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Archive: Artist’s Cafe
This is a place for those conversation that don’t fit into the other Network discussions.
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90 Replies
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Hello! I would love to meet some of you Working Artist’s ahead of the course! My name is Lily, part of TWA team and with the course starting in just two days time it would be great to meet you. By posting into a thread you are able to follow it so introduce yourselves here… happy networking!
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Hello Lily,
I’ve just found this intro of yourself and realised you are part of the TWA team. I was beginning to suspect you had a bigger role. Then I thought, maybe she IS actually Crista Cloutier in disguise. I wondered why you didn’t post any of your own stuff but now it all makes sense having reread your intro! Well, good job to you for getting a bunch of introverts commenting using all your positive comments.
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Hello. I am Michal and I have just started the course as well. I’ve already met you in the last forum discussion when you introduced yourself. Hello Again.
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Hello to all of you, amazing people!
I have to tell you a good thing that happened to me! I’m not sure where to talk about it, so I’m writing it here in the “Artist’s Cafe”.I’ve always been a bit scared of being among artists and doing networking, because I’m always thinking that my works are not enough good to be seen by other artists, because I’m working hard on my rebranding and I kind of have the feeling I would like to erase everything I did before, to make room for new stuff I’m working on. I decided to not doing this, at least for now. So I focused on something else, I challenged myself doing something constructive for my business and for my (he)art!
Crista and other colleagues of mine told me thousands times to go to places, to meet people, to do networking. Finally I’m doing it and I’ve found out I’m actually good at it.
I was so unhappy last year because I was sure that here in Rome (where I live and work) It could not be possible to find cool places in which art is all around, young and emerging and talented artists share their experiences and stuff like this…I was sure about it. Well…I was WRONG. I’ve found a place that is international, it’s a cafe for artists and also a gallery. It is full of inspiring people, designers, architect, photographers. This place is everything I’ve always dreamed about and even more. They have contacts with collectors all around the world and they like my works!
Every night after work I’m going there. Even if it is not a party night. And even if it is very far from home.Never never never stop searching for what you need and like! And never think that you are tired and you’re out of energies!
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Hi Cloe
Thank you so much for sharing this, inspiring stuff! I think it is so great you have a new found confidence in networking and you have found a place where you feel so at home – not always so easy to come by! What is the cafe called? If I am ever in Rome I would love to drop by!
Lily
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Thank you Cloe – I relate to what you say. There can seem to be a lot of judgement in the art world or maybe sometimes we just judge ourselves too harshly – but I too have found I stepped back from it for a while as I didn’t somehow fit a particular group. It has done me good in some ways as I feel more confident to just be who I am, but now I am taking the next step and launching into the network again and trying just to apppreciate everyone for who they are and to learn and share at my own pace.
I am glad you have found a group where you live and work.
Looking forward to connecting here in this supportive environment!
Beverley
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Finding your “artist”cafe fits perfectly here 😀 Lovely to hear!
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Hello Lily,
Thank you very much! The Artist’s Cafe is called The Wolfftree, but they are closed now and waiting to relocate in a different Rome Zone. I hope they will reopen very soon. By the way the owner and I we are still in contact, so I will keep you updated. If you will ever be in Rome, please, let me know I will love to show you some good place around the city and to have a coffee.
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Cloe, that is so beautiful! I appreciate and am inspired by your courage and persistence 🙂
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There’s a lovely new post from ‘Brain Pickings’ on Oscar Wilde …
https://www.brainpickings.org/2013/08/27/oscar-wilde-on-art/
Oscar Wilde on Art & Culture.Shaz
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Ha ha, thank you Michal! Yes I am here for support and to guide anyone who needs help, and to chat and meet you all, it is really great and inspiring for me to seeing all this lovely work and interact with you all!
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Hello Everyone,
Thank you so much Crista for Saturday’s phone call, especially doing while you were sick. We appreciate it.
I had a question regarding donating paintings (works) to a Charity for a Charity Auction. The charity is doing a fund raiser and I was asked to give a couple of pieces. Actually my wife volunteered me without asking me…Another story for another time. Anyway… My question is do you have an Template Contracts? Or any suggestions regarding paperwork?, etc. For taxes, etc,
And I was not sure where to post this question so I thought why not the Café so everyone can chime in if they have some advice. Oh….And could this go on my CV??? Or where to put something like this? Thank you again.
