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From an artist's perspective, here are 3 things that make a good art collector. photo by Jana Early #1 Art Collectors that Support the Artist Support can take many forms. It can be as simple as staying in touch. It can be a gut punch to know that I've lost connection to a collector (and therefore lost connection to that piece of artwork). Support may also look like: Sending the artist's work to other people who may enjoy the work or talking about the art in your home and sharing the artist's info if someone loves the piece you have. Go to the artist's shows If you're a collector who is plugged into the "art scene", sending opportunities that may be a good fit for the artist Respond to their emails/social media posts Leave a review Buy more work #2 Art Collectors that Take Care of the Work Sometimes I wonder whether my collected work has ever been dusted. Once a piece is sold, it's in the care of the collector. I'm happy to come dust off a painting or do needed restoration. But in reality, I've never had anyone ask for help caring for their paintings . I just hope they are being well cared for. A couple things I recommend: Don't display the piece where it will be in direct sunlight for long periods of time. Varnish and UV protective glass will help protect the art but the sun is strong and it isn't always enough to protect the art from fading/sun damage. Unless the painting is behind glass, I don't recommend putting your art collection in the kitchen. There is a lot of grease in a kitchen and that will make a sticky film on your paintings I also don't recommend storing your original art pieces in the bathroom. I can't speak to canvas works. But work on paper or wood will warp over time with all that moisture. (I decorate my bathroom with prints and photos) Use a very soft large paint brush to dust off the painting (every 6 month ish) If you move, wrap up your paintings! Google some videos about how to do it properly to avoid damaging your pieces #3 Art Collecting out of love not prestige There are real financial reasons to invest in fine art. There are also prestigious reasons to collect art. No judgment against money or prestige. But when you really love a piece of artwork that is when you'll get the greatest joy from that piece and from your collection. Also, when you collect out of love then you will do #1 and #2 naturally. Art is not just an investment, something to brag about to your friends or something to cover the walls. Fine art can feed your soul and enrich your life. So choose work that makes you feel like you can't live without it. Testimony from one of my collectors: One of my collectors is so wonderful at supporting me. She took the time to answer a few questions I had about art collecting from a collector's perspective. What made you collect Fine Dining? I’m a feelings person. I always have been and I always will be. And that’s why I collect art. There are some people who are impacted by their physical environments, I am one of them. When I first saw Amy’s work, I instantly smiled. And I knew that every time I looked at her work, specifically Fine Dining I would always smile. It wasn’t just a surface smile, it was a smile down into my soul. Like, “Oh this is breathtakingly beautiful, and oh it's so clever to juxtapose donuts with such a serious style, and Oh the meaning of giving from what you have, and seeing the goodness that you have, then sharing it,” all of those feelings bubbled up and each time I saw that painting they’d be there. 1. What does it feel like when you buy art? So, I’m not an art collector. Well, I am now, but I wasn’t. It all started when I got married. My husband loves art. We’ve actually had a few arguments over buying art instead of you know, a bed frame or what some might call necessities. And I think the beauty of it is art is a necessity. We now each save for pieces we love, but also each year on our anniversary we get some sort of art. Sometimes it’s a painting, sometimes it’s pottery or a sculpture. Sometimes it’s from a place we’ve traveled to and sometimes it’s from a friend or an artist we’ve been following. The pieces often have meaning from that time in our lives. My favorite example is a piece we bought during the pandemic. Joel had had his eye on this gallery for a while, and we found a woodblock print from a Japanese artist (Joel’s half Japanese). The print was of a crowd and two people going in the opposite direction. And it was just a good reminder for us that our lives wouldn’t necessarily look like everyone else but we’d always be going in the same direction together (and that’s a good thing to remember in life, because sometimes I forget we’re on the same team, or I worry that our life looks so different to what I’d expected. But it’s beautiful.) So, how does it feel to buy art? Sometimes it feels frivolous or unwise. It often takes a gulp and a quick check, yes this is where we want to spend our money. And it always feels special. We’re investing in someone who creates, and we love creators! We’re buying something unique. It’s exciting. It’s like finding treasure. It’s so many different feelings. 2. How has purchasing art worked for you- do you prefer emailing the artist directly/ in a gallery or have you ever purchased an original off an artists website? I’ve actually done all of the above. I love getting to see it displayed in a gallery, but I prefer working directly with an artist. I love to talk to them about the piece. Why they made it and what makes it special? 3. Are there other things you consider when buying art (or is it purely aesthetic and cost?) Maybe this is, do we look at art as an investment? No. It’s simply finding pieces we love. If the artist blows up, that’s exciting for them, we want them to succeed. And I mean yea, I’m looking forward to the day my original Amy Lewis is valued at $80,000 (to me it’s priceless). I think reminders of moments. As I mentioned, anniversaries, traveling, and buying pieces from friends (who’s work we love and we want to support). 4. Looking back at what you've collected so far, do you see a common theme of how the artists presented themselves? (for instance: was it their personality that sealed the deal?, were they good story tellers?, did they show a lot of process videos?) You know, Joel often finds the artists. And I don’t know how he finds them. We don’t always love the same things. So when something speaks to both of us, then we tend to pay a little more attention. Happy art collecting!

