I was recently asked by a blogging friend how I was and what I was. I answered I don't know to both of those questions.
I've been going through one of those art crisis things. I didn't want to bring it up here. In a world where there are wars and genocide, I just didn't want to have some bitty breakdown and expect people to give a darn.
By the way, thanks to my readers for all of your kind words on my last post.
Am I still a fiber artist? I don't know.
Am I still an artist? I don't know.
I want so much to reach a destination. I'm thinking that destination is to be a "professional" artist. The problem is, I don't know what journey is necessary to reach that destination. Do I have to pick a certain path? Can't I just spin around in circles for a while? Can I still call myself an artist if I'm spinning in circles?
I still love all of the work I have done -- the pieces that have gone out into the world and the ones that are on my wall or in my drawers (dresser drawers, that is). Can I start fresh? Is that a sign of complete failure? Which would be the bigger failure -- to keep doing what I've been doing even though I may not be inspired, or to turn my back on completion and selling to start at the beginning and explore something new?
Anyway. Big thoughts in my head. Nothing being done about it.
Kim Hambric Art - Mixed Media and Fiber Collage
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Where have I been?
Sick. Twice. Now. All in one week.
Fighting a migraine.
Complaining. A lot.
Battling lice and all the fun that goes with that.
Feeding the vacuum more of my blood. Don't ask. I don't know how. I just know it always happens.
Cleaning again today for in-laws' visit.
Playing lots of cards with a kid in between summer camps and starting school.
Buying school supplies.
Taking a cat that cannot walk straight to the vet.
Taking child to oral surgeon to have oral things removed. Treating the affected area. Returning child to doctor.
Purchasing an all-new wardrobe for a very picky child.
Now its time to take my daughter and my snotty head out for a girls' lunch before resuming cleaning duties.
Have a good weekend.
Fighting a migraine.
Complaining. A lot.
Battling lice and all the fun that goes with that.
Feeding the vacuum more of my blood. Don't ask. I don't know how. I just know it always happens.
Cleaning again today for in-laws' visit.
Playing lots of cards with a kid in between summer camps and starting school.
Buying school supplies.
Taking a cat that cannot walk straight to the vet.
Taking child to oral surgeon to have oral things removed. Treating the affected area. Returning child to doctor.
Purchasing an all-new wardrobe for a very picky child.
Now its time to take my daughter and my snotty head out for a girls' lunch before resuming cleaning duties.
Have a good weekend.
Friday, August 20, 2010
A Few New Pieces
Here are the pieces that were published in Sew Somerset Magazine. They have returned home to live.
The Moon Came Out, 7.0 x 5.5" ©2010 Kim Hambric
Travel Guide, 7.0 x 5.5" ©2010 Kim Hambric
Here to Live, 7.0 x 5.5" ©2010 Kim Hambric
These pieces are all for sale on Etsy.
I'm glad to have them safely home. I'm a little surprised at the return packaging. I had them padded, wrapped in plastic to prevent them from getting wet (which would ruin them), and boxed for their outbound trip. They were quite unceremoniously tossed into a padded envelope for their return trip and that was that. I guess no one is going to take care of my babies quite like I would.
The Moon Came Out, 7.0 x 5.5" ©2010 Kim Hambric
Travel Guide, 7.0 x 5.5" ©2010 Kim Hambric
Here to Live, 7.0 x 5.5" ©2010 Kim HambricThese pieces are all for sale on Etsy.
I'm glad to have them safely home. I'm a little surprised at the return packaging. I had them padded, wrapped in plastic to prevent them from getting wet (which would ruin them), and boxed for their outbound trip. They were quite unceremoniously tossed into a padded envelope for their return trip and that was that. I guess no one is going to take care of my babies quite like I would.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Venus and Mars
Venus and Mars, 10.5 x 10.5" © 2010, K. Hambric
The diary entry reads, "Stayed home tonight & ironed." There's Venus, beautifully dressed in her house. There's Mars, on the other side of the moon.
It seems as if this will be the last piece in the Mother series. Not sure where to go from here. I am loaded up with lots of supplies for other such quilts. I am not loaded up with inspiration to continue. It figures.
I'm not sure whether to continue on the same path. I'd love to take some time to explore instead of producing. I'm going to pretend that I have never created anything before -- that I've never heard of being an artist. I'm going to pretend that I have never seen "art" before. But I have the need to create.
-- Where would you suggest I begin.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Aliens in the Desert?
Roswell I, 15 x 25" © 2007 K. HambricNo, I really don't believe an alien spacecraft was found in the desert near Roswell, New Mexico, back in 1947. I do like circles and what I consider to be desert colors, though. These pieces were made way back in 2007. I think dinosaurs roamed the earth back then.
