Competitions, Shows and Events

We are heading into one of the busy seasons for an artist ... spring brings the plein air events and competitions. Factoring these into the regular shows and competitions so time and resources are scheduled is not an easy thing for an artist. We also need to keep producing, keep up with marketing and new ideas, framing and inventory, not to mention normal family life!

Porch Vision
Pastel 12" x 16"

I have been busy moving paintings around in my studio area ... deciding what needs to be taken out of a frame and stored (older work), reusing the frames for upcoming shows and competitions, and to take to the galleries ... and to take to a potential new gallery for their decision.

I have a trip coming up and will be teaching my annual workshop in Florida. This year I will be taking a large commissioned painting down to a patron, a sold painting that was bought on time will be delivered along the way, and another sold painting from my Ireland trip will be delivered to a patron.

Along the Coast - Oil
Ireland Series

Before I leave, I must decide what paintings are being submitted to the Southeastern Pastel Society's International Show this year. When I return, I have to jump on another decision for another show at the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association. These are two shows that I always enter and requires looking at the schedules of submission, notification, delivery, receptions and pick up dates .... that is, if I get accepted! Setting aside paintings that are submitted so they are not inadvertently used in another competition, taken to a gallery or sold is important. I always submit my best work to any show ... which means my best paintings are sitting around waiting sometimes for six months or more.

I will be attending the First Plein Air Convention in Las Vegas this spring! This is an exciting opportunity as we get to attend different sessions with very well-known and exciting artists doing demonstrations or discussing aspects of being a professional artist. We will also be painting along with some of the wonderful artists. Another great session will be with Eric Rhoades who planned this event with the Plein Air Magazine ... about marketing. I can't wait! Can you tell I am excited ... and my friend, Candy Day, will be going with me. What fun!

When I return on a Monday flight from Las Vegas, I will turn right around and go to the Callaway Gardens Paint Out that night -- I am an accepted artist for this event. This is a week long event from April 15 - 22. So, if you are able, come watch us paint and attend several showings of the art. Here is one of the paintings I submitted for consideration for this event.

Willeo Park Misty - Pastel
Great Chattahoochee Paint Out
Best in Show - 2010

Just a couple of weeks later, I will be painting in Blue Ridge, GA for the Annual Spring Plein Aire Festival, May 4, 5 & 6 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). The Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association has some revamping of the prize money, the entry fees, and the location of the showing! This was in response to an invitation I sent out to last year's participants to give some input into how we could make this event better. Thanks for those of you that answered! First Prize will now be $250 and there are a total of five prizes this year. Entry fee for members is still a good deal -- $15, and non-members is $20. Sign up and join us for a great weekend of painting in a beautiful location. Go to the web site Blue Ridge Plein Aire Festivals and read all about it.

The weekend after that, May 12, we are tentatively schedule for another paint out at the Anderson Creek Retreat in the Ellijay, GA area. We have created a group of plein air artists that are looking for opportunities to paint in the State of Georgia. We did out first paint out last fall at this same location and it was quite successful ... though a little cold! This wonderful retreat asked us to come back in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom. We are "The Outdoor Painters" and a new web site is in the construction stage at this time. Candy Day and a friend came up with an idea and asked me to come on board to help. I will post more information about us as it becomes available.

Hmmmm.... one more thing ... I am still looking for artists in the Northwest Atlanta area to participate in our "Second Artist Studio Tour" this fall. The date has not been decided yet, so you will have input. Please contact me if your are interested at my e-mail: marshasavageart@yahoo.com. Remember we are not about "pristine" studios, but actual working studios ... and all different types of art, not just painters.  Well.... it is time to get off the computer and back to work in the studio. Let me hear from you! I'm always interested in what you have to say.

Demonstration and Talk

On Monday evening, this week, I met the Artist Guild of NW Georgia in Dallas, GA and did a simple oil demonstration and talked about how I market myself. The demo was more to keep the attendees from "nodding" off. I know when I go to an artist meeting and all I hear is talk, sometimes it is hard to keep my mind on what is being discussed. I have found the audience is more attentive when there is something going on at the easel!

All my Stuff!

The first photograph shows my digital photo screen I work from, my half-box french easel and all the other stuff ... along with a pastel on the left of the easel, oil painting on the wall, and oil plein air on panel to the right of the screen. There is even a small 4"x4" painting peeking over the white notebook.

