Comments on: Why Make More? http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html Images and writing about my abstract contemporary textile art by Lisa Call. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:05:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: David Castle http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html/comment-page-1#comment-10470 David Castle Fri, 06 Apr 2007 19:55:38 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html#comment-10470 Your post made me think about the process I just went through as I moved into my new studio space. This is the first time I've had to "store" my art in a manner that is pretty inaccessible - each piece wrapped and stored in overhead storage (requiring a ladder to get to). In the past I've had enough room to hang or stack art at my studio and/or home as my storage solution. I think the interesting feeling I had is to feel sorry for the artwork that I had to put into storage. As I was sorting through art, I could almost feel them cringing at the possibility that they'd get wrapped up and stored away ("don't pick me!"). My only current plan for these is to pull them out if I have a client with a specific interest that might match one of them. Like you, I just HAVE to create - more and more and more - so no longer have room for everything. Also interesting that you've taken a class from an artist in Sandpoint... I finished my last 2 years of high school in Sandpoint, and my parents still live there. It is a beautiful, but conservative place! Your post made me think about the process I just went through as I moved into my new studio space. This is the first time I’ve had to “store” my art in a manner that is pretty inaccessible - each piece wrapped and stored in overhead storage (requiring a ladder to get to). In the past I’ve had enough room to hang or stack art at my studio and/or home as my storage solution.

I think the interesting feeling I had is to feel sorry for the artwork that I had to put into storage. As I was sorting through art, I could almost feel them cringing at the possibility that they’d get wrapped up and stored away (”don’t pick me!”). My only current plan for these is to pull them out if I have a client with a specific interest that might match one of them. Like you, I just HAVE to create - more and more and more - so no longer have room for everything.

Also interesting that you’ve taken a class from an artist in Sandpoint… I finished my last 2 years of high school in Sandpoint, and my parents still live there. It is a beautiful, but conservative place!

]]> By: Lisa Flowers Ross http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html/comment-page-1#comment-10465 Lisa Flowers Ross Fri, 06 Apr 2007 17:27:33 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html#comment-10465 Definately food for thought. I enjoy your blog and I am excited as I will be taking a class with Nancy Crow this year in Sandpoint, ID. Definately food for thought. I enjoy your blog and I am excited as I will be taking a class with Nancy Crow this year in Sandpoint, ID.

]]> By: tracy http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html/comment-page-1#comment-10447 tracy Fri, 06 Apr 2007 03:00:01 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html#comment-10447 Shoulda said "gorgeous pile"! Shoulda said “gorgeous pile”!

]]> By: tracy http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html/comment-page-1#comment-10446 tracy Fri, 06 Apr 2007 02:57:19 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html#comment-10446 Hi Lisa, came over to see what's up and why so many hits from your site! Thanks for the mention. I think it's awesome that sales isn't your goal and that you make your art for yourself. You said it, the sales will happen when the time is right for you and for your work. I am sure though, that if you ever need to, you could totally unload that pile for a pretty penny! Hi Lisa, came over to see what’s up and why so many hits from your site! Thanks for the mention. I think it’s awesome that sales isn’t your goal and that you make your art for yourself. You said it, the sales will happen when the time is right for you and for your work. I am sure though, that if you ever need to, you could totally unload that pile for a pretty penny!

]]> By: Becky http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html/comment-page-1#comment-10439 Becky Fri, 06 Apr 2007 00:32:06 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html#comment-10439 You know, I don't see selling your work as some big thing that you consider and think about and ponder and so on. In fact, every single time that I've decided to show a piece and made the decision to sell it, thinking "oh, it will sell here" of course it hasn't. But I've had great success when I've exhibited a piece, they ask if it is for sale and I think, sure, why not and set a price I think nobody will pay and many times they have. The selling of older work keeps my focus fresh. For me, it is all about the process. I think you get over the pressure of wondering and being disappointed if a piece doesn't sell pretty quickly. If it sells great, if not, bring it home until it is exhibited again. Becky You know, I don’t see selling your work as some big thing that you consider and think about and ponder and so on. In fact, every single time that I’ve decided to show a piece and made the decision to sell it, thinking “oh, it will sell here” of course it hasn’t. But I’ve had great success when I’ve exhibited a piece, they ask if it is for sale and I think, sure, why not and set a price I think nobody will pay and many times they have.

