Acceptance into a Fine Art Gallery

[FrankEV]

I have received many accolades from many of you for my work that I have posted in Bragging Rights.   I have also received many complements from friends and relatives.    And it has been suggested that I should offer my work for sale, but I do not care for on-line mediums like Amazon Handmade or Etsy.   

I have considered a few options to get my work displayed to the public.  One was the idea of creating a Craft booth and participating Festivals and Shows in and around my area.  However, this is quite a large investment in both time and money and at my age does not seem to be a very practical thing to undertake.   I have also considered Flea Markets and the like, but this is not the type of public I’m interested in appealing to.  Based on what I believe is the high quality of my work and the actual investment I have in each piece I feel I need to appeal to a more Art appreciative clientele.      

I have recently been made aware of Fine Art Gallery, a Not-for-Profit Co-operative Community, in my area.  It was suggested by another local Artist member, who has seen my work, I should apply for membership.  

So I submitted my application, received an interview where my work was reviewed and I was accepted to become a member.   The Gallery owner/curator, a well know Artist who interviewed me, seemed to be seriously impressed with my work.    And, based on his recommendations, I will be pricing my work, taking all time and investments into consideration, in accord with the formula for fine framed wall hangings at a minimum of approximately $20/square inch. 

I’ll come back here and post a photo of my display after it is set up on May 1^st.

I would be interested hearing from anyone who has their work in a Gallery and to hear about what their experience has been or any suggestion for display presentation.

Edited April 16, 2021 by FrankEV

[meflick]

No information to help you on your query but wanted to congratulate you on your acceptance to the gallery and wish you the best of luck with lots of sales. Keep us updated on your experience.

[kmmcrafts]

Congratulations!!!

I have read on other forums over the years of others having their creations in art galleries.. I do not know how it panned out for them etc..  It'll be interesting to hear how it goes for you. You truly do works of art from what I've seen, ( I don't get over to the bragging section very often so I miss a lot of those brags ).. I admire those that are doing the portrait style wall hanging art and are able to make their own frames etc.. This is something I have always been interested in but for me, and at the time I had to sort of follow the easy money path and work my way into where I am now. Raising kids and doing this too was quite a struggle and I found small quick easy to make easy to store ( small space ) quick to sell items is where the quicker money was ie ornaments and keychains etc. is what started my journey.  My issue now is.. the flow of money still comes from these quick to sell items which keeps me busy doing what there is a demand for.. so I don't get to take my time and create what I'd consider true art. So much so that I keep raising prices to slow down sales which I thought would create a slow up on sales to give me more "paly" time.. so far the business just keeps on getting busier as I go.. no matter what my price points raise up to.. Not really wanting to hire help.. but have been considering hiring scrollers.   

 

Back in the early days of my scrolling when I did portrait type scrolling I considered doing art galleries but I wanted to learn the pattern creation part as I don't truly feel it is "my" art when I didn't do the total creation.. I didn't have the tooling to do my own framing.. Gotta remember I started with a hand-me-down old worn out Delta scroll saw.. and a hand held circular saw to cut blanks to size, Oh and a hand drill.. no power sanders so all sanding was done by hand. The circular saw was to rough ( splintered edges ) and I knew nothing about saw blades etc. so I cut blanks to size most times on my scroll saw as well. LOL

As you can see, I started out with nothing and still have some of it left. 

I wish you the best of luck, hopefully someone that has been there done / doing that will give you some interesting pointers.. If not, maybe you can pave the way for others to follow.. should they want to take that path.

 

 

 

[Bill WIlson]

Something of a high honor, I would say.  Congratulations.  Scrolling recognized as art is a step above.

Looking forward to hearing how this goes.

[Jim McDonald]

Indeed, it is an honor to be accepted into an arts co-op and I look forward to seeing your display when finished and hearing your short and long term thoughts on the process.

Big pat on back!

[spirithorse]

Congratulations, Frank!
I can't give you any answers to the questions you posed but, wanted to congratulate you and
let you know that I am excited for you and I look forward to seeing your display.

God Bless! Spirithorse

[Joe W.]

Congrats!

I'd say you have "arrived", but truly, you have embarked on another journey.
One filled with creativity and inspiration.
As I tell my kids:  "Keep Doing What You Are Doing".

 

[don watson]

Congratulations. It is indeed an honour to be part of a community of like minded artists. I hope this is a first step on a fruitful selling career, your work deserves it.

