Liz R. Derksen - Artist
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Show or Sell

2/21/2015

2 Comments

 
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There is something I have run into recently, that I am trying to sort out.  It is finding the balance between showing and selling a painting.  

I believe it is important to enter shows, because you want people to be aware of your work... more exposure.  When you enter a show, you have to go through a "submission" process.  Usually, you are require to send photos of the work you are hoping to show by a certain deadline... then it is seen by a jury... and you are notified anywhere from a week to a month ( in some cases ), whether or not your work has been accepted for the show.  

The problem I've run into is that someone would like to purchase a painting, after I have entered it into a show, but before I have been notified if my painting is to be included in the show.  I should say here that when you send in your "submission", you have included the price you are asking for your pieces.  Now, some shows allow you to change the asking price to "NFS"... not for sale, so you can sell the painting and ask the buyer if they are OK with collecting the painting after the show... most are.

However, I found out the hard way... that some shows do not allow you to do this, and require that you still put the painting in the show.. for sale.  This means that I lose a buyer, and my painting is held in limbo from the submission deadline until the end of the show... which can sometimes mean over 2 months.  Also... having a painting in a show does not guarantee it will sell.  

So... my task is to find a solution for this.
Ideas:
1. Paint 24/7 so I have enough paintings to sell and show.
2. Don't enter shows with this type of policy
3. Suggest to the powers that be, that if a painting sells while it is in "limbo" (awaiting the jurying process, or accepted to a show that has yet to start), perhaps keeping it in the show as NFS, but paying a commission to the show hosts would work.
4. Paint well enough that the show host doesn't care what you put in as long as they have one of your paintings... :)

LOL... so, I think I have figured it out... #3 is perhaps the best option.  It really helps to pull my thoughts out of my head and put them down on "paper".  


2 Comments
Lisa Figueroa link
2/21/2015 02:41:00 am

My partner in painting has dealt with this situation (I won't mention her name just in case) she had a painting hanging in my Gallery and it sold but she had also entered it in a Federation Show and it had been accepted. She had to show it at the Federation Show and she also had to pay them the commission since it had sold while being considered for their show so they felt they should have their cut. My friends painting sold from my space and so I had collected my commission and she still had to pay the Federation their part. A double pay out for her on a small painting but she understood how desireable her work was...and that too is a good thing for an artist to realize.

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Liz Derksen
2/21/2015 04:02:13 am

Thanks Lisa :)
Sometimes I'm finding the art world difficult to navigate. It is a very good thing to have friends like you, fellow artists. :)

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    Liz R. Derksen is an artist living in BC.  

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