Deb Trotter, Cowboy's Sweetheart

I’ve always liked that quote by the sassy Lauren Bacall – “I am not a has been. I am a will be.”

It reminds me that there is always more to learn. Further to reach. A “better” to be.

One of my goals this year is to be a better blogger. In that light, what could be more beneficial than to sign up for the “Blog Triage” class – led by ArtBizBlog guru, Alyson Stanfield and Journey Juju’s creativity pioneer, Cynthia Morris.

For our first assignment, “Docs” Alyson and Cynthia have asked us to create a post that defines our audience. Who are my readers? Whom do I want to reach? What kind of person would I like to read my blog?

Do you know who reads your blog? I am asking myself that question right now.

I have to be up front and admit that I’m weak at identifying the kind of person who reads my blog … you’d think that would be fairly obvious, wouldn’t you? Obviously, I’d like other artists to come here. And cowgirls & cowboys – whether they are the ‘real thing,’ or dreamers and wanna-be’s. Then there would be the art lovers & collectors … and manufacturers who might like to form an Art-Licensing partnership with me.

The dilemma is that my readers seem to be all over the map. A part of my readership has changed – and I can’t seem to nail down why. I’m guessing that part of the reason for the change is that just as I have evolved, so has my art. And so has my audience.

But there’s more to the story. I’m also supposed to “describe the person” who reads – or might like to read – my blog. Where does she live – and what inspires her? What does he do every day – what makes him ‘tick?’ Better yet: What did they ‘google’ that led them to me? (more…)

Tags: Alyson Stanfield, art licensing, blog triage, blogger, Cowboy's Sweetheart, Cowgirls, Cynthia Morris, Deb Trotter
Posted in Art and Life, Blogs for Artists, Cowboy's Sweetheart, Creative Blogs, Licensing Your Art, Photography, Western Cowgirl Art, art licensing, horses | 10 Comments »

“Bunk Down With A Real Cowboy” © 2009 Deb Trotter, Cowboy’s Sweetheart

If a Wild West Cowgirl met Mary Engelbreit, she’d likely be inspired by Mary’s bright colors, sassy attitude, and shrewd art licensing advice. And I’ll just bettcha that same Cowgirl would come away from the experience all fired up and re-energized … inspired by Mary’s approach to art and life.

Well, you’re looking at that Cowgirl, pardner. After listening to Tara Reed’s interview with Mary Engelbreit last night, I am fully confident that the trail I’m ridin’ … the path I’ve chosen … is the right one.

While listening to Mary – and tweeting with other licensed artists about her at the same time – it seemed as if we were all sitting around a campfire listening to a famous rodeo cowgirl sharing her story. It made me think about a piece I created for one of my Buckaroo Bags, celebrating Buffalo Bill’s historic Irma Hotel located here in Cody, Wyoming.

Mary Engelbreit and Buffalo Bill Cody seem to have the same zest for life … the same ’stick to-it-ness’ … the same clever head for business. They both burst with joy. When I created “Bunk Down With A Real Cowboy,” I renounced the classic ‘Deb Trotter’ hues of browns, sepias, and rusts – choosing instead to paint with bright yellow, turquoise, and red. The result seemed … well … Happy.

Happy. Truly happy. Maybe not as happy as Mary Engelbreit’s “Life is just a chair of Bowlies” – but truly happy in the Cowgirl sense of the word.

My favorite quotes from Mary last night?

“Even if you can’t make big money licensing your art, do it because you LOVE it.”
“Never devalue your own art or sell yourself short.”
“Hire a lawyer & have a contract 4 everything – even if it’s with your own mother!”

You may listen to the recording Tara Reed’s Ask Call with Mary Engelbreit by clicking here.

If you’re like those of us who were there last night, you’ll be undaunted in the belief that who you are and what you create is both meaningful – and valuable. You CAN be successful – and perhaps even a ‘hot commodity’ in the Art Licensing world.

It’s a good thing to know.

Thanks, Mary! (and Tara!)

Deb Trotter ~ Cowboy’s Sweetheart Artist

Tags: art licensing, Buffalo Bill Cody, Cowboy's Sweetheart Artist, Cowgirl, Deb Trotter, Irma Hotel, Mary Engelbreit, Tara Reed, Wild West
Posted in Art and Life, Blogs for Artists, Cody Wyoming, Cowboy's Sweetheart, Creative Blogs, Digital Art, Licensing Your Art, Tara Reed, Western Cowgirl Art, art licensing | 3 Comments »

“The Ritual” by Bob Timberlake – 1986

“Admire A Big Horse. Saddle A Small One.”