Roswell II, 22 x 28", © 2007 K. HambricThese pieces are now for sale on Etsy.
Friday, August 6, 2010
To Bargain or Not to Bargain
The hubby and I were recently in Toronto. We had a lovely visit with relatives and then spent 2 ½ days exploring the city. One of my favorite stops was the newish distillery district. I dream of such places. Shops. Galleries. Restaurants. How can you beat that? With an art and craft festival!
The family perused tent after tent of mostly upscale goods. Jewelry. Painting. Wood. Pottery. What joy to be on vacation at an arts festival in a cool district in a great city. Then I was brought down by two ladies who thought it would be great fun to bargain on someone’s artwork.
We were all admiring the painted wood objects of a friendly female artist. Her booth was filled with handpainted bowls, framed monoprints, and other fun and functional wood-related objects. There were two women who had handpainted coasters in their hands. I believe they cost about $20 for four. Seemed very reasonable to me. Without talking to the woman about her crafts, or making any other small talk, one walked up to the artist and stated that she would give her $15 for the coasters. The artist politely declined. The woman then said another amount, going just a bit higher. The artist again declined, saying that they were already reasonably priced. The bargainer went up another level. The artist shared a bit of information on her complicated technique and stated she could not drop her price, but would waive the sales tax. Not good enough for the women, who then went up just a bit higher. I left the booth hearing the artist state that “NO”, she would not bargain for her work.
I’ve only done one festival show. I fear doing another. I would not be nearly as patient as the artist in this situation was.
So, if there are any art “consumers” out there reading this, here are some pointers for your next visit to an arts festival. Actually, one pointer.
DO NOT BARGAIN.
I have had people do this to me when purchasing through the internet. It has worked successfully and unsuccessfully. I’ll tell you why.
One customer purchased five items at once. I offered her a small discount (5%). She drove several hours out of her way to pick up the pieces and meet me. She was given a small discount on her next purchase. In talking to this woman, I knew that she had a connection to my work. I also knew that she was not a rich woman and her hard-earned dollars were spent on my work. Several months later, I added an older piece on Ebay and was selling it at a discount. This piece had been sitting in my drawer for several years. She wrote and told me how much she and her daughter loved it. She wanted to buy it for her daughter who was going off to college but could not afford it. I was asking $125.00 and she asked to buy it for $75.00. Since I had a history with this woman who had bought more expensive pieces, I was not insulted. We agreed on a slightly higher price and the deal was done.
I have been asked buy people who have never purchased anything before to give then deep discounts. I tell them nicely that I won’t. If I’m contacted by someone who has purchased from me before, I will offer a small discount.
Generally, if you are buying several pieces at a time from an artist, they will offer a discount. If they don’t, I feel that the buyer can (politely) request a small discount. This has a better chance of working if the buyer requests a small discount or elimination of sales tax rather than stating the amount they are willing to pay, especially if that amount is nowhere near what the artist is asking.
My husband and I purchased a painting at the last Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. The artist had two pieces that I loved. We purchased one and left. The next day we came back to look at the other (wasn’t gonna happen, though). We were offered what would have amounted to a 15% discount on both pieces. We would have asked for a small discount if we had bought two, but the artist offered a substantial discount without being asked.
There is a jewelry artist I usually purchase something from each year. Often, I’ll purchase more than one piece at a time. Since I am a repeat customer, I am automatically offered a discount. I don’t go in expecting one, but each time it is a very nice surprise. I love her work and feel it is reasonably priced. I would buy it without a discount. I can’t imagine going into her booth and demanding a discount.
I wonder how those haggling ladies would like it if each time they went into work, their boss attempted to bargain with them:
“Good morning. I’ll give you 12 dollars an hour today instead of 16.”
“How about $12.50 an hour then?”
“I’ll give you 14 dollars an hour and no medical benefits today.”
“O.K. then, 15 dollars, but no breaks for coffee or lunch.”
And don’t even get me started on those folks who go into a booth, get information on how to make something and then tell the artist they’ll go home and make the same thing, but it will only cost them two dollars to make it.
The family perused tent after tent of mostly upscale goods. Jewelry. Painting. Wood. Pottery. What joy to be on vacation at an arts festival in a cool district in a great city. Then I was brought down by two ladies who thought it would be great fun to bargain on someone’s artwork.
