SOMArts and ArtSpan Present:

Make Your Art Your Business -- 2012 Artist Workshop Series

90-minute workshops designed to sharpen your business skills as a professional artist, prepare you for exhibiting work inside and outside your studio, and help you build community with fellow artists and the public.

"Preparing for SF Open Studios"
How to make the most out of your open studios event 
Tuesday, August 28th, 6-7:30pm
SOMArts Cultural Center
934 Brannan St, 94103
with Panel of Seasoned SF Open Studios Artists
RSVP here!

Get helpful hints and ideas to improve your own SF Open Studios event. Hear tips on marketing, set up, presentation, sales, follow-up, and much more.

Topics to be discussed include:

• Identifying potential buyers and Closing Sales
• How to leverage Facebook to get visitors to your studio, and tips on how to use Facebook Ads and social media promo
  
• How to build lasting connections during SF Open Studios

Great for first-time open studios participants, veteran artists, and everyone in between!

Seasoned SF Open Studios artist Rebecca Fox says "I was hesitant to go because I had already done open studios so many times, but I learned a lot at last year's workshop! I got some great tips and I definitely used some of their suggestions in my own studio."

Other attendees agree:

• "Most helpful were the detailed suggestions for studio presentation, and tactics to engage the customer and make the sale."
• "Lots of great, personal advice hearing how they did it themselves!"
• "All the speakers were great and had very useful tips that I can use directly."
• "Dimitri gave a lot of helpful tips and advice on how to sell yourself, present your studio, and follow up with your clients after the show."

About the presenters:

Dimitri Kourouniotis has participated in SF Open Studios since 1999. His background is in computer programming and business consulting with experience at British Airways and IBM. Having decided to pursue the course to his true happiness, he became a full time artist in 2001. He specializes in Abstract Expressionist oil paintings that are created as he relates energy and momentum into color, intention and emotion. He is a self taught artist and sales person, and has helped many artists learn new tools to close sales and increase their business. He currently creates his artwork at Hunters Point Shipyard. He serves on the board of the Artists’ Guild of San Francisco and on ArtSpan’s Open Studios Committee. Website: http://dolmas.com

Valerie Scott has participated in SF Open Studios since 2009. Together with fellow artists, she organizes and participates in artist groups such as the Art, Wine, and Dine Artists and the Art Co Lab group at Fort Mason Center. Valerie holds a BA in Fine Arts form Cal State Northridge and her work has been show in galleries and venues throughout the city. Originally from Burbank, Valerie now makes San Francisco her artistic home, creating work at her studio at Oakdale Painting Studio and participating on ArtSpan's Open Studios Committee. http://valeriescottcollection.blogspot.com/

Artist John Kraft has participated in SF Open Studios since 2005. John was selected as a Featured Artist by Apple, and his art has been included in Better Homes and Gardens, The Artful Home and Modern Painters. His art has received coverage by the SF Chronicle, Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times and MacWorld UK, and Shelley Esaak of About.com profiled John as an 'Artist You Should Know'.  John was a also a participating artist in Heroes & Hearts 2010.  For years John has made extensive use of social media to market his work and to drive awareness of his participation in SF Open Studios.  www.johnkraft.com

ArtSpan produces monthly workshops and discussions to aid artists with the professional side of their art practice.  Through these community events ArtSpan creates a platform for artists to thrive, fostering a Bay Area that values the arts. 

All events are held at SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St, 94103, unless otherwise noted. 

 
Workshops are free for all SF Open Studios Artists and Members, and SOMArts Artists. General Public $10 suggested donation. No One Turned Away for Lack of Funds.

ArtSpan participates in SOMArts’ Affordable Space Program, which provides below-market rental space, production and publicity assistance to arts and cultural organizations. For more information visit http://www.somarts.org/rentals/.