My Article on IHeartArt: Portland

Check out the article I wrote for the IHeartArt:Portland blog (click the image above to read more) - it gives a little advice I've learned over the years on how to sell your work to shops and galleries. How to follow up a good lead - that is what it is all about.

I have worked in galleries and taken business classes on how to sell my work. I am full of good tips and techniques that I have learned over the years. There is an art to contacting a retail buyer. Most artists are pretty awkward in presenting their own work, a little diligence and self confidence goes a long way.

So to read more, check out my article:

http://iheartartpdx.com/2010/09/14/mixer-match-insiders-leah-glass/

Rave Review of the Salem Art Festival

I had heard this was a great show, the Salem Arts Festival (one of the top 10 art festivals in the country) - it was certainly a pleasure to experience for myself and my business.

• good neighbors (aka amazing artwork and interesting new artists I got to know)
• amazing site (Bush Park is full of old beautiful oak trees, sunshine and shade in a beautiful big green park) and great weather (it was a mild/warm 80degrees all weekend)

• good munchies (Kettle Chips sponsored the show and provided artists with endless little bags of chips - wha?! - there was also fresh fruit, iced tea (hot tea, lemonade and coffee as well), trail mix, pastries... oh my)

• they made us breakfast! picture this: in the morning at the artist hospitality booth there was a string quartet playing exclusively for our breakfast... there was a line of husbands making omlettes to order and a group of ladies making pancakes with fresh local berries. It was insanely nice. Both Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday the fresh berries had been made into a fruit compote for our pancakes. And picnic tables to have our breakfast on while greeting friends.
• good business (aka financially lucrative)
• lots of water (they gave us water bottles and had volunteers come by and refill them every day)

Every art show should treat the artists this well! It made things much less stressful and way more fun. I had a lot to smile about all weekend.

I went to a retail display seminar

saving bucks while making bucks

I went to a retail display seminar at Portland Store Fixtures last night - it was quite exciting - a free opportunity to hear the advice of Linda Cahan author of "100 displays for less than $100". Linda has been in visual merchandising for decades, working for companies like Macy's and Saks, her resume is amazing - much including being an Instructor at Parsons School of Design, Visual Merchandising 1983 - 1995.

The seminar was interesting - combining her studies of Feng Shui and her knowledge of the human experience in "shop therapy". Linda explained her concepts of retail merchandising with great pictures to show us how vertical color arranging and targeting sensory perception (among other things!) could benefit our stores. It was a good seminar, she really pointed out how independent retailers like ourselves can get creative and take advantage of our opportunities.

Here is a quote she used:

“Emotion is at the foundation of people buying things they don’t need. Reason is always secondary in the purchase decision.”

From Why People Buy Things They Don’t Need by Pamela N. Danziger

Linda Cahan's book is available at http://www.lindacahan.com/