Drawing on nature’s vibrant patterns, Sarah Suplina replicates the radiant feathers and beady eyes of a variety of birds. The Connecticut-based artist crafts detailed, lifelike animal portraits of species that she selects for their distinctive plumage and expressions, painting on lightly textured watercolor paper to achieve the vivid hues of chickens, ducks, and songbirds. “I love the subtle value and color surprises that I get with watercolors,” she says, using the medium to building up gradients and contrasts that reveal richness and depth.

Taking around six to ten hours to complete, each bird presents its own intricacies and hurdles. “I found the subtle tonal colors of doves to be challenging to capture correctly,” Suplina says. She often selects birds at random, but her surroundings provide a constant source for ideas. One series titled Backyard Beauties captures individuals spotted out her kitchen window, and her current project Dove Love focuses on pigeons and doves she sees around her neighborhood and during walks throughout New York City. “Birds are so full of personality and variations, and they are an artist’s dream to create, especially with paper,” she says.

Suplina’s work will be featured in the forthcoming book Stitched Journeys with Birds: Inspiration to Let Your Creativity Take Flight, scheduled for publication in September from Schiffer Craft. You can find intricate originals and prints in her Etsy shop and on Society6. Explore her website to learn more about her work, and find updates on Instagram.

Quail

Wood Hen

Goldfinches

Ground Dove

Pigeons

Mourning Doves

Rooster

Turtledoves

Titmouse

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Ravishing Roosters and Perky Pigeons Populate Sarah Suplina’s Vibrant Flock of Paper Birds appeared first on Colossal.

Gallery Direct has acquired Art Marketing. With its development strategy of organic expansion and acquisition of selected brands, Gallery has fast become a complete home and outdoor supplier to retail and contract customers. Art Marketing joining the Gallery group will further strengthen the business, bringing deeper expertise to the wall decor category and an opportunity to widen Gallery’s art offering through the skills of the former’s in-house artists and designers. 

Peter Delaney, Gallery’s sales and product director, comments: “We have long admired the Art Marketing business and its ability to produce on-trend artwork, clocks and photo frames, fashioned by talented artists and graphic designers under the guidance of founders Nigel and Anthony Waller. They have created an outstanding business, trading for over 40 years. The quality and depth of their range is industry leading, being the stand-out brand within the wall decor sector.” 

Nigel Waller, MD of Art Marketing, is remaining within the Gallery business, and will take a new role as category director for wall decor. 

He says: “I am delighted to be joining Gallery, who continue to lead the market in home and outdoor. It is an exciting time, and joining a larger, design-led business will have benefits to our team and customers. Working with our new colleagues, I want to broaden Gallery’s category offer with fresh, new, innovative collections of wall art, clocks, photo frames and decorative mirrors.” 

The acquisition comes at a time in which Gallery Direct continues to develop. Former MD Peter Delaney has taken take on the new role of sales and product director, enabling him to “focus on bringing products to the market and driving the sales and marketing functions further within the business”. Michael Last, CEO of the Gallery group, will take on the responsibilities of finance, customer service, people and operations, becoming MD of Gallery Direct. 

Michael comments: “These changes underpin our ongoing strategy of financial strength and stability, operational excellence and relentless focus on customer service. Importantly, it gives Peter increased time to focus on the development of Gallery’s next generation of products, whilst driving our sales and marketing efforts with our valued customers. 

“Over the next few years we are well set to scale and grow our business, and are pleased to welcome Nigel and the Art Marketing team into the Gallery group, to help us on this journey.” 

Pictured: Michael Last, Nigel Waller and Peter Delaney 

NEW HIRES

Bridget Campbell

The Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce has hired Bridget Campbell as marketing and membership director. Campbell previously worked as advertising operations manager for the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel newspapers, both part of the Masthead Maine network of news and media outlets that also include the Press Herald. Her newspaper career spanned a total of 27 years over two different time periods and included various creative and management roles. Campbell also ran her own business, Papermoon Graphics. She graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a degree in communications and a minor in art.

Matt Pick and Adam Mooney have joined Lewiston law firm Brann & Isaacson as associate attorneys. Pick, who will focus on state and local tax matters, graduated from Harvard Law School in 2022. He previously worked as a summer associate with the firm. Mooney will assist clients with corporate law, commercial transactions, trademark and copyright issues, and consumer privacy. He graduated last year from the University of Maine School of Law and previously worked as an intern at Brann & Isaacson.

