I was doing a show. During one of the slow times an older man came into my booth. He was interested in my process so I explained to him how I do my art. We started having a conversation that quickly degenerated into one of those times where I kept wishing he would just go away.
 
Unfortunately, being in your booth at an art show, you can’t really leave. You’re stuck having to deal with whoever comes your way. This man proceeded to tell me that photography is not art. His reasoning was that anyone can do it because all you have to do is snap the photo.
 
Interesting logic. So, by his logic, all a painter does is puts paint on a canvas. Or, all a sculptor does is play with clay. And then there are the things that have been said to me like, “It’s just fabric, it’s not really art.”
 
It always amazes me the things that come out of people’s mouths. What I find so interesting is that they often say these things without recognizing that you are standing right there and you are listening to every word you say.
 
I have had people look at my work and proceed to explain to their friend how “it’s done automatically on one of those computerized machines.” So, I quietly point to my sewing machine and say, “This is the vintage machine that I create all of this artwork with. It’s not computerized.” It’s always gratifying to watch their faces when I say this.
 
So this man just kept talking about how easy it is to just point the lens and click the shutter. I tried to interject that there is so much more to photography than that. He didn’t hear me. He had this preconceived notion that would not change no matter what I said. He seemed to be of the opinion that if you didn’t create it with your hands, it was not art. (Side note: I wonder what he would have thought of digital art. I didn’t ask.)
 
It wasn’t long before I gave up trying to carry on a conversation with this man. After a couple of minutes, I just smiled and nodded. Eventually he went away.
 
As an introvert, I only have so much energy to offer. I don’t want to use it up on fools or energy suckers like him. So, my usual approach is to smile and nod and make appropriate sounds at the appropriate times. They walk away happy because someone paid attention to them, and I haven’t wasted too much energy on them.
 
My point is this: save your energy for your real customers.
 

I had a very surreal last few months. My father was in the hospital for several weeks and passed away. It was difficult to deal with….
 
I debated over how much I wanted to share with my customers. I write an occasional blog and I send out a monthly newsletter to my art clients. Did I want to tell them what was going on? If so, how much?
 
Even though it was a difficult thing to do, I decided I would share some of my experiences. I thought it was best to be sincere and vulnerable and show that I was human.
 
You see, the problem with only communicating to your customers via a newsletter or a blog, or even Facebook is that you appear only as words on a page. They cannot see your face or hear you speak. That can cause a disconnect. Adding the details, even small details, of your life can go a long way toward making you human and more real to the people you are trying to communicate with.
 
So next time you write your blog or newsletter, include a little story. It could be about how your cat keeps getting in the way when you’re trying to create, or that funny thing that happened while you were setting up at your last show, or maybe how having cancer has affected your art. Or yes, even that your father has passed away and you are creating a piece of artwork to honor him.

Many years ago I owned an art gallery. One particular night, a young couple came into the gallery. I greeted them as them walked in and made sure they felt welcome. They acted surprised. I questioned them about their reaction. It turns out they had been to several other galleries that evening and had been ignored. They told me up front that they had no money to spend on art, they just wanted to have an enjoyable evening looking at art.
 
So, I gave them the tour. It didn’t matter to me if they could afford any of the artwork in my gallery. They still deserved to be treated with respect. They were so appreciative of the attention that I gave them that they actually did end up buying a note card. Okay, so it wasn’t a major purchase, but they were so grateful that I treated them in the way that they wanted to be treated that they spent what little money they had to buy something from me.
 
The point is, you can’t judge someone based on their looks. I didn’t know if this couple had money or not. Nor did I know if they wanted to purchase a piece of art. However, they walked into my gallery space and that in and of itself qualified them to get my attention.
 
I have heard stories of artists at shows who ignored or mistreated a customer based on their looks. For example, the scruffy looking customer in the ragged jeans who turned out to be a famous rock star.
 
So, next time you are at a show selling your work, be sure you talk to everyone, even the kids. You never know if the next person you talk to could lead to your next sale.

