lynny Posted November 10, 2011 Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 I have lurked on CAD for the past 3 years soaking up information and techniques from the daily tips and this forum- so firstly thank you This forum has so many talented and experienced artists I would love to start a thread with ideas on how you got your work onto the 'selling' stage. This year I graduate with a Bachelor Visual Art (ceramic major) with plans for an Honours year next year- I'm not a fresh faced young grad, actually 54 yo. I work from a great home based studio and hope when study is finished to get my work out there. I am in Australia and up until now have participated in local (small country town) and university exhibitions with a couple of successful entries into large regional galleries. This year I developed my website but as yet have not installed a selling option. Has any one got stories, ideas or tips of how they got their work into a sales arena? -like galleries, shows, markets etc kind regards, Lyn http://www.lyncole.ceramics.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynny Posted November 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 oooops! First time I've done this- I've doubled up on images and the files are too big- sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted November 10, 2011 Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 I was getting ready to remodel and paint my studio and needed someplace to put my work. Occasionally gallery owners ask me if I would be interested in selling some of my pieces. I decided that letting them store my work for me while I remodel could work out for both of us. The gallery and I would discuss pricing, comparing other work and what things were selling for, I ended up with work in three gallaries. A fourth one wanted me to bring some work in but they were downtown with no parking, no way to deliver large fragile pieces. I was happy selling work this way, I haven't sold work for several years most of the gallaries have closed due to the bad economy. Wichita is supported by airplane manufacturing, airplanes are a luxury item so sales have bottomed out, the lay offs affects the economy of the whole city. I hope to start selling again when things get better but they just announced more lay offs at the beginning of the new year. Denice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeye Posted November 10, 2011 Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 Lurking is no fun so glad to see you posting! Your work is beautiful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynny Posted November 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 hi Denice, thx for your reply. It's sad how the economics of a district has such a profound affect on everyone via the domino effect. My little town is at the base of a winter ski mountain and borders a beautiful lake/weir and most of our economy is tourism based. Over the past few years we have had low snow falls and really low water levels and things have been quiet. Over the past few months we have had very heavy spring rain that has filled the rivers and water ways to capacity and the ski boats are coming back in droves. It's wonderful to see our coffee shops, restaurants and gift shops buzzing again with people. Hope your area picks up again. Thanks Buckeye for your kind words. I decided I need to get out of the shadows and start posting more, the group here are great. Thanks for the comments about my work, but I seem to lack the confidence to boldly phone a gallery and make a time for a chat and a look at my port folio. But I guess the only way I'm going to get things moving is to suck it up and be brave. Really I guess the worst they can say is 'no we are not interested' and I think I'm strong enough to deal with rejection lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted November 10, 2011 Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 Lynn The first gallery I approached was not one that had talked to me but one that I thought that my work would do well in. It was a contemporary gallery and I was making landscape sculptures, I didn't call them I just showed up with 8 pieces and figured the worst that could happen is that is that they would send me away. It's easy to say no to someone on the phone. Denice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JBaymore Posted November 10, 2011 Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 It's sad how the economics of a district has such a profound affect on everyone via the domino effect. Best reason right there to diversify your market into many different geographical areas. That way you are not totally economically dependent on one single situation that could change in a heartbeat. It is also good to have work that you make at different price points.... in the sense that if the lower income demographic people are hit hard economically... the upper ones are likely are less so. And that approach also opens up numerous "lines" of income stream for you ....... probably selling stuff to people who would not be customers if you only make work that "targets" a single audience. As to how do you get your work "out there",..... well one could write a book on that. And there ARE books on marketing and running a small business. There are also courses at many community "tech" colleges. And there are art specific books too. Basically it is a lot of persistent and hard work..... that seems to take too much time away from making the art itself. But it is necessary too. You will get a lot of "nos"....... but each "no" brings you closer to a "yes". The first step