Seasonal Marketing Strategy

I know most of us paint or do our art mainly for the pure pleasure of it. But, if you are hoping to make some sales, this is definitely the time of year to push your sales. Try promoting your seasonal art. I have had multiple views of my shop from people searching for seasonal holiday themes, like poinsettias. Today I had someone include my mixed media poinsettia piece in a treasury list. This helps give my shop lots of exposure. Push your sales this time of year and then start replenishing your inventory after the first of the year. Reduce your sales price. People are looking for bargains this year. Try to move out your older pieces of inventory. I had two paintings this week, so I will start a new painting to replace the ones that sold.

A Few Sales

I had taken about a week off for Thanksgiving holiday travel to spend time with family. During that time I put my etsy.com shop which shows and sells my art on a vacation hold. When I returned I took the shop off vacation hold and within a short time had two paintings sell. I shipped the two paintings, each bought by the same woman, out today. The paintings which sold can be seen below.

A Small Painting Makes Perfect Gift

Small pieces of art (paintings, photography, etc.) make great gift items. Something to think about during the holiday season. I just completed a small 5 x 7 painting of a polar bear for my son, whose nickname is polar bear. So, I think he will love the painting and the effort that went into it. Painting can be seen below.

Finished Painting

I finished the lavender field painting. I am pleased with the result. See finished artwork below.

Continued Progress

My lavender field painting is continuing to evolve and grow into the painting I envisioned. I added the building yesterday and finished covering the canvas with paint. The next step is to add a few more dark colors and light tones in the trees and then to add a few details. Painting will be finished soon. Progress can be seen below.

Honing Your Technique

I have noticed that over the years I have been able to hone and sharpen my painting technique, especially when it comes to painting lavender fields and landscapes in impressionism. I first cover the canvas with color, creating an under-painting on which to build. I then create the darks, shadows and the lights. That way there is a depth of color and things don't appear flat. I loosen up my brushstrokes and add more color and finish off with detail in several areas. I try to spread a lot of the same color around to make your eye move through the painting. I also add a little of the opposite color on the color wheel to items painted in the distance to help to mute then and make them neutral in tone and color. Below you will see the progress on my new lavender field painting. I still have to work on the farm building but this photo still gives you a good idea of my process of painting. Enjoying the process. Enjoying the result.

Flowering Provencal Doorway Painting Finished

I added darks and lights to my painting and was able to easily finish the painting in just a few days. It was a pleasure to paint. I have my next painting sketched out. In a painting mood. Accomplishing a lot.

Painting A Companion Piece

This year I painted a scene from the Provence region of France. It was of a doorway. I am currently working on a similar companion piece of a flowering entrance to a Provencal home. See both the finished art done this year and the beginning of a companion piece. The new painting is only roughed in with the under-painting done. The darks and lights and details are yet to be done.

Back To What I Do Best

I must have been bored and needed a change for awhile. When your painting becomes boring, it's time to experiment. Well, I've enjoyed experimenting around with different techniques. Now I'm returning to what I do best. I'm so excited that I have already planned my next three paintings. I am returning back to a familiar theme, lavender fields and scenes of Provence. I will do the paintings a in bright color palette and keep my brushstrokes loose and impressionistic. Of course, to keep my restless nature in check I will still work on my new mixed media pieces from time to time.

You Just Never Know

Yesterday I had decided to concentrate on doing what I do best, the lavender fields created using impressionist technique. Well, out of the blue I had a sale of a painting which was in my online shop. It was not a painting that I was expecting to sell. It had a few people looking at it, but not nearly as many people viewing this painting or marking it as a favorite. It was not an impressionism painting. It was not a lavender field or French scene. It was a painting of redwoods done in a graphic technique. So, it just goes to show, you just never know what people will be drawn to and love enough to purchase. Photo of sold painting shown below.

SOLD

Art As A Gift

An original painting by an artist you know makes a perfect gift. During this Christmas season, with resources low, I plan to have prints made of some of my art and give some them as Christmas gifts. For my daughter's birthday, one of the presents she received was a painting of her pet poodle which I had done as a surprise. I decided to do a small painting for my son, whose nickname is polar bear, of some a couple of cute polar bears. I also am giving both children a matted print of one of my most popular paintings that sold. In addition I will give them a matted print of a photograph their aunt took of a dramatic sunset. Both are nice pieces of art and make good, thoughtful, unique gifts. It's a nice way to say Merry Christmas to those you love.