Doreen Andriola has joined Re/Max Shoreline, a Portland-based real estate agency, as a Realtor. Over the duration of her career, Andriola has sold over $200 million of residential and commercial real estate. She is a certified residential specialist and a certified staging associate.

PROMOTIONS

Brian Deveaux

Brian Deveaux will become CEO at Hussey Seating Co. on July 1, while also continuing his role as president. Gary Merrill, the current CEO, will retire from the North Berwick-based company after more than 35 years of service. Deveaux’s promotion to CEO is the next step in a planned leadership transition that began in July 2022. Before joining Hussey in 2017 as chief financial officer, he was a partner and co-founder of Leaders LLC, a Portland-based consulting firm. He also served as chief operating officer for Seabrook International and held several management positions in operations at Bath Iron Works.

David Geiger

David Geiger has been promoted to vice president and general counsel of Geiger, a family-owned promotional products distributor in Lewiston. He previously served as general counsel. In his new position, David Geiger will be responsible for overseeing all legal matters for the global organization, as well as its efforts to advance sustainability and social responsibility. Geiger joined the company in 2007 in manufacturing engineering services and later served as compliance manager. He graduated from the University of Maine School of Law and received his B.S. in business management from the University of Southern California.

Rita Dennis

OceanView at Falmouth has promoted Rita Dennis to independent sales consultant. Dennis has worked with the retirement community for 23 years, and has held positions including marketing and advertising coordinator, marketing associate, and marketing and sales assistant. She holds an associate’s degree in business.

Seven priests have been named to new positions with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, which covers the state of Maine. The appointments take effect July 5.

• The Rev. Patrick Agbodi has been appointed administrator of Corpus Christi Parish in Winslow and Waterville. He is currently parochial vicar of All Saints Parish in Brunswick.

• The Rev. Roland Berngeh has been appointed administrator of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in northern and eastern Maine. Berngeh is currently parochial vicar at Stella Maris Parish in Bucksport.

• The Rev. Emile Dubé has been appointed rector of St. Ignatius Chapel in Northeast Harbor. This appointment is in addition to his current assignment as pastor of the Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

• The Rev. Hyacinth Fornkwa has been appointed administrator of Holy Spirit Parish in York County. Fr. Fornkwa is currently administrator of Holy Family Parish in Greenville and St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Jackman.

• The Rev. Selvaraj Kasi has been appointed administrator of Holy Family Parish in Greenville and St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Jackman. Fr. Kasi is currently parochial vicar of the Portland Peninsula and Island Parishes.

• The Rev. Joseph Lukong has been appointed parochial vicar at Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord, St. Joseph Parish and Stella Maris Parish, where he has been in residence.

• The Rev. Brad Morin has been appointed director of vocations for the Diocese of Portland and parochial vicar of Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord. He is currently pastor of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Calais.

RECOGNITIONS

Katherine Higgins

Katherine Higgins, relationship manager at Golden Pond Wealth Management in Waterville, has successfully completed requirements for a Series 7 investment securities license. The exam focuses on stocks and bonds, investment risk and interactions with clients.

News for “On the Move” can be submitted to [email protected] or via the Press Herald’s online submission form.

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The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s National Student Advertising Competition team placed second at the American Advertising Federation’s District 9 competition, held in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 22. The eight teams in the competition came from colleges and universities in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.

Each year, a national client provides NSAC teams across the country with a brief that outlines a marketing challenge to be addressed with advertising. This year’s client was the world’s largest job search site, Indeed. Students were asked to create a fully integrated marketing campaign targeted to Gen Z.

For seven months, the Husker team conducted extensive research on Indeed and its competitors, identified potential areas of opportunity for the brand and then created a campaign that was presented before a panel of judges at the district competition.

The judges were so impressed with the Husker team’s strategy that they created a special Best Strategy award. Brian Hubbard, assistant professor of practice and NSAC lead faculty adviser, said the judges were also impressed with the quality of writing and design reflected in the team’s comprehensive plans book.

Nebraska’s 11-person team came from the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts and College of Arts and Sciences.

Diane Krajicek, lecturer in advertising and public relations, also advised the team. Jennifer Urich, CEO and co-founder of Sparrow Strategy, shared her expertise as the College of Journalism and Mass Communications’ Dick Worick Visiting Professor in Market Research.

