When I started this blog, I wrote everyday. As I'm sure you noticed, I'm now only writing on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. My marketing has paid off enough that I'm too busy painting to write everyday. I also don't want to run out things to write about. I'd rather pass on quality than quantity! But I had some thoughts I wanted to share briefly today.
I went to Munising, MI this past weekend to take the Shipwreck Boat Tours with my son and my dad. There happened to be an art fair going on, so we stopped to look. I walked over to a booth of paintings. The work was on the floor, propped against the table or sitting on table easels. Sitting quietly amongst this crowd of color and composition was a woman, watching people file past her. The art was decent, but seeing nothing amazing, I moved on the the next booth.
The person in the next booth had slightly better work, and was engaged with the people who came to see art. I went in to see his work. While I was there, I noticed a painting in the first booth that I hadn't seen. It was beautiful! It was a great painting of Miner's Castle. It was easily the best piece there! How could I have missed it? I went back to the first booth and looked again. I realized that the best work she had was hidden in a massive clutter of mediocrity. You couldn't see it from the front of the booth.
I said to the lady "I didn't see that one the first time. It's beautiful! It's the best one here." She picked up the painting, smiled and said "It's Miner's Castle." I nodded. "Yes, it is. And a very good one too. It should be out front where people can see it."
She kept smiling and put it back down where it was. Someone else saw it while she was holding it, and started his own conversation about it. NOW she was engaged with an art fan.
A few minutes later, I walked past a booth with some stained and burned wood. Not my cup of tea, and I started to walk away. Then someone in the booth said "Sir, you have to come in here and look at these!"
So I did. Still not my kind of work, but I was impressed with the attention-getting call to action. She made me stop and take another look. We talked about a couple of pieces.She offered me to make a deal, which I respectfully declined. Then she gave me her card. I thanked her for insisting that I come in. "Keep it up," I told her.
I wish I knew which artist sold more!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Targeted Repetition
Repetition, repetition, repetition! Getting your name and your art in front of the right people at the right time takes repetition. But it has to be the perfectly timed and targeted repetition.
It usually is not enough to simply advertise. It's expensive, and it's like using a shotgun to kill a fly. Buying ads in the newspaper will get your name out, but who will care? Sending postcards to a random list will get your art out, but who will keep it, and who will throw it away? Having a website helps, but who will look at it and how will they find it? Here's how I found my target customer.
First, I went to the art fairs; I showed off a little when I could; I had a show at a gallery; I made contacts through the community work I do. Over time, I sold some work. I tried to get to know my clients. I wanted to know what drove them to buy art from me.
Once I had a decent list of clients, I began looking for similarities. This can be tricky, because there are really very few of my collectors that are like each other. For instance, a man in his late thirties owns a painting of mine. A similar painting was bought by a teenager. Still, I had something to start with.
Most of my collectors are college educated. Some are businessmen, some are quality control specialists. Four of my clients are teachers, from preschool to college. At least one of my collectors is an attorney. Five are musicians or closely related to musicians.
Almost all of my clients are involved in the communities they live in. One works -and volunteers- at the Marquette Regional History Museum. Another was a local librarian. Another conducts the music program at his church. Others work with youth in the local music scene. Most of my ideal clients support local arts and culture.
So now I had a picture of my ideal client. It was time to find them, and get them to see me. Finding them proved to be rather simple, since I happen to be involved in a couple of local arts organizations. Getting them to see me was the real work.
It usually is not enough to simply advertise. It's expensive, and it's like using a shotgun to kill a fly. Buying ads in the newspaper will get your name out, but who will care? Sending postcards to a random list will get your art out, but who will keep it, and who will throw it away? Having a website helps, but who will look at it and how will they find it? Here's how I found my target customer.
First, I went to the art fairs; I showed off a little when I could; I had a show at a gallery; I made contacts through the community work I do. Over time, I sold some work. I tried to get to know my clients. I wanted to know what drove them to buy art from me.
Once I had a decent list of clients, I began looking for similarities. This can be tricky, because there are really very few of my collectors that are like each other. For instance, a man in his late thirties owns a painting of mine. A similar painting was bought by a teenager. Still, I had something to start with.
Most of my collectors are college educated. Some are businessmen, some are quality control specialists. Four of my clients are teachers, from preschool to college. At least one of my collectors is an attorney. Five are musicians or closely related to musicians.
Almost all of my clients are involved in the communities they live in. One works -and volunteers- at the Marquette Regional History Museum. Another was a local librarian. Another conducts the music program at his church. Others work with youth in the local music scene. Most of my ideal clients support local arts and culture.
So now I had a picture of my ideal client. It was time to find them, and get them to see me. Finding them proved to be rather simple, since I happen to be involved in a couple of local arts organizations. Getting them to see me was the real work.
Monday, June 27, 2011
That Most Elusive Conversation
When you're marketing your art, or anything else, you aren't just letting people know it's there. You're trying to have a conversation with someone's imagination, or you're trying to enter a conversation someone is already having in their head. How do you do that?
I've struggled with learning to advertise and market because I've hardly ever paid any attention to ads. My ten-year-old son is a different story! He loves commercials. He loves football and hockey, but I think he likes the glam, glitz and excitement that the marketers have so skillfully cultivated leading up to a game.
When he was little, we were at the grocery store. He said "Dad, you wanna get some Pilsbury Toaster Strudel? They're in your grocer's freezer."
Recently, my son and I were at a local restaurant with the Ren Fest committee, and we balked at the high menu prices. The treasurer told us that a nearby restaurant was even worse; their hamburgers were $8! Right on queue, my son said "That must be a good hamburger!" He gets it!! He's a marketer's dream! I'm really pushing him to go into that career! In the meantime, I watch him!
I've never been that way. Mostly, I hated commercials. I hated the banners at hockey games. I knew what I wanted to drink if I was thirsty. If I wanted a hamburger or a pizza, I knew where to go. But now that I'm trying to be 'one of them', I needed to start thinking like them. I needed to start thinking like my son.
I realized that I knew where to go when I wanted a burger because of the commercials I've seen and heard my WHOLE life! Coke has been telling me to buy their drink since I was a baby.
But how can I, as a newly emerging artist, reach people I don't understand? How do I show them an ad that engages their imagination, when I don't have a clue as to what they are thinking?
This is what I'll try to cover in the next few blogs. Getting to the right people and getting them to notice and remember me.
I've struggled with learning to advertise and market because I've hardly ever paid any attention to ads. My ten-year-old son is a different story! He loves commercials. He loves football and hockey, but I think he likes the glam, glitz and excitement that the marketers have so skillfully cultivated leading up to a game.
When he was little, we were at the grocery store. He said "Dad, you wanna get some Pilsbury Toaster Strudel? They're in your grocer's freezer."
Recently, my son and I were at a local restaurant with the Ren Fest committee, and we balked at the high menu prices. The treasurer told us that a nearby restaurant was even worse; their hamburgers were $8! Right on queue, my son said "That must be a good hamburger!" He gets it!! He's a marketer's dream! I'm really pushing him to go into that career! In the meantime, I watch him!
