Mari, you have an excellent memory! I checked the link you provided and that may well have been the reference I was talking about. Here's another article from the same source that also mentions Veranda and Southern Accents:
http://www.asopa.com/publications/20...fpromoting.htm
None of the methods mentioned in that article has worked for me, though. I have had a great deal of excellent free publicity in the local and regional papers: first because I painted a portrait of a young murder victim, commissioned by United Parcel Service to hang in her school, again when I painted our mayor, again when I help found an arts center (my work was featured prominently in the photos,) and later because I painted the governor and his wife. I was also featured in the magazine of the organization (NJ Conference of Mayors) that commissioned the latter.
The donation of 50% of my price to a private school auction event only resulted in a commission from people who had already expressed an interest and no further commissions have come of that exposure.
My work hangs in some very public places, a local restaurant/inn included, and people often tell me that they've seen my paintings and how lovely they are so I know they are noticed. But most of my commissions still come from my keeping a mini-portfolio in my purse and bringing it out whenever possible to show my work. I think a lot has to do with your area; we are not southern enough or affluent enough in south Jersey to make portraits a priority. If my prices were on the level of many of you I suspect I would have no commissions at all!
Hybrid Mode
