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I have to say -- there are some things that happen at art shows that can make doing them worthwhile even when nothing sells, as with the show at the San Bernardino County Museum, 20-22 November 2015. I wrote about this in the previous entry, but three things struck me when talking with potential buyers that will affect what I do for the "Art-on-a-Budget" series of artworks I'll be making:
- People like ocotillos in bloom;
- People like skies with clouds, especially the small puffy "popcorn" clouds;
- People like having the sun appear in the scene.
OK -- so -- I'll be painting lots of ocotillos, preferably with lots of colorful wildflowers around them. Always have clouds, and have more sunrises and sunsets --whether or not the image is a desert scene. Keeping these points in mind should be helpful in remembering subjects I like to paint anyway but also -- hopefully -- narrow it all down to subjects people will purchase.
(I've got these points written down so I'll remember them every time I sit at the confuser...uh, computer!)
Time will tell if these insights will be helpful or not. Meanwhile, I've got some painting to do and a website that needs optimizing so everyone can find it. It's gonna be busy!
By the way -- you can find my paintings at SouthwestSpaces.com or MarkJunge.com.
The art show last weekend came and went ... and NO SALES AT ALL!!! Grr-r-r-r...
I wasn't the only one. Other artists had no sales, or they sold only small, inexpensive sculptures or prints of paintings.
In spite my initial frustration and anger about how it all turned out, I think I picked up on a few things that may help me move ahead.
-- There is no "economic recovery." It's a lie the politicians -- especially the US president -- keep telling us. People liked my work, but I have to offer it more inexpensively.
-- All of the artwork at the show was realism -- no abstract, impressionism or other styles that seem to be more popular in southern California. (However, I was the only "pure" landscape painter -- everybody else had wildlife prominently featured in their works). So there may be hope in continuing to work in my favored style.
Art shows just don't seem to work for me anymore. They haven't for a long time. And another artist told me many of the galleries in Scottsdale, AZ are closed up -- couldn't make it. This tells me to skip the art shows and to be REALLY careful with galleries -- they will not be my savior. I'll have to decide if I want to approach them at all at this time.
-- All
of the paintings I showed received a positive response. I'll continue
with desert paintings, but I'll definitely add more other kinds of
western landscapes, especially Colorado mountain scenes, with or without
ruins of 19th century mines. These two pieces seemed to be the crowds' favorites:
Badlands, 18" x 24" / 46cm x 61cm
Springtime Ocotillo, 8" x 10" / 20cm x 25cm
So I'll be painting more ocotillos, desert mountains and flowers! And for the local market, I'll be painting Joshua trees with those fantastic monzogranite rock formations, too.
To make these paintings more affordable, I'll have to pass on doing the time-consuming, transparent glazing that I love. It gives the works a stained-glass luminence, but it does take more time to do. So the glazed paintings will be for galleries, a few rare selected shows or for me to keep! I'll offer the "art-on-a-budget" paintings on my website (SouthwestSpaces.com or MarkJunge.com) and to local merchants/galleries who may get tourists.customers who want memories of our beautiful Joshua Tree National Park.
Does this sound like a sound plan? I hope so!! At this point and in this economy, art is all I have. Maybe with the things I learned at the art show, I can still make it!
It's coming soon ... VERY soon!!
Waddaya talkin' about, Dude?
Why, the art show that I've been getting ready for! Below I've posted a map showing where this event is taking place -- in Redlands, southern California, east of San Bernardino. Next weekend -- 21-22 November 2015. This will be your opportunity to see some of my paintings in person and even add to your collection -- or to start one.
Below is more information about the museum and the show:
It's an indoor show (thankfully!) and it appears will be pleasant -- that should encourage people to go out and see the museum and some art!
So if you're reading this, I hope you'll make some plans to head to Redlands -- west of Yucaipa and east of the I-215 interchange with the I-10. You'll see the entries for the Federal Duck Stamp competition, lots of nature-related artwork and chances to visit some artists -- including ME!
See ya soon! VERY soon!!
