Two weeks out – holy cow! Time has flown and I have a feeling that the next 336 hours will be gone before I know it.
Last night I met with the photographer for the Cherokee Tribune. Nice young man named Todd. He REALLY enjoyed seeing our workshop, studio and gallery spaces. When we walked into the studio he said, “This is where artists go to die – it’s like heaven!” I thought that was a great description of how blessed we are to have these spaces and creativity around us all the time. He took several shots of me working and then a shot of me in the gallery in the ‘mock’ booth space. I invited him to bring back his wife, as she works with paper and makes paper books like Kevin. Small world isn’t it. The article will appear in the weekend edition of the paper – not sure if that means Saturday or Sunday. I guess we will find out.
As for my work, I completed 15 small unframed pieces. Whew – everything from the calligraphy to the bagging is done. Now all they need is a price tag. I have about 45 more to go, so guess what I will again be doing this evening. I am enjoying it immensely and can’t believe the volume of work I have created thus far. I would never have guessed when I took my first calligraphy class in 1989 that 22 years later I could produce work like this, in this volume, and that people would want to buy it. It is so awesome that we serve a God who thinks so much BIGGER than we can even imagine.
I also reviewed my inventory list. The one I am using to track each piece, the pricing and tabulate the ones which need to be bubble wrapped and the ones in a portable container. Remember, once I create all the inventory I have to transport it to the Cobb Galleria, set up the booth and get ready to schmooze! I was reminded by my American Craft Council Buddy (kind of a ‘show’ mentor) that once we are in the booth we become sales people, not simply artists. People need a reason to buy, and as the artist it is my job to give them that reason. I have a very easy selling tool, all my work is original. So if you like it, you had better buy it. I probably won’t be able to recreate the paper combinations or the exact piece ever again…one of a kind, original, so buy it while you can! If you don’t, someone else may buy it and it will be gone forever. I am hoping to learn more as I see the buying trends at the show of which color combinations, quotes and styles sell so I can better plan for my next show. I am also tracking which size sells and which frame types…all of which are important inventory tracking trends I will need for the future.
Only fourteen days – gulp!
Ann Art Gallery Blog 