Monday, April 4, 2011

Catching the rain


Hello Little bird
Original oil painting 20x16"
by Susan Roux
sold

Did you receive an email from Eric Rhoads about catching the rain? He's the publisher of Fine Art Connoisseur and a few other artists publications. In it he talks about having alternative strategies in our difficult economy. Thinking outside the box, even looking outside the box, when seeking ways to market our art. We are all creative. I know a lot of you are marketing yourselves effectively over the internet. It does offer a wide range of avenues. I personally don't take advantage of them. I could learn a lot from many of you in this realm.

Frolicking
sold

I have been represented by galleries for the past decade. I sometimes have trouble with other marketing venues due to the prices my art requires, to stay abreast with my galleries. As you may already know, undercutting your gallery price is detrimental to your gallery relationship, your representation. I've struggled with this. It seems to limit my possibilities because I no longer have the freedom to fluctuate my prices to accommodate varying venues.

Hat Dance
sold

But I have to agree with Eric. As you may know, I hung my art at Nosh, a restaurant, for the month of March. I received less than a 24 hour notice before the show had to be hung. It would have been very easy to decline. But something made me hustle and get a nice selection of art on their walls. My prices remain high and sales were far from my hopes. At best I'd wished for a local gallery to stop in for lunch, see my latest girls and want to represent me.

Quite the contrary happened.

In one month's time, I sold seven paintings! I can't believe it. At a restaurant! I'm sharing this information with you so you won't close the door on opportunities you might think are pointless. We are all at different stages in our art journeys and what works for one person may not be the answer for the next. But keep your eyes and options open. Like Eric points out in his article, you need to reach out in different areas to find customers. Just imagine if I hadn't rushed to put an exhibit together in record time? I'd have missed all these sales...

Thank you my new collectors. You made my month!

sold

18 comments:

  1. Whoo hoo! Congrats on the sales!!! I think that is wondeful news:))

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  2. Thanks for the mention. Also you're right, we need to try lots of avenues to sell our art. Good blog- Eric Rhoads

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  3. So true about the venues. Right now I have my work at a bakery, a garden store, and soon will be hanging pieces at a library branch.

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  4. Wonderful artwork Susan! Thanks for sharing that tidbit of wisdom...something I shall keep in mind for future venues. And I thank you for joining and commenting on my blog!

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  5. Je te félicite pour ces dernières ventes ma chère Susan. Je ne savais pas que tu avais exposé aussi tes petits formats. Tu as bien fait, ainsi tu les auras vendus...
    Bravo encore!
    bisous

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  6. The "woman in the wake" painting series are beautiful, so sensual, well done. I find your blog always interesting and good info. Thanks!
    Jani

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  7. These women simply make me ache for the ocean and the sun. So gorgeous and the stories so fascinating. I am happy to have found you, Susan.

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  8. Congratulations on the sales, Susan! A completely different group of individuals frequent the restaurant rather than the gallery, I imagine. All three of the paintings are lovely.

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  9. I totally agree with you about the venues and I'm bad about that as well! Thanks for reminding us how important any opportunity could be. That was an amazing story!

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  10. Love "Catching the Rain," the innocence of it. Congrats on all those sales, Susan! I know of two other artists, possibly a third, who hang art in restaurants and do pretty well too, I think.

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  11. Wow, Susan, that's wonderful! Congratulations!

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  12. Awesome work here! Looks all so beautiful!

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  13. WHooooooooo HOOOOOOOOOOO that is absolutely FABULOUS!!!

    I read Eric Rhoads' newsletter and loved it but just didn't catch the wind like you do... Man you really put out those sails didn't you??? Way to go!

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  14. wow...Susan, what a great post! Congratulations! I had the same experience as you, I sold a ton of work recently.......at a church! Well, I learned that Unitarians love and buy art! Who knew? lol

    I can see why so many of your pieces sold...wonderful work!

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  15. Susan, I'm enjoying viewing your work. Beautiful

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  16. Wonderful post, Susan. So encouraging and thought-provoking as well. Your series of women at the beach is a beautiful one. I can see why they are being avidly collected.

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  17. Yay...jumpin' up and down....
    I agree that you NEVER know what's good until you try.
    Restaurants are becoming great galleries and the folks have plenty of time to view the art.

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  18. Excelent figures!..
    http://musabalan.blogspot.com/

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