“This team did an outstanding job, and I couldn’t be prouder of them and their work,” Hubbard said. “My first year advising the team was a joy and privilege, and I’m already looking forward to next year’s competition.”

Following is a list of Nebraska’s 2023 NSAC team members, listed alphabetically by hometown, with their year in school, major(s) and role on the team.

Nebraska

• Blair: Sam Lawton, junior, emerging media arts, motion graphics designer
• Beatrice: Holly Fischer, junior, advertising and public relations, broadcasting, and political science, research and media strategist
• Fort Calhoun: Cole Klabunde, junior, advertising and public relations, and communication studies, copywriter
• Lincoln: Quin Sleddens, senior, advertising and public relations, creative director and presenter; Spencer Swearingen, senior, advertising and public relations, research and media strategist
• Omaha: Johnny Sloboth, junior, graphic design, art director
• Thurston: Sadie Lamplot, senior, advertising and public relations, account planner
• Wausa: Taylor Kumm, junior, advertising and public relations, copywriter and presenter
• Waverly: Mia Hartley, senior, advertising and public relations, art director and presenter

Elsewhere in the U.S.

• Woodridge, Illinois: Carina Collins, senior, advertising and public relations, research director and presenter
• Clive, Iowa: Elizabeth Fischbach, junior, advertising and public relations, project manager

After being a stay-at-home mom for 16 years, all the while knowing she wanted to do more, Zarna Garg was pushed to try stand-up comedy by her children. Her daughter recognized that she had a real talent, one that she herself didn’t even consider. But with the encouragement of her daughter, and the social media savvy of her son, Garg has made it big with an extremely successful second career in life. And all after the age of 40.

All jokes aside, Garg always approached her comedy career as a business. She knew that the only way to viably continue to do stand-up, would require her to dissect the business model, have a marketing plan, and grow it, just like any other startup. Her focus was on monetization, and not only the art form.

I sat down with Garg and she very candidly shared the secrets to her success, the best and toughest thing about having this new career, and how her life has changed.

The Beginning Stages

Prior to starting a comedy career, Garg had never even attended a comedy show as an audience member, let alone perform at one.

“I didn’t even know what a joke was. I had never been to a comedy club, even to watch a show. I didn’t know what you do there. You know, our community – we don’t do that. Like comedy is not a thing for us.”

The first time she took the stage at an open-mic night, she asked the woman who ran the comedy club what she should do, and the woman told her to go on stage and talk about whatever she finds funny for five minutes. “So I got up on stage and I started ripping apart my mother-in-law. And I was like, I think that’s funny. And I really didn’t realize that the whole world would find it funny with me. I just went with what came most naturally to me.”

This brought upon a realization that she may be onto something. “And then when I got off stage, the woman said to me, ‘you are so funny, but you don’t have jokes.’ So I went home and I was like Google, what is a joke? And I learned how to write a joke for the first time.”

Garg’s relentless penchant for trying new things, and learning on the job is so refreshing. It’s a lesson we can all takeaway from her story – it’s never too late to try new things, or start a new career, or simply learn a new skill.

Building A Business

“So I decided in addition to the art, I’m going to start marketing right away. Because without one, I can’t do the other. I don’t live a life where I have that luxury – if I was 25-years-old with no responsibilities, I may have done open mics for years. But I didn’t come into this world in that state. So I was very conscious,” says Garg.

She knew that marketing was key to growing her art into a viable business. She analyzed the industry and made decisions that would pay off in the long run, such as the decision to be a clean comic. “I knew that if I wanted to make money, and do a corporate gig, or be in one of these big spaces where people pay money for this kind of thing, you have to be clean.”

And it all paid off, she won Kevin Hart’s Lyft Comics competition in 2021. And she booked her first show at Caroline’s, one of New York City’s premier comedy venues at the time, within a year of doing her first open mic. But that was the same time that the pandemic hit – shutting down all in-person events. So Garg had to pivot, and that pivot came in the form of her 14-year-old son introducing her to TikTok, which led to the creation of her entire digital business.

The Power Of Storytelling

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools – when done right, the art of storytelling can move people to take action, can create relatability between people from different walks of life, and have significant impact on an audience.

Garg also points out that people love to root for the underdog. “Everything is storytelling – everything anybody wants to get done, it’s the story behind the story that is the main story. They want the story of grit and determination, and that person that persevered – everybody wants to root for the underdog.”

