A Successful Art Show

The way I created my display racks was with plywood wrapped in $1.00 table cloths.

Sounds like a success to me!...Happy to hear! ;)

Glad to hear it!

Thank you Lawrence and Ronald. My art class begins Sept. 24th right at this church. I'm hoping to get around 15 people. The only problem I'm having is some people don't like night classes only day classes.

Glad to hear someone is happy in the art world

That's great, Hal!

And what an ingenious, yet uncomplicated and economical design for display racks! And those black backdrops really show off your gorgeous artwork...brilliantly done, Hal!

Like you, I'm thinking about starting up my master class again; thing is, you've got to put the horse before the cart and that means finding students first...the ones with money.

Lucky you.

The best to you in all your endeavors, my friend!

Thanks Hal for getting back with us and showing us how you did it. Congratulations on your new art students!

Clapping.

Way to Go Harold! I am happy to see your success.

Some of the young ones could learn a lot from your marvelous attitude, Hal!
work hard, keep putting it out there, be happy and fulfilled with the attention to you as an artist, teacher and mentor that comes your way!
Well done!

Great Great News Harold.

Hal,

Can your library accommodate the day students? It would mean you would have to have two classes. If they are older adults you may have to have day classes in order to have them as students.

Your setup looks great, organized, the only thing I would change (it will cost more) is to have black fabric instead of plastic. I know you didn't ask for an assessment of your setup but the plastic really sticks out to me and looks cheap, something for outdoors although I don't think I would use it for art. It hurts the value of your lovely paintings and expensive frames. If you didn't sell any art that may be the reason why.

You could buy fabric, possibly wholesale (on line) and depending on the cost maybe not all at once. This show appears to have built your a confidence (it would mine) and you would possibly be doing more shows?

It looks as though you have a large amount of art in your show and want people to linger. Consider for the next show having soft jazz playing on big speakers (not little ones) or one instrumental player, someone from your church or that you know playing a saxophone, trumpet or base, or jazz instrument, playing on the side (I saw this at a high end craft show in my city, it was impressive) A drink refreshment table (nice glasses and pitchers) of seltzer fruit drinks with a nicely dressed server dressed in black and white. You probably have a guest book from the show and send out nice invitations.

Thank you guys for your very kind remarks.

@ LC, You have to take the lows with the highs LC. If you are in the art field just for money - forget about it. Become a doctor, lawyer, or go into the trades. The art world is not for you. You have to approach this field as if it's a marathon by practicing, learning, and devoting all your time to developing as an artist. Otherwise, you won't even recognize the good fortunes that are sent your way. This class is my way of showing an appreciation for what I have received my whole life as an artist.I am giving back some of what I have earned my entire life as an artist. Who is better to receive that than my God. I don't make a penny from my new class. Instead I am giving every penny to the house of God.

@ Patrick, Hiya old buddy. I realized that I had to go outside my community in order to get more students. I went on my local television, spread my posters around and used my email in order to spread the news. Forget your library, if it's anything like mine. They wouldn't let me advertise my art show because I was going to earn some money from it. Good God, how the hell can we exist in this country as artists if our libraries won't let us advertise our work. Do they expect us to sit on street corners with our hand sunny side up or go on welfare?? I chose not to tell them that every penny I made went to my church. My show wasn't about the money, it was just my way of showing me that my health had improved enough for me to do this. Good luck with your class my friend.

Thank you Susan.

Hiya Kevin. I hope you are enjoying some beautiful weather out there in God's country.

Thank you Jimmie.

Hiya Marlene. I inserted the photographs of how I built the racks for you. If you decide to build some for yourself, don't worry or spend too much time on the backs of the racks becuse it won't be seen. The best way to do it was to cover them with black (or your color of choice) fabric. I chose the very inexpensive table covers because I had already invested so much money in this show that I didn't want it to get out of hand. Heck, I even went to the Artist's Guild Friday to get them to allow me to address their group concerning my show. The lady in charge said, "I'm sorry Hal, but you have to be a member of the group first in order to give your talks about your art." So, I had wanted to join that group anyway, so first I invested $40.00 to join then I got up min front of the group and said that they railroaded me into joining with "No checkie, no talkie." We all had a big laugh and I got at least 4 more students. :)

Thank you Otil.

Suzanne, my story about my library must have been posted the same time you asked that question. When I joined the Suburban Artists Guild Friday, I mentioned how upset I was with our library because of their attitude about money. They proceeded to tell me how that damn library charges them $600.00 just to use one of their rooms to hold their meetings twice a month. Our library isn't concerned about how they can support us as artists but is concerned about how we can support them. I know who it is that controls the arts in my community and until she is voted out or dies, nothing will change.

I always thought that a library should be the place where our culture was supported and developed - not vice versa. The library has many ways of supporting itself without being a drain on the very people it should be supporting. In a small community like mine, where can a young artist, musician or writer go to gain some support for their crafts if not the community's library. I believe that a library should have scholarships, information on concerts and knowledge of tutors in that community free of charge. But not my library. Things have to change.

Tell them to go on line and look at one of the most progressive library systems in the US where I live, Chesterfield Co. and see what they are doing! http://library.chesterfield.gov/.

