Shelley asks - Hi, Karin, I love this new Q & A! My question has to do with varnishing. I work on boards also and was wondering how and when you varnish. Do you use spray or a brush? I know you mix gloss and mat, but when I do it, even with the mat varnish, there is too much shine. I keep thinking its the boards, but I've seen your work "up close" and the pieces look wonderful...maybe I'm using too much varnish?? Thanks for your input.
I usually wait a full 4 weeks to varnish. I use Liquitex Soluvar with a trim brush. I do mix 1/2 gloss w/ 1/2 matte. I paint a conservative coat on, wait about 5 minutes and brush back over lightly to take off the excess.
Hi Karin What advice or tips would you give to those who are interested in making a living by creating and selling paintings on a daily basis as you are.
In a nutshell, when you're ready to 'put it out there':
- have accurate images to represent what you've painted, if you don't know how to photograph and edit your image files, you must start there. - create and maintain a blog for your daily accomplishments and create a website for showcasing your work - before you start selling or auctioning your paintings, be prepared to package and ship properly. - when you're ready to offer paintings for sale, be prepared to sell low and know it takes time to build a following.
If you want a lasting result, you have to commit to keeping it up and constantly updating your website and blog.
It takes patience and hard work, there are no shortcuts. Trust me.
Sharon - There's nothing that I hate more than a thief.
In my opinion, adding a watermark/copyright on top of the image doesn't help or prevent piracy. It only diminishes the value of the image for viewers. I think it helps to keep your web images somewhat small and in a lower resolution.
On Picasa, I'd suggest you make your albums private - else someone can order prints, which really ticks me off.
You can also do an occasional image search on Google to check where your image is on the web. Go to Google Image, click on the camera in the search box, upload your image file and it'll scour the internet.
If anyone else has a good idea, I'd like to hear it.
Hi Karin, is it possible to make the album connected to your blog in Picasa private? Mine is currently set at: accessible with a secret link. It says the link can be reset. Do you do that periodically? I hope this question is not too detailed. I have really appreciated your answers. thank you
This may be a stupid question, but you said you wait a full four weeks to varnish your paintings. Do you ship them right after that? I've been painting in watercolors so I never had to wait to ship my paintings but have recently started painting in oils and I'm not sure when they're safe to ship.
So long story short, how do you know when an oil painting is safe to ship?
And thanks in advance for your generous attitude and taking your time to answer all these questions. I've really started looking forward to Q & A weekends.
Drying time for the oils will always depend on how thick the layers are, what mediums are involved, etc. I'm talking 4 weeks for how I paint. With Soluvar, I give it 2-3 days before I consider it dry and safe to package. I think it's wise to ship priority mail at that point.
Have you had much success with shows and exhibitions? Usually they call for larger works, and I don't have the storage space in the studio to create giants (I wish!)
Hi Karin, I really love your composition and how you capture poses and faces. What advice would you give to me on making figure photos on the spot? Are you a James Bond-spy-type? How can you be invisible in order to get those natural gestures?
Hello Karin, I don't have a question right now --although I'm sure one will come to me once the Q&A is over ;-) I want to just say thanks "out loud" to you. I silently thank you every day I get an email with one of your paintings or a notice of workshops or a photo of your dogs. Thank you for being so generous with your time and advice, but mostly thank you for the generosity of your spirit. You inspire me to keep painting and to "put it out there". Thanks for being a shining presence on the web. I'm so glad you're here!
What filters do you use in Photoshop when editing your photos? Do you take a figure from one photo and paste them into another (thinking of your museum series).
Cat asks 'Have you had much success with shows and exhibitions?'
I had one solo show, about 6 years ago, when 27 paintings out of 32 sold before the opening. Talk about beginner's luck. Since then, I've realized you can never predict how many will sell or how many people will come to an opening.
But... to me, having a show gives me a project, a motivation to come up with a grouping that means something to me. I like that. It also is a rare opportunity to be social and meet some very nice folks who like what I do. It feels good, it drives me to keep on painting.
I can't say size was a factor as much as quantity. Depends on the gallery I'm sure.
Artinko asks 'What advice would you give to me on making figure photos on the spot? Are you a James Bond-spy-type? How can you be invisible in order to get those natural gestures?'
I wish I were invisible, then I could photograph in any place I wanted to. I'm just quick and pass thru before anyone takes notice. And I take many shots, hoping one or two get what I want.
Ruth asks 'What filters do you use in Photoshop when editing your photos? Do you take a figure from one photo and paste them into another (thinking of your museum series).'
I blur photos drastically to see areas of color more easily. That way I don't squint all day. Sometimes I borrow a figure from one photo and place it somewhere else, usually because I have a desire to paint a favorite painting instead of what someone was looking at.
I read other readers comments and your answers on shipping oil paintings before writing mine. What do you use for wrapping up the painting when it's shipped? I've been painting with pastels for a number of years so the wet paint issue hasn't come up for me. Thank you for these Q & A Weekends. I hope this comment doesn't put me in the running most stupid question asked!
Susan - I center my panel on cardboard with space all around the sides to protect. I built up from the sides so the lid is away from the surface of the painting. I wrap that, surround it with peanuts and use boxes I purchase from a packaging company. It matters to do it right.
Shelley asks - Hi, Karin, I love this new Q & A! My question has to do with varnishing. I work on boards also and was wondering how and when you varnish. Do you use spray or a brush? I know you mix gloss and mat, but when I do it, even with the mat varnish, there is too much shine. I keep thinking its the boards, but I've seen your work "up close" and the pieces look wonderful...maybe I'm using too much varnish?? Thanks for your input.
