January Issue No. 8

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Established in 2020, Epiphany is powered and designed by Studio Lab. Studio Lab is a multi-media business that creates visual content such as photography, videography, and publishing design.

Studio Lab focuses primarily on promotional content with the intention to serve creatives and small businesses. In 2023, the aim is to reach a broader market and attract new audiences to serve.

Thank you for reading epiphany magazine. For a free monthly subscription click here to subscribe.

It’s a New Year, so with the new year comes new goals— and in 2023, Epiphany’s main goal is to provide maximal value to all creators— by publishing content that empowers and inspires our readers. We aim to increase our readers productivity by sharing educational resources, and connecting with great minds who can assist our readers in the development of their creative ventures and careers. But, we also want to have fun doing it—so we’re going to keep the vibes light with exciting and entertaining content.

This year we will create more opportunities to team up with artists, contributors, and photographers with the aim to increase the visibility of Sacramento’s talent. Right now if you’re currently only a reader or visitor be sure to subscribe and help support artists and creatives. By subscribing using the hyperlink you will receive the Epiphany Newsletter and the latest issue to your inbox. Thanks again for the amazing support, Happy New Year!

Katerina Graziosi graduated from California State University, Sacramento in 2021 and currently works as a freelance journalist. Having majored in journalism and minored in sociology, she is passionate about storytelling, social justice, progressive politics and the arts. A first-generation American, Katerina has been living in the City of Trees for the past 14 years and her work appears in The State Hornet, the Sacramento Business Journal and now Epiphany Magazine.

Contributor

PArT one

The ArT of Business

Having the proper knowledge in all aspects of business is crucial for artists and creatives to be financially successful. By providing the neccessary knowledge to manage their finances, market their art, and network with potential clients, artists can grow exponentially in their careers. More importantly, having Business knowledge can also help to understand the legal aspects of running a business, such as copyright laws and contracts.

10 for artists with rue gumunya

T A X T I P S

Rue Gumunyu is the founder of The Accounting Chic a boutique accounting firm serving small businesses like Coaches, Consultants & Creatives.

With a background in accounting and finance, her passion is helping businesses with all aspects of their accounting needs including:

• Tax-ready financial statements with bookkeeping

• Helping business owners save money on taxes

• Training and consulting on business and financial systems.

Rue also teaches Bookkeeping, Business writing, and Business Math to aspiring accountants and tax agents at the local community college. Since it’s tax time she will be sharing tips that will help you stay on top of your business finances! These also include tips on how to stay compliant with the IRS as well as save $$$ on your taxes.

10 Tax Tips For Artists

1. Operate as a business not as a hobby. Register to make your business official. The IRS limits deductions that operate as a hobby.

2. Apply for an EIN and create an LLC. You can still take deductions even as a sole proprietor but having an LLC has more advantages if you decide to be taxed as an S-Corporation.

3. Have a bookkeeping software in place. QuickBooks or Wave are great tools to streamline and track all your business income and expenses. This will also help during tax time to easily get financial statements to your tax preparer.

4

. Keep your business finances separate from personal by opening a business bank account and use it strictly for business purposes

5. Once you form an LLC it is your duty as a business owner to protect it. You’re piercing the corporate veil by commingling funds! Doing so can have a negative impact on your LLC.

6. File & Pay your taxes on time to avoid interests and penalties. Filing late incurs a 5% penalty per month and not paying your taxes incurs a penalty of 0.5% of the smiling owed. It adds up! Take advantage of tax write offs and save money! Tax write offs or deductions reduce your taxable income. Keep receipts of every expense.

7

. Home office - deduct the space dedicated for business use only. You can also deduct the actual home office expense like utilities, rent etc

8

. Advertising & marketing - expenses to promote your business. Social media ads, business cards, logos, websites etc.

9. Materials & supplies- as an artist your work rely on materials to produce your work like canvas, paint, brushes, etc

10 . Vehicle - actual vehicle expenses like gas, repairs and maintenance or take the standard mileage (the total business mileage). Make sure you download a mileage app to track your mileage easily!

Famous Artists That Died Poor

Art can be a very lucrative career, many artist have amassed great wealth. However, the opposite is true as well. Many artists in the past were “starving artists” and unfortunately died poor, like the lists of artists below.

V A N G O G H

B orn March 30, 1853, in the Netherlands— Vincent Van Gogh is famous for his paintings “The Starry Night,” “Wheat field with leaves,” “Sunflowers” and many more works somewhere near 2,000 pieces were created.

Today Van Gogh’s top three selling pieces amass a total of approximately 280 million dollars. Sadly, Van Gogh only sold one painting throughout his lifetime and died in 1890, at 37 years old by a self inflicted gunshot wound. Never seeing any wealth from his art.

Johannes Vermeer was born in 1682, in the Netherlands. Vermeer was born into substantial wealth.Vermeer painted only 35 paintings during his career as an artist. A few of Vermeer’s notable paintings were “Girl with the pearl earring.” “The art of painting” and “The milkmaid”. Vermeer’s top paintings sell close to approximately 30 million dollars each. Unfortunately, struggling in debt with a failed art career— in 1675, Vermeer died. Never touching his wealth or relishing in his fame that his art has earned him today.