Let's talk about Tacoma's newest restaurant, bar and dance club: it's brunch, drinks and the gritty music scene. Wait, I thought this was Amy Lewis' art blog... Yeah it is. I am telling you about Manuscript because I have had the pleasure of working with them! My painting Lunch on the Go is hanging in the main dining area. I have designed many of the sketches for the menu (their typewriter logo and two drink designs were done by another artist: everything else on the menu was done by me) I am planning on teaching my art classes in their dance space when it's not being used. (see) So how'd it start? Eda is the driving force behind Manuscript and Dialogue. She has an amazing team of chefs behind her as well as the owner of Shake Shake Shake and the Boom Boom Room. I met Eda through Spaceworks during our incubator cohort business program. Eda wanted to create a safe space and a very cool scene where people can enjoy dance, edm, dj type events. She has managed to pair that with a kick a** restaurant and bar. Eda has a very generous and inclusive attitude towards artists/the arts. The restaurant is a hodgepodge of cool eclectic art. I was very excited to be asked to display my work and help design the menu illustrations. What do you really think? Eda invited me and Mitchel to come to a friends/family tasting before they opened. First of all- such a kind team of people. We felt so welcomed. Secondly, the food and drinks are exceptional. I haven't been so impressed by a restaurant in a long time. I recommend them with 100% of my heart. And I didn't even get to try their brunch menu or their house made pasta! (from what I have been able to taste test, my favs were: The beet goat cheese sandwich and the Heath's Herb cocktail <3) Honestly, I can't wait to go to Dialogue (the back room where the dancing and music will commence) I can't wait to try their brunch menu. I am very excited to host my art classes there. I think Manuscript & Dialogue is going to around for a longtime because I think it's a slice of what Tacoma loves. It's art, good food, good music and having a good time with kind people. Location: 203 Tacoma Ave S Tacoma WA, 98402 Hours: closed mondays & tuesdays wed/thurs: 4pm to 10pm fri: 4pm to 2am late night menu: 10pm to 1:30am sat: 9am to 2am brunch: 9am to 3pm; dinner 4pm to 10pm; late night menu: 10pm to 1:30am sun: 9am to 10pm brunch: 9am to 3pm; dinner 4pm to 10pm See 'em on Instagram.

The Tacoma Studio Tour has been going on for yearsss (decades?). I've been participating since 2017, so let me give you the rundown. promotional image provided by the Tacoma Arts Month organizers But really, what is the Tacoma Studio Tour? October is Tacoma, WA's arts month which means that the Tacoma Office of Arts and Vitality host several events to highlight Tacoma artists. This provides great free opportunities for artists and art lovers. The Studio Tour is one of those events. It happens on the 3rd Saturday and Sunday of October from 11 am to 5 pm. Participating artists open their studios (often their homes) to welcome in guests. The artists let guests view their art, shop merch and participate in a planned activity. As part of the studio tour, each artist must have some interactive "activity" prepared. It can be a demonstration or craft (anything really). (The first 2 years I did drawings of guests, other years I've done photo booths). To encourage guests to make multiple stops there is also a raffle. When you stop at an artist's studio make sure to get your "passport" stamped. To be entered in the raffle you must get at least 7 stamps and send in your completed passport. (either mail it to: 747 Market Street, Room 900, Tacoma, WA 98402 or email it to: tacomaarts@cityoftacoma.org) photo of my first Tacoma Vibes t-shirt I made for the studio tour. Photo by Winsome Walstead Is the Tacoma Studio Tour worth going to? Obviously, I am going to say yes. Before I was a participating artist in the studio tour, I was a guest. As a guest it can be a mixed bag, not every stop is created equally. But you can stumble upon some real treasures. (I've bought work during the studio tour). The studio tour is so cool because a lot of the artist community can seem closed off to non-artists. But for 2 days there are 50 different studios that will be welcoming you in (some stops have multiple artists). Insider Tips for doing the studio tour- If you can, plan on doing both days- There are 50 stops. You won't be interested in all 50+ artists. However, if you want to get the raffle entry you'll need at least 7 stops and even that is a challenge. It's surprisingly exhausting driving around, trying to find studio doors, chatting with people, shopping etc. It's nice to use the second day for studios you wanted to see but just couldn't hit in time. Also some artists only participate on certain days. (I only do Saturday, but other people may only do Sunday). Try to make a game plan/ utilize the map on your phone- Tacoma is a big place, don't waste your gas or your time. It's super nice if you visit that studio that's a little out of the way, but maybe hit it strategically Have brunch beforehand- The tour is 11 am to 5 pm, that is over 1 meal time and closing up on dinner time. This event can be tiring. Some stops will have snacks but many won't. I recommend fueling up before heading out. Get in the shopping headspace- For many artists this is one of the bigger events they have. They are so excited to share their work with you. If you like something, please consider supporting that artist. October is a great time to start thinking about holiday gifts. People love to receive something handmade/local. Here are the artists I would visit- Judith Perry (stop #47) Spun (stop #16) they are having a ton of ceramic artists this year, so it's a big bang for your buck Darrell McKinney (stop #26) I've never seen his work in person, but it seems cool from his website Gillian Nordlund (stop #32) I haven't seen her work in person either but from her instagram it looks funky and fun Jaymes Junio (stop #24) He was almost in my Tacoma in Seattle show this August. His work is cool Beautiful Angle (stop #18) Cool posters. These are some cool Tacoma people you should meet Coxswain Press (stop # 18) You will find a cute little print you have to have Lynne Farren (stop #14) She doesn't have a website, but her work is cool, eclectic and strange. Marit Berg (stop #45) I've never seen her work in person but it seems v good Michal Muehlheim-Peterson (stop #3) cute little ceramics photo of myself and Mitchel at 2019 photo booth at studio tour Is it worth being a participating artist? To be honest, sort of. If your studio is easy to find, near other artist's studios and (even better) is a shared space with other artists then you will get more traffic. Last year was prettyyy slow. However, my studio is slightly hard to find and it was 2022, things were slightly still slow from pandemic times. This year may be totally bustin'. I think with every art event/market/show you just never know. I also only ever do Saturday. So if you're willing to do 2 days, I'm sure that would increase the benefit. I think a lot of guests do both days. They love to collect those passport stamps and it is really difficult to get to 7 stops in one day. The map is helpful but Tacoma is surprisingly big. It takes a lot of effort and planning to hit more than a handful of stops. (and there are 50). I think it's valuable but it isn't my biggest sale day ever. Knowing that, I prepare for it but I don't go crazy with planning. studio photo by Jess Uhler All the details about the Tacoma Studio Tour in one place- When: October 14th + 15th, 11 am to 5 pm Where: All over Tacoma (Tacoma proper) What: Open studios. Meet artists, see work in person, buy things, and do fun little activities Raffle: get 7 stamps (7 different studio stops). Mail in your passport or email a photo of it. (747 Market Street, Room 900, Tacoma, WA 98402 // tacomaarts@cityoftacoma.org) Map: Here is the map for the tour. View it on your phone as you travel around Tacoma. Artists: This year they split the descriptions of the artists and the artists' stop number. Which means you need to scroll down on this page to view the artist descriptions and their stop number. And then you need to find that stop on the map. Have a blast.

