Alternative Venues

Golden Marsh

Original oil painting 24x36"

by Susan Roux

Yesterday I got to play decorator!

A magnificent old house with tons of rooms was recently turned into A Center for Healing Arts Therapy. A dear friend gave them my name and voila it came to be that I received the fun job of hanging art throughout the space.

I brought 23 paintings (mostly large, some really large) and 7 photographs which I hand-picked from my husband, Michael McAllister's collection. I expected to have strict rules and guidelines presented to me, even a scrutinizing of what I intended to hang. But no. Complete carte blanche. How wonderful is that?

After unloading all 30 pieces, I had the two available therapists come give me an idea of their preferences. I wanted to hang images in their areas they'd really like. Aside from that, three floors of lovely colored walls waited patiently for my selection. Up stairs. Down Stairs. In the stairwell. Hallways. Waiting rooms. Rooms and rooms and rooms... So many rooms and doors, that at times I was getting lost.

During the process, another lady arrived and asked if I was the new acupuncturist. Oh no, I assured her. I was the artists here to hang art. Her face lit up and she immediately asked if I would hang some in her room. She unlocked a door to reveal a beautifully decorated space with one large empty wall. She was the message therapist and just entering her room made one begin to relax... I had the perfect piece for her. The 24x36" Golden Marsh posted above complimented her empty wall as though the room had been decorated with the anticipation of its arrival. It took her breath away... (It's actually softer than this older image portrays. You know how it is with photos.)

I won't tell you I wasn't stiff when I returned home. This was far from the normal workout I get standing behind my easel all day long! Seriously. Three floors, thirty pieces of art, but it was a good tired. Whenever the therapists' had breaks between clients, they were seen exploring the house examining what I had hung and how it transformed their space. The smiles couldn't be wiped of their faces. Wouldn't it be great to be able to market that? The look original art puts on people's faces. It's priceless, yet many people have never experienced it.

The center is having an opening soon and I'll use the opportunity to advertise it as an art opening as well. Will art sell there? I don't know. But I'm holding steadfast to the concept of being open to alternative places of exposure. Catching the Rain, as Eric Rhoads put it. After all, what are we suppose to do with accumulating inventory???

Rick was asking me if there exists an art orphanage to send them all to. I know I'm not alone in this respect.

What alternative venues have you found? Are they working? Sales generated? Please share your findings.

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