TRY THIS TRICK TO SELL YOUR PAINTINGS

MISTY WALK ON LONG BEACH by Sea Dean 24" x 36"

There is something strange I've noticed about really good art...

To stay current, I read many many art blogs, reviews and newsletters and see over 200 paintings a day. You learn a lot when you see that much art passing in front of your eyes. The thing I most love to analyse is the work of masters, past and present, to discover why these paintings in particular have sold and/or stood the test of time.

When viewing art, I try to consider my current painting challenges, the media I am experimenting with, composition, colour combinations, subject matter etc. It is therefore not surprising that I often notice strong compositional technique (because this is an area I am challenged with). One of the most amazing things I've concluded over the years is that no matter how much you zoom in, crop, photo shop or mess around in any way with a master painting, it always looks amazing. Each part is awe inspiring. Each brushstroke has meaning. Each shift in light and dark is planned (or accidental and embellished by the artist's infallible mastery). Even the size and shape is important

MISTY WALK ON LONG BEACH by Sea Dean 12" x 36"

Try it some time. Take a high quality image of a Monet, or equally great masterpiece and crop it into as many small paintings as you can. How many can you create from one large work? I'm talking about crops that retain the same awesome quality as the whole, even if they are a tiny abstracts. First try different crops with the main focal point included. Make some modern crops, cutting off part of the main subject. Group crops to create a completely different abstract work. Move around the edges and see how interesting they can be.

Monet, particularly as he got older, left portions of bare canvas mainly on the edge. Some may consider this sloppy, but this can add interest to a painting and a crop. A little trick I've discovered is that one of the most interesting crops is usually near the artist's signature, but not necessarily including it.

MISTY WALK ON LONG BEACH by Sea Dean 12" x 12"

Some artists paint on flat canvas and crop paintings out of the large piece later. This works really well for abstracts, but can be used on any genre. It is particularly useful for paintings that are languishing in the back of the studio because they've hung in every gallery, show, exhibition and website and haven't sold in many years.

I've know artists that reconfigure their own paintings and on occasion, I've done it myself (see the painting above). A dynamic crop and a new mat or frame can do wonders for an older piece. This is also a great thing to try if you create prints of your work. Perhaps you don't want to sell prints of the whole piece, but what about interesting small portions cropped to put on art cards, cell phones, pillows etc? Professional artists are constantly looking for ways to stretch their creative time, and this is one way to do it without compromising your original art sales.

MISTY WALK ON LONG BEACH by Sea Dean 12" x 16"

VIew my online Gallery of large works and Limited Editions at ARTFINDER
View my online Gallery of small works at DAILY PAINTWORKS
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO and printed products here
Art Cards $5 and Art Postcards $3 here

OFFLINE EXHIBITING - IS IT A THING OF THE PAST? - 2014/15 Exhibitions

ABOVE THE LAKE by Sea Dean - SOLD

In answer to the title question, I think not.

I exhibit about 14 times a year, I have to say that in spite of all the work and on site lack of sales, it does wonders for getting your name and style out there in the community. This year I've cut back on shows and focused on creating a workable studio/gallery in my home, but the well chosen shows and exhibitions I have showed in were very beneficial. In fact my most recent sale was because of a show, because I made an agreement with the owner of the winery venue to leave a few pieces on display and the painting above sold there last week. I'm currently working on a slightly larger one to replace it. SUMMER BREEZE below is still on show at the winery, but can be purchased by contacting me. It is 24" x 36" $540 plus shipping based on your post or zip code.

It's always a good idea to keep a running list of places you have exhibited over the last year or so. In submissions they almost always ask about recent shows and it saves time to have a list ready. Here is mine. Quite frankly I haven't updated my list for a while and I was surprised that I have been so active. It is hard work painting, cataloging, framing etc for a show, but that is nothing compared to all the work of the organizers and volunteers who make it possible. Without them half my sales wouldn't happen.

My exhibits over the last year

2014 Blue Heron Residence - Lake Country BC
2014 Lake Country Library - Lake Country BC
2014 Art Walk - Lake Country BC
2014 A Step Forward - Lake Country BC
2014 Art Bazaar - Lake Country BC
2014 Culture Crawl - Kelowna BC
2014 A Night of One Thousand Lights - Kelowna BC
2014 Rouge - Kelowna BC
2014 U100 Lake Country Art Gallery - Lake Country BC
2015 Make it Happen - Kelowna BC
2015 Lake Country Art Gallery Members Show - Lake Country BC
2015 URBA Art in Empty Spaces - Kelowna BC
2015 Inter-generational Exhibition - Lake Country BC
2015 Frayed and Feathered Studio Tour - Ellison BC

SUMMER BREEZE by Sea Dean

Whether it's in a gallery, open studio, pop-up space, museum, public space, retail store, festival, a solo exhbition or your local hair salon, the point is that you are getting your work in front of potential buyers. I've found that there is a definite ratio between the number of eyes that see my work and the number of paintings that sell. There are other factors of course, such as price point, colour palette, trends etc. but even if you have everything else right and don't show your work, sales will be few and far between.

