Making Magic and Listening to My Heart

Make Room for Magic  

Listen to My Heart

Become More Elegant and Efficient with My Actions

Keeping it real. I spent a lot of time at home writing and 

setting up the infrastructure of Mary-Gail King, Inc. and 

found I wasn't painting enough.  This is the space between 

my bedroom and kitchen.  I was able to sneak in still lifes

on a regular basis!

It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of you are also planning the year ahead.  I feel fortunate to be surrounded by passionate entrepreneurs and artists whose greatest joy is to share their talents with others. Let 's see what else we have in common;)  Over the next few weeks I'd like to share how I approach manifesting in my business and my life.  It's very specific and so powerful that I hesitate to state my goals because naming them literally makes them happen when I use this approach.  It always blows my mind.  

Here goes! 

Set my intentions
Evaluate where I've been
Remind myself of my purpose/ my why 
Sneak Preview of Tactics

Step One Set Intentions:

• nurture even more loving, uplifting relationships
• paint 
• dig deeper to grow in body, mind and spirit; 
• take an extremely service centered approach to sharing my art and my business knowledge to very specific people and groups of people.

Step 2:  Evaluate

This past year I developed a larger vision for my career.  It's been a bit less exciting than things I've done in the past, but I've learned and quickly applied what I learned.  I dug deep to envision the direction I want to take in the next 10-15 years.  

An office like this makes it all worthwhile.

As a sole proprietor,  I was painting 30 hours per week and teaching 6-10.  Since I logged my hours I also found myself doing the marketing, gallery sitting, press releases, openings, etc. during my "off" hours.  That kind of workload probably sounds familiar to most of you. I'm grateful that much of it doesn't feel like work.  The only problem is that if I'm not working, I'm not earning.  I also had a hard time investing in my retirement.  It's literally time to make a run for it!  What to do, what to do?  The magic word is LEVERAGE.  Leverage everything.

Step 3: Overall Purpose, where does my greatest strength lie?  

Getting my head around the fact that what I do is what other people do while on vacation or when they retire….someday has been important.  That still blows my mind.  

Step 4:  Sneak Preview of Tactics:

I'll keep most of these details behind the scenes for the moment, but rest assured I've identified and developed a system that is powerful and works.  It will allow me to move into the year and make some magic both for me and for those I am able to touch through my teaching and artistry.

This makes me happy and I hope it makes the new collector

who purchased it happy as well.  It's a joy to find new levels

of skill and poetry that others want to live with.  It allows

me to make room for more.  Thank you!!!

For a sneak preview of the nuts and bolts I've systemized to help me & you make money selling your art go to:  Monetize Your Art.

You can also look at my website for  classes and workshops. Mary-Gail King, Fine Art

The schedule is up to date through through February 8!  There are lots of FREE events for artists and non-artists who want to try something new,  basic/ intermediate painting classes, and unique workshops and networking events to power your business ahead.  If your resolution is to change the course of your art career and tap into your creative potential, come join me!

Ring in the New

Ring in the New

The difficult is done at once. The impossible takes a little longer.

New Year's resolutions have a pretty bad reputation.  Personally I'm setting myself up for success and setting goals I can achieve, so I'm keeping George Santayana's quote handy.

I thought I'd spend a couple of minutes looking back at some past achievements before I move forward.  It's easy for me to ignore where I've been because I'm focused so much on where I'm going.  Of course the biggest challenge of all is to just enjoy the journey.  Here goes.

I look like a French Musketeer!
It's a bit of a caricature, but this is me in my zone.  Aka heaven

I've been involved in juried art shows in one form or another for the past twelve years.  The first one I got into I was voted in as a People's Choice from an adult ed class sponsored by the Conejo Valley Art Association.  That was well over ten years ago.  The second show I got into I received first place in the amateur division of the Ventura County Fair.  Laura and I enjoyed ice cream cones with my winnings.  The thing is that I hit the ceiling in the amateur arena right away.  It's not that it was too easy; it was just evident I needed to set my sights higher.  I also did well when I turned pro.  I was slowly juried into regional groups and even achieved signature status in the California Gold Coast Watercolor Society.  These have been important to me as I've built a reputation and credentials.  However, it's just as important to continue to stretch and grow.  I'm getting involved in some national groups and continue to refine my painting skills and create more beautiful art.