Need a food painting, hand paintings or portraits? I am your girl. Commissions are so special because they combine your vision with my expertise and skills. I can give life to something you love. How to start the commission process- Just email me. You can also visit my contact page to message me via my website. You can also message me on Instagram (not as reliable because sometimes messages get hidden). You can also call me, but if you do just know that I get loads of scam calls in a day so you'll need to leave a voicemail. email: AmyLewisFineArt@gmail.com phone: 253-495-7991 contact page What's it like getting a commission from Amy Lewis? First I do a little happy dance because you've taken the leap to reach out to me! I send you a little list of questions to narrow down exactly what you're looking for We go back and forth a little bit to make sure we are 100% on the same page You send me your reference images. Sometimes people don't have them and that's fine. It depends on the project. For instance, below you can see a watercolor painting on cheese. The commissioner asked for a cheese painting and I worked with a photographer to take that image. Other times it's very personal and you bring the image (like a portrait). If you want to provide your own images but they are really bad... then that'll be an issue. We can discuss, but just know that if I have to compile several images together it is never as good as using one image (this is especially true for getting a likeness, in the case of an animal or a person). Once we are agreed on everything, I will send you an invoice for the project and request a 50% deposit Deposit in hand, I will start your project I will be in contact with you the whole time about where in the process I am. I will check in for feedback before starting each "next stage" Once I'm done I will get your stamp of approval and request the other 50% of monies I do have a clause requiring 20% of the total price if I have to do any big "fixes" and 100% of the price if I have to do the painting over. This has never happened. This is a safety net in case of difficult clients. I communicate so much with you that you really have no reason to be surprised. And I'm also happy to make small adjustments or suggestions (I ask for feedback). Before I send you the painting I will have it photographed (and in the cases of oil, I will need to varnish it. So think about 2-3 weeks of drying time if you're commissioning an oil painting). Then we arrange pickup or shipping! I will send you an image of the piece you can share on social media. If you are interested in licensing then I will send you a high res digital file of the original. And if you are interested in printing the image you can arrange that through me:) Woah, that was a lot of steps. But really, it's not. It goes super smoothly if everyone communicates promptly. So, how long will the commission take? It really depends on what I have going on, what time of year it is and what your project is like. But here are some time estimates just based on project type. Time estimates: The moral of this story is to contact me asap because there is no time guarantee. 90% of my commissions are gifts for others which usually have a deadline. So hit me up. If you wait, that amazing birthday idea will turn into a Christmas gift. Different commission styles and their prices- Style one: No Background I don't have a sexy name for this style. But leaving the background white is a common trend among artists right now. It allows us to make work more quickly and it makes the subject *pop*. All the images below are past commissions in this "style" This style tends to be more affordable because I am able to do the work more quickly. It can be done in either watercolor or oils. But as you can see below- it's usually in watercolor. Style one: Full Composition- You can see below that this "style" is what you may think of as a traditional painting. I offer this style in both oil and watercolor paint. This style, regardless of medium, takes much more time and therefore is pricier. So you want to know about pricing. The biggest factors that determine price are: style and size. Every project is different and if you have something in mind then it's best to get a custom quote. Just email me: amylewisfineart@gmail.com But sometimes you just want artists to spit it out. Here's a very rough estimate: Other factors may be supplies. If you choose a watercolor painting mounted on a wood panel then that will be a little extra then just on paper. Or maybe you want to license the image for a product- that will have associated fee. In conclusion, let's start a commissioned painting I loveee to do commissions. It's so exciting to deliver a piece that someone is already so invested in, It's personal for everyone involved in the best way. So please, remember that if it's a gift I need time to fit you in. Message me asap. commission for Rezdora

If you walked by River in Seattle, WA on August 11th and 12th you would've seen a large, industrial gorgeous space filled with fine art by 10 Tacoma local artists. About the Event I organized this exhibition because I wanted this opportunity for myself. (the opportunity of having a fine art show in Seattle). Inviting 9 other artists to come along on the journey made this exhibition actually work. They brought beautiful work, they invited their circles and they gave me support and encouragement. Friday night we had some drinkies from a cider company and amazing cookies from The Common Cookie. We also enjoyed music from DJ Raf Lauren. Jana Early was there to document the night. Saturday afternoon, the next day, we were blessed by Maddy's Bakeshop (GORGEOUS DELICIOUS CAKES). Plus Cami Werden did a phenomenal job singing (Can't wait for her debut album to be released). About the Artists To read more about the artists you can head to my other blog post about this event. They all currently live in (or grew up in) Tacoma. There was no "theme" to the show. We brought our best work and represented our city as best as we knew how. As well as the organizer, I was also the curator. I chose these artists based on the quality of their work, their attitude/personalities and their dedication to making and selling work. They had to be people that were dreamers and doers. Having the same goal and attitude towards the event helped us to stick together and make it happen. Anticipation We had put in the work to get the word out and we started the day pretty early to get all the work up to Seattle and hung by late afternoon. I was thrilled to be at River. The space was huge and beautiful. It was such a wonderful feeling to see it come alive with all the artwork. How It Went It went really well. Firstly, I'm so thankful to River for hosting us. They are an invaluable resource for artists. Having the space for a second day was amazing because we didn't have to set up and tear down in the same day. It was so easy to work with the owners. 