Showing posts with label buffalo artists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buffalo artists. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Buffalo Etsy as teachers!

There's a saying out there that says,"Those that can't do... teach." It's not a statement that really holds up. Teachers are how we learn things, and that's certainly "doing" by any definition. We think that
it's time to amend that statement.

"Sometimes, those than can, ALSO teach."

Buffalo and the surrounding areas are a wonderful creative hub of talent, looking at the Buffalo Etsy Team alone shows an amazing diversity of products and creations in shops showcasing just about everything under the sun.

In addition to making beautiful items for you to purchase, running their shops and often with day jobs and families as well, several of our team members also teach regularly.
We wanted to take the time to tell you about some of these folks today.

Goldhawk Pottery is a shop that I'm sure you're already familiar with for beautiful, well made and purposeful pottery! Did you also know that Sara Goldhawk teaches through the Williamsville Community Education department and has classes on creative entrepreneurship as well as hands on clay classes for kids?  You can learn the ins and outs of both online and craft show selling from the Captain of our Etsy team herself!  Sign up for any of her classes or review her course listings here.
As classes change regularly through community education, if her classes don't populate, select courses, instructor and Goldhawk and you will have a nice selection to choose from.

Sarah Trumpp has a fun shop that I'm sure you've checked out, if you haven't, what are you waiting for? Wonderstrumpet on Etsy has a great selection of really unique and fun items. I never knew I wanted Dazed Dollies until I looked! Sarah also has an amazing array of online video tutorials that include mixed media, canvas and sculpting!

Heidi Zanelli has some beautiful paintings and cards in her shop ZanelliArts. She can also be found teaching at exhibiting at Enjoy the Journey Gallery in West Seneca.

Kelly Barone is a Certified Zentangle Teacher who also holds workshops at Enjoy the Journey gallery as well as many other local venues. If you've heard of Zentangle® and want to know more about this relaxing and meditative art form she has a full calendar of upcoming classes in the Western NY area. You can find some of her black and white work in her shop, Whimsy by Kelly along with custom sneakers and a variety of other things as well.
Zentangle is a meditative art form using repetitive patterns to create art, even by those who thought they couldn't draw. 
Suzanne O'Brien of ZanieCraftsFeltedArt teaches through the Williamsville Community Education department as well when she isn't making purses, pins and other amazing things for her shop. She also displays at Enjoy the Journey gallery and other locations in the area. She is currently offering introductory classes in Wet Felting.  If you have ever wanted to try your hand at felting yourself you can check out her current available classes and learn something fun.
As before if the listings won't populate, you can search for her under instructors!

As a lifelong learner I love to get my hands on new knowledge. I'm sure you do too. If you are looking for something to do on these drab winter days, what's better than digging in, rolling up your sleeves and tackling something new?

If you are a member of the Buffalo Etsy team and teach as well, please let us know! We'd love to share what you are doing as well!



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Saturday, November 16, 2013

ART SHOWS 101: Where to Find Buffalo Etsy Team Members this Holiday Season


I don't know about you, but I still have not wrapped my head around the fact that it's mid-November. While we may still be dreaming of squeezing in another 80 degree beach day, it's undeniable that we are in the midst of Holiday Show Season. So pack away your flip flops and sun screen, plan your Thanksgiving meal, and stop at a few local shows to support your fellow team mates. Here's where you can find some of us throughout the season. This list is subject to change, so check it often -- and convo me through my Etsy store (https://www.etsy.com/shop/SilentMyloStudio) if you'd like one of your events added to the list. Let the Holidays begin!

November 15-16

Maddie's Pet Expo at the Hamburg Fairgrounds 

 Judy of Street Thread
Becky of LittleDogsCloset

November 16

Buffalo Women's Gifts show (at Babeville) 
Nicole of Ania Jane 

 SweetTreatsGifts

November 21

Shea's Soiree (fundraiser show)
Shaun of Road Kiln

November 22-24

Kenan Holiday Show
Shaun of Road Kiln


 Nicole of Mealy Monster Land
Alison of Silent Mylo Studio 


Knox Farm Holiday Art Festival at Knox Farm State Park

 Deb from debdds


November 29-30

St. Gregory the Great Holiday show 
Sara of GoldhawkPotteryEtc

 Al of HarvestWoods

November 30

The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd (96 Jewett Parkway, Parkside Community Show)
Shaun of Road Kiln
December 2-3

