Debra Glanz - Paper Arts

With a Couple of Friends………

admin — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:15:48 +0000

For the sixth year now I will be having a Holiday Sale with Katy Adamson (Fused Glass) and Sandy Visse (Ceramic Sculpture), both of whom have been friends for nearly 20 years. Needless to say, this is much more than a sale of our work (not to say that sales are unimportant) but a gathering of people who not only appreciate craft in general, but seem to appreciate our work in particular. Friends, relatives, friends of relatives, long time customers, people who have recently discovered our work, and curious neighbors are all welcomed (this year to Sandy’s studio) to share conversation and hopefully some Holiday cheer. This year we have invited a jeweler and feltmaker to join us – the more the merrier.

Planning for the Studio Sales begins months in advance with choosing the dates, designing the postcard, setting the hours, and planning the food. This latter issue always seems to take on special importance. We have done the traditional cheese and crackers/cookies & coffee thing, but we do try to switch it up from time to time by offering small cups of soup or candied grapefruit peel and nuts. This year we have secured an old fashioned popcorn machine with little, traditional red & white popcorn boxes. Why all this effort you ask? Because we want our friends, family & customers to know that we appreciate the fact that they took the time to come by. I must admit that because of the economy sales were considerably down last year and we did have to consider whether or not we should continue. The decision was made to carry on because we don’t really care if someone buys a $10 piece, a $100 piece or no work at all. They fact that they continue to show up is the real thing.

In addition to all of the above, the Studio Sale gives us a chance to show off some of our more obscure work and get feedback on some new ideas. When you are producing work for galleries you have a certain responsibility to send work that will sell because, after all, they are giving us a venue so we need to help pay the rent. But all bets are off when we call the shots and I can (and have) put some pretty strange stuff on or in my boxes for this Sale. This year I am introducing boxes with tall, skinny legs and while they make me laugh I do look forward to hearing what those who have followed my work for many years have to say.

Though I haven’t had the photographed yet, watch for the “Leggy Boxes” to show up on this site after the first of the year.

Peaceful Holidays to all.

Portland Open Studios

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:47:47 +0000

This year I will be participating in Portland Open Studios, a wonderful program which allows visitors to enter 100 artist’s studios and see them “at work”. I place “at work” in parenthesis because I, like many others, will actually be demonstrating some of the more exciting parts of my craft which may not be a realistic look into the day of an artist but aren’t we all dealing with enough reality just now? Artists will have work for sale, will be available to discuss our work with visitors, and many of us will be mentoring an area high school art student so that they can hopefully get a bit of an idea what a career in the field of art is really about. Eastside Portland Studios are open October 10 & 11, Westside Portland studios are open October 17 & 18 and many artists, like myself, have chosen to be open both weekends. Hours are 10am to 5pm and you can purchase a ticket that admits two ($15) at any Art Media store. The ticket comes with a map and a beautiful 16 month calendar with a photo of each artist’s work.

If you don’t live in the Portland OR area check out an Open Studios in your town. Just google (your city) Open Studios to see if ther is a tour available. If you would like more information about Portland Open Studios go to www.portlandopenstudios.com.

In Celebration of Books, Paper, and More………..

admin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:10:50 +0000

On June 27 I will be participating in the Oregon Book Arts Conference Book Arts Market at Pacific University in Forest Grove. I will not be there with my studio work, but rather with a collection of the papers, embellishments, ribbons, etc. that I offered at Paper Event. Proof, once again, that Paper Event is not dead……………just keeping a looser schedule. Though I will have many of the Paper Event favorite products I have added many new item: over 100 new styles of metal charms, some fabulous pewter finds, Mizuhiki cord in some great colors, and even a couple of new papers. The Market will be ongoing from 8am to 8pm and is open to the public.

For those of you not familiar with the Oregon Book Arts Guild Focus Conference, please check it out at www.focusonbookarts.org. This is a great event that I have been associated with, off and on, for many years and am always impressed with how hard they work to promote appreciation of and education in the various Book Arts. The workshops tempting and there may still be room to sign up. There will also be a talk by Christine Eagon on “The Art of Self Promotion” that will no doubt offer up some valuable information for all of us self-employed-creative-types.

Hope to see you there.

Debra

What Ever Happened to Reminiscence Papers?

admin — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 02:07:52 +0000

Reminiscence Papers was a wholesale company that I began in 1994/1995 to try and sell my handbound books, photo boxes, frames & albums to a larger market. After about two years of taking these products to large Trade Shows in Atlanta, NY, Chicago, etc. I realized that those products which were handmade in my little studio in Portland could not compete with similar items made in SE Asian countries and brought in by the container load. Store buyers were quick to admit that the quality was superior to imports and they loved the design, but store owners knew that not enough of their end customers would be willing to pay the additional cost. Many buyers were asking to purchase the papers that I had designed for the hand bound products and not being the village idiot (friends: keep your thoughts to yourselves here) I switched over to selling paper. Though it was not what I had set out to do, designing paper was quite satisfying and kept RP going for about 12 years. There was no one thing that led to my decision to close RP but the cost of doing the big trade shows, the travel, the desire to focus on my studio work, and a general unhappiness with the “business” of it all were factors. The official close date was December 1, 2007 and while I miss many of my long term customers I have no regrets. I do, however, have a large inventory of paper, origami kits etc. that I am still working with. I sell these at various small scale events and use them in my own work – nothing will be wasted.

When the Going Gets Tough…………….

admin — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:17:11 +0000

Every time the economy takes a turn for the worse I start to re-assess my career choice. Needless to say, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. How does an artist or craftperson get by when “disposable income” is just a fond memory for most people? I’m hoping that if I share a few of my thoughts and plans with you, that you’ll send a few of yours my way.

First of all I plan to keep my galleries as happy as possible. If we are feeling the pinch right now, they are feeling it in multiples. Gallery owners and managers are telling me that their customers are buying items with lower price points so that is what I will send them. I could count on one hand the number of boxes priced over $100 that I have made in the last year. Probably 90% of the pieces that have sold in the last 18 mos. are under $40. I can deal with that.

Next I am re-assessing my show schedule. I don’t know about anyone else but at the end of 2008 I was completely rung out by the Holiday shows. In my attempt to compensate for slower sales I had added more shows. Good idea in theory but grueling in practice. My thought for this year is to try some shows and/or open studios that I have not done before and give the shows that I routinely participate in a break. This way I hope to broaden my base by making my work available to a new group of potential customers. Jurying for shows a little farther afield seems like a good idea as well.

Finally, I am going to allow myself the time to work on some completely new ideas and explore some new mediums. This is the perfect time to work without having to think about sales potential. Channeling my art school days might be helpful here in allowing me to experiment and push some boundaries. ………I may even take a few classes to help me move in that direction.

Things will turn around – they always do. Except for a very few, artists have always put the satisfaction with what we do ahead of any financial compensation. Since we still have to pay bills and buy groceries (very few grocery stores will barter these days) I hope some of the above thoughts will be of help.