110% would throw another show there. Friday night had such good energy. We had people dropping in because they were doing the Belltown Art walk which was happening the same evening. We had loads of family and friends. People were eating the cookies, drinking the drinks and spending a long time looking at art. There was a lot of work on the walls so there was a lot of reason (beyond snacks and chatting) to stay and enjoy the show. Saturday was a little slower, a little more chill. But we still had family and friends stopping by. In the lulls, The artists were able to catch up and chat. The whole project was a little surreal because many of us had never met. Being artists in Tacoma gives us a lot in common so it was so good to chat and bounce ideas off of each other. A collector also came back to pick up Dierdre's painting and close the deal. (amazing). Everything went so smoothly. There were no big accidents or mishaps. No one missed the show because of traffic and no work was damaged. It was such a beautiful show and I'm so proud of it. Why Seattle Some thoughts, I think it's important to share art between Seattle and Tacoma. As we chatted amongst ourselves, we agreed that it felt like maybe the art scene in Seattle has been slowing down recently whereas the art scene in Tacoma is getting revitalized. (I'm sure someone may feel differently). But if there's any truth to it, it's important for our cities to support each other- Tacoma with our vitality and Seattle with it's experience and long running organizations and structures (and collectors). I loved organizing this event. It feels so inspiring and empowering to organize an event for yourself and for others. We were tired of waiting for someone to "choose us". We chose ourselves. I will definitely be thinking about curation and how I can throw more shows in the future (in Tacoma and Seattle) If you have a good space for an art show, please don't hesitate to reach out! Thank you. Thank you to everyone who made their way to downtown Seattle on their August weekend. We can put in the work and yell from the roof tops, but it's really up to every supporter, friend, family member and art aficionado to come make the party happen. So, thank you. See you next time. All photos by Jana Early.

In August 2023 I threw an art exhibition with 9 other Tacoma artists, titled "Tacoma in Seattle." These are my bts thoughts and my goals for next time. The Event Tacoma in Seattle was my art event baby. I made it a goal to have a show in Seattle and so I made that goal happen. It was successful by most standards of the word. However-- I dream big. And there are things I'd change up a little bit for next time. Things That I'd Repeat Group show- It was so relieved to have a group of artists behind me. First of all, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for me to fill such a big space with my work. They also brought expertise, helping hands, advice, encouragement and their groups of supporters. Musical talent- I loved having a dj and then a singer-songer writer at the event. It was lovely having them. 100% would ask them to do another event with me. Food Vendors- The Common Cookie and Maddy's Bakeshop were perfect, love them. I knew I didn't want to spend a lot of money on food or drinks, so finding vendors that were willing to come for free and sell worked perfect. I hope it was worth it to them. It seemed like they were selling a lot so, I think it was. Reaching out to press- leading up to the event I sent (and resent) press releases to online magazines and newspapers. I found out 2 things, news sources usually have event pages where you sign up and post your event for free and if a magazine features your event it will probably be in an online blog format. But I think it was valuable and I would definitely do again. Snail Mail invites to gallerists & curators- this could almost fit in the rethink section because I'm 99.9% sure none of the invitees actually came. But I think it was still valuable. I sent invites to galleries and curators and if they actually received it, then they were made aware that we did a thing. And maybe next time they will make time for the thing (or look it up and connect after the thing). This one is on the fence, but I think it is worth doing. For Next Time drinks. It was such a hassle to follow the very strange (and arbitrary) alcohol rules. If I had the show at River again, I know the rules now so it'd be fine. But if I had the show somewhere else, I don't want to jump through hoops. SO I'm thinking cool alt drinks-- mocktails are very in right now. I'm on the hunt for a mocktail vendor. more attendees (I'm incredibly thankful for everyone who came. But the show was so short and during a vacation month, I think there were more people interested who weren't able to come). So maybe I'll consider having the show up for longer and throwing it in the spring, fall or winter. marketing- more social shares. Our giveaway flopped for some reason and not many people were sharing our event. (thank you again to everyone who did). Maybe our poster and marketing materials could've had some humor or a cooler design. more sales. Congratulations to Dierdre for making the only sale of the show. This one is hard to plan for and it's always secondary to networking when it comes to art shows. But it's always the real goal. Not sure how to make this one happen though. alt. ways to make up costs. Next time I may consider making it a ticketed event ($5 or under). This time around I did not want merch or prints at the show. But next time I may allow space for that. I wanted the show to be very "fine art gallery" vibes, which it was. But realistically, having merch and prints is a great way to engage fans and build loyalty. In Conclusion Throwing this event was a huge learning curve. But I'm really thankful for the experience. It went so well. I cherish the feeling of when I walked into River for the first time (I had never been there throughout the planning). I felt crazy, laugh out loud joy when I saw that huge beautiful space. It was super surreal that I was allowed to be in charge and bring art and friends together to celebrate. I started working on this project at the beginning of 2023 and it finally came to fruition. I feel bizarre going on with my year with the event behind me. It's not apparent how it will effect my life/career. But it brought joy to a lot of people, and that's something to be really grateful for. Photos of the event are coming very soon. I can't wait to share.

