Yesterday I had a presentation at the gallery/museum where I currently have a solo wall exhibition. It was a requirement attached to having the spotlight on my art for two months in a very touristy town. A no-brainer! A while ago, I learned that the # 1 fear for most people is speaking in public. I don’t know if that is still true, but more than 30 years of teaching pretty much got rid of that fear for me. But I knew preparation was key, so I planned what my talk would be about, visited the site several weeks early to see the equipment on-site, and went back last week with my computer and presentation loaded onto it, to make sure everything worked. Planning takes away a lot of the stress. So I was surprisingly calm in the hours leading up to the presentation. I got there in plenty of time, even though I decided to make a last-minute change to my presentation. I have to mention that, because my portable computer is a Google Chromebook, I was using Google Slides, which I had very little experience with, but which is not that different from PowerPoint, which I had used (and taught) since the first version came out many many years ago. Slides is quite a bit simpler, with much fewer bells and whistles, which suited me fine. All I wanted was some bullet points to keep the presentation on track, lots of photos, and a couple of short videos. And of course, I would be presenting offline, i.e. no Internet. Now I don’t know if you know this, but the Chromebook is basically an online machine. Yes, you can use it offline, but it is really meant to be constantly connected. So I built my presentation, testing it as I went. When online it worked fine. Offline, not so much! Especially the videos. I researched and tried all kinds of ways to trick Slides into thinking it was online, but there was no way to play videos directly within the presentation. So I resorted to switching to a different window and just playing the downloaded videos from there. Easy peasy! And the photos I had in the presentation worked fine, so I was ready! Then the day before the presentation, I thought I should really add another photo early in the presentation, where I was talking about how making Christmas ornaments had gotten me back into art over 20 years ago. I didn’t want the audience to be picturing macaroni glitter-glued onto red cardboard with green bows, so I thought a photo of some of my ornaments would be a nice addition! So about 3 hours before the scheduled presentation, I found a photo I had taken a little while ago and added it to the presentation. And, of course, it wouldn’t work. I don’t remember if I had to do anything special to get the dozens of other photos to show up, but this one just wouldn’t. I tried a few more obvious things, but nothing doing! Time was moving on, so I had to give up on that idea and get to the venue. I must have anticipated this might happen because I had already packed a selection of ornaments in my “show and tell” bag of props. Once at the venue, I connected my Chromebook to the giant Smart TV, and waited for the crowd to appear. The lady running the gallery (who happens to be the person who bought one of my framed ACEOs before the show started) was happy to show me that four more of the framed ACEOs had sold, and sadly she had to let some of them go because the buyers were from out of town (for aesthetic reasons, they prefer to keep sold items on the wall for the duration of the show). So now my wall isn’t so pretty! I am prepared to live with that. So where is the crowd? A few people had told me they were looking forward to my presentation. Unfortunately, I guess something better came up because only a small handful of people showed up. But it was wonderful. They were very interested and asked great questions, which I was able to answer because the crowd was small. One of my goals for this presentation was to spread the word about Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) and Art Cards, Editions and Originals (ACEOs). I would absolutely love to start an artist card trading group. And I think I succeeded in stoking enough interest in the small audience to make that happen! I was asked If I would be available to do a workshop on the topic, which is a great start! Would I have wanted a “standing room only” crowd for my presentation? Of course! Would I have liked to have five of my larger paintings sold instead of the small ones? You bet! But I am thrilled with the result, and feel that I am one step closer to my goal of “connecting people through the magic of original art”!
