Cool weather, rain and wind are the common theme in Taos. The fires in the fireplace are a treat each chilly evening. Emma and Wilson seem to love the weather but then so would I if I had a double coat.
I am going to answer two great questions that were submitted when I posted “What is your most pressing art question”.
How do you know when you are ready to put yourself out there? …not just little local shows…commitment to the whole process.
Really putting yourself out in the art world is something each of us as artists silently ask ourselves. Am I ready? What if I’m not and I fail? What does it take to be “ready”?
The key phrase in this question is “Commitment to the whole process”…that’s a biggie. Commitment requires courage and being uncomfortable. Being in the discomfort zone is not usually where we put ourselves voluntarily.
The answer is…You are ready when you begin to ask yourself if you are ready.
The reason I say this is simple. Questions like this never come to us unless there is a reason. Your reason is you are ready to go forward with your dream.
How to tell if this is true…
This question of “Am I ready” won’t go away.
You cannot not paint….creating is in your blood.
You see shadows when others see objects.
You become irritable when you are not creating.
You long for the courage to put yourself out there but step back as you are not sure if it is the right time. Yes, you are ready when you want more than being a closet painter.
Put your work along the wall of your studio or living room. Really look at it…do you see a common thread that holds all your work together? This thread may be subject matter, color, mood, design or even the way you apply your paint.
When you see this thread you know you have a “painting style”…one that says it is You.
So let me give you a heads up on what is going to happen next.
You decide you are ready to commit to the whole process. You are excited and scared…two great feelings to have by the way.
Then you start over thinking your decision. You start doubting your decision.
This is normal so keep going forward.
Here is the key to continuing your dream…get with a coach who believes in you. One who can help you through your doubts, one that is always on your side…one that will be honest with you.
Having a coach is what made all the difference for me. None of us get to our destination alone. I honestly feel getting a coach is one of the most important decisions you can make for yourself and your art.
What is your advice on sales, is it better to price work low and have more sales or sell fewer with a higher price?
Being able to sell your art is so important. When people are willing to spend their hard earned cash to purchase your work there is a wonderful feeling of accomplishment plus it is verification that your art is good and saleable.
First of all if you are new to showing your work price it on the low end. This doesn’t mean you give it away but price your work so you are making some money and definitely covering your expenses. When you see your work is selling then you can raise your prices.
Then comes the dilemma of do you continue to sell low or raise your prices.
This is a personal decision but here is how I feel about pricing your work.
If you up your prices your work better justify that price. Remember you cannot go down in your prices so be careful when you raise them.
With this said if you charge very little for your work then the buyer thinks you don’t think much of your art as it is priced so low.
So what is the answer? First of all look at the market for your style of work. This also depends on where you live. If you are in New York or LA you have more options. Most of us don’t live there so check out what is the market in your area.
The key here is to continue to improve your painting style. When you do this you can automatically raise your prices. As you grow so does the value of your paintings.
No one wants to stay on the low end of the scale for fear their work won’t sell. Be brave and raise your prices…but only if you believe they are worth what you are asking.
Another way to look at it is your prices reflect your confidence and belief in your work…make sure the quality of your work reflects that belief.
Click the link below and let me know if this helped clear the air around these questions.