ReplyDeleteI usually wait a full 4 weeks to varnish. I use Liquitex Soluvar with a trim brush. I do mix 1/2 gloss w/ 1/2 matte. I paint a conservative coat on, wait about 5 minutes and brush back over lightly to take off the excess.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Going back over it lightly will probably work. I really appreciate your help!
DeleteHi Karin
ReplyDeleteWhat advice or tips would you give to those who are interested in making a living by creating and selling paintings on a daily basis as you are.
In a nutshell, when you're ready to 'put it out there':
ReplyDelete- have accurate images to represent what you've painted, if you don't know how to photograph and edit your image files, you must start there.
- create and maintain a blog for your daily accomplishments and create a website for showcasing your work
- before you start selling or auctioning your paintings, be prepared to package and ship properly.
- when you're ready to offer paintings for sale, be prepared to sell low and know it takes time to build a following.
If you want a lasting result, you have to commit to keeping it up and constantly updating your website and blog.
It takes patience and hard work, there are no shortcuts. Trust me.
Thanks Karin
ReplyDeleteGreat advice!
Do you do anything to prevent the piracy of your images?
ReplyDeleteSharon - There's nothing that I hate more than a thief.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, adding a watermark/copyright on top of the image doesn't help or prevent piracy. It only diminishes the value of the image for viewers. I think it helps to keep your web images somewhat small and in a lower resolution.
On Picasa, I'd suggest you make your albums private - else someone can order prints, which really ticks me off.
You can also do an occasional image search on Google to check where your image is on the web. Go to Google Image, click on the camera in the search box, upload your image file and it'll scour the internet.
If anyone else has a good idea, I'd like to hear it.
Hi Karin, is it possible to make the album connected to your blog in Picasa private? Mine is currently set at: accessible with a secret link. It says the link can be reset. Do you do that periodically? I hope this question is not too detailed. I have really appreciated your answers. thank you
ReplyDeleteWhen you have the whole album open, in the upper right you can edit your access to private. I'm fairly comfortable with limited access.
ReplyDeleteThis may be a stupid question, but you said you wait a full four weeks to varnish your paintings. Do you ship them right after that? I've been painting in watercolors so I never had to wait to ship my paintings but have recently started painting in oils and I'm not sure when they're safe to ship.
ReplyDeleteSo long story short, how do you know when an oil painting is safe to ship?
And thanks in advance for your generous attitude and taking your time to answer all these questions. I've really started looking forward to Q & A weekends.
Drying time for the oils will always depend on how thick the layers are, what mediums are involved, etc. I'm talking 4 weeks for how I paint. With Soluvar, I give it 2-3 days before I consider it dry and safe to package. I think it's wise to ship priority mail at that point.
ReplyDeleteLet me add that common sense plays a part, if it's tacky to the touch, give it more time. Weather can be a factor with drying time.
ReplyDeleteHi Karin,
ReplyDeleteHave you had much success with shows and exhibitions? Usually they call for larger works, and I don't have the storage space in the studio to create giants (I wish!)
Thank you.
Hi Karin,
ReplyDeleteI really love your composition and how you capture poses and faces.
What advice would you give to me on making figure photos on the spot? Are you a James Bond-spy-type?
How can you be invisible in order to get those natural gestures?
Hello Karin, I don't have a question right now --although I'm sure one will come to me once the Q&A is over ;-) I want to just say thanks "out loud" to you. I silently thank you every day I get an email with one of your paintings or a notice of workshops or a photo of your dogs. Thank you for being so generous with your time and advice, but mostly thank you for the generosity of your spirit. You inspire me to keep painting and to "put it out there". Thanks for being a shining presence on the web. I'm so glad you're here!
ReplyDeleteWhat filters do you use in Photoshop when editing your photos? Do you take a figure from one photo and paste them into another (thinking of your museum series).
ReplyDeleteCat asks 'Have you had much success with shows and exhibitions?'
ReplyDeleteI had one solo show, about 6 years ago, when 27 paintings out of 32 sold before the opening. Talk about beginner's luck. Since then, I've realized you can never predict how many will sell or how many people will come to an opening.
But... to me, having a show gives me a project, a motivation to come up with a grouping that means something to me. I like that. It also is a rare opportunity to be social and meet some very nice folks who like what I do. It feels good, it drives me to keep on painting.
I can't say size was a factor as much as quantity. Depends on the gallery I'm sure.
Artinko asks 'What advice would you give to me on making figure photos on the spot? Are you a James Bond-spy-type? How can you be invisible in order to get those natural gestures?'
ReplyDeleteI wish I were invisible, then I could photograph in any place I wanted to. I'm just quick and pass thru before anyone takes notice. And I take many shots, hoping one or two get what I want.
Thank you for your kind words Anne Marie :D
ReplyDeleteRuth asks 'What filters do you use in Photoshop when editing your photos? Do you take a figure from one photo and paste them into another (thinking of your museum series).'
ReplyDeleteI blur photos drastically to see areas of color more easily. That way I don't squint all day. Sometimes I borrow a figure from one photo and place it somewhere else, usually because I have a desire to paint a favorite painting instead of what someone was looking at.
I read other readers comments and your answers on shipping oil paintings before writing mine. What do you use for wrapping up the painting when it's shipped? I've been painting with pastels for a number of years so the wet paint issue hasn't come up for me.
ReplyDeleteThank you for these Q & A Weekends. I hope this comment doesn't put me in the running most stupid question asked!
Susan - I center my panel on cardboard with space all around the sides to protect. I built up from the sides so the lid is away from the surface of the painting. I wrap that, surround it with peanuts and use boxes I purchase from a packaging company. It matters to do it right.
ReplyDelete