Lewis is creating her Seattle fine art debut herself and taking 9 other artists with her. You'll want to be there (it's up for 2 days only) A Fine Art Exhibition in Seattle? I'm Amy Lewis. I am an emerging fine artist living/working in Tacoma, WA. My work is centered around finding gratitude in the ordinary. For 1 year + I've wanted to have a show in Seattle. I felt like my ideal collectors live there and I needed to find them. It can be tricky getting into a gallery and it can be tricky throwing a show all by yourself. Throwing a group show is also tricky, but it's a lot easier. I'm so excited to be organizing Tacoma in Seattle- a group fine art show that provides an opportunity for 10 Tacoma artists to show in Seattle AND brings really good Tacoma art to Seattleites. Organizing this exhibition has been so good in many ways. I'm happy to give this opportunity to the other artists and I am excited for others to be able to enjoy all this art. photo by Jana Early It's really about the art The event is really focused on sharing art, with that "fine art, white box gallery look" while still being a fun event to go to (add in good music + snacks). The event is 2 days only. It's at River in downtown Seattle (Belltown area. Only 10 min walk from Pike Place market). If you come Friday night- I recommend getting dinner downtown, hitting the other galleries on the Belltown Art Walk and then coming to our party (5-9pm). Dress up (if you want), because we are holding a best dressed competition. If you come Saturday afternoon (12-4 pm), then I recommend grabbing brunch, wandering around Pike Place market, then come through to our event. Afterwards, I'm sure other galleries in Belltown will be having openings as well. *I also recommend coming both days. Event Details Where: River, 1927 3rd avenue When: August 11th, 5-9pm // August 12th 12-4 pm There is parking right next to the venue so don't even worry about it! Come as you are. Art is for everyone. (but if you want to dress up, we dig that- there's a best dressed competition happening Friday night, with prizes)

Close your browser right now if you only want advice from people who are making 6 figures. This isn't that. But I have been dedicated to my art practice for 8+ years and these are the best tips (for promoting your work) I have for you. Take what speaks to you, leave the rest. Intros Before I dive into it, let me introduce myself a little. I've always been interested in the arts and improving my skills as an artist. I didn't go to an art high school or college. I took art classes when they were offered, taught myself and attended a 5 week intensive at Gage Academy of Art (highly recommend). I've always needed color. As far back as I can remember I've used watercolors. I used the Crayola watercolor trays through my childhood and it wasn't until after high school that I started to get nicer supplies. At Gage I learned some skills to help me draw "classically" and also how to oil paint. I can't recommend Gage enough. But I was very skeptical of an art degree and very wary of collecting debt. So instead of an art degree, I painted and worked while I got my degree in Business management (TCC + UWT) During college (and after, obviously) I started to work on art as a business. You can see my full resume on my about page. If you take a look at it- look at the time frame. For reference, I finished my first "fine art" professional piece in 2016. Things have been slow. If you're an artist looking to go into fine art, just know that it takes so much time, sacrifice and investment. Some people get to go the short route, but it's the very few. For most artists, this path is an investment and it can be really hard. But anyway, here are some things I've gathered on my journey so far and I'd love to share them with you in the hopes that your journey may be a little faster and your burden a little lighter. 1. Invest in yourself Time: Making the work is an investment of time. But there is no business to build if the work isn't there. Make the absolute best work you can, as fast as you can. But remember, just start. The more work you make, the better it'll get. Art skills : If you really want to do a thing but you don't know how consider: - asking around someone may teach you for free -Youtube it -buy a course/ebook -check out a library book -take a course (Gage?) Individual artists often sell classes as well You can figure it out yourself but it may take twice as long. It's exponentially faster to learn from someone. For instance, I recently acquired a camera. I will be Youtubing and asking my photographer dad for tips and help. Business skills: See art skills (above). Reading blogs and podcasts can help as well. What I've learned as I've tried to "learn business skills" is that no one knows the sure- fire way to sell art. You will get so much of the same fairly useless advice. I think hearing testimonies from other artists is great. I have started to pick out the common threads from all the advice. Also, I take the advice I know I can follow (play to your strengths). I know I can build an email list and write a blog post so that's what I'm doing. I can't make 5 paintings a week or launch a new merch product every month so I'm not doing that. 2. Show it This one may be obvious.. But show your work. Show it online and show it in person. Online: post the jpg post it on the wall (smartist is fairly affordable and SO worth the money) post it being made post it in video form post it with you next to it post it with price post it after 6 months, a year, forever (if you still think it's good) post it when it sells post a review from the person who bought it No one is annoyed that you're "promoting yourself". You're doing a service to others when you should them something you made. It brings people joy. Plus social media is not showing your post to everyone. So the work need to be posted frequently even if it feels repetitive to you. You also need a website because it shows that you are professional. And being professional means that you are easy to work with, reliable and worth the price tag. But you can start that with just a few pieces and you can start with a free site. If you don't want to get a paid site with a shop feature then set up an etsy and/or paypal and/or stripe etc. Anything where it's easy for people to pay you, get that and link it on your website. In-person: When something is on the more expensive end, people often need to see it in person. That's why it is SO important to be seen out in the world. Some people are very choosy about where they show. And cool for them. There are good reasons for that, especially if you are playing a very long game and aiming for PRESTIGE. But I think- show wherever: 1) you like their vibe 2) have an agreement 3) the potential benefit outweigh the costs And if you start aiming for more prestigious opportunities, just don't add "Joe's coffee house" to your resume. We all start somewhere and we all need to sell work. I have standards but I want to be flexible and creative about showing. September 2021 I hosted my own solo show out of my apartment. People may call that an open studio. But I called it a show and I made smaller works specifically for the show (12 total) and I sold 10! And I loved it and I think other people loved it. So it was very exciting and a learning experience. I'm a big believer in creating the event or opportunity you want. Plus it's exciting to get to make that experience from nothing and bring joy to other people. It's hard work and can be a real gift to others. I'm aiming for CJ Hendry status. 