Sterling Place Tavern, 1487 Hertel Ave (fundraiser show)

Shaun of Road Kiln


Friday thru Sunday December 6-8

Burchfield Penney Open Studios Weekend Event 
Shaun of Road Kiln


Robin of Aremel Soaps

Alison of Silent Mylo Studio 


Saturday December 7

Queen City Market (at Karpeles Manuscript Library)
Nicole of Ania Jane 
SweetTreatsGifts

Saturday and Sunday December 7-8

Williamsville Schools PTA Holiday show

 Sara of GoldhawkPotteryEtc

 Al of Harvest Woods
http://www.etsy.com/shop/harvestwoods
Sunday December 8th 12-5pm
Open Studio with Deborah Petronio and guest artists
1640 Blakeley Corners Road
East Aurora, New York 14052

Friday and Saturday December 13-14

WNYBAC Last Minute Panic 
SweetTreatsGifts
Sauturday December 14

Unitarian Universalist Church on Elmwood
Shaun of Road Kiln

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Saturday, June 15, 2013

ART SHOWS 101: Survival Tips for Show Artists and Crafters Vol.13: ....with a little help from my friends.....



It may seem like I’m backtracking. Just a few weeks ago I wrote a rant against unsolicited advice:
Volume 10: Some Advice about.........Advice :-)



I’ll stand by what I wrote. The world IS full of clueless, bad-advice givers. But sometimes, if we’re lucky, we run across someone who offers GOOD advice. Someone who truly has our best interests at heart.

That happened to me just this past weekend. I “hired” a friend to help me with the Allentown Art Festival. I’ve put “hired” in quotes because the pay was low for the number of hours involved -- but what I got in return for my small investment was invaluable information about how the public views my work. I was so impressed by what I learned that I made a video about it:

                               Studio Talk with Mixed Media Artist Alison E. Kurek, June 12, 2013

So.....what’s my point here.....other than shameless self-promotion of my blog post and video? :-) 

It’s this: we have to recognize our strengths and weaknesses. My strengths lie in creating new work. And while I may not be terribly bad at sales and product placement within my display, it’s not my strong suit. Turning over a bit of control to someone I knew I could trust, someone without a hidden agenda, allowed me to see things from a different perspective. Furthermore, paying for that assistance took away any feeling that I was imposing upon my friend. She was no longer doing me a favor -- she was doing a job.

So ask yourself - what are your strengths and weaknesses? Sit down with a pen and paper and make a list. Once you’ve made that list -- tear it up! Don’t beat yourself up for being imperfect!  Build on your strengths and seek out people who can assist you in overcoming your weaknesses. Learn from them and compensate them for their time and assistance. You don’t necessarily have to “pay” in a monetary sense, but you can barter, trade goods and services, and acknowledge that you value and appreciate their time and efforts.

As for determining exactly who may have the right advice for you -- that'll take some trial and error. Hopefully not too much error :-)

Until next time -- keep creating!

Alison

https://www.facebook.com/ArtistAlisonEKurek
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Thursday, June 6, 2013

Following YOUR Path...Sarah Trumpp 6/6/13

Summer is getting closer and it seems we are
all busier than ever. Families, craft shows,
jobs, book clubs, Etsy teams and treasuries;
not to mention, gardens, golf, graduation parties
and of course making the things we all make!

With that as a back drop, Sarah Trumpp of
WonderStrumpet was still kind enough to give us 
a quick update on how she is doing.

Feel free to wish her luck as she heads into the nerve-wracking craft show season.

Have you participated in any shows
since the May update? What shows do you have coming up? I don't think I have had any shows since the last time we talked. I have Lockport coming up at the end of June, Corn Hill in July, and Elmwood in August.

 Since you started working full-time, can you share 1 hurdle that you have encountered that you never saw coming?  My biggest hurdle has been ME, which has been a little annoying. I'm following a dream and should probably not be getting in my own way. Irritating.

Compared to your initial fear or anxiety, has there been something that turned out to be much easier or smoother than you had expected?  I can't think of anything. How doom-gloom Eeyore of me!

