Paint it Black Seminar Series Announced

A free seminar series focused on art-based business development is taking place from April to August at the Tygart Hotel

We are excited to announce  a five-part seminar series taking place at the Tygart Hotel starting April 28^th. Paint it Black is a series of seminars designed to inform artists of all types who want to earn more of their income from an art-based business. The series will cover topics like finances and taxes, legal issues, developing shows for galleries, and branding and social media skills for artists.

The series begins on Monday, April 28^th with a presentation by Cecil Ybanez from Richwood’s Bloomfield Gallery. Mr. Ybanez will share what he looks for when curating a show and describe essential dos and don’ts when framing and packaging your work. Ybanez will show samples of work and help artists understand how to best present their pieces in a gallery.

In the afternoon, Talbott Frame Shop will host a hands-on matting and framing workshop that will put Cecil’s tips into practice. Throughout the day participants will have the opportunity to discuss their own experiences and best practices when working with galleries. Registration is free and a limited number of travel/childcare stipends are available to offset expenses.

Ybanez has made a name for himself and helped but Richwood on the map of art destinations by his skillful curation of the Bloomfield Gallery. Bloomfield showcases modern and contemporary Appalachian artists in solo, shared, and group exhibitions. It is located in downtown Richwood, WV at the edge of the Monongahela National Forest.

The first event in this series will take place on Monday, April 28^th from 9-5pm.

At the second seminar on May 19^th Angelica Gilleran from Charleston, WV will discuss social media and marketing best practices. In June, attorney Angela Kniery digs into the finer points of setting up contracts, handling copyright, and other legal issues pertinent to art businesses. Dr. Elaine Luttrul of Minerva Financial Arts in Columbus, Ohio will present tax and finance essentials for artists in July and in August Wheeling-based artist Robert Villamagna will be present to discuss branding, art fairs, and sales strategies. All seminars are taking place at the Tygart Hotel in downtown Elkins, WV.

Updates, registration, and additional information can be found at woodlandswv.org/paintitblack or on Woodlands Facebook and Instagram pages.

This program was made possible by financial support from Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area and project support from the Mountain Arts District.