Confessions of a Marketing Professor's Artist Wife.

Hi, I am Jenny and I make art.  
I also sell the art I make.  

Wow, why is that so hard for me?  I have all the support in the world...my husband is a professor of marketing.  He writes fancy papers and does fancy research...and his stuff gets published.  His specialty?  Social Media.  


Yikes.

Me?  I am an artist and an art teacher.  I do a great job making art.  I mean...I make it every day, made that commitment in 2012 and I have stuck to it, sometimes making more that one piece.  What I do a terrible job at...marketing...selling my work.  I am so focused on actually making the work...I don't put tons of time into selling it...I make the work, post it, write about it...but I don't really put myself out there in terms of selling.  I have tried to get a little better, reading articles, going to some workshops and presentations...I did get gallery representation, so that was a HUGE step...and my work at the gallery has been selling...but there is SO MUCH of it...even though the gallery has about 200 pieces...eek.

But, the work I make every day...the work is actually for sale...that's the thing.  

Everything I make is for sale, I prefer to sell originals, and I keep the prices reasonable. Some pieces, right now mostly work from 2012-2014, are available through Gallery 2014.  As for the rest of it, especially anything from 2015...all you have to do if let me know the piece you are interested in via FB msg, web contact or email...and I will respond.  I'll give you the size, materials, info about the piece, links if available...and, most importantly, the price.  

I did make steps to be more of a sales person by setting up a third-party print on demand site, right now that is through Fine Art America but I am looking into some additional sites so I can offer more products;  For now, here is my 'shop';

Yesterday I spent some time at Barnes and Noble looking through different books and magazines for inspiration and information on new ideas/techniques.  I ended up spending most of my time reading the 'Artists and Makers' summer 2015 issue...and the focus?  Selling your work as an artist.  The letter from the editor set the tone, basically saying that as an artist, who better to sell your work than you?  Who else will be as passionate about your work?

And I know that is a true statement...and I was super fired up...then I had way too much coffee, got distracted...went to see Jess and Sof...got distracted again by a box of fabrics...then I kept pushing the whole thing away...because truth be told it's easier for me to make the work that put myself out there selling the work.  Some of ya'll artists out there will feel me.

But...gotta get over it.  This work ain't gonna sell itself...and there is a TON of it. So...much...art.

You may see more 'sales' post on my social media accounts.  Its gonna be out of my comfort zone, but I am going to to it.  If you like my work let me know, help share the info...or buy some!

Okay...whew!  That was tough.  Gonna go bury myself in some mixed media work now! -JLG