Creating a Newsletter for my Art & Armour

Well, I've finally decided that I should create a newsletter for my art and armour. For me it will be a way to keep myself motivated to keep progressing in my work, it will help me to think about where I'm going and what I'm doing, and what direction I want to go in. It is also a way of tracking what I've been doing. I can keep a bit of track of my production and what I've accomplished over the last while. It is also a tool that I can use to give some comments on art itself and maybe pass some of my experience on.

I realise that this means that at least once a month I will have to sit down and write for a few hours to get it all done. What I'm actually thinking is that I will take an hour or two each week and write for this, then release it once a month. I know that there are some who only do quarterly newsletters. But I want to give more value to people.

So, here's what I'm thinking of for content:

A. Personal Notes: a little bit on what's happening in my personal life and how that influences my art.
B. Latest Projects: What I've recently completed and what plans I have for new works. May include some concept sketches for future projects that I'm thinking of. Future projects may or may not materialize, as is the nature of art. Sometimes there are other things that get in the way, sometimes as an artist I'm just not sure what the best thing to produce is. In that sense it would help for people to give me feedback or even if they see things they like the idea of they could commission it for themselves.
C. Upcoming Shows: any shows that I have committed to, whether trade shows, expos (like the comic expo in Calgary last month), or gallery exhibitions.
D. Contests I've Entered, if any. Suggestions from readers would also be appreciated for ones that I should consider entering.
E. Art Notes: comments on techniques, mediums, historical artwork, etc. Here's where I get to play teacher, historian, and art critic (ha ha).

What do people think of these ideas? Comments are greatly appreciated!

You can sign up for my newsletter on my website: Haidner Art Studio & Armoury. I expect to have it out within the week, probably on Sunday. How's that for a Mother's Day surprise?

Calgary Comic Expo - a Real Learning Experience

So, last weekend I was at the Calgary Comic Expo, which had an estimated 50,000 people attend. Obviously most of these never saw my stuff, or I would have been sold out. ;-)  But seriously, I know that my Artist Alley space should have been much better displayed than it was.  I have a tonne of ideas for future such events.

One thing I'm going to do is make, buy, or rent a higher table to set up behind the one that is already there. This will add another layer and some more table space. Plus the higher table will give a bit of a backing to set up some 2-dimensional works on. So, imagine another, higher table that probably is as high as the open (raised) part of the jewellery case shown here.

Now, in addition to that I want to get something to set up prints of and/or original paintings and drawings on behind these tables. So, with that I can display much more! And speaking of displaying more.... I want to have a suit of armour finished so that I can set that off to the side as part of my display, too! Imagine how cool it would look, and how many people it would attract, to have that by my space!

And I want all of these moved into the back part of my space, so that I can be in front of it all the time. I would also like to have a stand-up easel so that I can do a little bit of work while I'm there. It would be nice to show that I do original hand drawn and painting work, rather than the computer generated stuff that is so common at these kinds of shows. And this whole set up would work at any kind of trade show!

I do have some upcoming shows:

1. Mediaeval May: May 27, 2012 at Ritchie Hall (7727 - 98 Street, Edmonton), from 11 am to 4 pm.
2. Discover-E Trade Show, June 23, 2012, at the Executive Royal Inn (178 Street & 100 Ave, Edmonton)
3. Knights of the Nortern Realm, 11th annual Tournament and Market, Saturday, July 7, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
   Dr. Wilbur McIntyre Park, 104 Street & 83 Avenue - good weather location
   Ritchie Community Centre, 7727  - 98 Street - bad weather location

Come to these all. I'll have new work at each of them, of course. 

Hope to see lots of people at all of these!