As someone who has never done this before, I was wondering if you folks thought the stuff I made was something that might appeal to buyers and any suggestions as to what categories or type of craft/art shows that might work for me? Don't want to push, but any suggestions on displaying would be great. For those who may want further examples of my folly, I got quite a number of pictures. Thanks.
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Looking back is a gentle skill. Funny how we are so much more accepting of our self doubt when looking through the prism of the past. Perhaps it is the sweet sorrow of our youth. My hometown was Greenville,S.C. WWll baby. I think intimidation is in my DNA. My wife would probably say I try to hard to prove I'm not intimidated. Which kinda makes sense I guess. Had a deaf brother, not sure if that made any difference to my sensibilities but it makes a good story. I remember I went to a football game at the deaf blind school when I was maybe ten or eleven. If you have never been around deaf and hard of hearing folks, they never heard the sounds we heard, so when they try to make a sound it is, well, a strange wailing guttural screeching noise. So imagine several hundred fans (cheering?) their team. And on the field deaf/ hard of hearing, (some now say hearing impaired) and yes blind kids ( seeing impaired) were linemen, playing football. Well, try to picture the referee blowing his whistle and the deaf kids not hearing, continue to run block all over the field, while the blind kids with arms out staggering about trying to block with all their effort and zeal. And with the den of the cherring/screeching moaning crowd and the incessant whistle blowing. To this day my eyes are still wide and amazed at the scene. So sounds were sometimes different. Whenever I have left the South I always upon returning realized I missed the language. As one might suspect I worked at loosing my accent. Back in those days being Southern was equated with stupidity. In my case this could be argued easily if one knew my decision making as I do but that is my secret ( as long as spell check works that is). Thanks again for your friendly manner and encouragement.
Barbara thanks, all of you have been very kind. This is the first time I have actually engaged in any conversation about what I make. I admit I am somewhat juvenile in this whole thing. I think, perhaps unfortunately, my great ambition was gleamed as a child from the old guys who would sit on the coca cola crates and see who could out b.s. the other or spit the farthest. One the most exciting sounds for me is the creak of the old country store's screened door beckoning the imagination. So I am well suited for whimsical dreaming but that other dirty deed, making money, while exciting, and has allure, albeit for me, no real ability, as yet.
Dann Jackson > mark lynchFebruary 8, 2011 at 11:01am
Mark, I have to ask, where do you live? You sound like a good ole country Southern boy like me. I grew up just south of Atlanta and my Dad ran, guess what? A country store! Complete with the screen door with the Colonial Bread sign on it, pot belly stove. The whole works! Sitting around telling stories was my favorite pass time. Still is. I was glad Barbara suggested weaving your stories into your work. I had intended to mention that too but got side tracked. You sound like a natural born story teller. Maybe include a notation with your work of where you found certain pieces that you incorporated into your work. That would make for good conversation starters with potential customers. People love those types of things. One suggestion, don't allow yourself to be so intimidated by the process of selling your work. All you need is to get one show under your belt and you'll be hooked. I once had an adult art class of all beginners with our annual Christmas show coming up and several students were cringing at the thought of hanging there work up and exposing themselves to possible criticism from either friends or worse yet total strangers. Finally, I got so exasperated with them I said, look not showing is not an option. I want you to have this experience because exhibiting your work is what it's all about. What's more, you'll have a totally different attitude about it when people compliment your work and maybe even buy one.Well, guess what? That's exactly what happened. The ones who were the most adamant about not showing were absolutely thrilled over the whole experience and were still high off the adrenaline rush they got from the experience. One quick story and then I'll stop. When I was 18 I entered the non-professional section of the Arts Festival of Atlanta, not expecting to be accepted anyway. Well, I was accepted. I hung my work on set up day. That night was to be their invitation only preview party which I did not attend. Next day when I arrived at the show, I walked up to my display and realized that one of my pieces was missing. I thought OMG somebody has stolen my painting. This show had a central sales desk and I ran over there and told the lady that I had a piece of work stolen overnight. She looks at me and calmly says, "Well honey, did it occur to you that someone bought it last night?" I was dumbfounded! No, it hadn't even entered my mind!! The fact that a total stranger had actually bought my piece of work was unbelievable. I've laughed my head off over the years when I think back about that experience.
Thanks Pat. What a nice thing to say, putting a smile on someones face is really cool. It will be interesting to actually experience the handing over something I made for dollars. On one of my excursions I found a young man and his 12 year old son burning a large debris pile outside some old barns. After a brief chat with the Father he left to tend the corn field across the road, instructing his boy to come let him know when I had finished going through his scrap metal. In full Tom Sayer fashion the boy talked a blue streak. He stated proudly his full name, clearly feeling the linage of his family in his veins. When I asked what he wanted to do when grown, he replied without hesitation, Farm" with my daddy. He was of slight build but had the air of a boy who was loved and secure. He flew off on his dirt bike to get Dad when I was through and when I left he asked if he could have something I made. When I delivered his choice from a selection I had emailed, his Mom said "He was really excited" and her smile still stirs me to wonder about the whole of it.
