Stefan Baumann on Artistic Motivation, art shows, and Scams

[@jmmacb03]

This video is solid gold-no, it is priceless. Now we have the internet and a generation that has not paid for music. Will they pay for fine art? Graphic designer friends are giving away their logos & web sites, just to build up their portfolios. They don't realize that they are affirming that their work/time is of NO value. Great that on your website you say that you can help, (one-on-one!) with the business side of being a small business owner, starting up a website and credit cards, (no money orders!) etc... And how to price your work! Yrs ago I could not answer the questions you ask: What is my mission statement, who is my audience, what am I trying to say-If anything? Do I paint for a viewer? Is there a viewer? And we have Photoshop, Ebay. And Etsy painters who will paint in your liv rm colours... Lots of prejudice too, as a Canadian, if one wanted to paint like our premier Can. painter, Robert Bateman, who began to sell prints in the '70's. Consequently the elite decided not to hang his paintings in our art museums! Or, if one wanted to paint like our Group of Seven. Or do what Alex Colville did-he cut out the middle man-the art dealer! So, I went into Aero Engineering. Love your golf/bowling analogies! Folks, just think how many YEARS you have spend learning your craft. You are a blessing Stephan. Thank you from Toronto. ☮

[@itsbillcoop]

Stefan Baumann Videos are comforting to me because it reminds me that there are artists out there that have struggles at many stages of skill level. Also there are solutions to break through what is holding your development back.

[@bill13981]

ive made my life easy so my art can be what it is..i dont have to sell any thing i just need to paint.. every day.. and like what i paint..so when i die ..my sons can sort it out..

[@12345lolacat]

They'll probably toss them when you go. Most kids do that with their parents stuff

[@ligaskirbauska8652]

Naaah..don’t do that...sell you’re art,just to keep making,getting money for more materials,grow and be better..Plus you see that people like it,want it,learn what they want and like..Cos friend,artists who don’t sell finish frustrated as artists with home full of creations and no space for living..trust me...I used to think and act as you sed and just had to change that thinking to create more and get space in home.Now I’m starting to think about painting for sale,that’s just a new level of challenge and I find it puts me in absolutely different mental state.Its not about selling out or running after money,nah...it’s just different,makes you concentrate on best of you’re art

[@lizzywangari9831]

Iv think if your son loves your work the way my son does ... they will value and sell them well. Talk about it with him and laugh about it with him and he will remember the laughter and joy of seeing you creating. And let's enjoy creating and hoarding our art. I also make small usable mixed media art and sell to afford materials to feed my dream of just creating . All the best!

[@jinimurray4090]

PLEASE DONT DO THIS!!!! MY MOM DID EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING. HER works were brilliant-- most got stollen And what a BURDEN ON MY BACK!!! (ROOT OF WHAT YOU DESCRIBE IS SELFISHNESS/SIN!)

[@kevinhawley4992]

...as if you're sitting in my studio and why you're my top 3 "teachers/ coaches"... as I have a painting on the easel that Im painting for a specific audience thats affordable... thanks for the guilt, sincerely... i feel EXACTLY what you're conveying in this video and realize my error. This is why you're the best... you go way deeper than "values" and "edges".... values and edges get you no where if you put a crap frame around them and show them to no one! THANKS AGAIN for your invaluable insight!

[@davecasey4341]

Another part of the show scam I'm seeing is the packing and unpacking fee. Now some shows are saying to include a check with your accepted paintings, of up to $50, just to receive and unpack your paintings for the show. So, not only do you pay for the shipping to and from the show, you actually have to pay the show to receive the artwork.

[@jmmacb03]

+Dave Casey (dgcasey) Good to know!

[@Superflow66]

Great video as usual :) For me I have done shows in the New York art market and to be honest I have found that developing strong online relationships yields way better results. The last few paintings I have sold before they were even complete by sharing in progress images of me working on them. Sometimes as artist we have to take things in our own hands in my opinion.

[@jmdfineart]

oh my God! Stefan!!! this very thing just happened to me this week! - went to my bank this afternoon - the "client" initially wanted to buy three of my paintings - but she was relocating her residence - her husband "made a mistake and made out the check for the painting price plus the shipping fee" .... I was to: "take out the painting price and remit the remainder to the shipping company" .... ARTSTS BEWARE!! ... luckily, I "caught this" just in time and have "dumped this hot potato" completely ... if they do contact me regarding the whereabouts of their purchase, I have the answer ready!

[@StefanBaumann]

good for you

[@maxmiggly5511]

Stefan you are inspiring and it shows that you are in your life calling. Thanks for another great one!

