Your photo, and a little about yourself

[brendannz]

Originally Posted by James81

Do some designing on a CADD program, do some work in excel, surf the net, smoke some cigarettes, eat some lunch, talk with people around the office.

Sometimes we make it out of the office to go look at a job.

Other than that, that's about it. Certainly not something I want to be doing. I've discovered that the office life isn't really something I want to do. But pretty much everybody who works in an office thinks that, don't they?

Hey James81,

Whereabouts do you live out of curiosity? you seem American.. Im in New Zealand

[James81]

Yeah, I'm from the US. East Coast.

[Foggy]

Last years picture.



More recent picture, I've put on a little bit of weight. Freshmen 30.



My name is Forest. I'm 19, nearly 20, and a Sophomore in college with an undeclared major (although computer science seems likely because I aspire for a desk job). My hobbies include playing guitar (poorly), photography, writing poetry, songwriting, and Facebook. My life is not perfect, but I love myself and I am working to get to where I want to be.

[drakecatz]

I would play, I really would! I just have no idea how to put a photo in here! I was once as young as all of you!!!

Dwixi, you are a very pretty boy. I mean that as a sincere compliment. I love your hair! I'm sure you've had enough compliments about your lips.

Daffy, you are darling! I would love to adopt you!

James81. You look just like I pictured. Cute as well as wise. You often take the words out of my mouth.

Brendan, I always enjoy your posts. I have worked in fineart galleries all my life. Your city scenes are very good! Girls like artists as well as musicians, ya know?

[openeyes]

I mostly take pictures of my girlfriend, friends, and landscapes, but have a few recent ones of myself:









I just turned 25, graduated college in late '07, work as a supervisor 3rd shift at a healthcare facility (gives me lots of time to read), like Dali, hike around barefoot, and am looking for something to evangelize (love selling, but it has to be something worth buying).

[brendannz]

Originally Posted by drakecatz

Brendan, I always enjoy your posts. I have worked in fineart galleries all my life. Your city scenes are very good! Girls like artists as well as musicians, ya know?

thanks, thanks and thanks! are you in Italy? I've been to Italy, whereabouts are you? (I might be wrong about you living in Italy)

Ummm... I dunno where the girls who like artist are.. hahah.. if I find any i'll let you know, but otherwise I'll just try and love myself in the meantime..

[drakecatz]

No I'm not in Italy. I'm in the American Southwest. I think you're back east as I recall. I'll give you a couple of gallery tips most artists don't know.

Sometimes, timing is everything! There was one time we found ourselves looking for 3 new painters in one week! Stuff happens like that. We took in one painter who was new, and very good, when he sent pictures that week. Good timing! Also a really good time to get a gallery is if one is changing hands.

Galleries will take a good part of your profit. 60/40 or some 50/50. Of course, once you get established, whats a few thousand? Good money in fineart.

Have you checked out the contemporary galleries in your area? Would your work fit with any of them? It's also important to keep with-in the same theme. Landscapes and cities are good together. Most galleries avoid portraits. People don't like people they don't know hanging on their walls. Make sure there is a steady flow to your work. Unfortunatley, one painting can be a turn off. I worked with one gallery owner who would turn down a painter if there was one painting she didn't like in the lot.

Don't spread yourself too thin. Focus on what you paint best. A good artist is known for his subject, not many topics. Just a couple different themes.

Make sure you have a large body of your best work. At least 5 or 6 good paintings. being a good fit is very important. Make sure your work looks good with what is already there. This means color too. Galleries don't like trying to hang an artist who clashes with their other artists. Send the gallery photos of your work, 4x6. Hands on is much better than the internet. But send your web-site too. Include your bio and photo. Don't ask for them to be returned.

You would be surprised how many artist will say that their work will look good in a certain gallery, then when you see it, it has nothing to do with the type of art already there. If you find a gallery where you know your work will look good, walk in and ask if you can show them your paintings. Be brave!!

It's all really very simple. If the gallery likes your work, you'll get in. Go to shows for other artist and talk with the workers! People on the gallery floor have a lot of power too.

Once you're established the girls will be everywhere!

I like your style and colors. I could see you growing as an artist!

[openeyes]

Originally Posted by drakecatz

I would play, I really would! I just have no idea how to put a photo in here!

upload your pictures to a site like photobucket.com and post the link they provide for forums in the body of your message on here

[brendannz]

Originally Posted by drakecatz

No I'm not in Italy. I'm in the American Southwest. I think you're back east as I recall. I'll give you a couple of gallery tips most artists don't know.

It's all really very simple. If the gallery likes your work, you'll get in. Go to shows for other artist and talk with the workers! People on the gallery floor have a lot of power too.

Once you're established the girls will be everywhere!

I like your style and colors. I could see you growing as an artist!

Thanks for the tips, I'll remember all of them.

I don't know where I got Italy from. I thought you may have mentioned it in another thread? Whereabouts in teh south west are you? I'm in New Zealand

yeah, I did quite well last month with selling originals, at a cafe, and the big affordable art show. Although I sold my work too cheaply, but it did give me a confidence booster for selling more. Basically it's worth it for me, to raise the prices on my paintings quite a bit, and be patient with sales, even if they take an extra year to sell, it's still a worthy asset to have for promoting to future galleries and stuff..

Wellington has a massive cafe scene compared with other parts of the world, so here, it's worth using them as galleries, especially for starting out.

As well, selling them cheaply, may have meant more definite sales and I've just bought a new house with a mortgage to pay off, so good timing for moving in. But yeah, the next step for me, is to raise the prices of my paintings, should be selling $100 more.

Not sure if you saw my prints store? that's going quite well but it's just a little bit of pocket money, inspired by Steve Pavlina's articles on love money..

[drakecatz]

I'm in Arizona. You're in New Zealand. Wanna trade? Sounds like you're doing everything right! I don't know a painter who wouldn't be thrilled with 5 sales a month! I'm sure you know that the more you paint the more you'll sell.

I've always envied talented artists. It's such a gift!

[Lane20]

yeah its first,,,,

[James81]

Originally Posted by drakecatz

James81. You look just like I pictured. Cute as well as wise. You often take the words out of my mouth.

LOL

Never had anybody tell me that I looked wise before. That's a huge compliment for me, though, so thanks.

[openeyes]

Here's one Elle took of me today. She says it captures everything pretty well: books, spices, sprouts, and a cool pig

[dulaney0330]

Me with hubsters

I enjoy sports, people, food, and helping others.

Right now I am into horse-racing because of Rachel Alexandra

My role model is Rachel Joy Scott.

[brendannz]

Originally Posted by drakecatz

I'm in Arizona. You're in New Zealand. Wanna trade? Sounds like you're doing everything right! I don't know a painter who wouldn't be thrilled with 5 sales a month! I'm sure you know that the more you paint the more you'll sell.

I've always envied talented artists. It's such a gift!

I went to Phoenix, Arizona, and the Grand Canyon I was 9 years old, I remember it vaguely. I'm a big fan of the Phoenix Suns NBA team. As well, my city, Lower Hutt is sister city with Tempe, Arizona.

I'd love to get back to the States! I went again to San Fran, NYC and Boston October last year..

Yep I've sold my works for too cheap though, but I've gained confidence in selling art, plus I need the money at the moment, so I'm pleased.. But in future, higher prices, and paint as much as possible! check out my latest works here if you have time;
deviantART

I sold 2 more since the 5...