I think maybe the whole psychological muscularity of old fashioned capitalism has intimidated me. Maybe that is why more fail than succeed. However fear does awaken oneself doesn't it? Thanks again for the support.
Hi Dann. Thanks for the compliment. I remember Woody Allen doing some impersonation of, was it Blanche, about the kindness of strangers? I always get uncomfortable with compliments. Of course now Mr. Allen makes me uncomfortable! Yes Primitive art has a definite appeal to me. I wondered if there wasn't some underlying psychological connection we all have to our prehistory, you know the power of the open fire, full moon, summers night breeze calling us back to a day hidden deep inside. And in many of the parts of old farm machinery I see some of these images. So many of the pieces by themselves are cool that not detracting by adding is the problem for me. Sort of like rocks or shells one finds, they are by themselves complete and to add to them most of the times detracts. So yes I am both insecure in the work and never having made it to sell and now needing to create for income, I question it. But your and others response is making me feel like it is time to grow up. And I guess that is a good thing to always do. Thanks again for the encouragement.
Mark, one of the things that so often makes people want to buy art is the story behind it. All those farmer's stories are a huge treasure trove of lore, and if you can weave those stories into your art and tell your patrons your own stories of how you came upon the materials, etc., so much the better.
I make much of my jewelry with some very vintage components. I also combine locally made artisan brass, copper, bronze and fine silver components with the vintage materials. They're not high-end, expensive baubles, but they are interesting and beautiful and very carefully constructed. Patrons always become much more interested and likely to buy if I can tell them about the pieces. Some of my customers only buy works with "a history."
BTW, I direct two shows, and your work is very comparable, perhaps even a bit more imaginative, than the metal workers in those two shows. At the one-day show, I have one artist who consistently sells most of his inventory, so I think you are in a very good position to get going and do well. As far as pricing, I agree with Dann about checking out other artists' work and prices. We all have questions about pricing our work. Good luck getting yourself out there.
Pat Sorbini > Art on the Lawn: Barbara BerneyFebruary 8, 2011 at 8:34am
Thanks for directing me to the link, Sabrina :)
Mark...I love your stuff. It's sort of Urban Primitive to my mind. It would sell like gangbusters up here in Upstate NY. Funky gardens are the rage lately. I like it when I click on someone's photos and my first impulse is to smile. I smiled all through your gallery. Artful, whimsical, fun and inspired. Lovely.
I bet is has been hard for almost all of us to take the leap. A person's creativity is so personal, often so private, that to bring it out into the light, so to speak, expose it to the opinions of strangers,and then wait to see if people will actually reach for their wallets and buy it can be harrowing at first. But those first few shows where people throw compliments at you, people that "get it", people who reach for the wallet, is the high that kept me going for 15 years now.
You will be enormously successful, I believe. Keep us posted. I like the idea about shooting pictures in a non-garden setting for some shows. I also like sharing your stories. I have a friend on the circuit that has small, unobtrusive glass framed anecdotes about some of her work hung with the display. She writes in a charming, warm style and people really respond to it. Just a thought.
Lauren thanks for your reply. Your suggestion of landscape/garden shops is a good idea. I have always had such respect for people who had the get up and go to make a living on their own. I kind of get caught up with the idea part and sort of loose the do it part. I started making this stuff back in early 1980 when I found some peaces on a old farm where I had rented a little house. And since then my wife and I would just cruise the South's back roads and make a treasure hunt out of it. She took pictures and I did my thing. Never thought about trying to make any money till I recently got laid off and my neighbor who has been on the craft/art show road for years suggested I give it a try. Your kind comments are nice to hear.
Thanks for your reply. I feel pretty infantile and considering my age, I also feel a bit silly about my insecurities. But maybe that is what makes those of you who have faced all the what ifs and gone and done it so special. I don't have a clue as to what sort of dollars to ask for. The interesting thing about some of the objects is that some metal parts are quite abundant and others are anything but. I literally have to canvass the back roads and knock on doors asking folks have any scrape metal they don't want and the funny part is when they ask what I am looking for, the real answer is I am not sure what it is until I see it. More times than not I spend time in some old farmers shop chewing the fat and I am fascinated by peoples lives; often I come away with their stories and not much else. It will be a challenge for me to get organized as this seems to be my greatest weakness. Your response sure makes me feel better though, thanks again.
