Communicating who you are and why you are unique is a cornerstone of being an artist in business. All artists and artisans should have a biography, an artist statement and a short show biography. Learn the difference between these materials, what tone is appropriate for each and work through a series of examples and exercises to find your voice.

Ever since he was little, Kevin Spreekmeester has told stories. His journey as a storyteller included a flirtation with acting and sports casting followed by what he considered “hard labour" in advertising agencies and marketing shops. He eventually found his stride as an award winning photojournalist which led him to visit all seven continents. He later met the owner and CEO of a small outerwear company called Canada Goose. Kevin was convinced to join them when they were still small and unknown. Over the following ten years, as CMO, he helped create a story that would change the landscape of the global outerwear industry, Canadian brands and many lives around him, including his own.

As an artist or artisan, your business rests on the communication of what you make and the aesthetic you define to connect with your audience. From your business name to your logo, this workshop guides you through making consistent, resourceful choices for impact, looking at what you can do on your own and how to navigate relationships with branding professionals.

What social media platform is best for you, finding your online voice, creating an aesthetic that’s on brand for you, augmenting your online message and how to streamline how much of your time it takes. Students will also create inspiration boards looking at other social media accounts to get a sense of what style of online communication is authentic to their brand.

Learn how to create your best watercolour landscapes ever! Negative painting isn’t hard, it’s just different! Once you see how this approach works, you will discover how easy it is to paint fantastic landscapes that are quick, loose and a joy to create.
Once you have the knowledge to see the landscape as simple interlocking shapes and learn some fun ways to create textures, you will be ready for our two main projects, The Romantic Landscape and Big Sky Landscapes.

Pricing is one of the most difficult decisions for many makers starting out. Learn to identify the real costs of what you make, align with what your market will support and create consistent pricing strategies. Students will also identify challenges and opportunities that will arise when selling across different structures (retail, consignment, wholesale and shows), why you never undercut a retail partner and the pros and cons of putting artwork on sale.

Applying to shows means having the right materials organized, creating a schedule of application and event deadlines and considering how a jury will view your work. Participants will assess what shows/markets may fit their work and create a plan for when they are accepted, from booth design to transportation.

Participants should up to five images of their work and a current booth or table display image to info@southamptonartscentre.com at least 7 days prior to the workshop.

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In the rush of the start up and growth phase's, we tend to see our biggest challenges as fairly predictable ones; not being able to sell enough or meet our expenses. But some of the biggest obstacles as makers come from unanticipated success and our personal lives. Your hands can only make so much, so how do you handle growth that exceeds your capacity? What if your supply chains are interrupted? As the only person capable of making your art, what happens when health issues impact your business? Hear the stores of artists who have hit huge obtsacles like the dreaded burn out, how they pivoted and recovered and went on to sustainable careers.