Today I had my 1/12 scale miniature paintings appraised by a dollhouse collectible dealer. It was an inspiring and interesting assessment. Of the 24 paintings I presented, she selected 8 which she thought had the best selling potential: 2 realistics and 6 moderns. She suggested pricing them between $250 and $500 (I never imagined pricing them that high :D), and mentioned that mid-century design is becoming the new big thing among dollhouse collectors. She also said she doesn't know of any other 1/12 scale painters who are doing high-end moderns right now (and this is someone who travels to the national Tom Bishop shows and would know).
She had some good suggestions for period appropriate framing, and which subject matter for realistics has the best selling potential right now. She said I should do more Minnesota scenes for the summer tourism market (me being from MinnesOta, doncha know). My biggest surprise was that she wanted to price my painting of the Pilchuck River at $500. (Me: "Yipes! Really?? That MUCH?!") Of course she also added that high-end originals sell very slowly.
Anyway, I'm psyched now to do more paintings!
This was her favorite modern.
Pilchuck River, Washington State
One of my most cherished holiday traditions is my pre-Christmas trip to Ingebretsen's on Lake Street. (And yes, the crowded counters and long outdoor lines of shivering Swedes and Norwegians is all part of the experience.) After I helped empty theirs shelves of limpa, lefse, julekaga and herring, I carried my plunder into the Scandinavian yarnery next door for a complimentary cup of their Fair Trade coffee. As I sat down with my hot beverage near the decorated Christmas tree, a young girl looked at the coffee signage and said, "Fair Trade coffee? Why do they have Fair Trade coffee in a Viking store? They should have Merciless Pillage coffee!"
I laughed and imagined how such a product might be advertised: "Merciless Pillage Coffee -- Our growers receive nothing but the sharp edge of our sword!"
I told the girl, "That is SO going up on my Facebook."
Well, my LiveJournal, at any rate.
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Comments
Lovely work!