I started out by doing a little talk about the digital screen, books I have published of my paintings, the shows I enter, and notebooks with sleeves of all the events, awards, competitions, etc. in them.

The Audience

Book of Paintings

Digital Screen
And Photo

The Pastel Underpainting

I answered questions about how I start with the pastel and alcohol wash even underneath an oil painting. Sometimes I do a watercolor "washy" underpainting, but for the sake of the demo and drying time, I decided to do the alcohol over pastel. Good questions, too!

The Alcohol Wash
Over the Pastel

Don't Forget Thumbnails

Starting with Oil Paint

After the initial covering of the underpainting with big shapes of oil brush strokes, I talked more about marketing. We discussed using our organizations for networking and being involved in them, other web sites to join, how to use social media sites, how to use a blog, etc.


Loading the Brush

There were many good questions about using Facebook also. I was asked did Facebook help me sell anything. My answer: "Yes, probably three or four paintings in the last couple of years. And I feel it is well worth the time I spend, but I am careful of that time." 

Using all these different on-line opportunities helps people learn about you, what you are doing, and also is a good way to give back to the artist community ... not to mention the community in which the artist lives. A question was: "With all the marketing stuff you do, has it helped you to be self-supporting?" Well ..... the answer was "No. But, this economy is part of the issues we face."



That was a good question!

Another item discussed was how two other artists (Deb Cook and Paula Landry) and I started an open studio tour in our Northwest Atlanta area -- we had 11 participants at 9 locations -- ranging from Smyrna, Dallas, West Marietta, Woodstock, and East Marietta. We had several other artists interested in participating, but had a conflict on the Saturday we picked. We will be doing this again this year in the fall and I already know several other artists interested. This is a good way to help people know you are in their area!

Am I a Music Director?
No, just passionate about what I do!

We talked about entering juried shows and competitions. They asked, what is my criteria for entering a show? My answer: "Money, but let me say it is the prestige of the organization or the jurors, also." I told them I am backing off entering too many shows ... though I have never done more than maybe four in a year. So, the answer is probably the best three shows I can find to enter this year. We spend a lot of money entering shows and competitions ... and I said "We get 30 and 40 dollared to death with these entry fees." Be judicious! Do the research into the shows and competitions before you enter them. Figure out why you want to enter a particular show or event. What do you expect to get out of it?

Discussed Making my Marks

The Painterly Beginning

Painting and Talking
During a Break

Talking More About Marketing

There were many things I thought of the next day I wished I had told them. There are so many things we can do to keep ourselves painting and getting our name and work out there. Most of all, my advice was to love what you are doing. Put yourself in the way of as many opportunities as you want, and be friendly. Have some short term goals as well as the long term ones. One other piece of advice I gave was to make "real" connections with potential clients and patrons. Be interested in them. What is it that they want. And I asked the audience: "Who is your client? Who would be interested in your work? That is where you need to be focusing."

I truely enjoy helping other artists. I think I learn more about myself every time I do a demonstration, talk about marketing, do a round table discussion, and ... of course teaching! If you have thoughts, I would love to hear them. Send me an e-mail, or comment to the blog and let me know how you are handling your marketing efforts these days! My e-mail is marshasavageart@yahoo.com .

Have a look at my web site -- though it is still being updated! I'm always producing more work ... besides marketing! It is a never ending task -- the updating is what I mean! Happy painting!

Artists Helping Artists

I have been talking about a meeting of artists for the purpose of discussing only the business side of our careers for quite a long while. Well.... I finally planned it, invited artists, and held the meeting!

White Pine Light
Pastel 12" x 9"

I had been calling it a round table discussion, but joked that I really did not have a "round" table. It didn't matter, we all sat around the room in various chairs and sofas and they introduced themselves, told their medium and what they wanted or needed to know, or what was the issue they seemed to need the most information about. Of course, since I put it together, I knew all the artists except one that came with a friend. We had 13 artists at this first meeting, and we plan to meet quarterly at a different artist's home ... that way a person that has to drive a distance each time will be different hopefully.