I've never been that way. Mostly, I hated commercials. I hated the banners at hockey games. I knew what I wanted to drink if I was thirsty. If I wanted a hamburger or a pizza, I knew where to go. But now that I'm trying to be 'one of them', I needed to start thinking like them. I needed to start thinking like my son.
I realized that I knew where to go when I wanted a burger because of the commercials I've seen and heard my WHOLE life! Coke has been telling me to buy their drink since I was a baby.
But how can I, as a newly emerging artist, reach people I don't understand? How do I show them an ad that engages their imagination, when I don't have a clue as to what they are thinking?
This is what I'll try to cover in the next few blogs. Getting to the right people and getting them to notice and remember me.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Things I learned at The Artists' Market; Part 3
I did something very foolish at The Village Artists' Market; I neglected to offer myself as a custom commission artist.
On that rare and wonderful occasion that someone buys the art I've created to sell, it validates me as a creative artist. It feels great to see my creation, my vision, going into someone's home making them happy. It means someone agrees with me about this important and personal part of myself. But, it is rare. Very often, people don't see that perfect piece of art.
One of my recent clients found me by searching for art on eBay. Apparently, my Google ads run somewhere in eBay's art section, though I haven't seen them. Anyway, this gentleman just wasn't seeing the right painting, so he asked me about taking on his project. We worked closely, exchanging lots of pics through email, and came up with something perfect for him, and profitable for me. Because of this story, I created a new Google ad:
One of the very greatest artists ever, Michelangelo, was also a commission artist. Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel. Later, Pope Paul III commissioned him to paint The Last Judgment on the North wall. Michelangelo was also a heck of a salesman, but I'll get into that later.
Commission art is a great way to hone my skill, get my name and reputation out into the world, and make people happy. But I make sure that people who hire me to paint their one of a kind art understand that I will be true to myself. I'll paint their dogs, cats, boyfriends or whatever in my own style that people expect to see from me.
I missed a great chance to sell myself this way at The Village Artists' Market. There were dozens of people there. Some of them showed some true interest in my work. This would have been a great time to express my sincere desire to help them own the absolute perfect art!
On that rare and wonderful occasion that someone buys the art I've created to sell, it validates me as a creative artist. It feels great to see my creation, my vision, going into someone's home making them happy. It means someone agrees with me about this important and personal part of myself. But, it is rare. Very often, people don't see that perfect piece of art.
One of my recent clients found me by searching for art on eBay. Apparently, my Google ads run somewhere in eBay's art section, though I haven't seen them. Anyway, this gentleman just wasn't seeing the right painting, so he asked me about taking on his project. We worked closely, exchanging lots of pics through email, and came up with something perfect for him, and profitable for me. Because of this story, I created a new Google ad:
"Can't Find the Perfect Art? LOOK:
Custom Art Direct from Artist! $200"
It has done fairly well.One of the very greatest artists ever, Michelangelo, was also a commission artist. Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel. Later, Pope Paul III commissioned him to paint The Last Judgment on the North wall. Michelangelo was also a heck of a salesman, but I'll get into that later.
Commission art is a great way to hone my skill, get my name and reputation out into the world, and make people happy. But I make sure that people who hire me to paint their one of a kind art understand that I will be true to myself. I'll paint their dogs, cats, boyfriends or whatever in my own style that people expect to see from me.
I missed a great chance to sell myself this way at The Village Artists' Market. There were dozens of people there. Some of them showed some true interest in my work. This would have been a great time to express my sincere desire to help them own the absolute perfect art!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Things I learned at The Artists' Market; Part 2
People sometimes need help turning their attention to where you want it.
As bold and colorful as my paintings are, folks still tried to walk by without looking. I say 'try' because I didn't let them go so easily. I'd spot someone walking intently to someplace beyond my display. I don't know what they saw, or why they saw past me. But I wasn't going to take it! I'd step casually out from under the canopy and say "Good Morning!" or "Hi!" With only a few exceptions, the would-be-passersby stopped to say hello, and noticed my art behind me. "Oh! These are nice!" Then we'd talk about the locations depicted in the landscapes, the imagination of the fantasy, and the meaning of the allegorical.
A few months ago, I was working the door at West End Community Arts Network (WeCan!) fundraiser. The fundraiser was a poetry reading, with some musical interludes. It was my job to hand out information about WeCan, and ask for donations. I positioned myself behind a table at the door. On the table in front of me were two boxes. One was full of chocolates and the other had a few dollars in it (I had put the cash in, so the intent of the box would not be mistaken). When someone walked in, they almost missed me. But I said "Hi!" and asked the good folks if they'd like a chocolate. That got their attention! They were good chocolates, too. Lindor's Truffles! They looked down at the delicious box, and saw the money box.
Whether they refused a chocolate or took one, I handed them a brochure explaining WeCan's mission. Then the donation box started filling up. I didn't ask for any money.
So don't let people walk by! Do something to get them to slow down and take a look. Get them to talk, laugh, connect, and maybe they'll buy!
...Or maybe they won't!
As bold and colorful as my paintings are, folks still tried to walk by without looking. I say 'try' because I didn't let them go so easily. I'd spot someone walking intently to someplace beyond my display. I don't know what they saw, or why they saw past me. But I wasn't going to take it! I'd step casually out from under the canopy and say "Good Morning!" or "Hi!" With only a few exceptions, the would-be-passersby stopped to say hello, and noticed my art behind me. "Oh! These are nice!" Then we'd talk about the locations depicted in the landscapes, the imagination of the fantasy, and the meaning of the allegorical.
A few months ago, I was working the door at West End Community Arts Network (WeCan!) fundraiser. The fundraiser was a poetry reading, with some musical interludes. It was my job to hand out information about WeCan, and ask for donations. I positioned myself behind a table at the door. On the table in front of me were two boxes. One was full of chocolates and the other had a few dollars in it (I had put the cash in, so the intent of the box would not be mistaken). When someone walked in, they almost missed me. But I said "Hi!" and asked the good folks if they'd like a chocolate. That got their attention! They were good chocolates, too. Lindor's Truffles! They looked down at the delicious box, and saw the money box.
Whether they refused a chocolate or took one, I handed them a brochure explaining WeCan's mission. Then the donation box started filling up. I didn't ask for any money.
So don't let people walk by! Do something to get them to slow down and take a look. Get them to talk, laugh, connect, and maybe they'll buy!
...Or maybe they won't!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Things I learned at The Artists' Market; Part 1
If you're just starting out in the art world, or you're learning how to market your art, I urge you to exhibit at something like The Village Artist's Market in Marquette. Check out Mango Lane Gallery at their Facebook page for more information.
I showed at the Village Artists' Market this Saturday. I didn't sell anything, but I sure tried! There was a fair amount of traffic, and a lot of lookers. I used the opportunity to hand out business cards, advertise my art for sale on my website, and to tell people that I would be at The Outback Art Fair in July. For me, being at an artist's market was like being a living billboard. I let people know who I am and what I paint.
I also learned some things I'll share this with you this week. I'll start with this: In order to get people to spend a lot of money, it seems that you have to have a big extravaganza... like an annual art festival.
I was thinking of auto sales. The dealers are open every day. But around here they have a huge, annual 'New Car Show' at the Superior Dome in Marquette, MI. It's a festive atmosphere, with lots of cars, and free goodies, and the best deals of the year! They sell tons of cars. People love an annual party!
Then I was thinking of football. Green Bay Packer tickets start around $70.00 for cheap seats. You couldn't get into the Super Bowl for less than $1000.00! What's the difference? One is a football game, and the other is a huge annual festivity!
Then I thought of all the years I've had work in a gallery. I sold a piece here and there, but I sold more work at my receptions than the rest of my gallery time put together. That's why they have receptions!
The excellent crafts people around me sold a lot of little things. But not too many people will stroll around on a random Saturday and drop $200 or more on art. Just like a person rarely goes to shopping and happens to buy a car. But if they know that a huge sale is coming up in the form of a festive event, they'll plan ahead on spending the kind of money I ask for.
Or maybe I'm just making up excuses for not having any sales!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Reminding myself to remember not to forget...
I'm going back to the Village Artist's Market this Saturday. This time I hope I won't forget my Art of John French banner! I have a bad memory. There are things I have to keep reminding myself of. Writing this blog has helped me with that!
I have to remember to believe in myself. I'm a firm believer in the power of positive thinking. A positive outlook and attitude will translate to confidence.
I have to remember to be humble. Nobody likes cocky.
I have to remember that just because someone doesn't dress sharply, it doesn't mean he doesn't have a spare $200 in his wallet and an empty space on his wall. Maybe he's a mechanic who just got off work, and he's looking for the perfect gift for his wife. Profiling clients is OK, but I don't want to take it too far.
I have to remember to believe in what I'm selling. I love my art, otherwise I wouldn't offer it to the world. I have to show people that I believe in my art, and my passion for it. Such energy pulsates with excitement! If I truly love what I do, and I project that in my talk and body language, people will feel it, and hopefully feel the same way take some of that excitement home.
I have to remember that as pretty as my paintings are, they may need just a little help selling themselves. People often want help making a decision. It's my job to help them with that decision.
I have to remember that as bright as my art is, people may not see it in a busy place, like an Art Fair. Sometimes a friendly greeting, a kind word, and a smile are enough to get someone to stop and look.
I'm hoping to have great things to write about next week! I've been told by a few of you that this blog has helped you and inspired you. I'm very pleased by that, and I thank you for reading it! I'd like to see you at the Artist's Market this Saturday if you can make it.
A wet and cold Village Artist's Market.
I have to remember to believe in myself. I'm a firm believer in the power of positive thinking. A positive outlook and attitude will translate to confidence.
I have to remember to be humble. Nobody likes cocky.
I have to remember that just because someone doesn't dress sharply, it doesn't mean he doesn't have a spare $200 in his wallet and an empty space on his wall. Maybe he's a mechanic who just got off work, and he's looking for the perfect gift for his wife. Profiling clients is OK, but I don't want to take it too far.
I have to remember to believe in what I'm selling. I love my art, otherwise I wouldn't offer it to the world. I have to show people that I believe in my art, and my passion for it. Such energy pulsates with excitement! If I truly love what I do, and I project that in my talk and body language, people will feel it, and hopefully feel the same way take some of that excitement home.
I have to remember that as pretty as my paintings are, they may need just a little help selling themselves. People often want help making a decision. It's my job to help them with that decision.
I have to remember that as bright as my art is, people may not see it in a busy place, like an Art Fair. Sometimes a friendly greeting, a kind word, and a smile are enough to get someone to stop and look.
I'm hoping to have great things to write about next week! I've been told by a few of you that this blog has helped you and inspired you. I'm very pleased by that, and I thank you for reading it! I'd like to see you at the Artist's Market this Saturday if you can make it.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Hook, but NO Line or Sinker.
I've been reading Zig Ziglar's book The Secrets to Closing a Sale . It's a great book, recommended to me by a salesman I work with. I suggest you read it if you're serious about selling your art. Sales is a very important part of marketing, along with self image, advertising, customer satisfaction....the list goes on and on!
I went to the Village Artist's Market (covered by TV6) because it was a great opportunity to support my friend at Mango Lane Gallery, and it's a new event, and I wanted to hone my sales skills.
I didn't get much of a chance to hone those skills. It was cold, rainy, and like I said, a new event. Four whole people stopped and looked. They were all great people! Just not art buyers.
Except maybe this one gentleman. He parked his nice newer car near me, jumped out in his polo shirt, nice jacket, and dress pants, and bee-lined it to me. "I love the colors!" he exclaimed. I thanked him. "I found this Russian artist on-line, and he uses great colors too!" He showed me some pictures on his phone that he'd downloaded. I agreed, the paintings he showed me were nice."I have pictures all over my house! All kinds of stuff! I love your work!" I thanked him again, and asked him which one he'd like. "Oh, I don't have room on my walls right now." I pointed out the small 11X14. "No, I just saw one at St.Vinnie's (a thrift store) and I didn't even get that one. I don't have anywhere to put it!"
So here's where I goofed. I thought that since he wouldn't pay $2 for a used print, he wasn't going to pay $175 for my original. So I gave up. I chatted with him some more, but I dropped the sales pitch.
Here's what I should have done: I should have said "Well, sir I don't blame you for not getting that print at St. Vinnie's! A two-dollar used print isn't worth rearranging your wall space for. But THIS is an original, one of a kind oil painting. Nobody has one, and nobody ever will except you until you decide to sell it. This will shine on your wall for years to come. You can enjoy it for the rest of your life. Isn't that worth moving some things around for?"
But I didn't say that. I let him go. I don't know if the line would have worked, but I never let myself find out.
So I've learned something on my own that Zig Ziglar writes about: never give up on closing a sale! Maybe this gentleman was just waiting to see the value and joy that I could offer him. Maybe he was broke. I'll never know!
I went to the Village Artist's Market (covered by TV6) because it was a great opportunity to support my friend at Mango Lane Gallery, and it's a new event, and I wanted to hone my sales skills.
I didn't get much of a chance to hone those skills. It was cold, rainy, and like I said, a new event. Four whole people stopped and looked. They were all great people! Just not art buyers.
Except maybe this one gentleman. He parked his nice newer car near me, jumped out in his polo shirt, nice jacket, and dress pants, and bee-lined it to me. "I love the colors!" he exclaimed. I thanked him. "I found this Russian artist on-line, and he uses great colors too!" He showed me some pictures on his phone that he'd downloaded. I agreed, the paintings he showed me were nice."I have pictures all over my house! All kinds of stuff! I love your work!" I thanked him again, and asked him which one he'd like. "Oh, I don't have room on my walls right now." I pointed out the small 11X14. "No, I just saw one at St.Vinnie's (a thrift store) and I didn't even get that one. I don't have anywhere to put it!"
So here's where I goofed. I thought that since he wouldn't pay $2 for a used print, he wasn't going to pay $175 for my original. So I gave up. I chatted with him some more, but I dropped the sales pitch.
Here's what I should have done: I should have said "Well, sir I don't blame you for not getting that print at St. Vinnie's! A two-dollar used print isn't worth rearranging your wall space for. But THIS is an original, one of a kind oil painting. Nobody has one, and nobody ever will except you until you decide to sell it. This will shine on your wall for years to come. You can enjoy it for the rest of your life. Isn't that worth moving some things around for?"
But I didn't say that. I let him go. I don't know if the line would have worked, but I never let myself find out.
So I've learned something on my own that Zig Ziglar writes about: never give up on closing a sale! Maybe this gentleman was just waiting to see the value and joy that I could offer him. Maybe he was broke. I'll never know!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Don't Lose Site of the Prize, but it's OK to take another rout!
When I first set out to become rich and famous before I die, I had decided to paint nice landscapes and fantasy art and sell them to people all across the country. As time went by I would get more collectors and fans, and I would slowly raise my prices until I could support myself with my art alone.
Things haven't quite worked out that way. I needed to change things up a little.
About ten years ago, I painted a picture of this fellow's house to give to his wife. He's a design engineer, and a damned good one. But he has no taste in art. When I presented it, I was shocked: He hated it. Imagine that! That never happened to me before. But he really didn't like it. I had to rework it several times. The colors weren't right because my camera didn't catch them accurately. Actually, the colors were OK, but he didn't like how the sunlight changed the color of the house. Since he was a design engineer, and demanded extreme accuracy, he scrutinized my perspective. I had to give him a lesson in vanishing points and how lines recede in the distance to these vanishing points (as opposed to isometric views, which look like perspective, but the lines are all receding at 45 degrees instead of converging at a single point). When he was finally satisfied, he gave me an extra $25 for my troubles!
Later, he asked me about painting his kids. I turned him down. You can understand why.
After that, I decided not to do commissions. I was disgusted. I let this guy turn me off. I let him get me down. After awhile, I became disgusted with myself for letting him control me. So I decided to accept commissions again.
Still, I wanted to paint what I wanted to create and let people come and buy from me. It's much more fun! I did a few commissions here and there, but mostly I created on my own.
Last year I finished up the second commission for one of my best clients, the small business owner and marketer of Hycreek Hunting Clothes and Gear. He asked me how my marketing was going. I admitted it was slow and expensive. He asked me how people were finding my site. I told him Google ads and Facebook ads, but they were slow and expensive as well. Then he asked me a life changing question: Why didn't I market my self as a commission artist? The first thing I thought of was the design engineer's house. Then I got mad at myself again! A painting I did ten years ago was NOT going to control me!!
So I set up another Google campaign, this one focused specifically on commissions. I also reworked ArtofJohnFrench.com to provide an easy way for users to contact me about commissions, as well as to highlight the commissions I've done. I'm developing this strategy further.
Guess what: It has worked! I've made a lot more money on commission work this year than existing work sales last year!
I've not lost sight of the prize, I've only adjusted the rout I'm taking to get to it!
Things haven't quite worked out that way. I needed to change things up a little.
About ten years ago, I painted a picture of this fellow's house to give to his wife. He's a design engineer, and a damned good one. But he has no taste in art. When I presented it, I was shocked: He hated it. Imagine that! That never happened to me before. But he really didn't like it. I had to rework it several times. The colors weren't right because my camera didn't catch them accurately. Actually, the colors were OK, but he didn't like how the sunlight changed the color of the house. Since he was a design engineer, and demanded extreme accuracy, he scrutinized my perspective. I had to give him a lesson in vanishing points and how lines recede in the distance to these vanishing points (as opposed to isometric views, which look like perspective, but the lines are all receding at 45 degrees instead of converging at a single point). When he was finally satisfied, he gave me an extra $25 for my troubles!
Later, he asked me about painting his kids. I turned him down. You can understand why.
After that, I decided not to do commissions. I was disgusted. I let this guy turn me off. I let him get me down. After awhile, I became disgusted with myself for letting him control me. So I decided to accept commissions again.
Still, I wanted to paint what I wanted to create and let people come and buy from me. It's much more fun! I did a few commissions here and there, but mostly I created on my own.
Last year I finished up the second commission for one of my best clients, the small business owner and marketer of Hycreek Hunting Clothes and Gear. He asked me how my marketing was going. I admitted it was slow and expensive. He asked me how people were finding my site. I told him Google ads and Facebook ads, but they were slow and expensive as well. Then he asked me a life changing question: Why didn't I market my self as a commission artist? The first thing I thought of was the design engineer's house. Then I got mad at myself again! A painting I did ten years ago was NOT going to control me!!
So I set up another Google campaign, this one focused specifically on commissions. I also reworked ArtofJohnFrench.com to provide an easy way for users to contact me about commissions, as well as to highlight the commissions I've done. I'm developing this strategy further.
Guess what: It has worked! I've made a lot more money on commission work this year than existing work sales last year!
I've not lost sight of the prize, I've only adjusted the rout I'm taking to get to it!
Friday, June 10, 2011
There's Plenty of Time for Quitting When I Die.
I don't consider myself an expert, or even successful...YET. I'm just an artist who is trying to make someone as happy about my art as I am!
This past week we've covered a lot of ground on this blog. It may seem overwhelming and impossible. Let me tell you, sometimes it will FEEL overwhelming and impossible. These are the times to try harder.
Marketing my art has become almost as much a passion as creating my art. It's taken me just over two years to get to where I am now. In many ways, I don't feel like I've done all that much. In other ways I'm amazed at how far I've come.
It was hard work! It meant busy nights, rushed afternoons, and full weekends. It's been disappointment after frustration, but I always managed to keep plugging away. If something wasn't working out, I tried something else. If I felt discouraged, I read something. (In fact, I once read that economic down times are a great time to create and market your art!) If I got depressed, I talked to someone. If I got confused I took a walk and thought things through.
2010 was a losing year for me, after what I considered a great 2009. I took to calling it 'my growth year'. Be positive! Instead of giving up, I learned about Google ads. I spent even more money, with no results. In October, I hung a show at Mother Fool's in Madison,WI, where I was sure I would sell, but didn't move a single painting! But I was so sure that what I was doing was the right thing for me, that I simply could not quit. Either that or I'm just too dumb to quit!
Then things started to turn around. At the end of 2010 one of my paintings sold at a benefit auction for $1000.00!! That was a boost! By November of 2010, I got two commissions due at Christmas time. Both of these commissions have lead to other commissions. In December I finally sold something from Michigamme Moonshine Art Gallery.
In February and March of this year, I was busier than I had been the whole year before. And just when I was about to pull my Google ads, I was contacted by a gentleman near Seattle,Washington. He wanted to commission a nude(see below)! Just last month I was commissioned by a lady in Florida as well as a lady just a few miles from here. I'm working on both of their paintings now. I have three paintings lined up for Christmas, with two more likely on their way.
You owe it to yourself, your art, and your prospective clients to never give up!
"Persephone of the North Woods" 2011, collection of Richard Clayton.
This past week we've covered a lot of ground on this blog. It may seem overwhelming and impossible. Let me tell you, sometimes it will FEEL overwhelming and impossible. These are the times to try harder.
Marketing my art has become almost as much a passion as creating my art. It's taken me just over two years to get to where I am now. In many ways, I don't feel like I've done all that much. In other ways I'm amazed at how far I've come.
It was hard work! It meant busy nights, rushed afternoons, and full weekends. It's been disappointment after frustration, but I always managed to keep plugging away. If something wasn't working out, I tried something else. If I felt discouraged, I read something. (In fact, I once read that economic down times are a great time to create and market your art!) If I got depressed, I talked to someone. If I got confused I took a walk and thought things through.
2010 was a losing year for me, after what I considered a great 2009. I took to calling it 'my growth year'. Be positive! Instead of giving up, I learned about Google ads. I spent even more money, with no results. In October, I hung a show at Mother Fool's in Madison,WI, where I was sure I would sell, but didn't move a single painting! But I was so sure that what I was doing was the right thing for me, that I simply could not quit. Either that or I'm just too dumb to quit!
Then things started to turn around. At the end of 2010 one of my paintings sold at a benefit auction for $1000.00!! That was a boost! By November of 2010, I got two commissions due at Christmas time. Both of these commissions have lead to other commissions. In December I finally sold something from Michigamme Moonshine Art Gallery.
In February and March of this year, I was busier than I had been the whole year before. And just when I was about to pull my Google ads, I was contacted by a gentleman near Seattle,Washington. He wanted to commission a nude(see below)! Just last month I was commissioned by a lady in Florida as well as a lady just a few miles from here. I'm working on both of their paintings now. I have three paintings lined up for Christmas, with two more likely on their way.
You owe it to yourself, your art, and your prospective clients to never give up!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
How NOT to Look Like a Scammer!
There are a lot of scams and scammers out there! Make sure the people who find you online can be sure you aren't out to screw them over!
Chances are, after awhile of art shows, exhibits, donations, volunteer work, frustration, insanity and bliss, your name will pop up in different documents all over the real local world, as well as the world wide web. When writing the entry about trust on the internet, I Googled myself and found that my failed (thank God!) attempt at elected public service was still showing up in news releases. Thankfully, so was ArtofJohnFrench.com!
You can use this new-found searchablity to show trustworthiness to your site users. This can be great back-up to any claims of legitimacy. If they can find you in other documents and articles, they may feel a little at ease about doing business with you.
This assumes of course, that someone has found you by searching your name. What if they find you through a general artist search? Your website is on their screen, they like your art, but how do they know you're for real? Make sure your site represents someone who is serious about delivering quality art.
Alan Bamberger is an art appraiser, art consultant, and general art guru. His website is chocked full of articles for both artists and collectors. I suggest you read both groups of articles. He wrote a book called "The Art of Buying Art". This book was written for inexperienced art collectors. Remember: It's always great to know what your prospects are thinking!This is our dream!
There is an entire chapter devoted to buying art over the internet. What I found is that buying art online is a touchy and scary thing to do because people are worried about getting ripped off. After reading this chapter, I gave my website a little overhaul.
First: I wrote a biography and installed it on my Guestbook page. In the biography I linked to most of the organizations' sites that I've been involved with. People can click on the link to the MSO and see my name on the Board of Directors list.
Second: I publicized my street address on the site. This was a little scary because of privacy concerns. However, I am trying to run a business, and people are comfortable with businesses that have actual street addresses. A prospect can even look at Google Maps and see my neighborhood, my old red minivan, and my massive pink house.
Third: Throughout the Guestbook page, I added pictures of me (in my suit coat, of course!) and my work at different events. This shows people who are shopping for art that I'm a real person doing real things with other real people.
Fourth: I offer a seven day viewing period. I don't like this idea. It scares me. However, art does not always show up well on a person's computer screen. Even if my pictures are accurate, a viewer's screen might have something wrong with it. The colors might be adjusted differently. It might be darker. So I let the customers hang their painting up and look at it for a week. If they don't like it, I get it back, minus the shipping charge. So far, I haven't had to do this! This will help ensure a prospective collector that they won't be throwing their money away. At least not all of it.
More recently, I've slowly started adding testimonials to my 'Art In Collections' page. This is my 'sold!' page. I put a photo of a beaming client with her new painting. This shows prospects that there have been very happy customers and clients.
After some hard work and patience, your life should be wonderful. Now when someone finds you online, you can show them how wonderful you are!
Chances are, after awhile of art shows, exhibits, donations, volunteer work, frustration, insanity and bliss, your name will pop up in different documents all over the real local world, as well as the world wide web. When writing the entry about trust on the internet, I Googled myself and found that my failed (thank God!) attempt at elected public service was still showing up in news releases. Thankfully, so was ArtofJohnFrench.com!
You can use this new-found searchablity to show trustworthiness to your site users. This can be great back-up to any claims of legitimacy. If they can find you in other documents and articles, they may feel a little at ease about doing business with you.
This assumes of course, that someone has found you by searching your name. What if they find you through a general artist search? Your website is on their screen, they like your art, but how do they know you're for real? Make sure your site represents someone who is serious about delivering quality art.
Alan Bamberger is an art appraiser, art consultant, and general art guru. His website is chocked full of articles for both artists and collectors. I suggest you read both groups of articles. He wrote a book called "The Art of Buying Art". This book was written for inexperienced art collectors. Remember: It's always great to know what your prospects are thinking!This is our dream!
There is an entire chapter devoted to buying art over the internet. What I found is that buying art online is a touchy and scary thing to do because people are worried about getting ripped off. After reading this chapter, I gave my website a little overhaul.
First: I wrote a biography and installed it on my Guestbook page. In the biography I linked to most of the organizations' sites that I've been involved with. People can click on the link to the MSO and see my name on the Board of Directors list.
Second: I publicized my street address on the site. This was a little scary because of privacy concerns. However, I am trying to run a business, and people are comfortable with businesses that have actual street addresses. A prospect can even look at Google Maps and see my neighborhood, my old red minivan, and my massive pink house.
Third: Throughout the Guestbook page, I added pictures of me (in my suit coat, of course!) and my work at different events. This shows people who are shopping for art that I'm a real person doing real things with other real people.
Fourth: I offer a seven day viewing period. I don't like this idea. It scares me. However, art does not always show up well on a person's computer screen. Even if my pictures are accurate, a viewer's screen might have something wrong with it. The colors might be adjusted differently. It might be darker. So I let the customers hang their painting up and look at it for a week. If they don't like it, I get it back, minus the shipping charge. So far, I haven't had to do this! This will help ensure a prospective collector that they won't be throwing their money away. At least not all of it.
More recently, I've slowly started adding testimonials to my 'Art In Collections' page. This is my 'sold!' page. I put a photo of a beaming client with her new painting. This shows prospects that there have been very happy customers and clients.
After some hard work and patience, your life should be wonderful. Now when someone finds you online, you can show them how wonderful you are!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Building Trust: Let the Community Know Who You Are!
Once the local art community became familiar with me, I made more and more friends and contacts. These new friends would not let me get bored! There are ample opportunities to better yourself and your career by taking a little piece of the art world and making yourself part of it.
Help out at art events. My first little adventure in the Magical World of Helping was when I helped the with set up at the Ishpeming Renaissance Faire in exchange for a small tent to use to sell my art. This was my very first art fair of any kind, and I was hooked. I was also hooked on the behind-the -scenes glory! I loved helping make something cool happen and being part of such a neat event.
Join an art organization. I got involved in The West End Community Arts Network (WeCan!) of Ishpeming, MI because I wanted to be involved in something big. Almost three years later, we're still trying to be big. Being a part of this group helped me meet Tom Cappucio, the Vice President at the time of The Marquette Symphony Orchestra board of directors. Tom eventually asked me to join the symphony board, which I did. This has been a priceless experience. I've learned a lot, and I've met many great people who love art.
Volunteer for a committee. Many Boards of Directors have several subcommittees that need help. Often these subcommittees are looking for help from the community, and don't require any board membership. Maybe it's a steering committee for a new organization, or a program study group for a museum.
Donate some of your art. I've donated a lot of art to organizations, charities, and benefit auctions.This may seem counter-productive to the idea of making money. But remember, you're marketing yourself as a likable person who cares about the community. This gets your name and your art out in very good ways. Just limit your involvement. It's easy to get over worked. I only donate to causes I care about, like the poor little guy with liver cancer, or The Upper Peninsula Children's Museum.
Care about your community. Help plant flowers! I helped the former Ishpeming DDA Director with some public landscaping. Now she's a client! Clean up the streets. Run for elected office. I'm currently on the Ishpeming Cemetery Board. I like that board. We don't get a lot of complaints.
Move! While you're sitting around, somebody else will be out taking your prospects!
This painting sold at the Children's Museum Auction for $1000!
Thanks Jake Gervais for providing this picture!
Help out at art events. My first little adventure in the Magical World of Helping was when I helped the with set up at the Ishpeming Renaissance Faire in exchange for a small tent to use to sell my art. This was my very first art fair of any kind, and I was hooked. I was also hooked on the behind-the -scenes glory! I loved helping make something cool happen and being part of such a neat event.
Join an art organization. I got involved in The West End Community Arts Network (WeCan!) of Ishpeming, MI because I wanted to be involved in something big. Almost three years later, we're still trying to be big. Being a part of this group helped me meet Tom Cappucio, the Vice President at the time of The Marquette Symphony Orchestra board of directors. Tom eventually asked me to join the symphony board, which I did. This has been a priceless experience. I've learned a lot, and I've met many great people who love art.
Volunteer for a committee. Many Boards of Directors have several subcommittees that need help. Often these subcommittees are looking for help from the community, and don't require any board membership. Maybe it's a steering committee for a new organization, or a program study group for a museum.
Donate some of your art. I've donated a lot of art to organizations, charities, and benefit auctions.This may seem counter-productive to the idea of making money. But remember, you're marketing yourself as a likable person who cares about the community. This gets your name and your art out in very good ways. Just limit your involvement. It's easy to get over worked. I only donate to causes I care about, like the poor little guy with liver cancer, or The Upper Peninsula Children's Museum.
Care about your community. Help plant flowers! I helped the former Ishpeming DDA Director with some public landscaping. Now she's a client! Clean up the streets. Run for elected office. I'm currently on the Ishpeming Cemetery Board. I like that board. We don't get a lot of complaints.
Move! While you're sitting around, somebody else will be out taking your prospects!
Thanks Jake Gervais for providing this picture!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Building Trust Locally: Start with Yourself
Building anything worth a damn takes time and effort, and that includes building trust. Having trust will help people be comfortable buying art online from you, especially over the internet. Start by getting your name, your art and yourself in front of people's eyes!
Get out of the studio.When trying to market your art and yourself, it's important to get out into your local art world and get seen, get involved, and get known. You want to be an entrepreneur, and more than just an artist. Nobody ever makes a name for themselves by sitting around, except maybe that poor fellow who was fused to his chair. I've never heard of a famous reclusive artist, at least not while that artist was alive.
Get into a gallery. This should be the first thing you try. Aim high! Gallery owners and curators are all different, so approach each gallery personally about setting up a time to view your work. Don't just pop in with a portfolio. They don't have time for that. Don't email them a bunch of pictures. They hate that! A real, physical visit is best. Go to the galleries that might display work similar to yours, or at least display a wide variety that might welcome your art. While you're working at that, get busy with some of the other ideas listed here!
Exhibit at art shows. Get a booth at one of the arts fairs in or around your area. This will get you meeting people as well as showing your work. Relationships get started here. If you consider your work 'fine art', then try to stay away from craft shows. You won't be among the right crowd, and you're highly unlikely to sell.
Exhibit at nontraditional places. I've had my work at beauty shops, bookstores, restaurants, coffee shops, and even a kitchen cabinet display store. Very little sold, but I did attract a lot of attention. Part of marketing is repetition, getting your name out over and over.
Enter local competitions or juried events. These types of exhibits and events are generally judged by other artists or art lovers. These jurists likely won't be able to see your name on the art until after their decisions have been made. If you get in, your name and your work is out for prominent people to see. Usually there will be some sort of reception. You will have the chance to show yourself off! If you don't get in, try again next year!
Attend arts and cultural functions. If you don't make it into a juried show, go to the reception anyway. Go to other receptions around you. Go to museum functions. Go to concerts and plays. Talk to people. You'll find that you will often run into the same people at different events. You will start developing contacts and even friendships that will carry you far.
Once you've sufficiently exposed your work and your name to the local art and culture scene, it's time to get busy finding or making your place in the community.
Get out of the studio.When trying to market your art and yourself, it's important to get out into your local art world and get seen, get involved, and get known. You want to be an entrepreneur, and more than just an artist. Nobody ever makes a name for themselves by sitting around, except maybe that poor fellow who was fused to his chair. I've never heard of a famous reclusive artist, at least not while that artist was alive.
Get into a gallery. This should be the first thing you try. Aim high! Gallery owners and curators are all different, so approach each gallery personally about setting up a time to view your work. Don't just pop in with a portfolio. They don't have time for that. Don't email them a bunch of pictures. They hate that! A real, physical visit is best. Go to the galleries that might display work similar to yours, or at least display a wide variety that might welcome your art. While you're working at that, get busy with some of the other ideas listed here!
Exhibit at art shows. Get a booth at one of the arts fairs in or around your area. This will get you meeting people as well as showing your work. Relationships get started here. If you consider your work 'fine art', then try to stay away from craft shows. You won't be among the right crowd, and you're highly unlikely to sell.
Exhibit at nontraditional places. I've had my work at beauty shops, bookstores, restaurants, coffee shops, and even a kitchen cabinet display store. Very little sold, but I did attract a lot of attention. Part of marketing is repetition, getting your name out over and over.
Enter local competitions or juried events. These types of exhibits and events are generally judged by other artists or art lovers. These jurists likely won't be able to see your name on the art until after their decisions have been made. If you get in, your name and your work is out for prominent people to see. Usually there will be some sort of reception. You will have the chance to show yourself off! If you don't get in, try again next year!
Attend arts and cultural functions. If you don't make it into a juried show, go to the reception anyway. Go to other receptions around you. Go to museum functions. Go to concerts and plays. Talk to people. You'll find that you will often run into the same people at different events. You will start developing contacts and even friendships that will carry you far.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Building Trust on the Internet
The hardest thing to do on the internet is build trust. OK, maybe the hardest thing to do is to work with GoDaddy.com, but that's a different post. But building trust has got to be near the top. After all, how many of us have been scammed, or been the near victims of an attempt? How many of us have opened legitimate looking websites only to find a flashy spam page, loaded with pop-ups? It's little wonder an artist can have trouble selling art through a website!
So what's a struggling, unknown artist to do? Well, first of all, try to shed the 'unknown' part. It's not enough to send out postcards and buy pay-per-click ads if there is no reputation attached to your name! There's a good chance that anyone remotely interested in you or curious about you will type your name into a search box to see what comes up.
Have you ever Googled yourself? What did you find? Did you find anything? Hopefully nothing bad! If someone tries searching your name, and nothing comes up about you, then this may show a prospective buyer that you aren't active. If you aren't active, and you don't show up in an arts related document anywhere, then you may not appear serious about your work. So get active!
A quick aside: One can also type a name into a Google box to identify a scammer. By the time a scammer gets to you, he has likely tried his bullcrap on other people, and those people have warned other artists on forums and social sites.
Even before I built ArtofJohnFrench.com, I had started taking steps that would eventually increase my presence on search engines. Keep in mind, this was not my original intent. I joined the Marquette Symphony Board to learn and help. I got involved it The West End Community Arts Network to help foster an arts environment. I got involved with The Ishpeming Renaissance Faire because it's a very cool event that needs help and support from the community. Getting involved in the community not only helps the community, but helps you as well. This is one of those priceless perks that comes from volunteer work!
Once I began to get active in my community, my name started popping up in more and more places in a search. Now people can find out that I ran for Ishpeming City Council last November and lost!
Keep in mind that search engines are beginning to factor in your location when giving out search results. Someone in Marquette, MI searching for 'John French art' will likely find me, but someone searching the same thing in Austin, Texas will likely find a completely different artist. But that's OK; local is the perfect place to start building your name and reputation!
So what's a struggling, unknown artist to do? Well, first of all, try to shed the 'unknown' part. It's not enough to send out postcards and buy pay-per-click ads if there is no reputation attached to your name! There's a good chance that anyone remotely interested in you or curious about you will type your name into a search box to see what comes up.
Have you ever Googled yourself? What did you find? Did you find anything? Hopefully nothing bad! If someone tries searching your name, and nothing comes up about you, then this may show a prospective buyer that you aren't active. If you aren't active, and you don't show up in an arts related document anywhere, then you may not appear serious about your work. So get active!
A quick aside: One can also type a name into a Google box to identify a scammer. By the time a scammer gets to you, he has likely tried his bullcrap on other people, and those people have warned other artists on forums and social sites.
Even before I built ArtofJohnFrench.com, I had started taking steps that would eventually increase my presence on search engines. Keep in mind, this was not my original intent. I joined the Marquette Symphony Board to learn and help. I got involved it The West End Community Arts Network to help foster an arts environment. I got involved with The Ishpeming Renaissance Faire because it's a very cool event that needs help and support from the community. Getting involved in the community not only helps the community, but helps you as well. This is one of those priceless perks that comes from volunteer work!
Once I began to get active in my community, my name started popping up in more and more places in a search. Now people can find out that I ran for Ishpeming City Council last November and lost!
Keep in mind that search engines are beginning to factor in your location when giving out search results. Someone in Marquette, MI searching for 'John French art' will likely find me, but someone searching the same thing in Austin, Texas will likely find a completely different artist. But that's OK; local is the perfect place to start building your name and reputation!
The Dance
36"hX24"w Oil
This image showed up three times on the first page when I Googled 'john french, ishpeming'!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Selling Art by Educating
The Art of John French is not the only art that needs help being sold. Often education, as opposed to explanation, is the best way to sell.
Last night I went to my friend Carrie Biolo's Solo Marimba (+percussion) concert at the Marquette (MI) Arts and Culture Center. The concert took the audience on a journey from 'ooo' to 'ahh', from 'hmmm!' to 'huh?', from 'oh!' to 'WOW!"
When I go out into the world, my eyes and imagination are bombarded with bright colors, interesting textures, sparkling light and deep shadows. I'm moved to try to translate my heightened perceptions on to canvas, like my painting 'Striped Stone'.
I think Carrie Biolo hears things the same way I see things. Her ears and imagination are bombarded with sounds that become a composition. She loves to listen. While most of us hear the annoying din of construction, Carrie hears rhythm and tone. Carrie was in the audience at a Marquette Symphony Orchestra concert, and she was more intrigued by the sounds around her than the music on stage!
At her own concert, Carrie took the time to explain her fascination with listening to the audience before she played a piece called "FallZeit" by Gerhard Stabler. She performed it by dumping Legos into different sized metal bowls. Sometimes she would let the plastic blocks gently trickle from one bowl to the next, each ping its own tiny bell. Other times she would send them crashing into a medium sized bowl and onto the floor in cascades of plastic tinkles.
The sounds and rhythm were fascinating, but many people wouldn't consider this piece music. That's probably OK, because it was a percussion composition, not a musical composition. It made that audience listen. Carrie set up the piece beautifully by first telling the audience how she listens, then challenging us to listen. That made it successful.
I don't know how many people 'got it', and how many did not, but I can assure you that very few people would have appreciated it at all if Carrie hadn't have given us some education and insight to her world of listening. By educating us, she sold the piece to us.
"Percussion- Resolute Dot-Dot Cloud", 2010. Collection of Carrie Biolo and James Strain
Last night I went to my friend Carrie Biolo's Solo Marimba (+percussion) concert at the Marquette (MI) Arts and Culture Center. The concert took the audience on a journey from 'ooo' to 'ahh', from 'hmmm!' to 'huh?', from 'oh!' to 'WOW!"
When I go out into the world, my eyes and imagination are bombarded with bright colors, interesting textures, sparkling light and deep shadows. I'm moved to try to translate my heightened perceptions on to canvas, like my painting 'Striped Stone'.
