Why I teach Private Art Lessons

Why I teach Private Art Lessons

I have taught artist workshops for years.  I'll even go far enough that I am good at it and I make a lot more money.  At the end of the workshop everybody happily walks away with the same 'palm tree at the beach'.In a private fine art lesson we learn the proper needed techniques and the why and hows to get there.  And from that point the private fine art lesson is all about YOU.  At the end of the one to two hour lesson you have created YOUR piece of art.  You can't believe that YOU created THAT!  You will take it home and hang it on your wall.  It's THAT GOOD.  Recently a student completed his painting and with tears in his eyes he decided that THIS is what God wants you to do. Oh and am I that good of a fine art teacher?  No.  I'm just being used as one heck of a cheerleader.

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Marketing Monday Tips

Marketing Monday Tips

It's Monday but do not send out your latest email.  Monday mornings we are all behind from Friday.  We would just disappear.  Same for Friday.  We're overwhelmed and we just want to close up our computer for the week.  Once again any interest in our email disappears.  Answer, email on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  As for weekends, especially Facebook communication, pour it on.  We have a full audience.  We will talk more about emails and the relevancy of them.  Personally for me they are great to connect with people and yes I sell a lot of art that way AND received more students an music gigs.   Now see?  All of this really can be fun. 

Sunday's Grace Notes

Sunday's Grace Notes

If it takes a village to "raise" a Nancy well in the last few days it took an Army and God meddled in the whole thing the whole time.  I thought that I'd share.  I mean really share.  Then I remembered that "oh ya, you really do have a life.  So.....

Finally being on the right meds and big guns antibiotics so I am no longer sitting in my wheelchair simply crying, in April AT&T contacted ME to tell me that my identity had been stolen and my business sabotaged.  It is February 2012 and I now have it back... I have it back....  my dog Panda getting into the garbage and I realized that if I had his boring life I would get in the garbage too, simple "acts of kindness" from others really CAN save my life,  I slept 'til 10:00 people!  And then I just got out of my bed, into my chair, poured coffee w/out spilling it (RA) and watched Joel Osteen.  My neighbor even got my newspaper, I am awake... no naps today.  Okay.  Now I am crying, tears of joy.  Sooooo

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com



Friday's Grace Notes

Friday's Grace Notes

Having dried paint on my hands while I work on the computer... oh happy day! Transporting one of my shows from downtown to St Johns, it is nice to be fully involved again,  the neighborhood ducks are no longer afraid of me when I roll on by with my chair, if I want more friends then I have to be one,  giving thanks when when thanks is due... and especially when it is not,  finding joy in the ability to pay my JEA (power/water) bill,  the book "Coming Back.  Rebuilding Lives After Crisis and Loss" by Ann Kaiser Stearns.  I wish that I had the brains and talents to have written it myself  and finding the strength to ask for outside help when that may be what is best for me.

And you my friend!

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Wednesday's Grace Notes

Wednesday's Grace Notes

Today is a great day.  I am in increased pain (large wounds on legs) and am having tremers.  So why is today so special?  I have to dig deaper from my soul to really give thanks.  So here we go!  I am thankful that I can tie my own tennis shoes with out asking for help,  my doctors are "allowing me" to live alone and take care of myself,.... and I am very good at that,  Playing and singing "Someone Like You" by Adele on the piano late into the night, reading about a man that due to an injury 25 yrs ago lives in a power chair, just like me and has trouble getting enough sleep each night because he is so excited to live another day... we are the lucky ones, my "No Excuses Bag" that I made.  Today I pulled out "How can I help?  I'm in a chair?" Answer, They may be moving but I can put together a basket w/ baked goods, instant expresso, disposable coffee cups and a cream cheese spread while the movers are there.  Spoken like a 29 yrs Army wife...  and one more thing???  In pain I watched Joyce Meyer but it left me only hungrier to be spiritually filled.  I guess I just have to read my Bible.  No the lesson is not lost on me.  I geft it.  NOW it will be a wonderful day!