Grey scale of the painting

I put together some questions and e-mailed a Word document to all those on my e-mail list that might atttend the meeting. I created several blank lines after each numbered question so they could make notes. I am going to post those questions here for all to see (without the lines) .... it might make you think about things to help you. These were compiled from years of reading various blogs, articles, and talking to other artists.

Potential Invitees: Do you know another artist that would be interested in this group?

Topics of conversation: sales, newsletters, blogs, web sites, prints, studies, workshops, classes, galleries, organization (inventory, computer programs, photos). Do you have others?

Some questions – Add other questions you would like to see discussed:

1.         How many of you do active marketing of your work? What is your favorite method?

2.         What online venue are you showing your work on? How many different venues?
3.         Do you have a brochure, and business cards? Are they professionally done, or do-it-yourself?
4.         Do you have an artist statement, bio updated, etc.?
5.         Do you have a newsletter? How many times, or at what intervals, do you send out your newsletter? How do you accumulate addresses (e-mail or physical)? Are these addresses by an “opt-in” method on the computer?
6.         Do you sell at an online venue? What is your rate of sales?
7.         Do you have a set of questions you ask potential customers?
8.         Do you send thank you notes/cards after a sale? Or, do you have some other follow up procedures?
9.         Have you ever been involved in a studio tour?
10.       What is the most innovative way you ever sold a painting?
11.       How much has your sales dropped with this economy?
12.       What are you doing to find new clients / customers?
13.       Do you track the sales: who is the client, what income level, how did they find you, did they sign up for newsletters or notices?
14.       Do you target a certain audience? If so, how did you come up with this audience?  Who would buy your art .... most likely?
15.       Are you creating a body of work while sales are slow?
16.       Do you have a sales tax ID number? Or a business license? Or what is your reason not to have one?
17.       Do you make goals for yourself each year? If so, what do you think is the most important?
18.       Are you entering shows and competitions?
19.       Are you targeting any galleries for yourself? Or, do you think you would rather be your own advocate somehow?
20.       Do you belong to art organizations? Which ones, if you do? Do you get involved? Do you receive benefits (what?) from them?
21.       Are you willing to share your information on sales techniques? Do you offer a payment plan? Do you offer any discounts? If so, why and when?
22.       How do you support other artists? Do you think this helps you in your own journey?

Feel free to use these for yourself, or your group. If you get a group together for the same reasons we did, let us know how your meeting went. Ours was successful in getting artists to know they were not alone in the issues we have. Several plan to write down goals, or write down accomplishments .... or just start thinking of a better way to be organized.... and many other thoughts pertaining to some of these questions. Our next meeting we plan to zero in on just one or two topics to discuss in depth.

If you have ideas, let me know ... I would love to hear them and pass them along! Happy New Year!

Paintings of Waves

I have started a new series of paintings: waves! I so enjoyed standing in the ocean and just watching the waves come and go. I took many photos over several days of doing this -- in the ocean and from the shore. We were in New Smyrna Beach last summer and these paintings are from those photos. I did create a couple of sketches while sitting on the beach, but those are always just for me. The sketches on location also help me with the memories I have when looking at my photos. I can mentally transport myself back into that ocean and feel the water, the sun and breeze, and still smell the ocean! It helps with the painting!

Here is the first one in the series.

"Joyful Exuberance"
Pastel on Ampersand Pastelbord
8" x 10"

This painting was so much fun to do. I started with a watercolor underpainting which helped me decide just where certain elements would be and also the colors that showed through the final pastel application. That dark wave coming in from behind is much of the watercolor showing.

The second painting is a little larger, but still a pastel painting. I even did a little more to it yesterday even though it had been thought to be finished a couple of weeks ago. I had it sitting in the studio because I just knew there was something I wanted different, but just not sure how I wanted it to finish up.



The watercolor underpainting

 Here is the second wave piece in the watercolor stage.....




"Wave Action"
- thought to be finished -

and then the "first finished stage" ....





and then here is "Wave Action" as of yesterday.



"Wave Action"
-- still have to put some droplets in! --

In this version of the wave, I knew I needed to place that light portion of the wave as it nears the top even though it is under the curling part of the wave. Though I liked the contrast in what I thought was the finish, it was just too dark and not the way a wave really looks. So .... change it, I did!



