Tucker John from NC

I have received emails like the one below many times, yet today, I thought I post one of them, the most recent one. Funny how these people don't even bother to use a spell-checker....

Hi Tucker John from NC.
I'm so sorry she doesn't have her own laptop.
Glad that she enjoys art.
It's not a bad thing. You don't have to confess. And, I'm not a priest. But, thanks.
Which artwork piece are you interested in?
Hello? Do you hear me?
Do you have any question?
What are we even talking about?
Would you like to hear back from me?
Hello?
Do you have a phone number?
Who are you?
Tucker, are you an algorithm? Hello?





It's true! Someone could find my paintings on my website. It's possible that they would like to add them to their collection. And it would be wonderful if they wanted to surprise a loved one. 


Usually, I'm writing a courteous response and direct people to my website where they can choose their favorite piece. 


Here in this case, I chose to not respond at all.


What are the indicators that it's a scam?


1) The name could be the first indication. While it's not John Smith, Tucker John or John Tucker is not the most ingenious creation. (I don't mean to hurt anybody's feelings! If any of you have one of these names, please don't take it personal!)

2) The signature leaves a lot to be desired. No phone number, no contact info, no business name. Just 'Tucker'.

3) The many mistakes.

4) Funny how they always see their wife spot the artwork on their laptop. And then, these women without their own laptop always leave traces .... It's a bit too cheesy, like pulling teeth.... 

5) And they always have a wedding anniversary coming up. It's so classical. So boring!

6) Let me ask you: Are you convinced by the story? Why do they even have to tell a story? They can simply  go to my website (where they found my email address), pick a painting and contact me for pricing. Or ask questions about shipping.

7) There is not one question in this email. 


How this will usually unfold is that the artist writes back, politely, and asks what painting they are interested in. Usually then, these scammers engage you further, never really talking about the art. The emailing goes back and forth, until they agree to purchase a piece, by CHECK. They will overpay, meaning sending too much money with the check and ask for reimbursement of the overpaid amount, with cash.


Of course, the check will bounce. And, if the artist paid a cash amount to the scammer that money will be lost. 


An indicator is, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.


In my case here, nothing sounds too good, it is poorly written, maybe translated by an algorithm into English.


So, Tucker will not hear back from me. 


What can you do when you receive a scam email?


Before replying to any of theses emails, before exchanging art or money, or sending money to someone who you don't even know, use your common sense, ask questions. 


Don't deviate from your usual method of payment; explain politely that you’re not willing to take payment through cashier’s checks or postal money orders, which are more open to this sort of art scam. Often the nature of the art scam will center on the method of payment suggested by the scammer – if you stick to your normal method, something you know to be safe, they may be forced to give up.


NEVER accept over-payments. You’re selling, they’re buying – no money should be leaving your account. Make it your policy not to work this way.

Google the email address, or name, or even a passage of the text. As these scammers send so many art scam emails, their address gets to be known as one associated with the art scam they’re running.


Don’t ship your artwork unless you’re sure the payment has cleared. Any serious art buyer would be happy to wait until the payment has cleared.

If You Were the Choosing One, Would a 'No' Mean Anything?

How many 'No's' have I received, as an artist and also as a being simply being on the planet? 

Many.

Today, I just received another one of those 'No'-replies.

And usually, I don't even mention them. On social media, I talk about the 'good stuff', the positive news.

Today, I just received another one of those 'No'-replies. And I deleted it right away, moving on and not making it relevant. Then, I was wondering, maybe I can be a contribution to someone out there who has given up or is at the fringe of giving up? Maybe my journey is not just for me?

So I chose to write about it.

How many of you artists and most wonderful creatives have received tons of 'No's'? 

Applying for art exhibitions, funding, grants, events? You are so courageous! It takes courage to show your work, it takes guts! Why? Because it always exposes us to some random judgment. Random? Yes, random. It's a point of view of a moment. 

Is it based on 'sound opinion' of an expert? I don't even have an idea what that means. Of course not!

There is no expert of your art but you!

You are the expert.

Are you ready to claim that and to be your own best fantastic credentials?

Are museums more 'wise' as far as art goes? Do they 'know' what art is? No. They don't. 

What is art? I looked on Wikipedia, and it says "Art is a diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory or performing artifacts, expressing the author's imaginative, conceptual ideas, or technical skill, intended to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power."

Merriam Webster says "a) skill acquired by experience, study, or observation , b) an occupation requiring knowledge or skill , c) the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects". That's a wide field of application!

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy elaborates "The definition of art is controversial in contemporary philosophy. Whether art can be defined has also been a matter of controversy. The philosophical usefulness of a definition of art has also been debated."

The ground is even further open to confusion.

I thought, hm, well, let's look up 'contemporary art'? I found a definition that says "In its most basic sense, the term contemporary art refers to art—namely, painting, sculpture, photography, installation, performance, and video art—produced today..." Read this interesting article in full length: https://mymodernmet.com/what-is-contemporary-art-definition/  

So, it's basically everything. Pop Art, Aboriginal Art, Minimalist Art, Conceptual Art (I love that definition!), Performance Art, Installation Art, Street Art, Digital Art, Abstract Art, Intuitive Art, Visionary Art, Realism (that's a good one too!), and the list goes on. What's to get out of all of this? Art is what we are creating. Who's to say what's good or bad?

Years ago, I went to an exhibit in Berlin, a modern art exhibit (I forgot to mention that definition in my list above... sorry!), and as I walked into an exhibit room, I found myself staring at a human buttocks sticking out of a wall. That's art? Some museum curators judged it as art. Maybe because their was hair added to the buttocks.

