as the year comes to an end, i am wrapping up a few 

projects and will be taking time off  to spend  with my family 

and friends.  thank you for visiting  this year.  whether you have 

left a comment or not, i know you are busy and i appreciate 

that you have taken the time.   this week i have found a new (to me) 

obsession....instagram where i have begun to post some

photographs and paintings.  you can visits me there

as well at irenerafael.  

happy holidays to all!

today i am sending all who participate throughout the year with 

kristin and ava at paint party friday many thanks.  you feed the creative fire 

and bring inspiration each week.  i will see you in the new year.

X O X O

irene

hosting a solo show, part 3

this is the final section in a series of three.  you can check the previous two
posts to read other aspects of hosting a showing of your work.

paperwork...

 create a numbered inventory list for each show

listing the title, media, price with a photo of the work so the person

taking the money can easily recognize the painting.   one list is kept 

at the check out.  i also print out wall tags to be put along side

of the painting with this same information (your have seen this in galleries), 

including the number of the painting so it can be matched with the list.

mistakes to be avoided....

have all your work ready to go well in advance of the show.  this 

includes signatures, final finishes, arrangement for hanging

and photographs.  i have created unnecessary stress for myself

by deciding i wanted to paint fresh new paintings at the last minute.

there is enough work to be done before a show without this.  i have done it 

both ways.  you will enjoy your show much more if you are relaxed 

and not adding backings, etc. at the last minute.  something always goes 

wrong and then you are in a bind. 

invite people, tell folks what you are up to.  art is a great equalizer,

people of all ages and backgrounds can appreciate it.

it is fun, beautiful, colorful and people like to see it in a relaxed

environment.  for my first two shows i did not send out my own

mailers until the very last minute.  i didn't want to 'bother' people or 

make them feel obligated.  this is not the case.  people want to know

and want to support you and want to see your latest work but 

they won't know about it unless you tell them.  think of all the 

people who have asked you about your art.  include them. 

i have met many new people and have heard first hand responses

to my art.  it is encouraging and exciting beyond what i have ever imagined. 

pricing...

its personal.  people tell me i should charge more.  my answer is that i will

when i am ready.  i have had people want to give be a business lesson so that 

i will make more from my art. 

i love that people can afford and enjoy my art.  close to one hundred of my paintings 

are in homes throughout the world.  that makes  me feel very good.  

 i am prolific, i paint daily. i don't want my paintings stored forever. 

i want them out and hanging.  each artists needs to make their own decision on this.

there are no rights or wrongs, no comparing, it does not make your art

better because the price tag is higher.  i talked to a young gentleman who 

bought two of my piece yesterday.  he was mentored by an art

collector.  while some art was out of his price dance,

 he was grateful he could afford to have my art in his home. 

i like knowing this.

putting your art out in the world...

i cannot believe that i am writing this.  although i have been painting for 

less than four years, it has taken a lifetime for me

to feel comfortable putting myself and now my art out into the world.

i have discovered that while it is difficult, it has many rewards.

i have met many new people some of whom have started to collect

my work.  i have heard personal stories through art, have been

surprised at what my art has meant personally to people.  i don't think

is is personal to me.  i believe if you put your heartfelt work, 

whatever it may be out, the response will surprise and delight you.

(in my opinion)


do not second guess yourself or what other people might like.
i could have sold the painting that my least favorite five
times over.  it surprised me.  i would have left it home but
i decided at the last minute to take it.  you never know
what touches another.  another example is a set of three
sketches i took to my last show in august.  the person hosting
the show did not like it so it took it home.  sunday, i sold
the set and took orders for several duplicates.


i hope you are encouraged to try this means of showing
your beautiful art.  i would love to hear about it if you do.


happy paint party friday to all.  thank you, 
kristin and ava for hosting this creative group.

sold paintings waiting to be picked up 


solo show alternative, part 2


logistics...

time of day, number of hours how to advertise or announce the event.
i have held shows for 4 hours, either in the late afternoon,
4-8PM or
midday, 11-3PM.
this has proven to allow a nice stream of  people streaming through
with enough time to greet,talk to each person and answer questions.
we have sent out emails, handed out  post cards and
posted on Facebook and on my blog.  a follow up notice a week or so
before the date is helpful.  i like to include directions to the event.

it is a good idea to ask for rsvps so you can plan for the refreshments.



refreshments....
i offer light finger foods and beverages.  i love proseco and find it
festive so i serve it along with non alcoholic drinks.  it is lovely if friends
offer to bring food as it takes on more thing off of your long list.

miscellaneous....

also decide on whether there is a commission to be paid,

who is going to hang the work, whether  paintings can be sold

in advance of the show, whether to keep the paintings up 

throughout the show or let people take them as they are 

purchased, what form of payment will be acceptable to 

be taken (cash, check, credit cards)

hanging and display options....

there are a number of ways to display your work

from the traditional d-rings and wire with nails on the wall 

to alternatives methods.    i have tried all of the above.  at one venue

we hang paintings in an outdoor patio, some are sit on tables, on the patio wall,

on wrought iron dividers, on easels and on music stands.  the variety only

adds to the festivities.  at the latest show the walls had special delicate paint

treatment.  we did not want to use any nails nor did we want them to sit on 

surfaces or on the floor.  this was challenging.  we discovered command hooks

and not permanent double stick velcro.  for the most part it worked well

though not perfect.  

framing....

you will need to decide whether you want to have all of 

your paintings framed.  in the past i have framed all of my work.  for sunday's show

i  wanted to present a series of paintings and mono prints done on paper.  there were about

twenty.  i wanted them to be hung but did not want to frame them all.  also, i have

storage issues at home already and the bulk of framed work would cause more problems.

i decided on having all pieces matted only and hung.  i think it was 

a viable alternative.  you have seen the photo above in yesterday's post.  

the non framed  paintings are displayed on the right.



tomorrow, paperwork, pricing, mistakes to avoid

altered photo collage, sold

a one person show of your art is a viable 

alternative to gallery showings.  it is personal,

intimate and a lot of fun.  and you can create it to suit yourself.

evie, the birthday girl and curator with friends, jerry and nancy

i have been asked what it takes to have a one person show.

although having three shows does not make me an expert,
i can tell you some of the ingredients from my experience.

i have broken up the content  and will be posting on this topic
over the next few days.

cynthia, which deciding, finally buying five paintings

the first is to have a person who supports your art and is 

willing to hold the event in their home or place of business.

i have been fortunate and the people hosting the shows 

have approached me but since this is a relatively new concept

of showing art, you might think of people or businesses
who you can  approach with this concept.

some of the things you will need to start thinking about...

a mailing list of people to invite, both your list of friends

and the host's

a body of work.  look over your work.  are there any gaps
in the content?  can you see a theme?    how would they look
hung together?

tomorrow i will include other decisions you will need to consider.

over 70 paints hung.  here is a portion

of the village that has helped put this show

together.   it is always good to break bread together.

 i am beyond excited.  one more sleep.

X O X O X O

i hope you get some time to visit the art 

created at paint party friday