[@StefanBaumann]

+Max Miggly Thanks

[@pennymorris8661]

bvy7Max Miggly was the

[@joesurfer9754]

If you want to sell your art. Set your easel up somewhere where their are lots of people. (middle age tourist crowds are the best) and paint a painting and display some paintings that are not too expensive. No frames or matts. Keep costs down. Use Google street maps. (Don't block side walks or cause attention except from buyers). Plan it out well. Plan out the place and time. Practice setting up in your back yard or a local park. Paint paintings that have a theme related to where you set up. Have one or two extremely well done expensive painting displayed to attract people plus some affordable paintings. It will help if you have a type "A" personality and some sales/marketing skills to do this. You can bring some pre cut matts/frame to sell with it if it is requested and you have the space (I don't do this). Tip: "Almost" NO ONE wants to buy a picture of your dog. I Guarantee, with time, all of your paintings will sell. The worse ones also. The Theme is the key. Regular people don't care about your dry brush technique. They just want to be sure it is a real painting that was done by your own hands, not a print. Make sure you bring cards and a way for future commissions to contact you. You will get a lot of them. Commissions can be done in your studio and they often come back for more. (I had one lady who bought so many commissions, I felt guilty taking her paychecks and had to stop it. I even let her hang out in my studio at 1:00am while I painted). Make sure you always get a non-refundable deposit for commission's and have a simple contract ready for that. If anyone walks up and asks if you have a government approved permit while you are painting outside just say yes and keep painting. You will have to have a "gift for gab".

[@StefanBaumann]

Good advice Joe you mist be an artist

[@TeteRecinos]

Copied and printed this. Ty

[@MindyZielfelderArt]

So true! Never heard anyone describe the "overwhelm" like that before...glad I'm not alone!

[@artcreationsbydar]

Wow! Did I need this today! I have been getting call outs for about two weeks. They cost quite a bit. Thank you Stefan! Very well done and knowledgeable.

[@geoffreydawson5430]

As a Kiwi, who lives under social capitalism, I do not understand why an American art teacher, teaching Americans, would have to give a lesson on capitalism. Enough already, teach ART. Art will pay for itself if you have confidence in your product.

[@rachaelpeterson1767]

I had my whole portfolio stolen from me in the early 90s. I gave it to a guy who said he was going to help me get into a show. I never heard from him again. Its a shame, lost all my earlier work. I am now just getting back into art because my a kids a grown up and my health dose not allow me to work outside the home. Right now I am creating custom artwork, but want to create my art. The internet has made getting your name out there easier, but people can still steal your work from the internet and scam you. You have to be careful.

[@MyJimjack]

It's a pet peeve to me if they charge visitor entrance fee. Mom, dad and two kids come to a show- a vendors selling snacks. So mom and dad have twenty dollars for entrance fee and twenty for snacks. They end up walking around and if they buy it's the cheapest trinket they can get. Meanwhile you've got 300.00 invested in the show.... I stopped doing shows, it's a wallmart world, gallery's want 50 or 60%. I end up making cents an hour.

[@StefanBaumann]

+MyJimjack That's true but without the viewer do we have any worth?

[@dirty_diver]

sometimes , its not a choice - I think I need to paint something that will sell and commercial so I can eat.

[@StefanBaumann]

I know that is the real world

[@dirty_diver]

I was hoping you had some encouraging words... :(... as emerging (truly just started) artist, it's really depressing seeing that all the galleries are closing and everyone running around not knowing what to do in general. In any case - capitalism... seems like none of us gets to live our potential. Instead, make us do asinine meaningless jobs so that we can eat.

[@pjlewisful]

So what...At least us artists have this incredible outlet that makes us feel good. The co-workers in out menial jobs don't. Be grateful for a job that helps us buy supplies to do what we love.

[@dirty_diver]

Im glad you feel great doing commerical work . I was responding to Stefan's suggestion against it.

[@joesurfer9754]

Capitalism is the sole reason you have an opportunity to sell your art. If it does not sell, it is because your product is not wanted and/or your marketing sucks. Go down to Argentina and try to sell your art in a socialist society and them come back and tell us how bad capitalism is.

[@catherinegreenup4608]

Similar to self-publishing a book. Many publishers will ask new writers to pay some of the costs of the first print and if your work takes off, the second print etc., costs they’ll carry totally. No, you must not do that, these publishers don’t advertise widely enough and probably don’t sell your books to retailers for sale in stores. How will your work ever be sold then? The publisher should pay all publishing fees and you get to enjoy the royalties which you agreed upon in a properly written contract between you. The writers and artists year book is the one to buy which tells you the bit falls and gives you the contacts for genuine companies actively looking for your work. Do your homework first and be excited but be careful.

