Question:

I was wondering if you are going to be making any new t-shirts?

Recently, I been working on getting over a break-up, I was wondering what advice do you have for me on how to get back on my feet emotionally and mentally?

 The Answer:

Hola Muchacha! To answer your first question: Why, yes. Of course. Have you seen the latest ‘jug smugglers’ on the ArtSlut Store? We got some winners that are sure to get you noticed.

As for your second question: The trick to getting over a break up is to figure out what you were looking for in the relationship & give it to yourself. The worst thing you can do is spenda crap-loada time kibitzing with everybody you know about it, ’cause like they say - What you think about, you bring about. So, if you need to express yourself (& that’s totally understandable), do it in a letter & send it to yourself. By the time you get it back in the mail, you’ll be feeling better. Meanwhile, treat yourself like the princess you are. Go to nice places with friends, take some time to get to know you & be good to you. Naturally, laughter & creativity are the very best medicine & you’ll find tons of really helpful info on that in my new book - Available in the sidebar on this site, on Amazon.com & Barnes & Noble.com, too. So, be sure & check that out.

The most important thing is to be grateful. If it was meant to be, it would be. So thank Allah that it ended now & you didn’t have to waste anymore time with the boob, or great guy, or whatever… WHew! That was a close one! You coulda wound up married to the wrong dude & we all know how that turns out. I don’t know why or how it broke off, because that’s the vaguest question I’ve ever gotten, but all I have to say is be good to you & the world will follow your example. Meanwhile, you’ll be so busy having fun & redecorating your life & enjoying your fabulous new hairdo & outrageously successful career, that you’ll be like, ‘So & So - who?’. Enjoy yourself, Hon!

 The Question:

Today’s question comes from Jill, who asks, “How can you balance making a living and your art, without being a sell-out? I’m an art buyer, which is great but I want to paint and I don’t want to do things just so they’ll sell. How did you do it?”

 The Answer:

Hey Jillie! Here’s the thing about that: First, you need to decide whether art for you is a career or is a hobby. If you’re into ‘art for art’s sake’ well, awesome. That’s delightful & I hope you can afford the time and money your hobby requires. If you’re in it for self expression, but need to make a living, that’s cool too. Just be sure that you consider your audience if you’re trying to sell it & what I mean by that is this: If you’ve got to express your anxt & misery, we all understand, but you can hardly blame people for not wanting to buy it, ’cause, let’s face it; they’ve got their own crap to deal with.

I figure that everybody has to pay the piper somehow. If that means getting a J.O.B. cool. With any luck you can get one that’s at least related to your passion and use it to further your skills or connections. In my case, I made a sculpture that people really flipped over. It was hardly my best work. It was kind of silly, but it made people happy, which made me happy + they gave me money for it, that afforded me to do the kind of things I really wanted to do. I think that’s fair. There are certainly people who’ve called me a sell-out for this, but I figure they have a case of sour grapes. As Ashley Judd said, “It’s none of my business, what other people think of me.”

 (This is it. I made & sold thousands of them.)

It’s unfortunate that there’s all this societal pressure about being a ‘real artist’ (&, btw: WTF does that mean? selling stuff, being tortured or starving?) or being a sell out… The truth of the matter is that there is no wrong or right answer except that you have to do what feels good to you & put those labels aside. See what I mean, Jelly Bean? If painting kitty cats makes you happy & they sell, that’s a double win - good for you. Otherwise, balance is just that. Doing what you like & a bit of what you have to (whether it’s working a ‘real job’ or learning the business & marketing of art), in order to do what you love. I hope that helps & you can find a lot more about this subject in my new book, which is available in the side bar under ‘ArtSlut Store’.

Now, go out & make something beautiful, because it’s what you feel. Love ya, Girl!

Hey Hottie! Welcome to the site! We’re in the middle of making some fabulousness here. So, please pardon the mess…

Meanwhile, I know a lot of you caught the show on CJAD Montreal, last night & are surfing in to check out the shtuff - Awesome! If this is your first time here, here’s the dealio!

I’m Barb Benson, although many people know me as the artist, Barbara Grob (rhymes with ‘globe’)… Let’s face it - if you had a name like that, you’d change it too! Many of you are also familiar with my weirdo, alter ego - ArtSlut Annie. We write this column together (It’s really hard for us to get away from each other) & together, we cover a lot of ground, from serious business to silly, oversexed, art-freak, but usually hit a common ground that’s a spicy mix of all of the above and we’ve used our combo voice to write our new book, “The ArtSlut’s Guide to Makin’ It ~ As a Visual Artist”, ISBN 978-0-9758655-0-7. It is chocked full of really helpful tips and insider advice from someone who’s worked both sides of the fence, in an easy to read, hilarious way.

As a successful artist turned gallery owner, I was always inundated with requests for help and advice on how to do what I did. Then, I made a silly window display called ‘ArtSlut’ & people went nuts. Next thing ya know, I sold 10,000 t-shirts… blah, blah, blah… I sold the gallery, took some time off, traveled and wrote the book.