Here I am in all my bold, feminine glory.

One of the most amusing compliments I've received was from a fellow artist whose work I admire.  He meant it in a very positive way and I'm still proud of the sentiment behind it.  He said I paint like a man.    I think he was referring to the bold approach I have.  My work has a feminine perspective but I do cherish the fact that I'm daring with it.  Actually most, if not all, of the women I know are bold.  Like does attract like.

Moving forward here are the dreaded resolutions:

1.)  I'll do larger scale non-representational work in the studio using the plein air work as a jumping off point.

2.)  I'll continue to paint outdoors to keep my inspiration going.  

3.)  I'll be doing more workshops and special events. 

4.)  I'm getting trained in public speaking and brand development and will be traveling with that. 

5.)  I'll be strengthening my business with better client communication and a consistent promotion strategy.  Streamlining social media use will be important. I'll have to separate the personal and professional a bit.  The blurriness won't be good for me as the business grows.

6.)  I'll also figure out how to spend more time doing what I'm good at and getting help with what I'm not so good at.

Some of these just build on what I'm already doing.  The new things will be more challenging. 

I'm headed to Joshua Tree for a camp called Enlightened Warrior with Peak Potentials at the end of the month.  It's all about creating success in spite of any obstacles.  It's off the grid and outdoors so I'll be tired, challenged and, yes, in heaven.  Between the goal setting I'm working on right now and the jump start Warrior will give me I plan on achieving amazing things this year!  I hope you'll come along for the ride.

Here Is My Heaven

Here in California to paint in plein aire is such a way of life among artists that it almost becomes mundane and ordinary.  Each artist’s statement sounds the same.  We are all motivated by the earth’s beauty and our love of connection.  But here’s the rub.  This ordinary is as extraordinary as the birth of a new baby or the explosion of a distant star.  I paint as part of a community.  We chase the light and live for the feel of rocks under our feet and a mist of salt covering our bodies.  We live for the slick feel of paint as it caresses a rough canvas.

Me in my heaven

I paint as a meditation.  Setting up the altar of my easel in preparation for my ritual, I gently wrap myself in my paint spattered apron. My mantra is the windchime sound of my paintbrushes as they jumble between my fingers and the hollow clink of metal as I open my turpenoid can.  With a tap and a swish I enter the present moment. 

A series of moments are captured with each movement of my brush.  I connect with everything.  Within the intimacy of a relationship with a rock or the ocean I enter into the rhythm of the earth.  I sense the breathing of the earth in the ocean’s heaving tides.  My breath and movements mirror the crashing waves. 

I blend my colors as I begin my dance with the paint.  When the palette disappears into the world around it my eye knows it’s time to begin.

I close my eyes and listen....I lick my lips and taste the salt.  The scent of ozone fills my nostrils.  When I leave this place pieces of it leave with me.  What you see here are the remains of the day...

Each of these pieces carries bits of the heaving deck of the boat or the crunch of my aging knees as I carry my gear up and down mountains to enter my heaven.  

Most of my time is spent away from these places but the moments I live there last forever.  

That’s why I do this.

Fall Football Flashback

During grade school and high school I lived in one of the outlying neighborhoods of St. Paul, MN.   The oldest of four in a good Irish family of rough and tumble kids, I was an avowed tomboy.  I loved running, jumping and goofing off with friends.  It was in the days when we could safely play anywhere as long as we were home before dark.

Every year the neighborhood kids would take over the streets playing touch football.  I learned to pass with fingers on the laces keeping my eye on my target as I dodged all of the guys rushing to knock the ball out of my hands. We were actually chasing each other attempting to get our hands on each other's pockets.  For the uninitiated it's called two-handed touch football. That may explain why we played the co-ed version.  We also spent many Sundays watching the Vikings almost dominate pro football.  