[@thefabuloustravelingartstu5119]

I paint the musicians for a pub and they sell well. It's my 'Fabulous Traveling art Gallery in a Pub.

[@johannebeerbaum1546]

From you to the ear of God! Have you been stalking me to find my foibles? Not many artists are likely to tell it like it is the way you do...thanks, from the bottom of my heart.

[@grozdavranic6972]

Great advice...Thank you for sharing ...

[@annevanderlaan6441]

I have lost several pieces by galleries who basically stole my work. Closed down and moved away.

[@JOSEPHCHARLESCOLIN2024]

Happen to me too

[@classicartfoundation639]

This is why I was sceptical from the outset by these charlatans

[@dennismitchell5276]

I closed seven galleries in ten years. Only one disappeared with my work. Most of the galleries owners ended up working for free and lost their retirement. They were almost all artist owned. Reality sucks, but it does dictate the rules.

[@anonymousfellowindian]

Thanks

[@jeremydavidbrodbeck2454]

Great advice thanks Stefan

[@christopherfarrell-artist3557]

If you work with a 'good' gallery they will have the marketing and selling skills. Choose the right gallery and you will be ok. Never pay a gallery to show your work ( this is a current trend ) - that is a gallery biased business model. If the gallery has your money they have no motivation the push your work. Bear in mind, most galleries work on a 50/50 split. True about the' 'call for artist' - It sometimes happens in London, it's a revenue building model. They will select their members first, take your money and there will be around

[@StefanBaumann]

Thanks for your input

[@HopiTrails1]

Thankyou,MrBaumann very helpful info

[@frankmayer7960]

very inspiring, definately subscribed

[@StefanBaumann]

Thanks

[@kennykeyes3524]

I live in Redding.

[@StefanBaumann]

Kenny Keyes let’s meet up

[@kennykeyes3524]

Stefan Baumann that would be awesome! I will message you 👍🏻

[@kennykeyes3524]

Added you on Instagram

[@catherinegreenup4608]

Great advice, but wow, viewers who were present are so nosey, sounds like opening sweet papers or shuffling about. They should be quieter and respectful that others want to listen closely. May be I’m wrong, but please shhhhhh.

[@heidimule]

thanx for the info:)

[@pjlewisful]

Great advice! I'd love to hear your opinion on my main source of income of my work...(Fine Art America).

[@StefanBaumann]

Do you sell well? I would love to see your work

[@pjlewisful]

Wow...I'm always surprised that a guy like you actually answers my comments. Awesome! Yeah, I sell but, not as much as I would like, of course. But they do everything for me for very little effort on my part and I still have the original. PJ Lewis / Fine Art America (paintings by PJ Lewis, Opp, Al.)

[@dhammadasa2563]

Awesome

[@kathycrocker3953]

Stefan, I am displaying my paintings in a Library this weekend for the month of February. I was approached by them to be the Artist of the month. I have displayed in another local Library in my immediate location last year. I feel that this is a venue to get my artwork out there and be recognized as an artist. I have sold 2 paintings last year from the show. So I guess it is working. I was wondering how you derive the selling cost of a painting. Is there a formula that you use?

[@StefanBaumann]

+Kathy Crocker Good Question I sell my work by the inch 8 bucks an inch last year now 9 bucks an inch

[@kathycrocker3953]

Thank you. I am thinking you figure square inch x 9? Interesting. Will try it.

[@joesurfer9754]

You need to sell at a price your target customer can afford. For example, if you sell paintings while at the beach, people will not have a lot of money on them so it should be smaller paintings. If you sold in front of an expensive restaurant in New York city or set up on a sidewalk in Miami, your prices will be approx. 5 times higher. If a guy from a gallery walks up and wants 4 paintings and pulls out a stack of hundreds, charge accordingly and call it a "discount". (I tell you this through experience).

[@TheLeahsKitchen]

some people suggest uploading art to FineArtAmerica - what do you think?

[@StefanBaumann]

I hear good things about it

[@JOSEPHCHARLESCOLIN2024]

I Charge $1 Minute /Second for my Art & People all the time ask "is this a Scam?" Nope its on the Video

[@N3Rd32]

I hate when smart cool people make KZbin videos. It makes me feel bad because they have to deal with all the stupid comments. LOL