Thanks Jan - most of the people who came were lovely and very appreciative... there just weren't many of them! A radical change to the marketing focus meant that a lot of local residents (our key customer base) didn't know it was happening.
I started reading this on email, last week, whilst making lunch. I got the vibe a third in that I wanted to give it my full attention, so came back to it properly today.
Just want to say... I know three things to be true:
1) You are an insanely talented printmaker and artist.
2) It's okay for things not to work out sometimes (what I mean is, it doesn't reflect on the artist, it's more often than not, things beyond our control, even the most complex marketing strategy doesn't alway give return if the wind isn't blowing in the right direction). And sorry they haven't this time.
3) It's how you move on that matters (and it's different for everyone, be it slowly, over time, or quickly into the next thing, as long motion is there in some capacity). And how fabulous to have such exciting opportunities ahead with Ironbridge - what a way to move on!
Please keep going*, we need your art** xxx
.
* But only when and if the time and energy levels feel right xxx
Ah Marc, you are so lovely! Thank you so much for all of this. Don't worry, the spark is returning (though the black dog certainly saw an opportunity and took a bite) and you haven't seen the last of me. Hope to see you again IRL soon xxx
Please don’t burn your press! I love the early snowdrops print and you’ll have a ball In Shropshire. A good lesson to all of us who are on committees, organising things that we can’t take our audience for granted. I hope your email is taken notice of x
Thank you! I am not hopeful as four weeks later neither of us have had a reply other than a ‘thank you for your email’ acknowledgement. This in itself is concerning as that is definitely Not How We Did Things In Our Day x
I'm new-ish to printmaking and having lovely, talented artists like you doing amazing work on my doorstep in York is such an inspiration and keeps me motivated to keep growing creatively. I'm sorry Open Studios was tough this year. It was interesting to read an insider's view here as someone who has only ever pottered around as a visitor. Thanks for sharing your perspective and I hope you don't burn all your prints!
Ah thank you Cathy! I hope the North Yorkshire Open Studios artists are having a better time of it this weekend and next, though the weather is disappointing to say the least. If you are in York and getting into printmaking, do check out York Printmakers (https://www.yorkprintmakers.org.uk). We really are VERY nice and have members from beginners to long standing professionals.
A really interesting read, and such a lovely print, I just had to buy one. It reminded me of the gorgeous nature illustrations in old Ladybird books and I'll have to decide when it arrives whether to keep it, or give it to someone as a really special gift.
Thanks Mel - a double whammy of a personal business loss while also seeing something you spent years nurturing just trashed and left out in the rain (and it took so long to bake it too…). I didn’t go into details in my post but the reputational damage is severe and possibly irrecoverable. I know the ex-Chair is particularly upset; she literally worked through the night to save the event during the pandemic, and now this.
Sorry all that work wasn't as appreciated as it should have been x
Thanks Jan - most of the people who came were lovely and very appreciative... there just weren't many of them! A radical change to the marketing focus meant that a lot of local residents (our key customer base) didn't know it was happening.
I started reading this on email, last week, whilst making lunch. I got the vibe a third in that I wanted to give it my full attention, so came back to it properly today.
Just want to say... I know three things to be true:
1) You are an insanely talented printmaker and artist.
2) It's okay for things not to work out sometimes (what I mean is, it doesn't reflect on the artist, it's more often than not, things beyond our control, even the most complex marketing strategy doesn't alway give return if the wind isn't blowing in the right direction). And sorry they haven't this time.
3) It's how you move on that matters (and it's different for everyone, be it slowly, over time, or quickly into the next thing, as long motion is there in some capacity). And how fabulous to have such exciting opportunities ahead with Ironbridge - what a way to move on!
Please keep going*, we need your art** xxx
.
* But only when and if the time and energy levels feel right xxx
** Printmaking and substacks :)
Ah Marc, you are so lovely! Thank you so much for all of this. Don't worry, the spark is returning (though the black dog certainly saw an opportunity and took a bite) and you haven't seen the last of me. Hope to see you again IRL soon xxx
Please don’t burn your press! I love the early snowdrops print and you’ll have a ball In Shropshire. A good lesson to all of us who are on committees, organising things that we can’t take our audience for granted. I hope your email is taken notice of x
Thank you! I am not hopeful as four weeks later neither of us have had a reply other than a ‘thank you for your email’ acknowledgement. This in itself is concerning as that is definitely Not How We Did Things In Our Day x
That’s very sad
I'm new-ish to printmaking and having lovely, talented artists like you doing amazing work on my doorstep in York is such an inspiration and keeps me motivated to keep growing creatively. I'm sorry Open Studios was tough this year. It was interesting to read an insider's view here as someone who has only ever pottered around as a visitor. Thanks for sharing your perspective and I hope you don't burn all your prints!
Ah thank you Cathy! I hope the North Yorkshire Open Studios artists are having a better time of it this weekend and next, though the weather is disappointing to say the least. If you are in York and getting into printmaking, do check out York Printmakers (https://www.yorkprintmakers.org.uk). We really are VERY nice and have members from beginners to long standing professionals.
Don’t give up your passion! You’re so talented and such a lovely lady in person. We love our prints and you ❤️
Ah thank you Becca. You and Andy are true good friends and we love you both to bits xx
A really interesting read, and such a lovely print, I just had to buy one. It reminded me of the gorgeous nature illustrations in old Ladybird books and I'll have to decide when it arrives whether to keep it, or give it to someone as a really special gift.
What a lovely thing to say! And thank you so much for your order. That will go in the post on Monday 🙂
Ah shit, I’m sorry, Jane. That must have been hard. X
Thanks Mel - a double whammy of a personal business loss while also seeing something you spent years nurturing just trashed and left out in the rain (and it took so long to bake it too…). I didn’t go into details in my post but the reputational damage is severe and possibly irrecoverable. I know the ex-Chair is particularly upset; she literally worked through the night to save the event during the pandemic, and now this.
Take heart. People’s memories are shorter than you might think! But the business loss is inexcusable. Awful for you x
I hope you're right, and I think you are about the public. Artists, on the other hand, can bear a grudge for YEARS. We shall see... x
Yes, that’s true.