Stepping Up
My resolution for the year was to step up my productivity and concentrate on marketing myself as an artist. I am managing to work in the studio every day, although not full time. And, since my quilts are not very big I am on target to create one a month so far. That is two for the year. Okay, so it is early but I am committed.
Now it is time to look at what else I can do. This week I will design and order business cards and start to look around for a venue for my work. Mostly, it just sits around under the bed, so it is time for it to see the sunlight for a while. I am thinking of hosting an open studio/ one woman show for all of my friends, neighbors, acquaintances, etc. You know, anyone I can pull in off the street with the offer of a glass of wine and some nuts.
This is all pretty huge for me. Until recently I was excusing myself for calling myself an artist. Every positive comment on my work was met with a "Thanks, but look at this mistake" type of comment back from me. Somehow in the past few months I have started believing in myself.
The result of all this confidence is that I am planning on raising my prices quite a bit, perhaps doubling them. It will be interesting to see if pricing my work at this new higher level will convince the viewing audience that I take my art seriously, and if that will result in sales.
Now it is time to look at what else I can do. This week I will design and order business cards and start to look around for a venue for my work. Mostly, it just sits around under the bed, so it is time for it to see the sunlight for a while. I am thinking of hosting an open studio/ one woman show for all of my friends, neighbors, acquaintances, etc. You know, anyone I can pull in off the street with the offer of a glass of wine and some nuts.
This is all pretty huge for me. Until recently I was excusing myself for calling myself an artist. Every positive comment on my work was met with a "Thanks, but look at this mistake" type of comment back from me. Somehow in the past few months I have started believing in myself.
The result of all this confidence is that I am planning on raising my prices quite a bit, perhaps doubling them. It will be interesting to see if pricing my work at this new higher level will convince the viewing audience that I take my art seriously, and if that will result in sales.
I can relate to what you are saying, especially about pricing. This is so difficult for most of us who don't have a proven selling track record. I thought I could make ridiculously low prices for an upcoming art league show just to clear out the cobwebs of things no longer in my style. I found I am not able to do that. So I guess they will be probably be around if I want to do a trunk show some time!
Have that open house, put up flyers where you shop and you might seriously be surprised at the outcome.
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I think you are doing great Brenda...keep on moving and see what doors open for you. Think about doing art festivals too...it gets you out there and noticed.
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Well done, you go for it, if we dont take our work seriously neither will others, and dont sell your work for pennies, you can lower the price but its harder to raise the price.An open studio day sounds like great fun, wish I lived close by( but Scotland is a smidgin too far), and you just never know what work will result.Wishing you every success.
Take care
Janette
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Go for it Brenda. You really have to believe in yourself before others will. If you project an aura of confidence, people will pick up on it. Raise the prices in line with other professional artists... the more you get your art out into the world the more exposure you will get and then good things will happen. It may not be right away but it will happen.
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