Saturday, May 12, 2012

"In House" encaustic workshop

I had been scheduled to teach an encaustic workshop at a local art association today and about 10 days ago I was notified that there was not a high enough enrollment to run the workshop. I didn't really understand that because there were enough people signed up to cover the cost of their supplies plus my fee. Immediately after the class was cancelled I received emails from several people that had been looking forward to attending the workshop and each inquired about private lessons. I decided to offer a semi-private workshop in my home today. I knew the electrical requirements limited the amount of griddles I could turn on at the same time, and until I make a change in electricity, 2 griddles with a heat gun (and music and proper lighting) is all I can accommodate.

We had so much fun and I plan on opening my home up to future workshops. Several other people are waiting to hear back from me about scheduling another workshop but I needed to see how it went today before I took the next step. After everyone left, I completed my demonstration painting, and it felt good to get back into encaustic painting.

"Winter Brook", encaustic image transfer


I setup a temporary studio in my garage. Fortunately the weather was perfect and the garage door was up all day.




I continue to add work to my Etsy shop with focus on small encaustic works because of the lower price point and the ease in which I can create them. I have so much to learn about Etsy and networking there but for now I am going to just continue increasing my inventory. 

Posted by at

14 comments:

  1. Terrence BillingsleyMay 12, 2012 at 8:41 PM

    Nice setup forprivate lessons....very nice demo as well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RobinMay 12, 2012 at 8:57 PM

      "Man-cave" converted into a studio, very nice indeed!

      Delete
  2. padmajaMay 13, 2012 at 12:39 AM

    I feel so happy when some one uses the available resources to make some thing happen, loved your initiative to set up this work shop at home.. I am sure this will be welcome in future as well and be well used by enthusiastic learners.. Robin, a beautiful job!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RobinMay 13, 2012 at 8:27 AM

      I had been toying with the idea of offering lessons in my home for a while, padmaja. In the past students have asked if I would do it but up until now I wasn't comfortable with the idea. Using the garage space actually worked out beautifully and I will be able to make adjustments and improvements each time I do this.

      Delete
  3. Autumn LeavesMay 13, 2012 at 8:06 AM

    Oh this piece you turned out is just exquisite! One of these days I'm going to attempt this. Are you still moving to IL, Robin?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RobinMay 13, 2012 at 8:29 AM

      Sherry, I am definitely moving after my youngest finishes high school next year but right now I am leaning toward moving to the west coast of Florida rather than the Chicago area. I will keep you posted as to where I end up!

      Delete
  4. hw (hallie) farberMay 13, 2012 at 11:33 AM

    "Where there's a will......". Great idea and I'm impressed with your well-organized garage. Winter Brook is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  5. RobinMay 13, 2012 at 4:46 PM

    The garage is an amazing space, I just didn't know if the lighting and electricity were enough to create good working conditions but fortunately everything came together.

    ReplyDelete
  6. -DonMay 18, 2012 at 3:14 AM

    You took a big ol' bowl of lemons and turned them into delicious lemonade! Kudos! I'm listening to the song "Beginnings" by Chicago as I type this. I think it's quite fitting...

    -Don

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RobinMay 18, 2012 at 6:56 AM

      "Beginnings" is perfect, looks like I will be teaching a watercolor workshop next.

      Delete
  7. Nancy GoldmanMay 25, 2012 at 7:29 PM

    I really like this piece. It has a lot of movement and a sense of weather. How nice to have a small class at home. I'm doing a silk painting workshop for a couple of people on Sunday and I'm excited to see how that goes to decide if I want to do more.

    Your garage is so clean and organized. : ) I'm jealous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RobinMay 26, 2012 at 9:47 AM

      Good luck tomorrow, I am sure everyone will enjoy the opportunity to paint with you at your home. I have already booked a next workshop in July - this time watercolor painting, and I am probably going to start promoting private and semi-private workshops in my home starting this fall.

      Delete
  8. EvaMay 26, 2012 at 10:52 AM

    Robin, you are so fortunate to have such a nice place at home to teach. I always wanted to do that, but never had the courage to follow through. Love your landscape as usual. Lots of visual texture.
    I visited your new Etsy store and bought one of your bookmarks to help you launch it. I opened a store, but never followed through with putting anything in it. Typical of me. I don't think too many people make a lot on Etsy. It's like anything else you have to have a following and advertize, advertize, advertize. That's why we pay such hefty fees to galleries.

    ReplyDelete
  9. RobinMay 27, 2012 at 9:32 AM

    I appreciate your continued support, Eva. You should have received an Etsy email notifying you that the bookmark was shipped today. Thank you.

    I setup a shop on Etsy mostly for the additional web exposure. It will be a bonus if it actually becomes profitable! I priced everything lower because there is no 40 - 50% gallery overhead however I do feel that the cost to do business with paypal, credit card fees and Etsy fees is equivalent to paying a low gallery fee, I guess the only way to avoid that is to do everything independently, a reason I continue to do the Paradise City Fine Arts shows.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)