AUTHOR: Monica Lee TITLE: If you are reading this, it must be for you! DATE: 6:45 PM ----- BODY:

I was chatting today with Tine and I had a light bulb moment for all my incredibly creative blogger girlfriends. I was encouraging Tine (who is multi-talented in a lot of diverse medium) to focus on a theme to begin creating a portfolio. I suddenly realized this is what my licensing agent had just asked me to do with the mounds of illustrations I finally sent her to review. She wanted me to “organize” my body of work. Mind you, she didn’t say it wasn’t good enough (sigh of relief) she needs it streamlined to be able to market it. I struck me that there are so many of you that are outrageously talented that don’t streamline your work. I see your blogs but am not seeing a body of work that reflects you. I had only shown my agent my most recent work and then finally got organized and mailed her some of my past work, I think she was relieved. She was worried that the package she was sending out for me was “thin”. You see when you are creative you don’t realize that people want to see all of it! I get snippets of your talent from your blogs but I want MORE. You don’t realize that the world has not seen all of you. Trust me, I have struggled with “old” art vs. “new’ art also but you have to show something. If you have created pillows, jewelry, note cards even your websites…it is all a body of work and if you really want to do what you love…..creating….then organize it. Just do it, don’t let the word portfolio scare you. Start now-babies, jobs and life can get in the way but you all are 100 times more prolific that I can even fathom being and when the time comes to show someone who can actually take your talent and make it make money for you…you want it ready and organized. If I sound like your art teacher from high school, I say it in love because you are all incredible!!! Start with 10 to 15 of your best pieces, photograph them, redo them, have them scanned-if you need someone to help pick your best work I will be happy to help, maybe we can start a “portfolio support group”. Need a little more convincing? If a gallery, and agent or Oprah called tomorrow and said that they wanted to know about you and a your cute, inspiring, creative self, would you be ready? Got a creative girlfriend that needs a little push? email it with a smile.... Me in London, last week

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