So .... here is number three in the series .... even larger, but still a pastel:


"Incoming"
Pastel on Ampersand Pastelbord
18" x 24"

I have enjoyed painting most of these with no sky in them -- just the ocean stretching all the way back and to the top of the piece.

Now, I have planned to paint a large oil painting of a wave on a wood cradled panel that is 3' x 4' .... but first I thought it would be a good idea to do an oil on a smaller canvas. I need to see what difference working with the brush and oil would be to my work of the pastel strokes. Here is an oil that still has some work to do in the curl. The painting is on a gallery wrap 8" x 24" ... so a long piece!



Oil - 8" x 24"

You can see the little bit of orange on the backing board where I have taped this canvas. I toned the canvas with an orange and yellow before starting the painting. I enjoy having a warm underpainting to work on ... no matter whether I am using pastel or oil. That's just me!

And here is a side shot of the gallery wrap.

I'll work on the second painting (pastel) to put in a few droplets that were removed when I changed the water under the curl. Then, I'll put the oil painting back up and correct and finish the area under the curl here. And, there will be a small amount of work around the sides, top and bottom. I did work on those as I painted, but the finishing touches need to be assessed after I finish the front.

I hope you enjoy seeing these different subject matter for me ... not trees! Try something different for yourself!

My Thoughts on The Business Side of Art

This will be a rather long post on my blog, but I hope you will read the full post....

 

I have been thinking of have a meeting at my studio of various artists to discuss the business side of art ... marketing ... inventory... organization ... goals, etc. This thought has been going through my head for at least a year if not longer. I had mentioned it to a few artists to gauge their interest in participating in what I began to call "a round table discussion." I finally scheduled a meeting and sent out an e-mail to about 20 artists and we had 12 or 13 attend the first meeting on Thursday, Dec. 15.

 

Cypress Dance
Pastel 24x20

I happened to read a post on LinkedIn the next morning talking about the business side and marketing. I went to Gary Boyler's (the author) blog to read the full article. I posted a comment and just about an hour or so later I received an e-mail from Gary. Here is what I posted as a comment on his blog, and here is the link to the original article.

 

"Gary, I came to your blog through LinkedIn …. because what you said hit a nerve with me. I just had a meeting at my home with twelve “like-minded” artists to discuss our experiences, what we are trying new, how we can stay true to our art, and a general discussion about the best way to market. Each artist brought their own unique experiences to the table. Also, I love the comment above about it being about conversations and relationships. I said this many times, it is not always about “me”, but what is it about the client or customer? We need to listen more than we need to talk! We need to be proactive. And that is what this group will be doing."

 

I think you should read this if you are interested in marketing in these trying times. Gary Boyler: Why Some Artists Will Almost Certainly Thrive And Prosper In The New Economy His article has some very good information in it and might start you thinking!

 

Here is what Gary Bolyer said to me in an e-mail:

 

Hi Marsha, I just received your comment on my art blog today (Gary Bolyer Fine Art). I took a look at your paintings and wow, I was completely blown away. They are breathtakingly beautiful.

 

I would like to feature you on my blog tomorrow. I would like to talk about how you had an artist group meeting and how that inspired you and motivated you. If you could write me a couple of paragraphs of how you got the idea, how you put it together, and if you plan on doing this again, that would be great.

 

I will be putting links to your website and talk about your work. I would also like your permission to put some of your beautiful images in the article.

Let me know what you think, Gary Bolyer

Gary Bolyer Fine Art

 

So, I responded to his e-mail with a "thank you" for his kind words, etc. and formulated several paragraphs to give him an idea of what I did and what the meeting was about. Here is my answer to him....

"we will be meeting quarterly and each time at a different artist's studio or home. That way the moderator for the meeting will be different each time. I find that I tend to talk a lot and "impose" my thoughts .... maybe. It is nice to have a different viewpoint even to the moderation of a meeting.

 I have been discussing the possibility of a "round table" meeting about the business aspects of our art careers for quite some time. Those artists that seemed most interested were the ones I invited ... which was about 20 - 25. Several already had things that prevented them from coming, but noted they wished to be kept on the list so they could participate in the future. We shall see if they meant it. We had 12 or 13 at this first meeting. Mostly painters (of many different mediums), and two were potters -- one of which is relatively new. We want to be sure to have some ideas from different media, not only painters .... if they suffer from the same marketing issues .... and I think it is universal, no matter the medium of art. We had one that uses Etsy quite successfully, one that does quite a few outdoor festivals (the better ones), and several that go the gallery route. Quite an interesting combination, but what I wanted to have. Each would bring their own expertise to the group, but also gain from another's experiences with a venue that is different. It was suggested that the next meeting we should pick one topic or two and focus solely on that for the evening (or sometimes a Saturday).