So, it's all part of this incredibly hilarious reality! It's not to be taken seriously!

According to all the definitions, the moment we are creating something from different elements and we make something new from them by extrapolation, it's art.

It includes you, the reader.

Judges and panels of jurors are hired to eliminate. 

They don't know your journey.

They go through, at times, huge amounts of applications and quickly screen and eliminate. That's all. That's their job. That's what they're paid for.

Here is the response I received today, after they had invited me to apply for the event:

I doesn't mean anything.

Funny, I titled the picture of this screenshot 'BlaBla', and that's all it is.

It's BlaBla.

Have you made all the BlaBla so vital and important?

Don't stop yourself, ever!

You are the only one who can stop you, no one else can.

Count your blessings and move on! You're here, and you're rocking it! 

As artists, we have to be resilient and filled with humor. 

Here's the most important thing:

• Do you love what you're doing? 
• Does it give you joy? 
• Does it create more consciousness on the planet? 
• Does it inspire others? 
• Do you create a greater future on the earth with what you're artfully making? 

If you get a yes on any of them, keep creating! You are changing the world. This is what art is about. We inspire the viewer to a different possibility that they can not yet perceive. Art is transformative. And right now, the world needs that inspiration! 

So, be resilient. Be strong. You're a potent creator. You are much stronger and resilient than you ever acknowledged, otherwise you would not be artist!

So, what's next?

I will keep moving, applying to shows, showing up for possibilities, create and inspire me with joyful choices.

Will I apply for that exhibit again? I don't have an answer right now. Who knows? If it's joyful and I get the energy of 'Apply to this one!', in a year, then I will. And if I don't get that festive energy from it, then I won't. It's a dance.

You are in charge.

Are you willing to have your own back?

Are you willing to be the choosing one? 

Or do you prefer being the chosen one?

I'm the choosing one.

And I keep dancing with the earth and stars!

And, together, we are creating new and different symphonies and rhythms.

Cheers to creation!

Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity? Or Scam?

"Phoenix Creation Rising"

Here's a story from behind the scenes.... 

I opened my emails this morning to this (what seemed at first) exciting invitation. 

Thinking joyfully 'Oh, what a great start into the New Year!', I was ready to pay my application fee (as artists we have to pay jury fees, application fees, just to be even considered for shows, events, etc) when I wondered 'Where did they get my email from?' They said I was pre-selected, and then I have to pay? Hmmm... flags started waving at me.... How do you discern between offers and proposals that are legit and those that are simply scamming for money? 

Of course, I went ahead and researched them online (so grateful for reviews! ✨🍀💚). They have a good looking website, and then, this all can be faked and 'half-truths' (which means 'lies'). 

I checked their reviews, and most of them are.... not positive. 

I went further and read all the rules for their program, but couldn't find any phone number... (another flag). And then, it says you're not supposed to contact artists who had been at the residency????? (now, that's a smelly cat!, not just a flag) 

Funny thing is, I had started looking into residencies.... 

Here's the email that I got from them (an indicator could be, if it sounds too good to be true, it IS too good to be true and pure lies!):

"Dear Bettina,

Here's wishing you a happy new year!

We have some great news! Due to requests received, we have extended the deadline to enter the ... Residency opportunity! This means, that those of you who haven't been able to send in your application yet, now have until 4 January to do so!

Remember, only a few select artists have been chosen to submit their work for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so this round's winner could be you!

Please ensure all artwork you would like to submit is sent in full by 4 January 2020 using the following link:....

If you wish to do so, you are able to enter more than once! For any additional information, please see FAQ.....

We will inform you of the results on 14 January 2020, after the judging panel has made their final selection.

Good luck for your entry and let me know if you have any questions.

Regards,

BlaBlaBla "

__________

Now what? What can I receive from this? 

1. Immense gratitude for my awareness (our awareness is the greatest tool we have)
2. Not getting hung up in the 'wrongness' of it. Nice try! Now where are the legitimate residencies? What other amazing proposals and invitations can I receive?
3. When something looks too good to be true, it usually is.
4. When someone says 'this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' push your 'super-awareness-buttons', use humor and ask questions (you don't want opportunities but possibilities) Ask youself: Is this an opportunity or a possibility? If it's an opportunity, walk away.
5. Ask questions such as: "What is possible now?" 🍀✨💚🌳

Some people might say, oh the internet is bad! You get scammed when they find your contact info.

What if the internet is not bad? Via the internet, anyone can find our businesses, our art, creations such as books, songs, anything we're creating.

We simply need to be more aware! If you have a 'twisting sensation' in your stomach, ask questions! 

For me, how this all works is, when I'm about to pay for something, I might have a moment of hesitation. My money sort of doesn't want to go there. How cool is that? When I get that, I look deeper, ask for more information, such as: 

• "Where do I find the information that I require?"
• "What is this? What do I do with this? Do I have to do anything with this?    Or do I walk away?"
• "What am I aware of?"
• And in the case of my money, I'm grateful for my money to give me the awareness. "Thank you, my money! I'm so grateful for you! What's it going to take for you to duplicate with ease, so we can even create more awareness in the world?"

What if our money has our back? My money has my back. I asked it for it, and it's more than happy to be that space for me.

Can you see how this 'incident' is now creating FOR me? 

What if nothing is right or wrong, but we can create with all the energies?

I choose to create with the energy that these scammers are using. It's just energy. Energy is energy.  

I play with it. And create with it.

So can you. That's a choice that you have to make, though!

Happy New Year!