Best,
Brad
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hi Brad – here are my choppy notes from the market section 🙂
charitable donations – no tax deductions except for materials. (consider donating 1/month and those that give you a free ticket to the event). give generously and wisely. does the organization connect with my subject & work? demand an opening bid, min 40% of value (i think 40). Find out the average selling price for the event. ask for an official receipt. will your website be displayed?
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Thanks Lisa for your thoughts on this. I currently don’t have a website at this time. I am sort of “restarting” things so I don’t have enough work compiled to fill up a website, I hope I will soon. The charity I believe already has their own “rules” set up I think. Since I was volunteered I really cannot get out of this so I am trying to make the best of things. I have two pieces that should be ready for the auction and I am working on another 3. They might be done but not for certain. I have one piece to be auctioned at $888.00 and another one for $999.00. I am told that anything above that is mine to keep. At this point I am just trying to gather info, etc. for the next time around and learn from this one.
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Hi Everyone,
I’m bursting with some exciting news that has happened due to this course and we are only a week in! I have been working on a drawing commission that was organised by a friend of mine for his wife. It was of her Grandmothers house (photos on instagram @stitchcolourpattern if you are interested) who died two years ago. His wife Jane was her Nan’s carer till she passed away in her 90’s. She was very close to her as her own mother died when she was a teenager so she spent almost every night at her Nan’s house growing up. It was a very challenging project but one that really moved me as I did it. I was challenged because it was a detailed drawing in a style that I don’t usually work in as well as having two solo exhibitions early this year that interrupted it terribly. But the look on Jane’s face when she received it on Saturday was priceless. She is not one for tears but she almost was in tears! For her that is a huge thing. (I was in tears though). She was completely blown away by the surprise from her husband.
Then today I had this idea based on what I am learning here, that I can offer drawings of family homes to people who have had to leave for reasons like aging, ill health, financial reasons, immigration, working overseas. For example, if I was commissioned by a family to do a drawing of the family home for an elderly family member moving into an aged care facility, the drawing may help them to cope with the transition and give a sense of continuity to them and the family when they look at the work. Then if the idea/business progresses I could also paintings and textile options if there was a demand and include portraits of people and pets…just thoughts at this stage.
So I called my friend who received the gift as she happens to work in an aged care facility in a very wealthy suburb in Melbourne and she loved the idea and would like to promote me and has given me permission to use her photos for promotion. She has asked for a brochure so I think I will get one together asap and start the process while the energy is moving and adapt as I go. I am so grateful to Crista and all of you for this opportunity and would love any thoughts. I will keep you informed as the process unfolds.
I am thinking about calling it “Home to heART” with a tag line of “Home is where the heART is”. I think my own heart is going to burst every time I think about this plan!!! It feels very scary and exciting all at once but I am committed to finding a way to sell my art so here goes……
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Helen – thats awesome! your excitement spreads through the post. if you’ve found a creative flow… i say go for it!
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Thanks for the encouragement TaLisa. I must say I feel a bit like I’m on a roller coaster right now, up and down with my emotions but theres a solid sense of knowing somewhere inside that keeps saying ‘go for it, it feels right’. I will definately follow that. I have a long history of fearing success and in the past have stopped myself when good opportunities have been right in front of me. I’m determined to keep going and see them, really enjoy them as they arise. I am in the process of writing up a brochure for the aged care facility. I just want to get something out there and go with the energy so I will keep you posted.
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Keep jumping Helen! And when things start to look scary, I tell myself ‘don’t look down.’
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Hi Crista. I was so moved by your message this morning. I am definitely jumping and moving fast and your imagine of not looking down has helped a lot. I feel less afraid. I’ve done a lot of work today setting up a new page on my website outlining my portrait commissions so that I have it grounded in reality and will tweek it from there. I have contacted my friend who received the drawing and she is thrilled to see it all laid out so quickly. My next step is to get her a brochure, so I am making the most of this opportunity in reality, not just in my head. As you recommended I am keeping my prices low and after I sell two more will increase the fee again. I’m travelling to Tasmania next Friday to hike the Overland Track (a bucket list event) so I have 8 days to get this happening, in some form at least. It has surprised me how many contacts I have ready to help already; framer, photographer, graphic artist and how the relationships are already solid enough to call them for a quick bit of advice so that was confirming today. They seem to be enjoying my energy and want to come along for the ride to help grow their own businesses in my local area. And it seems that this idea has been brewing for many years and now it has come together. I can see there is a lot of work behind it but now is the time, with the specific help of your course, to get it out and clarified.
