Dana Eker

Thoughts on Being an Artist

As originally seen in the Red Bluff Daily News

How does one know if their artwork is good enough sell and cover expenses or for income? You have probably found that your friends and family encourage you and built you up to the heights you would like to achieve. A professional opinion is more realistic. Make an appointment with a gallery and take your work in for review.

Some advice I want to share was given in a commercial art class at Shasta College. “Don’t look like an artist, be an artist”. You can tell the “wannabes” from the “real thing”. When people take their ideas and feelings off of their attire and put them onto paper or canvas, it’s easier for others to appreciate. But again, is it good enough? The sure sign is the dollar sign. Are people buying your art? Do family and friends commission you? When visiting a gallery people often comment on what they like and how great it is, yet making a purchase says it so much more. Buy a greeting card or a print to show how much you really like someone’s work. Wouldn’t that cheer you on?

A painting I entered in a county fair art show was being admired by some ladies. I enjoyed being in the background to personally listen to what they really thought, instead of just being nice to my face. Their praise was as good as the first prize I received. The painting sold a few months later. One young man I met drawing with pencil, showed me his calendar of old vehicles that he had for sale. His work had smudges all over it, even printed in the calendar. I showed him how to put a blank paper under his drawing hand to keep the oil from his skin from smearing the graphite. Later I saw him at car shows drawing away for people who paid him cheap to sketch their vehicles, no paper under his hand. I don’t know how he sells his smudges and wondered how long people keep his work. Neatness really does count.

Suppose you want to paint or draw in a public place and enjoy some public exposure. It could be good for your ego. Just in case, here are some things to take into consideration if you are selling your art. The city of Red Bluff requires a yearly business license of $35. The Building Dept. requires an occupancy fee of $35 for where you live and work, it is good until you relocate. Parks and Recreation requires no permit, if you have a group like 20-50 then call for a reservation. Caltrans has dominion over Main St. / Hwy 36 downtown.

My friend Sue, often painted on location at the Coast and sold her work through a gallery. People often stop and watch. Many artists paint on location and tourists stop by to pick their brains and learn all they can right on the spot. I advise watching quietly while the artist works. Yes, they are on the job and on a time schedule if only because the sun is not stationary and shadows change with the sun’s movement. If you want to learn more about what the artist does, wait for them to finish and ask for their business card or information about any workshops they offer and sign up for them. They spent years perfecting their craft and shouldn’t be expected to give away their secrets. If a working artist is asked how long they have been painting and they reply, “About 10 minutes.” Then you know they’re on a time crunch. Move on. However, you may let them know if you are seriously prepared to buy the painting in progress. I sold $500 of art one day on the side of Hwy 101. Pure profit! I need more $500 days. Galleries may take 30 to 60% on commission.

Anytime you wish to paint on private property you need permission first. My friend Sue is gutsy, she drove us up to a house in Mendocino owned by a movie star and asked to paint the ocean from his drive way. The caretaker said, “Sure”. After a while he came out to ask if he could have one of our paintings. We didn’t, but, it would have been nice to offer the property owner something as a thank you.

One benefit to selling on location is, not having to frame the work. The buyer does. However you choose to promote yourself, I wish you success.

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Dana Eker is a watercolorist living in Red Bluff. She is a member of the Red Bluff Art Gallery, with artwork displayed around town. E-mail Dana at danaeker@hotmail.com.

This article originally ran in the Red Bluff Daily News and is reprinted with their kind permission. Click here to read more Red Bluff Daily News features and get the latest local news.

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