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Archive: Artist’s Cafe
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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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