2010 Projects!

My apologies that it's been nearly a month since I've written!

Since the Annual 10 week Celebration show, it has taken me this long to finally emerge into the life and schedule I now have before me. To keep work in front of clients and admirers, I dove right back into work with a new horse series and began a newsletter. Of course that couldn't begin until there was something to show! There's so much to stay on top of now: Newsletter, Website, Emails, Facebook Pages, LinkedIn, and Twitter and the Blog. The latter 3 got neglected here for a bit. And of course there's the ever present time invested researching and pursuing more gallery representation. The horse series are new works for the Aspen Gallery. The economy has hit everyone hard so I'm pulling out all the stops. I'm bringing them not only work for the horse clientele they have but the new works are appealing to those that aren't necessarily "horse people".

Most important, it gives me the opportunity to experiment and grow, take the work into another chapter. The beauty of it so far, is as different as the new work is - horse people love it as well. A friend at the show shared with me, "Those buying art right now represent a very small margin of the market - and they're buying only things unique - things not been seen before..." And not that my prior work didn't have its own look - but I believe it fell right in the middle somewhere. Not different enough on either side (traditional or contemporary) for this market. I'm learning and growing, that is always ideal!

Enjoy the new series featured: if time permits, I may do a 4th Study. This is the Andalusian Fire Series, this breed of horse was the finest war horse in the world. Study 1 is Spirit, Study 2 is War, Study 3 is Peace. Enjoy!

Holiday Greetings

I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday, New Year's is around the corner. I was fortunate enough to spend mine with family and put on a couple pounds due to some homemade butter cookies! LOTS of cookies.

I've been painting preparing for this show that begins in January:

http://www.celebrateart.com

It will be my first year exhibiting and I'm very excited. I was painting up till Christmas Eve, practically, still much to do. I'm working on a beautiful 40x30 Mountain Lion, the first of it's kind for me to do, the whole animal is in the frame and there's some more background in it than most. Halfway through I realized it was a snow scene, which I've been trying to avoid seeing we live in the desert and warm toned paintings sell better - but I just had to choose this piece because it was the most engaging story and the lighting blew the other options away. I hope others see it as I do. 

I have been sensitive to this economy and incorporated smaller sized works into my paintings, though everything I've read points to artists working larger, increasing their prices considerably, and having favorable responses because of it! I guess have a price that suits all, variety in sizes is the safest way to go here. And for those who like your work but can't afford an original, have some print options. Happy Painting and much success in 2010!

I must be insane!!

Dear Deborah:

 

Thank you for your correspondence and your interest in our Gallery.   At the moment we are not seeking any new representation and are in a mode of trying to downsize the number of artists we represent.  

 

Currently we represent 32 artists full time, and in a perfect world I would prefer less allowing me to better promote the ones I have.  So, when I look at new artists work, I have to ask myself  “who would I take down that I have sold before, so that I can see if I can sell this new work, or new look in the gallery?” 

 

Your work is very good and I thank you again for letting me review it. 

This particular gallery above is in Texas. Like the others, I thanked him for his time and reviewing my works. This process lets me know I'm taking my work in the right direction. In such an economy, and the future uncertain, no doubt this is probably one of the hardest times many artists have experienced...

I have recently learned that 90% of the sales from my Aspen gallery, are for clients visiting from Texas, Florida, and the Eastern Upper states.....could I be any further away from my market? I think not! But it is time to get creative and visible in those places, the most economical way possible!! 

Sign of the Times

Some strange things within the art circles started happening earlier this year due to the economy; it's only getting worse. 

First, artists that have been known to do "very well" that I exhibit with at an annual, juried art show made 1/2 of their normal sales - and those were the lucky ones, with many years of experience doing the show. Artists that continued on the art show circuit afterwards, had hit/miss sales. I couldn't justify this path; it's expensive and in this economy, I didn't see favorable odds for myself. To further this complication, many artists that have not had to depend upon these shows for sales, are now popping up left & right, we all know what happens in the law of supply and demand......too much supply.......slows down demand. 

I got my own firsthand experience; a show I locally applied for had 2 jury processes; I exhibit with some of the artists in this show. It's not a new show, just new for me and my first time applying. I passed the first jury process; not the 2nd. The letter I received stated how they had over 100 extra applicants apply and over 1,500 pieces of art to jury in. Thankfully this only cost me $25 to enter my submissions.

It's a good year to polish up those painting skills and work on inventory. I am preparing for the annual juried show a few months away, same one I spoke about above. It's local, good exposure, and the most economical show for me to do, averaging the cost and the number of days exhibiting - it's over 70 days long.