Baren Digest Thursday, 13 December 2001 Volume 17 : Number 1652 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "JEANNE N CHASE" Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 09:44:27 -0500 Subject: [Baren 16464] Re: New Woodcuts Carol I clicked on the URL that you sent and got a "Not Able to Be Found". Jeanne N. ------------------------------ From: ArtfulCarol@aol.com Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 12:32:16 EST Subject: [Baren 16465] Better URL for New Woodcuts This URL should work for everyone to see the New Woodcuts/ Carol Lyons. Sorry about the other URL which wouldnt open for some http://www.rst-art.com/carolnewart.htm Carol Irvington, NY ------------------------------ From: mkrieger@mb.sympatico.ca Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 13:03:23 -0600 (CST) Subject: [Baren 16466] Re: Pricing question Pricing anything has to acknowledge the tension between the two partners in the dance. Generally the buyer would like to pay less and the seller would like to get more. Now the 'less' and 'more' are subjective - not absolute. Your purchasers' idea of 'less' may actually be considerably more than your idea of 'more.' Part of the trick of pricing is figuring out the perceptions that are going on underneath the actual exchange of money and goods. If both seller and purchaser are happy about the price whatever it is, they will be happy to repeat the process some time in the future. Mary Krieger Winnipeg ------------------------------ From: "Charles and Gail Sheffield" Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 16:13:51 -0600 Subject: [Baren 16467] Open studio sale One suggestion for local marketing, a variation on an open studio sale, is to get together with 2-3 other artists in different media and do a group sale. Lots of advantages, no down side that I know of. This might be a solution for Sharri, who could then show in town, preferably at one of the other artist's studio or home. Also good for a beginner at marketing who doesn't already have a client base or is known in the art community. I have some old art magazines; I could look up citations to some articles about how to do that if anyone is interested. (I hope this message goes on clean). Gail Sheffield Covington, LA ------------------------------ From: David Bull Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 07:57:54 +0900 Subject: [Baren 16468] You too can do it! Like to live in Japan? Like to be making a living over here as a woodblock printmaker? Like to know just where to start? We have the answer for you! Both Dave Stones and I got started on this in exactly the same way (he has lots more seniority on me - I've only been here 16 years, he's running around 30 I think ...). We both got started with this little item, now on eBay (which a friend tipped me off about this morning): http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1495534149 Start with this, and who knows, maybe after a decade or so of work, you too can be making a living as a printmaker in Japan ... And the price is right, too! Dave [:-)] ------------------------------ From: Jack Reisland Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 13:59:51 -1000 Subject: [Baren 16469] Re: Charles Bartlett Exhibit Hello Barbara, I called the Academy today to inquire about the catalog for the Charles Bartlett exhibit. The gift shop has a toll free number, 1-800-829-5211. They will be happy to ship orders, and accept all major credit cards. The soft cover edition is $35, a little steep, but the Academy Publications are generally printed in shorter runs, and not so widely distributed, so they cost a little more. Jack R. (warm and sunny, and the surf's up!) bemason wrote: > Jack, > Please help us get this book, the academy's web site is talking about their > current exhibit and it is dated 1996, so no help there. Where can we order > it online? > Barbara > ------------------------------ From: Bobbi Chukran Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 19:12:47 -0500 Subject: [Baren 16470] Re: art vs other stuff Hi Maria, >A couple of people have now mentioned that pottery or copies sell better >than art. Sometimes at these festivals I wanted to make jewlry out of my >prints, those folks sell constantly.>> Yeah, but I've tried making pottery, and after about ten 20-lb. cups, I realized it wasn't my thing! >"I am a printmaking artist, I make prints." >If I wanted to sell stuff for a living, I would make stuff that sells >better. I don't want to sell stuff for a living, I want to make art and have >found that it is perfectly possible to make art and make a living as well. >There is a huge difference. Yes, you're absolutely right. I want to make art, too, but I also want to sell. But that's not the only reason I'm doing it. It's part of the fun for me, though, I'll admit. >How many galleries are left that purchase outright? Probably not too many, unfortunately. I do know that some of the smaller fine arts and crafts galleries do, or did, but I'm not sure how many prints those type galleries actually sell. >Re: Web only sales while you eat popcorn and watch soap operas...not a >chance. Web sales after you trod half the surrounding states making yourself >known to the public...you betcha!> LOL...Not I never said I was sittin' here eatin' popcorn and watchin' the soaps! I don't believe that you can put up a website and sit back and watch the money roll in by any means. But I also know that web marketing is new, and more and more people are shopping that way now, and more will in the future. I've seen websites that are successfull, wildly so, and figure that if you market them as well as you market shows, or to galleries, or to whatever, then those will be successful, too. I'm doing the marketing now for a woman who owns a doll supply website, and she's looking at bringing in $100,000 this year from that alone. I know a decorative painter who's doing quite well, too, and can't keep up with the orders. I'm hoping that prints won't be any different once I have the chance to do the marketing and P.R. >. A web site is a portfolio/catalog >which will serve you well when people are trying to find you and to show all >your work. An agent, a wholesaler, three galleries and an invitation-only >festival found me through the web. All have resulted in income. Yes, I agree that a website should be a good portfolio, too, especially for artists. But I think it can be more. 15% of an income is pretty good for a website, considering you do all the other stuff, too. >Re: Staying close to home for festivals and galleries,.... If I can find art >venues in Las Vegas, there are art venues anywhere. Texas is a big state...