J O H A N N E S V E R M E E R

Born in 1840 in Paris, France— Monet was raised near the Normandy Coast, which is where his connection to landscape & outdoors originates from. Monet receives praises for being a pioneer and leader of the impressionist movement— a few of his most famous pieces are “Impression Sunrise,” “Woman with a parasol,” and “Water lilies in bloom”. Todays Monets top three sold pieces total near 274 million.

El Greco was born in 1541 and died in 1614– he is considered an important icon in art history. El Greco’s paintings contain a unique style that has influenced generations of artists since his death. El Greco was also known for being eccentric, and was often ridiculed for his appearance and behavior. During his lifetime, he sold few paintings and died poor. If he were alive today he would have earned approximately 14 million dollars from his painting “Prayer of St. Dominic” which sold at a Sotheby’s auction in 2013.

William Blake was born in London in 1757. Blake was a poet and painter who despised the political system of his time.

In fact, he said that I “must create my own system or be enslaved by another man’s.” Despite his efforts to make his work known, Blake died without wealth due to poor sales of his art. In 2019, a 19 piece watercolor painting series was sold for 5 million.

The of

or artists, making art is a rewarding passion. It’s how they pay their bills, put food on the table, and clothing on their backs. But as the years pass and age becomes more relevant, will creating art to survive still be attractive and attainable? If you answered yes, that’s Great! After all, making art is a passion. But having something to fall back on isn’t a bad idea either. That’s where a sound retirement plan can provide you with a comfortable financial cushion for your golden years. According to a recent study by PWC 1 in 4 Americans have no retirement savings and a large portion doesn’t even know how much money they’ll need in order to retire comfortably. The good news is that it’s never too late to begin saving for retirement.There are several different options available for self employed individuals like artists and entrepreneurs such as Traditional IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts), Solo 401(k), and SEP (Simplified Employee Pension).

DISCLAIMER: I am not a financial advisor, this is not financial advice. Please see a Certified Financial Advisor for retirement and investment planning advice.

You may have heard the phrase “starving artist,” but that doesn’t mean you have to be one. As an artist, you face unique challenges when it comes to retirement planning—but those challenges aren’t insurmountable.

You may not have access to an employer-sponsored plan, or your income may be irregular, but there are still plenty of options for you to use in order to get ready for retirement. Here are some solutions that may work for artists:

*An IRA (Individual Retirement Account): An IRA is a type of account that lets you put money aside tax-free so that it can grow over time. It’s especially useful if your income isn’t consistent because the money in an IRA grows tax free until withdrawal—so even if you make a lot one year and very little the next year, you can still take advantage of that tax break! It’s also easy—you can open one with just $250!

*A SEP IRA (Simplified Employee Pension Plan): Is like an IRA but it’s designed specifically for small businesses and freelancers who want the benefits of an IRA without having their own business structure, this is a good option for saving up for retirement!

*A Solo 401(k): A solo 401(k) is a retirement account designed for selfemployed individuals or business owners with no full-time employees. It offers high savings potential and efficient ways to save for retirement.

The truth is whether your an artist or entrepreneur retirement plans and pensions are important. They provide tax deductions, access to loans, financial security in retirement and tax-free growth. They also offer a safe return on investments and the ability to extract profits from their business in a tax-efficient way. Additionally, they ensure that artists and entrepreneurs can fund the retirement they want—but these these retirement plans won’t work unless you start planning now! If you haven’t started thinking about retirement yet, talk to a Certified financial advisor to see what options best fit your financial situation.

The Sacramento Art Cooperative Breaking New Foreground

Working art studio and show space highlights multimedia artists of all levels.

By Katerina Graziosi

Elijah Pitts elicits laughs from his fellow artists as he describes their quartercentury-old cooperative as a “free-rolling hippie commune.”

Pitts, a glassblower, believes a supportive environment is critical to the development of any artist.

“I think it’s really important,” Pitts said. “Personally, I want that to be one of the cornerstones of what we do here is to encourage people to find their art and present it to the world, because art in your closet at home is kind of pointless.”

Since 1995, The Art Studios in Sacramento has cultivated an inclusive work and exhibit space currently shared by 16 resident artists who produce and display a variety of works in collective studios that focus on encouraging and nurturing the drive to create art.

Despite having formed years ago, The Art Studios is still developing what it means to be a cooperative without the bureaucracy of a traditional gallery, having made a more serious effort to define its affiliation over the last two years, according to Pitts.

Pitts’ discussing the 25 year hsitory of The Art Studios.

Photo: Eddie Walker

“We’re not a gallery,” Pitts, who became involved with the studios in 1998, said. “I don’t want to be the gatekeeper or the adjudicator to see who’s good enough to be in [it].”

In addition to rejecting any appraisal process that is oftentimes a barrier for artists seeking a more formal exhibition space, Pitts said the cooperative does not take a commission from art sales as doing so would be antithetical to its artist-centered mission.

“We need to turn a profit,” Pitts said about the reality of operating a shared workspace. “But we want to avoid that gallery model where we take 40% or 50%... that’s kind of contra to being accepting and nurturing.”

Originally one large room, the building at 1727 I Street – tucked behind Michelangelo’s restaurant – has been subdivided into four studios within a larger communal studio and exhibition space. Pitts said the cooperative has participated in Sacramento’s Second Saturday art walks since its formation.

Acrylic and watercolor painter, Lori Franz, said each studio collectively covers rent between the artists which includes a maintenance fee for studio

supplies and upkeep.

