How do I get to be an old master!
http://www.websitecontent.com/How-do-I-get-to-be-an-old-master/a10935_1
Leon M
By Leon M
Published on 04/30/2009
My apartment is piled high with my paintings. It%u2019s time to hold and exhibition and get rid of some, but the costs are high. Will the bank lend me money to get an exhibition going?
How do I get to be an old master!
I'm busting to hold an exhibition of my work. Should I start by taking a loan or should I get everything together first and then look for the money? I know that framing would be involved but I never really thought about the gallery charges and the advertising. Everything costs so much!
I paint and the paintings are piling up. I started some years ago after I hadn't touched a brush for years while I was busy working, Once I retired, I was re-infected by the bug. I am determined to be an old master and so far I'm doing very well on the 'old' part of the equation.
I juggled the furniture around in the spare room, donated the bed and set up my easel opposite the window. It works fine and looks nice and messy, just the sort of place van Gogh or Monet would work in. I paint with acrylic paints on canvas, using nice warm, bright colors
The bad news is that I'm flat broke. I see a simple solution - hold an exhibition of my works. Put healthy prices on the paintings and make some real money. The more people hear about you, the more you will become known, the more you will sell and the higher the prices you can charge. Like I said, simple!
The problems are many. Paintings on canvas must to be framed for an exhibition, otherwise they look cheap and nasty and I want them to look expensive and great. Framing is unbelievably expensive. I can never afford to pay for framing 30 or 40 paintings.
Then there is the venue. I can probably get the church hall for very little, but the place is cold with no facilities, small windows and a grotty old cement tile floor. I don't think art lovers will come there to look at paintings. A decent venue with a good atmosphere and good lighting will cost.
I haven't looked into things like advertising, a cheese and wine opening, insurance, delivery both ways, hanging costs and who knows what else.
Taking a loan from the bank is a possible solution. I will pay it back, but I have to sell in order to do that. It all sounds logical, right? The bank lends me the money, I pay for all the expenses in setting up the exhibition and the minute I sell a few pieces I repay the loan. Think that'll fly?
I paint and the paintings are piling up. I started some years ago after I hadn't touched a brush for years while I was busy working, Once I retired, I was re-infected by the bug. I am determined to be an old master and so far I'm doing very well on the 'old' part of the equation.
I juggled the furniture around in the spare room, donated the bed and set up my easel opposite the window. It works fine and looks nice and messy, just the sort of place van Gogh or Monet would work in. I paint with acrylic paints on canvas, using nice warm, bright colors
The bad news is that I'm flat broke. I see a simple solution - hold an exhibition of my works. Put healthy prices on the paintings and make some real money. The more people hear about you, the more you will become known, the more you will sell and the higher the prices you can charge. Like I said, simple!
The problems are many. Paintings on canvas must to be framed for an exhibition, otherwise they look cheap and nasty and I want them to look expensive and great. Framing is unbelievably expensive. I can never afford to pay for framing 30 or 40 paintings.
Then there is the venue. I can probably get the church hall for very little, but the place is cold with no facilities, small windows and a grotty old cement tile floor. I don't think art lovers will come there to look at paintings. A decent venue with a good atmosphere and good lighting will cost.
I haven't looked into things like advertising, a cheese and wine opening, insurance, delivery both ways, hanging costs and who knows what else.
Taking a loan from the bank is a possible solution. I will pay it back, but I have to sell in order to do that. It all sounds logical, right? The bank lends me the money, I pay for all the expenses in setting up the exhibition and the minute I sell a few pieces I repay the loan. Think that'll fly?