I’m still admiring those big horses – thinking about looking at the world from a tall saddle. In my last post, I used Ree Drummond’s The Pioneer Woman as an example of someone who rides a Big Blogging Horse. This post will address someone who rides a Big Art Licensing Horse – and it sure enough isn’t me.

When it comes to Art Licensing, there are highly successful artists whom immediately come mind. Mary Engelbreit. Paul Brent. Claudine Hellmuth. Thomas Kinkade. Tara Reed.

While each and every person above is outstanding, I’d like to focus on another artist – one with whom I share a special kinship. North Carolina artist, Bob Timberlake.

If you’ve ever lived in the Carolinas – or practically anywhere in the southeast – you know that Bob Timberlake’s work represents the rustic, time worn south of days gone by. Some call Timberlake the “Andrew Wyeth of the South.” As a matter of fact, it was Wyeth himself who encouraged Timberlake to “pursue painting full time.” And when Timberlake chose to follow Wyeth’s advice, another star was born.

I received this print, “Christmas After Christmas,” from my husband as a gift on our first wedding anniversary. That was in 1986 – the same year that “The Ritual” (which we also own) was created. At that time, “Christmas After Christmas” was $200. Today it is worth more than $1700.

Perhaps you are already beginning to understand Timberlake’s style – his realistic detail and innate sense of everything that is soft, timeworn, and rustic. Bob Timberlake has the ability to bring you back home.

The message of his artwork is so universal – so timeless – that his name is synonymous with front porches, flowers blooming in wooden barrels, and weathered wood. He is a realist painter with an antique heart and the very soul of your Grandmother.

It was only a matter of time until manufacturers and businesses realized that Timberlake was a goldmine. You will find his name on everything from art prints and posters to furniture, rugs, lamps, and other fine home furnishings. As a matter of fact, we own a brown leather Bob Timberlake sofa – a piece so lush and so heavy that it takes six strapping men to move it.

We have a few other Bob Timberlake pieces as well, all manufactured by Lexington Furniture Company. Many of the pieces in this assortment of home furnishings were inspired by Timberlake’s personal antique collection – each and every one a treasure.

See the video below … and just tell me if the Timberlake style doesn’t draw you home.

Most recently, the Bob Timberlake brand has expanded to include a beautiful resort … The Bob Timberlake Inn at Chetola Resort, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina - and the Bob Timberlake Log Home Collection, a partnership of Hearthstone of Georgia and Timberlake, who lives in a log home himself.

In 30 years Timberlake went from a business man to an artist with an ‘empire’. Not bad for a country boy!

But Bob Timberlake didn’t succeed because he was lucky. He succeeded because he was a visionary. Smart. Talented. Creative. Business minded. Hard working. And determined to succeed. (Also, I understand from friends who know him that he is one heck of a nice guy.)

Now I ask you – does this man ride a Big Horse, or what?

Bob Timberlake worked really really hard to master that horse of his. And the Timberlake horse is not a licensing horse I will EVER have the pleasure of riding. But I surely do like to curl up on my Timberlake sofa while I’m sketching … or sorting through my vintage photos of cowgirls from days gone by. And it really does feel like home.

I figure I have at least a few of Bob Timberlake’s good qualities – so that’s a good start. The rest I can work on.

Thanks, Bob, for the inspiration.

Now, where did I put that little saddle?

Deb Trotter ~ Cowboy’s Sweetheart Artist

Tags: Andrew Wyeth, art licensing, Bob Timberlake, Cowboy's Sweetheart, Deb Trotter, North Carolina, realist painter
Posted in Art and Life, Blogs for Artists, Cowboy's Sweetheart, Licensing Your Art, art licensing, horses, realist painter | 2 Comments »

“Admire a BIG horse. Saddle A SMALL one.” ~ Old Cowboy Saying

OK. I’ll admit it. Sometimes I’d love to be in the ‘Big League.’ And some days I’d love to ride a BIG horse.

I’d love it if I got 5000 hits per day on my blog. I’d love it if I had – say – at least 20 different license deals with manufacturers. I’d love it if my work could be displayed or sold at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center or The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.

As a cowgirl artist, yours truly is still riding on a pretty small horse. Oh – not a miniature pony. Let’s just say that I am fairly accomplished at riding a medium sized horse at a good trot.