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Monday's Marketing Tips

Monday's Marketing Tips

Back by popular demand (really?) I will once again humbly, regularly post my artist marketing tips every Monday.

Marketing tip #1

Your art is a business and needs to be treated as one on a daily basis.

Market yourself 60% of the time, paint/create 40% percent of the time.  Your work may be earth shatteringly good but if only you and your pet cat are enjoying it, it really won't go anywhere.

Monday"s Grace Notes "Happiness"

Monday"s Grace Notes

"Happiness"

Happiness can be found sipping a fine white wine on a balcony overlooking a vineyard in Italy.  Happiness can be found drinking a cup of Folgers Coffee on the back cement stoop of a mobile home.  Happiness can be found in a prison, a woman's shelter, and ICU units when they tell you that they will have to amputate your legs in the morning and you probably not live.  Happiness can be found when a woman can slide out of her own bed, into her wheelchair to live an independent day in her own home and begin to celebrate yet one more day.

I have found happiness...

and it has found me.

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Sunday"s Grace Notes

Sunday"s Grace Notes

Unexpected pleasures... this morning I was able to lift my purple swollen stump of a leg 15 TIMES in bed! Yesterday it was only 4,  I am not as fragile as I think I am,  setting up my coffee the night before and rolling out to get my Sunday paper first thing in the morning, not making God drum his fingers and and just tell Him what I need.  He already knows.. He just needs me to say it "ask and ye shall receive" that's called faith,  my successful art and music career and being a mentor to other artists and musicians, the return of my "Artists Marketing Blogs" (by request) and my "Angels Unaware" blogs. I've had a lot of bad breaks... you too?  Well God has healed them all.. man He must multitask well,  If God has truly given me ALL that I need just for this day then "wowie zowie" now I can give the excess away.

I can start over tomorrow.

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Saturday's Grace Notes

Saturday's Grace Notes

All of my "stuff" belongs to God,  picking up the soup can phone and saying "hello progresso, I have been eating soup and my jeans now fit!" (it's a commercial, but they do fit!),  I hope that in my old age one will find an unfinished symphony on my piano, a half written song on my music stand, a notepad of unfinished grace notes on my desk and a large unfinished painting on my easel with a creative chaos of tubes of paint showing that up to the very end I was dancing with life,  God gives me opportunities every day,,, it is up to me to take advantage of them,  loving Saturday's... the very word makes me happy and brings out the kid in me.

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

nancy-asbell.artistwebsites.com

Free Mailed Original Pen And Ink Note Card

Free Mailed Original Pen And Ink Note Card

Please go to my blog

sign in as a follower, email me with your address and it's mailed off to you.

I am ready with my stamps!

Celebrate the day!

Nancy

www.asbellarts.com

Friday's Grace Notes

Friday's Grace Notes

Taking off my rose colored glasses and really seeing who I am,  "Woman should not live alone" so God gave me Panda,  "10% of people will not like you" so I will get over my sweet self and and

 keep on dancing my way,  "The Great Commission... Love One Another"....  We can do that?  Can't we?,  A huge stack of  books on the business side of creative marketing, finally finding my hand mixer.... now where is that bundt cake pan... 

Celebrate the day!

I already am!

www.asbellarts.com

Thursday's Grace Notes

Thursday's Grace Notes

Truly enjoying the fresh blueberries on my cereal, learning through my own mistakes... sometimes it is the only way to go,  my once again successful art, music performance and teaching career... w/ a lot of work,  Joyce Meyer was so good today I watched it again to take notes,  my new "No Excuses" tote bag filled w excuses "It's too hard", I don't know how, people wont like me,   (interested?  I will post a blog note to explain),  taking three days for manic marketing and already getting amazing results!,  and you my friend taking the time to read my rambling Grace Notes.

