BIG PIECES OF 8 ART SALE! SAVE THE DATE!

The Big Holiday Sale!

Three more days till our big sale! This is the eighth year for this event, and we have moved from Carol's garage to Ralph's Art Supply on Highland Avenue in Melbourne. The sale starts at 3 on First Friday, Dec 5th and you will have another opportunity the next day, Saturday. Dec 6th, from 10 to 4.

We are so excited to be at Ralph's this year, and we have lots of original paintings, ornaments, pillows, clay art, jewelry, prints, and, best of all: affordable prices! If you're looking for something different, this is the place!

My paintings shown here will be on sale. I painted them joyfully from our group's trip to Silver Springs.

Carmen

Three Pelicans, 8x6 Oil on Panel, Wildlife Painting by Carmen Beecher

Click to Buy

Here is my other pelican painting, a new take on my last post. I wanted to inject more color and vibration, getting away from all the cool, calm blues in the first painting. 

Carmen

Fascination

Besides fire and water there is one other thing I could stare at for hours and that is a Lava Lamp.  I know, I know.  Firstly a lot of you may not even know what that is but anyone of a certain age will remember when they were quite popular.  I don't know what it is but there is something about suspended jello slowly moving through liquid that is quite fascinating.
The results of pouring fluid acrylics mixed with a pouring medium can also be exciting to look at.  The results can remind you of anything from outer space to lava flowing down a volcano.  You can just pour the paint on a canvas or pour and use an object, like a comb, to make a design.  Either way it can give you something to ponder.
Donna Vines

Hmmm
 

Join the Pieces of 8 at our Eau Gallie Arts District Location:
Ralph's Art Supply
1420 Highland Avenue. 32935
Our 8th Annual Holiday Sale and Show
Has expanded to give you & your friends more time to shop!
First Friday: Dec 5 from 3:00 - 8:30 pm.
                                   AND
Saturday: Dec 6 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Early birds find the bargains!

Abstracts to Collage to Oils oh my

One of the best things about being an artist in a group is that you are exposed to so many techniques.  Our group is so diverse, with so many interests we are never bored or boring nor is our Art Sale!!
This December 5th and 6th is our famous, yes I mean famous Pieces of 8 pre- holiday sale.
This year for the first time it will be a 2 day event, tied into First Friday in Eau Gallie and continuing on Saturday.  We will be at our new studio space at Ralph's Art Supply and he has graciously agreed to us starting our sale on Friday from 3:00 to 8:30 and into Saturday 10:00-4:00.
I love dappling in oils, collage and abstracts of all kinds and will have all of the above for sale at the show and I am only  one person. 
We always have so much fun meeting some of the wonderful people who support us by purchasing our art,  following us on Facebook and our blog.
Here are a few of the pieces I will have at the sale.  Please come by, browse, enjoy  and say hello.
Donna Vines

Bouquet
 

Button Up
 

Hand colored black and white photo

 

Annual Holiday Sale December 7th!

Gift Shopping at its finest! December 7th, 9 to 4


The Pieces of Eight sale will be bigger than ever this year! As an event within an event, my husband made birdhouses for each of us and we each decorated ours, without anyone seeing the others. On Sunday we had a big reveal, and I am so thrilled with the creativity shown by every member. These birdhouses are amazing!

There will be deep discounts on paintings like my Coconut Palm, above left; painted furniture; handmade jewelry and many more lovely gift items. Here's my birdhouse and my jewelry:

Posted by Carmen Beecher

Dragonflower, 20x20 Oil Painting by Carmen Beecher

I have posted so many small paintings in my blog and my Etsy shop, and I suddenly got the urge to paint something big and flowery. I have taken lots of pictures of my Cereus blooms, which are supposed to ultimately become Dragonfruit, but mine fall short of that achievement.

I like the glow of light coming through the flowers. I got the background by mixing Pthalo Green and Alizarin Crimson, and I like the intensity of that, but I seem to wear Pthalo Green for days. It seems to have mysterious properties enabling it to jump all over me and my clothes.

PURCHASE

Get 'em While they're HOT!!

HOT off the press that is....this Saturday, Dec 4 marks the debut of "The Artist's Palate," a limited edition, full-color cookbook produced by the artists of Pieces of 8.  A visual delight, this little gem sells for only $9.00 and, if you can part with it, makes a wonderful gift.  All recipes have been tested and tasted by the members on their annual painting retreats.  Only 100 are available so the "early birds" will reap the ....(worms?).