It has been another interesting year at the Laguna Beach Art-A-Fair Festival. One of the things that made it interesting was the fact that my marketing efforts are starting to pay off. This is the first year that I can directly attribute a large percentage of my sales at this 9-week long art show to my email list.

And, it was the first year that I have ever heard the following comment: “I’m bored.”

Not the kind of thing you want to hear. So, here’s what happened: I was talking to a woman and her young daughter. I was explaining how I create my art. I showed them both the work in progress and the parts and pieces that go into it. As I always do, I made it a point to include the child. When I finished, the mother turned to her daughter and asked, “So, what do you think?” In a loud and obnoxious voice, the girl brayed, “I’m bored!”

Her words reverberated through my section of the show causing the other patrons to look in our direction. The mother was apologetic, but it was clear that the girl simply did not want to be there. (Unfortunately, I did not have a good comeback prepared. Only later did I think to say something like, “Oh, you poor thing…Is your imagination broken?”)

That one comment grated on me.

Not only was it insulting to me, but to my artwork as well. But, is was uttered by a girl who wasn’t old enough to know better. But, it was still bothersome. But, it really wasn’t directed at me. But, it stung. But… but… but…

Here’s the thing…for every one of those comments, you will get many like this: “My son and I attended the festival and yours is one of the select number of cards I actually did pick up. Thank you for sharing your art talent with us. We really enjoyed it… So thanks again. I wanted to express my appreciation for the way you beautify the world.”

This lovely gem of a compliment showed up in my voicemail yesterday. It is a wonderful feeling to know that I touched someone enough that they felt compelled to let me know.

So, the next time you hear a rude remark about your art, think of all the wonderful things other people have said about your work. They’ll help to soften the blow of those negative comments.  Focus on those positives, and keep beautifying the world.

Over the summer I was working on this piece as a tribute to my father. He served aboard this ship when he was in the Navy.

As I often do at shows, I demonstrate my techniques. One particular afternoon as I was working on this piece, a lady came up to me and wanted to know what I was doing. As I was right in the middle of a perfect section to demonstrate, I gave her the full description of my process. I showed her how I look at the photograph to get the shape and size of each element just right. I showed her how I cut out each tiny piece, I showed her how I glue the piece down. And then I showed her how I stitch it to add the detail.

When I finished with all of this, she asked, "Where did you buy the kit?"

My mind first went blank. Then it started racing. I was thinking, "Um, did you not listen to my explanation? Did you not watch me do this? Does this even look like a kit?"

After all of this quickly went through my mind all I was able to say to her was, "It's not a kit."

I still don't know what a good comeback would have been. And I am still dumbfounded by this question. I guess people just continue to surprise me. And, I think I'll just not have an answer for this one. Chalk it up as another one of those things to laugh about after the show is over.

So if you are struggling with how to respond to people at shows, then you need this book, The Shy Artist's Guide to Answering Questions. Click below to get one.

Last Wednesday was the opening of the Art-A-Fair Festival in Laguna Beach, California. I have been an artist at that show for the last 18 years. In that time, I have spoken with hundreds and hundreds of people. And, you just never quite know who you are going to end up talking to.

That night, I spent some time talking to Patricia Shanks, a reporter for Examiner.com. She interviewed me and wrote a wonderful story about my music themed art.

It was very interesting to see how she interpreted my responses and incorporated my words into her story. I was also surprised to see that she had been observing while I was interacting with customers.

Her story had me seeing myself through her eyes. What an interesting perspective.

Here's a link to the story:
http://www.examiner.com/article/an-art-affair-with-music

Ten years ago today, How Original! An Art Gallery in Laguna Beach closed its doors forever. (Well, at least until I go insane enough to try it again.) In many ways I miss the place. It was fun and exciting. And, I learned so much. Most importantly, it helped to start me on this new path of author and speaker.

Yesterday, I pulled my violin out of its case. I even trimmed my fingernails, but on my left hand only. What prompted this sudden interest in playing the violin again is that my new boyfriend is a bit of a musician himself. Now, I'm not ready to subject anyone else to the sounds that barely pass for music emanating from my violin at this stage. (Plus, I really don't want to scare this guy away.)