Thank you very much Crista. I will let you know what unfolds. I will keep looking forward and up!!
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That sounds fantastic Helen. I can hear from how you write how excited you are. It’s lovely. I think it’s a lovely idea. It’s good to be a little scared too, to me that means we really want something. Good luck with it (the drawing is beautiful by the way). Look forward to hearing how it all progresses
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Thanks Sandra. Things are moving really fast here. I have put up a new page on my website which outlines my options in my new Home to heART Portrait Package range. You are most welcome to take a look at http://www.helenfraser.net.au/commissions. Please feel free to give me any feedback if you have any tips. This is all pretty new to me and with Crista’s advice I am leaping and not looking down! My next step is to update the details and descriptions on both my website and Artwork Archive sites as Crista suggests so that each piece has a short artist statement about it to guide my viewer/buyers. I need to update Linked In as well and the start working on a brochure/logo/business card that includes my new project. Will let you know how I go.
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Thank you for sharing Helen, it is great to read positive stories and I hope it will encourage others to come forward with theirs!
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Thanks Lily. No doubt there will be plenty of positive news as this course progresses. Things are moving fast here and I just wish I had more time to read everyone’s posts and look at website. It is hard to get time to scratch myself! I appreciate your encouragement and will keep riding this energy to see what happens….
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Hi everyone,
I have been wondering about how I should sign my paintings? I am wondering what will sound the best? Or easy to remember?
My full name is Bradford Wayne Rhoades
sign it “Rhoades” ?
or BWR?
or Wayne?
or BRhoades?
I really don’t know what would be best?
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Hi Brad. I think your first and last name sound good, you may not need to include your second name. So Bradford Rhoades – but a completely personal decision!
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I quite like your first and last name, but it is up to you!
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Hi – I actually quite like Rhoades – or both first and last – as you prefer. I just use initials now – but the style suits my paintings as they are quite intricate. Altho I use initials, my feeling is that you have an interesting name – so why not use it! That’s my penny’s worth anyway!! Would be lovely to see your work if you were able to post something, Beverley
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i must chime in on this one, as the unofficial name crisis expert 🙂 (see my artist statement on profile). i use to sign my work TLG. i liked being anonymous in way, without people making judgements based on a name. people seemed to naturally call me that on their own too. for example when i had a corporate job, they just called me TLG without even knowing i was an artist. also for as long as i can remember, at a very young age too, people naturally call me Ms. TaLisa. about 2 years ago a mentor suggested that i use my name. i knew no way i was using my whole last name, so i started very confidently signing my work “TaLisa.” – like I’m TaLisa, period, what else do you need to know?
Pick what you will go forth in confidence with!
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I’ve just finished Chapter 2 and watched the pricing video and taken to heart what Crista advised about treating clients specially. I have a few scenarios that I have come up with in my own career that have stumped me to this day and have wondered if anyone had any thoughts on them. (I must still be wondering if I made the right decision).
Scenerio 1:
At the beginning of my career when I had just got my first gallery to represent me in the city I lived in, the gallery owner coincidentally also organised a charity art auction every year (which I was invited to take part in via a totally different person). I began annually showing in the auction up to the maximum pieces allowed. (Thankfully, it let me set the minimum bid, gave me 50% of the profits and gave me a tax deductible receipt for the other 50%). It became a very important show for me because I had become a full time artist and relied on the sales which were very good at this auction and often led to more sales in the gallery. I had a big client who would bid on and win my biggest piece every year who became a reliable collector. One year he bid on a piece of mine against another person and they both drove the price up. My collector won my piece. The next day he saw a piece of mine in the gallery he liked better (which was actually already sold). He told the gallery owner that the work he had bid and won was not my best work and he wanted to trade it for the piece in the gallery. At this point the gallery owner called me to explain everything that had happened and was incensed with her client/my collector. It was now too late to find the other buyer at the auction and she didn’t like how he was treating my work like a library book, just return it and getting a newer one at no cost. But she left the final decision with me and gave me his phone number! Or maybe I already had it. I can’t remember. I really didn’t know what to do. I relied on the money to live but he was a good client, I would lose the sale from the auction all together and didn’t have anything to give him in return. Should I go along with his demands? Or do I call him on what the gallery owner had thought was outrageous?At the time I decided to not refund him for the work (the charity would lose out as well), told him I wasn’t a library to return pieces he no longer liked for a new one at no extra cost, but would gladly paint him a new piece in the same series as the one that was sold in the gallery for my normal market value price. I never heard from him again and he never bought my work again.
