Sculptors

Comment

Comment by Ted Schaal on April 30, 2009 at 1:21am

Thanks, Donald. Those are some great tips. I'm not going to give up on the street fairs yet. In the past I have typically done very well on average. Some shows stink one year and are awesome the next. It can be really frustrating to have the best show of your life one week and the next sell nothing. I also think that some really sophisticated art buyers come through some of the better shows like Cherry Creek in Denver. I have found that the Art Fair source book is loaded valuable information to help me decide which shows are the best for me. Galleries have never been able to move the kind of volume that I have been able to move off the street. When I attend their "first night" gallery walk open gallery events I have been able to sell my work for them and we all do well but when I go home that's it for the sales. I have friends that scrounge through junk yards and make some really sweet sculptures. Look up Lewis Tardy.

Comment by Donald Kennedy on April 29, 2009 at 8:45am

Dear Ted, Don't wast your time on street shows the general public has no idea what sculpture is all about. Check out the "Artists Deadlines List" for shows in your area. For large pieces do forget to charge for delivery and installation remember your time and brain power isn't included in the sale. In these hard economic times seek out high end landscapers and licensed landscape architects and consider adapting your work for fountains, there is a place in upstate NY near Buffalo NY that has all types of nozzles for water effects. Usually these professional people only ask for a small commission, because they want to sell the whole landscape package. Also check out the galleries in your area and only cut your price when the dealer reduces his commission by the same percent. He is supposedly working for you and not the other way around. Keep up the good work and all the best, Donald Kennedy Ps Don't knock junk yards there a great source of materials & the price is right.

Comment by Ted Schaal on April 22, 2009 at 12:39am

hey fellow sculptors. I'm excited to be in this group. I just got home from Main Street Fort Worth. I can't be sure but I think most sculptors had tough sales. there was one guy who was making creatures out of scraps and junk that seemed to do really well. It was really low priced and the sort of stuff you see around in a lot of garden stores.

Comment by Katharine Gilbert on April 19, 2009 at 12:19pm

Donald, thank you for taking the time to put all that into words. Most of what I have done has been for inside and the few outside pieces- like you say-rust and painting doesn't last long at all. I had a couple of smaller pieces powder-coated some years ago but the cost I had to add to the price just pushed it out of the ballpark. The metalizing or galvanizing sounds very interesting. Yes, I build from the ground up also and there are never dwgs involved so selling what isn't created isn't much of an option for me. I haven't done any pieces for some time as space was running out and response was so limited. But I haven't given up on what I love just waiting to move some of what I have in storage to make room for new. I always wished to be able to chrome a piece but unless I win the lottery... It isn't the shine I'm envisioning but the play of light. But you have given me much to ponder and hope that there is a way to continuing doing "sculpture." Thank you!

Comment by Donald Kennedy on April 16, 2009 at 11:26am

Dear Katharine, Sculpture is never "in," the states of Maryland & Pennsylvania are the best states for getting sculptural commissions. Check out the “Artists Deadlines List” for commissions and for people and places that need or want sculpture. Clients want permanence and iron and steel rust all metal oxidation is a form of corrosion. So look in the yellow pages for metalizing or a galvanizing company, with metalizing you can have any metal sprayed on the surface of your sculpture, it is molten when it sprayed and as the metal atomizes on the surface it becomes cool, so cool in fact that it can be spayed on to a piece of paper. Zinc is good for preventing rust and so is aluminum, but non ferrous metals are pretty pricey. After the metal is sprayed on the company puts a protective coat over the metal which lasts for twenty or more years. Hot dipped galvanizing is limited by the size of the shop's tank. Very important, have the company do the bottom of your sculpture, because rust is so insidious and no art medium is permanent don’t forget in making your bill of sale, it should mention that any restoration or refinishing may be done by you, but the cost of any refinishing is the responsibility of the client. I usually draw up a simple contract stating that I will guarantee the first year, but after that the responsibility is theirs. I also state the image and copyright belongs to me and they can't use or sell that image without my written consent and if so used I must be paid a royalty. Also nurseries and landscapers maybe approached to see if the need or want garden sculpture remember to: one charge for the sculpture and the transportation and last but not least installation. If the client or wants a discount and you agree make sure that the dealer doesn't get his full commission. You are just as important as he is. If you ever work with an architect, place a scale drawing in front of his building, because the can only see their own work. I am of course you are as stupid as me and build everything from the ground up, instead of taking a drawing to a fabricator. Tough times call for creative solutions. Best of luck, Donald

Comment by Katharine Gilbert on April 15, 2009 at 8:33pm

I am a welder and steel doesn't seem to be "in" right now but that's where I am. My work ranges between 24" to 7+' the largest yet. I have a difficulty finding galleries that are interested- any suggestions. So glad this forum is here, thank you.

Comment by Donald Kennedy on April 15, 2009 at 8:20pm

I am a build up sculptor and I primarily work in metal and on a large scale I used to work in wood, but I had no place to store the work. My metal works can be stored outside and I own 3.5 acres and I don't think I will live long enough to fill it but I am trying.

Comment by Katharine Gilbert on April 14, 2009 at 6:58pm

at last... sculpture- the difficult media

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page