We will be part of the Greater Melbourne Studio Tour from 9 to 4 and our location is 3532 Samuel Place in North Melbourne (or #2 on the map found at www.facebook.com/#!/GreaterMelbourneStudioTour). ALSO on hand will be some great art (all sizes, prices and media), ceramics, polymer treats for the tree and a raffle to win some assorted nifty items.  Kick-off off the season with this fun tour...be unique: buy original!!

SEA OATS, 4X12, CAROL SCHIFF STUDIO

Living on the coast of Florida is a mixed blessing.  Most days, I am thankful to be here.  Summer is gone, but I look forward to warm days and low humidity.  Quite often the best time to spend time at the beach.

Purchase here
$99

IS THIS PRICE FIRM??

“Is this price firm?”


I am often asked as to the “appropriateness” of haggling, or bargaining, with an artist over the price. I’m sure there is a wide variety of opinions but, bravely, I’ll share mine. “Haggling” sounds awful, let’s refer to it as “making an offer.” And my feeling is: in most circumstances, done with discretion, it is perfectly acceptable to discuss price with an artist.

That being said, let me offer a few guidelines, again my opinions, as to how and where this might work. After all, today especially, the real price of anything is what a willing buyer and a willing seller agree upon.

Discretion = important skill. If you barge into a full booth and attempt to undercut a posted price where everyone and his brother is listening, I guarantee you no thinking artist will agree. On the other hand, after you have established a rapport with the artist by discussing his or her work, and no one is in hearing range, it is perfectly fine to say, “I love that piece but right now cash is a bit tight, would you take X for it today?” or “I have my eye on both pieces, they go so well together, if I bought both today would you be willing to take X for the pair?” Neither statement is offensive and both allow the artist to say “No, I can’t” with some dignity. By the same token it also allows them to make a counter offer professionally and with no fear of appearing to undercut previous buyers who came by and paid full price.

Frame removal=no big deal. Don’t go thinking you will get the price down by half if you refuse the frame! Trust me, artists do not pay retail for their frames and most do the labor themselves. And besides, removing the frame is more labor ($), then they have to protect the piece with boards (more $) and then they are stuck with a frame that goes with a certain piece. No money savings here.

End of weekend/month=possibilities. The party is over and all that stuff has to be packed up and carted back home. Sometimes this is the golden hour for bargain hunters. IF the piece you had your eye on still remains you may be able to get a small break since it will be one less piece that needs packing and since this is the time the artist tallies up what they did over the weekend and the bills they incurred. Not a sure bet but a possibility.

Why wouldn’t an artist bargain? Plenty of good reasons if you see it from their perspective. Most artists have mouths to feed and bills to pay, this is how they do it. Did you ask your plumber to charge less or if you could get a discount at the restaurant? Same idea. Realize too that the mark up on art is not that large. Consider materials, time, framing, labor, transportation and marketing….it all adds up.

Consider also that artists work very hard to enter the realm of increasing prices. Value is measured in price points, it’s a fact. Prices cannot be all over the map without discrediting the value. If you do get a “deal” be smart enough to keep that between you and the dealer. Just like some people like brands on their handbags and logos on their cars, many collectors aspire to have certain art on their walls…and as artists, we want to be that signature! Price, unfortunately, is another measure of worth. You’d be upset if what you paid top dollar for was suddenly sold at half that.

Keep in mind, this is only my opinion and does not necessarily reflect the views or beliefs of my painting buddies in the Pieces of 8!
Cindy Michaud
this post also appears at www.cindymichaud.com

CUPCAKE DRAMA, 5X7, OIL, CAROL SCHIFF STUDIO

It seems we are to practice baked goods for a little exhibition down the road, so last week Donna Vines did a little set-up with a monster cupcake involved.  I have tried cupcakes before, but without success, so I was very leery of this one.  This is the first one that has survived the dreaded "wipe-out".  Now, maybe I can move on with a little more confidence.

Purchase here

HENS AND CHICKS AND BABYTOES, 12X12, OIL

This is a new painting that I just finished.  It will soon be on it's way to Lakewood Gallery in Tacoma, WA.  If you would like to see more of my work, check out my sites on Etsy, CarolSchiffStudio and CarolOnEdge.