NEW SCHOLARSHIP!

Hey all - the Graphics Arts blog just put up a scholarship for graphic & fine artists!
Check it out here!

--Meg

Tips When Selling Your Art

These are a few tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years when selling my art.

Table Setup.

People don’t pay attention to what they can’t see so finding a way to grab their attention is key.  Keeping your work flat on a table won’t attract much attention but if you had a stand at one side of the table displaying your work people will notice and come to see the rest of your works.

Prices.

Make sure your prices are visible!  People love knowing how much something costs without asking.

A number of artists don’t put prices on their work for 2 reasons.

A) They’re well established and their target market already knows their price range and if a person is really interested in a piece they’ll ask about it. Or

B) they want people to ask how much something is so that they can engage the customer and possibly guilt them into buying it.  It’s very sad, but it does happen.

Most of the time however, the person doing the buying won’t want to ask the price because they think it costs too much, they don’t want to converse with the artist, or they’re just not interested enough in the piece.

Best to make your prices visible and avoid all of the above.

Be engaging.

The more  welcoming you look as they pass you, the more likely they are to stop talk to you.

A person who’s alert and smiling is always more intriguing than a person sitting slouched with a bored look on your face.  Just smile and give a simple ‘Hello’ as people pass.  9/10 they’ll stop and see what’s happening.

Know your work.

This may seem like a silly statement but it’s true.  People who stop by your table want to know about you and your work.  Be prepared to answer questions about it.  Such as

-How long did this take you?

-What medium is this?

-How did you get ‘such and such’ technique?

-How much is this?

-Is there a way I can contact you later? (ie, website/email) ßBUSINESS CARDS

Business cards.

Business cards are KEY when selling your art.  There are many instances where people don’t have money on hand or they have to run.  A business card is an easy way to give customers to speak with you AFTER they’ve met you.  Many sales on items are completed after an event with the help of business cards.

All business cards need:

-Name

-Email/Phone/Address (1,2, or all of these)

-Website

-What you do artistically (photography, painting, graphic design, portraits, landscape, workshops, etc)

-Make them Unique!  Choose interesting designs.

You can purchase business cards in any office store and even online.

I recommend VistaPrints.com if you’re going to purchase business cards.  They offer free business cards so long as you pay the shipping (around $4)

Or

You can design and cut your own business cards.

Find a heavy stock paper, cut it, do your art and print all your information.  These have become a huge hit because it’s some of your artwork and it’s free.

These are just a few things to take into consideration when selling your art.

Pricing and Selling Your Artwork

This is a great article about the different things to consider when pricing your work compared to past experience, what the market is right now and steering clear of over pricing artwork that you are particularly attached to.
http://www.artbusiness.com/pricerealistic.html

This is an excellent article that lays out the key points to pricing your art such as material costs, time spend in making the piece, what the market will pay, how long you've had the piece and so forth.
http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Artist-How-to-Price-Your-Work

This article gives you an example of how this person priced their painting.
http://studiochalkboard.evansville.edu/r-pricing.html

Here's one that's short and sweet about not pricing your works too high.
http://emptyeasel.com/2006/12/11/dont-sell-yourself-short-price-your-art-for-what-its-worth/

Take a look at these and if you've got questions about your work feel free to email us~!

11.5.2010 - UPDATES!

Happy Fifth of November, everyone!  Did you watch V for Vendetta?
Down to business:
Reminders:

• Our next meeting is Thursday, November 11 at 1pm in room 3-147 (the same as always).
• ALL members must fill out the Membership Application for us!  They are available at the meetings, beside the sign-in sheet.  Even if you think you have filled it out before, please do another.  This is something we need on record.  After the meeting on the 11th, our attendance policy (you cannot miss more than three meetings in a row) will be enforced.
• Please keep in mind when signing in and filling out forms that I can only use your atlas email.  Please check atlas often for emails.
• Remember to send me you art for our powerpoint!  I need that in by Wednesday, November 10th at 10pm.  Please email up to five pieces to me at: mlavingh@atlas.valenciacc.edu.

Events:

• Plato's "Allegory of a Cave" contest is still going on!  Submissions are due November 23rd to any Art Humanities instructor or to the department office in 3-106.  For more information check out the flyer in the photos on VAC's Facebook!
• First Friday: The first Friday of ever month local Orlando artists gather off of Lake Ivanhoe to show off their latest works to the public.  If you're interested in participating in this event in the coming months please email April for more information.
• Third Thursday: Every third Thursday of the month The City Arts Factory in downtown Orlando has a gallery opening.  Come check out what's new and meet some artists! For more info on these events visit: http://www.orlandoslice.com/.

Christmas Sale:

We've begun talking about different ideas for this years Christmas Sale.  You'll be able to sell your own works as well as work with other VAC members to make different trinkets. We started playing with techniques at the last meeting.  Our awesome advisor, Michael Galetta showed us how to press clay molds and discussed how to make out own molds.  We will discuss this more next Thursday.

Have a fabulous weekend!

--Meg

Secretary

mlavingh@atlas.valenciacc.edu

Meeting 10/21!

Hey guys - our next meeting is Thursday at 1pm in the Design Classroom (same one as before).  I hope you can all come!

Preliminary Meeting 10/12!

Our preliminary meeting is officially set for Tuesday, October 12th at 1pm in room 3-147.  Come and see what we are all about!

--meg