Updates from Terri on Her Art Journey
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One of my goals for the month of January was to add 20 pieces of my artwork to my inventory. That’s an ambitious goal, I realize, but with inspiration from the Lord and my art instructor, Rod Moore, I was able to achieve it. Here are some of the landscapes and seascapes I completed. These, along with about 60 other of my creations, may be found at www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/7-terri-thompson
Another of my goals for the month that ends today was to participate in Rod’s “Kick Start Your Art” challenge and to also complete all of the painting assignments for the course that is training me how to be an instructor of the Moore Method of Painting. Check. And check. However, while these January goals were met, I did have a bit of a failure. My January Clearance Sale turned out to be a disaster. Although I was able to sell almost $100 worth of artwork (at a great discount, of course), I spent nearly $600 on art supplies and materials. So, rather than earning $500 for the month (which is what I hope to be able to consistently do by the end of this year), I actually lost $500. Chalking this up as the cost of doing business, I tell myself that I will be needing and using those paints, brushes and canvases that I purchased for future projects and classes I hope to teach one day. This month of promoting my “Clearance Sale” was also a good learning experience. One of the things I learned is that using social media and Facebook as my only platform for selling art is not going to be enough effort. Although I made a short video, posted at least three times a week, boosted my Facebook ad, and even created an ”Event,” I got very little response from my online activities. Indeed, I did a better job of selling when I met people face-to-face at City Lights Art Gallery, where I’m a member. Not entirely discouraged, I plan to continue creating and honing my promotional skills. Who knows? Perhaps I’ll get better results next month when I advertise my Valentine’s Day sale.
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Last week I painted this still life of wine bottles, an ice bucket and a gourd, posted it on Facebook, and challenged my friends and family to give it a title. Here are some of their clever suggestions:
“Fruits of Your Labor” – Tom M. “Good Times With Gourd” – Jeff L. “Party Time!” – Bethany K. “Another Night In” – Stacy B. “Fruits From the Vine” – Donna B. “Spirits” – Barbara G. “Cheers” or “Salut” – Kate B. “Choices” – Dimitra D. “Relax. Have a Bite.” – Richard W. “Serenity” – Stan G. “Relaxation” or “Oh What a Night!” or “Memories” or “Day Dreams” or “Bucket of Fun” – Jenean W. “Afternoon Delight” – Mary Ann M. “Wine Junkie” – Ralph A. So many good suggestions . . . I couldn’t pick one. So, I stuck with the original: “Bottles, Bucket and Gourd.” If you’d like to own this painting, you can purchase an art print of it at www.fineartamerica.com/featured/bottles,-bucket-and-gourd-terri-thompson.html?product=art-print Prices start at just $17 (plus shipping) for an 8” x 10” print. You could also get it as a wood print; I’ll bet that would be cool! Or how about a tote bag to carry your libations to the beach this summer? This painting and reproductions of any of my 65 creations are available from my online art store at www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/7-terri-thompson My painting instructor and mentor, Rod Moore, challenged me last week to kickstart my art by getting back to basics. He gave me these quick, 20-minute studies to teach me a lesson: “Color often gets the credit, but values do the work.” I’ve heard other great artists say the same thing.
These aren’t particularly difficult exercises, and I vow to do them at least once every three months so I can track my painting progress. It’s just part of my art journey. Last week I tried to promote my January Clearance Sale by creating a Facebook ad and boosting it to my FB friends. Got no results, but I only spent $10 for the five days it ran. So far during the month of January, I’ve sold only one of my original paintings, “Valley View.” It is one of my favorites and I’m pleased it’s going to a good home in Minnesota. But I’m a bit discouraged that the expenses of my so-called “art business” are far exceeding my revenues. Alas, for the next several months I’m going to focus more on creating art rather than selling it. Perhaps someday I’ll start making paintings that people WILL actually buy. One of my art goals for 2022 is to double my production of paintings over last year. That means I’ll have to create 100 paintings during the next twelve months. It also means I have to MAKE ROOM for them in my tiny Las Vegas studio.
So, to that end, last week I launched my JANUARY CLEARANCE SALE. Currently there are more than 50 pieces of my artwork, including watercolors, acrylic paintings and photographs, available for REPRODUCTION from my Fine Art America store. But many of the ORIGINALS are living with me in Las Vegas, and THEY GOTTA GO to make room for new creations. That’s why for the month of January I’m offering everyone (including YOU) an opportunity to buy one of my ORIGINAL PIECES OF ART directly from me for the BARGAIN BASEMENT PRICE of just $25 (plus $10 for shipping anywhere in the U.S.) All the pieces are rather small (no bigger than 10” x 12” and most are either 8” x 10” or 10” x 10”). And you can choose from landscapes, seascapes, floral art and even abstracts. My sunflower paintings are pretty popular, but I’ve also got tulips, roses, poppies and a variety of bouquets and other varieties. My landscapes and seascapes are painted in an impressionistic style. And as for my abstracts, they’re just wild. You can see my entire inventory here on my website shop at www.territhompsonart.com which will take you to my art store on Fine Art America – www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/7-terri-thompson But to get the ORIGINALS of any of these, you’ll have to order directly from me. Simply send me a private message on Facebook or email me at tthompson1952@gmail.com if you want any of my creations. If the piece hasn’t sold, it’s yours. And thanks in advance for helping to CLEAR OUT MY STUDIO! My first painting of the new year is an 8” x 10” acrylic of a lighthouse that I call “Let Your Light Shine.” It’s one of my assignments for the Moore Certified Instructor program that is training me how to use the Moore Method of Painting to teach beginners how to paint. This was not a particularly difficult painting. In fact, I believe I could teach anyone to paint it. One of the things I like about it is that it’s a subject many people can relate to; who hasn’t seen or visited a lighthouse at one time or another?
Like most people, this past week I made a few New Year’s resolutions. The personal ones are familiar and came easily, including reading the Bible every morning, exercising at least half an hour every day, and eating a healthy diet, especially cutting back on my alcohol consumption. Another of my personal goals is to LET MY LIGHT SHINE, and perhaps that’s why this painting resonates with me. As a budding visual artist and art teacher, I hope to inspire others to explore their creative abilities. By example, I’d like to show the world how easy it is to capture God’s nature by painting it. ANYONE CAN LEARN HOW TO PAINT So, for the rest of this week, I will be making some plans and setting some goals for my ongoing art journey. Having a plan will provide me with a roadmap to success, help me measure where I am, and remind me to keep checking on how I’m doing. Sharing my plans and goals with my blog readers will keep me accountable to someone other than myself. Check back with me next week to see how I’m doing . . . . |
AuthorTerri Thompson is a journalist-turned-visual artist, who is on an "art journey" and exploring how to tell her stories through her watercolor and acrylic paintings and photographs. Categories |