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Thank you everyone for the responses so far. It has been very interesting to hear these different experiences. It is a little hard to know what to really take away from them (other than getting a little depressed). You can get work IF it a high ticket auction, IF they appreciate art, IF the organizers and auctioneers are helpful and well-organized, IF those wealthy art lovers feel like bidding that night and understood what they were bidding on correctly, and IF the stars and moon line up correctly, falling on the third Saturday of the month.
AND, there is no guarantee that if they bid that they will call you to complete the commission or that any of those little business cards you passed around will generate any work.
It sounds like many of you have had luck offering up drawings instead of portraits. My concern is that although I may get some more business I won't get to do what I really want to do (and what I think I am the best at), which is paint. I am also concerned that if I can't get a response from a full head and shoulders portrait being offered, a gift certificate for a percentage off won't really help especially when they have no idea what my prices are during a live auction.
Well, I have every intention to keep keep pursuing this avenue.
Thanks, and I'd be happy to hear any more suggestions if you have them.
-Amanda
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