Help me set up my new web design business! [link]
Please take 5 to - maybe 10 minutes if you're slow - to fill in my web design questionnaire: [link]

The more the merrier! The data I collect with this survey will help me make the right decisions, so that I can then design kick-a$$ sites that YOU, my dear fellow artists, can afford and that do what you need them to do. This is by no means limited to people living in New Zealand... hey, it's the internet.

It will also help me write my business plan, which I need to pass by some people and get approved.

And thirdly, everyone who returns the survey goes into the draw to get a very pretty website designed by your's truly entirely for free.

So please do the survey, do.

*******************************************

Please visit my personal website: [link]
My Myspace musician profile: [link]
Gorgeous New Zealand landscape photography and prints are available here: ~asni-prints



My May/June newsletter is now online: [link]
Contents:
* News & Current Projects
* X Media Labs in Auckland and Sydney
* Cool Things Friends do
* European Diary (with photos)

Earthsea illustration project:



*******************************************************

If you have been wondering what happened to my May newsletter, I quite unapologetically decided it was too much work, and skipped it. One reason was that there really wasn't much to write about, other than this artist's struggle to get back into a productive frame of mind after my trip to Europe. That's what I've come to hate about travelling: It's so disruptive. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the trip, and of course it was great to catch up with my family and friends. But at this stage of my life, I am so much happier just sitting in my friendly little hermit cave day in, day out, and getting some work done. There sure is a stack of work to be done.

A few of my oil paintings will be on show - and for sale - at the upcoming Affordable Art Show in Wellington on the first weekend of August! A MOST rare opportunity to see my work in an exhibition! You know, it takes a lot of courage. The show runs from Friday, 31 July to Sunday, 2 August, at the TBC Bank Arena on the Wellington waterfront. Opening times are from 10 am to 5 pm all three days, and the cost of admission for an adult is a modest $10. The prices for the pieces will be, well, affordable - and there will be stacks of other people's artwork on display as well, so it is definitely worth it! There is also a Gala evening on Thursday night from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. I plan to attend all three show days, so if you would like to catch up, have a chat about my paintings and perhaps a look at my portfolio, do come along - even better, send me an email beforehand, to be sure I'll be there when you are.

The Earthsea illustration project I've reluctantly put on hold until the weather gets a bit warmer and the days a bit longer - it is very awkward to paint indoors with oils, if you can't leave the doors and windows open and air the place properly. Instead, I've started to use my tablet and paint in Photoshop - I now take my laptop to my weekly life drawing sessions, instead of pencil and paper, and I am also working on a couple of digital illustrations. The portfolio building is progressing well indeed.

More importantly, I now have no excuses left to not get seriously into gear with my new web design business. Since March, I've been attending classes in Small Business Management, which is excellent because all our homework consists of putting together the bits and pieces of a proper business plan, which I need to be doing anyway. The real good news is that last week I got accepted into the Enterprise Allowance Scheme, run by Work and Income New Zealand. I'll have to take another set of business classes which will start in July, and write up my business plan, and get it approved, but if all goes well it means I'll be given a chunk of money to buy things with, and another six month's support without the pressure to apply for cleaning jobs, until I can stand on my own feet. So wish me luck with that!

Actually, you can also help me with my business plan! I've put together a questionnaire as part of my market research, and I would appreciate it very much indeed if you could take the time to fill it in. It shouldn't take longer than 10 minutes. Everyone who participates will go into the draw to win a website designed for them by your's truly entirely for free! I hope that will provide some incentive to give that much of your time. [link]

Read the rest of the newsletter here: [link]

groups:


fellow Howers:



who else rocks: