What to sell... art or soul?

I've taken part in a new discussion on LinkedIn . A fellow artist asked about which genres of painting sell the most. I'm sure there are different answers from different parts of the world. So I offered my answer from my part of the world.
  First, what I sell most of right now are commissions. Of those commissions, lately a lot of them are portraits, like the one pictured below. But I'm still thinking of and planning for the day when the commissions slow down.

   I can tell you that I sell more landscapes than anything. I also see more landscapes being bought at events like gallery receptions or art fairs. 
   Many artists I know focus on local, popular, recognizable landmarks, like the Marquette Lighthouse. That kind of art seems to talk to the tourists. I have quite a bit of it in my own portfolio, and I've done fairly well with it.

   I've found that sometimes a subject which is not specific, yet still familiar works better than a specific and recognizable 'postcard' subject. A deep forest scene, a small waterfall, or a remote Lake Superior scene may speak more to someone than a well known lighthouse. People often fall in love with the atmosphere of a place. I've sold more than a few paintings of unknown places. A vague stream in the woods might connect more directly and intimately than a well known 'postcard' scene.
   Maybe that's why the painting above is still for sale while the one below sold almost immediately when I showed it.

   I've noticed that people like to buy art that has a not-so-obvious meaning, something that they can personally relate too that makes a connection to them, and something they can talk about. Like the painting below, which I detailed HERE.

    I like to paint fantasy type art as well, and I've gotten some sales with that genre too, though not nearly as many. There seems to be only an 80% to 20% landscape to 'other' ratio. Again, I sell more fantasy art if it has some 'hidden' meaning to it. Of course I have to explain the hidden meaning, but that's what I call 'selling'! Just like I sold the painting below after the admirer got connected by my explanation!

    Much like symphonies have to balance pops with more cultural classics, so must I balance my fun, fantasy art with more marketable landscapes and commissions. Not that I don't love the commissions or landscapes! Thankfully, my area is loaded with so many beautiful and moving scenes. Painting a landscape in this area is like painting a fantasy!
   The most intriguing  idea I've seen in awhile came to me through this discussion. A gentleman named Ron said "most of the great artists in history invented new genera's [sic] and styles. Then the public came to them, not the other way around." Fascinating!!
   More on that later!

Who are my competitors?

This year, at the suggestion from my neighbor, client, fellow business owner and friend, I began marketing myself as a custom, commission artist. That move has kept me busy! It seems people like the way I paint, though not always what I paint. I'm happy to oblige!   
   I found this link on LinkedIn :  http://www.lklfinearts.com/  This company offers to paint photos onto canvas, similar to a service I also offer. They promise to do a good job at a 'Favourable Price.' This  tells me they're cheap.
   I'm always trying to learn new things, especially from competitors. So I checked them out.
   The first thing I notice is the text is wrought with typos and grammatical errors. Now, several times I've gone to ArtofJohnFrench.com and found some typos that I've had to correct. I'm betting there are still some there. But this reminds me of the literature you get when you buy a cheap power tool. Obviously not an American business.  A closer look shows that theses folks operate out of China. 
   Next, I looked at the photos on their website. It looks like an oil painting sweatshop, and I'm betting theses are just the GOOD pictures! One photo shows young Chinese people painting away on what looks like an assembly line. Another shows dozens and dozens of paintings stacked up in a small room. The nicest photo shows a sunlit, airy gallery with a few people strolling through. But there are two nearly identical paintings hanging almost side by side. Yep, it's a rubber-stamping, oil painting sweatshop.
   I tried to find some prices, but couldn't without actually trying to order something and waiting for a quote. I didn't want to waste anybody's time, including my own, so I didn't ask for a quote. 
   There is some debate on whether or not price should be easily available. I think price should be displayed prominently, whether art is on a wall or on a website. This serves to 'qualify' me in a prospect's mind, as well as qualify the prospect. Even my base price schedule for commissions can be easily viewed on my website.
   I decided that this is not a competitor, any more than a poster company was a competitor. See, when people buy art, there are all sorts of considerations, including price. Do they need to spend $300 on a painting, or will a print do? Do they need to hire John French, or another artist? Should they take the time to search for a good, local artist, or just contact the Chinese company? 
   So in a way, this company is only a competitor if I let them. But I'm not going to compete with a group of artists on an assembly line in China selling cheap art. I'm not going to compete with print shops. I'm not even going to compete with other local artists.
   I'm going to compete with myself. I'm going to better myself as much as I can. I'm going to turn out more work, higher quality work than I did before. I'm going to create art that people will brag about, that they'll be happy to spend a little extra on. I'm going to keep people coming back. I'm going to get referrals. I'm going to get so damn busy that I won't have time to do all the commissions that folks ask me for. I'm going to have a waiting list. 
  This will create demand for my work, and give it value. People will know that they are getting one-of-a-kind art!
  
   
  

Friday Funday: The Three-Fold Path

Remember how I've said to get out and get involved? The painting I'm going to tell you about today was bought by Julie, who I met at an Upper Peninsula Publisher's and Author's Association annual seminar. Julie and I were both aspiring writers looking for information on how to publish our books. We became friends and kept in touch. Julie still writes, though I've put my book on hold in favor of my other projects. Anyway, Julie went to The Ten Year Anniversary Exhibit at Moonshine Gallery in Michigamme.  That's where she saw this painting and, after I explained it to her, fell in love with it.

