New art phase....

Meet "J.J."

He is the "stinkin' cute" grandson of a very dear friend. 

He is an 8" x 10" watercolor with pen and ink and Prismacolor pencils.












This is the beginning of a new phase in my art career~ the selling phase.

I have avoided this in the past. 
I have sold things when provoked, or begged to, or if someone HAD to have something. I sold paintings in shows. I traded a painting for a car once. (THAT was a good trade!) I have given away a TON of paintings and sketches for birthdays, Christmas, thank you's. But I never have really worked at selling my work.  I know how.  I worked retail for twenty years. I have lots of great ideas, but until now, I didn't really need to, or hadn't gotten around to it, or didn't have time, or .......didn't really need to.  Oh yeah, all the excuses. I had even convinced myself that I was simply "building inventory." :)

Driving to work the other day, I was giving myself a stern lecture.  "What is the point of painting if you don't share it? What is the purpose?? Is it just a waste of your time? If that is the case, then you might as well pack up all those supplies and throw them out in the garage." 

Cue the crickets.

"But I am an Artist," my inner self responded, "it's what I do." My heart was beating hard and fast. "Oh great," I thought, "now I am going to have a panic attack." But it wasn't a panic attack. It felt like a welling up of warmth inside. It was my angels singing. (Yes, I do have angels :) I was having one of those rare moments when I realized that I was feeling a change inside myself.  Switching gears, changing a habit, changing my mind. I realized that I need to sell my paintings.  They are too important to live under my bed where no one can enjoy them!

The next evening I received a call from my Mom.  Mom has always been most supportive and encouraging. "I was reading the Buy N' Sell today and I saw an ad you might be interested in," she said in an excited voice. " 'WANTED local artists' it says, 'the Sutter Creek Art Gallery is under new ownership and opening a Co-op.'" OMG. She gave me the number for the lady to call.

I wrote it down. 
I called.

The lady's name is Laura and we had a nice chat.  She was looking forward to seeing some of my work.  "Well, would you like to view my online gallery?" I asked.
"Yes," she said, "and we will give you a call later in the week."  Thursday morning there was an excited call on my voice mail. "We LOVED your work!" she said.

Tomorrow, I will be meeting them in Sutter Creek at the gallery to show them some of my paintings in person and discuss how I would like to be involved.

I'll let you know how that goes....