March Wine Art Wednesday in Lake Mary FL

Come to this Wine Art Wednesday on March 6th held from 5pm - 9pm in the Lake Mary City Hall park square. It's a wee bit early for St. Patrick's Day but that isn't stopping the organizer from bringing lively music and craftsman beer to help celebrate. Also on tap are fine artists, and we'll be lining the roads in front of the friendly retailers who are staying open for the event!

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FSU Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans' Families 2013

I am honored to share this video, it's a sampling of the past nine days I spent at Florida State University in the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans' Families program. It's a phenomenal program, open to family members of service connected veterans with disabilities and active members of the armed forces. I would strongly encourage anyone in those groups interested in starting their own business, or who have already started one to apply for this program!

Have you ever heard the term "drinking water from a fire hose"? You will work hard, learn much, gain new friends and have your life changed for the better.

Here's the link for the regular Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans' with Disabilities.



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Peacock Orchid Oil Painting

Peacock Orchid, 24x30", Oil on Canvas, ©Victoria Page Miller

"Peacock Orchid" came out of the desire to apply dramatic lighting to a double blooming Phalaenopsis moth Orchid. The backdrop is a stained glass screen and features a peacock pattern, partially hidden by the flowers. The peacock is known to mate for life and the orchid blooms are joined, yet complementary.

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Selected for Judging and Breaking Barriers

This past weekend at the Mount Dora Art Festival I was deeply honored to have my painting "Rebuilding Haiti" selected for Judging. This means that it was pre-screened and deemed worthy to be in the semi finals by the esteemed judges! Although I didn't win, having my painting selected was a huge honor and brought lots of curious onlookers into my booth.

"Rebuilding Haiti", Watercolor, Selected for Judging, VPMiller

One of them was a clinical psychologist, who said that the painting broke all the barriers and did I plan on that before painting it? "What do you mean", I asked? She explained to me that it broke barriers of race, culture, career, language and relationship. Did I plan to do all that with this painting? I laughed, explaining that I was moved emotionally after the earthquake in Haiti and just painted. I really wasn't thinking of it that way.
I like her version though!

It's incredible the interesting people that come to view your art, and some of the feedback they give. I wouldn't trade that for the world.

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38th Mount Dora Art Festival 2013

In less than a week I'll be exhibiting in the funky, historic and beautiful city of Mount Dora! This is the 38th Annual Mount Dora Festival of the Arts and falls on Saturday Feb 2, 2013 through Sunday, Feb 3rd. The festival is open from 9am to 5pm both days. It is one of the nations largest and a must see for arts lover.

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I'll be in booth DC-014 which is on Donnelly street to the east of 6th Avenue. See you there!

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Post Festival Blues and Lessons Learned

Really it may be the post-Halloween candy crash, but I'm drained and trying to decide which particular golden nugget of wisdom to impart to any beginning art festival exhibitors. I had a fantastic weekend, and it could have gone terribly, terribly wrong. All around me, I met wonderful exhibitors who gently pointed out how I hadn't quite set my tent up to withstand any sort of real weather, despite my good intentions. Providence smiled.

I'd like to point something out to an artist who has decided to participate in these events to gain broader exposure to potential customers, in addition to selling their art.

If you are maintaining a newsletter list, keep your method for adding new customer emails, names, etc separate from your credit card processing.

I had many people buy from me this past weekend and of that, I'd say 80% used their credit card. I happen to use Square mobile on my smart phone. (I'm not being paid to endorse them!) At the end of the transaction, the program asks if you would like to text or email a receipt to the client. Everyone chose email. Great, I thought because now I have their contact information! I mentioned to them that I was starting a newsletter and that I'd like to add them to the distribution list. Of course, please add me!

On Monday, after looking at the online register I found to my horror that I couldn't access any of my customer's personal information for their privacy. Square is protecting themselves, and their clients, and that makes sense.. but I wish I'd known that earlier.

They all have my business card, but who knows if they will go to my website to add themselves to the list?

Opportunity lost. Lesson learned.

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Mount Dora Craft Fair This Weekend! Oct 27th-28th

I'll be displaying my paintings this weekend in Mount Dora along with over 350 other artists and craftspeople!

Check out this link for excellent lists and price breakdowns on Mount Dora event parking and shuttles:
What To Do In Mount Dora: 28th Annual Mount Dora Fall Craft Fair, 2012 - Parking and Shuttle Information for the Public

The Mount Dora Craft Fair is open from 9am to 5pm Sat and Sun, rain or shine! Hurricane Sandy, or not! (But
I'm hoping Sandy goes on an extended European tour instead.)

To see exactly where I'll be exhibiting, visit my web site home page which lists my booth information. See you there!

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