The selling of older work keeps my focus fresh. For me, it is all about the process. I think you get over the pressure of wondering and being disappointed if a piece doesn’t sell pretty quickly. If it sells great, if not, bring it home until it is exhibited again.
Becky

]]> By: Rosanne http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html/comment-page-1#comment-10436 Rosanne Fri, 06 Apr 2007 00:00:09 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html#comment-10436 I like to remind (not compare) myself of Bach who wrote the Brandenburg Concertos for the king because he needed money. The king rejected them and used the money for the military instead of the arts. The pieces were so inovative and challenging to play that no one wanted them. These amazing pieces were archived for over 100 years until rediscovered. Now, they are concidered one of the greatest and most popular pieces ever written. So creative people have been sruggling with the same issues forever. You do beautiful work and I enjoy seeing it even hanging over the railing. Rosanne I like to remind (not compare) myself of Bach who wrote the Brandenburg Concertos for the king because he needed money. The king rejected them and used the money for the military instead of the arts. The pieces were so inovative and challenging to play that no one wanted them. These amazing pieces were archived for over 100 years until rediscovered. Now, they are concidered one of the greatest and most popular pieces ever written. So creative people have been sruggling with the same issues forever.

You do beautiful work and I enjoy seeing it even hanging over the railing.

Rosanne

]]> By: Lisa Call http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html/comment-page-1#comment-10435 Lisa Call Thu, 05 Apr 2007 23:52:06 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html#comment-10435 Great comments everyone. Thanks for sharing your thoughts also. Pat - as to how much work you need to have a body of work - I'm not sure - I think you could be right - it's one of those you know it when you have it things. Although I'm pretty sure 5 is not enough work and 100 is definitely enough - so probably in between there. Course that would depend on the type work too I suppose so my numbers are probably meaningless. Great comments everyone. Thanks for sharing your thoughts also.

Pat - as to how much work you need to have a body of work - I’m not sure - I think you could be right - it’s one of those you know it when you have it things. Although I’m pretty sure 5 is not enough work and 100 is definitely enough - so probably in between there. Course that would depend on the type work too I suppose so my numbers are probably meaningless.

]]> By: Diane Clancy http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html/comment-page-1#comment-10432 Diane Clancy Thu, 05 Apr 2007 22:09:18 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html#comment-10432 By the way - I love the pictures of your quilts - the colors in the photos are very beautiful! ~ Diane Clancy By the way - I love the pictures of your quilts - the colors in the photos are very beautiful!

~ Diane Clancy

]]> By: Diane Clancy http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html/comment-page-1#comment-10431 Diane Clancy Thu, 05 Apr 2007 22:08:00 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html#comment-10431 Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts ... these issues are on my mind too. I have amassed a lot of work because I want to explore licensing before I let go of most of it. I know they tend to want to photograph the originals. I have been seliing archival digital prints of my paintings. Also, my digital pieces are all printed as reproductions since the original is digital. Recently I bought some boxes with dividers to make it easier to store my work - and to protect them from the light. ~ Diane Clancy Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts … these issues are on my mind too. I have amassed a lot of work because I want to explore licensing before I let go of most of it. I know they tend to want to photograph the originals.

I have been seliing archival digital prints of my paintings. Also, my digital pieces are all printed as reproductions since the original is digital.

Recently I bought some boxes with dividers to make it easier to store my work - and to protect them from the light.

~ Diane Clancy

]]> By: Pat http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html/comment-page-1#comment-10424 Pat Thu, 05 Apr 2007 17:30:49 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2007/04/why-make-more.html#comment-10424 "Can I keep the goal of making the work I want to make without regards to the marketplace while also turning to the marketplace to sell my work?" It seems to me that part of the answer lies in how much the artist needs the income from the sale of the work. (The corollary, of course, is how much the artist needs the affirmation from jurying peers.) I receive one question consistently from visitors to my home: what are you going to do with these pieces? So far I've been able to say that I'm developing a body of work, and that seems to satisy them. But in the back of my mind I'm asking myself the same question and have yet to come to any conclusions. So, I ponder while I sew. And, I drape pieces over a big chair since I don't have a convenient railing like you do, Lisa. BTW, a couple of us were discussing how to quantity a body of work for goal-setting. Some famous quilt artist had used a figure like 25 in a lecture. Do you have any opinions on this? Could be one of those "I know it when I have it" answers? “Can I keep the goal of making the work I want to make without regards to the marketplace while also turning to the marketplace to sell my work?”

It seems to me that part of the answer lies in how much the artist needs the income from the sale of the work. (The corollary, of course, is how much the artist needs the affirmation from jurying peers.)

I receive one question consistently from visitors to my home: what are you going to do with these pieces? So far I’ve been able to say that I’m developing a body of work, and that seems to satisy them. But in the back of my mind I’m asking myself the same question and have yet to come to any conclusions. So, I ponder while I sew. And, I drape pieces over a big chair since I don’t have a convenient railing like you do, Lisa.

BTW, a couple of us were discussing how to quantity a body of work for goal-setting. Some famous quilt artist had used a figure like 25 in a lecture. Do you have any opinions on this? Could be one of those “I know it when I have it” answers?

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