Business of Art Workshops

Business of Art Series
Summer 2009
Hosted by Cape Fear Studios, Please contact Cape Fear Studios for registration, 910.433.2986

Pricing- the Right Equation
Thursday, July 30, 7:00-9:00pm,$25

Pricing your artwork can be very difficult. Erica will teach several pricing strategies and equations to help individual artists make sound and consistent pricing choices. From limited production items to one-of-a-kind works we will discuss which pricing strategies work best! Feel free to bring a piece of your original artwork to be discussed.

Creating a Low Cost Online Presence
Thursday, August 13, 7:00-9:00pm, $25

There are so many amazing options available for online marketing. As an artist you must make yourself available to the consumer. I have some low cost and free strategies for creating an online artist presence that will make you truly accessible to potential customers, collectors, museums and galleries. Come join us as we talk about many exciting online marketing options.
Building and Writing an Artist’s Resume, Artist Statement and Bio
Thursday, August 27, 7:00-9:00pm, $25

Your artist’s resume, artist statement and bio are often the first bits of information that galleries, collectors and potential customers get about you as an artist. These documents should be jam packed with relevant and exciting information about you as an artist and individual. In this 2 hour workshop we will discuss ways to build that artist’s resume as well as right it. We will also work on creating appropriate and relevant artist statements and bios. Your artwork along with these tools can help get you noticed in the competitive world of the visual arts.

Digital Tips for Artists

Thursday, September 10th, 7:00-9:00, $25

As an artist it has become almost impossible to avoid computers and the digital age. More and more organizations are requiring digital images for their submissions and some have turned to online application programs. In this workshop we will discuss the basics of image resizing (several options will be covered), image organization (re-naming files, burning CDs, etc.), file types, image resolution (dpi), and online applications (zapplication and juried art services).

Buyers Market of American Craft Merit Award Winner

I am delighted to announce that I was selected as a Merit Award winner for the Buyers Market of American Craft, August 2009.

Below is the press release from BMAC:

PRIZE GIVES 8 ARTISTS a BIG BREAK in the WHOLESALE TRADE
Merit Award Helps Young and Emerging Artists Learn the Business
BALTIMORE, Md., June 5, 2009 -- Eight promising artists, including jewelry designer Erica Stankwytch Bailey of Fayetteville, N.C., have won a prize that enables them to introduce their work to the nation’s gift and art retailers this summer.
Ms. Bailey is a contemporary metalsmith whose textured sterling silver jewelry has been shown in museums and at retail shows. She is dedicated to her craftsmanship: “My hands touch every piece that I sell,” she explained in her application for the annual Merit Award given by the Buyers Market of American Craft.
Ms. Bailey’s chance at national exposure will come August 1-3, 2009, when the Buyers Market opens in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center . As one of eight Merit Award winners announced this week, she will show her earrings and necklaces to hundreds of professional buyers from museum gift stores, art and craft galleries, home décor boutiques and jewelry stores. Ms. Bailey can be found in booth #409. The Buyers Market is the nation’s largest wholesale tradeshow of fine craft by U.S. and Canadian artists.
“Our goal is to help emerging artists bring their creations to market successfully,” said Christine Kloostra , director of the Buyers Market, which is produced by The Rosen Group, based in Baltimore. “Many artists have fresh ideas and unique products, but lack the capital to attend shows where they can sell their creations to the nation’s galleries and gift shops. Our Merit Award program helps beginners make their tradeshow debut.”
Winners receive tradeshow exhibit space at a fraction of cost, plus assistance with marketing their designs to handcraft retailers.
The 2009 Merit Award winners of the Buyers Market of American Craft are:
· Curviture, the handcrafted furniture studio of Jason Green, Boone , N.C.
· Delias Thompson, jewelry designer, Atlanta , Ga.
· Dovetail, the printed ceramics studio of Josh and Margaret Smith, Lexington , Ky.
· Erica Stankwytch Bailey, contemporary metalsmith and jewelry designer, Fayetteville , N.C.
· Jon Goldberg, East Falls Glassworks, Philadelphia , Pa.
· Gallery Blue/Michelle Mardis, original paintings, Tarpon Springs , Fla.
· Nora Dougherty, jewelry designer, Santa Cruz , Calif.
· Pamela Lauz Jewellery, jewelry designer, Ontario , Canada

Artsplosure

Come visit me this weekend at Artsplosure 2009. I will be selling my jewelry on Saturday and Sunday in downtown Raleigh, NC. To get more detailed information visit www.artsplosure.org .

American Craft Council- St. Paul, MN

Off again- this time to St. Paul ,MN. The American Craft Council is holding their annual event there this weekend. Some of the most amazing fine craft in the country will be displayed.

I have really been working hard in the studio creating new work. I am actually incorporating some color ( mostly yellows)- I had this nagging image in my mind of yellow components combined with my metalsmithing, I fought it for quite some time and just recently I gave in. I am enjoying the new stuff- it goes to show that following those gut inspirations can often pay off. I previewed this new work a couple of weeks ago in Boston and had a positive response. It is so comforting to know that customers and fans are appreciative of new directions.

BMAC

Whew- that was an interesting experience. I just returned from the Buyer's Market of American Craft in Philadelphia. I saw lots of amazing jewelry, met even more amazing people, but sadly didn't see a decent number of buyers. But, you know, I went expecting low buyer turn-out so I was able to come home with my head up, having learned a TON about the wholesale environment and that my creative peers are some of the most uplifting, supportive, positive people on the planet.

I was on the 1400 row at the show and found myself surrounded by some really talented metalsmiths, over the next several weeks I plan to introduce you to some of them.

I leave early in the morning for my next big journey!

ISGB- Convergence

I had the wonderful opportunity to work with glass bead artist Lisa St. Martin on a collaborative project. Bead and Button magazine along with ISGB (International Society of Glass Bead Makers) are having an Exhibition later the year called Convergence. In our case ISGB put Lisa and I together, she made 15 fantastic beads and I did my best to do them justice within the contests theme of Earth, Wind, Fire and/or Water.

This has been a really interesting challenge for me. Creating this piece with glass beads has been a huge departure from what I typically do.

So I received the beads from Lisa on a Friday, they were inspired by ice. I played with them all weekend trying to figure out what I wanted to do. On Tuesday morning a awoke to a wonderful snow covered landscape (I live in eastern NC, so this is a truly rare sight) and it was beautiful. I instantly found my inspiration. In my typical geeky way I grabbed my macro lense and started taking photographs of snow mounded on leaves, icicles and snowballs. I went into the studio and our Collaborative piece "Snow Day" was born.

New Year

WHEW! The holidays can sure make life crazy. I have been busy!!! Custom orders, christmas gifts, readying myself for new adventures in 2009- I have big plans: wholesale and retail shows all over the U.S., increased web presence, better marketing, better business practices, more professional blogging (I have been eagerly spreading the word about blogging while not actively doing so myself- as is my teaching mantra at times- Do as I say, not as I do.),getting better and more frequent images of my work. OKay, so yes, I could write a book with my list of professional new year resolutions- I won't even touch on the personal goals. I have this philosophy that you can't succeed if you don't try, SO, I try a lot- not always with success but I keep trying.

I have been spending a ton of time in the studio- creating new work and trying new things- can't wait to debut new stuff at the Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft in Feb.

Happy New Year- 2009 will be great!!