Here’s my schedule for ConQuesT, which will be held Memorial Day Weekend (May 23-25, 2014) at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Friday May 23 4 pm The Business of Art There is more than one way to make a living pursuing a career of art. This panel will explore ways to use social media, conventions, festivals, and networks to sell your artwork. We will also discuss the pitfalls of beginning artists. [They call us “starving…

Mike ponders Stonehenge. Photo by Allison Stein 2013

One year ago today my husband Mike and I were in England, enjoying a lovely day on the Salisbury Plain. We toured Stonehenge and Avebury, and finished our day in Bath with a quick tour of the Cathedral right before they closed for the evening. The day was gorgeous with a clear blue sky. At Stonehenge, we followed the approved path that kept us at a distance from the ancient stones. At Avebury, there were…

Last week, I decided it was long past time to get professionally printed business cards. You know what they say: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. I’ve printed my own cards for years, but I’ve never been happy with the quality of inkjet on perforated Avery 10-per-sheet card blanks. Instead of a traditional size business card, I ordered Moo mini-cards. They’re about half the size of a standard business card…

My notebooks. Photo by Allison Stein 2014

I keep two notebooks consistently: my sketchbook and my daily notebook. My sketchbook captures ephemeral content from my right brain: sketches, doodles, scribbles, random creative inspiration, and color combinations. This is the notebook I also take to meetings and workshops, where I can let my right brain run loose while the left brain pays attention. My daily notebook stays with me all day to capture the mundane contents of my left brain before they leak…