 How about the reverse of that - something you thought would be easy that turned out to be a headache? Show applications - so much paperwork!!! There was a lot of stuff that I didn't even think about, like business license (luckily I already had it) and tax IDs and whatnot, so I'm glad that's all out of the way.

 Free format time - share whatever you feel like sharing  These past few months sales-wise have been pretty slim to none, so I'm a little nervous about all of that. I haven't updated my shop in way too long, though, since I've been hoarding stuff for shows, but I'm going to change that this upcoming week, so hopefully I'll start selling again. Right now I have all of my chips on summer show season, so I'm hoping things go well. Nervous!

Al Pilato
harvestwoods
picture-frame-it-yourself.com
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Saturday, June 1, 2013

ART SHOWS 101,Vol.11: An Odd Ball List of items to Take to Your Next Outdoor Show



Outdoor show season has arrived! As you’re rushing to finish up and pack your items for sale, keep in mind that outdoor shows are a bit like camping. You will be outside for a long day or two -- or three. A quick stop at a hardware store and a discount variety store (think Big Lots) can help make those long days more comfortable. Here’s a list of odd ball items you might want to take with you:

Towels: bath towels, kitchen towels, or absorbent shop rags:

Like it or not, rain happens. Dry, absorbent towels can quickly dry off your product after a rain shower, clean up that beverage a would-be customer spilled on your table, and help to prevent mold and mildew growth on canopy walls if you dry them off before packing them at breakdown. 

Bungie cords, Electrical Zip Ties and/or clamps:

Good weights and stakes help hold your canopy in place, but even light breezes can topple signs and shelves if they are not anchored well.  Carrying a mixed bag of the above items can help you focus on sales rather than that wobbly rack or would-be airborne sign.

Clear Plastic sheeting and/or tarps: 

Not all shows will allow exhibitors to drive up to their allotted spaces. Having a tarp to throw over your work before your canopy is up will reduce your stress level on a misty morning. Tarps also come in handy as cover-ups if you plan on leaving your product in your tent overnight. 

Depending upon how watertight your tent is, clear plastic sheeting draped over your work will help you stay open through a rain shower.

Sun Umbrella and/or a sunhat:

Depending upon the location of your space, you may have morning, afternoon or early evening sun beating down on you - for hours and hours at a time

Rain coat, rain poncho, and/or umbrella:

For obvious reasons :-) Also, a change of clothes, or at least an extra pair of shoes and socks can make you more comfortable after a soggy set-up. Also keep in mind that the early morning cool temps you set up in may skyrocket during the day. Changing into lighter clothes as the  day heats up is so much better than stripping down to your underwear :-)

Tape Measure:

Some customers want to know the exact size of a framed larger work or sculpture. They may even walk into your display with written notes about their wall space. Don't lose a sale to a customers who LOVES a piece but thinks it might be an inch too big even if it's not.

Shims:

To even out wobbly tables, panels and shelves.

Camera and/or smart phone camera:

Don’t forget to take a few booth shoots to use for next year’s applications -- and snapping a photo with your smart phone is great for Facebook posts and tweets about the show.

Cart: 

http://rocknroller-multicart.myshopify.com/ - or a similar product. I use the smallest one offered by this company and don’t know how I did shows without it. It’s small and compact and makes a huge difference if you are unable to pull up to your display for set-up and break-down.


Best of luck to everyone doing shows this summer! Wishing you clear skies, comfortable temperatures, and many, many sales!


Until next time -- keep creating!

Alison

https://www.facebook.com/ArtistAlisonEKurek







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Saturday, May 25, 2013

ART SHOWS 101: Survival Tips for Show Artists and Crafters, Vol.10, Some Advice about...Advice :-)




ART SHOWS 101: Survival Tips for Show Artists and Crafters
             
     Volume 10: Some Advice about......Advice :-)

“Artists should appear mysterious. Don’t wear that hippie dress of yours and “chat” with your customers! Dress in black and act superior.......”

“Your work is SO expensive! If you cut your prices in half you’d probably sell twice as much....”

“Your prices are too low! Triple them and NEVER offer a discount! It devalues your work......”

“You should put up a big sign that says “Super Blowout Sale”. That’ll bring in more quality customers......”

“Wholesale? Don’t give someone a 50% wholesale discount?! Why GIVE your work away when you can SO EASILY sell it at shows?”