is figuring out the type of audience to whom your work (or the particuler LINE within your work) will appeal. Then you look for galleries (research in person or on line or talking to other artists) that will match that work. Then you have to approach those galleries. One thing that is certain in todays ceramic world... GOOD images are the first crucial step. You are going to need those to share with prospective galleries. I teach clay at a college, (and have taught at 2 others in the past) and it always amazes me how little information is conveyed on how to run a business as an artist. And every other faculty member to whom I have talked says it is basically the same situation at their school. There might be one more or less token course in the curriculum targeted to this subject. But we are not alone. One of my relatives is a cardiologist. When he had to go out and set up a practice... he was calling ME for advice on running a small business. They did not get any training in business either in med school. SO.... we are in good company. I am sure that more people will jump in here and add useful thoughts. best, ..............john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted November 10, 2011 Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 It's sad how the economics of a district has such a profound affect on everyone via the domino effect. Best reason right there to diversify your market into many different geographical areas. That way you are not totally economically dependent on one single situation that could change in a heartbeat. It is also good to have work that you make at different price points.... in the sense that if the lower income demographic people are hit hard economically... the upper ones are likely are less so. And that approach also opens up numerous "lines" of income stream for you ....... probably selling stuff to people who would not be customers if you only make work that "targets" a single audience. As to how do you get your work "out there",..... well one could write a book on that. And there ARE books on marketing and running a small business. There are also courses at many community "tech" colleges. And there are art specific books too. Basically it is a lot of persistent and hard work..... that seems to take too much time away from making the art itself. But it is necessary too. You will get a lot of "nos"....... but each "no" brings you closer to a "yes". The first step is figuring out the type of audience to whom your work (or the particuler LINE within your work) will appeal. Then you look for galleries (research in person or on line or talking to other artists) that will match that work. Then you have to approach those galleries. One thing that is certain in todays ceramic world... GOOD images are the first crucial step. You are going to need those to share with prospective galleries. I teach clay at a college, (and have taught at 2 others in the past) and it always amazes me how little information is conveyed on how to run a business as an artist. And every other faculty member to whom I have talked says it is basically the same situation at their school. There might be one more or less token course in the curriculum targeted to this subject. But we are not alone. One of my relatives is a cardiologist. When he had to go out and set up a practice... he was calling ME for advice on running a small business. They did not get any training in business either in med school. SO.... we are in good company. I am sure that more people will jump in here and add useful thoughts. best, ..............john That is definitely describing the problem. All so often the colleges educate and train us to be something-a lawyer, an artist, an engineer etc, and entrepreneurs. They don't teach us to be both a producer, and an entrepreneur. In the long run they end up using the producers because they can ultimately get the product to market. Many galleries are run by entrepreneurs that happened to side with art. It would be nice to see more than a token course on business in the halls of higher education for producers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted November 10, 2011 Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 Do you have art festivals in Australia? I think that is a logical first step, before you try to approach galleries. Festivals are an inexpensive way to get some immediate feedback about your work and your price points. Start with something small and local, and as you find success move up into larger and fancier venues. When you are finding steady success, that's when galleries will start wanting your work too. And your confidence for approaching galleries will be better established too. Developing a market for your work is a long-term and vague process. Very similar to developing your ceramic skills into a body of work. It's like stepping out into an open field in the dark. One step at a time, little by little, you will will learn to find your way. Mea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted November 10, 2011 Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 I have a link on my website re: marketing your pottery. Basic info that should work anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted November 10, 2011 Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 Lynn If you take a fine arts buisness course make sure they are going to explore the area your interested in. I took the first fine arts buisness course when it was offered as part of my degree. It was too general. They brought in well known buisness people that were like cheerleaders that gave pep talks and