In our area at least, there is no easily accessible list for ALL exhibit possibilities. Make sure you are on the list of all the movers and shakers of the art world in your town. If you don't know who they are, visit your local public gallery, federation of artists or art group and take notes.

Future Plans

Paint a Masterpiece Studio/Gallery - Kelowna BC
Ritchcraft Art Gallery - Kelowna BC
Art House Gift Shop - Lake Country BC
Ancient Hills Winery - Ellison BC

12 September 2015 - Art Bazaar - Lake Country BC
November/December 2015 - U100 - Lake Country BC
November 2015 - Red Barn Artizan Show - Kelowna BC
December 2015 - Frayed and Feathered Christmas Show - Ellison BC

There are others which are in the submission process and I will announce when I have been accepted.

ABOVE THE LAKE - Postcards and Fridge magnets

ABOVE THE LAKE was painted from a photo I took in the back garden of a friend, just across the valley from my home. What a view!  This is Wood Lake, one of the many lakes surrounding my home.

The Okanagan is a major Canadian tourist destination for sun, sand and water sports, with thousands of holiday homes owned by Calgary and Vancouver residents. We also have many part time homes, mobile and otherwise, owned by snowbirds that winter in Hawaii, Arizona, Florida, Mexico and points south. The are are few residents over 60 that don't go south for at least part of the winter, but in the summer they host a long line of visitors from their home towns.

Winter in the valley is snowy, but mild compared to most of Canada. Winter tourists come for the fantastic powder snow, which lends itself to all kinds of winter sports in the surrounding mountains. You name it, we have it. And of course the shoulder seasons of spring and fall are fresh and beautiful.

If you live in the USA, consider a visit here where your dollar will go a long way. If you live in Canada, holiday at home this year and come for the festivals, fruit and wine tasting. You don't have to drive, we have a busy international airport and excellent Greyhound bus routes. Remember, my gallery/studio is open by appointment most days, so you can drop in for a chat.

ABOVE THE LAKE original is available by contacting me. It is painted on 12" x 36" Deep gallery wrap canvas and is currently on display in my studio/gallery. If you love it, but $260 plus shipping, is doesn't fit your monthly budget, I'm happy to arrange payment over time. Contact me here

ABOVE THE LAKE is also available as the postcard above, which fits a standard 4" x 6" frame. To purchase for only $3 plus shipping, click here.

ABOVE THE LAKE fridge magnets can be ordered here. They make a perfect hostess gift to pin a copy of your favourite recipe to their fridge.

DIMENSIONS
OSWOA Art Postcard - 4" x 6" (100mm x 152mm) 
Art Print Magnet - 2" x 2.5" (49mm x 87mm) 

Small Tote - 14" x 14" x 3" (35.6 x 35.6 x 7.6 cm) - special order
Deluxe Canvas Tote - 19" x 15" x 6" (48.3 x 38.1 x 15.2 cm) - special order
Deluxe 2 Tone Tote - 19" x 15" x 6" (48.3 x 38.1 x 15.2 cm) - special order

Not yet available with Above the Lake image
ACEO - 2.5" x 3.5" (63mm x 88mm)
Vista Art Postcard - 4.25" x 5.5" (139mm x 107mm)

More prints to be revealed soon, but if you're in a hurry, hop along to my shop by clicking here and see the new spring designs.

LAKE KALAMALKA and LAKE COUNtRY PAINTINGS

VOTE FOR LAKE KALAMALKA

"Kal Lake’s distinctive aqua blue waters are formed by an abundance of naturally occurring calcite in the cool blue depths of this phenomenal lake. Changing with the seasons, her waters sparkle in shades of aqua blue, making for an ever changing landscape for everyone to enjoy."

Lake Country is pleased to be participating in the Great Places in Canada competition held annually by the Canadian Institute of Planners. Kalamalka Lake has been nominated as one of Canada’s great places, based on its stunning beauty and conservation efforts. Kalamalka, with its sibling lakes Wood and Okanagan, is central to the identity of Lake Country.
If you’d like to support Lake Country and vote for Kalamalka Lake as one of Canada’a Great Places, you can vote here!

I've been associated with beautful Lake Country for over 30 years. Here are some of my available Lake Country Paintings.

Kalamalka, Lake of Many Colours"
After a Mel Basaraba image
8" x 10"
Canvas Panel
Available here

"Above the Lake"
12" x 36"
Deep Gallery Wrap Canvas
Available here

"Light and Shadow"
24" x 36"
Deep Gallery Wrap Canvas
Available here

"Wild Companions"
3 Panels 20" x 16" (20" x 48" when hung touching but can display with a large gap to fill space)
Deep Gallery Wrap Canvas
Available here




Cat 11003 Kalamalka Lake of Many Colours
Cat 12069 Light and Shadow
Cat 12070 Above the Lake
Cat 12018 Wild Companions