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I work very hard at the marketing aspect of my art business. That hard work is beginning to pay off in a BIG way. I cannot tell you know what has been happening - but it is all good. Very very good. Stay tuned, and thank you. Add Comment UPDATE: I received back 11 paint sticks so far. Here is what I learned... Children find paint sticks. Very few adults find them. CRAZY STREET PEOPLE FIND THEM. So next time I will have them handed out to people who do NOT look CRAZY at the Farmer's Market or another local event. Maybe hand the out to the staff at the local college or hand out to local businesses. I am represented in a gallery called Off the Walls Gallery, in Shelton, Washington. Shelly, the owner did a cool marketing venture, where she put out glittery pine cones in the town and they had a tag on them to bring them to her gallery and the finder would get a gift. Loved the idea! How to make that work for me? Hmmmm.... Let's see. I use house paint as my medium. House paint comes in cans and the paint store always gives you a wooden stir stick with each can of paint. I try to use recycled paint - but I can never find used black paint, so I have to buy it new. I was at the Miller paint store yesterday and he made me my black paint and then asked if there was anything else I needed. Yes. Why yes there is. I would like 50 stir sticks. Please. OMG. Stir sticks are cheaper than penny candy! They charged me 6¢ each. A bargain! Oh, I DO love a bargain!  There they are! All fifty of them!  I painted the advertising sides black.  Then I painted white stripes on them...  I wrote on the back of each one, a note to the finder of the stir stick. "Return this to the Helvi Smith Studio for a Free Gift! 1914 Elm Street - www.helvismith.com" Yeah. 50 times. I wrote that.  I happened to have an empty can to carry them around in. Ya know, I have the BEST friends! I called Kathy, and on 30 minutes notice, asked her to help me hide these around town. She said yes!  Here we go! Kathy even carried the bucket for me!      I am curious to see how many make it back to the studio. I am guessing, maybe 10-15. Let's see! When the woman who does my hair is washing my hair - I am looking at the textured ceiling. I see a 1940's woman wearing a long dress with slit up the side and the dress has padded shoulders and she is wearing a big hat with a huge floppy brim. And over there, to the right, is an alien with big wonky eyes. Yep. I am an artist. I see art everywhere. Pouring cream in my tea in the morning. Oh! The glorious swirls! Inspiration is everywhere. 
Look at this! My husband brought this to me tonight. It was in the driveway. An oak leaf with oak galls on it. Stunning! 
This is an approximation of how the painting will look when stretched on bars and ready to hang. It will measure about 30" X 25". Titled, "Pods" and free shipping in a tube. $325 - paypal is accepted. So, most days, I am alone in my studio, painting, listening to music, checking Facebook, puttering, painting, checking Facebook, painting and Facebooking. Is that even word? Facebooking? Here is what I have been working on lately... Click on the photos for comments on each one. Here is another one:I pretty much paint everyday. That means I create a LOT of paintings. A lot of artists that I know want to know HOW to sell more art. Me too! I have an art page on Facebook. I have and esty shop too. I started an artist networking group called The Green Cab. We, Cabbies, as we call ourselves, have a Facebook page too. I am in several art galleries and in several gift shop/galleries also. I have my own studio/gallery. I post on Instagram often. Print All Over Me - this is something new for me. Pretty cool... Artwork gets printed on clothing. 
I work very hard at marketing my work. But, I could use some help. That is where YOU come in. I am asking you to kindly share my Facebook page or Instagram account - or my website and blog with friends whom you think would like my art. Thank you. Every share will ring a bell in heaven for you. Or something like that. :) I saw some still life paintings while I was out cruising on the internet tubes. So, me being me, I decided to give painting still-lifes a try.  So I began... Click on each thumbnail for the blow-by-blow art action!  Still Life at Night. This one is drying on the porch. I don't like the red flowers - so that part will change.Around my little town - there is a movement. A real love movement. There are Love Rocks being made and placed around town to be "discovered" kept and loved or passed on. So it got me to thinking about painting hearts... The above paintings are listed on Etsy. 
Working on some little hearts... 
Worked on some long hearts... 
Working on some Big Hearts.... 
Yep. Hearts. Lots of them.I never have small goals. Only big goals. My goal is that within the next 3 years, I will have art in many fine galleries across the US and that I will be making a fine living. Watch me go.  Look at this big ugly 70's painting a friend found for me! I cleaned it up and started in!  Did I mention that this is a big painting? | I post on Facebook all the time about what I am working on. Click on the BLUE link and check it out!Current and upcoming shows:
*********************** July 1st - Group show at Insomnia Coffee on Baseline in Hillsboro. Group will do a demo onsite in July at same location. ********************** July 4th, 5th and 6th - The Green Cab will be at Tualatin Estate Vineyards doing demos! ******************** July-August I will have art up at the Forest Grove Newstimes office in Forest Grove, Oregon. ***********************July- August Group show a the new Waltz Brewery in Forest Grove! ********************** August 1st-3rd Creations Sale at Pine Grove Community House in Manzanita, Oregon ********************** August 10th is "Meet the Artist" - sponsored by the Forest Grove Public Arts Commission. I will be leading a "How to paint a Bird" demo! THIS IS SOLD OUT! *********************** October 18th and 19th I am happy to participate for the 4th year in a row in the Washington County Open Art Studios Tour. Free! *********************** October 2014 Insomnia Coffee Baseline Location ********************** November 2014 I will be showing at the New Seasons Market - Progress Ridge ******************* November-December 2014 Group Show with the Green Cab at the Hillsboro Library ********************** December 2014 Solo show at The New Morning Bakery in Corvallis, Oregon. *********************** I am always looking for venues for placing art! ArchivesJuly 2014 CategoriesAll |
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