We were all admiring the painted wood objects of a friendly female artist. Her booth was filled with handpainted bowls, framed monoprints, and other fun and functional wood-related objects. There were two women who had handpainted coasters in their hands. I believe they cost about $20 for four. Seemed very reasonable to me. Without talking to the woman about her crafts, or making any other small talk, one walked up to the artist and stated that she would give her $15 for the coasters. The artist politely declined. The woman then said another amount, going just a bit higher. The artist again declined, saying that they were already reasonably priced. The bargainer went up another level. The artist shared a bit of information on her complicated technique and stated she could not drop her price, but would waive the sales tax. Not good enough for the women, who then went up just a bit higher. I left the booth hearing the artist state that “NO”, she would not bargain for her work.
I’ve only done one festival show. I fear doing another. I would not be nearly as patient as the artist in this situation was.
So, if there are any art “consumers” out there reading this, here are some pointers for your next visit to an arts festival. Actually, one pointer.
DO NOT BARGAIN.
I have had people do this to me when purchasing through the internet. It has worked successfully and unsuccessfully. I’ll tell you why.
One customer purchased five items at once. I offered her a small discount (5%). She drove several hours out of her way to pick up the pieces and meet me. She was given a small discount on her next purchase. In talking to this woman, I knew that she had a connection to my work. I also knew that she was not a rich woman and her hard-earned dollars were spent on my work. Several months later, I added an older piece on Ebay and was selling it at a discount. This piece had been sitting in my drawer for several years. She wrote and told me how much she and her daughter loved it. She wanted to buy it for her daughter who was going off to college but could not afford it. I was asking $125.00 and she asked to buy it for $75.00. Since I had a history with this woman who had bought more expensive pieces, I was not insulted. We agreed on a slightly higher price and the deal was done.
I have been asked buy people who have never purchased anything before to give then deep discounts. I tell them nicely that I won’t. If I’m contacted by someone who has purchased from me before, I will offer a small discount.
Generally, if you are buying several pieces at a time from an artist, they will offer a discount. If they don’t, I feel that the buyer can (politely) request a small discount. This has a better chance of working if the buyer requests a small discount or elimination of sales tax rather than stating the amount they are willing to pay, especially if that amount is nowhere near what the artist is asking.
My husband and I purchased a painting at the last Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. The artist had two pieces that I loved. We purchased one and left. The next day we came back to look at the other (wasn’t gonna happen, though). We were offered what would have amounted to a 15% discount on both pieces. We would have asked for a small discount if we had bought two, but the artist offered a substantial discount without being asked.
There is a jewelry artist I usually purchase something from each year. Often, I’ll purchase more than one piece at a time. Since I am a repeat customer, I am automatically offered a discount. I don’t go in expecting one, but each time it is a very nice surprise. I love her work and feel it is reasonably priced. I would buy it without a discount. I can’t imagine going into her booth and demanding a discount.
I wonder how those haggling ladies would like it if each time they went into work, their boss attempted to bargain with them:
“Good morning. I’ll give you 12 dollars an hour today instead of 16.”
“How about $12.50 an hour then?”
“I’ll give you 14 dollars an hour and no medical benefits today.”
“O.K. then, 15 dollars, but no breaks for coffee or lunch.”
And don’t even get me started on those folks who go into a booth, get information on how to make something and then tell the artist they’ll go home and make the same thing, but it will only cost them two dollars to make it.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Shearing the Dreams of Fadi Frank
I'm putting a stop to Prince Fadi Frank's dream. I just don't care.
And, no, I do not feel bad that he is waiting for respond.
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and His richest blessings upon you.
I am Prince Fadi Frank, 69 years old of Middle East but was giving birth to
in the Netherlands. Who is presently suffering from cancer of the Lungs with
deteriorating condition.
Bulk of all I ever worked for and my life time belongings are presently in
France and Funds with is part of my business deals with Iran Ministry of Oil
Fixed with Finance House/Bank. Presently, the management just wrote to update
me about the statues of the fixed funds since I have not reach nor write the
Bank because of my illness.
Presently, I can only operate with the help of a private nurse which I employed
and who has been taking care of me. Talking is very hard for me for some time.
But i made some arrangement with my Lawyer who has being working for me of recent
and I gave him instructions to make available letter of authorization which will
be send to the Bank. Because my wish is to see 50% of this funds shared among
Charity Organizations and Humanitarian Outreaches once am able to get a GOOD
HAND WITH FAIR OF GOD AND WHO CAN FOLLOW ME IN SHEARING MY DREAMS OF BRINGING
SMILES TO MANKIND AND BY GOD'S GRACE, MAKE HEAVEN WHEN AM FINALLY GONE.
I reach agreement is to look for a good and God fearing Individuals/Groups/Organization
that will stand in trust and be able to take custody of this funds once I am sure of
the Individual or Organization. I will like to hear from you if you can be able to work
with me and make my dream come true.
I will be waiting respond
Thank you and stay bless.
Prince Fadi Frank.
And, no, I do not feel bad that he is waiting for respond.
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