Percentages, framing, promotional materials, etc.

[Michele Rushworth]

I think you should do your own framing, but frame the pieces VERY nicely. Also, paint to standard sizes so you can use your frames again if need be. Check out www.jfmenterprises.net but be aware that the shipping may cost you as much as the frames themselves.

On the brochure I have two suggestions: Far fewer words. More images. Hardly anyone will read all that stuff.

You need lots of large images that show full portraits, not cropped in tightly as you've shown. Also I'd get rid of the green shapes. They don't add anything, in my opinion.

Also, I don't think that Unconventional describes your portraits at all. That word is better suited to Odd Nerdrum or Lucian Freud.

[Melanie Peter]

Hi Michelle,
I think you're right. I can forego the word Unconventional. I guess defining as Unconventional isn't necessary. I'll just paint the way I paint. Either they like my work for what it is or they don't. I guess it should speak for itself.

I thought the cropped images have more impact than full portrait images. When I put lots of portraits on the brochure it looks like a busy catalog. I picked up some brochures at the art show last weekend. Too many images are as bad as too many words. I agree they won't read all that info. But maybe just two larger portrait images inside?

I'll work on that. Ok, no green shapes. It looks naked and stark on plain white to me. Maybe I'll work on getting the portrait images and typestyle to compensate for the naked white. I'll let you know how it turns out.

I used to buy JFM frames when I had a tax number. I found quarterly returns and record-keeping unbearably troublesome and gave up my tax number, so JFM won't sell to me any more. But I can find frames elsewhere.

Thanks for your suggestions.
_Melanie

[Melanie Peter]

Hi Michelle,
Here's the new look for the brochure. I put all the wordiness (About Pastels, and About the Portrait Procedure) on separate inserts that can fold into the main brochure. I also made a separate price insert. I bought gold paper clips to hold it all together. Better?
-Melanie

[Michele Rushworth]

Much better!

[Linda Brandon]

Hi Melanie,

I'd make two seperate brochures, one for portraits and one for landscapes. People can pick up whichever one appeals to them, or both.

I think there's a desire to 'pigeonhole' an artist, particularly when you're talking about commissioned work. A buyer wants to have a reasonable idea about the kind of style he/she can expect from you without any surprises. This is just my humble opinion here.