Weekend of Art Overload

What a fabulous weekend I had participating in the Boulder City Art Gallery's "Painting on the Patio" event that corresponded with the much larger "Art in the Park" event.  The small town of Boulder City was packed to capacity with visitors, collectors and art enthusiasts; some of which stopped by my display and gave me an opportunity to talk about one of my favorite subjects, MY ART.

What was especially exciting about this weekend to me was that it marked the very first outdoor festival that I have participated in that I actually sold something.  I have attended a number of other events in the past few years and came home after each one with exactly the same amount of art stacked in crates as I had started with.  That is discouraging when you consider just how much work it is to pack up, set up, tear down and repack.  Not to mention just being outside all day in the sun takes a toll on you.  But this weekend was very different.  I was tired at the end of the second day, but it was a good tired.

I loved the interaction with everyone that came up to my display to talk with me about a particular piece.  I was really encouraged and energized to see that my little sketches that I have so much fun doing garnered a great deal of positive attention. It was an affirmation to me that I need to just keep improving on my color pencil and sketching skills.  

I passed out a number of business cards and talked to a few that might be interested in starting painting lessons in the future.   As I sit here contemplating my journey as an artist I can say that on October 4, 2016 that things are starting to fall into place.  Sitting at my easel, I may not be able to do much to change the course of moral decline in this country, decide who the next president of the United States will be or solve the homeless problem in Las Vegas but I do know that 2017 is looking to be a GREAT art year!  I just have to keep picking up a pencil or a paint brush and try to get you to smile.

Collage of small pieces that found new homes along with a number of cards and magnets I sold

My display on Sunday morning looking colorful and inviting

Cowbell Stampeed!

It has been a Cowbell Frenzy in my Las Vegas Studio the past few days.  It started out with a request for a commission piece of a horse for the daughter of my cousin and then several additional orders were then requested.  I ended up almost finishing my 7th bell yesterday and I am happy to report that they are all sold!  I continue to be amazed and blessed at the popularity of these small pieces of art.  

I've pulled out 4 of my USPS medium rate shipping boxes and it is now time to get my assembly line shipping process in full swing.  I have (2) double orders and this box is perfect because I can ship 2 bells in the box for the same cost.  I have established an account with USPS and can order these free boxes in larger quantities to be delivered directly to my home.  I don't have to visit the local post office and hope they have enough boxes for me.  

Another great tool I have found just recently is invoicing on Paypal.  All I need is an email address and I can invoice the collector and they have the convenience of paying with a credit card.  The small fee that Paypal charges is well worth the convenience and security for me.  No longer am I waiting for a check to arrive in the mail before I can ship off the artwork.  This has really made the process less stressful for me.  I actually woke up this morning and sent an invoice to one happy client from my iPad while still enjoying the comfort of my bed.  What a day we live in!  Paypal also allows me print out a prepaid shipping label so I don't have to wait in line at the post office to ship.  I know that I can schedule a pick-up of my boxes but haven't done that yet.  I think this might just be the right time to see how that works.

The results of a weekend of cowbell painting!

The cost to order a cowbell is $65, which includes shipping if shipped in the continental US.  A $10 additional charge may apply if you are interested in a custom design.  Just message me you are interested in placing an order.  Mother's Day is coming and they make GREAT one of a kind gifts!

Happy Little Cowbells Find a Home

This week....two of my newest cowbell creations have found a new home.  I really like how the Lavender and Black-eyed Susan flowers turned out.  I think I will paint that one on a small canvas because it was just so much fun.  There is nothing like seeing the expression on the clients face when they see the work in person for the first time and love it more than the picture you sent them.  I love to create these little works of art that not only spread joy to their new home but also make LOTS of noise!

Hand-painted one of a kind cowbells- $65 including shipping in the Continental US

For more information about my work or if you want to order your own cowbell just visit my website at JulieTownsendStudio.com  the cowbells are part of my Country Store collection or just shoot me an email at Julie@JulieTownsendStudio.com.  I would LOVE to hear from you!

Whose Dusting Your Artwork?

It is said that a good thing can't last forever, but my solo library show may have closed at the Centennial Hills Library this week but it is at least going to continue on for most of 2015.  What an honor to be offered by the Clark County Library District to have my solo show "Nevada in Shades of Silver and Gold" to go "ON TOUR".  This means they have offered to show my collection two more times in 2015.  In March to April 2015 the show can be viewed in Laughlin, Nevada and again in August to October 2015 at the Windmill Library here in Las Vegas.  I was told this isn't offered very often and so I'm really touched by this gesture.  

The really humorous thing about this "ON TOUR" offer was that yesterday when I arrived at the Centennial Hills Library to pick up my artwork at the pre-arranged time, the assistant art coordinator informed me that the library actually wanted to STORE all my pieces at their art storage facility and I could pick them up at the end of October 2015.  As soon as I recovered from my shock, I kindly declined that offer.  As you can see by this photo I have 19 mostly framed pieces and it is the majority of my inventory.  You might not have thought about the fact that an artist would refer to their art as an inventory but this is exactly what this is.  If you are actively pursuing a career as an artist you have to be prolific with your paintings and at all times have enough pieces ready to hang that your not thrown into apoplexy when an opportunity presents itself to show off your skills.  There are always festivals, juried shows and galleries to keep happy.  

