Mark Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 My partner and I are moving to France in October. We will, after a few months of setting up, be aiming to sell my partner's oil on canvas paintings and handmade pottery under the microbic system having registered with the C de C/C de M etc. I was wondering whether anyone already doing something similar could offer advice on how best to maximise our income in terms of the selling outlets we use. The three I've thought of so far are markets, Internet and exhibitions. Are there any others? Should we look to split our effort equally between those three, or concentrate on one above the others? Anything else generally I should consider?Thank you very much.Mark (who can't even draw a horse's head) [:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 Don't forget things like village fêtes and fairs and Christmas markets; they usually feature arts and crafts stalls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beryl Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 Will you be able to have a permanent expo at your house? You could also see if local restaurants etc can put some of your paintings up or sell them on your behalf perhaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 I've also seen 'artist co-operative' shops in some places we have stayed on holiday, where a bunch of arty crafty people club together to run a small retail outlet for their work. Mainly in tourist hotspots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 Depots de vente (ventes?) where the owner gets a percentage and so do you. Although mainly old goods, some sell new things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mozman Posted July 27, 2006 Share Posted July 27, 2006 I am an artist....but my marketplace is England.....but I would no doubt do what you are doing if I decided to live in France permanently.So I do notice where are is displayed.One place of note in our French town is in the local Tourist Office....especially if your oils have a theme that ties in with the area. What works in England should work in France. An Open Studio day will get people talking about what you are doing....as will offering lessons. Don't forget that you can sell your work in England. Scenes of French landscapes, village life etc etc have always been popular and would sell at the French Poperty exhibitions or French markets.Consider investing in a Printer capable of producing top quality Giclee prints. Trying to make money from Originals is notoriously difficult unless you have a reputation and can sell regularly for Big Money. Otherwise the time it takes to accomplish doesn't really reap the right reward.A Printer capable of producing prints up to A1 size on canvas (or various heavy duty papers) costs around £2500 (though they can be got for less second hand). They use digital technology and will produce top notch prints in small runs from your stored images. That way you could produce limited edition prints....and use the image to produce notecards and other less expensive sized items. Then you can sell your prints either stretched over a frame or mounted and framed behind glass.Worth considering if you want to get maximum profit from the work you do. If you do a picture that is a real winner it is a shame to sell it as a one-off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Head Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 Sounds like good commonsense advice mossman, always with people like us the problem is marketing and being consistent enough to generate sales and reputation. I think one has to use the grey cells to think creatively about marketing and realistic enough to provide for everyday living. Getting out there and asking the question is the first step. I haven't looked for a market here yet, my carving work is in the UK for schools and local authorities but I do have a backup of other timber related work, all of which is here. ironically word of mouth is working quite well here at the moment and I'm getting projects coming in. I think if you can have another financial backup then you have more time to develop what you really want to.Good luck, Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluedog Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 What will be the themes of the paintings - anything and everything? Typical French scenes? I can recommend that you link to as many websites dealing in France as possible or at least see if some of them will allow you to do so. Also, try Vive La France exhibition in January at Olympia. It is sadly lacking true paintings, although the poster and 'art' stand was extremely busy.Bluedog[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 Re Mozmans post - I have bought prints produced like this from Andy Small who is a photographer - www.andysmall.com I think he also does other bits and pieces which might inspire you.No connection except as a customer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted July 31, 2006 Author Share Posted July 31, 2006 Thanks all for taking the time to respond with such helpful advice.The theme of the paintings will be an abstract take on traditional scenes and locally renowned sites of natural beauty. So, when we're finally domiciled in the Pyrenees, we would be selling, for instance, interpretations of Gavarnie, Pic du Midi etc, in the hope that people will have enjoyed their experiences of these sites and want a lasting reminder of them. The 'abstract' nature of my partner's work does not render the subject unrecognisable, but neither is it a stricly literal and conventional facsimile of the subject. It sounds feasible to me as a viable income generator, if only in the spring and summer months. If not, I could always resort to flogging plastic Virgin Mary statues full of 'holy' water in Lourdes. I'm not proud. [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Roy Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 Did you know that in France artists are treated as a 'special case' and get good tax breaks, as well as lower SS payments? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted August 9, 2006 Author Share Posted August 9, 2006 Hi Mary, no I didn't know that. Very encouraging, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 I didn't know that, either. Where's me paint brushes? [:P] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted August 9, 2006 Author Share Posted August 9, 2006 My first exhibition, 'My Unmade Bed', will welcome visitors to my studio in the Vendée from October 1st. Free aperos for anyone from the Chambre de Metiers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 That's a bit mean - are you expecting a big bunch of freeloaders from the Chambre de Metiers, so you can't treat any of us who are in the area at the time?"My Unmade Bed" - is it similar to Tracy Emmin's “Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963-1995”? [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted August 9, 2006 Author Share Posted August 9, 2006 [quote user="Cassis"]That's a bit mean - are you expecting a big bunch of freeloaders from the Chambre de Metiers, so you can't treat any of us who are in the area at the time?"My Unmade Bed" - is it similar to Tracy Emmin's “Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963-1995”? [;-)][/quote]If you're in the area at the time, you'll be part of the piece, raking in those euros on our other venture. [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 [quote user="Mark"]My first exhibition, 'My Unmade Bed', will welcome visitors to my studio in the Vendée from October 1st. Free aperos for anyone from the Chambre de Metiers.[/quote]'egger' may be in the Vendee at that time, surely you would offer her a glass of something tasty? [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 What, Egger is no longer settling in Brittany? What are the airports like in the Vendee? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted August 10, 2006 Author Share Posted August 10, 2006 [quote user="Cassis"]What, Egger is no longer settling in Brittany? What are the airports like in the Vendee?[/quote]The runways were all mistakenly laid vertically, and would therefore be far too dangerous for Egger to use, unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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