3. Say goodbye to scary networking, and say hello to "making connections" Wait.. Isn't that the same thing? Yes. But if it helps you then think of it as making connections or making friends. We live in the easiest time EVER to network. (and yes, I'm an introvert) yes, you should go to the shows other people have. Get on the gallery's mailing list and show up to the thing. But I've done this and still haven't connected with anyone. But I'm realizing what I have been doing successfully (and it's so exciting) >> I have been seeing amazing people on Instagram (artists, curators, galleries, magazines). I follow those people. I like and comment on their stuff. I send them things that made me think of them. And it's EASY and NATURAL and FUN because on social media we are all doing the same thing and it makes us all so human. It feels good when someone appreciates what we are doing. So just because they are "more successful" than you or have some place of power, that does not mean they don't still love genuine praise on social media. By connecting naturally online, it's almost as if we know each other. It's an in-road. Show up to their show or apply to their open call. If they are an artist, ask if they want to collaborate, start a group or throw an event. Just by being active and following people I genuinely like-- I am so much more likely to get connected to that person. Galleries have followed me back (WHAT). And yeah, I haven't shown there yet. But it's all about showing up, timing and being genuine. Now if I go to the show in person, we have something to say to each other. Instead of "Hi I'm Amy, I'm an artist I like your gallery..." It can be- "Hi, I'm Amy, I love your gallery. I follow you on Instagram, I loved your last show." And even better, if they recognize you because you are online acquittances- "Hi, I'm Amy. It's so good to finally meet you in person. I love following you on Instagram" This sort of organic online connection is how 3/10 of the artists got connected to me and are now in my upcoming exhibition I'm organizing. So give it a try. Knock on doors, comment on things. Follow what you love,(not just people you think will give you something) 4. Collaborate, seriously I admit, I need more of this. I've done 1 collaboration, past tense. I think you could consider the group exhibition a collaboration. But I know I need to do even more collaborations because they are so fruitful. I won't say that I sold work because of the collaboration (probably some prints). But it sent more people to me and it gave me some credibility. In 2020, Grit City Magazine reached out to me and asked me to do a watercolor inspired by Tacoma for their 1oth print issue. I did the thing, it went well. (This was my first publication experience, and I will say that going forward I always request to see the article before it runs. The formatting/design wasn't really my taste. It wasn't anything detrimental, it just taught me something to do next time). Afterwards, I received feedback from people around town that they had seen me and it made me seem more successful. When people see a second source saying that you're cool then they believe it. (That's why reviews are so powerful). *Also, I originally got that opportunity by designing something random just because I wanted to and posting it on my Instagram. Opportunities come whenever, wherever for reasons we don't see coming My point is- that person you collaborate with has their own circle of influence and when you work with them it can be beneficial for both parties. I recommend having a written agreement and dreaming big. Collaboration can mean SO many things. It doesn't have to mean your art on a product. As long as both parties are promoting it and involved in it, I consider that a collaboration. 5. Play the game It's cliché, but true: you miss 100% of the shots you don't take. Apply to opportunities (free and with a fee). Paying that opportunity fee is an investment in your work/business. Reach out to magazines or Instagram pages to be featured (or to share your event info) Write and keep writing your bio and artist statement (you have to submit it to everything so it's good to have it on hand but also make sure it's up to date) Be persistent and try new things: I recently started sending out press releases for the first time. I got 2 no's. I resent the emails a week later to gently remind them. Several people responded positively the second round. Applying to opportunities is a whole thing. Generally, I'm looking for things that are going to be 1) achievable 2) reputable. By achievable I mean, I like to apply to more local opportunities rather than national or global because I have a higher chance of acceptance. I also check who is hosting the open call. If their website sucks and their social media presence is low, then it might not be a good fit. But if it's a museum, gallery or good publication then it's worth your time. I also like to apply to open calls from print and online magazines. It's such an honor to get featured and it builds reach and credibility. The print magazines are often distributed to galleries, so you never know who could see it. Grants are also good opportunities apply for but they often have more narrow requirements. If you see one that fits you, jump on that. If you're not getting loads of rejections are you even trying? APPLY! But know that the reason people get turned down from opportunities has so much more to do with fit and timing than it does quality of your work. Which means, you need to apply often and resubmit to the same opportunities. Sometimes if I'm on the fence about an opportunity, I will see who has already been accepted/featured in the past. You can also always shoot that artist an email or DM to see what they thought of the opportunity. Recently an online magazine reached out to me. I hadn't heard of the magazine but I recognized one of the artists they featured so I was honored to accept. 6. Don't be afraid to "break the rules" We live in the best time to be an artist. (yikes, it's still so hard). But we do, because we can promote and sell all by ourselves. The rules have been broken down. Make the art you want to make. Traditional peeps will discourage you from making certain types of art (glitter anyone). The world is bursting with creativity. There's no reason to make rules around what art materials are acceptable. Sell how you want to sell. "They" will also tell you to stay away from prints/merch and that you can't negotiate or run sales. Prints and merchandise provide other price points for people who don't have the money or aren't ready to commit to an original. Those people may be ready to purchase an original later in life, it's so valuable to sell to them at all stages of the financial ladder. An argument can be made against negotiating price when selling art. But the galleries want you to forget that it is very common for them to negotiate. I'm always have to negotiate price, especially if I'm selling directly to the buyer because I don't have to pay a gallery commission. Just make sure you know how much you need to get from that painting and never go lower than that. Also, ask for value back during negotiations. Maybe you cut 15% but you are holding onto the painting for an upcoming exhibition. Or maybe you cut 10% but they pay in cash or check to avoid transaction fees. At the end of the day, it's your work. You're standing up for it and selling it. Anything legal is fair game. Even though the product is magical, it's still a business like any other. 