Franz said that although the cooperative has only rented out its space publicly once before, the guest artist’s solo show was very successful.

“We’d like to offer that opportunity a little more broadly,” Franz said, adding that more structure within the cooperative would be needed to support solo exhibitions. “We’d like more people to know about us and more artists to have access.”

Franz sharing future plans of The Art Studios. Photo: Eddie Walker

Artist Emory Ensign said the studios’ existence is made possible in large part to a fair and supportive landlord.

“The owner of this space really does us a big service by not trying to make money off us,” Ensign said. “It’s kind of like his donation to the community.”

Ensign, who describes his style of acrylic painting as modern and pop-y said that a diverse group of artists has amassed over the years.

“One of the things I love about this place is that there’s a mix of artists,” Ensign said. “It’s great with looking at the work and when it’s being shown it’s like you have different generations of voices.”

Artist and watercolor painter Veronica Espinoza said The Art Studios’ culture is what drew her to join.

“Anyone from any level and any style can come in here and show their work,” Espinoza said, adding she feels a strong sense of community within the cooperative. “Being introverts and being artists, you’re kind of like an open wound walking through the world and coming here and being a part of this place and feeling that the people here are kind of the same… it feels amazing.”

Espinoza laughing at Pitts’ witty joke.

Echoing Espinoza’s positive experience, Franz said she felt supported having never painted on canvas before joining the studios.

Ensign expressing gratitude for the Art the Studios. Photo: Eddie Walker

Photo: Eddie Walker

“I just wanted space to paint,” Franz said, adding that she eventually displayed work in a show thanks to Pitts’ encouragement. “I hung something [at a show] and people walked by it and they liked it… and now I’ve been able to do some nice things with my art.”

Franz helps promote The Art Studios on social media and regularly posts announcements to the cooperative’s Instagram about upcoming events including the free, monthly art workshops run by representational oil painter Michelle Dahl. Specializing in portraiture and figures, Dahl directs classes on the first of each month from 6 to 9 p.m. Dahl said she seeks to make oil painting, often touted as the high horse of the art world, accessible to the community, adding that she provides all the supplies and accepts donations to continue funding the workshops.

“I don’t want to have a pay wall between an artist and their ability to share their skills,” Dahl said, adding that she wants to disband the notion that oil painting costs hundreds of dollars to experience. “Even if you’re not an artist, you can try it out and if you are an artist and you’ve just never tried it or it’s been years and you need a refresher, I’m making that space available to experiment with it.”

Dahl sharing info about her workshop.

Registration for art workshops can be found on the cooperative’s website.

“I think we have a niche,” Franz said, adding she hopes The Art Studios can expand its collaboration with the community. “I think there are a lot of people who would enjoy our space and enjoy the things we do if we can develop them.”

Pitts said The Art Studios will continue to define its structure as an organization but that its mission is clear.

“This is a place for emerging artists,” Pitts said, “A place that’s safe and accepting… [with artists] who have been exactly where you are and think that more art is better than less art.”

Photo: Eddie Walker

Meet the Artists of The Art Studios

Elijah Pitts

Medium: Arylics and watercolor painter.

Medium: watercolor painting.

Emory Ensign

Medium:

Medium: Oil paint specializng in Portraiture and figure painting.

Medium: Acrylics painter, ink/pen illustrator, & Grapic Designer.

Lori Franz Veronica Espinoza

Michelle Dahl

Resources For Success

GUIDE TO

A SIMPLE GRANTS

Applying to grants can provide you with financial assistance to pay for materials, studio space and other pricey expenses. Taking advantage of government-sponsored or organizational funding through grants, you can better equip yourself for success in projects and your overall career as an artist.

By Eddie Walker

You’re an artist. You have a lot of ideas, and you want to make them happen. You’ve got a vision for what you want to create, and you’re ready to bring it to life. But then you get the news: funding is scarce. Your project needs money, and there’s just not enough out there for you right now. What do you do? You could give up on

your vision and move on, or—you can get creative with how you go about funding your project. Below there are resources on grants and the basic practices to writing them. You’ll also find hyperlinks to resources that will provide you with in-depth knowledge on the matter. Let’s start with three main types of funding that is offered:

ResouRces

The three primary sources of funding:

1. Government — Federal, state, and local governments.

2. Nonprofits — Private foundations, public charities, or philanthropic organizations.

3. Corporations — Forprofit businesses.

Now that you know your options, here are resources to assist you in getting your grant approved.

8 standard sections of a grantproposal: https://snowballfundraising.com/fundamental-grant-proposal-template/

Understand why funding applications are denied and what to do about it. http://www.grantwriterteam.com/blog/ grant-writing/grant-seeker/why-yourgrant-proposal-may-have-been-denied-and-what-to-do-about-it/

Platforms/websites to Apple for grants: https://arts.ca.gov/grants/grant-programs/

How to write grants:

https://www.score.org/charlotte/resource/video/how-write-2-page-grantproposal

Selling art online is a great way to make more money, but it’s not easy. There are many considerations you’ll want to make before you get started.

First, you’ll need to decide how much you want to sell your art for. If you’re trying to make a profit, then you should consider the cost of materials and your hourly rate. If you’re selling as an artist and not really concerned with making money, then this isn’t as important—the value of your work is in the fact that it’s your work!

