Miles Art information
Information to pass on concerning the topic of Miles art
This is where I can offer updates on what I am up to, deals on art for sale, 'how to,' related articles video links. A gathering place for those interested in the topic of art. This is supplemental to my blogs, where you can comment, but there is less room and space. I send out a mailer that can have a link to 'here,' for those interested in more information than a short blurb in the mailer.
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Recent Art News
March 2022.... Tucson show Still in Tucson after the fossil show where I also sell 'everything' art books knives along with my fossils. It is a good show to attend as either seller or buyer. Considered the biggest gem show I the world.70,000 venders and a million customers, from all over the world. I learn a lot effecting creating and selling, that I would not know for isolated Nenana Alaska. I learned for example, blue lapis stone will be going up in price and if I want any I should buy it now. The value of my fossil cave bear fangs went from $50 to $300 in a year. There is a world-wide issue with amber, something about not supporting slave labor a boycott I am not sure beyond amber is now illegal to sell in some places. Nice to know, I can back off on amber art for now, no use investing in raw amber this year. Fossil issues as well, all of Europe just banned the sale of mammoth fossils. I was able to discuss this with some of the top fossil people in the world. This is more informative than opinions in a local bar or crafters who have never left Alaska. I can pass along more factual information. All this knowledge close to the sources helps me in the business aspect of selling art.
I also learn some creative things. Like what is selling now world-wide. What price range what subject matter. The rich appear to be getting richer and spending. High end art, gold, opal sells. However the poor are getting more poor it appears, so ‘how low can I go,’ is also a factor in selling.
Secrets to hand craft while keeping a low price. I create in Alaska, one of the highest cos of living places in the world. It is therefore challenging to compete with China. If you are also in such a situation, think if what it would be hard for China to do. Like, what materials are local to me that China would not likely get.
For me, local Alaska rocks not on the commercial market some with no name I can call “Nenana River Rock” who else has it? If you had a million dollars, where would you get it? Me. Have some process to create on the cutting edge, or not known, or difficult to mass produce or figure out how it got done. For example I harden my own steel using a torch and not a kiln, hand done, can not be mass done in volume. I hand hammer copper in the steel. Who else even knows how? Obviously not done in China so I can get more money, be competitive. I can keep costs down by creating up to a dozen items at the same time. I love everything through all the stages together, so for example I do not have to change sanding belts or drill bits as often. I mass polish in a tumbler- not polish by hand. There are was to cast or stamp some parts I need, my design but reproduced by the dozen, not mass produced in a factory but say, hand cast or hand stamped with a custom stamp. When I buy raw material, I buy way more then I need for huge discounts and offer surplus raw to other artists I know who need what I need. I am now their source and can even trade for their labor. Example, in Tucson I buy display raw, like nice flat crystals. I then trade these displays with a custom glass bead maker I know, for beads I can use in the necklace for my custom pendant. Beads could be $50 each for best high end. I trade a $50 crystal I paid $10 for. That’s fine, her $50 bead cost her $5 to make (plus time of course) Now the cost of my total finished product can be competitive.
Since I have invested in far more material then I can use right now while ‘at the source,’ I now have lots of raw material to choose from when I wish to get creative. I also am more adaptable. For example it appears to me there are more people in financial trouble, so many who have hours cut, or now need to work maybe being supported by a spouse, think, “I will get into crafts in my spare time and make extra money!” I now find I can make more money selling craft material to wanna-be- get quick- new -to -crafting. Even sell information. If say, the art is not selling as well. This income can pay the bills and support my own creative time. It beats having to get a separate unrelated real job to supplement my income. Other serious arts can do the same.
Example.. I have a lot of customers buying mammoth fossil ivory knife scales one at a time to fill one order they have, paying me retail. Say $75. I suggest they buy a pound of raw fossil and make their own knife scale sets. Or buy 10 sets at about half price. Not enough money? So buy the pound for $75 and make about 5 sets for the price of one. Or better, fly to Tucson, write it off as a business trip, enjoy Tucson, buy your years worth of knife material. I can sometimes sell 20 pounds, you pick it out of a totes of 500 pounds, choose what you want, weigh it yourself and pay me, as low as $30 a pound. Now such a knife maker can offer killer deals no one else can offer. His handle material cost $5 not $75.
The same can be said for almost any raw material you would use in your own art work. Few artists are also good with business, and stores know this and when they buy from artists, they make the profits and the artist often gets slave labor wages. So the above ideas is one answer to how to ‘get ahead’ in the art business. If as a buyer reading this you are shocked! I say art is magic! The word magic is often followed by ‘trick.’ Once you know the secrets to magic it is no longer magic. Is that a bummer or not? I see man customers who like to feel they got one over on the seller with a killer deal and paid for slave labor. The creator worked for them, and bows in thanks. Revealing trade secrets is a toss up.
Give your own artistic gift ability some thought as to how it can be ‘yours,’ and yours alone. And how to save time without a huge sacrifice on creativity.