Now years later, I still go back to that scenario and I believe I would do things differently now. I would cater (to a point) to someone who had bought a collection of my work. I don’t really know if I would have had the power to refund something sold at a charity, but if I did, I now would. I would also might hint that this was a favour but that I was pleased he liked my work and supported me in my early years. For all I know he has burned all my work!
Or should I have let the gallery owner/auction organiser deal with it?
Scenario 2:
I lived in Canada years ago when I started my career and my work sold in Western Canada and my prices slowly went up. I have good representation there and I am loyal to my gallery. But 12 years ago I moved to the UK and began as a nobody artist again. It took me ages to realise the market was totally different there and what sold well in Canada didn’t sell well there at all. My prices had crept up in Canada and I found that if I priced equivalently in the UK market, no one was interested. They seemed outrageously high for a beginning artist. So I actually had to price at starting prices again. Luckily Western Canada and London, UK are far apart and I don’t price on my website. I totally agree with having one price across the board, as Crista said, but I had to somehow build up to that in the UK by starting lower there too. The result was I finally got a gallery’s attention (that is another story with a big question mark) and they agreed to the equivalent Canadian prices. But before that I had some very good deals in my open studios.So the question is, WWCD (What Would Crista Do) in this scenario?
Scenario 3:
Okay, I am going for it…I have always believed and been told the best way to get representation with a gallery is to have one of their artists recommend you. This happened for me. In fact, the top selling artist in the gallery was one of the other artists in my studio building and she liked my work. She recommended the gallery make a studio visit to my studio. After all, they came regularly to hers. I painted a series for them to show off what I did. They would arrange a date, then run out of time in her studio and tell me they would come another time. This happened a few times. Then the work that I had done for them started to be sent to different shows in Canada and I was left with the left overs. I just gave up and thought they weren’t really interested. Then suddenly I was moving back to Canada after 12 years and I wanted representation so badly in London before I left that I walked into the gallery and asked why they hadn’t come to my studio? Hey, I had nothing to lose, I figured. They apologise profusely and said they were just so busy all the time with art fairs but that they would come. So at the last minute it worked out. I framed up an entirely different series for them and had the dregs of the series I had painted for them there as well. They took it all. I don’t know if that is good or not. I would have liked them to have the really saleable and best pieces in the series. And now I am in Canada…with a different commitment that hasn’t allowed me to paint for a year…panicking that I am going to lose my London representation. What is the question here? What did I do wrong originally? They did say when they finally saw my work in person that it didn’t look like it did on line.
I guess the whole reason I took this course is to discover the mind of the gallery owner/dealer. That is where I feel I am stumped and at a standstill. I want to progress to the next level of gallery and my career, but don’t know quite what the best and most professional approach is to take is.
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I just reread my blurb above written quite late last night. Apologies for sounding arrogant. I definitely have more to learn than just how the mindset of a gallery owner/dealer works. I want to figure out what the failings and weaknesses in my approach and art are too. I really want to push through to the next level now.
Does anyone else feel a bit stuck in the midst of their art career? Not so much with the art (although maybe that too), but with the movement in the direction we are trying to head.
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yes, i feel stuck. but not really in the midst of anything. that’s why i’m here. before i enrolled i was just painting and painting, at least improving my work until i figure this out.
those are some tricky situations you mentioned above. i haven’t been in galleries, etc.
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I find all that you’ve written interesting and informative, Michal, so don’t worry about writing too much or too late at night.
I have read that you can have different prices in different geographical locations, so that fits with your UK/Canada scenario.
I’ve also read that you shouldn’t go storming into a gallery and demanding attention – so well done for daring and for getting such a good response. Maybe I need to be more daring, but I always think my work isn’t good enough yet.
As for the auction guy, you were caught between a rock and a hard place. Shame it worked out that way. Maybe in future, you could just refer the tricky customer to your gallery and get them to handle it.
Enjoy what you’re posting!
Beverley
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What are the points on our profile pages? Says I have 0 points 🙁
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i see now.. i earned a badge.
