The "art industry" is a tough one.  It's one few people even really choose to recognize.  That's why artists have to stick together.  I love to get together and look at portfolios, share ideas and brainstorm ways to pay bills.  It's like a friend of mine once said, "Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly and artists gotta eat."

As part of that, I recently went up to Marshall, MN to be a guest speaker at SMSU.  I spoke on business systems and professional practices of a freelance artist.  If you're not into it, you'd probably would have been bored as you think you would be.  I've learned a lot of things through family and friends and the school of hard knocks.  This was my chance to pass off some of the lessons I've learned to young artists.

I was pretty stoked to have an overflowing crowd, a solid response and even students who stayed after to ask me more questions!  It was a little surreal to have come full circle like that, but I dug it.  Of course afterward, I had to visit The Varsity Pub.  If you ever go through Marshall, be sure to stop there and get your panino.  They were a staple in my collegiate diet.

"Your presentation was very enlightening about the realities and work of being an artist but in a very encouraging way.  Everyone in attendance was very engaged and came away with a new appreciation of what it takes to be an artist."
- Mitchell Dahloff, SMSU student