Habla Blog

By Pablo Solomon

We have all heard the “rose by any other name ,bla,bla”. However, when it comes to branding  that does not always hold true. Let me share my own experience as an artist promoting my brand name. For many years I struggled as an artisit. Like many artists, I thought that struggle equaled art. Then I married my wife Beverly. She had been a model and then in sales and marketing for Diane von Furstenberg, Revlon and Ralph Lauren. She shared a view of creativity and success that opened my eyes to the simple reality that art is a business. In fact, she reminded me that Andy Warhol once said that success in business is the greatest art. She also opened my eyes to another simple truth that many artists deny—great art does not bring great prices—art by well known artists does.

Beverly also took me to visit a dear  friend of her’s whom she met while working for a French cosmetic company decades ago. Marilyn by this time had gone on to persue her dream of photography and was specializing in wonderful photos of the French countryside and villages that she so loved. She and Beverly decided that I needed a makeover. So they pierced my ear, got me “artist” clothes and even worked on my posture.

Marilyn then suggested that I change my  “brand” name to my nickname “Pablo”. What a difference a name made ! In the past, I had used my legal name A. A. Solomon as my art name. Unfortunately, no one remembered it. And if they did, they associated it with “stock broker” or “scientist.” But as soon as we went with the “pablo solomon” brand (yes all small letters), things immediately turned around. I did more sales and got more attention in a few years than I had in the past 3 decades as an artist. People around the world immediately associated “pablo solomon” with art. Also because both “pablo” and “solomon” are familiar names, people thought that they had already heard the name somewhere.

Since going to the “pablo solomon” branding of myself and my art, I have been featured in books, magazines, newspapers, on TV, on radio and in film. I was chosen by PBS TV to promote their series Art in the 21st Century. I even was the first visual artist to have a solo show at Houston’s premier performing arts center–The Wortham. The number of commissions that I have received has skyrocketed and sales are strong. I am being contacted by the rich and famous, as opposed to knocking on gallery doors.  We are now living an exciting and  successful life that most people can only dream of.

So when chosing a brand name, choose wisely.  Even Robert Zimmerman decided that “Bob Dylan” was a better brand and the rest is history.

pablo solomon

Artist & Designer

www.pablosolomon.com

A. A. “Pablo” and Beverly Solomon

musee-solomon

7075 West FM 580

Lampasas, Texas 76550

512-564-1012

http://www.pablosolomon.com

musee-solomon@earthlink.net

For more information on our program, Brand You for Students, or Branding and Marketing in the Information Age, visit us at www.wardspeaking.com.