Next, you’ll want to consider what kind of buyer would be most interested in your work. Are they looking for something modern? Maybe they prefer something classical? You can also try targeting an audience based on their income level or other demographic factors like age group or gender.

Finally, once you’ve figured out who your ideal customer base is going to be, it’s time for promotion! Get creative with how you reach out to potential buyers: post on social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter; send out newsletters, create videos explaining how you create your art including the materials you used.

The possibilities to sell your art is limitless and online has its advantages. To start your year off right look into these online sites to find the best market that suits your needs. Below are hyperlinks to different art sites across the world.

United StateS

Saatchi Art - Largest gallery for independent artists. Takes 35% commission in exchange for offering shipping and arrangements, but the artist pays returns fees. https://www.saatchiart.com

Art finder- charges 35–42% on every piece sold. Commission covers Free return label. https://www.artfinder.com/#/

Etsy - Charges 6.5 percent commission 29 cents per listing. Etsy plus is 10.00 a month you get access to discounts on custom packaging and promotional material like boxes, business cards, and signage. https://www.etsy.com

First dibs - New York City based platform for a plethora of products outside of art. Accept artists and sellers. https://www.1stdibs.com

Artspace - New York City platform focused on Architectural Art: murals, special finishes, gold leading , art on glass, etc. http://www.artspacenyc.com

Artplode - A mixed platform for artists, collectors, galleries, and dealers. They charge a $60 flat fee to list the item and no commission fees. https://www.artplode.com

Ugallery - San Francisco based platform for mid career artists. They charge a $5.00 application fee. Commission is split 50/50 upon sale it the artwork. They cover all of the costs of packaging and shipping of the work. https://www.ugallery.com

New Blood Art - UK based but open to the globe. It’s an Art boutique and online gallery. Best for new and upcoming artists.

https://newbloodart.com/artists

Curina - is a “Rent to own Art” platform. The artist can list their art to have it rented and if the seller likes it they can buy it. Artists submissions are currently open. https://www.curina.co

eUrope

Singulart - a platform that focuses on art and furniture, they work with mid career artists. Pretty popular in Europe. In 2021, Singulart open a new platform for young emerging artists called Balthasart. https://www.singulart.com/en/

ArtMajeur - is Social Media for art. Been present in the art scene for 20 years. They buy and sell art as well as high end prints. Charge a 35% commission. https://www.artmajeur.com/en/ Catawiki - is a reputable Amsterdam based platform. Sales and auctions art and collectibles. Catawiki Charges a 12.5% commission. https://www.catawiki.com/en/

ArtMo - It’s a social media art platform based in Germany. They serve artists, galleries, dealers, collectors, companies. They charge only 2.5 processing fee. https://artmo.com

Spain

ArtLink - Is based in Spain they sale art and other collectibles. Artlink has been around for almost 30 years. https://www.artlink.com

ArteNet - Spain based platform, their focus is selling original art works and some prints. They offer a freemuim model with upgrades. (Spanish written website/with the option for English) https://en.artenet.es

ArteLista - Spain based platform also offers a freemium model for artists selling art. They do offer paid subscriptions with perks. Artelista charges a 30% commission. https://www.artelista.com/en/

Flecha- Located is in Madrid, Spain and means arrow in English—has been to art fairs for past 25 years. Very active online and in person community. They charge a 45% commission. (Spanish written website) https://www.flecha.es

Saishoart - Based in Madrid, Spain. They match artists to collectors. (Spanish written website) https://www.saishoart.com

Arstalent - A platform made by artists for artists. It’s a smaller platform less than 300 artists using the platform. (Spanish written website) https://www.arstalent.com

P55 Art - Portuguese company, best known for seeking art work fast. (Spanish written website) https://www.p55.art

Asia

The Artling - Serves artists and galleries, free to sign up for both artists and galleries. They do take a commission on sold art, amount known.

https://theartling.com/en/ Art loft Asia - Singapore based online platform that focuses on Asian artists, writers and art. Offers rentals to business for 3-12 months. If they like they can purchase. Prices start from 4% of rental price.

https://artloftasia.com/#/

3 Prosperous Cities For Artists To Live

By Eddie Walker

The top cities for artists to live in are always changing, but there are several “Happening” cities that have left their mark— in these cities you can find a thriving art scene and a responsive art community. These cities have numerous distinguished museums, galleries, and street art from prominent artists that helped make their locations a highly desirable place to live if you are an artist. Each city had its own iconic figures that helped forged the path for the following cities to be a “Happening” place for artists.

New York

New York City has a huge museum district with numerous options including The Guggenheim Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Whitney Museum of American Art. There is also many galleries including The Deitch Projects and The Julie Saul Gallery.

The success of New York’s art scene can be attributed to its rich history of famous artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Richard Prince, and Keith Haring. As well as its rich creative energy that fills the studios and streets.

and

were prolific artists who created a variety of work including paintings, sculptures, and performance art. Basquiat’s iconic three-pointed crown was the inspiration for Haring’s Pile of Crowns. Haring’s art was known for its accessibility, he often worked in the day using chalk and would frequent popular New York subways.

Jean-Michel Basquiat & Keith haring

Jean-Michel Basquiat(left)

Keith Haring(right)

Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring at AREA Club, New York, 1985. Photo: Ben Buchanan.