She adds that it’s important to focus on your uniqueness. “Whatever is your story that makes you unique, that’s what’s going to propel everything around you. I think storytelling is a really, really important skill, especially in the world we are in today. ”

What It Takes

When I asked Garg what advice she’d give other women who don’t have the guts to switch careers at a later stage in life, she responded by saying, “First of all, you don’t need guts. You need desperation. You need to fuel yourself with your own desperation. You need to realize that you’re gonna die. We’re all gonna die. Use the time that God has given you right now.”

“Second of all, ask yourself, what exactly are you worried about? What exactly? You think people are going to judge you? They are judging you now when you’re not doing anything. The people who judge, judge everything freely, all day long. So it’s irrelevant what anybody thinks.”

“And third of all, in the world we live in right now, everybody’s obsessed with themselves. I say use that indifference. No one is paying attention to you and what you’re doing, take that chance – fail 50 times. If no one’s going to even realize, use that indifference to your advantage. I used to go to the early open mics and think, the worst that can happen is that I didn’t make anybody laugh. And maybe five people in that room, or 15 people will know that I didn’t make anybody laugh that day. But before the evening is over, there will be ten more pieces of news that will be much more important than anything I’m about to do. So I tell every woman out there that whatever is your inclination, whether it’s cooking, whether it’s organizing – social media has opened up a world of possibilities. I know people that are doing such exotic, creative things – I know women who obsess over organizing office cabinets, who are making six figures now, just because they took their obsession and they turned it into a business.”

Garg says we owe it to ourselves to live our fullest life. And before we try and make everyone else happy, we owe it ourselves to be happy. “I really believe that. That a happy person, has a ripple effect being out in the world, and it is so great – that we all have to aspire to be that.”

Garg’s latest success is her one-hour comedy special, Zarna Garg: One In A Billion, which was filmed at New York City’s Gramercy Theater, and is releasing globally on Amazon Prime on May 16th.

As a leadership consultant with experience in luxury real estate brokerage, recruiting, sales coaching, team consulting and leadership advising, I’ve learned a thing or two about effective marketing. One of the challenges every business owner faces is striking the right balance between cutting costs and investing in growth. Here’s what you need to know, inspired by tech’s recent cost-cutting measures:

Sweat the small stuff, but spend strategically

Google knows that to succeed, they need to pay attention to every detail of their budget while still investing in marketing. The same principle applies to real estate business owners. Keep an eye on your expenses, but don’t be afraid to spend where it counts. Where does it count? In ROI (return on investment) and ROR (return on relationship).

Root out inefficiencies in your marketing ecosystem

The marketing world can be complex and inefficient. To streamline your marketing process, focus on creating a seamless marketing experience (MX). Just as customer experience (CX) matters to your clients, MX should be a priority for your personal brand. Everything you do and everything you send either contributes to or distracts from your brand. 

Bringing dreamers and doers together: The power of collaboration

Marketing thrives on creativity and data-driven insights. To maximize results, ensure that your creative and analytical teams are in sync. By integrating ideation and execution, you’ll deliver the best performance. Encourage open communication and collaboration between your teams, which will lead to more innovative and effective marketing campaigns.

Embrace hybrid channel solutions for better engagement

Digital fatigue is real, and an overemphasis on digital channels may hinder your marketing effectiveness. Remember that your clients live both online and offline, so adopt a hybrid approach to reach them wherever they are. According to a study by the Nielsen Norman Group, consumers spend an average of 5.6 hours per day online, which means there’s ample opportunity to engage with them offline as well.

Maximize direct mail ROI with smart strategies

Research released by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) in 2022 showed that direct mail generated an average ROI of 112 percent — which is better than email (93 percent), paid search (88 percent), social media (81 percent) and digital display (79 percent).

To make the most of direct mail, print smarter, not more. Adopt a digital-style approach that emphasizes personalization, offer management, modeling and testing. 

Leverage personalization and AI for better results

Personalization is a powerful tool for increasing engagement and ROI. According to a study by Accenture, 91 percent of consumers are more likely to shop with brands that recognize, remember and provide relevant offers and recommendations.

By incorporating AI and machine learning technologies into your marketing efforts, you can deliver personalized experiences that resonate with your audience. What is right around the corner? Hyper-personalized content powered by AI.

Create compelling content to boost engagement

In today’s competitive real estate market, creating and sharing valuable content is essential for success.