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You don’t know you are doing something wrong until you find out! For most of my life, I called printed copies of artwork, like posters I would buy as a teenager, or inexpensive framed copies of famous art such as the Andrew Wyeth “Christine’s World” that still hangs in my home, “prints”. That is, until an artist who actually makes prints educated me. Printmaking is an art form in its own right, like painting or sculpture. What I was calling prints are in fact “reproductions”. A print, in the art world anyway, is actually the result of a specific artistic process. But it gets complicated rather quickly. You can’t generalize and say that art prints are hand-made, because some are made with presses. You can’t say that prints are original artworks, because they often exist in “editions”, which can run from 1 to hundreds of copies. And you can’t say they are less expensive than original artwork, because a buyer recently paid $195M for a silkscreen print by Andy Warhol. What you can say is that an art print has been handled by the artist, who usually signs it in pencil, just outside the printed image, usually in the bottom right-hand corner. I say usually, because there seem to be no steadfast rules on this, only guidelines. And artists being who they are…. If it is a limited edition, in other words, if there is a fixed number of prints that were produced using the same matrix (and there are strict rules, even laws on this aspect), then a number x/y will also be hand-written at the bottom, usually on the left, indicating that this specific impression is the xth one of an edition of y. The lower number does not necessarily indicate the order of printing. Each individual print in the edition may be slightly different, simply because of the nature of the process used to print it. The matrix is often destroyed after the edition is completed to ensure no more can be produced. Limited edition prints may increase in value over time, just like original artwork. If it is an open edition (no numbering, but still signed, possibly with a stamp of the signature, especially in very large editions), then there may be literally thousands of this print available, and no appreciation of value is expected, as a few more thousand prints could be run off at any time if the market needs them. So what exactly is a print? Without going too far into the weeds, a print is a work of art that is produced by first creating an image on some type of matrix, then transferring some type of ink via that matrix to some kind of surface (usually paper), using some kind of “printing” process. Those processes include etching, block-printing, lithography, silkscreening, etc. Print techniques are often grouped in categories by the method used to transfer the ink, such as intaglio or relief, to which lithography and silkscreening are sometimes added. Some sources insist there are 3 types, others 4, and yet others 5. This doesn’t help to clarify what printmaking is to the average art lover! But I think artists should understand and make the distinction between what are prints and what should really be called reproductions. And since I myself have become a printmaker, I am more sensitive to this cause. I belong to several groups related to art, both in-person and online. I don’t remember who pointed out the error of my ways when I used to call reproductions “prints”, but I do remember they were kind. So whenever I can, I try to do the same. Sometimes, I am met with the “Well, everybody calls them prints, so…” reply. I can accept that as the easy way out, but really? I can understand that the general public doesn’t know or care what the difference is, but as artists, even if we aren’t printmakers, shouldn’t we be trying to educate, or shouldn’t we at least make an effort to call things by their correct name? Would anyone call a photocopy a photograph? Yet that is what we are doing when we call reproductions "prints". OK, now I am starting to sound preachy. I guess it was the way I was brought up. It’s not a Frigidaire unless the label on it says it is. The same for Kleenex! And I believe a public who is educated about art will appreciate it more, and will take this into consideration when they have an art purchasing decision to make. Thanks for listening. I hope you learned something today. And if you did, spread the word! And if you are curious, here is a place to start to learn more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printmaking In last week’s blog, I wondered about the things I might be doing if I hadn’t got into art. The list was quite long. With all those possible choices, I started wondering about why I chose to concentrate on art. I hadn’t any particular talent or training. I remember doing the “Draw Winky” thing in the TV Guide. I think I remember that I sent it in and got the response that I “held promise” (who didn’t?!?). I remember my high school art classes fondly, but that may have been because of the teacher that I really liked. I never once thought of going into visual arts as a profession, unless you count the time I tried to get into the Photography Program at a college in Montreal. They only accepted a very small number of students every year, and of course I wasn’t one of them. That was the extent of my efforts to start a career as an artist! In fact, after exploring a few subjects at college, I settled on possibly the least artsy program of all: Computer Science! So why the fascination with art now? I think there are many reasons. First, I love to learn. I could have chosen to learn something else of course, but I think that with art I will never run out of things to learn! I also like to create things. You may not think it, but writing a computer program is creating. You start from basically nothing but a set of rules and a problem to solve, and you come up with a series of steps that solve it! I remember the great feeling of accomplishment of getting a program to do exactly what you wanted it to do! And sometimes (very rarely, I admit!) on the very first try!! I think also that I enjoy the satisfaction of doing something where I am happy with the results. I tried learning the clarinet but was not very good at it. My ego feels I am better at art. I also like the quietness of art. I discovered a few years ago that I am a “Type 4” person. (Look up DYT if you are curious). This type of person likes things to be structured and quiet, so I am quite content being on my own and working at my own pace. Another reason is that, like everyone I think, I want to leave a mark on the world. Hopefully some of my works will still be around, and bringing joy to their owners, many years after no one remembers having known me. I have no ambitions to be famous or hang in museums, but it is nice to think that someone in many years will still be enjoying what I created. I think it also satisfies my entrepreneurial spirit. I vaguely remember having a lemonade stand out on the front lawn for some of my father’s warehouse workers next door. I couldn’t have been much older than 6 or 7. I was always on the lookout for money-making opportunities, and sold educational toys for a while when my kids were young. I was also an “Avon Lady” for many years. My ex-husband and I ran a microwave popcorn business for several years, and yes, we even tried our hand at Amway! So it should be no surprise to me that I am spending a lot of time learning and researching art marketing. Marketing art is not like regular