I think Carrie Biolo hears things the same way I see things. Her ears and imagination are bombarded with sounds that become a composition. She loves to listen. While most of us hear the annoying din of construction, Carrie hears rhythm and tone. Carrie was in the audience at a Marquette Symphony Orchestra concert, and she was more intrigued by the sounds around her than the music on stage!
At her own concert, Carrie took the time to explain her fascination with listening to the audience before she played a piece called "FallZeit" by Gerhard Stabler. She performed it by dumping Legos into different sized metal bowls. Sometimes she would let the plastic blocks gently trickle from one bowl to the next, each ping its own tiny bell. Other times she would send them crashing into a medium sized bowl and onto the floor in cascades of plastic tinkles.
The sounds and rhythm were fascinating, but many people wouldn't consider this piece music. That's probably OK, because it was a percussion composition, not a musical composition. It made that audience listen. Carrie set up the piece beautifully by first telling the audience how she listens, then challenging us to listen. That made it successful.
I don't know how many people 'got it', and how many did not, but I can assure you that very few people would have appreciated it at all if Carrie hadn't have given us some education and insight to her world of listening. By educating us, she sold the piece to us.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Art is a Product, not a Salesman
Who would have thought that a painting of God carefully placing his Son onto the Tree of Life would frighten someone. Well, remember, art does not sell itself!
I've found that it's very important to be there when my art needs me. Recently, I hung the grouping below at Bell Financial Services in Ishpeming, MI. The poor lady who had to sit next to the paintings was uncomfortable, because she thought the two faces on the sides were demons.
I don't want people to dislike my art, especially because they misunderstand it! When I found out through a mutual friend that the lady was sort of 'weirded-out' by this work, I felt I must explain things to her.
The title of the grouping together is called "Ein Sof", which is a Kabbalist term for God, meaning 'Infinite', 'Unending' or 'Endless One'. The large picture which anchors the grouping is called simply 'Trinity'. It depicts God in mysterious terms, the Son, and the Holy Spirit which surrounds and envelopes the figures in warm, glowing real gold leaf! It's an abstract representation of an abstract idea. The tree represents the tree of life, also a Kabbalah term, or simply life on Earth.
The two small portraits are simply called 'Female', and 'Male'. They represent balance, more Kaballah, as well as humanity and Adam and Eve.
No Demons! It's spiritual art( not religious art), meant for contemplation, not discomfort. After I explained the paintings to her, she was fine sitting by them.
Just to be clear; the lady sitting next to 'Ein Sof' didn't buy it (it's still for sale). But there is NO way she was going to buy it as long as she misunderstood it.
So you see, not only will my art NOT sell itself, it will often lose its own sale.
I've found that it's very important to be there when my art needs me. Recently, I hung the grouping below at Bell Financial Services in Ishpeming, MI. The poor lady who had to sit next to the paintings was uncomfortable, because she thought the two faces on the sides were demons.
The title of the grouping together is called "Ein Sof", which is a Kabbalist term for God, meaning 'Infinite', 'Unending' or 'Endless One'. The large picture which anchors the grouping is called simply 'Trinity'. It depicts God in mysterious terms, the Son, and the Holy Spirit which surrounds and envelopes the figures in warm, glowing real gold leaf! It's an abstract representation of an abstract idea. The tree represents the tree of life, also a Kabbalah term, or simply life on Earth.
The two small portraits are simply called 'Female', and 'Male'. They represent balance, more Kaballah, as well as humanity and Adam and Eve.
No Demons! It's spiritual art( not religious art), meant for contemplation, not discomfort. After I explained the paintings to her, she was fine sitting by them.
Just to be clear; the lady sitting next to 'Ein Sof' didn't buy it (it's still for sale). But there is NO way she was going to buy it as long as she misunderstood it.
So you see, not only will my art NOT sell itself, it will often lose its own sale.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
What do you call it...? Oh yeah: nuts!
Last night my high-horse bucked me off. I fell out of the pulpit. This is the insanity part.
I had a Marquette Symphony Board meeting last night. I had to give a report. It should have been a short, easy report. But you know how I hate public speaking, even in front of a small group of people I know.
I choked up! I forgot a word. A simple word. I forgot what we called the little party that we have after each concert. I froze up, then I started sweating. I looked at my notes. I couldn't see the word. I cleared my throat. They were waiting. I bet they were making faces! Now I'm even more nervous. I wondered if I was having a stroke. The harder I tried, the more I was stuck. I felt like George the VI in The King's Speech. Maybe that's why I enjoyed that film. I can relate to a king!
With some help, from our wonderful president, I finally got it out. Afterglow. What the hell was so hard about that? I stumbled through the rest of my report and shut the hell up. The president graciously thanked me, and we moved on. I suspect everyone forgot about my stumbling, but it was the only thing on my mind.
I wanted to resign right there. I wanted to make posters, and hide behind a computer with Photoshop and my email opened, maybe with some music. I didn't want to be at that meeting, giving reports, talking about fund-raising. I wanted to leave.
Thank God that feeling passed. I wondered why I had stubbed my mental toe? I have a lot of commissions for custom art coming in. They're all due at different times. Right before the meeting, I was making a list of clients and the due dates for their requests. I know this was weighing on my mind, and I wasn't giving the meeting the attention it called for.
Instead of quitting, I resolved to be better prepared, not only by having better notes, but by being mentally and emotionally armed to give this Board of Directors the kind of report it deserved. Focus! Next time I will dazzle them with information, rather than stun them with stupidity.
I had a Marquette Symphony Board meeting last night. I had to give a report. It should have been a short, easy report. But you know how I hate public speaking, even in front of a small group of people I know.
I choked up! I forgot a word. A simple word. I forgot what we called the little party that we have after each concert. I froze up, then I started sweating. I looked at my notes. I couldn't see the word. I cleared my throat. They were waiting. I bet they were making faces! Now I'm even more nervous. I wondered if I was having a stroke. The harder I tried, the more I was stuck. I felt like George the VI in The King's Speech. Maybe that's why I enjoyed that film. I can relate to a king!
With some help, from our wonderful president, I finally got it out. Afterglow. What the hell was so hard about that? I stumbled through the rest of my report and shut the hell up. The president graciously thanked me, and we moved on. I suspect everyone forgot about my stumbling, but it was the only thing on my mind.
I wanted to resign right there. I wanted to make posters, and hide behind a computer with Photoshop and my email opened, maybe with some music. I didn't want to be at that meeting, giving reports, talking about fund-raising. I wanted to leave.
Thank God that feeling passed. I wondered why I had stubbed my mental toe? I have a lot of commissions for custom art coming in. They're all due at different times. Right before the meeting, I was making a list of clients and the due dates for their requests. I know this was weighing on my mind, and I wasn't giving the meeting the attention it called for.
Instead of quitting, I resolved to be better prepared, not only by having better notes, but by being mentally and emotionally armed to give this Board of Directors the kind of report it deserved. Focus! Next time I will dazzle them with information, rather than stun them with stupidity.
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