Comments on: Deep Thought Thursday: Well . . .

By: Alyson Stanfield

Alyson Stanfield — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:13:18 +0000

Thanks, Bill. That’s nice to hear!

By: Recruiter Bill

Recruiter Bill — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:33:09 +0000

I am in the staffing business not art sales, but I can tell you there has been a slow but steady uptick in hiring on the contract staffing side of the business, hopefully this bodes well for the art business.

By: Debra Duncan

Debra Duncan — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:21:52 +0000

Spring was a scary time for our gallery but I can feel things “loosening” up and sales are improving markedly this month.

By: Tina Mammoser

Tina Mammoser — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 10:35:44 +0000

Hmm.. I’m waiting for the recession to start to be honest. Not seen it yet. Not that there haven’t been big changes (I’m down to only one gallery) but sales are still on par at least and my average sales prices are actuall increasing (people are buying bigger paintings, the middle range doesn’t sell at all anymore, small stuff still ticks along).

I had a few hard months but there were a lot of personal issues affecting my creating and marketing so I can’t attribute changes to any economic effects alone. So those months are just marked off as irrelevent.

Apparently a London paper declared yesterday that the recession will be over in 40 days. A bit too precise and Biblical for my taste.

By: Karen Thumm

Karen Thumm — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:45:47 +0000

My sales have been way down for two years now, but I haven’t been doing much marketing and have pretty much just depended on my website for sales. Website sales have dropped off of a cliff, and sales at the gallery are also very few.

The other day I checked my stats in Google Analytics and noticed that the two pages people left without going to other pages were “art for sale” and “prints for sale”. Ouch!! But, that gives me valuable information that what I currently have available for sale is just not of interest to those looking for something to buy. So, when I get back to painting, I’ll keep that in mind and gradually replace all that’s on my website with new, more exciting art. I plan to paint what I love and forget about painting for the market. Maybe then I’ll come up with art that has more appeal and heart.

Right now other life obligations are preventing me from painting, but I don’t expect that to last much longer.

By: Sandra Haynes

Sandra Haynes — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:06:47 +0000

It’s definitely an odd year….one large show I do that has always been good was dismal. Other shows ranging from large to little ‘art in the park’, have been way up.
By creating my own market on the animal art that I’m doing, I’ve been able to raise prices twice this year and still selling well.
It’s been an invaluable time to really learn what appeals to a wide audience and then go after the market.

By: Keith Bond

Keith Bond — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:10:18 +0000

Laura, you wonder about the disconnect between an artists optimism and galleries feeling that things are still in dire straits. Perhaps a portion of the difference lies in the nature and traits inherent in the artist type. Naturally all artists are different, but there are some common characteristics. I took some economics classes in college and something struck me that the professor stated. Most people’s ambition to work will decrease with a drop in pay. But entrepeneurs and artists are opposite. They pick up the pace and work harder when pay decreases. Gallery owners perhaps are more realistic about numbers and paying expensive rent. Artists can make do on less often times (not always). Just some thoughts. I’m sure there are many other factors included.

By: becky nielsen

becky nielsen — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:53:36 +0000

For me sales can’t quite be a litmus test because it would mean that I’d been able to keep every thing else at the same level or greater than last year. But I haven’t been able to do as many shows or try some of the new things I’d planned (like entering competitions, writing more articles). Sales are down, but I’ve been painting a lot and am happy with the new things coming out. As someone above stated this has been a growing time.

And Zachary – I liked the idea of listing your “life” as a family member that needs support! So maybe you’re a family of 6.

By: Sari Grove

Sari Grove — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:50:27 +0000

Signs that things are getting better…1)My starting bid at charity silent auction is 10 times what it was last year…2)The eco-dammar company I use, cold-called to offer me money(as opposed to asking for a freebie) to demo their product at a respected art supply store here…3)I am getting unsolicited discounts & freebies as a tiny show of support, where previously I just got compliments(from fans who can’t quite afford one yet)…

By: Paula Manning-Lewis

Paula Manning-Lewis — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:24:26 +0000

Sales are up for me personally as an artist, and at my gallery sales of other artists is up. Of course, Albuquerque has supposedly been a recession proof place, but I have seen improvements in the past few months for sure!