Getting Organized — And a Lesson Learned

Over the course of a year, I crank out a lotta paintings. And this time of year, galleries are wanting to renew their stuff for the upcoming tourist season. To make it easier (for them — not necessarily for me!), this year I took a photo of “the general pile” of Spring/Summer plein airs. To tell the truth, these are the “leftovers” of paintings that galleries didn’t have room for (or didn’t take).

I inspected each one, tidying up any little scratches, correcting colors, etc., then made sure the backsides were clearly marked with my name, title of the piece, plus a map of where it was painted. Some people who buy my paintings sometimes actually like to drive to the spot and have a look. Here’s a sample of one of my “backsides”:

I also number each painting (my thumb is covering the number in this photo above). Plus, I keep a written list of everything (below). Then I type it all out neatly and save on the computer.

And then I photograph each painting separately and save it in a folder on the computer I call “Spring/Summer Offerings to Galleries 8×10”. Sometimes gallery owners like to come here and pick out what they want. I find it easier for them to just tell me which numbers they’re taking (“We have # 2,3,8,11 and 16”, for example). Then I can pull up the typed list, delete what’s not taken, print it out (2 copies). One copy goes to the gallery; the other copy I have them sign and date for my records.*

I also take an individual photo of each piece and save it in a small jpeg file (72 dpi). Sometimes galleries ask for those to post on their website. Here’s an example:

OK, yes, it IS kind of a lot of work, but it does save time later. Right now winter is hanging on and I’m waiting for still life paintings to dry, frame orders to arrive, etc.

*Why I insist on having a signed and dated receipt? Some years ago a woman who owned a shop in a nearby town asked to show my large still lifes in her front window. It was a kind of curiosity/junk shop. She thought a big painting would draw attention. “And I won’t take a commission!” she said. So I lent her a large owl painting, it being around Halloween. I didn’t often visit that town. Then one day I stopped by. Her shop was closed — it was the dead of winter — and the owl painting was missing. I stopped by several more times.
Where was my painting! I tried calling her. Emailing her. No answer. Found out from one of her friends that she loved owls. So — apparently she’d just kept it at home – on HER wall. That wasn’t the deal! How could I get it back? I went to her shop during when it was supposed to be open — but it wasn’t! I went down the street to the antique store where her friend worked and asked her to call this woman and let her know I was waiting for her. She called and I waited — 45 minutes! No-show! Grrrrrrrr! Then I sent her a friendly email, saying I had another really cool painting and it was “probably time to do a switch-up”. Suggested we meet up the next Saturday at 2. So the day came and I got there. Again, she wasn’t there. I sat and waited 20 minutes. Finally she arrived and opened the door. I saw my painting, grabbed it, turned and marched out the door, saying, “I’l be RIGHT BACK!”

Hah! I got down to my car, opened the door, threw the painting in, got into the driver’s seat — and drove right off! It was exhilerating! I laughed all the way home. That taught me the necessity of always getting a signed, dated receipt. She could have kept my painting — and I had no proof….

Here’s the painting she almost stole:

PS — I found out later that woman got into a bar fight and tried to hurt someone with a broken beer bottle — and spent some time in jail……