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Hi everyone,
Thanks so much for your supportive comments regarding my ideas re selling portraits under my Home to heART portrait package plan. Today I got my first commission for an embroidered pet portrait, the most gorgeous puppy called Oliver! And on Wednesday I am talking to my friend who has arranged a presentation at an Aged Care Facility so that I can show my work and talk about opportunities to residents and their families for my portrait packages. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would be doing this a month ago! Having read Cristas latest info about the Working Artist Kit, I feel more confident to put together my support materials for this talk which will happen late November I imagine, on return from my holiday to Tasmania. I plan to work on a plan for this before I go on holiday on Friday, so that I can be well prepared on return. I will continue to let you know what happens as this unfolds. And thanks again!! Helen XX
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congrats Helen! 1st commission of many!
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Congratulations Helen! Can’t wait to see the portrait when its complete.
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Hi All,
Just wanted to share something positive that happened yesterday. I was taking part in a local one-day art event and had stuck the new version of my statement on the wall beside my work – that is the statement re-worked with Crista’s words in mind. Near the end of the day a journalist approached me and said she found my statement interesting and could she interview me for a piece in a magazine. It’s a one-page column about expatriates that have made their lives in Belgium. Each month they interview a different person. She will come to my house with a photographer and interview me in my studio. Can but be good publicity! It was only after she’d left that I realised that I managed to speak to her confidently and happily – didn’t even blush. Definitely feel my confidence has improved thanks to the course!
Wishing you all similar successes,
Beverley
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Awesome Beverley! I was also at an art festival this weekend and posted my artist statement. At times I would wonder why someone was just standing there, then I’d realize they were actually reading it. One customer bought a painting as a gift and asked if she could have a copy of my statement. I gave it to her, but didn’t even think that someone would ask for it. Maybe I’ll make a small/postcard version of my statement??? It’s on my website, so anyone could print it off. Anyway, it was my best event to date. 🙂
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Great to hear Talisa! Congratulations
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Beverley, that is AMAZING!!! Congratulations, celebrating with you xx
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TaLisa, how awesome!!! I like that idea of having your statement on a postcard maybe on one side with a visual on the other. I can see how when someone purchases a piece for a gift, they would love to include an artist statement with it. Congratulations!!
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Hello everyone!
This is what came out from my interaction with people from FB which is my limited perspective:
“I am happy that the you liked my paintings but for me it is just one more painting. What is making my painting a painting is actually the people – you in this case! Unfortunately as it is meant to be there are sometimes paintings which are not man made creation only…in their bigger part – these are the original, genius paintings as the unique discoveries in science, etc…
How would you respond to such a situation, feeling, an inquiry? Aren’t we making artworks so they can make someone happy or sad, or just to pass on a feeling, a perception trough the work itself?
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Tsvetomir, maybe there is no difference? Maybe we create the work – or allow it to come through us – so that we can complete the equation by sharing it? I am reading “The Gift” by Lewis Hyde. It is a difficult book but it talks about how art is a gift – to us and through us.
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Yes, art is a gift that we have to work with and even learn how to nurture it in the best way as possible. I think this is the same for any profession. Just it is that I have been observing a lot the common person – what one likes, what one buys, how one understands, feels, perceives a work of art. Many people almost don’t see the artwork they are looking at – I mean they look at something and right away they start to compare, to think, to like, dislike etc… so there is nothing I can do about that 🙂 So my job as a working artist is to learn how, where and when I can best show and sell my works. So what I am facing is the reality of the working artists – be creative to make new artworks and be creative to share, show and sell your works! So as you are pointing out in the intro chapter “No one ever said it will be easy”. I did one similar painting 4 times for one customer. Did I enjoy it – NO! But I needed the money. So if I don’t want it to happen again I have to make it not happen again… work, work, work.
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Hi Crista
I just wanted to say thank you so much for answering my question on the coaching call yesterday, I managed to listen to it afterwards and it has really helped me. It’s good to be reminded that working with the gallery is a partnership. I think I sort of have forgotten that in the last couple of months, what with personal things going on, but I really enjoy working with her and since joining I have had my pictures in the Guardian and an interview in professional photography magazine, which was all down to her. Your comments somehow reminded me of that and I realise that it’s not all about sales (although sales would be nice!) So thank you for your advice, I feel more confident in speaking with her now. I’ve had rubbish Internet where I’ve been for the past 12 days so looking forward to getting back home and continuing/participating in the course! Thank you again
Sandra
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Wonderful Sandra!!!
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Love that Shaz – thanks for sharing!
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