“If I were you I’d.....(fill in the blank).......”



Ughh!! Advice! So, so, so much unsolicited advice! Sometimes it seems that everyone and their brother knows how to run your business better than you do; and they just can’t keep themselves from sharing their fabulous ideas.

Listen to their advice, throw in a few educational seminars and workshops on marketing, attend a few networking events, read a few articles online (especially this one :-), and you’ll know everything you need to know to increase your business threefold -- right?!?

Well -- maybe not :-) 

In an attempt to increase sales and free myself from the need of side jobs, not to mention financial worry, I’ve been seeking “professional” advice. I overbooked myself this week; three seminars within a day and a half; the quality of which ranged from very good, to forgettable, to really pretty bad.

And maybe because I’ve made no secret of my current seminar attending spree, I’ve been treated to more than the average amount of unsolicited advice from friends and acquaintances.

After a week of listening to “professional advice” and “You shoulds....” I was nearly catatonic! Not only did I fail to find “the answer” to all of my current questions, I started doubting everything that already works!

After taking a giant step back and smoothing down my very ruffled feathers, I realized there comes a time when we have to stop seeking the advice of others and just go with our guts. Because, when it comes right down to it, no one knows our businesses better than we do. Professional speakers are, well....professional speakers. They may have the education and work experience to speak wisely (or not) on topics that may affect our businesses, but they don’t know the day to day reality of what we do. Go to some of these events. Listen carefully to what the speakers have to say, and then separate the wheat from chaff. It is our job to find what works for us, not to conform to the model set forth by a speaker or advisor.

When seeking answers to pressing questions about our businesses we shouldn’t forget to look within. Deep down inside, we know our strengths and weaknesses. We know where we excel -- and we also know the boundary lines we are not willing to cross.

And for all that unsolicited advice offered by our friends, families and peers? Keep in mind that most, if not all of it, is offered in good faith. Listen to some of it, change the subject when it gets to be too much and, if all else fails, smile and nod as you drift off to your happy place.



Until next time -- keep creating!

Alison

https://www.facebook.com/ArtistAlisonEKurek







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Saturday, May 18, 2013

ART SHOWS 101: Survival Tips for Show Artists and Crafters Vol. 9: How to handle discount seekers, clueless festival goers and artist wannabes




             
     Volume 9:
How to handle discount seekers, clueless festival goers and artist wannabes


“What do you want for that?” $50?! I’ll give you five bucks, take it or leave it!”

Artists and craftsmen who have done even a small number of shows are painfully familiar with those words -- or at least the sentiment behind them.

The clueless, sometimes rude, comments that are made to show artists and craftsmen never cease to amaze me. Right behind the low-ball discount seeking comments are phrases like:

“Look at this stuff. My kid can make that!”
“Do you know who makes all of this stuff?”
“How did you do that? Exactly?” Like, say I would want to make one.....”

And the list goes on and on........... because, when you are dealing with the public, you are bound to run across a jack-ass or two :-)

So, how do you respond to questions and comments of this sort? Do you give in to the discount seekers and sell your new, beautiful work for a fraction of your asking price? Do you angrily snap at the “would-be” customers and commenters and tell them to get out of your booth?

The answer to both questions is NO! But you should have a plan to deal with situations like these. While I can’t tell you how to set your pricing policies, or give you canned responses to all of the ridiculous comments and questions you may receive, I CAN tell you that it’s really not worth blowing your top at the festival goer who has asked you the 100th stupid question of the season. It may feel good for about a minute, but it’ll make you look bad to anyone within earshot -- and you really don’t want to lose a sale to a non-discount-seeking customer because you were a jerk to the person standing in front of them in line.


Think about and formulate a discount policy BEFORE you go to your show. While it’s absolutely fine to NOT offer discounts of any sort, there may be situations in which you do want to offer one. You may want to establish a “Friends and Family Discount Policy” -- something like a standard 10%- 20% off your asking price.You can also choose to extend that discount to repeat customers and people buying large amounts of work at one time if you’d like. Establishing a policy, (even if it’s just written in your head :-) will do two things. First, it will make you really think about your pricing and profit margin. Second, with a policy in place , you won’t be caught off guard when a complete stranger asks for a discount. Do you need to give a complete stranger the same discount you would give to Aunt Sally? Hell No! But you’ll at least have done the math and decided on the maximum discount you’re willing to give. 


