Comments on: Deep Thought Thursday: Show it again, Sam

By: Stephanie Rossi

Stephanie Rossi — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 06:40:47 +0000

Great comments! For shows with one or two pieces on display I will only show new work. But when showing work at my studio, I have found that more times than not, people will come back to see a piece a second (or even third time) before they buy it. When I can, I will keep track of who spent time with certain pieces and note this in my mailing list. If I show that work some where else I’ll make a point of telling that visitor about the show. Depending on the price of the work, buying art isn’t something many can afford to do on a whim or without their significant other or friend’s second opinion.

By: Suzette Fram

Suzette Fram — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:21:57 +0000

If the audience is going to be different from one show to the next, then what difference does it make if you show the same piece again? Let’s not be ridiculous here. Especially if it’s a group show.

When I’m doing a yearly festival, I make sure that the majority of the works are new but I will show an unsold piece again, a year or two later. I make sure I show it in a different spot in my area. It’s amazing how rearranging your booth can result in people seeing paintings they didn’t notice before. If a piece doesn’t sell, and I feel it’s a good painting, I will hang it at home and perhaps bring it out again a few years later.

One thing that helps this, is the fact that I don’t date my paintings. I do this on purpose so no one will be turned off by the fact that a piece is a year or 2 old.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:21:38 +0000

The only reason I can think of to not show a painting again is if, like Yvonne suggested, it’s not of proper quality for some reason. Of course, I wouldn’t show an entire grouping of paintings over and over, but wouldn’t hesitate to continue to exhibit a piece if I thought it was excellent quality.

By: Yvonne Branchflower

Yvonne Branchflower — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:23:23 +0000

When an oft-exhibited painting does not sell, it is time to critique the presentation. Is the painting good, or is it afflicted with composition or color problems? Is it simply a subject that has a limited audience? Is the frame harmonious with the painting? Is the frame damaged? Would a different style of frame give the painting a whole new look?

By: Patricia

Patricia — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:53:42 +0000

Some very good thinking here and among my favorite comments is the one relating showing works over again to the debut of a musical piece and it never being played again. Of course we are going to keep creating new paintings but the old ones are not meant to be discarded, after all, everyone hasn’t seen them yet – especially not the person who is going to buy that piece…

By: TracyWall

TracyWall — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:38:30 +0000

Last week at an outdoor art market, .50% of my sales were works from last year.

By: Kathleen Piercefield

Kathleen Piercefield — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:07:10 +0000

Lynn and Lynne both make very good points. And much depends on context. I have shown work in a group show, and then again in a themed show in another location. People who attended both events saw the “old” work in that different context and didn’t even realize it was the same thing they had seen before. And in the second event (two years later)it found a buyer. Go figure!

As long as you are DOING new work and not just resting on your laurels with the old, sure, keep putting it out there.

By: Fiona Purdy

Fiona Purdy — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:49:15 +0000

Who knows maybe someone saw one of your paintings at a show, was interested by didn’t buy it (for whatever reason). They see it again at another show – they remember and this time they buy it!!

Who makes up these stupid rules anyway?

Times have changed – we make the rules now.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:09:39 +0000

I think its perfectly fine. Its unrealistic to think that everyone in the world has seen a piece because it was shown in one venue. By showing in multiple venues you are casting a wider net and reaching a broader audience.

By: Lynne

Lynne — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:09:11 +0000

Think of this in terms of music. A song is debuted and then we never hear it again because it is shabby to perform the same piece over again! Ridiculous! And then we buy that music and play it over and over! Well, unless it is the same audience more or less, I would show the same piece again without qualms. One moves a piece around and that way many more people see it. Then someday it might reside in a museum where it doesn’t move around and many people come to see it – over and over.