Miami

Miami, Florida is a growing city of art lovers. The thriving Wynwood Art District located in downtown Miami. This is just one part of this beautiful city’s diverse arts scene. In fact, Miami is now considered one of the top cities in the United States for artists and contemporary art collectors. The possibilities are endless!

Miami also boasts the Art Basel which draws thousands of artists from around the world each year. But what makes this scene so exciting right now is you can find local artists exhibiting their work at galleries in Coral Gables, Little Haiti, Brickell, and South Beach. It’s tough to say where these artists get their inspiration from, but it could be the from the warm sunshine.

Romero Britto is a Brazilian artist known for his vibrant, colorful paintings. He has been painting in Miami for over 20 years. He has been commissioned to paint portraits of world leaders and celebrities, his paintings have been displayed in galleries around the world. Britto has also created murals for corporate clients like Disney World and Coca-Cola.His work continues to be praised by the diverse culture of Miami’s vibrant art scene.

Rome Ro BR itto

Romero Britto posing an art exhibtion.

Berlin

Berlin, Germany has one of the most vibrant art scenes in the world. It’s also home to great galleries and museums, as well as many artists who live there or travel there for inspiration. The city also offers financial assistance for artists. In fact, it’s one of the only cities in Europe where you can find an affordable apartment that’s also close to public transportation and the center of town!

Berlin’s thriving art community is due in large part to its culture of tolerance and acceptance. This attitude helps create a welcoming environment for all kinds of people—including those who are interested in making art themselves! Berlin is another great city for artists: it hosts an annual event called “Berlin Art Week” where thousands of artists come together to share their work with others. Berlin art week is an event, which is held in Berlin’s East Side Gallery and has been running since 2008 and continues to grow in popularity every year.

Make Money From Your Art In 2023

Many artists are talented, but don’t know how to monetize their art. They may have a tough time finding an audience or they might not

know where to start when it comes to making money with their art. There are many ways that artists can make money with their art, and some of them provide opportunities for different kinds of artists. Let’s take a look at five ways you can make money with your art:

1. Editorial illustrations: If you’re an illustrator, you’ve probably done some editorial illusttions— those little cartoons or sketches in magazines, newspapers, and other publications that illustrate stories. A lot of editorial illustration work is done by freelancers who have experience in drawing or painting. These artists have a love of storytelling, and they look good on your portfolio! But the best part is the artists can make extra income on the side. Using the links below you can apply for editorial illustration opportunities/submissions.

https://www.circusliving.com/articles/editorial-illustration-submissions

2

. Creative Market is like Etsy for creative professionals. You can sell your digital artwork there as well as design resources like textures, patterns, icons, and fonts. You can also list physical products like mugs, t-shirts, and greeting cards. It’s free to list items on Creative Market as long as they cost less than $50 USD each—if they cost more than $50 USD each then you have to pay a fee based on how much profit you make off each sale. While this might not be as lucrative as other options, it’s definitely a solid way to get some extra cash in your pocket without having to go through a middleman like an agent or publisher. To open a shop on creative market click the link below.

https://creativemarket.com/sell

3. Licensing art is a great way for artists and photographers to make money because everyone needs art and designs! Literally everything you see that represents a brand, product, or a visual depiction was created by an artist. Licensing is when someone else pays you to use your artwork in an ad campaign or other marketing materials (like a book cover). This is great if you want more exposure for your art—but make sure they pay well! The links below will directly take you to Adobe and Shutterstock contributor to begin licensing your work.

https://contributor.stock.adobe.com

https://submit.shutterstock.com

4. YouTube, twitch, and tik tok sponsorships are another great way for artists to make money because the platform is so popular— and if you have enough subscribers and views, brands will come to YOU! They want to sponsor you because they want their brand associated with you and your audience. With this method, ads are placed on videos and viewers can click on them and go to the advertiser’s website. When this happens, advertisers pay YouTube for each time someone clicks on their ad. Click the link below to start with YouTube creators to begin growing your audience.

https://www.youtube.com/creators/howthings-work/getting-started/

5. If you’re an artist looking for ways to monetize your art, hosting workshops is a fun, creative way to bring in income. You can teach people about your craft, share your process and teach your techniques. You can even sell your art at your workshops. It’s great way to just get together with other artists in your community and hang out.

1. Figure out if you have the skills necessary to teach others about your craft

2. Sign up on Eventbrite or Eventbrite Pro and choose a date and time for your workshop

3. Write up a description of what people will learn during the workshop

4. Set a price for tickets (you can do this through Eventbrite)

5. Plan out how much time you want each person to spend with you during the workshop—this depends on how many attendees you expect as well as how much time it takes for everyone to understand what they need to know about your craft

6. Promote your event on social media with hashtags like #artistswholaunch

Listed. Below is the link to begin hosting your workshop with Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/l/create-a-workshop/

E M O R Y E N S I G N

AKA Monsters in Suits

one-on-one with emory ensign

Emory Ensign is a third generation artist and graphic designer that has been creating art for over 30 years. Emory creates using multiple mediums of art including pen and ink illustrations and acrylic painting. His biggest inspirations to create come his father, great uncle Jim, and the famous Jack Kirby. All of these individuals have gifted Emory with the mindset and skill to be a versatile and fluid artist.