We moved to Alabama in 1976 where my brothers both played high school ball in Dothan, AL.  They were a year apart and shared the same position.  I think they were halfbacks; one would sub for the other.  It could get a little competitive around the house in August. We also went through a lot of cereal. My sister was in flag corps in Birmingham. Just west of there in Tuscaloosa, Bear Bryant was considered a god.  (See University of Alabama football in the 70's.)  When Bear passed away I was at the University of South Alabama where many of the big football fans on campus actually wore black armbands the day he died.

The trigger that brought these memories flooding back today came at my yoga studio.  In laughter yoga we played "Guerrilla Football."  It's basically a non-competitive version of indoor football where we ran around randomly tossing a stuffed monkey back and forth.  When I started to look for strategic openings where I could either run or pass I realized I had automatically switched into offensive mode!  Talk about a conditioned reflex.  This was a yoga studio.  Pretty funny.

When I got to high school one of my dreams was to be a cheerleader.
After much practice and coaching from my best friend Barb Seery, I managed
to get the jumping, clapping, and shouting thing down.

That class was topped off in power yoga with the hanumanasana pose.  For anyone unfamiliar with Sanskrit, the photo here shows me in the pose at about 15.  We called it the splits and I could come from a running jump into that pose.  HELLO hamstrings:)  I don't do that any more.

Neither of my children played football but Andy was in the band and our family spent lots of time cheering on the home team.  The little SoCal town I live in now has a classic cross-town rivalry and I'm happy to say that eight years as a Rio Mesa Spartan mom gave me a California alma mater that I still love to this day.  I cried the first time I drove by the local stadium where Camarillo and Rio Mesa played the first game of my post-high school years as a mom.  Funny how life and memories can hit.

The window to my apartment faces a large playing field not unlike the one behind my old Minnesota house and I can hear a group of guys playing Saturday ball.  The sound of running feet and occasional cheers adds another layer of memories.  I love it.

Art Journaling Workshop in Phoenix, AZ

Art Journaling Workshop, Create a Portable Vision Board 

Immerse yourself in a day filled with art and self-expression with California artist Mary-Gail King.

Saturday, November 16, 2013 from 9-3

Phoenix/ Gilbert area

Tuition is $197 payable on PayPal.  Receive a 25% discount and bonus mini portable paint kit when you register by November 9.

Lunch and some materials are provided.  Mary-Gail will send a list of what you need to bring to   personalize your journal as soon as you register.      

Additional location in Camarillo, CA on November 23!  Same discount as below if registered by November 15.


Imagine a place where only you can go. A place where you can dream great big, amazing dreams.  Journaling is a powerful way to center yourself on a day to day basis and it will give you a place to create a working vision board.  Experts like Dr. James Pennebaker of the University of Texas have found significant health benefits from journaling in their research.  It’s commonly accepted that simply writing down what you eat helps you lose weight.  Art journaling taps into a deep place in our psyche that helps us lead more joyful, productive lives.

Learn the power of non-verbal, visual language and how it can reveal your innermost desires.  Begin to create a new reality in your own private book.  It’s a great way to begin the holiday season.  The combination of a day away and the inspiration of new techniques to use in your journaling is a special gift just for you!

Directions on how to make this mini painting kit from an Altoid
tin will be in my next blog post. It's free with your registration for
the Phoenix workshop by November 9!

Mary-Gail will help you use mixed media techniques such as collage, watercolor, stamping and other processes she uses in her own work with step by step instructions.  

An award winning California artist, Mary-Gail King has been painting, sketching and journaling most of her life.  She has actually journaled regularly for forty years!  “My dreams, desires and the mundane things I have done over a lifetime have changed and morphed.  It’s been revealing to peek back into my fifteen or thirty-two or forty-six year old mind.  I’ve even started talking to my future self. I’m able to virtually slip back and forth across time and have learned what my life can become using this process.  I’m excited to share it with you.”  

Thanks to Solutions Real Estate 

of Phoenix for sponsoring this 

fantastic lifestyle workshop!

