Category: Bizness Schtuff

Vision for 2014 in a Word: Focus

Vision rainbow image by BZTATFor the past few years, I have marked the end of the year with a post envisioning my goals for the next year. I have created “vision boards” in past years, following a trend that claimed that visualizing goals with representative images will make it more likely that the goals will be realized.

I have had mixed results with my past vision boards. Some of the same goals have been posted and re-posted, yet, my progress on them has been haphazard.

I am a visual person, so bringing an image to a goal is more fun than exercise for me. I suspect that takes away from the impact of a vision board for me.

So this year, I am not posting any images other than the one that you see above. Instead, I am going to post a word -one word only- that, I hope, will characterize my desired direction for 2014.

FOCUS

A person can have great ideas and visualizations. But without focus, those ideas either fail to be implemented, or their implementation is scattered. For me, it has been the latter, especially in 2013.

I believe that I needed to take a scattered approach previously. Being new to the concept of entrepreneurship and the business of art, I needed to try new things and I needed to explore without being definitive of my purpose. But it is time to get serious now.

I know where I want to go. I know what elements of my repertoire that I want to emphasize. And I know what things may tempt me, but actually can end up becoming mission creep.

For 2014, I plan to focus on my pet portraiture as my main activity. I plan to establish 4 lines of work in this area:

  • Premiere Contemporary Custom Pet Portrait Paintings (formerly called Pop Art Style portraits)
  • Contemporary Folk Art Pet Portrait Paintings (formerly called  Folk Art Style portraits)
  • Contemporary Pet Portrait Drawings (new)
  • Contemporary Digital Pet Portraits (new)

I will create other artworks as well, however, I am not going to pursue the market for these items as rigorously as I have in the past. If opportunities arise, I will consider them, but I am not going to beat the bushes for the opportunities. Less emphasized will be:

  • Paint-a-thon paintings and drawings 
  • Public Art
  • Community and Social Awareness artworks

I will continue Okey’s Promise based artworks, however, these will likely be scaled back to smaller projects. I will also continue creating artworks that are part of my creative drive and simply call out to me to be created.

I have chosen my areas of focus for both business and artistic reasons. Pet Portraits are my most popular creative items from a profit perspective, but they also are my best work. I enjoy creating them. I enjoy the interaction with the pet lovers who commission portraits, and I feel artistically challenged with each new work. It makes sense on many levels to focus my creative and business energy in this direction.

On January 4, 2014, I will debut a completely restructured website with this new focus. New items will be announced and new pricing structures to accommodate various budgets will be established. I hope that you will like the new look and focus!

The new site will have a completely new URL, however, the current URL will be redirected to the new one. All previous blog posts will be migrated to the new site. I will post the new information for RSS feeds and posts to email here on January 4. This site will remain, however, eventually it will have all site info directing to the new site.

I am looking for 2014 to be a great year for BZTAT Studios. I hope that your year is grand as well.

Happy New Year!

Cyber Monday Special – 15% 0ff Custom Pet Portraits by BZTAT

Custom Pet Portrait cyber monday sale BZTAT

Today is Cyber Monday, so I have a special offer – 15% 0ff my Custom Pet Portraits! If you order your portrait by 12am 12/3/13, you will get 15% off the regular price. Simply contact me and we will set it all up!

Custom Pet Portraits make wonderful gifts for people who love their pets as family members. Often family members and employee groups pool their money to buy a parent or a boss a portrait. Maybe you’d like to do the same?

I look forward to hearing from you!

NOTE: Portraits cannot be completed by Christmas at this late date, but a gift certificate for a portrait can be sent to be given as a holiday gift.

Shop Small! Small Business Saturday

Shop Small on Small Business Saturday
Mia Meow says Shop Small!

Mia Meow is my new little kitten and companion who was rescued from a feral cat colony in Canton, OH. She often accompanies me to Second April Galerie where I have my art studio.

Over 40 artists are represented in the main gallery and in various shops and studios at Second April Galerie. It is the ultimate in small arts businesses. If you are near Canton, you owe it to your loved ones and yourself to stop in and do some shopping during the holidays!

On this Small Business Saturday, we hope that you will give your local small businesses your patronage. Mia says, Shop Small!