7. Protect yourself I don't drop off my work without a contract/agreement, I don't deliver work without payment in full and I don't start a commission without 1/2 down. You are your greatest proponent. So take care of yourself! I treat every agreement/contract as negotiable, if they really want to work with me then they will work with me. Things I keep in mind when looking at an agreement (this isn't comprehensive, just the top of my list): is this commission amount really what I want (and are they willing to budge on it). Industry standard is 50/50 or 40/60 but if they aren't promoting your work and especially if they aren't an established gallery then that commission should be much less who is liable for damage, what happens if something is stolen or damaged how and when will they pay me in the case of a sale who is responsible for paying transaction fees and taxes how long is the contract for and are you allowed to leave at any time are you allowed to sell your other work in the area. Some galleries want exclusive rights to you and will often ask that you don't sell within the city or state. (this doesn't feel sustainable to me and it's a huge issue for me if they aren't flexible on it, unless they are verryy fancy, then it might be worth it). do they want you to un-list the pieces from your website. Some spaces don't mind you keeping your work in your shop as long as you agree to pay them in the case of a sale. If the pieces stay in your website then it may be like double-exposure and easier for a collector to buy (I don't mind either way, it's just good to discuss) Agreements are great. Even if nothing goes wrong, you still want to know where you stand. If you meet curator/gallery owner and you love their vibe that doesn't mean your communication is 100% clear. If it's in writing then there is no , "I thought you said". It's not a matter of trust, it's protection for both parties. A few business things (bonus) get your state and city business license get a business bank account (no personal spending on that card!) do your bookkeeping- keep track of your income and expenses. If you want to do manually, I use a google doc spreadsheet. If you want to pay for a service: hire an accountant/bookkeeper, use Quickbooks or use Xero (same as Quickbooks but better) pay estimated tax - (you know how your employer withholds your federal income tax for you? Yeah well when you're self employed you have to pay that yourself quarterly) collect and pay state sale tax Other helpful fun resources Published works by Alicia Puig and Ekaterina Popova: The Complete Smartist Guide and The Creative Business Handbook Create! podcast, also Puig and Popova The Small Business Handbook- her products and her Instagram have been helpful for me. Not specific to artists. Book: I'd rather be in the studio Book: Taking the Leap I know I know It's daunting. It's exhausting. BUT it's also wonderful and that's why we keep going. I 100% believe art can be a lucrative business. We are capable, creative and we have the best product. When things are difficult it can be so easy to believe the "starving artist" myth. But it's not true. There is no shame in working another job. I know that may seem like giving up. But it's much more common than you think to have a second job while you work on growing your business. So many non-art related startups fail. But as artists it isn't really an option to give up. We only fail when we stop making art forever. Breaks are great. Alternative solutions are great. We are hungry for this so we will bust our butts to do it however we can. There is no one way to do things, which can make it frustrating but it can also we freeing. Please reach out if you have questions or just want to chat about art. >> amylewisfineart@gmail.com 253-495-7991 Disclaimer: This is not professional financial or business advice. This is just my own opinions from my own experience.

10 Tacoma artists gather their art, a few DJ's and a cider company to host a 2 day pop-up art exhibition in Belltown Seattle Tacoma has all the art. So we thought we'd be super generous and share a little. For two days in August, you'll be able to go to River event space in Belltown Seattle to see some serious art. One of the great things about a group show is- we have a lot to offer. There will be work from abstract graffiti art to photorealism oils. But let's dig into the specifics of the artist lineup... Amy Lewis (me) My work is focused around appreciating the ordinary beauty in our lives and being grateful for the things we often take for granted. I work in watercolor and oil paints to create vivid lifelike compositions that spark joy and gratitude. Erika Norris "Food has always been my obsession and increasingly, a cultural one," Erika says, Inspired by personal experience, research, and everyday visual culture, Erika's colorful colored pencil miniatures and paper cut outs investigate our complicated relationships with food. Mike Murphy Mike's art practice is a therapeutic tool in reaction to life. He is often dabbling and experimenting as a reflection of finding different therapeutic methods that help process life. His acrylic paintings are poured and by a myriad of methods dried in unique organic shapes. "I do my best to focus exclusively on what I'm actively making and get lost in that world without any outside distractions weighing me down," Mike says. Lydia Jewel Gerard "I don’t show up at my studio to think, I go there to feel. And if I’ve done a good job, then the others that stand in front of, or around, or in my work feel something too, " says Lydia. Lydia uses watercolors, inks and digital mediums to create ethereal abstracts. Dierdre Patterson Dierdre works in acrylics and carved wood. Patterson's art is a testament to the power of fluidity and motion. Her vivid abstracts are a journey of self discovery and transformation. Ashley Laufer Ashely work focuses on the female form and the influences of the occult. She works in primarily in gouache. If you love neons with an occult twist, her work is for you. Jared Michael Jared Michael works makes graffiti paintings rich with layers and experimentation with lettering. Michael has dedicated himself to celebrating the champions and honoring those who have overcome all odds. "Each facet of the artwork can stand alone but also harmonizes with the whole; the form, the movement, the color, the thought, the feeling, the narrative." Jared writes: "Just like a good story, everyone might not relate to the whole thing but everyone can relate to some part of the journey." Lourdes Jackson Lourdes works mainly in portraiture moving through mixed media, oils and acrylics. He spends his time between