Lisa Call

ACEO #23
©2008
2.5" x 3.5"
$25

Because That’s What I Buy

It’s taken me several years to come around to the idea of making affordable art. My first love is to make big expansive artwork. Given the time and materials involved in that process I can’t afford to sell my large textile paintings for only a few hundred dollars, which prices me right out of most people’s budget, including my own.

I started seriously buying art a few years ago and find that most of the art I purchase is under $200. I see a lot of other people buying art in this price range also. While I have saved my money and bought a few pieces in the $500-$1000 range that it doesn’t happen very often yet.

When I made the decision this year to actively look to sell my artwork I decided that this was a market that I wanted to participate in. I know that I very much appreciate the artists that make work at price points that fit my budget and it feels right to be able to do this.

Small Art Showcase

The impetus for creating my small artwork for sale webpage was to participate in an online small art showcase my friend Jeanne Williamson organized. (Thank you Jeanne!)

The website is now live and in addition to my work you can find small art work by 11 other artists working in a variety of mediums. The work ranges from $25-$500. Check out the website Jeanne created and get some holiday shopping done: Small Art Showcase .

I here there might be more artists coming soon so check back often.

ACEOs

Until this month I was selling my ACEOs for $21 including shipping. They are now $26 with shipping as I realized I wasn’t making much of a profit on them, between paypal fees, postage, materials and my time (to both make the ACEO, then photograph iand list on my website). While I want to make small art that is affordable, I also want to make some money while doing it.

Each of my aceos is created the same way I create my larger artwork. Each piece is cut individually (I never strip piece - for those that know what this means). Each cut I make and each color change in the work was made with deliberately.

On a very rare occasion I will have scraps leftover from a piece and will use those to make my aceos (I think this has happened twice), otherwise the pieces are made with intention, just like my larger textile paintings. The result is these are rather time consuming and if I want to keep making them it needs to make financial sense.

ACEO #23, above, was inspired by Markings #3, as was my small piece Markings #25. It is available for purchasefor $25 on my small artwork for sale webpage (near the bottom of the page).

A Series of Posts

I have much to say on the topic of affordable art so I’ve decided to write a series of posts so look for more thought on the topic over the next week or so.

Construction Progress

No post these days is complete without some construction progress. I think tomorrow I’ll have studio walls. Today they got one built:

Construction Photos - Wednesday - November 19
Construction Photos - Thursday - November 20

Structures #55    ©2006    33" x 74"

Stuck

I’ve talked about them before. On and on. Saying I won’t enter them, or limiting how many I enter. All the drawbacks, etc.

Then I went and entered a bunch last fall in the midst of me feeling like I wasn’t getting anything done in my life and I was feeling pretty down. Given that my dad was sick and passed away in October and my boyfriend of 2+ years broke up with me a few weeks before the funeral, I am going to say in hindsight I was probably WAS being way too hard on myself.

But enter the shows I did, and as usual, I got accepted, which is, of course, why I entered. I knew I’d get in, I knew it would boost my ego and I’d feel better.

So I ask myself - If I knew I would get in - why was I entering these shows? It sure sounds like the behavior of someone that is stuck in an easy comfortable place and not challenging herself.

I know, I’ve said it before. This time I’m going to listen. A few weeks ago I was ready to swear off every juried show out there and declare that I would never again enter any juried show ever.

I decided to let these thoughts sit for a while and see how it feels.

Selling Art

I came to the conclusion that there are a couple of juried shows that might still be worth the expense. There is something that seems so wrong about the artist paying to exhibit their art, but if the benefits out way the costs it can be worth it.

Today, for me, that means the show needs to sell a lot of work, and more specifically my work. If I believe the show can do that, then I will enter it. Right now there are 2 shows that I have this faith in - one is Quilt National and the other is Art Quilts Elements. And I’m open to the shows I entered this last fall giving me the same faith by selling my work during the show.

The above piece is currently traveling with Quilt National 2007. It didn’t sell at the opening but I’m ready for it to sell now. I think this is one of my really excellent pieces so I believe it will find an owner that will love it enough to purchase it.

I love being an artist but I am done paying to be an artist. My art is going to sell, and I am going to get unstuck and move my art career forward.

Other Thoughts on Juried Shows

I’ve been planning on this post for a few weeks, waiting for my thoughts to gel. Then today Alyson’s newsletter and blog post over on art biz blog were on this exact topic. Some of the very questions I was asking myself about juried shows. A highly recommended read.

[The newsletter link will only be current until Jan 21, 2008 - read it quick because it's a really excellent list of questions to think about when entering juried shows. Her weekly newsletters are an excellent source of art business advice - worth much more than the price - free! You can sign up through the newsletter link above.]