You may remember, about a year ago, I stumbled across a Chicago artist named Patrick Skoff, who had figured out a way to impact the masses with his art by doing art hunts. As an artist, Patrick had taken note how many people felt disconnected to art in general, feeling that art was unattainable and for other people of “higher” means in society to enjoy or own. This mindset has resulted in many people missing out on the enormous impact that art has on individuals and in communities. The idea behind the art hunts was simple: Patrick made art, he attached a note to the back explaining his motives, then he left the art somewhere in the city, random people found it, read the note and were blessed with a beautiful piece of art. The idea is simple & beautiful and backed by an artist with a tremendously generous heart.

The Art Hunt idea is way deeper than just getting “free art.” It’s about an artist sharing his vision for art to be accessible to everyone, it’s about showing and teaching the masses how much art improves the quality of life for everyone, it’s about bringing something beautiful, thought provoking, and stimulating to our eyes that will make us stop just long enough to remember to breathe and smile and re-engage with the world around us one piece of art at a time.

Now the time has come. After spending the past year doing an extreme makeover on his “bus” (which is now a studio/living space on wheels), finding sponsors, networking, marketing, creating art, doing speeches, presentations, talks, teaching, etc etc etc., Patrick is on the final phase of his National Art Hunt prep: scoping out the journey. He hit the road last night and has been leaving little puzzle piece “teasers” along the way. He will be in sunny Jacksonville, FL within the next couple of days. I can’t wait to show him our local art scene, hopefully throw down some paint with him in my studio, take him on a scenic tour of our fabulous city, and help get all the ducks lined up for when he returns in a few weeks for the full blown NATIONAL ART HUNT.

This is going to be awesome

UPDATE: Patrick will be in Jacksonville in time for the January First Wednesday Art Walk, be sure to follow my Facebook/Twitter page for regular updates on what’s going down with his visit.

Keep up to date with Patrick on his Facebook page or Twitter & check out where he’s leaving his art through the Sneaky Love site.

I highly recommend checking out these links about Patrick so you can get a real feel for the enormous impact he’s had on so many people by sharing his work and vision with the masses:

CBS Chicago interview

New City Art Article

Kickstarter Video

The News Dispatch

Wikipedia

The Dingo Starring as: Bob Ross

…Artists are local business owners, too. I didn’t realize that this concept was so overlooked by so many people until someone I knew very well decided to write an article on supporting local businesses (GoLO) for their high school paper. As the young reporter racked her brain trying to come up with local businesses to cover, I just sat back and smiled and wondered when she would realize that she was staring at a local art business owner (or at the very least staring at a local art business owner who knows dozens of other local art business owners) but the thought never crossed her mind. At first, I blamed it on her age. After all she was only a junior in high school, but when I asked a few more people (adults included, of course,) I was surprised to get very similar responses “I guess I just never thought of artists in that way…”

As I delved more into this issue, I realized there were certain things that stopped many people from seeing me and other artists as business owners:

• that most of us don’t own “stores” or work out of “buildings” opened to the public seems to be a hindrance
• also that we as artists don’t technically offer the public a place to buy food & drink & socialize (the irony being that most of us front the cost of food, drink, & socializing at art openings for the public’s free access to our entertainment but I digress)
• and the fact that our typical work days/careers are unpaid and whether paid or unpaid, we will continue creating because that’s what fuels us.

If gallery owners, framing establishment owners, & art supply store owners can be viewed as business owners, then why aren’t the artists that create the art part of this group? As an artist, I have a business license, tax ID #, I have inventory, supply costs, labor costs, a business plan (vague at best, but I do have one), short-term goals, long-term goals, a business checking & business savings account etc., just to name a few “business owner credentials.” And consider this: all these other businesses would be out of business if artists didn’t exist. Not to mention how many other people prosper off of our very existence in a community (ie. increased tax revenue, increased quality of life, higher property values, job creation, etc.)

I don’t say all this to make anyone feel bad, or to point out the “half empty” glass, I say all this because as I learn more and more about the business of art, I realize that we as artists (locally & nationally,) still have a long way to go to maximize our full potential. We still have many obstacles blocking us from that potential and our main weapon against those obstacles is education. Education is the key to empowering each other, our public officials, and our communities with ways to feed our hungry souls that crave enrichment through the arts.

Now, if you don’t already have enough reasons to buy local art, here are a few more reasons to consider:

1. buying art is an investment, unlike most other items you buy which depreciate in value, art has a tendency to become more valuable with time
2. buying art from a local artist increases your chances of giving that special someone you love a genuine one of a kind gift
3. buying art from a local artist is generally much less expensive than buying from “national” or “international” artists who’ve made it big
4. buying from a living local artist is generally much less expensive than buying from one of the late masters that went unappreciated while they were still alive (ie. Van Gogh)
5. contrary to popular belief a starving artist is not a happy artist
6. buying local art is just plain good ol’ karma

So, when you get an itch to support a local business, don’t forget about your local artists, not ony will the majority of that money spent stay right here within your own community, but you will be giving an artist one of the best gifts you could ever give them: the means to continue creating. Please share, enlighten, and empower

-YCL