>> Yes, Texas is big, but that doesn't mean that people here buy art. As a matter of fact, this area is kinda known as a "badlands" for art sales. There are tons of places to show art, but it's not a good place for art sales. I've done lots of mail-order in the past, so living here doesn't keep me from selling to folks in CA, or Maine. But I'm sure not going to count on much of my income coming from local shows, galleries, etc. I've shown art til I'm blue in the face around here--shows and galleries in downtown Austin, shops, etc.--I'm ready for some *sales* now. >...if all that doesn't prepare you for the world then you missed the point.>> Some art departments are better than others. U.T. is really good in printmaking! Unfortunately, I was into textile design and graphics back then >. Study >the many ways of marketing art and then choose your path. There are many. >How to become a successful artist takes so much blasted work that it is >impossible for someone else to give you the know-how and the self-motivation >to set off.>> Yeah, I've read all those books, and even written articles for the Crafts Report on fine arts and crafts marketing myself. Web marketing is so new and different....it's still a relatively untried market for artists. I'm willing to explore and experiment. I just asked about web sales to see what successes members of this group have had (or not had). >The best advice that sticks in my mind after reading about a dozen art >marketing books was given by a painter: "paint them, pack them and peddle >them." Translated to the printmaking world: "print them, pack them and >peddle them.">> That's good; that's very good. I just might print that out and stick it on my work table..... Thanks, Maria! Bobbi C. ------------------------------ From: "David Stones" Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 11:53:03 +0900 Subject: [Baren 16471] Re: Tomikichiro Tokuriki's book Dear All, Dave B is very right about this book. It is easy to understand and gives a (very) brief outline of much of what you need to know, to start... I only bought my copy out of interest in printing though - as I was in commercial, lead-type, oily ink printing... Things have changed though - and Tomikichiro Tokuriki is no longer with us - neither is his book in publication. I've just rechecked with the publishers - as have been asking about a reprint over the years - but they couldn't have given a more negative response. "There are no plans, at all, to reprint" the uninterested voice on the phone said. Hoikusha Publishing in Osaka must be going through a bad time, like so many businesses here. If you find a copy anywhere, it will help. Some of us had the author's actual advice and encouragement... which I sometimes add to [Baren] posts. Much is still valid... Prices? "Put what you would pay, plus alpha" ... it works. Dave S (Ishita) ------------------------------ From: Graham Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 20:15:01 -0800 Subject: [Baren 16472] Promotion add on After sending this post out I realized I had left off one sentence. >It is OK to put some of your energies into the websites.... but be >careful the amount of money you spend. You'll note I did not say >invest.... I have stated my position about web sales for fine art >and noted there was no comment. So be it. My site >http://members.home.net/gscholes/ stated right from the beginning >... PORTFOLIO ... and that is the long and the short of it. I am hopeful that in time the public will gain confidence in purchasing fine art as they now do with many other items The list is growing based on a news comment yesterday.... Book we know about,... clothes, toys, music, accommodations computers and related merchandise and tools. We can't forget the tools as found at the Baren Mall. Graham ------------------------------ From: barebonesart Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2001 20:17:58 -0800 Subject: [Baren 16473] Re: Baren Digest V17 #1650 More on the marketing problem: Someone once told me that the public has to see your name 9 times before they accept you as a professional. So there you go! Mail, advertise, exhibit in your community. You're only 28 miles from town? I've known gallery owners to drive 150 to see work they must have been told enough about to cultivate an interest. I wouldn't let a few miles stop me. So what if your first open studio is only for your neighbors? What a great way to start. If you think you're too far out, rent space in town for a weekend. But, I have to add my echo to the folks who say, don't spend too much on a web site - - they are not that productive for anyone I've ever known. Good advertising, tho! Sharri ------------------------------ From: "Eva Pietzcker" Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2001 10:51:12 +0100 Subject: [none] Hallo, this is my first request to the Baren-forum. I have some questions about woodblock-printing, maybe someone could help me. I want to print woodblocks with water-based inks. I tried it in the Japanese way with rice-past, but I have problems with it: - -It seems to me that the rice paste changes the colours a bit, it is not really translucent and colours become a bit "milky". What did I wrong? Also I can't get a real deep black in this way. I tried it by using a Chinese ink , which is very black, but the print is not. How can I get intensive, deep colours? - -Does anybody know another receipt of water-based inks for applying the ink with a roller? I find it very hard to print cleanly and exactly with a brush. - -My woodblocks are made of plywood (birch) and I think it damages the surface of the block to be always in contact with water - is there a possibility to prepare/protect the wood, to make it more resistant? - -What could I do if I'm inking a huge woodblock with a brush, to provide the ink from drying while doing this? Thank you very much. Yours sincerely, Miriam Zegrer Email: eva@pietzcker.de ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V17 #1652 *****************************