Tiny Steps & Big Results! The Power of Passion and Personal Connection

Have you ever wanted to make your passion your full-time lifestyle?  I've actually lived that way for most of my career having started my first business when I turned thirty. In the process of starting and running three businesses I've learned a couple of things.  Passion for your day to day work and intimate connection with your clients, customers or collectors are what drive a business. Any time you can nurture that connection with phone calls, email, newsletters or any other form of communication the more tuned in you'll be to their needs.

This year I've been hyper-focused on learning the cutting edge marketing strategies I've adapted to the field of fine art.  I've identified an incredibly simple system that can be used to create and grow any business. Here's the video introducing the system: 

I've written a book that is great to use as a reference for your own strategic marketing plan.  A preview of the book is available here: Monetize Your Art.  The final book will be released on Amazon.  In the meantime I want to be sure you can take advantage of the system to maximize your holiday sales.  It's the season for art shows and craft fairs and you can fine tune what you're doing by watching the free video series.

Subscribe to the six part series FLOW, Six Powerful Strategies to Monetize Your Art by downloading your copy of the book.  You'll receive the video series each week and be able to grow and improve your business as you implement each step in the system.

I'll be rolling out my life system Artist in a Box over the next few months but this is time sensitive.  It's prime selling season for the fine artist and crafter and this will help. 

Here's the Video "How To" as Promised!

Video is a growing, proven way of reaching people. It's not my art but I can certainly use it to reach potential collectors in a big way.

This is almost too simple. The hardest thing to do is get up the guts to do it.  Google how to set up a Youtube station or, as I did, get a kid to do it for you. (Mine happened to be 26 but he's still my kid;) 

Welcome to my video studio!  My son just informed me
that I can improve the quality of the next video by using
the iPhone camera on the other side.   

The setup here includes a french easel, two white umbrellas designed for outdoor painting to difuse the light and two standing lamps with incandescent bulbs.  There is natural light coming from both sides of the room where I'm sitting. My main goal was to avoid weird shadows on my face.  Next video I want to work on getting a little more polish...Makeup and hair can be refined.  I also need to figure out where to look so that I'm looking directly into the camera. Any tips on that are welcome. 

Three big tips for filming. 

1. Keep your energy up during your video. SMILE! Be sure that it reaches your eyes. I've seen one too many how to videos that would cure my current insomnia but a genuine smile will engage you and your viewer.  If you get bored or lost I can promise you that your viewer is long gone. 

2.  It's not about me! The video I'm filming is for you. I think of it as a tangible gift that I hope will help you achieve your dreams. That shows. My guess is that you can feel that. When you do your own videos, for example to invite your collectors to a show, keep that in mind. 

3.  Remember your motivation. It will keep you focused. I don't want to learn editing right now so I had to do this in one take. Anything longer than two minutes should probably be less linear. That will add interest. 

Please leave questions, comments and tips. You'll help anyone who reads this that way. Thanks and talk to you soon!  Mary-Gail

Stepping Out in Faith

Niurka, a beautiful soul whose life work resonates with me.  

I look forward to working with her this coming year.

Shifting into a mode of gratitude and faith has been my work as of late.  I've added professional writing, speaking and coaching this past year, created a new corporate entity, and continued to be true to my own work. My new creative services company has come to fruition!

Since last October I've very intentionally stepped out in faith to expand my career and help more people while keeping my art and spirit at the center of everything.

I've developed a program to help other artists market and monetize their art.  I've focused on creating my own art, traveling, and creating a new program to help other artists.  Here are some photos that tell the story of the journey.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to surround myself with a team of people committed both to my success and that of the people I'm helping.

I've solidified the overall marketing program I've developed.  I'm continuing to paint, teach and do private consulting for other painters.  I'd love to hear from you so reach out any time!  Stay tuned and opt in to receive a preview of the new book!  Please pass the word.  I'll give a special bonus pdf of one of my paintings to anyone who mentions that they found out about this on my blog!  Monetize Your Art

Mary-Gail
mgking@mac.com

Mark Rothstein cares for each one 

of his clients and is another empowering mentor.  His

goal is to make everyone financially free.  