Emory spends a significant portion of his time facilitating the operations at “The Art Studios Sacramento.” As well as creating art and enjoying the company of fellow artists that frequent “The Artist Studios Sacramento.” As a dedicated graphic designer and artist Emory Enisgn creates from his core, using creativity to express his ideas, thoughts, and life experiences.

“

With art, if you are doing it just for the outcome, just so you can say you created something, you are doing it for the wrong reasons.

Emory Ensign in front of the Art Studios, Sacramento, CA. Photo: Eddie Walker.

2. What and who inspired you to become an artist?

I could probably point to 3 people that were my biggest inspirations. One is my dad. He was graphic designer and in his day that involved a lot of pen and ink illustration. Really cool stuff with a lot of cross hatching using the old school Rapidograph pens. If you look at my old work, it was all in that pen and ink style, subconsciously doing exactly what my dad did just with different subjects. Second would be my dads uncle, my great uncle Jim. He had Cerebral palsy and painted with his foot. His work was incredible and very high quality. He had a great attitude, was very funny and was a unbelievably talented individual I have a lot of him around my home.

When I’m feeling defeated or overwhelmed for whatever reason I can look at his pictures and I think about what he overcame and it help remind me that I can overcome what I’m dealing with too. Third, influence would be the famous Jack Kirby. When I was a child I received the book, How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way. I really studied that book. I think it was glued to my side through childhood.

Having Cerebal Palsy, Emory Ensign’s Great Uncle Jim is photographed painting with his feet.

3. When did you begin creating art?

Since day one. When I was young I would rather be alone drawing than anything else. I had very supportive parents when it came to art and just being creative so it definitely helped encourage me. Now, I have friends from elementary school on facebook that message me about my art that they still have from 4th or 5th grade or something. haha

When I was in highschool and junior college I took as many art classes I could. When I got into the graphic design program at Sac State I learned more about color and composition and things like that, that I think have really helped me.

After college, I was newly married and my life was about that and my new career of being a graphic designer. During that time I drew alot and didnt show my work. It wasnt till my divorce later that my art career really sparked. I found myself down and out and my friend started inviting me to the art studios. Going there and painting, I started a new wonderful life and what has become my main focus. Art has a way of saving people sometimes.

4. What is your medium of art? What attracted you to that style?

It used to be Pen and Ink. I love details and being able to create detailed illustrations was a passion. That art medium was very easy and comfortable for me. However, when I started showing work it became very obvious that people respond to bigger, more colorful paintings more so than a detailed black and white illustration. Even though now I sell tons of prints of my old pen and ink work. But to compete in the gallery setting I moved to acrylic painting. My painting style is very bright, clean and has a graphic style. Acrylic paint lends itself to that style very well. Once I started painting, it took me a while to find my groove, to find who I was and my voice. I think I finally got there. And now I have a process for my paintings that lend themselves to being very creative.

5. What inspires you to go pull out a blank canvass and create a new piece?

I think it would probably be the ideas that build up in my head. I think like alot of artists I am constantly thinking about my art and what I want to do next. Always trying to improve and grow and get better. Always pushing myself to get to the level I know I can get to that I don’t feel I’m at yet. Those are the main driving forces for me. Now, what helps me continue to make art is how much I enjoy the process of creating it. Me and a friend of mine used to work on pieces together knowing we would paint over it later. I think that really taught me not to be outcome oriented and to enjoy the process of creating. With art, if you are doing it just for the outcome, like just so you can say you created something, you are doing it for the wrong reasons.

Also, I will add that being apart of a great, very supportive and collabo- rative art community here in Sacramento doesn’t hurt. When you go to your friend’s shows and see some cool art it helps inspire you to create. And with this group we are always networking and hooking each other up with shows. Knowing your going to be in an upcoming show with some good friends is always motivating.

6. When painting a new piece, what does your creative routine/process look like?

It used to always start very isolated, smoking weed listening to music. But that was mentally very unhealthy and discovered I don’t need to be stoned to be a creative artist. Nowadays, my routine is much healthier and a lot more productive. I’m usually at “The Art Studios Sacramento” with my good friend Terry listening to and discussing music as we paint. I’m an illustrator at heart so I always start out with a small sketch. Usually it’s not too detailed, but used for composition. By sketching the idea out first I can see what will and won’t work. When I started painting, I didn’t do that and I wasted a lot of time creating stuff that ended up being kinda a waste. If I’m gonna spend the time to paint something large I’m gonna plan it out (to a degree) first. I’m friends with a lot of graf artists now. So part of my process has grown to using spray paint and posca pens. I love using spray paint to create backgrounds with colorful gradients and mixing it with layers of acrylic. The posca pens go great with my illustration background so those combined with acrylic paint are the perfect weapon for me.

7. Besides art what else captures your attention/interests, is it a special cause, another form of creativity, or something else altogether?

Definitely music. It’s so creative. I find it very inspiring and motivating. It really drives me and helps me survive life. I don’t think I’ve ever sat down to work on some art and have not been listing to music. I kinda obsess about it and I love studying musicians and bands. I listen to all music but I really love metal. Some of my favorite artists/bands are Deftones, Megadeth, Judas Priest and Kyuss. I think metal music actually helps to reduce the anxiety I deal with. I also love classic rock and some hip hop, who doesn’t like MF Doom, ya know. Another band I really love is Led Zeppelin. What I find amazing about that band is each musician is so damn incredibly talented! I will listen to the same song over and over each time listening to a different musician in the band. And, John Bonham is without a doubt the best drummer of all time.

