View Full Version : Visitors to your studio
Lauren
09-11-2005, 03:55 PM
Do you get many visitors to your studio and how do you accomodate them?
For a good six months I used to have a small shop in one of those big 'market' type complexes that you see in the bigger cities. You know the kind of thing, usually a big 'shed' kind of thing with anywhere from 50 plus shops inside selling all kinds of craft, t-shirts, gifts etc. etc.
Anyway, I'd sit in the front of the shop painting and people could come in and view my finished painting on the walls behind me.
If I wasn't working on anything that didn't require too much attention I'd do the smile and say 'Hi' kind of thing to anyone that came by to specifically look at my work.
Then I'd invite them to ask any questions or make any comments etc about work that caught their eye.
That would usually get a conversation going and things would go from there.
I didn't really do any hard sell or anything.
lifecoach
09-12-2005, 10:49 AM
I think it is great to be able to visit a studio and view completed work but also see something that is part way through. I guess it is like getting a glimpse behind the scenes and non artists can learn a lot.
I do some volunteer work for a local community art gallery and until I did that I had no idea how much work went into preparing for an exhibition.
ep_treasures
09-12-2005, 02:40 PM
I know that I don't have a studio yet but when I have my Sale we usually offer people coffee/tea/biscuits and a chat aroung the kitchen table. This, of course, is OK for once-a-year & would not be possible as an everyday offer - unless you have a coffee shop/cafe set up as part of the Studio.
Lauren
09-13-2005, 09:39 PM
I dont think we would get much work done with a cafe in the studio haha be too busy making lattes and cappuchinos!! I had two visitors to my studio today which was a bit scary considering I had all my new work out so they were the first to comment on them... thank goodness they were positive comments, I couldn't handle bad feedback right now! It would just stress me out! :cry2:
ep_treasures
09-14-2005, 01:28 AM
Now don't go getting stressed out Lauren.........maybe you need to sit down and have nice capuccino & big block of chocolate :wink:
BusinessMums
09-14-2005, 08:55 AM
If you had a cafe in the studio, you could hire someone to make the coffee's ;)
Your work is gorgeous Lauren.
Melissa
Lauren
09-14-2005, 10:31 AM
Yes that's true Melissa...if you are rich enough to pay for an assistant! How nice would that be, someone to run after you and do all the paperwork while I paint all day long. *bliss* Of course, my assistant would have to be half maid and do my housework too. hahahaha.
Unless you're talking to an Art Critique or a family member, I've found it rare that people will give you bad feedback on your artwork. If they don't like your work they'll still find something polite to say.
The biggest exception to this though is if you're an abstract expressionist. People usually have no idea about that kind of art so they assume the artist isn't being serious about their work being art.
Probably the most memorable criticism I've ever received is when the Mayor of my Town commented on the artwork that I use for my Avitar. He said that the picture was good but there was only one thing wrong with it - he didn't like cats.
Fortunately I didn't paint it for him then huh! ;)
Lauren
09-14-2005, 12:46 PM
I agree with you Tet... when people say "yes, very nice" or similiar you can't really trust your feedback. I watch for the facial expressions and the excited "oh wow" before I take it as a compliment. I got a few oh wows about two peices yesterday which was nice, no comment on two of the newer ones so I guess they don't pack a punch! hehe but some good feedback on the ones in progress so hopefully they will be "wow!" ones too haha!!
ep_treasures
09-15-2005, 03:12 AM
I'm sure you'll get lots of 'wows' for your work Lauren. :D
Will I get a chance to say my 'wows' when I pass your way? :shock:
Lauren
09-15-2005, 10:28 AM
Yep you better stop by or you will be banned from the forum! :lol:
It's funny what people like and will go 'oh wow!' to.
I was doing a painting demonstration once at a community festival. I had an artwork that I was kind of creating on the side but was really just a work that I was using up excess paint on when I'd finished with it on the main artwork.
Anyway this side piece wasn't really very considered (though it did look like a half competent artwork). At the end of the festival while i was packing up someone came up and said they really liked that particular artwork and thought it was really good. They were really surprised when I said it was an artwork to get rid of excess paint.
ep_treasures
09-15-2005, 04:43 PM
TET, my first reaction about your 'excess paint painting' was "Why did you say that - thay may have wanted to buy it if they were so impressed with your painting". But quickly realised that I would have admitted the same if I had been working on something that wasn't up to my standard.
I actually refused to sell a piece once because I used the item to experiment a variety of finishes. (This lady was looking over a few things in my work room). Although it may have looked 'OK', it was an experimental piece & I couldn't bear the thought of it being owned by anyone or for anyone to look at this piece as an example of my work (shudder).
She liked it So much but I just couldn't sell it to her. I ended up finishing another item for her instead.
scott
09-17-2005, 10:39 AM
your right about the fact that you can never guess what people will like.I cant pick it. I have found that it doesnt matter about the people who are critical in a negative way or who dont like your type of work, try not to take it to heart, because it is all made up for by the people who do , especially the ones who do go "oh , wow". Thats the biggest buzz. Then its even better when people not only like your work but they are willing to buy it...and to take it to the next step is those people who will come back and buy some more.
So dont worry about the ones who dont respond to your work by either liking it or buying it, just think that no matter what you make someone out there will like it ....the trick is getting it in front of them so they can see it.
For me I have found that the only person who really has to like the work when it finally gets up on the wall is me...everything else is a bonus
see you
scott
For me I have found that the only person who really has to like the work when it finally gets up on the wall is me...everything else is a bonus
I 100% agree with you there. Even with commissioned work I find that if I'm really pleased with the result then usually the client is too.
Another story for not knowing what people will like...
I created a monoprint of a girl that I painted using my fingers and intended to hand colour. Someone stopped by and saw the print before it was coloured. It was black on white and you couldn't even tell it was a girl without me pointing it out but the person bought it as is. Go figure.