Street Artist

[Debra Jones]

Exactly my point.
The job of doing street art may just end there.
As a stepping stone, it needs a much higher standard. As an education, it is great, but it is hard to take money for less than your best. I have had suggestions to work on demos from life, and that sounds good but I want MY model. If I hang a shingle that has a price and a product, I need to be able to PRODUCE at the level and speed expected.

Lonny has done that and very successfully. I wonder what his input is here?

How fast do you work? What is your standard? How do you charge? AND do you work from life or photos?

I AM using art as entertainment, not marketing, and I am coming to the realization it must knit into a clear plan. I have the energy of a humming bird but I do need to keep feeding the landlord!

This is a very relevant thread for me right now, thanks for the conversation.

[Dianne Gardner]

Dianne, the question is, was it profitable?

Debra, I have to tell you I am just entering this business myself. In fact, I know you are well more advanced into the portrait business than I am. If I painted as well as you I probably would not be doing them.

This particular painting was profitable ($35 for 1/2 hour) however the festival I did it at was not. I was told it was an 'art' festival and instead it was a 'arts and crafts' festival. I don't like selling my work next to craftsman mostly because viewers fail to see the fine art aspect of it. That's why I decided to start doing quick sketch portraits the second day of the festival. Because my paintings were not selling and quick skethes are more of a craft than fine art. My paintings were way higher priced than what the public was willing to spend at this event. I won't be doing that festival again.

The Renaissance Faire is profitable for me now. I work hard with these little less than the best portraits but I show my good stuff alongside as well as my portfolio. Last year I was commissioned three larger portraits and some smaller ones. The difference with the Faire as opposed to the festival is that the people that come are different. They are all artists, whether they are in theatrics or performing arts or costume art or just have a love for the arts . They love to be surrounded by beautiful things. So they will spend money on good art. The quick sketches were appreciated as a token of the Faire, bringing some of the romance home with them.

I am certain that the time will come when I feel this kind of activity is lessening my reputation as an artist. However, I am not there yet. I have not apprenticed under any famous name nor do I have any degrees in art. I am working my way up the ladder slowly and its mostly by trial and error. I sold my first four digit painting in March and I was estatic. If that becomes a standard for me than quick sketches will become something only for family and open studio because I will be able to afford not to do them.

For now, I have many more quick sketches to do before I even come close enough to being good enough.

I feel the same about pet portraits too- That someday I won't have to accept them. I don't think they do my reputation well. But for now they are bread and butter.

Dianne

[Debra Jones]

Here is the rub.

I am avoiding fairs. I am not that marketable. I actually am working on specialty situations (the dreaded dog shows) but think that a generic portrait may be a bit more IMPULSE purchase than generic humans. I have yet to see how the exhibitor, unless they have a really smooth slick product can pay off the entry fee. My portraits are not up to product level. The kids that do well in most art fairs are crafters and print makers.... or that is how I hear it.

Making money at these events is what we are here for. I had Ren friends years ago and they have a season commitment. Is that what you do? Or is it a weekend festival. Here again. The income will be from face painting, not painting faces.

I know of many artists who did get established and their careers started in the outdoors, but I have not heard of the portrait artists, unless as I said, they were slick crisp "Disney Souvenir" quality.

The next question I have, Dianne, is how many brochures did you get handed out and names on your mailing list? That seems to be the BEST reason for sitting among the candy apple-ed kids buying pot holders!!! There are short and long term profits.

[Dianne Gardner]

Dj*

The Faire I do is seasonal, most of them are. I could do many more than the one I do, which by the way is three weekends in August with a visitor take of 55,000. But my attention is divided as I also am a plein air landscape painter and am doing events with Plein Air Washington Association.

I like the way it is evolving. The people of Ren Faire know me and I'm their 'artist'. I have had the great opportunity of painting portraits of celebrities such as Bruce Hopkins of Lord of the Rings, and the grandson of J. R Tolkein both of whom I met at Ring Con-an event this Ren group held a couple of years ago. My business cards have traveled as far as Wales and New Zealand and I have gotten some commissions from it over there as well, although shipping is so costly to over seas it isn't something I pursued with much diligence. I also painted the portrait of the owner of the Washington State Renaissance Faire and things have been progressing ever since. I've made a lot of friends and have had the opportunity to paint a lot of paintings for them. I think that if you choose to go with a dog show pick one and get to know the people. They'll adopt you and your clients will seek you out.

I don't ever think I will paint portraits of famous politicians, but when I think of it I probably don't want to. I am in my realm of theatrics and I love it. My paintings are invited to the local theater here and I make contacts through there. In fact, the owner of the theater likes my work so much I get to choose which play I display my paintings at next year for a 6 week display.

I find that the relationships I establish at any event I go to are what determines the popularity of my artwork. Be friendly, smile, be interested in those who sit for you. Talk to them. Then they will remember you. If they like you they will tell others about you and your work.

By the way, my interest in the costumed figure is expanding and next year I have been invited to a Civil War Re-enactment and will be camping for a week and painting faces (and costumes) there. Its going to be a blast. And I know I will get commissions and sales just as I do at Faire.

Through the Faire, I was invited to do the Northwest Celtic Association's fairs and have done several portraits of the dancers. There are folks from the Scotish Highland Games that have asked me to attend their event too but I don't think I qualify (I think they want only Scottish made items). I may pursue that next year if I'm asked again.

The more people I meet and get to know the more paintings I sell. Not that I get to know people to sell paintings. I love meeting people. The selling is just the by product.

Your portraits are beautiful by the way. I love the one you did of your father. I am also familiar with the area that you live and think that you could very easily paint the Navajo amd Hopi with such sensitivity that your work would fly and you wouldn't be able to keep up with it. That's just mho.

Best regards.
Dianne

[Lon Haverly]

I have been a "street artist" for 33 years. However, I don't like the term. Even though I have always paid rent for my space, I am called a "street artist," as if I were a vagabond or a pan handler of art.

I started at the Saturday Market for a few weekends to get the feel. Then I went on a vacation to Sacramento, and asked a local mall if I could draw there a few days. There were no leases for kiosks then, so we had to improvise an agreement. After a couple of months, they canceled my rent and let me draw for free. There two years. I did well, and I was earning more than I did as a laborer doing what I love. I find drawing from life much more pleasant and energizing then painting. Painting is work. Drawing is fun. I can draw all day and not be tired. I can only paint a few hours and I am spent.
I was very professional, had a very nice setup with very nice signage. Then I set up at a Public Market in Eugene. Five years. Then a mall. 23 years. Now at another mall - 2 years. I now have an in-line store with a full service frame shop and art gallery where I display my oils and watercolors.

I feel that drawing is my best work. In my community, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who would pay for a high end oil portrait, even if they could afford it. Trying to be a high priced painter is a bit of a long shot for most artists. But you can make a living at drawing and still enjoy using your talents.

I do not do caricatures. I can charge more for portraits.

It does work better if you are in a tourist city. However, in cities where there are tourists, you will find that your costs are much higher, and your style of living cramped by traffic and costs. So, I am contented to draw and paint here in Eugene-Springfield area of Oregon.