Network Network Network. By that I mean, go to local art shows as often as you can. Talk to the artists. Talk to the space owners or operators. Follow and message artists on instagram. The more shows you go to the more people in the scene you will meet and the more opportunities will open up for you. You can create all the art you want but if you don’t have a

community to show and share it with, you’re missing half the fun. Networking is how you will find information about how and where to show your art or when studio spaces open for you to rent. Networking is how I’m being interviewed in this magazine!

Other advice would be to create a very strong art instagram account. Only art. Thats very important. Alot of people have accounts that are half art and have family photos. That doesn’t work. You need to think of it as a portfolio.

8. What advice would you give to a new artist, based on your own personal experiences?

9. How do you take care of your mental health when you start to feel burned out?

As with most artists and creatives, I deal with some mental health issues so I have to monitor myself and make sure I’m doing ok. If I don’t it can be a bad downward spiral. So, I think the biggest part is to make sure you don’t get burned out in the first place. For me it’s taking it easy on myself. And I think excercise goes a long way too.

Now when you talk about burn out there are multiple types. With art its usually a short term burn out from over doing it. Either working too hard or being too hard on yourself. Then there is the major life burn out that leaves you in a very bad place and you should see a licensed therapist for that. When I feel burned out I take a break, can be as long as I want. When you feel forced to do art it can be stressful and taking a break and even moving to another creative outlet can really help. Like learning how to play guitar. Most creatives have multiple creative outlets like music or writing and jump from one to

10. What has been your proudest moment as an artist?

That’s hard to say. I’ve had a couple of them now. Maybe, the proudest was the first art show that I was in. It was with a couple good friends and had alot of people I hadn’t seen in awhile show up. It definitly started a fire inside to want to be in more. What I discovered showing art and going to art shows is how comfortable I feel around those types of people. It’s a cool experience to find somewhere that feels like home. It’s a comfortable fit for me. Those are my type of people. Talking about art with creatives is very natural and fun for me.

11.

What is your mantra and goal for 2023?

Simplicity is always my mantra. Simplifying anything I can in life helps me to be more successful and less stressed. A goal I have for 2023 is teaming up with some of my art friends and putting on shows. At the end of 2022 the amount shows really feel off. There were some at on going spots but overall pretty limited. I’m apart of The Art Studios Sacramento where I show art, but I want to find a location to host more shows featuring sacramento artists.

N S T E R S I N S U I T S

The Entreprenuerial Spirit

Embracing The Entreprenuerial Spirit

The entrepreneurial spirit can take on many different forms for artists. Here are a few characteristics that you can adopt to instill the entrepreneurial spirit.

1. A willingness to take risks: Being an creative often involves taking risks, whether it’s trying out a new creative medium, experimenting with a new style, or putting yourself out there and promoting your work.

2. A focus on innovation: Entrepreneurs are often known for coming up with new and innovative ideas, and this can be true for artists as well. Whether it’s finding a new way to express your creativity or coming up with a unique business model, innovation can be key to success as a creative.

3. A drive to succeed: Entrepreneurs are driven to succeed and make their ventures a success, and this is often true for artists as well. This might involve working hard to develop your skills and craft, seeking out opportunities to showcase your work, and constantly striving to improve and grow as an artist.

4. A willingness to adapt: Entrepreneurs need to be flexible and able to adapt to changing circumstances, and this can also be important for artists. This might involve being open to new opportunities, adapting to changing trends in the art world, or finding ways to adapt your work to new mediums or technologies.

CAS HIN G IN : Bizarre

GALLERIES & MUSEUMS

A walk through any art gallery is usually a fairly normal experience. There are paintings, sculptures, photos, and maybe some other forms of art that are meant to be admired, but bizarre art galleries are wildly popular for several reasons. Some people just enjoy things that are out of the ordinary, and for others these places are weirdly educational.

Whether it’s a museum dedicated to toilet seats, bad art, or an old police station turned into an art gallery, these galleries and museums are so strange—so bizarre—that you’d have to be out of your mind to pay money to see them. Nonetheless, people do! TH=he

The Old Police Station,

London, UK

The Old Police Station Art Gallery is a unique gallery that takes a different approach to art. The gallery opened in 2012 and was originally a police station. It was founded by local community members with the goal of bringing together diverse artists and audiences in order to create an environment where creative expression can flourish.

The gallery focuses on social issues, working with local community members to raise awareness about important issues such as bullying, racism, and other forms of discrimination. They also seek to promote tolerance by hosting exhibitions that focus on promoting acceptance for all people regardless of their race, gender identity or sexual orientation.

The themes related to tolerance through paintings, sculptures and photography created by both professional artists and members of the local community who wish to share their stories through art.”

The MuseuM of bad arT in bosTon

The Museum of Bad Art (MOBA) is a non-profit museum in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1994, by Scott Wilson and is dedicated to collecting and exhibiting art that no one else wants to collect or exhibit. The museum was initially located in Somerville, Massachusetts, but moved to its current location in South Boston in 2008.

By:

Many of the artists who get their art shown here have made mistakes while painting, sculpting, or drawing (or whatever), but whose mistakes were too interesting not to keep around. They have live exhibits every weekend where people can see their work up close and even buy it if they want!