   Remember, art does not always sell itself, and usually needs some sort of explanation. Note that I said usually. At the Outback Art Fair a lady was looking at this painting. I asked her if she wanted me to tell her about it, and she said "No. I like it the way it is!" Julie, on the other hand, wanted to know its secrets. So this is what I told her:
   The Painting is titled "The Three Fold Path". When we set out on an important path, we must do so with all of our physical, emotional, and spiritual strength. Or we will surely fail. The priestess with the sword represents physical attributes; the one with the flowers represents emotional attributes, and the lady ahead of the rest and holding a smoldering chalice( Holy Grail?) represents spiritual attributes.
  Sometimes the path is hard to see. That's why I made the steps difficult to make out in the brickwork.By the way, each brick was painted individually with four or more glazes of paint!
  The chalice is burning two different colors of smoke. The black, negative smoke blends with the Dragon's fiery smoke.The white, positive smoke blends with the mist in the mountains. Often, with negative attitude we create our own obstacles. Positive attitude will keep our goals in mind and weaken any obstacles.
   The eye in the mountain is an ancient symbol for wisdom, deity, and God. Here, it represents a completed goal, which for me is a great experience!
   The dove represents peace. It can also be the Holy Spirit traveling from the tree of life (the world) to the Otherworld, or the afterlife. The cat is mysterious and cunning. Both of these enigmatic creatures speak of mystery, wisdom and esoteric knowledge.
   Julie has gotten one of my favorite paintings, and I'm honored that she chose it. It'll bring her years of contemplation.
   You never know where you'll meet your next client!

End of a Short Era

The owners of Mango Lane Gallery in Marquette are moving out of the area to pursue other opportunities. While I'm happy for them, this sadly means that the gallery is closing.
   I briefly entertained the idea of a closing sale, like 20% off the paintings I have there. I quickly changed my mind. I don't want to get into the habit of marking my art down, even temporarily. This will devalue my art. It'll be difficult for me to sell it at full price ever again. 

   This would also be somewhat insulting to the other galleries I'm represented by. Imagine, The Vertin Gallery in Calumet offering a 18" X 24" for $325, while there is a similar work in Marquette for only $260!
   It would also be an insult to my collectors, the ones who have payed full price this year.  I'm working hard to get the price of my art to match the value. If I drop the price, even for a day, then that shows that it never had that value to begin with. 

   Since I won't be trying to draw people in with price, I have to think of something else to get them to stop in. Maybe it'll be time and distance? After Mango closes, my art will obviously move; some to Calumet, some to Michigamme, some to parts unknown! The Vertin Gallery in Calumet is about two hours away from Marquette. Michigamme Moonshine is about forty-five minutes away. Maybe people would rather see my art now, in Marquette, before it is far, far away.

   Mango Lane's last day of business will be September 16. My art will be available there until that afternoon!  Get it while it's nearby. Mango Lane Gallery is in the Village Shopping Center off of North Third Street in Marquette.

Friday Funday:Swandolas and Bird-dogs

   "Swandolas and Bird-Dogs", a 20" by 16" oil painting, is available at Michigamme Moonshine Gallery for $275.00.

Sometimes I like to let my imagination take me to odd places and meet odd people. Today, I want to revisit an old favorite of mine: "Swandolas and Bird-Dogs".
  I've been to Venice five times! When I was a kid, the U.S. Air Force stationed my Dad -and me and my Mom- to Italy. We spent four years there, frequently touring the rich culture and history of the Italian countryside and coastlines. Venice was near-by, only a few hours from our base at Rimini, so we visited the magical lagoon a few times. Once, when I was 13 years-old or so, my parents wanted to go again. I stayed behind because I was sick of Venice. Can you believe that?! I was sick of Venice? Dumb kid!
  Now that I'm older and nowhere near Venice, I'd love to go back! Someday I will, but for now I'll dream and desire. I don't recall exactly what went through my mind to create this painting, but I'm sure it had to do with a desire to see the dreamlike, fantasy-world quality of Venice during Carnevale di Venezia. The costumes, the masks, the festive spirit!
  I went through some old National Geographic Magazines I have in my studio. I found an article on Venice. I also found an article on trumpeter swans. Why not have people floating around on giant swans instead of boats or gondolas? Maybe they'd be called Swandolas. 
  Who would ride a swan? They're elegant and beautiful birds. People of Royalty used to keep them as pets in their gardens. OK, so a princess would ride a swan. Now I had the basic idea, it was time to start painting!

I sketched the layout in pencil on the canvas, then went over it with a dark purple paint mixture. Before the outline was dry, I started filling in the background buildings, exaggerating the height of St. Mark's Square. This kept the distant lines soft and hazy. 

I added light to the atmosphere in the background to bring out the architecture. Then I began defining the water and fleshing out the figures. 

I created the building just behind the Princess, and continued fleshing out the figures. Here, the dock worker's gondolier-style uniform is given more detail and color. The piling and cobblestones are starting to take form.

I brightened and finished the foreground figures, especially the Princess and her guard. You can see the difference between their torsos and their legs.

 

 

  Notice the 'birds'. No painting of Venice would be complete without a flock of pigeons! However, if you look closely, you'll see that they each have a dog's head. It's a funny part of my childhood visit to Venice that made its way into this painting. When I visited Venice for the first time at about nine- years-old, we went to The Doge's Palace. I misread the literature and thought it was The Dog's Palace. I wondered why it was The Dog's Palace, until my Mom set me straight.
   Thank you for re-visiting this creative journey with me. I hope you've enjoyed it. I'd love to hear from you, so feel free to comment!