I have a heavy presence in 2 local galleries and 2 more galleries that have a number of my smaller works displayed.  This means I have to keep changing out my work so that the public sees new pieces every month or so.  You have to stay fresh, relevant and always evolving when it comes to your work.  

My marketing strategy with hanging my work at the library is completely that of "Public Exposure".  I am not allowed to sell any pieces that are part of the display until the display is over.  I'm here to tell you that SELLING art, not SHOWING art is the real goal of an artist.  I am told daily how beautiful my work is and what talent I have, but the ultimate compliment comes when someone is willing to take their hard earned cash and purchase my artwork.

As an artist, I am always looking for the venue that will afford me the most exposure to my target audience.  What art niche have you carved out for yourself and where will you find your collectors?  Maybe they will come to a library, walk through an art festival, read your blog or see your Facebook post.  In 2013 I had my first major exposure by having a magazine article published about my artwork.  It wasn't an art magazine but rather "Gold Prospector Magazine" and that was because of a niche I found and my efforts to think outside the box when it comes to promotion.  I simply sent an email to the editor of the magazine and to my surprise I received a prompt reply.

Another example would be this show...I realized the timeliness of my theme as this coming October 31st is the 150th anniversary of my beloved state achieving statehood.  Since mining and Nevada are often themes of my work, I decided to contact the state committee and have my show designated as an official state sesquicentennial event.  I took that designation and used it as added validation to invite more people to my show.  

So I guess my closing thought here today is to always look for opportunities for self promotion and if your artwork needs dusting, let it be dusted by you in your studio where you can get to it rather than collecting dust in a library storage facility somewhere.

If you would like to take a closer look at these pieces all my works, visit my website at JulieTownsendStudio.com

Yeah for those RED DOTS!

You just have to love when a piece sells...I mean there is a mixed emotion because when you have created something there is an attachment you feel so when a piece is sold there is a moment of hating to see it go but then you imediately come to your senses and jump up and down and do the "HAPPY DANCE".  

This is how I have felt this past week because not only did a sell a little sketch I did as soon as I had posted it on my facebook wall but I got a phone call yesterday informing me that my oil painting "On the Hunt" sold at the Boulder City Art Gallery just two days after it was hung. 

And to add to that exciting news, the couple that purchased the piece were here visiting from the Netherlands!  I think that might make me an INTERNATIONALLY collected artist!  YAHOO!

On the Hunt- 11x14 Original Oil Painting-Sold to a couple from the Netherlands

"Cowgirl Up"- 5x7 pencil sketch- sold to a friend in Texas

NetWORKing is a lot Like WORK

I think every successful artist will tell you that at the beginning of your journey you have to work hard networking. Networking with other artists, potential customers and collectors. I would wager that almost all successful artists will tell  you a number of stories that include their days working the art show circuit.

So this past weekend I did my duty by sitting in a booth covered with my beloved artwork and surrounded by my artist friends. I didn't sell anything but then neither did many other very talented artists so I'm not discouraged. As a matter of fact, this month I have made the investment in grid display panels so that I could professionally display my artwork at future shows. I just have to remember that perhaps one of those many business cards I pass out and every conversation I have about places in Nevada that have inspired me to paint will someday result in a possible sale.

This economy makes it very difficult to sell your work and it is nearly impossible if you are only sitting in your studio at home. It takes constant work keeping yourself in the public eye by showing your work on the internet, in co-op galleries and yes, even at art shows. So today get up and talk to someone about your art and don't forget to pass out your business card.

Artists Jan Arduini, Lily Adamczyk and myself

Finding Your Art Market

MAKE SURE AND CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE AT Julie Townsend Studio


I had the privilege yesterday morning of carrying on a small discourse with Artist Mentor Online (AMO) artist, Linda Fisler on Facebook.  She published a blog yesterday titled "Starbucks Anyone?" Here is the link if you would like to check it out: Linda Fisler Blog.  Now if you know me at all, you know that while I don't frequent Starbucks, I am a McDonald's regular for many of the same reasons that Linda discussed in her blog.  Good coffee, good service and free WiFi are just part of the reason that I am a loyal fan of the Golden Arches.

Morning favorites...coffee, i Pad and my Nevada map

I loved that she discussed the 4 P's of advertising that any student of business has memorized (Product, Price, Promotion and Placement).  When I was in the business world I was required to read a number of books on marketing that talked about creating raving fans, flipping the funnel to retain your customer base and on and on..so it's not a topic that it foreign to me.  Linda talks about knowing your collector in  her blog and since I am new to  the whole art  scene I can't say I have any collectors.  Well actually, there is a old dear friend of mine from Oklahoma that has purchased 4 paintings from me in the past two years so if old dear friends count as collectors, then I guess I have one.

Now that I am trying to make a little mark in this world with my art, I find that many of the same business principles apply, but most artists don't stop to consider a marketing plan.   In my short experience I told Linda that my marketing plan basically consisted of "Keep painting and blogging and they will come." I loved Linda's encouraging words back to me...

Linda Riesenberg Fisler-Artist "Collectors---cultivating them is hard work Julie--gee no new news there!  You aren't alone in your belief. We just need to keep doing what we are doing, being fearless, entering shows, talking with galleries when we are ready and not let anyone stop us from doing what we believe in! Onward!! xo."