Dann Jackson > mark lynchFebruary 7, 2011 at 3:38pm
Dude! We all had our insecurities when first starting out. Want to know how long I'd stand in front of a blank canvas, just staring at it? And it staring back? Sometimes the blank canvas won the staring match! And you know what? 40 years and two art degrees later I can still get intimidated by that blank canvas. But as with all things,the more you do it the easier it all gets. But, the one thing I want you to know is that after all these years, I can spot talent when I see it. And, man, you've got a lot. And it's natural and unmarred by art school training. Right now, with the pieces you've shown here, I'd say you could write your own ticket. With the right booth display, you could be accepted in most any juried show you wanted to enter. Also, you're obviously in the South, with the great interest in folk art and folk shows you'd be a stand out. Go to Kentuck Festival in Northport, Al. meet the artists, ask questions. Paul Flack who's on this site a lot, is a folk artist and is one of the founders of The Who-Ha-Da-Da group. .
The face mask in the diamond shape in the first photo is outstanding. I noticed an African face mask influence in these as well. Which is a nice thing to have, intentional or not. Also, whimsy is great.for garden pieces that makes you smile when you see it. You're work is very sell-able. There again, go to shows and see what comparable pieces are priced at. You want to charge a reasonable price but, you can always raise your prices later on. The trick is to not underprice yourself, but don't overprice either. I KNOW that you will do well becoming a full time artist and exhibitor. Lauren's ideas were great. You would be right at home doing flower and garden shows or selling thru garden centers. The sky's the limit!
Replies
I think maybe the whole psychological muscularity of old fashioned capitalism has intimidated me. Maybe that is why more fail than succeed. However fear does awaken oneself doesn't it? Thanks again for the support.
Mark, one of the things that so often makes people want to buy art is the story behind it. All those farmer's stories are a huge treasure trove of lore, and if you can weave those stories into your art and tell your patrons your own stories of how you came upon the materials, etc., so much the better.
I make much of my jewelry with some very vintage components. I also combine locally made artisan brass, copper, bronze and fine silver components with the vintage materials. They're not high-end, expensive baubles, but they are interesting and beautiful and very carefully constructed. Patrons always become much more interested and likely to buy if I can tell them about the pieces. Some of my customers only buy works with "a history."
BTW, I direct two shows, and your work is very comparable, perhaps even a bit more imaginative, than the metal workers in those two shows. At the one-day show, I have one artist who consistently sells most of his inventory, so I think you are in a very good position to get going and do well. As far as pricing, I agree with Dann about checking out other artists' work and prices. We all have questions about pricing our work. Good luck getting yourself out there.
Thanks for directing me to the link, Sabrina :)
Mark...I love your stuff. It's sort of Urban Primitive to my mind. It would sell like gangbusters up here in Upstate NY. Funky gardens are the rage lately. I like it when I click on someone's photos and my first impulse is to smile. I smiled all through your gallery. Artful, whimsical, fun and inspired. Lovely.
I bet is has been hard for almost all of us to take the leap. A person's creativity is so personal, often so private, that to bring it out into the light, so to speak, expose it to the opinions of strangers,and then wait to see if people will actually reach for their wallets and buy it can be harrowing at first. But those first few shows where people throw compliments at you, people that "get it", people who reach for the wallet, is the high that kept me going for 15 years now.
You will be enormously successful, I believe. Keep us posted. I like the idea about shooting pictures in a non-garden setting for some shows. I also like sharing your stories. I have a friend on the circuit that has small, unobtrusive glass framed anecdotes about some of her work hung with the display. She writes in a charming, warm style and people really respond to it. Just a thought.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Dude! We all had our insecurities when first starting out. Want to know how long I'd stand in front of a blank canvas, just staring at it? And it staring back? Sometimes the blank canvas won the staring match! And you know what? 40 years and two art degrees later I can still get intimidated by that blank canvas. But as with all things,the more you do it the easier it all gets. But, the one thing I want you to know is that after all these years, I can spot talent when I see it. And, man, you've got a lot. And it's natural and unmarred by art school training. Right now, with the pieces you've shown here, I'd say you could write your own ticket. With the right booth display, you could be accepted in most any juried show you wanted to enter. Also, you're obviously in the South, with the great interest in folk art and folk shows you'd be a stand out. Go to Kentuck Festival in Northport, Al. meet the artists, ask questions. Paul Flack who's on this site a lot, is a folk artist and is one of the founders of The Who-Ha-Da-Da group. .
The face mask in the diamond shape in the first photo is outstanding. I noticed an African face mask influence in these as well. Which is a nice thing to have, intentional or not. Also, whimsy is great.for garden pieces that makes you smile when you see it. You're work is very sell-able. There again, go to shows and see what comparable pieces are priced at. You want to charge a reasonable price but, you can always raise your prices later on. The trick is to not underprice yourself, but don't overprice either. I KNOW that you will do well becoming a full time artist and exhibitor. Lauren's ideas were great. You would be right at home doing flower and garden shows or selling thru garden centers. The sky's the limit!
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