Catching the rain

Hello Little bird

Original oil painting 20x16"

by Susan Roux

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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

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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

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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!

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Nosh

Garden Girl

Original oil painting 28x22"

by Susan Roux

Hit the road running.

It's been me these past few days. I was so absorbed in art la la land at my retreat, that getting back to reality was sure to be a struggle. My mind didn't want to think about anything other than art. But reality exists and it became time to return to it.

No sooner had I emptied my car of all my belongings, my phone rang with an exhibition opportunity. It was afternoon and I had a class to teach that night. In less than 24 hours I had to be hanging. I've never hurried so much to put an exhibition together!

The venue is a restaurant/bar in Portland Maine called Nosh. It's located on Congress Street in the heart of the art district. It's newly renovated and the menu is exciting, creative and fun. What a cool place! If you're around please stop in to see my exhibit. Some of my new "girls" are hanging there. It's a perfect opportunity to see them in person. (and they're so much better in person...) The opportunity came from Paul, one of my students. His art is hanging with mine for the month of March. Paul has been taking lessons for only a year and his work is wonderful. Do stop in.

Garden Girl is the second painting I completed while on retreat. She was a struggle. I've been working hard trying to depict nature around my figures while still keeping it subdued. I'm playing with layers of color that neutralize until they become only values. Ocean scenes are simpler to achieve. Gardens on the other hand are a real challenge. I use so many colors layering, it's difficult to have local color dominate. I do want to figure it out, so I keep trying.

I worked the better part of a day on her hands. It's the first time I ever really defined some. I worked with a large brush and had planned to continue them the following day with a small brush. Fresh morning eyes can be a gift. I liked the softness and relaxed pose on her hat. I decided against using a small brush to preserve the delicateness the larger ones created. Being totally immersed during this retreat helped me focus deeper than I could have at home. Full days in concentration has it's benefits.

Today is the first day I can breath since my return. The world hit me by storm with each day filled to capacity. I've been running and running. No wonder I resisted returning to reality. I look at the all the girls I've painted recently. They are the complete opposite of my reality. There they stand, relaxed in a world all their own. Not a care in the world, existing in a dreamlike state. You'd think I'd be painting chaotic hustle bustle scenes. Instead these girls just been pouring out of me.

Do you think deep inside, I wish I was this relaxed and carefree?