Self Promotion Gone Wild!

You believe in my work and I will help promote you!

After a year full of complete life changes, including loosing a house, a cat, and my mother-in-law, having a beautiful baby boy, and rebuilding everything, I am creating my website anew to reflect my desire to be an extremely successful artist.

See? Isn't that awesome?

Please help me out. It’s free …or you could invest in my work, but that’s later on down the page.

1 – Request a Link

Let’s link to each other! It’s good for our SEO. In layman’s terms, that means we become cooler in the eyes of Google.

In order for me to link to your site, you must have content on your site that will be of special interest to my visitors, and you must place a reciprocal link on your site. Links to your site from outside sources help to improve search engine optimization, so what are you waiting for?

Please copy and paste the HTML link below onto your site, and then shoot me an email detailing your link url and title. Spammers will be ignored, so don’t even bother.

MyPreferredHTML Link :

<a href=”http://www.rachelmcotton.com/”>Fine Art Paintings by Rachel M Cotton</a> Savannah artist sharing artwork and tips for creative growth

2 – Write a short blurb about me

You know me!

If I have done work for you in the past or if we grew up in the same town, write a your impression, your memories, or your kudos abut me and be featured in a blog post on my new site. Again this helps us both. I get an awesome blog post and you get some much deserved PR! Email your writing to rmcotton.art@gmail.com.

3 – Show your support for the Arts

In addition to being a great supporter of my own work, I am also a great supporter of the arts, including art education, collecting and business. If you or your company has done something wonderful to help support the arts in your area, please share that with us, so that we may share it with our readers. Or if you have heard of something wonderful happening, please share that as well. There are good things happening in this world, and we would love to hear the positive.

Or Invest in Artwork or Sponsoring An Artist (Me).

There are also several ways to invest in my work.

1 – Commission Custom Work

Butterfly Ballerina - A Commission

The majority of my work is from people like yourself that want an original piece of work for their home or office. I have been known to do portraits of people, pets, and homes, specialty work for nurseries and children’s rooms, as well as some pretty atypical requests. Pieces are affordable, and I happy to accept payments. As an emerging full-time artist, prices for my work have more than doubled in the last 2 years. I can only see this trend continuing as I am now in Gallery 11 in The City Market Art Center in Savannah and my commission availability is decreasing rapidly.

2 – Purchase Existing Originals

Between painting custom work, I like to work on my own projects that reflect my growth and exploration of technique and concept. These pieces mark my artistic progression. Many of these particular pieces will exhibit, but they are also for sale to art lovers and collectors. Each piece is registered with the Fine Art Registry and comes complete with a Certificate of Authenticity.

3 – Purchase Prints

Your Dad may like this one!

Most of my paintings are also available as open edition prints. Limited Edition prints are available on a limited basis. Prints are created by quality scans and/or photographs of the original piece, the colors are matched to the original, and the piece is printed either on quality photographic paper or as a high quality, archival giclee print. Please let me know if you are interested in a print of a specific painting.

4 – Sponsor a Competition

I regularly enter prestigious competitions both nationally and internationally. Entry fees can be very expensive ranging from $25 – $100 per competition. You pay an entry fee or two in return for the following:

• PR on my site with a link to the sponsor site with additional promotion across major social media outlets
• 20% of the awarded prize, 20% to a charity of your choice, if prize money is awarded
• A Full Press Release to the newspaper(s) of the Sponsors choice for promoting local arts

5 – Sponsor an Exhibition

The time and resources it takes to prepare for an Art Exhibit are great. As an artist and an entrepreneur, I am prepared to enter into a partnership with an individual or company in a collaborative marketing experience. The Sponsor may receive the following based on the partnership agreement and sponsor amount:

• PR on the my site with a link to the sponsor site as well as promotion on various social media outlets
• A Full Press Release to the newspaper(s) of the Sponsors choice
• Sponsorship listed on invitations and marketing materials at the Opening
• Tasteful Advertising at the Exhibition and Opening Event
• A percentage of the total sales of the exhibition

Please contact me with any questions or inquiries at rmcotton.art@gmail.comThank you for your interest!

The New Shop is no longer open

Sorry, Guys, but I just couldn’t handle the particluar plug-in I used for the shop.  The navigation was terrible, the formatting detestable – YUCK!!  So, I have taken it down, BUT I can still get you anything you desire that has my work on it.  And remember, I can always do a specially commissioned piece of art – just for you!

Until, I redo the shop, you can go to My Red Bubble store to buy high quality prints, cards, and even some t-shirts.

Happy Day!

The New Shop is Open!!

The New Shop at Cotton Studios is now open for business.

There may be some kinks to work out, and I am not certain I am a fan of the navigation, but check it out!

