“Personal roadmap on how to use social media to further artistic work”
“I wasn't sure if I could understand how to use social media to further my artistic work, or if I'd be interested. I had doubts about social media being too narcissistic. I trust you and your experience. You are a gentle teacher and an encouraging coach. You take your students from where they are and guide them to where they want to be. I like the LIVE classes and the Facebook group. The special panels that you have added are superb! For me, what worked best is beginning to feel that I can make progress without having to become an "expert".
You have helped me to accept my progress as genuine success and have helped me not to become discouraged because I don't know it all yet. You dragged me kicking and screaming into social media when you designed my website and gently encouraged me to keep diving deeper and deeper into it. I didn't really have a presence. It can take too much time and it can get depressing. I dislike that people who would be reasonable in person could be so harsh and uncivil online.
Also, I didn't really have any idea how to proceed to make myself a presence and how to find the people who can be important for me career-wise. I'm making some progress! I am more confident that I can find my way. I have learned how to be a bit more personal and how to be strategic and genuine/authentic. I think the success story is that I now know that I can do this. I've reached out to people who've been part of our panels and have gotten good responses. A few are now following me. Nice! While vacationing last year I met an artist. I started following her Instagram and commenting on her postings.
We developed a friendship over Instagram and now she has invited me to perform next month at a prestigious gallery in Milan at the opening of an exhibition featuring her work and six other artists!” I understand better how to make an ask. And I believe I now look at posting as "curating" my platforms and not just using them randomly. The insights gained and the opportunity to have all one's questions answered make it worth it. And the course work doesn't end with the end of the LIVE classes. The modules, the replays, and the lessons stay with you and you can continue to advance beyond where you are when the course is over.
Tony is a generous and empathetic teacher and zones into exactly what each student needs. That makes me feel welcome and taken care of in a very personal way. You won't become an overnight expert, but Smartists is a personal roadmap that will bring you there eventually.”
Tony Lopresti
Artist + Teacher, New York, NY