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Wednesday's Grace Notes

Wednesday's Grace Notes

Making today an "oh wow!" moment, seeking out mentors to bless me and maybe i can help them as well,  "oh wow!" now I have a courier service to transport my paintings around Jax and friends to do the smaller deliveries I haven't missed ALL of my art show deadlines after all, "oh wowie zowie!' yesterday I used my rollator walker to walk down to get the mail and back for the first time in over two months.  Really hard, I'll do it again today, training my dog Panda to go for walks with me in my power chair,  give give give.. this could be the last "oh wow!" day of my life,  after being told that I only had friends because they felt sorry for me,  "oh wow" he was wrong,  Praying that one day I will STAND in front of my Lord and Saviour and hear Him say "Well done my good and faithful servant" and I will say through tears of joy "Oh wow!"

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Monday's Grace Notes

Monday's Grace Notes

At the chance of being redundant, isn't life good?,  one year ago I taught piano and painted...  now I have to fit in that and voice, art and guitar lessons as well - what a nice problem to have,  believing in myself and having to start over again every day,  having the discipline to end my work day at 8 :00n pm every day,  my collection of shoes under my coffee table... it really adds to the decor and so affordable, ha!,  watching the movie "Dateline News" and so many grace notes so little time.  You are welcome.  I will not bore you further.

Celebrate the day!

,www.asbellarts.com

Sunday's Grace Notes

Sunday's Grace Notes

All decked out in my painting clothes, fixing a horrible meal for myself and not having to hear "Chef Nancy, you have been chopped"LOL,  finding a pen that works when I need one,  getting my house in order, "Hot In Cleveland" fun show,  talking to myself, Jesus, the dog... and now to mosquitoes "You idiot! Don't you know that it's February?" then I squashed him... I need to get out more,  helping other artists to promote their work... there are plenty of pieces of pie to share, loving people and them loving you back - simple law of physics,  and having an overwhelming amount of fresh fruit in my frig..

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Monday's Grace Notes

Monday's Grace Notes

Waking up to blaring classic rock, feeling like doing the wrong thing but choosing to do right, my morning omelet in a cup,  playing on the piano "Take The A Train" at midnight,  bracelets with paint on them, recreating the life that I had before living in a wheelchair,  my parents having me to keep her company and the birth on my husband to produce two beautiful children so "Happy Happy birthday Michele and Glenn!"

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Wednesday's Grace Notes

Wednesday's Grace Notes

Owning my own life, my coffee maker now works... don't ask,  hearing the heat turn on during record breaking cold,  quiet time,  taking care of myself so that others don't have to,  my home made Italian soup,  my appliances that haven't broken lately,  and bringing joy back into my music.

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com

Saturday's Grace Notes

Saturday's Grace Notes

"Make your own kind of music, sing your own special song, even when nobody else sings along",  planning a party for one,  New Years resolution- have more fun,  creating my own happy endings,  caffeine- I "needs it!",  pairing together new outfits with my old clothes,  my new 'bling' black shoes that fit my swollen feet... too cute!,  being able to stand today,  the joy of being alive and never truly being alone.

Celebrate the day!

Happy New Year!

www.asbellarts.com

Friday's Grace Notes

Friday's Grace Notes

Choosing to wake up in a good mood heading for my morning coffee,  daybreak,  showing my paintings at Perdue Jacksonville for the month of January,  New Years resolutions- they are great if I make them fun!  Chipping at my procrastination list,  lowering my steroids and being less hungry,  making my 'to do' list then knocking off 1/2 of them and "free shipping".

Celebrate the day!

www.asbellarts.com  

Tuesday's Grace Notes

Tuesday's Grace Notes

Feeling stronger today... woo hoo!, cooking for one,  White Diamonds perfume and smelling like a girly girl,  having the courage to be seen by others when I am so bloated from steroids and edema,  dressing up for my psychy even though I don't teach today,  getting a high from saving money,  spilling the coffee and deciding that it's a great time to really clean the counter,  and learning to laugh at myself- it keeps me busy.

Celebrate the day!
www.asbellarts.com