I don't mean to be critical of your show, you gained students and was definitely worth your time, it also says a lot about you and your artwork. I think if the professional galleries are doing some of these things to market their work we as artists need to do it too or we shouldn't expect the same results.

How about your church giving you some space for classes? It could also be a kind of outreach with you offering some free classes for the underprivileged in the area along with your other classes. If you can't teach an extra class maybe there is another retired artist in your church or community who can.

I agree Hal. I am surprised they are not more active in the community. For one, what with Amazon, Barnes and Noble, discount book stores I would think libraries are not bringing people in like back in the old days. They have to be progressive with programs, art shows concerts, even plays. Way back when I lived in Wyoming they built a new library connected to the old one. They built a small stage in the children's books wing. Moms would volunteer their time to put on plays for the children. All elementary schools would bus the kids in for the programs. It was a great success! It brought kids to the library and parents, reading blossomed, and the library prospered.

Hiya Suzanne,

I don't think you have followed my previous posts. My classes are at my church. Although very little, the reason I am charging for my church classes is because my church is in serious trouble of going under unless some drastic measures are taken. The cost of my classes is only $15.00 a class for a ten week course. If paid in full in advance the cost is only $135.00, a savings of $15.00. In today's economy that's not a lot of money but it will definitely help my church. If this goes over well enough, I intend to continue this class indefinitely. Meaning, if a person joins my class in the middle of the course, he/she will still get the 10 weeks by me merely keeping a scorecard on when the student came into the course and checking the days off.

Congratulations.

I agree Harold you need to charge. I was talking about a free day class every once in a while for underprivileged adults or children in the community, not your regular students. I believe if you do that (based on teachings of the church) your church can prosper greatly in this area in the sense that no one is excluded even those who can not pay.

Congratulations Hal!

Hal, that is so noble of you to help your church. I only wish that I were closer because I would be in that class!

Harold, I would have signed up for those classes if I lived near you.

Thank you so much for showing us how you set up your show!! I also had a show yesterday and it took me weeks to set up for it. When I get the nerve, I will set up my shows and be painting as someone else sells my work. I did very well yesterday and am pleased about selling five paintings and two prints, but I had two other people selling my work. That was my first art show and I'm just in awe that people bought paintings that I thought were failures. (laughing to myself)

Congrats to you and now I have a few clues on how to do mine better next time! Thanks again, Harold for all your insight as a professional artist. I really value what you have to say because you show off your skill with pictures and evidence rather than so much verbiage. It's a little difficult to separate the ones who talk a lot from those who are very involved in the art world at large. I can tell by your collection of originals as well as prints that you do this for real. Keep up the hard work and good luck to your church.

Lisa Kaiser

Thank you GB and Brian.

@Phyllis, Way up in the great beyond where souls are born, some 72 years ago God asked all of us, "Who wants to be a warrior like a policeman or soldier when you live on the planet earth.?" I stood up with both my hands raised in the air. God noticed me and said, "Not you Harold, you'll probably shoot your foot off or get your behind shot off in some stupid war." So after all my crying and sucking my thumb in absolute sadness, God said, "You will be an artist!" And that, Phyllis, is why I am so grateful, not noble. It is the gratitude that keeps us artists going. I wish you could be in my class too.

Harold you are a great advocate for Art in your community and elsewhere. You are going to have some very fortunate students. Have fun!

Hal, Humility is a gift at the tip-top of our whole walk and you seem to have found that. Phyllis :]

Congratulations Hal !

Congratulations!

That's wonderful.

Congrats on the successful show, on being healthy enough to do it, as well as being able to share both your ability with students and your church! Wow, that was a run on sentence wasn't it? I also want to say thanks...your straight forward messages about how steady hard work on improving ones skills and an even approach in regards to the highs and lows in this field are important to hear on this site especially for those who are relatively new to it. You always seem to say it in a straight forward but positive way...and that's not easy. Your students will be lucky to have you!

Matt

Thank you JIm, I really appreciate that.

Thank you Phyllis, but it's so very easy being humble when I was surrounded by so much talent throughout my career. I was very blessed meeting all the talented artists in my jobs.

Thank you Gene old friend.

Thank you Janet and Susan.

Matt, I have been very fortunate working with a lot of famous artists. They shared a lot of their talents with me and I merely want to pass it on to FAA members and my students.

My congratulations and admiration also, Hal.

Thank you very much Clif.

...an update on my Art Class.

I have acquired 15 students since the last time I spoke about this class. I have painted two demos and now in the process of advertising the class on Craig's list. I would like this class to end up with 20 to 25 students. I acquired around 4 or 5 students from The Suburban Artists' Guild here in East Brunswick. It was really funny how I accomplished that feat. Two weeks ago I went to their meeting (around 70 people) to announce my class. I already knew some of the officers of that group. But they said, Hal, you can't speak here unless you are a member so I joined their group, cost of $40.00 a year. Can you believe that? No checkie, no talkie. :)

After joining, I was able to make my announcements and as a result I landed around 5 students - so far. I will keep you informed as to how it is progressing.

Congratulations, Hal... best wishes for continued success! Looking forward to updates.