Puppies and Business

It's been awhile since I've posted on my blog due to my new furry friend, Ringo and a lousy cold which many people seem to have. Ringo has been an awesome addition to our home and my studio, but he's definitely making me adjust my schedule.

He's got a great disposition, can be pretty independent, loves to run with me, and many times will happily sleep during my lessons. The problem enters when he has not exercised enough and I'm trying to get some painting in.

I'm reading Cesar's Way right now and starting Ringo in obedience classes tonight. What caught my attention was an excerpt about a photographer who brought his dog into his studio every day. While on the walk to the studio, the dog was well-behaved, once at the studio, he became unruly. Now, Ringo is not unruly in my studio, but he has begun to test limits, eating a part of my student's watercolor painting, eating paper towels out of the garbage and getting his nose covered in red paint while sniffing a wet painting. I can definitely empathize with the owner that once in "work" mode, it's difficult to properly handle the dog.

I agree with some of Cesar's points, but much of his books leaves me wondering, how? He doesn't give me the toolbox to actually correct the dog and he talks constantly of 4 hour exercise sessions which is just unrealistic with most dogs. This was the same opinion evoked by writer, Pat Miller for Bark magazine. I will continue to read Cesar's Way taking his ideas with a grain of salt, take my dog to obedience school, work on developing my role as alpha and continue to paint. Ringo will help this emerging artist, not hinder her. Look out for some artwork of Ringo in the future!

A Fantastic Local Art Show Supports a Great Cause

Friday marks the 30th Annual Art Exhibition and Sale to benefit Sparta, New Jersey's Hilltop Country Day School. Each year area artists contribute about eight pieces each for display, along with portfolio pieces (unframed works -- either drawings, small paintings, or prints). Additionally, the school features one acclaimed artist to headline the show each year. This year's artist being Rita Baragona, an acclaimed artist of Columbia, NJ who paints flowers and gardens filled with luminous color and rhythmic strokes expressing patterns of change.

I found out about the Hilltop show from a local artist named, Carole Dakake, when I first moved to Sussex County two years ago. It was, I think, the first show I did in the county and I attribute it with really fast-forwarding my career. I made some sales at that show and more importantly, showing there and networking with both school professionals and parents have brought me even more clients and a strong reputation in the county.

It was one of the best career moves to do that show and so I will be participating again this weekend, showing many of my Italy-themed works.

From San Gimignano, Oil on Panel, 10" x 8", © 2005 Jennie Traill Schaeffer

Artwork displayed includes acrylics, oils, watercolors, graphics, pastel, mixed media, sculpture, and jewelry. 30% of all sales go to support the programs at Hilltop Country Day School.

Join me at the Opening Reception for Champagne and Hors D'Oeuvres from 7 - 10 pm on Friday, October 12th. There is a suggested donation for entry of $10.




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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

New Jersey's Newton - Changed Again!

New Jersey's Newton, Oil on Stretched Linen, 17" x 30", © 2007

After posting the progress of this painting twice, I've made several changes to liven up the painting and colors. See if you can determine what is different since my previous post of the painting. I now feel it is finished and plan to contact the developer in Newton who suggested I paint this scene. The paint is drying on my palette - must get back to the studio.

Business at a Funeral?

Grandma Fran, Oil on Canvas, 16" x 20", 2004
b. 1917? - d. 2007

I had the unfortunate experience last week of going through a family funeral; my husband's grandmother passed away from melanoma at the end of a very full life of 88 or 89 years. Grandma Fran as everyone knew her was a remarkable person; she was a person you would not quickly forget. She certainly had her faults but I was fortunate enough to know her for six years. I never had an adult relationship with my grandparents since they all died when I was in high school.

About three years ago, just before my wedding, I was at my in-laws house with the family and Fran had just purchased her dress for the wedding. This was her first wedding of her three grandchildren and she was thrilled. So, she tried on this stunning black dress and it was stunning. Fran was a very stylish and life-loving person; the dress was a further characterization of her life philosophy. I was so moved by her that I decided to paint a portrait of her.

One afternoon I spent over at Fran's apartment doing a photo shoot in the dress, and then I developed the pictures and determined which I would use for the painting. Once the portrait was finished it was included in my first solo show at the Rockingham Coffee Lounge in Boonton, NJ in 2005. Fran attended the opening and was just aghast -- she was amazed.

Three years later, the painting had been sitting in my studio. After Fran passed away, my sister-in-law asked that we display it at my in-laws' home during shivah as a way to remember her. She died very quickly and was not at all herself in the physical form the last two days of her life. Well, little did I know the kind of reaction I would get. Guests sitting shivah were absolutely amazed -- so much so that one person asked if I would paint her mother-in-law. I said absolutely and passed on my card. (I've yet to hear from this person).

So, this painting, as well as a couple of other works that happened to be in the home, became the topic of conversation. It was at first awkward and I didn't feel that my works and what I do should be the center of attention at Grandma Fran's funeral. However, as the weekend wore on, more people were more interested and I let into my instincts and started somewhat selling myself. As an emerging artist, as a small business owner, I hear that you always are working, you are always selling. I guess there's truth to that, but shouldn't there be a time and a place? I guess reflecting on it now; I wasn't pushing anything, they were for the most part asking me and initiating conversation about my work. So, maybe it's not so bad -- it certainly lightened the mood and that painting of Fran really helped us all remember her vivacity and not so much her death.

