The A.C.T. Team
Over the past ten years, A.C.T. has grown from a local coaching practice into a "virtual university" delivering training to artists who want to make a better living making art. The programs, services and learning products continue to attract a core community of American artists, qualified "virtual faculty" across North America and a loyal readership all over the world.
Aletta de Wal, M.Ed. is equal parts artist, educator and entrepreneur. As Director of Artist Career Training, she inspires fine artists to make a better living making art through personal consultations, professionally designed educational programs and practical independent study.
With a successful track record of creating, producing and selling her own work, managing a studio-gallery and delivering entrepreneurial workshops, de Wal helps fine artists to make more money so that they can get back to making more art.
Aletta@ArtistCareerTraining.com
650-917-1225 Pacific time.
Robin Sagara, Web Marketing Mentor and A.C.T.'s behind-the-scenes wizard supports us with everything that must be done to provide a stellar experience for A.C.T. staff, artist members and guests.
For many years she has provided highly customized, top-notch administrative, marketing, web site and creative support for artists and entrepreneurs, and has made significant contributions to their foundations for growth. "By taking over administrative, marketing and web tasks that are weighing artists down, blurring their vision, and holding them back, I help them reclaim the time and space they need to do what they do best, create their art!"
Her dedicated support has helped us, and can help you, make a better living making art. She is located in Los Angeles, and serves artists world-wide. For more info on how she can help free up your time so you can focus on what you do best, email her at Robin@ArtistCareerTraining.com 310-649-4434 Pacific time.
Born in Port Washington, WI and educated at the University of Wisconsin/Madison, Patrice Federspiel currently lives and paints in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Since arriving in Hawai‘i and joining Artist Career Training, Patrice’s art career has been on the fast track, resulting in numerous awards, solo and group exihibits, magazine/book features and articles, not to mention making her living as a full time artist.
Additionally, as one of our Art Marketing Mentors, Patrice's efforts have supported many artists on their path to success. Her advice to artists? "First, follow your dreams, especially if you don’t know where they will lead you. Second, find others of like mind and interest (the Artist Career Training community of artists is a GREAT place to do that!). Third: Learn as much as you can about your art form, the business of art (again, Artist Career Training has invaluable resources), your market, and the arts in your area. Fourth: always create…well we can’t help but do that; but create consciously and with intent. Your creations will nourish you and others in more ways than you will know. Fifth: be open. Opportunity knocks when you least expect it. You want to be prepared, so start to get ready NOW!" You can view Patrice's work at her website: www.artofaloha.com. Email her at Patrice@ArtistCareerTraining.com.
Bruce K. Haley, Jr., a Charleston, WV native, joined Artist Career Training in October of 2003 as a student. In Bruce’s words, “I chose Artist Career Training after exhaustive research. I knew that this was going to be an investment in my new career as an artist. Having two full time careers, as a Certified Public Account and artist, I wanted to make sure that I invested my time and hard earned money wisely.” Applying the principles of professional marketing that he has learned from Artist Career Training, Bruce has gone on to show his work in over eighty exhibitions in nine states as well as establish eighteen retail galleries (and growing) and art related retail outlets to sell his work. His love of marketing his work and willingness to share his knowledge, Bruce, recently joined Artist Career Training as one of their first Art Marketing Mentors: “I’ve always felt that you don’t have to be the best artist, but you better be the best at marketing your work if you want to make a better living making art. We all need mentors and I’m excited for being able to mentor my fellow artists at Artist Career Training." Learn more about Bruce and see his work at his web site: www.bkhaleyphotography.com. Email him at Bruce@ArtistCareerTraining.com
Artist Career Training was started by Geoffrey Gorman in 1996 . While attending the Maryland Institute of Art and the Boston Museum School, as a photographer, he noted that the business side of the art world was not talked about at all. In fact, any artist that made an attempt to promote was considered "commercial" or aggressive. With several commissions to support him, he moved to Santa Fe where he had a successful custom furniture business for 10 years. He worked as the assistant director of LewAllen Gallery for five years, and finally left that position to become the executive director of the estate of the well-known Native American sculptor, Allan Houser. After setting up exhibitions in the United States and Germany, he left that job to go off on his own.