Rev Up those Engines --- ‘tis the Season!

"Kayla learning to feed herself"

If ever there were a good time to sell, it has to be from September through February. Each holiday trips quickly over the heels of another as the gift giving season draws near, and more product is sold during these few months than during the rest of the year put together.

I always tell myself I’m going to prepare early, and then I don’t. How do you get in the spirit of celebration six months in advance? Unemotional, logical retailers know the importance of stocking inventory for the seasonal rush. We should all take a tip from their play book!

Sometimes I allow competition to discourage me from creating Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas cards. I save my old cards from the previous year solely for ideas; but somehow, they never leave the drawer where they are stored.

(Chris and Lyla at Christmas)

I gloat over the online cards and kick myself for not following suit. Unfortunately, my passion-o-meter is running low. Without excitement for what you’re creating, the results usually fall flat.

I’m sure that the best remedy is to imagine and invent “while the iron is hot.” That means designing in your head while drinking hot cider or cutting fresh apples for a pie. The sights, smells and sounds of frivolity and fun just might be the edge you need.  You’ll stay ahead of the game and be ready for the upcoming season.

Then again, many people (like me) get depressed over the course of the holidays. The children are gone, the grand kids live far away in other parts of the country. I actually breathe a sigh of relief when the holidays are over. Give me routine and structure any day of the week. I’m fine with that. I’ve always been a workaholic. I thrive on stress and busyness.

I used to bake enormous batches of cookies and doughnuts and freeze them for giving away later to neighbors and friends. My creative drive was all used up in the process of making and baking. My own children helped frost the raised doughnuts I made. They loved dipping them in colored sprinkles, slivered almonds and coconut.

We made a gingerbread house together each year. The children placed small spiced gumdrops of red and green on the frosted roof and sprinkled red cinnamon candy on the white sugar snow. Their favorite part of the candy house was playing wrecking ball on the day after New Year’s. They smashed and devoured the crunchy pieces of frosted cookie until they were stuffed.

Traditions bind us to each other. They remind us of our humanity and sameness. Joy gives birth when we honor those sacred ceremonies and share them with others. If I could capture that special feeling in a box, I’d have a winner!

In the meantime, I’ll continue to grapple with my self-inflicted quandary and hope my muse doesn’t take a much-needed vacation.

Cut Yourself Loose -- Every which Way but Down

You’ve heard it before, and I’ll say it again: success is all about networking, networking, networking! The necessity of connecting the seller with the buyer and the advertiser with the consumer goes without saying. Plus your product must be available in as many different locations as possible.

I have an account on Zazzle where I’ve sold several small items and T-shirts from some of my drawings. The earnings are small, but it is gratifying to know that my cartoon characters are used and enjoyed.

Placing your artwork in several venues is not only smart, it’s vital to get your name out there. Making connections with as many people as possible is the only way to move your career along. I show on Etsy, Red Bubble, Fine Art America, and have two more sites in the works in addition to my blog.

Explore different sites, and place your articles and images where you get the most bang for your buck. I find the most difficult part is finding the time to paint or draw each day. Marketing takes a big hunk out of my week, and I’m sure out of yours, too. Without marketing, there are no sales, no exposure.

Like most artists, I have more ideas than I can ever paint. Storage is another problem: how and where to store your canvases and artwork so they are protected from the elements and from close proximity with other images. I’d love to hear your ideas!

 One solution is to have as many of your paintings in galleries and shows as possible. I keep a record of where each image is placed, its cost, and how long the painting will be at that location. Sometimes a venue may be long, such as a placement at a company or a restaurant. At other times, the venue is limited to one month. Keeping your artwork visible and active is essential if you want sales and exposure.

Membership in more than one Art League or with charitable organizations that use art to raise money provides more opportunity for visibility. I got an email a few days ago from one such gallery sponsoring a “membership show” in the coming month. Never let an opportunity slip from your grasp; work harder and smarter in order to have enough artwork in your inventory to participate.

Don’t Promise What You Cannot Deliver

If you’re in business, and art is a business, you must stand by your product, your word, and your promise.

A neighbor was interested in having a dog portrait done of her Schnauzer. Some years ago, she had sent a photo of her dog and the cost for a 9x12 painting to a T.V. artist. His prices were right, the timing was right, but the artist was clearly immature and unprofessional.

She waited, and waited. When she did not hear back, she called the station. Turns out, the artist had received so many orders, he felt overwhelmed. Rather than focusing on getting the job done, he chose to take the money and run. What could have been a profitable and successful endeavor, turned out to be a failure and a loss for everyone.

The artist became a criminal because he cheated his customers and failed to return their money. Building a profitable business requires integrity, follow through, and honesty with your customers. Giving back more than you give is sometimes necessary

.My husband recently transferred a family heirloom to his oldest son, who carries his name as a Jr. A wood carving done in the 1800’s by his great great Norwegian grandfather was passed on from father to son, father to son, and now to my husband’s son. The wood carving is titled “David’s Anointing.”

The family has a history of serving in the ministry. Wherever they have lived, they have enriched the community by starting churches, ministering to the poor and needy, passing out Gideon Bibles, and serving in community outreach programs. This carving illustrates a rich heritage of faith.

When my husband received the carving from his father, he promised it to his oldest son when his children were grown. A bout with cancer gave my husband a sense of urgency in keeping this promise. The carving will be passed on to a grandson by the same name when he is older. 

What a rich family history and treasure this great great grandfather has provided for his family.

Promises are important. When we accept a commission or a project, we should seek to fulfill it. Customer satisfaction should be uppermost in our minds. We should go beyond what is expected and offer our customers some additional incentives for buying from us; free cards, a copy of preliminary sketches of the painting, or other gifts of appreciation.

There are enough scammers in the world and plenty of illegitimate businesses. Don’t be one of them!