After a painting is finished, there is still a lot to do to get ready to present and hang on a wall or put on an easel for display. I put the painting in inventory by name and number. The number includes the year so I know when it was painted. I take a good photo and store the image and information in a folder in Jo's Art for the year. I use Bento which is no longer made but works well on my computer and I can print a CSV file or Exel file. You might check out Artist's Butler. You can print consignment sheets, lists and painting tags from the files. There are other programs and apps. I'm happy with what I use. I can sort and find the paintings by media or size or sold, etc.
I don't think it is important to have the date on the front of a painting with your signature. This can influence a buyer I think. If they see it is a few years old they may think it is not good. It just means that the person that may want the painting hasn't seen it yet. I've sold a few paintings that were 5 years or so old.
Back to preparation. After the photo, Gene frames the painting for me. We use a good quality frame with good hangers, wire and glazing. I've been using museum glass for my pastels and recently discovered museum acrylic. It is expensive but shows the paintings to the best advantage.
Now I take a good photo in the frame for my website where you can see the painting in the frame on a wall.
I prepare a "certificate of authenticity" for the back. If it has museum glass I remind the buyer to not use glass cleaner on the glass. I also write my website, name of painting and inventory number on the Pastelbord or stretcher bars.
The show or gallery will ask for a card to be attached, usually to the upper left, but check the prospectus or with the gallery. This will include artist's name, name of painting, size, medium and price.
I'm taking two paintings to the Lost Pines Art Center today. Both are older paintings that I haven't shown there. Here is how it goes:
Photos:
Welcome to the Hill Country, Pastel on Pastelbord, 10 x 8 inches
Back of paintings: You can see the tape and all is still good on these paintings.
Next is to put the paintings on my website.
The consignment sheet printed from my website:
6 comments:
Beautiful.
You are so much more organized than I am. I have no good system. lol
Jo it certainly does take lots of work to prepare for an art exhibit. With watercolors we use mats and try to keep the frames simple but the hangers have to be screwed in and special tape is used on watercolor paper to secure it to the mat. I just love both of your paintings. They are gorgeous. Thanks too for the tip about not putting the date on the front of the painting. I have often wondered about doing this. Better to keep a separate file if you want to remember the year. Hope all goes well and you have a great show. Hugs!
those thick frames work really well with both of those pieces 😀
Jennifer Rose, I like them framed up, too. The folks that hung the paintings were surprised at the weight of the one on Puerta Azul.
Debbie, thanks so much. Yes the Artists tape works good on pastels, probably similar for watercolor. I haven't framed many watercolors. (As you might guess.) The dating thing is a personal thing I guess. I do date cards or framed sketches I do for gifts. Why?? I don't know. I'm smiling.
Joan, my system works when I do it. Sometimes I get behind on my inventory and have to work on it for a whole day.
R's Rue, thank you so much.
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