[barb.j.enders]

Congratulations Frank. 

[Foxfold]

Congratulations Frank !!

[amazingkevin]

I wish the best for you!!!

[Frank Pellow]

Frank, your work certainly qualifies as art.  It's good that the artist's co-op recognizes it as such.  

Congratulations and good luck with the co-op.

[FrankEV]

OK drum roll please....................

I know every one is waiting with baited breath to see my display at the Gallery

JFYI, the space is nominally 6' wide x 7' high with the two 3' wide x 7' high sidewalls.   I was allowed to fix up the area just about any way I wanted.  Painted the walls a very dark grey, brought in a 48" x 66" throw rug and a 18" deep  x 52" long table, that I had made many years ago, to show off some of my table top standing Items.  I made the sign for the Booth and hung about a third of my available wall hangings.  The Nautilis gears are not for sale...just there to play with so people will look.   

Yeah, sorry, I had to post a pic with me in it 

 

[Scrappile]

That is a great looking display.  Really shows off your pieces well....

[rjweb]

Beautiful looking display, you should have great sale days ahead, RJ

[Frank Pellow]

I like the way you have set up your display.  There is a good variety of art shown in a home-like setting.  I wish that I could visit.

[Bill WIlson]

Very nicely done Frank.  I hope it draws a lot of attention.

Good looking table, by the way.  

[kmmcrafts]

Beautiful set up and as always, wonderful work on the art pieces. 

Wishing you much success with it. Keep us all posted 

[Wichman]

Looks great. I really like how you used the scroll saw for your signage.

And it brings up a question for you business folk that I will start a new topic on.

 

 

[meflick]

as requested nice work on the work and the setup. Good luck on your sales.

[Tom-in-Ashland]

You must find this very satisfying.  Congratulations.   

[FrankEV]

Yesterday,, Saturday May 1, 2021 was the first official day of my membership in the Gallery Cooperative.  The Gallery hosted an advertised one day pop up show from 5 to 8 pm where the members were able to put up an extra display in the Gallery's up front show area.    

Attendance was quite good and I received a lot of complements on my work.  However, the biggest compliment was when a couple purchased two of my pieces.  These pieces will be hung in their new medical office.  This in itself should help promote my work.  

Ask me if I'm pleased with myself....you bet I am! 

[kmmcrafts]

Glad to hear it went very well and that you sold a couple items. Sounds like a great start.

[Frank Pellow]

Congratulations Frank!

If you don't mind telling us, what sort of prices are you charging for your art?  I understand if you don't want to say here.

[FrankEV]

1 hour ago, Frank Pellow said:

Congratulations Frank!

If you don't mind telling us, what sort of prices are you charging for your art?  I understand if you don't want to say here.

Based on the complexity (number of holes) and taking a number of other factors into consideration, I've  worked up my prices based on $1.50 to $2.50 per square inch (panel size).  After looking at my posted prices, the Curator said I should have made them significantly higher.

For example, when I assign a price to a piece, these are some of what I take into account: 

1. Materials (2 wood pannels @$6.00, Frame wood @ $12.00, Blades @$10.00 - I break a lot, Finishing Sandpaper/Stains/Paints/ Laquer/Polyurethane@Say $7.00) approximate $35/piece.
2. Estimate of Overhead cost including things like Electricity, Saw and other tool investments, etc.  I can easily apply $20/ piece.
3. Pattern associated cost including pinting, shelf liner, spray adheasive and Pattern purchase price when applicable.  Lets say $15.00/Piece. 
4. Of course now I have to add gallery Space Rental. This will vary based on Sales, but to assign to a sale price, I add $20.

That adds up to an investment of approximately $90/piece and does not consider my Computer (inkscape), scrolling and finishing hours which can be significant.  If I applied a $15/hour min wage factor you can see the prices would be off the chart, so I do not really take my time and effort into consideration. 

Since I know that every piece I make will not be sold, my goal is to "KIND OF" break even and cover my material/operating costs, and what ever return from sales I receive. will allow me to continue to produce my Scroll Saw Art.

Fortunately I do not need to earn a living doing my Scroll Saw Art or I would starve to death.  My Artist ego is fed by those who appreciated my work and are willing to pay the price I set to obtain it. 

I wonder how many of you actually realize how much you actualy spend on this hobby, especially when to take the work to a fully finished product?

Edited May 3, 2021 by FrankEV