creating large scale artworks/installations and fashion/concept design. He has a national art career primarily working in murals and installations. Most recently, Lourdes Jackson is the designer of the 11th & L development/bldg with Tacoma Housing Authority in the Hilltop area of Tacoma, Wa. Sarah Demass Sarah works in acrylic paints to create emotional, thoughtful abstracts. "My hope is that through my work you see beauty in the vast spectrum of human emotion," says Demass. She is always experimenting and exploring emotions and methods to create unique abstracts. Annika Smith Annika works in oil paints to create abstracted, representational portraits to provoke feelings of romance and nostalgia. A Little Bit About River-- This gorgeous event space is over 100+ years old. The current owners prioritize working with creatives (which is great news for us). The space is 3000 square feet, all white and ready for ART. River is located in Belltown Seattle which is conveniently located blocks for downtown destinations like Pike Place Market. Belltown is an up and coming art scene. Many galleries, studio spaces, restaurants and boutiques are blossoming in this neighborhood nestled in downtown Seattle. The Belltown art walk boasts 36+ stops to enjoy every second Friday. This August, River will be among them- open for Tacoma in Seattle. Besides Art, There will also be... Friday-- Raf Lauren will be our DJ on Friday night. Woohoo! treats by The Common Cookie We are very excited to welcome Raf and Locust Cider into our exhibition. Jana Early will also be there to capture the night. Saturday-- Singer song writer vocals by Cami Werden will be performed live and fresh pastries by Maddy's Bakeshop. SO when: August 11th 5-9 pm + August 12th 12-4 pm where: River- 1927 3rd Avenue, Seattle 98101 what: Art exhibition of 10 Tacoma artists +music + (yummy treats) good to know: Two restrooms WiFi internet access There are a few outdoor paid parking lots and garages within one block of River as well as paid street parking. There will be a photographer capturing the event. It's a good idea to aim for best dressed (there may be a competition) If you'd like to promote/share info about this event I would be happy to share a promotional graphic and/or a poster with you. just email me at: amylewisfineart@gmail.com

I am devastated how fast this year is going-- here's a reflection of what April had in store. Finished Abundance My biggest accomplishment this month was finishing Abundance. This oil painting took approximately 3 months. There were 3-5 layers and many details. This piece is now available. It's 18x24x2", priced at $3,300 COLLECT ART Artco Show I also hung a show at Artco Framing and Gallery with Erika Norris. We had a little reception on April 20th. More about that here. Thank you so much to everyone who made it out to see the show, <3 Spaceworks Stipend Spaceworks acquired some money to give out as grants to creative small businesses in Tacoma that are Spaceworks Alumni. After applying, I was randomly selected. This was HUGE. I've basically made zero money this first quarter. So this was such a blessing. The grant was to be used on marketing expenses only and had to be used by April 30th. What I spent it on: art business coach, Shannon Borg event photography, Jana Early Artwork archive Smartist Ads Camera + tripod Immediately Artwork Archive + Smartist have benefitted me. They make my life so much easier. The other things/services are a much slower burn. But I think they'll be hugely beneficial. Interviewed by ArtRKL Online art magazine ArtRKL reached out to me via Instagram. I was happy to do a zoom interview with their writer. I look forward to that publication around July. 6 Minis for Proctor Art Gallery I made the 6 new mini watercolors seen above for an artist feature at Proctor Art Gallery (May-June). The candy paintings are 6x8x2" and the fruit paintings are 8x10x2" all on Arches watercolor paper mounted on a cradled wood panel varnished and ready to hang. Looking forward to... I'm looking forward to the print release of Abundance scheduled for May 1st. Shop here.

6 watercolor originals will be hung in your local Proctor Art Gallery- May through June. Special, for you Proctor Art Gallery is a boutique gallery in the Proctor district. Artists rent wall space to display in this cozy upscale neighborhood. However, a few walls are reserved for featured artists. I'm honored to be a featured artist during May + June. But I needed to -quick!- get some work available to show. It's a lunch box vibe I decided on smaller pieces in groups of three. This was something I knew I'd be able to accomplish in time. I wanted to stray away from traditional desserts. So you can see above- I did 3 watercolor fruits. All three are 8x10x2" watercolors on Arches paper mounted on cradled wood panels (varnished+ ready to hang) Next. I went slightly smaller with 6x8x2" paintings of the same medium. See those guys below. All 6 paintings are reminiscent of something you may find in your lunch box as a kid. (I never got candy for lunch but I definitely got fruit). They have a childlike whimsy + innocence. Come see them Artwork is always better in person. If you're having a coffee at Olympia coffee- step into Proctor Art Gallery and have a look. I'll be there for a meet and greet Sunday May 7th at 1 -3 pm.

If you're from Tacoma you may be familiar with Artco. But have you heard of Artco Framing + Gallery? Artco Framing + Gallery Artco craft store closed recently which opened up an opportunity. Jennifer Moore jumped at the opportunity to acquire the name. Artco Framing and Gallery opened just across the parking lot from the old Artco craft store. The frame store + gallery combines fine art framing with highlighting local fine art in their beautiful white walled gallery space. Amy Lewis Amy Lewis uses watercolor and oil paints to explore the beauty in everyday life. She uses vivid realism to showcase things (especially food) we often take for granted. Amy is a self taught artist. She is currently a member of Women Painters of Washington. The show includes some of Amy's earliest works but is she excited to debut 5 new pieces. Erika Norris Erika also explores themes of food. She works in intricate miniature colored pencil drawings and drop dead gorgeous paper cutouts. Erika is interested in how food is viewed culturally and our relationship to food as individuals. Erika is classically trained with her MA in Fine Arts from Goldsmiths' College (University of London/LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore). She is also a graduate of the Artist Trust Professional Development Program. Her work was selected for the 2013 Best Picks: Painting/Mixed Media gallery for the International Emerging Artist Award and in 2014, she was a finalist in the Ryan James Fine Arts juried show. The Reception The reception (party) is tomorrow! April 20th from 4-7 pm. Snacks + drinks provided. All art will be available for purchase as well as prints. You can check out available works and fine art prints on their sites right now. Erika Norris Shop Amy Lewis Shop But they hope to see you at Artco. Art is 1000% times better in person and they'd love to meet you! Artco Framing and Gallery 5401 6th Ave Suite #321 Tacoma, WA 98406