What We Learned in Romania

Woo Hoo, we're back in the USA.  I don't know why I sound so excited, we actually were a little bit sad to leave Romania, but it's always good to be home.  We missed the cat, and she seems to have forgiven us for leaving her.  Special thanks to artist Deborah Ellington, who cat-sat while we were away.  I think the kitty was happier there, so I'm glad we came home when we did... they were falling in love.

We came back really happy though with the whole experience.  We accomplished everything we had hoped, plus a lot more.  We got the business set  up, hired an accountant, opened a bank account, got phones, and of course caught up with visiting friends and relatives that we hadn't seen in  years.  Bogdan's cousins own a winery, and ended up hiring us to do some video and photography for their company, so we actually had our first Romanian gig and actually deposited some money into that new account.  We're feeling really good about it all so far.

We actually met with a couple of artists and gallerists, and though I think they were all happy, they all lamented just how difficult it is to make a living off of art in Romania.  I guess that means that whatever our plan may become, we will have to look to Europe and online for our income.  That's just one more wrinkle we will have to iron out.

Back here in the states, we're getting settled in for the 4th quarter, and Bogdan is participating in FotoFest, the huge biennial photography exhibition and celebration here in Houston.  He'll be meeting with 16 reviewers who will consider his photography work for possible representation, publication, or exhibition.  Fingers crossed he makes some good contacts from Europe.  I know the last time he participated, it changed our lives significantly.  

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Season 2: Episode 14
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“Art Life Podcast with John & Bogdan” is a weekly blog/vlog/podcast that creates a community, a conversation, between creatives in all sorts of fields at all sorts of levels.  We want to discuss what we’re learning, what we’ve experienced, and whom we’ve met in our journey of running a freelance creative business. John Bishop is a visual artist living in Houston, Texas. His work is largely abstract, and explores how to turn mythic, archetypal symbols into individual experiences allowing us to see them in a new way, with fresh eyes. Bogdan is a videographer and fine art photographer who constantly seeks to stretch the boundaries of traditional photographic work, with the added flare of his artistic eye.  Both artists’ work can be seen online, or at their studios at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards Street, in Houston... and hopefully soon in Romania as well.

John Bishop: http://www.johnbishopfineart.com
Bogdan Mihai: http://www.bogdanfotoart.com
Bogdan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bogdanoninstagram/
John’s Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/johnbishopfineart/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnBishopart
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnbishopfineart
Buburuza Productions: http://www.Buburuzaproductions.com