Here's to Grandma Fran!

Hellllppp!

Next month I will be involved in two outdoor art shows; the Hoboken Arts & Music Festival and the Downtown Bethlehem Fine Arts & Crafts Fair. I am in the process of upgrading my display tent so that my presentation is more along the level of my work. A phenomenal collage artist from Wantage, NJ, Carolyn Dubiel, sold me her professional art panels for display. Additionally, I invested in a real print display rack, a director's chair, and a professionally printed banner.

But, I'm stuck on doing one thing and I would appreciate any suggestions that you may have. I'm learning an emerging artist needs to ask for help rather than try to do everything by herself. Although these shows are in the daylight hours, a booth still needs electric lighting to properly show the work and to attract people to their location. Neither show offers an electrical source. I've read about people using marine batteries and power packs. I know nothing about them, how to use them, what to look for, how much to spend. If you have any sound advice please email me or direct comments below the post. Thanks in advance for your support!

BUZZ Arts

There are so many marketing opportunities available for emerging artists, it's a matter of finding them and choosing channels that work for you. Mostly through a magazine called Art Calendar and through networking I've found ways of getting my name out on the web. Artists in Sussex County, NJ are very supportive of one another and very welcoming. It's a great community to be a part of. Through joining the Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council, I've met over forty artists and have found exhibit opportunities.

Sometimes you get connected with people, and you forget how the connection was made. I've been on a mailing list for BUZZ Arts Guide for several months. It's a terrific e-newsletter and online event listing/directory for arts in Northeastern PA and Northen New Jersey; there is so much going on! I recently asked BUZZ's publisher, artist Christine Griffin, her aims for BUZZ. She said, "BUZZ is the most recent permutation of my work as an artist, my livelihood as a saleswoman, and my passion as an educator. BUZZ came from my quest to unite, coalesce, and reaffirm the talent and natural beauty of the region my friends and I call home. For me, BUZZ has been an introduction to a fascinating wealth of ever expanding experiences; new people, new ideas, new energy, all in familiar and beautiful places........."

I recently received a notification from BUZZ announcing its plans to publish a printed guide aimed at distribution to SE NYState, NEPA northwest to Scranton and southwest to Reading,
NNJ ( Sussex and Wayne), and the arts districts of urban Phila and NYC. BUZZ offered an opportunity to be listed in the print publication, their online site and have the opportunity to list special events all for $45. I am encouraged by Christine's passion and devotion to this project and see this as another way to get my name out and also have another viable link to my web site.

Go to BUZZ online to see my listing and to find out what arts are going on in the region. You can also subscribe to the e-newsletter online.

Coffee Hour Drawings

I've written in previous posts about the challenge of finding time to actually make artwork. As crazy as that sounds, it's true. But since last week and this week, I had a session with Donna Price, career coach and owner of Compass Rose Consulting. She helped me to realize that not only do I have the time, I'm just allowing my marketing side to take over. I love drinking coffee in the morning and until today, I used to go directly to my computer to sip my coffee, check email, surf the web and gradually transition into the day.

Today, the computer remained off until 10:30am. I plugged my mother-in-law's percolator into the studio, brewed coffee and stayed in the studio for 2 1/2 hours. I began something I hope to continue that I did during an art school drawing class, and also included in my lesson plans when I taught art. It's the idea of a daily drawing, which I will call "Coffee Hour Drawings". They might just be drawing exercises, ideas for future pieces or finished drawings. I've included an image of the first one here. It's related to the the series of gelato paintings I've been working on. The drawing, Tre Gelati, is watersoluble graphite on a 7 1/2" x 10" piece of Arches paper.

After completing the hour drawing, I started the third painting of the Napoletano series of gelato, fragola (strawberry). It's amazing how much I accomplished merely because I scheduled my day. Thank you Donna for helping me implement a realistic schedule!

Welcome

Welcome to the first Emerging Artist blog post. My name is Jennie Traill Schaeffer of Newton, NJ, owner of TraillWorks: Painting & Design Studio.

Through this blog I hope to share with you what it is like to be an artist, and to emerge as a successful artist. Success is a subjective term, for me it is three-pronged. Success is feeling the excitement when a painting clicks, my heart flutters like it did when I fell in love. There's an emotional connection that occurrs between me and a painting when it works. Success is finding the right audience for my work; if my paintings collect in my home then no one else can enjoy them and they don't exist except for myself. Success is making a living wage through creating and selling my art. The great Modernist sculptor Henry Moore said, "There's no retirement for an artist, it's your way of living so there's no end to it."

I am now in my third year of painting for a living. My past got me where I am today, going to art school, getting my degree, teaching art in public schools, and then making the conscious decision to become an artist. I am not the stereotypical artist who knows nothing about business; I enjoy the business side of art as much as the process of painting. It's a thrill to make the painting, talk to the customer and make the sale.

In upcoming blogs I plan on sharing works in-progress, upcoming events that I'm involved in, and other tid-bits about becoming a known artist.

To view my in-progress web site click here.