 

 One attendee took wonderful notes which she scanned in and e-mailed to me. I have not had a chance to read them yet. Since I was the "moderator or facilitator" of this meeting, I found it hard to keep notes myself (though I am a good note taker). I really tried to keep people on topic. My first talk to them was to have them give us name, medium, and a couple of sentences about what they needed most, or what seemed to be the biggest problem for them. I started, and said I needed to be better organized .... and they all died laughing! They consider me organized. But my thing is to be better at picking the best for me and planning and not missing any deadlines. Also, to keep better address list of potential clients.

 

 About being inspired and motivated.... it does not take much to inspire or motivate me. My brain never seems to quit!"

 

Musical Waters
Pastel 24 x 20

You can read what he took from my answers to his questions at: Blueprint for Building a Community of Artists: An Inspiring Message of Hope from Marsha Savage. And the two paintings I am showing here are what he picked to post along with his feature on the blog.

 

I really appreciate Gary and many more wonderful artists that take the time to appreciate another artist and their work, and their efforts at making the business of art work in these trying times. Please go to the blog and either "like" it or "share" if possible. This is one way to spread the word about artists helping artists. Very important, don't you think?

 

I would love to hear your thoughts, so please do comment. I would appreciate it ... and I think Gary would enjoy hearing what others think, too.

International Plein Air Painters

I belong to an organization called IPAP which stands for International Plein Air Painters. International Plein Air Painters is a blanket organization created for the sole purpose of advancing the execution and enjoyment of Plein Air Painting without the restrictions and limitations of borders or regions.

Membership is restricted to Plein Air Painters, those serious to learn about Plein Air Painting and those who wish to be benefactors advancing the Plein Air movement. International Plein Air Painters Members reside in Brazil, Canada, Curacao, Ethiopia, France, Iran, Ireland, IsraeI, Italy, Russia , Spain, St. Lucia, Sweden, Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom, United States (in 41 of the 50 States).

This is a fantastic group of artists that paint in the "open air" which is what "plein aire" means. This the 10 year Anniversary of the group ... and the Executive Director, J.R. Baldini, thought it would be good to feature the artists in an on-line exhibit.

International Plein Air Painters

is holding their first online Exhibit and sale

in their 10 year history as an organization.

Take advantage of this opportunity to get acquainted

with our talented artist members and purchase some Original Art for a Gift for yourself or someone on your gift giving list this season.

You are contacting the artist directly through this exhibit page

and all works are for sale directly through PayPal

Click http://ipap.homestead.com/EXHIBIT.html  to go to the exhibit page

We submitted two paintings... one for the exhibit, and one for a back up. Here is the painting I submitted for the on-line exhibit:

Lost Mountain Nursery
Pastel - 11" x 14"

So, be sure to visit the "Exhibit" page ... and it would be wonderful if you would "share" it on Facebook and / or with your mailing list.

Southeastern Pastel Demo And Talk

It has been a little while since I posted here. Many things have been happening. Two shows, a studio tour, a plein air event, open studio at my place with a new blog for that, planning workshops for next year ... and a demonstration at the Southeastern Pastel Society.

Beginning the discussion about the trip!

The Southeastern Pastel Society wanted me to talk about the trip I made to Ireland this July/August and how I won part of the trip, participated in Art In The Open in Wexford, Ireland ... and marketed this work to my patrons. Well ... I told them many times it is rather boring to listen to someone talk about their trip. So, I asked if they minded if I demonstrated a pastel painting from one of my Ireland photographs while talking about all the other! Yes, was the answer, and so here goes a little of what I did that evening. I'll weave into the discussion part, photos taken while I demonstrated!

The 15" Digital Photo Screen --
I paint from this!

First I had everything set up so I could start the painting very quickly. I brought with me the "heavy" French easel, my 15" digital photo screen, books with photos from the trip, photos along with the paintings I created, and a book with all the information from start to finish about the trip. These books were passed around while I talked and demonstrated.

