Summer Ideas?

[blondheim12]

Dear All,
As a landscape painter, I find it hard to work outside in Florida during the summer, so I move into the studio for most of my painting.
The biggest problem I have is the market slowdown every summer. I live in a university city and the absence of professors and students/ related business, during times of the summer cause a reduction in sales. If anyone has marketing suggestions for this time period, I'd love to hear them.
During the rest of the year my sales are fairly stable, I also judge art shows, but summer is dead!!!!!! Even my gallery sales in Fl are poor from June-August.
Linda

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www.lindablondheim.com (http://www.lindablondheim.com)

[This message has been edited by blondheim12 (edited May 20, 2001).]

[LarrySeiler]

Isn't this deadness in time then, a gift and license to paint? No one encroaching upon your time?

If you can afford a bit of travel, even regionally....and a decent painter's umbrella for your easel to guard against that Florida sun. The off season sounds like opportunity to produce, produce, produce! For example...that's one reason I stand knee deep in snow during the winter in the far NE of Wisconsin, with wool gloves and heavy boots.

Stock up for the area galleries for that busy season. Here in northern Wisconsin...once spring starts, I'm not likely to find galleries interested in taking on new artists. The season starts, they've got their stock. Being productive in the off season guarantees the chances of spreading your wings.
Larry

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The "Artsmentor" http://www.artsmentor.org

"Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do!" Edgar Degas

[This message has been edited by lseiler (edited May 21, 2001).]

[blondheim12]

Larry,
Of course I paint all summer, and I do alot of gallery searching, museum shows, juried indoor shows, etc. Keeping busy is not the problem. I am mostly searching for marketing ideas during slow sales periods.
Linda

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www.lindablondheim.com (http://www.lindablondheim.com)

[LDianeJohnson]

Hi Linda,

Just a thought...

Since so many people visit, live or are from Florida, and since so many of them are from the North, Central & Western US, and since many also have homes outside Florida during the Summer months, could you shop for a gallery where sales might be more brisk from July-August?

For instance, I use a gallery that is on a lake popular with tourists as well as residents. Up until a few years ago they only had brisk seasonal sales from June-September. The rest of the year I pretty much had to place the few pieces they did not sell elsewhere.

It would be more of a hassle for you to ship and manage, but perhaps a good Northern gallery would love to carry your work particularly in the Summer, if not, all year round.

Also, some work from Florida looks like it is specifically from Florida and would be more limited in where it could be displayed. You have great landscapes that don't necessarily say "Florida" and would sell well in other locations. Even major Southern cities like Atlanta, Columbia, etc. that are not season-dependent could be possibilities if you have not tried them already.

Diane

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L. Diane Johnson (http://www.LDianeJohnson.com/) NAPA, PSA
2001/2002 Plein Air Workshops (http://www.LDianeJohnson.com/workshops/)

[LarrySeiler]

Linda...

You know there are many aspects to marketing...and part of that aside from selling your work, is selling yourself!

I just visited your site. Why not use your BFA background and widespread experience to sell information, via thru you? A capable artist increases their chances of reputation thus saleability when they become prominently known for the value they contribute to others. Why not use these off months to organize some adult painter's workshops. Start getting your name to be a "who's who"

For example....one thing I know galleries do up here as concerns my work is mentions the competitions I've won to potential buyers, but also the fact that a lot of artists come to me for lessons, critiques, advice, etc; the "artist's artist" adds a bit of "hhmmmm, oh wow!" to potential buyers consideration.

IF its a slow season for you....its no doubt a slow season for other artists, making it a time to learn, experiment, and grow. You not only stand to chance making some money instructing, but often I've had students wanting to buy works because they enjoy mentally taking them apart again and again as a means to understand painting.

It may be a good time to consider conservation groups you could donate a work to, attend banquets, and seek kudos that will be instrumental to advance your name!

Last night, I awarded six students at their high school senior banquet one of my state award winning Trout Stamp prints, which amounted to about $900 in value. The town is in somewhat a buzz the day after. Parents nervously making efforts to get frames to protect it.

They are actually "thinking" art right now, about value! That they may be worth something someday. A simple act on my part has made me and the cause I seek to promote in the arts a standout and hero. Everyone feels genuinely fortunate to have been at the banquet to have seen this, and for those that received them.

Parents took pictures of me with their young person and the stamp print. I've had people calling me.

Hey...what could you do to become an asset to your local community, to the region, etc? These are ways I try to make myself more marketable.

Just some thoughts......

Larry

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The "Artsmentor" http://www.artsmentor.org

"Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do!" Edgar Degas

[This message has been edited by lseiler (edited May 21, 2001).]

[Phyllis Rennie]

Linda, This'll be no help whatsoever! You could come north to my house and teach me to paint like you do. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[TPS]

In defense of Linda... While the advice from Larry and others is generally good, I must point out that Linda is a professional painter in every respect. She is well known in her community, is involved in worthy causes at which she donates her work and efforts, is always selling and promoting her work throughout the southeast, has numerous galleries, and regularly shows in many venues including museums, cafes, banks, etc. In short, she knows and does the things that are what you would expect from a pro. She is not a beginner or parttimer. I believe her inquiry was to perhaps find other ideas, or find out what others do during slow periods. My experience is that summer is generally a slow time for art in most places. Travelling for art festivals, or teaching workshops is obvious. But, what else is there to do?

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http://www.artbydj.com

[blondheim12]

Dear All,
Thank you soooo much for the helpful information.
Larry,
I do have a couple of students every summer, children only. I am careful not to teach adults in my area. I know several folks who do that. They live to regret it. Adults tend to want to "be like Mike" so they end up being a little clone of the person they study with. There is only one me, and I intend to keep it that way LOL.
Diane,
your advice is excellent about out of region galleries. I ship all over the place to clients so that is no problem. I was in an Atlanta Gallery for a year but they closed. Being a regional painter has inhibited gallery placements somewhat, but I do work with an art consultant in Alabama who has been successful in selling for me there.
Again, many thanks for all assistance and David, you are wonderful!!!
Linda

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www.lindablondheim.com (http://www.lindablondheim.com)

[LarrySeiler]

In defense of Linda <snip>...I believe her
inquiry was to perhaps find other ideas,

Of course...one need not take advice as an affront from which to be defended, we are as family here at WC, and hopefully not intending to offer advice so as to sound to be talking down to someone. All we have initially when a request is asked is the face value of the question and perhaps the convenience of time accorded to check out the artist's site.

I have no way of knowing at this point of the impact of her local community. Thus...from what you've shared TPS, sounds like Linda has the respect of being one heck of an artist and person and hats off to you Linda! Sounds like you are pretty much doing what you should be doing, and perhaps it may be left up to Providence to open the right windows of opportunity you are looking for from here.

There were times I had become quite frustrated, you know...having a talent you know a similar "successful" person has, but all the right things seem to have fallen for that or those artists....and you rip your hair out practically trying to figure out what more you can do.

Sometimes its "who you know"....often its being in the right place at the right time. Some would call it having plain luck. I seek a bit of Divine intervention every now and then. But as a friend once told me...."when all you can do is all you can do, then all you can do is enough!" The hard part from there is persistence...continuing on with patience, and a lot of faith that hard work gets blessed in all due time.

Keep on keeping on...and I hope the right pieces of the puzzle you're looking for fall into place for you.

-Larry

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The "Artsmentor" http://www.artsmentor.org

"Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do!" Edgar Degas


[This message has been edited by lseiler (edited May 22, 2001).]