But I know that in order to ride a BIG horse, I have to become a masterful, experienced ‘rider’ of the horse I already own. In other words … ya gotta pay yer dues. And ya gotta work yer tail off in order to succeed. These things are true, no matter which outfit (or league) you ‘ride in.’

In today’s post, let’s talk about Blogging On A Big Horse.

In the blog category, it would be one doggone, eye-opening experience to ride along with Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman. According to this article in the Los Angeles Times, Ree Drummond’s main website (as of 9-2009) gets around 13,000 pages views each month. Matter of fact, her blog is listed as “one of the top 100 most influential blogs in the world.”

Although it may seem like she came out of no-where and suddenly took over the blogging world, The Pioneer Woman didn’t reach fame overnight. She began her blog in 2006, but really hit pay dirt a year later – when she posted her first recipe. (Women seem to love recipes.) Well – those delicious recipes – along with Ree’s wonderful photos and ‘gosh darn, I’m gasping and can’t catch my breath over Marloboro Man’ story-telling – make for a pretty powerful combination.

If you’ve never read The Pioneer Woman (have you been hidin’ in the shed?), you’ll be amazed to learn that her site is actually SIX different blogs in one:

• Confessions (Ree’s love story & life on the ranch & in the city)
• Cooking (Recipes Galore!)
• Photography – (Lessons & Tutorials, Banners, Downloads, etc)
• Home & Garden – Design, Gardening, Travel (& More!)
• Home Schooling ( Materials, Activities, Reader Contributions)
• Tasty Kitchen (Fav Recipes From Real Kitchens Everywhere)

The Pioneer Woman didn’t begin as a mega-blog. It developed over time – as Ree’s readership and popularity grew. Today, The Pioneer Woman is a full-fledged business. She has written a cookbook and is touring the country, book-signing – all the while, taking photos and blogging.

Here’s the thing about The Pioneer Woman. If you took away everything but the photos and the story-telling, you’d still have a Winner of a blog. Ree is a gal who knows how to write. I don’t know her, but I feel like I do. I suspect she writes like she talks … and she knows exactly how to hook an audience. Whether or not she intentionally embellishes her dreamy love story, family life on the ranch, her love for high heels, and Marlboro Man’s (her husband’s) sexy Cowboy butt – I really don’t care. I love it.

She makes me laugh! (Plus, what woman can resist a Cowboy who knocks her off her feet, makes her heart pound – and – as Ree says, “make her hiney tingle?”)

To use a quote that has been overused a thousand times, she “had me at hello.”

I will never be a Ree Drummond and my blog will never be The Pioneer Woman … but being Deb Trotter with a blog called “Cowboy’s Sweetheart” is OK by me. I just need to kick up my heels a little more, be myself, and WRITE WRITE WRITE (Blog, blog, blog).

Maybe one day I’ll ride a BIG horse in the blogging world. Maybe not. But the ride sure is fun.

Stay tuned for Part 2: Licensing On A Big Horse.

Happy Trails!

Deb Trotter ~ Cowboy’s Sweetheart Artist

Tags: Cowboy's Sweetheart Artist, Deb Trotter, Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, Top 100 Blogs
Posted in Art and Life, Blogs for Artists, Cowboy's Sweetheart, Licensing Your Art, Photography, horses | 3 Comments »

Yee Ha!

I finally finished my very first video using iMovie. It took me a while, but now I can create MORE and share them.

The video, “How I Became A Licensed Artist by Deb Trotter,” was created as part of Tara Reed’s ‘What’s Your Licensing Story?’ challenge.

I am especially drawn to the stories of:

Libby Unwen – http://lugraphics.com
David Billings – http://www.sparkyfirepants.com (love that name, David!)
Jen Goode – http://www.jgoodedesigns.com

All the entries are really fun, though! It’s so great to see how each artist got started in Art Licensing.

Be sure to check them all out … I think you will REALLY enjoy the line up.

You may view My Art Licensing Story below.

Now, go create something and share it with the world!

Deb Trotter ~ Cowboy’s Sweetheart Artist

Tags: art licensing, Art Licensing Stories, Cowboy's Sweetheart, cowgirl art, Deb Trotter, Deb Trotter Designs, How to license your art, JGoodeDesigns, Libby Unwen, Sparky Firepants, Tara Reed, Vintage Cowgirl, Wild West
Posted in Art and Life, Blogs for Artists, Cowboy's Sweetheart, Digital Art, Licensing Your Art, Western Cowgirl Art | 3 Comments »