Showing how I do a thumbnail
and a Notan before I start the painting.

I discussed first how I had won the trip -- or part of the trip, anyway. I belong to a web site called "pleinairartists.ning.com" which Don Maier started several years ago. Many wonderful artists belong to this site, from beginners to professional. Don and a member of the Irish Plein Aire site decided to hold a competition to give one US artist the entry fee into the competition (Art In The Open) and a 7-night stay at a 4-star hotel with bed/breakfast package. All the winner had to do was get there ... so that meant air fare, and whatever else the costs would be ... like eating, and getting from Dublin to Wexford. Wexford is about a two-hour bus drive below Dublin on the Southeastern Coast of Ireland.

Beginning a light
pencil sketch.

So, I submitted three plein air paintings to the competition .... oh yeah ... these were to be somehow "Irish" in nature, or green! That was fun ... green is no stranger to me! The group at the meeting got a kick out of that one! Anyway, I won the entry and hotel, and started looking for airfare, getting reservations for the bus ride, etc.

Here I am starting with a
watercolor underpainting on an
Ampersand Pastelbord.

To fund this part of the trip, I decided to offer a deal to my patrons and family.  This was a very special offer and only to those that have been long time supporters of my paintings, classes and workshops. I sent these people a newsletter via e-mail, and then I also sent a beautiful letter by Postal Service. The patrons were allowed to choose a size and pay in advance at a discounted rate. This allowed me to travel to Ireland and participate in the "Art In The Open" Plein Aire Festival.

Watercolor complete, and holding
the photo reference! Don't you love
the faces a camera person catches?

After returning from Ireland, I painted 35 paintings to supplement the plein air pieces. I uploaded images of all the paintings to a Picasa Web Album and sent a newsletter to all the participants to have a look and start choosing their favorites. A date was set and the party was held for the showing the Ireland series! After a little time of partying and conversation, it was time. The first person to "opt in" for the pre-sale chose their painting. The second person was not here, but they had already seen the images online at the web album and had given me their choice with a couple of alternates in case their first choice was already gone. They did get their first choice! Third person, fourth person and so on down the list until all had chosen their painting!

Beginning the pastel
application - standing to the
side so viewers can see.

Though they paid for a certain size, they were not limited to that size. If they wanted a larger one, then they paid the difference. If they wanted a smaller one, they could receive the difference in a refund or apply it to another painting. The first person did "up-size"! The third person did "down-size" and choose another painting (not an Ireland one) and just paid the small difference in what it cost and their credit from the Ireland painting. I believe everyone had a very good time, and left happy!

Taking a look before
continuing!

I rarely ever discount my artwork unless they are buying multiples! This is only the second time I have offered this kind of opportunity. It does not come around very often ... and my patrons and clients know that. So, not a bad deal on both our parts ... I get to go on a trip, I get to sell some paintings, and my biggest supporters get a "Thank You" deal and one of the first paintings from a new series!

Brushing out the foreground

because it did not help the painting.

The remainder of the photos will finish the progression of the demonstration and the process I use to work on a painting. The photos show the thumbnail and Notan, the digital photo screen, a photo that I manipulated in Photoshop Elements, and the initial sketching and watercolor underpainting on the white Ampersand Pastelbord.



Reapplying shadows at a darker
value to help the composition.

After the underpainting in watercolor, I start by applying the pastel in a broad manner, working from dark to light most of the time. On this particular one, when I started applying some of the darks in the trees, and the colors in the sky ... I decided I loved the looseness of the strokes and the values, and so told them I did not think the trees needed any green! And, I even showed how when something did not meet my expectations, I brush off the lower third and reapply pastel in a different value to help the composition come together.

Here I am taking a final look
before stopping for the night.

I added a few diagonal strokes of light to create a little pathway from the foreground to the middle and some strokes of yellow and mauve / purple to indicate there might be wildflowers in the area. At this point, I step back and decide the painting needs to sit for awhile at home and then I will have another look to decide if it really is what I want. My demonstrations tend to look a little looser than my studio pieces ... almost in the same vein as when I go plein air! I think I like it! 

Here is the painting as it was when I stopped that night. I have done nothing more to it. It is still sitting where I can see it when I walk through the room.