I'm working with him to make my financial 

future shine even brighter!  Mr. Money

One group of fellow artists, coaches 

and writers I've had the privilege of 

collaborating with this year.

Writing a book has been central to clarifying the 

message I'm bringing to my new creative services 

company Mary-Gail King, Inc.  Robert Allen and his 

team have helped me with my first book, 

FLOW, 6 Powerful Strategies to Monetize Your Art.   

It's empowering to take steps forward with the help of 

such a talented mentor.  Check out the preview of my new book here:

 Monetize Your Art

This photo is a visual anchor for me.  

Magical Place,  I feel like my art continues to evolve.
This has a mystical quality that I love.

Janet Amiri and Connie Owen invited me to show my work 

on Yupo from the Channel Islands at the Hillcrest Center 

For the Arts.  I'm lucky to have the respect of curators who can ask 

anyone they'd like to show there!  Thank you!

I've missed the Islands this year but the salt,
the winds and the spirit of the beautiful times I've had there are waiting for me to come back...

This is only one of the faces I love...My
friends have been tremendously supportive
even when I haven't been able to see them.

I went to the desert and learned even
more about myself...I'm stronger than
I ever knew.

Fellow professional speakers.  We're all
changing the world in our own way!

Richard Tan, (2nd from left) is owner of
one of the world's largest personal development
companies. 

Hard at it at Powerteam International's
Chicago headquarters.

Here are my two favorite people!  They have each stayed true to themselves
and are pursuing their own passions.

Opt in!

www.monetize-your-art.com

What's She Up to Now? Setting Intentions and Moving Ahead!

Tomorrow I'm off to Peak Potential's World's Greatest Marketing Seminar.

I've spent the last week thinking about what I want to get out of the next five days and have struggled a bit.  I've talked with both my coach and my assistant to help me clarify what my mission is. I've decided to work on one thing, synthesizing the worlds of marketing and art.

My fantastic Peak Potentials Coach
Marleen Payne.

• Teaching entrepreneurs how to be more innovative.  Any business person who wants to command the highest prices, attract fantastic clients and stay ahead of the pack needs a competitive edge.  That requires innovative approaches to problem solving.  I teach people how to do that with the same basic strategies that artists use to create.  

• Teaching artists the art of marketing.  There are simple elements that are part of all marketing strategies.  By learning them anyone can design a marketing plan and become more successful.  I've identified the four basic elements of marketing and teach them in my Art Marketing 101 course.

My assistant, the inimitable
Andy King

My vision is to help others see what can't be seen and bring it into the world.  That's basically what the act of creation is all about.  It's what I do as an artist.  It's what an entrepreneur does when he creates a new business or product.  I'm helping others become even more innovative by learning how to look at things differently.  

My intention for this week is to learn more about how to bring my message to others.  My initial focus with Mary-Gail King, Inc. is the Art of Marketing.  I'll have more Marketing 101 courses and networking events this fall to support that.  I want to clarify how to get my message out to people and pass that forward.

I'm looking forward to seeing
my Peak's peeps!

Now to bed!

Much Ado About Something or How to Cope with Stress!

Some of you may be familiar with stress.  It can be tough to manage and can have some serious side effects.  Throughout my life I've developed some great habits and coping strategies that help.  Nonetheless, it's been a challenging year.

It's officially just over the halfway point in 2013 and time to re-assess where I am and where I'm going.  I'm grateful to have good habits and a solid support system.  However, in the last twelve months I've hit 349 points on the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale.  According to the scale that's not good.  The scale is a little like golf; the lower the score, the better the game.  Over 300 = at risk of illness.  I've inserted my assessment below.  You may want to check yours out and assess yourself.  I've also included a Wellness Matrix* I use for myself at the end of the post that you may want to try.  I've found it very helpful to use while navigating through significant change.

I'm coming out of one of the biggest transitions of my life. Over the last two and a half years I've gone from married with two children and a part time career to single, no kids at home, and building a new business. I didn't include those changes in the assessment below.  I conservatively hit a score of 555 over the last three years.

