Joy Thomas' first time

[Joy Thomas]

Originally Posted by Jean Kelly

That is an amazing story, I also thank you for sharing it. You both (husband and you) sound like fascinating people with a lot of guts and love for art.

My first husband was also an artist, but when it came to encouraging me or even allowing me to have some time to paint, it was "no way"!
I divorced him. My current hubby is my biggest supporter and fan. I'm a newcomer to painting (4 years), and now am disabled but I keep working. When I get discouraged I'll come back to your post, and charge forward again. I love the part about bringing in your husband or father! When will they ever get it?

Jean

Good for you, Jean...I think it's important to move away from those who discourage us as we attempt to "follow our bliss".

I'm glad you found my story useful, it does take some guts to do this, unless of course one is independently wealthy, on the other hand, I can't imagine life without my art...can you?

Joy Thomas
www.portraitartist.com/thomas

[Michele Rushworth]

Thanks, Joy. Hearing about your experiences is very helpful!

[Jean Kelly]

No Joy, I can't imagine life without art now, it's as important to me as breathing.

Jean

[Mischa Milosevic]

Joy thank you so much for sharing your struggles and career experience wit us. I truly understand your struggles and my hat off to you and your husband for supporting you. Many couples forget that they are to be as one and work through all things together.

I hope I am not out of place and others will not mind if I take a moment to share some personal things with you.
Some years ago I was in a motorcycle accident from which I did not fully recover. As a result I was not able to continue my career in the field I was in at that time. So, God helped me recover and opened the way for me to pursue a new career a career in the humanitarian field. I was in the humanitarian field for some ten years. The work was quite rewarding but I noticed that if I was to continue I would be putting my health at serious risk.

After some serious thought I decided to invest my savings in to art education. Many thought me bold for taking this step but beside my passion for art my reasoning was that I can take my work with my anywhere.

Being that I am from Europe I found an art academy in Florence. I spent 2.5 years, a year and a half short of the full four year program, at The Angel Academy of Art. I still have a few things to learn, color, in order to have the basics down but as we all know it is a on going process.

To echo the statement of others I to cannot imagine life without art.

What do you think about doing a few freebies for prominent individuals to get ones name out there?

Thank you again for sharing your experiences and your time with us.

mischa

[Claudemir Bonfim]

This has been one of the most curious introductory threads I have ever visited.
I think this should be move to the Cafe Guerbois Discussions section. What do you think Michele? (just kidding!)
I can clearly see Garth counting the digits anxiously!

[Claudemir Bonfim]

By the way... 1000 visits Garth!

[Joy Thomas]

Originally Posted by Mischa Milosevic

Some years ago I was in a motorcycle accident from which I did not fully recover....
After some serious thought I decided to invest my savings in to art education....
To echo the statement of others I to cannot imagine life without art.

What do you think about doing a few freebies for prominent individuals to get ones name out there?

Thank you again for sharing your experiences and your time with us.

mischa

Our 19 year old son is shopping for a motorcycle at this time and I am in a panic...I wish you would share your story. I want to discourage him.

I looked at your website and was delighted to see your sensitive works...many I feel (if not all) are from life...correct? Your aesthetic committment and financial investment has paid off and now you are ready to market.

You should not give this fine work away. You may offer it at a fund-raising auction for a worthy cause (do you have those?) Just make sure to set a minimum bid and arrange to keep half of that minimum for yourself, the other 1/2 and anything over the minimum goes to the charity. I have success with this.

18 years or more ago, when I was first attempting to build a client base, I made many appointments to show my works to prominent individuals, those with the correct change of course.

If they responded favorably to my work, I would then show them examples by other, more famous, artists (some were even my mentors) I would also show them their fees...and watch as they gasped. Then I would place my own more modest pricelist down to help them relax as I appealed to them to sit for me that I might begin to gain respect of others & secure more commissions as a result. I explained that I had selected them based on their standing in the community and because I was confident that their endorsement would boost my career.

I asked for 50% upon the signing of the contract...the balance due upon delivery of the completed work. When they expressed delight and enthusiasm over the completed portrait(s) I would suggest that they host an unveiling party so I could introduce the work and myself to a new client base, for further encouragement I offered to forgive the final 50% payment if they would help me we secure two commissions with down payments by the end of their unveiling party.

I modeled this approach after Tupperware and Mary Kay parties by the way...are you familiar with those?

Those were fast and furious days, even though I had more rejections than takers... now that I am one of the expensive artists, everyone that turned me down, expresses their regret. Those who took the opportunity thank me profusely when we chance to meet.

Portraits for everyone!
Go for it!


Joy Thomas
www.portraitartist.com/thomas

[Michele Rushworth]

Joy, I can see that you are also a master marketer. Some great ideas here!

[Joy Thomas]

I do love marketing, Michele...I often wonder if I missed my calling by not going into it as a career in and of itself.

I do not understand why artists are uncomfortable placing a suitable price on their hardwon talent. It seems easy enough to do the math when looking at a client's lifestyle and material wealth, the car(s) they drive, the watches they wear and so on. In the matter of official portraits, there is typically a budget in place. In my experience those budgets are more generous than one might guess.

My marketing approach now is to stress my accomplishments, dependability and successful track record. My contract is completely in my favor, I make all aesthetic decisions and I will not make changes.

That level of confidence is contagious to one's clients especially if one has the skill to back it up, don't you think?



Joy Thomas
www.portraitartist.com/thomas

[Claudemir Bonfim]

Originally Posted by Joy Thomas

I looked at your website and was delighted to see your sensitive works.

Joy Thomas
www.portraitartist.com/thomas

If I were you, I'd copy this sentence and paste it in my website...