A study by the Content Marketing Institute found that 82 percent of consumers perceive a brand more positively after reading custom content. Focus on crafting content that educates, inspires, and entertains your audience to build trust and credibility.

Monitor and measure your marketing efforts

It’s crucial to track the performance of your marketing campaigns to ensure they’re delivering the desired results. By monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs), you can make data-driven decisions to optimize your efforts.

According to a report by HubSpot, companies that track their marketing analytics are 12 percent more likely to increase their year-over-year ROI. Here’s a life lesson, what we track improves.

Adopt a data-driven mindset for long-term success

Take a page out of Google’s book, and use data to inform your marketing decisions. By adopting a data-driven approach, you’ll stretch your budget and optimize campaigns for success. A study by McKinsey found that companies that leverage data-driven marketing strategies are six times more likely to be profitable year over year.

Keep learning and adapting

The marketing landscape is constantly evolving, and staying informed about the latest trends and technologies is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge. Invest in ongoing learning for yourself and your team to ensure you’re always at the forefront of the industry.

The real estate world is moving faster than it has ever before. Where the industry used to lag five to 10 years behind general business trends, in a post-Covid world, we have caught up and are evolving in real-time. 

Encourage a culture of innovation

Innovation is the lifeblood of any successful business, and fostering a culture that encourages experimentation and out-of-the-box thinking is key.

By empowering your team to take risks and explore new ideas, you’ll drive growth and stay ahead of the competition. A study by Adobe found that companies that prioritize creativity are 3.5 times more likely to achieve revenue growth of 10 percent or more. We see it as so important, we placed innovation as the second of our 12 Foundations to Luxury Real Estate Mastery.

Build strong relationships with your clients

In the real estate business, cultivating strong relationships with your clients is essential for long-term success. Focus on providing exceptional customer service and personalized experiences to create lasting connections. This is our saving grace moving forward. AI can’t do connection, trust or intimacy. Double down on building the elite agents who builds loyalty.

Don’t neglect your brand’s online presence

In today’s digital world, having a strong online presence is more important than ever. Ensure your website is user-friendly, mobile-responsive and visually appealing. Additionally, maintain an active presence on social media platforms to engage with your audience and showcase your brand personality. According to a report by BrightLocal, 87 percent of consumers read online reviews for local businesses in 2020, highlighting the importance of managing your online reputation.

Finally, remember that the key to successful marketing lies in striking the right balance between cutting costs and investing in growth. By adopting a data-driven mindset, staying informed about industry trends, fostering a culture of innovation, building strong client relationships and maintaining a robust online presence, you’ll set your real estate business up for lasting success.

The Fort Myers Mural Society invites the public to join in celebrating the first in a series of murals celebrating Lee County’s unique communities. The “Greetings from Pine Island” mural will be dedicated at 4 p.m., Thursday, May 11, at the Eagles Nest Restaurant at 10880 Stringfellow Road on Pine Island.

The mural project is a partnership between the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau and the Fort Myers Mural Society and is meant to highlight the unique attributes of each neighborhood in Lee County through art. Visitors will be able to interact with the mural’s design by taking and sharing photos that will stimulate interest in visiting the destination.

Placemaking is a new priority for the VCB, the lead marketing agency for tourism to Lee County. This collaborative process strengthens the connection between people and the places they share.

The ultimate goal is to improve residents’ wellbeing, quality of life and community pride. It also helps generate sustainable tourism and supports economic development.

According to VISIT Florida, “mural art is hot in the Sunshine State, inspiring travelers to go out of their way to take in the scenes, which have become backdrops for engagement photos and Saturday night selfless.”

VISIT Florida promotes murals statewide with Florida’s Mural Trail. There are approximately 117 murals in Lee County.

The mural has been painted by artists Doug Steward and Roland Ruocco, both of whom are Pine Island residents. Ruocco has been a member of the FMMS for 5 years and is delighted to have designed and painted the mural representing Pine Island.

“As a resident and local artist, Pine Island’s unique natural beauty, wildlife and serenity are elements that I appreciate daily and are expressed through my art,” he said.

The Fort Myers Mural Society is a non-profit organization with objectives that include the revitalization, preservation and economic enhancement of the community through the painting of murals that depict the rich history of the area.

For additional information on murals in Lee County, visit www.fortmyersmuralsociety.com.

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