told you about sales tax licenses and taxes. I owned a retail buisness for 20 years and already knew all those headaches. I had small cheaper pieces for people to buy, but I considered them loss leaders in hopes that people would come back and buy a larger sculptures and to keep my name out there. Denice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynny Posted November 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2011 thank you all for such great feed back and comments. I've also taken the time to read most of the artist studio visits on CAD who talk about selling well. I'm embarrassed to say I'm well qualified to run a small business, having successfully done so for 22 years. After an injury took me out of the workforce 3 years ago I've worked in the solitude of my home studio and I think it's taken its toll on my confidence- I need to get out more! This morning I took myself into a local Tea Shop with some of my tea sets and got a positive response with an order for 3 sets - made my day. Then another local ceramic artist gave me some great tips on fine tuning my production style to decrease time spent on making, whilst maintaining the integrity of the work. So maybe we all need to get out there more, talk about our work and confidently cold sell to retailers. What an amazing community ceramic artists are!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeye Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 thank you all for such great feed back and comments. I've also taken the time to read most of the artist studio visits on CAD who talk about selling well. I'm embarrassed to say I'm well qualified to run a small business, having successfully done so for 22 years. After an injury took me out of the workforce 3 years ago I've worked in the solitude of my home studio and I think it's taken its toll on my confidence- I need to get out more! This morning I took myself into a local Tea Shop with some of my tea sets and got a positive response with an order for 3 sets - made my day. Then another local ceramic artist gave me some great tips on fine tuning my production style to decrease time spent on making, whilst maintaining the integrity of the work. So maybe we all need to get out there more, talk about our work and confidently cold sell to retailers. What an amazing community ceramic artists are!! I have been to your website and seen your work. I think it is amazing! Would love to see pictures of the tea sets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynny Posted November 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Hi, I've not been successful getting images on the forum, they turn out huge! and I have to remove them, so not sure what I'm doing wrong. But if you'd like a peek go to my web at www.lyncoleceramics.com and my last blog entry has 2 versions. They are sort of kooky but lots of fun to make with 'wiggle wire'. If you havnt used this wire before, you must try it! Great fun and the latest post on CAD has a version of it being used on a thrown mug cheers, Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeye Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Hi, I've not been successful getting images on the forum, they turn out huge! and I have to remove them, so not sure what I'm doing wrong. But if you'd like a peek go to my web at www.lyncoleceramics.com and my last blog entry has 2 versions. They are sort of kooky but lots of fun to make with 'wiggle wire'. If you havnt used this wire before, you must try it! Great fun and the latest post on CAD has a version of it being used on a thrown mug cheers, Lyn So cool! I went to your blog and looked at the tea pots and a lot of other work, very awesome and you work magic with that wiggle wire! I seen the video lastnight.. I HAVE to get me a wiggle wire! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Hi, I've not been successful getting images on the forum, they turn out huge! and I have to remove them, so not sure what I'm doing wrong. But if you'd like a peek go to my web at www.lyncoleceramics.com and my last blog entry has 2 versions. They are sort of kooky but lots of fun to make with 'wiggle wire'. If you havnt used this wire before, you must try it! Great fun and the latest post on CAD has a version of it being used on a thrown mug cheers, Lyn So cool! I went to your blog and looked at the tea pots and a lot of other work, very awesome and you work magic with that wiggle wire! I seen the video lastnight.. I HAVE to get me a wiggle wire! Take an old ball point pen spring and stretch it out-instant wiggle wire! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeye Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Hi, I've not been successful getting images on the forum, they turn out huge! and I have to remove them, so not sure what I'm doing wrong. But if you'd like a peek go to my web at www.lyncoleceramics.com and my last blog entry has 2 versions. They are sort of kooky but lots of fun to make with 'wiggle wire'. If you havnt used this wire before, you must try it! Great fun and the latest post on CAD has a version of it being used on a thrown mug cheers, Lyn So cool! I went to your blog and looked at the tea pots and a lot of other work, very awesome and you work magic with that wiggle wire! I seen the video lastnight.. I HAVE to get me a wiggle wire! Take an old ball point pen spring and stretch it out-instant wiggle wire! I read this and instantly started looking around the house for an old ball point pen! i cant wait to try it, thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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