Christmas Crunch

This holiday I upped my email marketing and extended a special sale to my customers which led to increased holiday sales. The only trouble being that much of the work was custom or had to be painted. Not wanting to lose the business, I accepted.

As of yesterday I finished my final orders and will be shipping them out for Christmas delivery tomorrow. The frantic pace with which I worked for the past two weeks was challenging on both me and my husband. In addition to one wedding cake portrait, five 6 x 6 tiles, and calendar orders, I got a sinus infection and celebrated my anniversary and 30th birthday. Something's gotta give next year.

It made for a good year-end and I was certainly thrilled that people considered me as a source of their holiday gifts. But, I will reconsider next year about how I advertise and cut-off custom work as well as whether or not I will repaint images for customers.

March 27, 2004, 12" x 16", Oil Pastel on Arches, © 2007 Jennie Traill Schaeffer

Now I'm rushing to get out my much-needed holiday cards since I see the as a very important aspect of keeping in touch with my clients. There's nothing quite like receiving a piece of mail in today's world of virtual everything. Below is the image I'm using for my cards. I'm making limited edition giclée cards so people can frame them after they receive them. I painted this tile a few days before my open studio event and it sold instantly. I think it makes a wonderful image for a holiday card due to its wintry, yet brilliant colors.

Dogwood Winter, 8" x 8", Ceramic Paint on Tile, © 2007 Jennie Traill Schaeffer. Private Collection.

Did you say Zhee - Klay?

Yes, I did. Otherwise spelled as giclée, this new term in the art market is so confusing to understand as well as to pronounce unless you have knowledge of French. It is a French word meaning "to spurt". Giclées are a type of reproduction that is taking the art world by storm and replacing the production of lithography and serigraphy. To learn more about the process and product go to my web site: www.traillworks.com/glyceeprints.htm. (I know giclée is spelled incorrectly and will change it as soon as I learn how.)

I have been producing giclées for about a year in the form of open edition note cards as well as full size paper and canvas reproductions. I am now working with a printer to free up my time to paint more. This is another vehicle in which to market my work as an emerging artist and I hope that it makes the work more attainable for more people.

NEW RELEASE -


Town & Country
(inspired by San Gimignano, Italy)

Limited Edition Giclée (1/100)
36 3/4" x 17 1/8"
Printed on Museum Grade Unstretched Canvas
Signed & Numbered
Certificate of Authenticity Included

$479

To ORDER: email orders@traillworks.com