Speaking of charity auctions

[Chris Saper]

I agree with Michelle. There's no point in going to an event unless you are demonstrating. Or you really like to go to the events and spend money to support the charity. Most charitable events have costly tickets, and at least in this neck of the woods, your donation doesn't come with a meal ticket.

The main thing you should focus on, I think, is getting a lot of those little business cards into a lot of those little purses. While it's good to have brochures etc, on hand, they don't generally fit easily into a man's pocket, nor will they fit in a woman's evening bag. This to me means really snazzing up your business card look, either with a new design, color image, classy card stock etc. That's what they'll take home.

Of course whatever you decide to do should be part and parcel of a unified, top-drawer look that ties all of your marketing pieces together.

[Kimberly Dow]

All good advice - thank you Chris. I just wonder how uncomfortable it will be to demonstrate at a fundraising ball. Do I dress up like the other attendees with an apron over it?

[Michele Rushworth]

I would wear something nice looking but not very expensive, in black. Maybe a long inexpensive black skirt, for example.

[Chris Saper]

I just love a fashion thread.

I demonstrated at the black-tie/vintage dress opening of the Titanic exhibit a couple of years ago. I brought a model, and did a piece in charcoal. SOO, I wore my pearls, and best long black velvet dress. Charcoal will come out of anything. I dressed my model in strapless black velvet, with a very Titanic jewel. I wore the same outfit for an auxiliary event. Attached.

Last winter I demonstrated at the black tie gala in Scottsdale with all the antique cars. It was January and although in a heated formal tent, still a bit cold ( for us wimps here) I had to find a long sleeve black velvet gown. The local resale store just happened to have one for $9.00. Although working in oil, I didn't care if it turned out to be a one trick pony. Hmm, I don't at the moment see my image but here's my model with the in progress painting. You'll just have to trust me when I say the OUTFIT LOOKED GOOD. Also attached. I love a shopping challenge.you should see what I picked up today for $4.95.

Now of course the big problem is your shoes, which is why you need full length stuff, to hide the sneakers or in my case, the Z-Coil shoes

[Kimberly Dow]

Ok - so I getcha now....go with the flow and enjoy the opportunity to dress up. Anything to get me excited about it I guess. I do have little opportunity to wear the good stuff. Now that I am in the country I find myself in overalls a lot. My husband purposely split wine on me the other day to get me to change.

If you like fashion threads - did you see the vintage Gunne Sax's I bought from ebay? Under Conceptualizing the Portrait.

[Michele Rushworth]

Chris, how did you come to demo at these events?

It would seem to me that the opening of the Titanic exhibits and a black tie antique car event wouldn't have anything in common with portraiture, but you managed to make it happen.

Did your demonstrations somehow add to their fundraising efforts (ie did you donate a portrait or portion of one?)