marketing. It is much more difficult, mainly because unlike other products, no one really “needs” art. You could argue that everyone needs art, the world needs more art, and I would agree, but there are many opportunities for people to enjoy art that don’t require them to purchase it! Especially now with the Internet, you can visit world famous museums from the comfort of your couch. You can download art, not always legally, from pretty much anywhere. And you can print copies, or order moderately priced reproductions online for home delivery! And, to be honest, with the price of everything going up the way it is, people have legitimately good reasons to not buy original art. (And yet someone bought an original Andy Warhol last week for $195M! US$!! For a silkscreen print!! Go figure!!) Talking with other local artists, getting people to consider purchasing art is very difficult. Unless they fall in love with the piece and can’t get it out of their head, most people, around here anyway, will not buy art. Unfortunately, a lot of people are not educated about art, so can't appreciate the difference between an original and a reproduction. They might also be intimidated by original art and believe that it is out of their reach. I believe it is part of my mission to change this, in part by offering small and very affordable original paintings (nothing above $1M. CAN$. I promise!) So why do I continue? Why do I bother? Simply, because I love it! Of course selling more works would be nice. Knowing that someone likes your work enough to part with their hard-earned money is extremely gratifying. Plus, it would help pay for more art supplies and would clear some space for new work! So this summer, make a point of going to art fairs, and support local living artists! Find art that you love! You'll be happy and proud to point to the art on your wall and tell your friends that you know the artist! In June of 2014, I retired from a career of teaching at a local college. The union I belonged to had the brilliant practice of holding annual pre-retirement information sessions for those who were approaching that momentous career move. When I attended mine, I was surprised to learn about all the things one had to think of and do when severing ties with their employer of 30+ years! I was also surprised to learn that a significant proportion of retirees have no idea how they will be filling their now oh-so-flexible schedules! I had started painting about 10 years earlier and was looking forward to the extra time I could now devote to what was becoming more than a hobby. I have since learned an awful lot about painting and about art in general. I have been fortunate enough to be able to afford to try a number of mediums and techniques. And above all, I have been having fun! So this week I was wondering “what if?” What would I be doing if I hadn’t caught the art bug? Although I am quite content to stay at home, I also like to explore and learn new things. So here is a non-exhaustive list, in no particular order, of things I might have been doing if…. I might have been singing. As a teenager, I very much enjoyed being part of the school’s choir. I have always liked music, and I even learned to play the clarinet in my early forties. I wasn’t very good at it, but I enjoyed it. I could have continued that and joined an orchestra I suppose. But I prefer singing. I was lucky enough to perform, both in the ensemble and as a soloist, in the “Residents Show” one winter in the complex where we used to own a condo in Florida. I also sang regularly at the Karaoke nights there. I like group singing too, and I think I would have joined a choir or chorus here if I wasn’t busy with my art. I might have been writing. I had the ambition years ago to write a novel. I had the outline done but life got in the way. I would probably have finished that book and started a bunch of others if I wasn’t so busy with my art. At least I get to write my blog each week! I might have been volunteering. The library would have been a good choice. The local elementary school is always looking for volunteers for its breakfast program. But that would mean I would have to get up early. So I wouldn’t be doing that, even if I wasn't so busy with my art. But I would likely have found something else to volunteer for, even though I often think I did my part all those years serving on parents committees and at the local School Board. I might have been reading more. I must confess I haven’t been spending nearly enough time lately reading non-art books. I used to read a lot. Then the Internet arrived. But I definitely would be reading more if I wasn’t so busy with my art. I might be exercising more. This is something I definitely have to work on. I spend way too much time sitting and should make it a priority to get out and at least walk every day. I had a real, not to mention painful scare when I fell on the ice a couple of winters ago and have since been overly cautious, so now I don’t walk in the winter if I can help it! Not to mention it’s cold! Now that spring has sort of sprung, maybe I should work on working that habit into my daily routine. Trouble is I have no real daily routine…. I’m too busy with my art. I might be traveling more. Before Covid of course we did quite a bit of that. Travel and painting can go well together. Personally, I don’t much care for painting outdoors, so I am more likely to take photos that can be used as references back in the studio. But who knows when we will be back to “normal” travel? Last year I did a bit of “Youtube traveling”, watching ‘walking tour’ videos while exercising on the elliptical machine. And I actually did a painting that was inspired by one of those walks in Perugia, Italy. Maybe I should get back to doing that. The proverbial two birds, one stone! I might be doing more genealogy. I did my family tree, and continue to manage it with new additions and as family members pass on. A few years ago, I joined Wikitree, which is a free online site that aims to create a single worldwide family tree. I was able to join my tree branches to branches created by other Wikitree members and link back to ancestors from the 1200s in some cases. I should really go in and add references and clean things up, but I am too busy with my art. I might be gardening more. I used to garden quite a bit, but the futility of trying to outsmart the deer has taken the joy right out of that pastime. In a few minutes, a group of two or three, or even a single deer, can wipe out weeks, or even months of work. Let them have the garden! I am busy with my art! I might be keeping a tidier house. Years of accumulated stuff keeps getting pushed back by more recently acquired stuff. I know better. I need to get rid of stuff. But what If I need it? It could come in handy, and often it does, so that doesn’t help to get rid of it! When we came back from Florida a couple of months ago, after getting rid of stuff down there, we were in a mood to continue. The mood didn’t last. And I can’t see the clutter when I am busy with my art. I might have pursued learning Italian. I started a few years ago before we went to Italy, but have since not found the motivation nor the time to continue, being busy as I am with my art. I might have gone back to school. I have always liked learning. I probably would have enrolled in art classes and then would be even busier with my art! |
AuthorMy name is Claire Bureau. Archives
March 2023
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