 This will be a more stable year.  It's time to revise my goals while paying attention to the stress factors they involve. Here are my new goals/ stress scores:

1.  Business readjustment	+39
2.  Change in financial state	+38

I plan to continue building my Art and Creative Empowerment business.  I want to help people live more prosperous and creative lives.  Combined stress factor, 77

3.  Outstanding personal achievement

+28

This goes hand in hand with numbers one and two.

4.  Change in social activities

+18

I've focused so hard on work and new business development that I've neglected my social life.  It's time to balance that out!  A lot will come with more contact from the outreach I'm doing with my business.  I'll also spend more time doing the fun things I love, like go to art events, travel, dance, paint (oh, I forgot, that's work!) and play outside...

Must...work...more!

5.  Change in eating habits

+15

My good eating habits have gone downhill with the hyper-focus on learning, travel, and business development.  It's time to rebuild. My exercise routine has been solid and consistent but eating....I've been fooling myself and eating out way too much.  

Target Stress Index:  110

As you can see, even positive change causes stress.  As long as it's managed well that's actually a good thing!

To measure stress according to the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale, the number of "Life Change Units" that apply to events in the past year of an individual's life are added and the final score will give a rough estimate of how stress affects health.

Life event	Life change units
Death of a spouse	100
Divorce	73
Marital separation	65
Imprisonment	63
Death of a close family member	63
Personal injury or illness	53                 +53
Marriage	50
Dismissal from work	47
Marital reconciliation	45
Retirement	45
Change in health of family member	44
Pregnancy	40
Sexual difficulties	39
Gain a new family member	39
Business readjustment	39                   +39
Change in financial state	38                   +38
Death of a close friend	37
Change to different line of work	36                   +36
Change in frequency of arguments	35
Major mortgage	32
Foreclosure of mortgage or loan	30
Change in responsibilities at work	29                    +29
Child leaving home	29
Trouble with in-laws	29
Outstanding personal achievement	28
Spouse starts or stops work	26
Begin or end school	26
Change in living conditions	25                    +25
Revision of personal habits	24                    +24
Trouble with boss	23
Change in working hours or conditions	20                     +20
Change in residence	20                     +20
Change in schools	20
Change in recreation	19
Change in church activities	19
Change in social activities	18                     +18
Minor mortgage or loan	17
Change in sleeping habits	16
Change in number of family reunions	15
Change in eating habits	15                    +15
Vacation	13
Christmas	12
Minor violation of law	11

My Score=  349

Score of 300+: At risk of illness.

Score of 150-299: Risk of illness is moderate (reduced by 30% from the above risk).

Score <150: Only have a slight risk of illness.

Successful people have good habits, in the form of rituals, that they incorporate into their daily lives.  Mine are what I call the Fantastic Five.  They are part of the Wellness Matrix* I've identified for keeping me healthy and happy:

1. Eat Well
2. Rest Well
3. Meditate
4. Move
5. Connect with People and Purpose                                                                                        

On any given day I do all or most of the activities in the Wellness Matrix.  When I start to feel a little off, I mentally assess and often find I've missed something consistently for several days.  Not getting enough sleep will throw things off faster than anything else.  I can balance out less sleep with more meditation* and remain healthy and positive, but I can only go for so long without 7 1/2 hours of sleep!  When I don't, I gravitate towards sugar and caffeine.  I also tend to get a little "muffin top" due more to the hormone cortisol than to the poor quality of my food.  I find the puffiness comes even when I stay on top of the cravings.  Once I force myself back into my regular schedule (sleep at 11:00 and up at 6:30) I'm quickly back to my baseline.

You'll have your own needs in each category and will learn what creates balance as you pay attention to your actions and how you feel.  Just a quick journal entry on your calendar will help you figure out what works for you.   

This is simple and it works.  Try it out!  Be well!

* Wellness Matrix copyright 2013, Mary-Gail King
* I studied Primordial Sound Meditation at The Chopra Center for several years and have incorporated that practice into my spiritual life.  While the 21 Day Meditation Challenge is not Primordial Sound Meditation, it's a wonderful guided practice you can register for right now for free!