As for the insulting low-ball “I’ll give you five bucks for that” comments, just grit your teeth and say “No” -- with a smile, albeit a fake one. I’ve found that it’s just not worth your breath to explain that all of the items in your booth are hand-made and they are not flea market items; or taking the time to remind the offending asker that he does not bargain for purchases at supermarkets or gas stations; or stating that your art work is a means of making a living, not a hobby. While that may all be true, it’s not going to change the mindset of Mr/Mrs. Five Bucks, but it will frustrate you and waste your time.

As for the myriad of other strange, weird, funny, insulting and unbelievable comments you may receive, take the high road and answer as politely as possible. Keep in mind that many people attending festivals and shows just don’t understand what we do. We want to believe that each and every person who walks into our booth knows the hours upon hours of time we spend creating out work, and the time and energy we spend getting ready for the show, and the jury processes we go through to be accepted into shows, but they don’t! Many of them are well meaning individuals who truly think we are selling someone else’s work and are given free spaces to do so; and some of them just don’t take the time to think about how their questions will be interpreted by us. Not that I'm saying we're over-sensitive, but are we? :-)

At the end of the day, get together with other show artists. Share and trade your stories. Laugh about them. If all else fails, blog about them. I do : http://alisonekurek.com/?p=617




Until next time -- keep creating!

Alison

https://www.facebook.com/ArtistAlisonEKurek




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Saturday, May 11, 2013

ART SHOWS 101: Survival Tips for Show Artists and Crafters Vol. 8: Pricing



 Volume 8:  Pricing


Do you have questions about how to price your work? One method of determining your price is to do a little comparison shopping. You can do this by attending local shows, going to local shops and galleries, and even checking online sources like Etsy; but if your show is next week you need some answers now!




A quick Google search of the words: artist wholesale pricing formula turned up a plethora of advice, some of it very good! Here are some of the highlights of what I found along with links to the original sites:



Etsy’s Basic Pricing Formula: 

Materials + Labor + Expenses + Profit = Wholesale x 2 = Retail

It’s easy to track your material costs, and doable, if not always easy, to determine the actual amount of time you spend creating a piece (although I know I always underestimate my time). The tricky part can be determining your expenses. If you work out of a rented studio your costs are pretty cut and dry, but if you work out of your home things get murky. It’s easy to dismiss expenses like rent (mortgage), utilities, and phone charges when you pay those bills  anyway , business or not -- but they shouldn’t be dismissed!

Make the time to sit down and write out ALL of your expenses. Really think about it. Even the small things. Do you use your computer and internet service for your business? How about your computer printer? And what about all of those miles you’ve logged driving back and forth to the craft supply store? Be honest, but be inclusive. 

Don’t forget to pay yourself! What would you expect to be paid if you were working for someone else? Be realistic and fair.


More Pricing Advice from Alyson B. Stanfield’s Art Biz Blog:

Guidelines for Pricing Your Art

Your prices must be consistent. People shouldn’t pay less at your open studio than they do at a gallery. You have one price and should never (never ever) undersell your representatives.

Start on the low end, while paying yourself enough. You can always raise your prices. It’s nearly suicidal to lower your prices later and it won’t make your current buyers happy at all.

Don’t forget to pay yourself a wage! The most common mistake artists make is forgetting to pay themselves. You have to cover overhead and materials, but you also need to be compensated for your time.

Attach higher prices to originals and larger works. As a general rule, originals are priced higher than reproductions and larger works sell for more than smaller works. 

More expensive materials (bronze, precious gems) command higher prices

Know your market. Study the pricing of artists working in the same genre (abstract, local landscape, portraits), showing in the same venues, and who are at about the same place in their careers.


The faster you work and more prolific you are, the lower your prices–in general!

If you can’t produce enough work to keep up with the demand, it’s time to raise your prices.

Instead of lowering your prices, you’re free to offer discounts for friends, family, and your best customers. Call it a discount and write the receipt so the buyers know the true value.

You can find her original post here:  http://www.artbizblog.com/2010/12/pricing-your-art.html

And follow her on Facebook here:  https://www.facebook.com/artbizcoach

Until next time -- keep creating!

Alison



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