By: Annonymous

Ronan the Pug

Erin Rothgeb

Que Viva Papa Chango

icelandic Phallological MuseuM

Iceland’s Phallological Museum, located in Reykjavik, is a strange experience that is both educational and humorous. The museum was founded by Sigurour Hjartarson in 1997, who collected over 200 penises from various mammals (bears, whales, seals, bulls, etc.) that he found on his travels around Iceland. The collection now includes over 300 penises specimens from 90 species of mammal.

Sperm Whale Penis

Elephant Penis

Bull Penis

International Cryptozoology Museum

The International Cryptozoology Museum is a unique place to learn about the field of cryptozoology. Located in Portland, Maine, the museum is dedicated to educating people about the science of studying animals that are not yet recognized by science. It preserves artifacts related to cryptozoology and displays them on two floors. The exhibits are arranged by theme

so visitors can explore their favorite topics in one spot. The museum’s most popular exhibits include Bigfoot footprints, Yeti fur samples, and Loch Ness Monster photos. Visitors can also see exhibits on mermaids and dragons if they are interested in those creatures as well. Cryptozoologists have been fascinated with these animals for over 150 years; Bigfoot sightings in North America date back to 1818!

Bigfoot Mermaid

Graffik Gallery

Graffik Gallery is the first street art gallery in London and has been curating exhibitions since 2003. It features work from over 100 artists and hosts events and exhibitions of all kinds. The gallery also serves as a hub for London’s street art scene, with a number of street artists working out of its walls. The space itself is also notable: it functions as both an art gallery and a shop that sells pieces by local artists, making it easy to access the work of both established and up-and-coming artists.

Graf writing workshop for the youth at “Graffik Gallery.”

The Evolution of “leave YOUR MARK”

From a small but promising business to a distinguished Midtown establishment.

By Eddie Walker

In 2013, the founder of Leave Your Mark, Lance was fed up with working his 9-5 and seized a remarkable opportunity that would give life to what we know today as “Leave you Mark.”

Up until 2013 the need for paint was solidified, until the local go to business closed its doors for good. For many of Lance’s friends that were artists, purchasing paint and supplies became a serious pain point—as Lance recalls, “The paint shop in town had recently closed and there was nowhere for my friends to get paint. Everyone in town was having to order paint online or head to the Bay to get supplies.”

That significant problem was the spark that ignited Lance’s vision.

While taking a trip to pick up T-shirts with a friend, the owner of the business mentioned to Lance that he would be moving to a new location. Within the same visit, he introduced Lance to the landlord. With the rent being affordable, Lance capitalized on the space and began renting it.

Moving with purpose to start his own business, Lance just needed the final piece to the puzzle— paint and supplies. “I had met a friend in Miami at Art Basel in 2013, that had a connection to get some paint wholesale, and I said screw it and just went with it.” “I made some calls to figure out where to get other supplies like caps and markers and such. I had my friend Pete make me a logo and I just started Leave Your Mark— not knowing what I was doing.” says Lance. In 2015, Leave Your Mark offically opened for business.

Sticking to it’s roots, Leave Your Mark is still selling paint and supplies—And a lot of it! Their go to brand is MTN 94, and for good reason. MTN 94 spray paint is a favorite amongst many Sacramento artists, as Lance can attest, “We have carried a few brands of paint over the years but in my opinion Spanish MTN offers the best product. We did a lot of business with Ironlak as well but through the pandemic they stopped shipping to the US.”

Along with MTN 94, Leave Your Mark also sells a variety paint

supplies including an exceptional selection of caps and markers.

Since its humble beginnings in 2013, Leave your Mark has expanded beyond paint attracting a wide range of buyers with their versatile products. “We definitely started off slow. The first shop was tiny and off of C and 23rd street in midtown. I started Leave Your Mark with nothing but a small credit card,” said Lance. Now Leave Your Mark has become a one-stop shop, selling cassettes, t-shirts, hoodies, hats, beanies, and records—with vintage records being a popular seller.

TIMELESS MUSIC

Especially vintage records. At Leave Your Mark you can find vintage records, cassettes, and CD’s. The collection of timeless music has an abundance of favorites from decades ago. Even more impressive is the assortment of music sold from hip hop to rock to alternative is sourced and sold.

Peeking through the collection will surely send a wave of nostalgia over you. This treasure chest of throwback records and casettes is the main attraction for many shoppers that frequent Leave Your Mark. “I source all the records, cassettes, and CDS for the shop myself which can be a full-time job itself,” said Lance.

“Music has the power to bring people together like no other art form.”

- Michael Franti

C lothing & A ppA rel

Another big seller within Leave Your Mark is its clothing and apparel selection. The Leave Your Mark Clothing line entails T-shirts, hats, beanies, and hoodies. Leave Your Mark also sells “Clever Fools”, “Night Crimes,”, “MTN”, and “Diamond Supply” clothing.

“As far as clothing goes we work with some homies that have brands that sell well for us,” mentions Lance.

Here we are in 2023, and eight years later, Leave Your Mark is doing just that. From a small but promising business to a prosperous Sactown establishment. Leave Your Mark has proven to be a 916 favorite amongst artists, music lovers, and everyone in between looking to leave their own marks.