Effective Management Association Newsletter - January 2026
- leisa30
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
"Failure of communication origin, then, results in failure of imagination. So the rehabilitation of communication origin rehabilitates, as well, the imagination. This is very good news, indeed, for anyone in the creative arts particularly. But who is not in the creative arts?"
- L. Ron Hubbard
Message from the Director
As we step into a new year, I want to pause and acknowledge the beginning of a fresh chapter for all of us. This is a moment for renewed curiosity, brave ideas, and deeper trust in our individual and collective voices. If you haven’t set your goals for the new year as yet, I urge you to do so. And we at EMA Artists are here to help you achieve your creative goals. Our purpose is to UNITE, SUPPORT and INSPIRE artists of all genres achieve artistic success using the Hubbard Management System. We'd love to have you join our artist community. I’m excited for what we’ll discover together in the months ahead—and for the art that’s waiting to be made.
– Leisa Collins
Featured Artist of the Month: Torsten Keller
Always fascinated at an early age with drawing and painting, Torsten begged his grandfather, who painted in oils, to teach him how to paint. Later on he interned with a successful illustrator in Germany, which inspired him to pursue a career in illustration himself.
This path led him to Art Center College of Design where he earned his BA with Honors in Illustration. Since then he has been keeping busy painting and drawing for various freelance clients.
Art is a continuing quest and the road never ends. Very much inspired by current and past artists, Torsten continues to push his own craft constantly.
Please tell us a little bit about your art business.
Since I could hold a colored pencil, I have been fascinated with drawing and painting. Christmas and birthday presents would usually contain some kind of art supplies. Ultimately this led me to art college and getting a degree in Illustration (with Honors). In order to make a living and stay in the area of visual art, I worked at various companies as a graphic artist. This way I got exposed to new skills and real-word application of visual design. So that my interest in drawing and painting would not be neglected, I continued to pursue freelance illustration projects and teach art at a number of local schools.
While I had a broad range of skills and a willingness to keep learning and adapting, I lacked organization. Although I was not unfamiliar with the Hubbard Management System, organization was completely alien territory to me. In particular, the Admin Scale1 has been utterly obscure. And I thought of the conditions2 as something you used to dig yourself out of the muck once you got bogged down. But I had an inkling that this view might not be quite right either.
In general, how has the use of Mr. Hubbard's administrative technology impacted your business?
I heard about EMA Artists and I thought this could be something that will help me learn the skills I needed to get organized. It would help me confront this subject I’ve been avoiding for years. I had to put myself into a situation where I was encouraged to learn the Hubbard Management System. By attending the meetings regularly and by listening to the amazing BusinessWISE podcast, I was starting to grasp the data. The series on the Admin Scale has been particularly eye-opening. This is exciting, because I see that this is how I can settle the confusion of how to bust through all barriers a creative person can encounter when attempting to make this a viable business.
I’ve never been short on creative ideas, but when it comes to staying on track or being organized I felt like a leaf tumbling through an alley. The Hubbard Management System has given me renewed hope that this crazy art endeavor can be done. I’ve always been good at creating a curriculum that others could do and I would ensure they did do. Now, it’s time I make such a plan for my art business so I can get myself on the road to making it happen.
What piece of Mr. Hubbard's administrative wisdom have you found particularly helpful in making your business successful?
Finally understanding the Administrative Scale of Importances and target philosophy has been a game changer. That, coupled with the organizing board and the conditions, provide solid tools that can help anyone drill through what lies in the way toward success.
Artist Members in Action
Leisa Collins, Visual Artist
Leisa just spent the last few weeks in her homeland of New Zealand. In addition to spending time with family, she held an artist workshop, was part of a panel discussion with artist opinion leaders, and also presented her Leisa Collins Historic Preservation Award to leaders of the Toroa Preservation Society in Auckland, for their ongoing efforts to restore and make sea-worthy Auckland’s only surviving steam-powered ferry boat. Leisa’s award was this original pen and watercolor painting featuring the 100-year-old Toroa sailing into the sunset with the famous Auckland Harbor Bridge serving as the back-drop.
You can find Leisa at www.leisacollins.com.
Leisa Collins, Visual Artist
Leisa presented her Historic Preservation Award to The Mud House Coffee Shop and Restaurant, which serves the community where she lives in St Louis. Not only did they save and restore the historic building they operate from, but they set an outstanding example of building community and promoting the arts. In this photo she was joined by the building owner, the business owner and the manager of The Mud House.
You can find Leisa on her website, Leisa Collins Art.
Misha Crews, Bestselling Author
Misha Crews’s holiday release, A Cozy Christmas Haunting, recently reached #1 on Amazon in Mystery Romance, Paranormal Ghost Romance, and Cozy Animal Mystery. Set in a snow-dusted small town, this warm and witty holiday romance reunites high school sweethearts as they explore the haunted halls of Mistlewood Manor—with help (and hindrance) from two very nosy cats.
Readers have praised the book as “a fun, lighthearted read… just spooky enough and very entertaining,” with one reviewer calling it “absolutely unputdownable.” The novel is the second release in Misha's bestselling collection of sweetly spooky romantic comedies.
You can find Misha at www.MishaCrews.com.
Sergio Barer, Composer
Sergio is a composer who writes primarily for choirs and symphonic bands. Last month, three of his works were recorded by members of the L.A. Winds under the direction of Maestro Stephen Piazza. The recording session took place in the chapel at California Lutheran University. The pieces—Jarocho L.A. 1, Jarocho L.A. 2, and Echoes of Mexico—reflect his Mexican heritage and his current life in Los Angeles.
The term jarocho refers to someone from the state of Veracruz, and both Jarocho works share musical characteristics rooted in that region, including distinctive rhythms, instrumental colors, and structural elements.
In additional news, Echoes of Mexico will be read at the Association of Concert Bands conference in Baltimore this April, and his choral work Should I Stay or Should I Leave will be performed at UC Davis on March 13.
Pictured here with Sergio is Maestro Stephen Piazza.
You can find Sergio at www.SergioBarer.com.
On the Lighter Side
This cartoon was created by EMA Artists USA member, Steve Gill, who spent 40 years traveling to shows all over the United States, selling his humorous artwork and making people laugh. Steve is the Resident Cartoonist for EMA Artists and his light-hearted works are included in each of our newsletters.
Poets Corner
Namaste
The divine in you mirroring the divine in me.
Dappled summer memories of breathing Life into living.
Finding peace in our oneness and love in our bond.
Sharing a journey home.
Poem and illustration by EMA Artists USA member Barbara Anne Dunn.
© 2026 Barbara Anne Dunn. All Rights Reserved
Interested in learning more about us or becoming a member?
Email us at: emaartistsusa@gmail.com
This month's quote from L. Ron Hubbard is from page 156 of the book Dianetics 55!
1The framework developed by Mr. Hubbard for managing life and work.
2Operating states of existence and the precise formulas for their improvement.
©2026 Effective Management Association Artists. All Rights Reserved. Grateful acknowledgment is made to L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce a selection from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard. HUBBARD and LRH are trademarks and are used pursuant to a license agreement. WISE is a trademark owned by WISE International EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION is a registered trademark. IA #012926EUS
Comments