I’m super excited about that! It’s gotten great reviews and has given me (us) the opportunity to do what I really want to do - inspire and motivate creative living and self expression. Although, my experience is solid & I’ve sold thousands of art works - both mine & others’, this is my first book & my first blog. So, I’m learning as I’m teaching and after two years of screwing around (no, not literally), it’s time to take my own advice and get back at it. Isn’t it funny, how everything happens for a reason?

So, ask. Tell. Share your works. I’m dying to see it. Oh! The new gallery is coming soon! Artists will be able to show their work again, but this time, make moola -Remember: Being a ‘Starving Artist’ sucks… And if I get my way, you won’t be one for long!

Meanwhile, wanna know how to get noticed as an artist? Looking for daily inspiration? The best way to approach a gallery? How to get creative in the sak? Sign up for our newsletter, updates on the Advice Column & the Adventures of ArtSlut Annie. If Barb can’t answer it, Annie will & there’s nothing tabu! Ask away!

The Quote of the day is from Somebody Brilliant:

“Always leave a place nicer than you found it.”

 The Top ArtSlut is on the air TONIGHT at 10:00 PM, Pacific Standard Time on CJAD’s “Holder Tonight” Show, hosted by Peter Anthony Holder. We’ll be talking about all things ArtSlutty like the “Ask ArtSlut Advice Column”, the “Are you an Art Slut?” Quiz, the new book, “The ArtSlut’s Guide to Makin’ It ~ As a Visual Artist” & more!! Tune in and listen live online at 10:00PM at http://www.cjad.com/

So, listen up ArtSluts! & light up the phone lines with your comments & questions for ArtSlut Annie!

Toll Free at 1-800-491-CJAD

Harry Douglas is a former automobile mogul, who owned a VERY successful Chrysler dealership in TN. “What does that have to do with art?” You ask. Well, me too. As it turns out, after many years of making a killing by knowing all of the ins & outs of the biz, Harry woke up one day & decided he desired to live life creatively. Sure ‘Nuff! He sold his dealership for a pretty penny & immediately picked up a paintbrush… In the next year or so, he was inspired to paint & draw hundreds of pieces (he obviously needed some serious self expression) & went on to open a private gallery dedicated to his own works. SEE? Everybody does do something creative! As it turns out, the ArtSlut & the host of Car Concerns on WLAC Radio (call number 1510 on the radio dial, Nashville, TN) have a LOT in common!

Keep reading for Excerpts from the “Interview with the Top ArtSlut” on “Car Concerns”, starring Harry Douglas: Read the rest of this entry »

Question:

Hey Barb, Just stopped by to see what’s going on. I’m confused… There’s no log in and no artworkk… What’s going on?

The Answer:Hey Scott, Thanks for stopping by. It’s good to have you back. Here’s the dealio: The former site was so riddled with coding errors and viruses that it was kicking people off and driving them nuts. Since ArtSlut is all about feeling good, I decided to take charge and make a change for the better. We will be re-instating the gallery soon. We can rebuild it, better & stronger than before… Just like the Bionic Woman! AND, just to spice things up, the new version will offer artists a really cool way to make cashola off their creativity with no money upfront - YAY! Our ArtSlutty Dreams are becoming realities! Meanwhile, hold tight, Hon. Enjoy the rest of the site, pick up a copy of “The ArtSlut’s Guide to Makin’ It ~ As a Visual Artist” & do something extra ArtSlutty, today.

Question:

Today’s question is from Nicole in LA, who’s looking to do something more creative with her life & asks me what have been my big inspirations, in my career as an artist.

The Answer:

Music, love, broken hearts & booze… It’s all good. If it moves you, let it flow! I’ve known people who were moved by plants (some of them psychedelic) & were able to make a visual arts career out of it. Sometimes, you can be moved by making something that makes people happy, which is a beautiful goal, too. The pic below is one of my more popular series. I was just really enjoying myself & that seemed to make it work. That’s the short answer: Do what feels good, Hon.

Question:

Ok. So, my name is Angela and I would like to think I am an art slut. I saw the little certified art slut link button on Krissi Sandvik’s page and wanted to know how I could get one. How can I become a certified Art Slut? I am excited to read your book. well if you could please email me at Blahblahblah@hotartist.com

Thanks, keep up the good work!

~Angela Vintara

The Answer:

‘A’ is for Adorable, Angela! …& ArtSlut! …& you ARE one!

You’re wish is my command, Mama!

Get the book, “The ArtSlut’s Guide to Makin’ It ~ As a Visual Artist” & the ART SLUT Tees & other groovy goods HERE, on the ‘ArtSlut Store’ link, beginning Monday!

The code for the Certified ArtSlut Seal is below. Share it with wild abandon & creative license!

ArtSluts are free & easy! Use this code to add the ArtSlut Seal to your page or profile:

<a href=”http://artslut.com” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://artslut.com/seal/Seal1.gif” width=”133″ height=”132″ border=”0″ /> </a>

The following list is composed of some of the greatest pieces of literature ever written and they have all been banned at some point. Celebrate creative genius and read what ever you want.

Read the rest of this entry »