Turning Art into a Successful Business
From small scale to a thriving craft studio: Tips and advice from an expert. Olympia business owner Pamela Corwin shares her expertise in an 8-week course
(PRWEB) July 10, 2005 -- Where might a local artist or craftsperson turn for
advice on how to run a successful business in the arts? Olympia resident Pamela
Corwin, owner of Paper Scissors Rock, merged art and business with her whimsical
mixed-media clocks, magnets and noteboards.
This fall, Corwin will share
her insight and expertise with local entrepreneurs during an eight-week
workshop, “Crafts as a Business”.
The workshop will be held on Thursday
evenings from 7-9pm beginning September 8, 2005. Local residents who want to
learn how to build a viable business from their art or those who already sell on
a small scale and want to take their business to the next level will benefit
from Corwin’s 25-year career in the crafts industry. “Most artists starting out
have no idea how to run or build a business, they just hope that if they make
great art, people will buy it. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple, “ says
Corwin. “It can take years to get started.” She adds, “I'll be sharing
information and resources I only wish someone had handed me when I first started
my business. I’ll be addressing student's specific needs and questions and they
will leave with tools, resources and knowledge it could otherwise take them
years to gather on their own.”
During the course, Corwin will discuss
several “How to’s” including:
- Where to market and sell crafts
-
Developing a product line
- Pricing tips and formulas
- How to get your
work into stores
- Sales tips for both wholesale and retail sales
-
Critique and feedback
Corwin hasn’t just pulled from her own experience.
She has polled other nationally known artists to gather the tips, resources and
advice they wish someone had told them when they started out. She has also
invited several successful Olympia and Seattle artists to participate in panel
discussions with the class.
Corwin will supply each student with a
notebook of resource lists it took her an entire career to collect. As a special
bonus, at the end of the eight weeks each student will be matched with a mentor.
Every mentor will be a successful, nationally known artist who has been in
business for years. Says Corwin, “This way they’ll not only leave the class with
new tools but will know they have support as they begin their venture, an
invaluable resource and truly unique opportunity.”
Paper Scissors Rock
gifts are for sale at Pike Place Market in Seattle, as well as in over 300
stores nationwide. Corwin’s work has been featured on several national
television shows and magazines and in 1996 she was commissioned to paint an egg
for the White House Easter tree. Corwin recently joined the west coast Faculty
of Arts Business Institute.
For more information on the Crafts as a
Business class visit www.businessofcrafts.com. You may also contact Corwin by
phone: 360-357-3480 or see her work at www.psrock.com.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/7/prweb254822.htm