Designers Wishlist at HOW.com

I am a HUGE HOW Magazine fan.  HOW Magazine is THE magazine for designers, both freelance and inhouse, offering current news and ideas for design professionals.  I get every issue, and read it cover to cover.  I absorb all of it – the design trends, the new fonts, the stories of other designers and illustrators.

How exciting for me to find myself on the HOW website!!  The question was simple – what do you want for Christmas?  Check it out here.

Forgo Wall Street for Art Investments

Word has it that the art buyers are in a better position right now than sellers.  With the mess on Wall Street, everyone is holding tight on their money.  It is theorized that the art bubble will soon bust as did the housing market.  While it may be disappointing to many, this is good news to you and me!

Commission for Justin Griffin and James Edgemon

Now is the time to purchase original fine art by RM Cotton.  Prices are lower than most emerging artists this year, but next year my prices are guaranteed to rise 50-100%.  This rise is cost will be attributed to an increase in production and sales and the offering of limited prints.  My personal goal is to find a gallery with which to show within the next year as well.  This will step up my artist value as well.

IN time for Christmas, commission an original painting for yourself or a loved one.  I have space and time for only 3 more commissions, so act fast!!  Contact me with dimensions, subject matter, and delivery date to get an estimate.

More information on art investing:

New York Market

Askmen.com – How to Invest In Art

Biddington’s Rules for Long Term Investing

6th Annual Smart Women Expo & Luncheon & Silent Auction

Mary Telfair’s Women’s Hospital is hosting the Smart Women Expo and Luncheon on September 24th at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.  RM Cotton has donated several Giclee prints to be auctioned at the event to support the women’s hospital.

For more information, please visit the link below:

6th Annual Smart Women Expo & Luncheon – The Creative Coast Alliance (Savannah, GA).

What You Can Expect To See From Us

Cotton Studios Logo

As a new business owner, I have a great many hopes and dreams for my little studio. These aspirations should benefit both myself and my clients in the long run as well as other designers and artists. The following list is a compilation of the elements I intend to incorporate into my new website.

Free Consultations

As a regular service, I will offer free one hour consultations to anyone interested in our services. Remember: graphic design, web design, illustration, painting and murals – Cotton Studios – All Natural Creativity.

Marketing Ideas

In this crazy world of Social Networking, the web offers some amazing resources. I intend to keep Cotton Studios site updated with tips and techniques for marketing yourself and your company. I will also offer insights for common business owners on aspects of design that are often overlooked.

August Newsletter

Monthly Newsletters with Freebies

Each month, I will send out a newsletter centering on the most recent Cotton Studio News. The next issue will contain a little freebie, so be sure not to miss it. If you aren’t signed up to receive the newsletter, do it now!!! Sign up in the upper right hand corner of the any page.

A Close Circle of Trusted Freelancers

Working from home can be a bit lonely at times, so I find it very important to keep a close circle of talented people within my radar at all times. These people are generally also working from home, and they understand the need to network and keep in touch for the sake of sanity, to act as sounding boards, to offer knowledge and networking, and to pitch in if they are stronger in a certain area that I am. If there is something that I can not do, I have professional connections with people that can do them. I intend to cautiously expand that circle of knowledgeable professionals for the sake of my clients and myself.

That being said, if you are a talented profession designer, web designer, programmer, illustrator, or marketing professional, and would like the opportunity to work with us at Cotton Studios, please email me your resume and provide a link to an online portfolio. I will add you to my growing list of resources and references.

Regular Visual Up-dates on Artwork

If you have an interest in my artwork, you will love this feature of the new website. I am starting a new series of paintings of Savannah sights. I will document the progress of these paintings and post them regularly. You will get to see the progression of a painting from sketch to finished piece. It should be an interesting ride!

Eco Awareness

As someone who has always had a strong interest in the health of our earth, I am just now becoming an active participant in the Go Green Movement. I will share tidbits, interesting articles, and great websites on our site, as well as the struggles and trials that go along with trying to change a lifestyle. Cotton Studios is All Natural Creativity, and we intend to use that wholesome creative outlook to develop Green Friendly practices in both business and home.

Get Some Extra Cash by Telling People About Cotton Studios!

• I am attempting to build my client list so that Cotton Studios can flourish, I am enlisting your help.

From now until the end of September, I am offering a 10% Finders Fee for any existing clients, family, and friends that refers someone to Cotton Studios.

I must state here a few stipulations:

1. The person being referred MUST sign an agreement and make a deposit on a project for the finders fee to be issued.
2. The referred party MUST tell me that you did indeed refer them.
3. You may refer yourself
4. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me immediately at rachel@cottonstudios.com.
5. Unfortunately, this cannot apply to any previous referrals at this time.