I’m Teaching Two Sessions at Words in 3D Conferencence

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In May 2015 aspiring writers will convene to learn and be challenged in the areas of writing, editing and publishing. I attended the Words in 3 Dimensions Conference last year and found it wildly valuable, plus a great opportunity to connect with other literary artists. With so many good memories in my pocket, it was an honour to be asked to present at the 2015 event.

 

Here is information about Words in 3D and the two sessions I will be teaching:

 

Words in 3 Dimensions 2015

May 22 – 24, 2015

Chateau Lacombe Hotel

Edmonton, Alberta

Registration opens February 1, 2015

 

How to Take a Picture Worthy of Your Words

Saturday, May 23, 2014

11:30AM – 12:45PM

Covering the basics of good photography, including exposure, composition, and technical requirements for different publications, Alexis Marie Chute shares what writers need to know about taking great photos for their projects. This session includes a group brainstorm for attendees’ current projects and recommendations from Alexis Marie on making your photography a stronger statement to support your words.

 

Memorable Memoir: Writing Personal Stories

Saturday, May 23, 2015

4:00PM – 5:15PM

Alexis Marie Chute offers tools and techniques for writing your personal story: removing sentimentality, finding alternatives to strict chronological structure, and building authenticity. Featuring memory recall exercises, this presentation is a must-see for anyone writing personal narratives.

 

 

 

Save the Date for a NaNoWriMo Write-In with the Canadian Authors’ Association in Edmonton

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First of all, Happy Halloween! This spooky season is sure to ignite your creativity with haunting characters and unforeseen plot twists.

If you didn’t already know, NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) starts tomorrow – November 1st. I want to invite local writers for a fun event coming up on November 15th. Save the date! This year I am helping coordinate a half day NaNoWriMo write-in with the Canadian Authors’ Association Alberta Branch in Edmonton – and the event is open to both members and the general public.

 

Here are the details:

 

NaNoWriMo

Goal: Write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. Track your progress on the NaNoWriMo software and connect with other writers. You’ve had a novel idea in your head and now is the time to bring your story to life.

Check out the NaNoWriMo website for more information.

 

Canadian Author’s Association Write-In

Date: November 15, 2014

Location: Idylwylde Library, 8310 88 Ave NW, Edmonton, Alberta, (780) 496-1808

Time: Doors open at 12:20pm with event starting at 12:30pm. The event will conclude at 5:30pm.

Cost: FREE

Things to bring: a snack to share, friends (the event is open to everyone), and your pen and paper or laptop and charger.

Check out the Canadian Authors Association Alberta Branch website for more information.

 

Myself, along with the CAA Writing-Coach-in-Residence, Suzanne Harris, will encourage you as you find inspiration to get over the halfway hump of NaNoWriMo. Write alongside others also penning their novel (or just looking to get words out on the page) and find inspiration in the presence of shared struggles and successes.

It will be a day of breakthroughs in a focused community environment. Who said writing has to be a lonely endeavor? Short, facilitated breaks will give you motivation and energy to pound out the words.

Even if you are not participating in NaNoWriMo, come out and join in the fun and creative atmosphere.

I look forward to writing with you!

 

One on One Art Coaching for Marketing Success

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Are you an aspiring artist but get stuck with the next steps after you’ve created your work? You’re not the only one. Many artists are unfamiliar with how to get their work out into the world and effectively market themselves.

I had the benefit of growing up in an entrepreneurial family full of professionals that instilled in me the business focus in any venture. I paired this knowledge with my long experience as a professional artist and my love of helping others. When I coach artists, I offer advice and guidance in these areas:

  • Writing an effective artist statement
  • Applying for exhibitions (and where to find them in the first place)
  • Building a social network platform
  • Applying for funding
  • Photographing your work
  • Applying for Artist Residencies
  • Professional practices for artists
  • Blogging about your work

There are so many creative ways to get your work out of your studio and onto gallery and client walls. It is doable. Attitude and knowledge are key. Having someone to answer your questions will prove invaluable and will help propel you to achieving your goals.

To read more about my art coaching, please click here. Or email me at [email protected]

Healing by the Creative Arts

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Through making my art, I discovered art therapy in a natural, organic way. No one told me to try it to help me heal. I wasn’t recommended a set of exercises to do in order to find myself. I just sat down in my studio with a pile of small woodcuts and got started without any direction or even conscious intent. The first wood sculpture I made I named The Quiet Rebuild and it was the beginning of that larger body of work.

Since then I have looked into the theory of art therapy and find it very stimulating and thoughtful for me in my professional art practice. In one of the semesters of my MFA I took an art therapy class as an interdisciplinary option and found it deepened my perspectives on art and healing. It gave me a new dimension in making, reflecting on and contextualizing my work. Since then the wood sculptures in The Quiet Rebuild grew to incorporate portraits of real people sharing their stories of resilience.

Now I am honoured to teach about the restorative potential of creativity. I offer two workshops: 

Healing through Visual Art

Healing through the Written Word

This summer and fall I will be presenting these workshops in Chicago Illinois, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Sherwood Park Alberta and San Antonio Texas. If you are interested in having one or both of these presentations at your conference, event or association, please email me at [email protected]

I strongly believe that art must say something that matters. Within my work, I wrestle with the ideas of loss, struggle and survival. You can read more about my approach in my Artist Statement.

Save your Seat for Social Network Marketing

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It is less than a week until Marketing Strategies: for Artists (and writers, and photographers and any creative individual), a course I am teaching at Harcourt House. Save your seat! It’s not too late to register.

Social Networking photo copyright Alexis Marie Chute blog

Course Description:

We create art in a time of digital literacy. In this course you will learn how to use online tools to market your work and yourself. The goal is to engage your target market, interest the media and establish yourself as a professional in your field. You will learn how to use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and a blog to make important connections and attract interest to your work. To top it all off, you will leave the course with a plan to automate these networks so you still have time to make your art!

Details:

Instructor: Yours truly! Alexis Marie Chute

Date: Saturday, October 19, 2013

Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm

Cost: $30 ($20 for Harcourt House members)

RSVP: [email protected] or 780.426.4180

Photoshop Workshop at Harcourt House

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Want to crack open the creative possibilities of Photoshop? Have you ever wondered how Photoshop can make your photographs and artwork even better but don’t know where to begin?

Look no further! I will be teaching a Beginners Photoshop Workshop at Harcourt House!

Details:

Saturday, February 16 & Sunday, February 17, 2013   

10am – 3pm (Bring your own lunch and snacks)

Cost: $110 ($80 Harcourt House members – if you are not a member, please consider joining!)

Individual students must bring their own laptop with the newest version of Photoshop installed. Please also have at least 5 images of people and 5 non-people images to edit.

Learn how to make your good photos great through many awesome Photoshop techniques. Want to remove a zit? Brighten a dark photo? Make your image look vintage? We will be covering spot removal, how to adjust exposure, create interesting black & white images, and how to harness the power of Photoshop filters.

Saturday: Editing images of people

Sunday: Editing images without people

There is limited space in the class so register early by calling (780) 426-4180! It is going to be a great weekend of creative play and guided experimentation with results you will be excited about.

The class will be taking place in the Annex, the one story metal building beside the Harcourt House gallery.

Register today!

Photograph copyright Alexis Marie Chute

Photograph copyright Alexis Marie Chute

Harcourt House

10215 112 Street Northwest

Edmonton, AB T5K 1M7

Find a map here.

‎(780) 426-4180