Improve Your Art Sales with these Seven Selling Points from Barney's Day Gig - Art Print Issues by Barney Davey

Improve Your Art Sales with these Seven Selling Points from Barney's Day Gig - Art Print Issues by Barney Davey

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!

Commission exchanged for Advertising!

So sorry for the delay in my posting here, December is ALWAYS is the busiest month! Not only are we in the middle of holidays and birthdays, but this will be my 4th year exhibiting in an annual national juried show  - only 3 weeks left to paint and get ready!

Not that I haven't had time to paint all year, mind you, but it always seems the best ideas come later in the year....so if I had everything ready - I'd wind up changing things and still be as busy at this time. 

Back to the commission, my dear friend Evelyn invited me to hang my artwork in her Dr.'s office earlier this year. She'd not accept any portion of any sales; so I decided it'd be only right to paint something for her she could not refuse - a portrait of her beloved pet, Sara. Just finished her and delivered her today, Evelyn loves her! Trade is always a great business card and at the same time, you can give a friend something priceless.

Telluride November trip

Greetings!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, I sure did!

Telluride was beautiful, peaceful and charming. Everything one would want in a mountain town. There's money there, no doubt. The restored tiny Victorian homes at the base of the mountain run $1,000,000...and up.

The gallery I'd contacted before I left had turned to only an online presence; the remaining "galleries" in town were not so much art galleries with paintings and sculpture - but rather boots and western ware, antique shops, photography, etc. The oldest and most successful gallery in town featured mixed media art, very modern. My best contact in town was the owner of the Western Goods' shop, whose wife is an interior designer. Together they service up to 70% of the interior design for high end custom homes being built in the area.

Telluride is a destination for the recreation, and that's mainly it. It was good to finally see it and be able to compare to it's big brother, Aspen. This year I've learned that true markets are not only a destination, but the art itself is part of the experience, a draw as well. When a handful of galleries popped up doing internet research for Telluride, I thought it was because the town is tiny. Going there you see the bigger picture; and learn what the place is all about.

Very fun to visit and take in the snow! - And the dogs - 1 in 4 people owned dogs and were out & about with them.

Aspen November 2009

We're in Colorado, it was time to see my gallery here and swap some inventory. We make the trip each year, sometimes twice, usually in the spring and again in winter. With things as slow as they've been, we only made it once.

Unfortunately, the majority of paintings I dropped off last year did not get any hits or sell; the good news is that they're going back in my inventory for either exhibition at shows or other galleries. It's so strange, you try and find a pattern of why something sells and other's don't, it's practically impossible. I have no answers, except they just weren't right for this gallery at this time; the same paintings could sell somewhere else or even again at this gallery in the future. In fact that's happened; one piece in particular, showed at the gallery for months, it didn't get much attention - I brought it back to AZ and it sold a few months later. Art sales are like matchmaking; it takes just the right person at the right time. In reality you're trying to market yourself to multiple persons, while being true to your vision, and yet, many of us don't view it that way. When something doesn't sell, we tend to take it inwards as if something is wrong with the work; either in subject, colors, sizes or all of the above. Try not to throw yourself under the bus.

They say bad news comes in 3's; I'm not superstitous though this formula does tend to ring true. Upon arrival, we learn our main contact is in the hospital; literally admitted the night before for surgery. There are a handful of great guys that sell for the gallery; I asked about the new young guy I met the year before who was learning the ropes of the business, his name was Ben. Very soft but frank, they answered: "he's dead, overdosed this summer". It took a few seconds to digest that, these guys are usually joking....but they weren't this time, said the "aspen life caught up with him". Could this trip get any darker??

Today we leave for Telluride, 9 hours or so to get there. They have some galleries there and I corresponded with a couple before we left. Until next time....

Small Works

Been busy with more painting; earlier this month I became a member of a local art league. It's very economical and you get on the mailing list of all their yearly events. 

I decided to enter their Holiday Small Works show; the submissions can only be "5 x 7" paintings and they exhibit for the entire month of December. My goodness, that is one tiny canvas!! Don't blink, you'll miss it! 

Since smaller paintings are more challenging to paint for me, I knew I couldn't over think it, just keep it simple. I really enjoyed the new color palette, they were very fun to do. 

In addition, I'm wrapping up a 30"x40" Equine painting for my aspen gallery, we leave next week to drop off inventory.

They sell my horses, but this year I'm giving them wildlife work as well; good way to test what response they'll have. 

Chapter of Happiness

Recently I saw an elderly couple on their copper Goldwing. What a sight; she was on the back grinning and they were both wearing matching orange T-shirts coordinating with the bike. No doubt her idea though he was happy to oblige. They were lost in their world; living in their own little chapter of happiness.

Ever feel like you're waiting for happiness only to discover later some of the best moments flew right by you? This journey through art for me, has been interludes of accomplishments and quiet reflection through even the most troubling times. I don't know if there will be a place that I arrive to and feel "there". The more I learn, the less I know, which opens up the heart to learn more. Truly, a never ending circle.

The pressure is on now more than ever; all this time I've handled another career on the side in graphics/advertising - to fuel my fine art. It was not a healthy climate; not only was my creativity extinguished, the boss was a dishonest tyrant....after 7 long years it has finally ended. Why did I stay? Why does anyone abused stay? You get used to it. It paid for art expenses, somehow no matter how bad things got, I felt if I deserted it, I'd also be deserting my dream.

Sometime in the past 2 weeks I altered that course, & decided I don't need to sacrifice to that degree - and the dream will still happen.