This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend an art show with three very talented women, including my dear friend’s mother, Shirley Fachilla.

It was such a pleasure talking to Shirley! I’m anxious to continue our conversation; to hear about her creative process and artistic preferences.

A brief bio in her own words:

In high school, I was one of those kids, found in every class, who do the artsy stuff for their peers: murals, posters, bulletin boards, etc. But when I grew up, art wasn’t something I did; it was something I looked at. I looked a lot…

Then one fine day, I stumbled back into doing. I rediscovered the pleasure and passion of painting. After a time of joyously making marks in buttery oil colors, I discovered that I just might have something to say with my paintings.

My voice isn’t always clear; it doesn’t always say precisely what I intend; but it is distinctly my own. And I’ll keep very happily trying to say exactly what I mean.

Shirley and her daughter stand by her favorite painting:

Two of my favorite Shirley Fachilla originals:

Founded in 1991, Untitled is a non-profit collective dedicated to supporting artistic innovation and offering alternative visual arts experiences in the Nashville community.

Untitled’s Mission:

Untitled provides community for artists.
Untitled provides opportunities for artists to show their work.
Untitled provides education for artists.
Untitled creates new audiences for the arts.

Last Friday, I attended their “I’ve Been Framed” show at Billups Art in East Nashville (dubbed “creative ground zero” by the Nashville Scene). I love catching these shows because the art featured includes all sorts of medias and is incredibly diverse.

My friend and talented photographer, Karen Alisa was showing her piece entitled “Piper.”

Closeup of “Piper”:

From Mashable.com’s Dev & Design

Which colors do the web’s most powerful brands use to distinguish themselves from others? The folks from COLOURlovers have decided to find out, producing the beautiful infographic below as the result.

As it turns out, web brands love color; only a few of them are predominantly grey or black and white. The most popular color is blue (nearly all big social networks use it), followed by a variety of reds and oranges. Also, many of the web’s top brands, such as Google and MSN, have a multicolored logo.

COLOURlovers have used data from Alexa, Compete and Nielsen to compile the list of the top 100 brands on the web, and while one can always question their methodology, the infographic definitely paints an interesting picture as far as color usage goes in some of the most popular brands on the web.

Of the many reasons I love Nashville, one of my favorites is the diversity in art around the city. Every corner you turn, there’s another source of inspiration just waiting to be captured.

One such inspiration and influence for me personally, lies on Broadway nestled in between the honky tonks. Hatch Show Print, founded in 1879, is still a working letterpress and design shop, creating posters today using the same letterpress methods as yesterday.

I’ve lived here over ten years and the other day realized I had yet to set foot inside the shop. So I went:

Color, design, history. My visit was everything I’d hoped it be.

Pure artistry and masterful composition are what make Hatch posters part of the story of American art and culture. Snappy graphics, punchy titles, humor, and irony are what make them irresistible.

Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service

September 2010 from Mary Hunt’s Debt-Proof Living

People who can take an idea and turn it into a living are not particularly unique. But they do seem to have certain personality traits in common. Do you have what it takes to turn your talents into profits?

1.       Collaboration.  At the top of the list for successful entrepreneurs is the ability to collaborate.  Successful entrepreneurs don’t assume they know it all.  They seek counsel and advice from others through collaboration.

Those who can brainstorm, draw strength from others, delegate and build strong relationships are more likely to click with customers who will then ensure their success.

2.       Self-fulfillment.  People who work for themselves place a high value on the personal fulfillment they receive from being an entrepreneur.  They love being their own boss, and enjoy being in control of their financial destiny.  These people are constantly amazed that others are willing to pay them to do what they love.  They find contentment and satisfaction in creating something of value.

3.       Future focused.  Self-reliant entrepreneurial types are good at both short- and long-term planning.  They’re as likely to have a well thought out plan for the day-to-day running of the business as a road map for how to move from here to there in order to grow their business for years to come.

4.       Curiosity.  Good entrepreneurs are always reading and asking questions.  They want to learn everything from why a particular business failed to how to find, motivate and keep good employees.  They’re not afraid to try new things and to take a calculated risk.

5.       Tech-savvy.  Face it.  These days if you are not willing to learn how to operate and maintain an active website, participate in social media and rely heavily on technology, you’re probably not going to be able to compete.

Successful entrepreneurs have a can-do attitude when it comes to becoming tech-savvy.

6.       Action oriented.  Successful small-business owners are proactive and always differentiating themselves from their competitors.  They are typically less focused on the state of the economy, preferring instead to look at adversity as the much needed kick in the pants that helps them to keep moving forward.

7.       Positive attitude.  One of the most valuable personal traits of successful entrepreneurs is their positive attitude.  It’s invigorating to be around someone like this because their enthusiasm and excitement is infectious.  A successful entrepreneur concentrates on how to make something happen, preferring not to hear about all the reasons that it won’t.

8.       Imagination.  Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

I won’t go so far as to say, as some do, that if you can dream it you can do it.  But I will say that the ability to visualize the future and the way things might be is one of the most useful tools in the successful entrepreneur’s tool belt.

An active imagination conjures up excitement and enthusiasm, which can lead to action.