Beach titled: The Business of Art Licensing – A Workshop For Artists.

Sweet Sprouts -garden art by Debra Cortese

A bit of background information:

In 2009, I facilitated the highly successful 8 week  ‘Art Marketing Salon‘ based on the book, “I’d Rather Be In The Studio.” by art business coach, Alyson B. Stanfield.  Over two dozen people (artists, curators, and agents) participated in the Art Salons which culminated with an outstanding Summer Salon Art Exhibit and Fashion Show on June 6, 2009 at the Windisch-Hunt Fine Art Gallery in Coconut Grove, FL.

As the Art Marketing Salon was coming to an end, we briefly touched on the subject of art licensing and about half of the artists said they would be interested in learning more about this topic. Since this is a subject dear to my heart and work, I made a verbal commitment to the group and myself to develop an art licensing workshop. After months and months of reading, researching, and networking, I realized one workshop would not even come close to covering the subject. So now, 14 months later, I’m putting the final touches on the first three workshops which will begin later this month starting with the introductory session: The Business of Art Licensing – A Workshop For Artists. I’m offering the introductory session at $15 per person because I want artists to have enough information to decide if art licensing is something they want to pursue. The progressive sessions will explore key topics more thoroughly with specific research and creative assignments to help each artist move forward and create a portfolio of work specifically geared to the business of licensing art on a variety of consumer products.

The material I’ll be presenting is based on my personal experience and a good portion is based on the work of artist Tara Reed and her Art Licensing Info business. I’ve been following Tara for over 2 years and highly recommend that any artist interested in learning more about licensing your art follow her blog and listen in on her free, Ask Calls where she conducts live interviews with many of the top selling licensed artists in the country.

Tara Reed Paul Brent

Tara Reed interview with artist Paul Brent

She’s interviewed Paul Brent, Mary Engelbreit, Jill Seale, Suzanne Cruise, many others and many more are coming up.  In addition, Tara has been creating and licensing her own whimiscal art for over six years and regularly attends the Surtex and Art Licensing Expo trade shows where the majority of art licensing connections and contracts are made every year.

If you’re an artist in the Miami area and would like to know more about the business of licensing your art, here is the link to full details on “The Business of Art Licensing – A Workshop For Artists” which will be presented in two locations, one on Miami Beach and another in Coconut Grove, Florida.

If you are not able to attend the workshops and want access to some of the most informative and useful information available on how to get started in art licensing, I highly recommend Tara’s eBook, “How to Get Started in Art Licensing”.

NOTE: I may earn a commission on products that you purchase from following a link that I recommend and I only recommend products or services that I personally use and believe in. This is another way for an independent artist/entrepreneur to earn money and continue doing the kinds of work you love. It’s also a good topic for another workshop 😉

Don Chile Grand Opening Pics, Coral Gables, FL

It was standing room only and right out to the sidewalks at Don Chile’s Grand Opening on Wednesday night in Coral Gables. Marilyn, Paul and I walked just two blocks to get here so no complaints about location and there seems to be plenty of parking on this end of the Ponce as well. I thoroughly enjoyed a sampler Pisco Cilantro Sour and will definitely be back for lunch or dinner.

Even though this gentleman was mixing and pouring drink samples like crazy and he was kind enough to not only pose at my request, but did so with a smile! I didn’t get his name, but he, or someone, will post it in a comment so we all know who to ask for at Don Chile.

A few of the very reasonably priced To Go Menu items:
APPETIZERS:
Quesadilla Ranchera – flour tortilla filled with grilled steak, bacon, onion, tomato, cilantro and melted jack cheese, served with sour cream and guacamole – $9.95 

SALADS:
Ensalada Rosario – crispy romain hearts, avocado, tomato, corn, green onions, cilantro, tossed with homemade avocado dressing with grilled chicken – $8.99

SOUPS: $5.50
MAIN COURSES:
Camarones a la Diabla – sauteed shrimp with peppers and onions, served with rice – $14.50
Pato Castellano – duck breast sauteed in delicate pine nuts and walnuts with dry smoked peppers sauce and served with spicy mash potato and corn $13.99

Carne a la tampiquena – a tender cut grilled steak, topped with poblano strips and cream and served with one enchilada, rice and beans – $16.95

DESSERTS: Homemade Caramel Custard, Cake Tres Leches, Chocolate Cake
Don Chile is located at 1915 Ponce de Leon (across from Office Max) in Coral Gables. Phone: 305-461-1566. Mon-Wed 11 am to 9 pm, Thurs-Sat 11 am to 11pm. Closed Sunday.

Share/Bookmark