Got a Commission from the Charity Auction!

[Michele Rushworth]

You should ask who is actually commissioning the painting and that you'd like to meet with anyone who will be involved in any decisions about the painting.

I've met with wives alone, only to find at the end of the process that the husbands had very strong opinions about what should have gone into the portrait (contrary to what the wives initially said.)

[Ngaire Winwood]

It is great to hear about your good news and about everyone's experiences.

What is the process you took to get involved with the auction? This is all new to me, I would like to know how to go about it here where there is a private school that I could maybe contact to get started. What are the best ways to go about it? It sounds as though it could kickstart my career also. What are things to steer away from? What would be the best approach? How could I contact the school to make initial contact for this to eventuate?

[Julie Deane]

Well, for me, it involved becoming a member of the local art museum - one of the perks is being able to donate to the yearly charity auction. They also have a yearly member show. I had an option of donating all or a portion of the proceeds, but if you donated all, your painting would be given priority, so I chose that.

Originally Posted by Ngaire Winwood

It is great to hear about your good news and about everyone's experiences.

What is the process you took to get involved with the auction? This is all new to me, I would like to know how to go about it here where there is a private school that I could maybe contact to get started. What are the best ways to go about it? It sounds as though it could kickstart my career also. What are things to steer away from? What would be the best approach? How could I contact the school to make initial contact for this to eventuate?

[Michele Rushworth]

Pretty much anyone with a high quality item (like an oil portrait) can easily donate to these high-end fundraisers. Just phone up the most expensive private schools in the biggest city near you and ask if they have an auction. Let them know you might be interested in donating an item and they will be delighted. They'll let you know how the process goes from there.

Another place to look is fundraisers for a big hospital, art museums, etc. Be sure that you donate to a high end auction. You're looking for something where they have a sit down dinner, where people get dressed up and pay a hefty fee just to attend. One of the auctions in Seattle costs $400 a person just to attend the dinner. Donating your work to a low end auction will not expose you to people who can afford your work, and it will end up being a huge drain on your time creating a free portrait for someone who will not lead you to new business.

To get an idea what kind of auction the organization has, ask how much people pay to attend, the price of some of the other high end items that were donated last year, etc.

Search this forum under Auctions and check out other threads with Auction in the title. There's a lot of other information elsewhere on SOG on how to do this.

[Ngaire Winwood]

Michelle, good info.

How would I approach a private school to generate interest and possible commissions? Fundraisers of the high-end are few and far between here as it is a small town. But the school is a very prestigous one recognised highly outside of this town and state. It is a boarding school too. They have a past student committee and event schedule that most students attend their whole lives. It is a close knit and established entity, and prestigous. Many doctors, professors, many high end past students attend these functions not necessarily here as they have events all over. What would be my best approach?

Julie, what was the criteria for your auction. Was there a particular size and what promotional info did you have to provide to them before hand?

Auctions and fundraisers could be a step in the right direction. Should I offer to do the Principal, or students first?

I have just received a commission from a Professor from a new acquantance, I told him I am only in the early stages and I feel uncomfotable at this stage. He said no worries, sometime in the next five years will do, pick a time when you are ready.

Having this on my mind, should I wait until I complete his portrait and then contact the school or get up to speed with the school commissions. No one here in this region is painting portraits and I would like to grab the spot, so to speak.

I don't have any live models to work from which I desperately need to get experience with, small town talk mentality.

[Julie Deane]

HI Ngaire -

All they asked was a minimum bid amount and an artist statement to give to the winning bider.

I got my model for the auction picture by asking someone I knew if I could paint her daughter.

Julie

[Ngaire Winwood]

Thanks Julie

That seem's easier enough. Have you ever contacted a private school to cold call for commissions?