Slab- and hand-built clay torso, Sandpiper, by Tammy Vitale of Tam’s Originals
At last, the great "aha" with reference to where and how to market my work.
This week’s great success at Hoopla Traders Boutique on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, and Joie de Vivre in Cambridge, MD, turned the light on in the dark: Upscale Boutiques. The "upscale" part is the key word. I am in boutiques and shops but these two cater to an upscale clientelle that not only likes art but is also willing, and has the disposable income, to buy it. These upscale boutiques also know how to showcase work and throw a great party to get their clients in again and again. You’d think, duh, about this, but it’s definitely been a road getting to it for me. Perhaps the short stint in Georgetown should have given me a hint that’s where my work belonged….my very first torso ever stayed on the wall 15 minutes before it sold. Perhaps I’m just slow on the uptake.
So if you’re local to DC or Cambridge, MD, please do stop in and browse at these boutiques. You’ll love all you see – art work and clothes you won’t see anywhere else. Even if you’re not local, make a note to stop through when you visit the areas.
And I don’t want to quit making the smaller pieces, either, because there is a market for them. In fact, as I noted over on myspace, I finally made it to creating and casting 12 word-tile size (3" x 5") zodiac tiles with symbols. I still want to design 8×10 tiles with figures but am on my way now and feel good about getting at least those done this week. I have decided to create an earth/air/fire/water series of goddess tiles and may do both sizes for that too. That’s on my list of things todo today, including fix the misspelled taurus tile from yesterday (whoops!). And unloading the kiln and getting the fish in the mail to Joie de Vivre – the torsos will have to be driven. Am working on that with another artist friend who has to go to the Eastern Shore of Maryland for her own tour of pick-ups and drop offs. Might as well tag along for company (and that way I don’t have to drive over the Bay Bridge).(Although I can, now because I have 3 times this year for the first time in over 10 years – yeah! me!)
Tying together the last few days’ blogs here on writing, and the usual subject – art, (and what is writing but it’s own art?), here’s a fun thing for you to do for writing or art or a combination of the two: Sometimes it only takes an image, a word, a quotation or a color to get started. Journal Cards (art or writing) are designed to give you creative prompts and to evoke your own visions and ideas. Using index cards (you choose the size) paste a picture and a word together – randomly if you’d like, no pattern or preciseness necessary – and keep them handy for that dry day when nothing comes at the computer or in the studio. These are smaller and quicker than the soul cards I have previously described (and I promise I’m going to tool back through my posts so I have reference dates from here on out). Then choose one with your eyes closed and take it from there. For studio folks, use the writing as a jumping off place for where your art wants to go – if your pencil or pen should stop writing and start doodling – well, there’s your reward and your next step! (impetus from Lynne Perrella’s book noted below).
Thought for the Day: Art journals are something that we create for ourselves alone – not merely a self-indulgent activity, but something worthwhile, important, and vastly creative and self-revelatory. Thre is no pressure to make them "come out right," and the time we give to creating our personal pages, finding our authentic voice, and letting it sing is time well spent. Silence your inner critic and begin to think of your art journal as a companion, a muse, a soul mate. Lynne Perrell, Artists’ Journals & Sketchbooks: Exploring and Creating Personal Pages
1 Comment
Thanks so much for the good feedback on your experience at Hoopla. The connection between art and business is complex and sometimes emotional, but I do believe that, in the best of all worlds, they arise from the same instinct to create something meaningful with our lives. I will be posting on that topic today at Hoopla's new blog, http://www.bethechangeblog.com. Hope you and your readers will have a chance to check in and comment.