Friday, July 30, 2010
Workshop Mania
Cuisine Art at the Alton Mill was a success. We had lots of people out to enjoy the art and the atmospere. All in all, for me it was a good deal. We are still working toward orders and shows. I have had lots of great workshop opportunities lately. Tony Clennell, Cathi Jefferson and Jessica Steinhuis have all put on some very informative little workshops out at Tuckers in the last few months. I am trying to squeeze in these new skills into my regular throwing.I have seen how to make upsidedown bowls, pulled spouts and sectional pieces being put together for much larger pots. Lots of pottery to make in the next month or so. August is going to be a wild month. There is way too much scheduled.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Underexposed
As a working artist, usually there comes a time, where we need to think about exposure and how to get it, or ultimately we will be left underexposed. Our choices are wholesale, shows and commissions.
Wholesale seems like we have devalued ourselves, before we have even began, yet it is a great place to start to get exposure to a larger market.We prepare a cross-section of works and discount them. Selling in volume is key. Sell only items which we are willing to sell at a discounted rate. Items with high labour and low profit to begin with (lost leaders so to speak) are not the items to wholesale.
Shows are another way of getting known and selling work. Having an annual show of our own is one of the first places to start. Following this with a number of local shows which are not too expensive, have reduced travel time and still give us the opportunity to advertise & sell our works, is the next step. Once you have a group of shows that give you the feel for the show curcuit, move on to some larger shows. More expensive entry and promise of volumes of people do not always pan out so sort through the opportunities with logic. Tips from other artists as to which shows work and which ones do not are also helpful. Keeping in mind though, that a show that is a complete success or complete flop one year can be the exact opposite the next year.
Commissions are great to get visible to a new crowd of people and often amount to the same kind of profit margin as wholesale. We are simply not guaranteed sales, like wholesale.
Wholesale seems like we have devalued ourselves, before we have even began, yet it is a great place to start to get exposure to a larger market.We prepare a cross-section of works and discount them. Selling in volume is key. Sell only items which we are willing to sell at a discounted rate. Items with high labour and low profit to begin with (lost leaders so to speak) are not the items to wholesale.
Shows are another way of getting known and selling work. Having an annual show of our own is one of the first places to start. Following this with a number of local shows which are not too expensive, have reduced travel time and still give us the opportunity to advertise & sell our works, is the next step. Once you have a group of shows that give you the feel for the show curcuit, move on to some larger shows. More expensive entry and promise of volumes of people do not always pan out so sort through the opportunities with logic. Tips from other artists as to which shows work and which ones do not are also helpful. Keeping in mind though, that a show that is a complete success or complete flop one year can be the exact opposite the next year.
Commissions are great to get visible to a new crowd of people and often amount to the same kind of profit margin as wholesale. We are simply not guaranteed sales, like wholesale.
All options considered, find which èxposure suits your schedule, lifestyle and views as an artist, and you will not be left ùnderexposed.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Upcoming Shows:
The SGI labels are being prepared this week for the pre-show which begins next week in the Dam Gallery (in the Alton Mill Gallery). Pieces will need to be chosen tomorrow and info sent for the labels tomorrow or the next day. All of this is the beginning of a very busy fall season.
The Orangeville Farmer's Market will lead directly into
the Hidden Treasures Art Tour the weekend of September 18-19th.
The following weekend is the SGI Show kicking off the Headwaters Arts Studio Tour for the next three weekends. My participation will be in three locations during the HAST; SGI show, in my studio (B-10) in the Alton Mill, and a kids pottery workshop as part of Kidsfest(details to follow). My works will also be found in the Gallery of Rosemary Armstrong, located northwest of Orangeville on 3rd line of Amaranth, just above the 20th sideroad. The Headwaters Arts Studio Tour will finish Thanksgiving weekend. With about a month to spare, preparations will begin for the "Twas the Art" show at the Alton Mill which begins the last weekend of November. (Nov.27-28) and carries through the Christmas season.
Time will surely fly by. Summer months are typically busy and fall, being a transition time (back to school and into the Christmas season) will be busier yet.
A few other serious shows are currently being considered.
The Orangeville Farmer's Market will lead directly into
the Hidden Treasures Art Tour the weekend of September 18-19th.
The following weekend is the SGI Show kicking off the Headwaters Arts Studio Tour for the next three weekends. My participation will be in three locations during the HAST; SGI show, in my studio (B-10) in the Alton Mill, and a kids pottery workshop as part of Kidsfest(details to follow). My works will also be found in the Gallery of Rosemary Armstrong, located northwest of Orangeville on 3rd line of Amaranth, just above the 20th sideroad. The Headwaters Arts Studio Tour will finish Thanksgiving weekend. With about a month to spare, preparations will begin for the "Twas the Art" show at the Alton Mill which begins the last weekend of November. (Nov.27-28) and carries through the Christmas season.
Time will surely fly by. Summer months are typically busy and fall, being a transition time (back to school and into the Christmas season) will be busier yet.
A few other serious shows are currently being considered.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Mud Pies
July 6th 2010:
Day One of my blog and I am not sure where to start, so "here goes!"
Family and clay; two passions in my life. Clay has been a part of my life, well, almost forever. I remember summer days sitting out in the yard by the big rubber tire sandbox, very contently making mud pies. When the pies were made, I would set them out in the sun, and wait for them to dry. Those are my first memories of playing with mud. Those were glorious days. No real worries, just mud and sunshine.
Day One of my blog and I am not sure where to start, so "here goes!"
Family and clay; two passions in my life. Clay has been a part of my life, well, almost forever. I remember summer days sitting out in the yard by the big rubber tire sandbox, very contently making mud pies. When the pies were made, I would set them out in the sun, and wait for them to dry. Those are my first memories of playing with mud. Those were glorious days. No real worries, just mud and sunshine.
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