How to Support All Your Favorite Local Small Businesses and Artists Without Going Broke

During these crazy times we all need each other’s support.  Everyone is saying we should support our local restaurants, small businesses, independent artists, but when times are this uncertain, saving money is also a good idea.  Maybe you don’t need art, or certain services at the moment, but you may need them in the future, and that’s why we want our local businesses to get through this lean period.  So, how can you support all your favorite businesses without going broke?

• Follow your favorite businesses and artists on social media, and sign up for their e-newsletters.  Do you love a picture they posted?  Then like it, share it, comment on it.  The more engagement a post has, the more likely other people will see it, and then the small business won’t have to spend as much on advertising to be seen.

• When you need to buy something, don’t just automatically go online to look for it, take a few seconds, and try to think of a local place that may have what you need.  They already spent the time and money to get products delivered to their store, so give them a call, or go to their website and see if they have what you’re looking for, or maybe they can order it for you.  Amazon will definitely survive through this, but isn’t it nice to have local brick-and-mortar stores around, in case you need something immediately?

• Post pictures of the food you are about to enjoy, or your favorite piece of art by an artist you follow.  Tell people why you love what they do.

• If you can’t afford to spend money at every business you want to support, then tell your friends in real life about why you love a certain shop, or restaurant, and maybe they will try it for the first time.  Attracting new customers is much more difficult than keeping existing ones.

• If you hear of an opportunity for artists, don’t assume that all artists know about it, forward that e-mail, or text the info directly to the artist.  I have had several friends text me about opportunities that they thought are a good fit for me.  Most of the time I find out about them eventually, but it’s nice to know that I am top-of-mind for some people, and I also appreciate having the extra few days head start on the application process.

• If you have a blog, or are a freelance writer, feature a small business in your next blog post, or article.

• Write a review on Facebook, Google, Yelp, etc.

What other ways can you think of to support your favorite businesses?  

People say it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a community to have a thriving local economy.  We can get through this if we are creative about how we do it.  Lastly, I want to thank my patrons who have continued to purchase my art online and in person.  You make my art career possible!

Time to Start Thinking about Commissions for the Holidays

Today is already the middle October!  I’m so sad that I haven’t been able to have open studio gatherings to see you all.  We’re going to figure something out for the December party we normally have.  Since, I think we can only have about 5-7 people in the studio safely at once, we may schedule visits if you want to come in to sample a little homemade brew and shop for holiday gifts.  I will announce that possibility as we get a bit closer, and depending on the status of C-19 cases as winter weather sets in.  We haven’t even gotten through Halloween yet, so I assume most of you aren’t in the right mindset for that as of yet. 

What I do want to talk about right now is COMMISSIONED artwork.  I have had a nearly perfect record with successful commissions.  I just finished a piece for a local fire fighter who works just down the street from my studio.  He wanted a painting to commemorate a trip with his girlfriend to Orca Island in Resurrection Bay.  The painting was supposed to be a surprise, but he told his girlfriend about it when she was having a bad day, and she cried!  The only problem with commissioning a painting for a holiday gift is I run out of time to get them all painted, so getting in early is better.  In 2016 I completed 24 individual paintings that my patrons commissioned for holiday gifts.  I felt like an elf that year, and my beard started to twinkle with a bit of varnish by December 15, the last day possible for paintings to dry in time for the 25th.  I suggest you look through the pictures of your favorite trip this year, or last year (considering a lot of us have been hunkering down and not going anywhere since March).  It always brings a smile to see people so excited to give the gift of a special painting!  Cheers, and I look forward to seeing what you bring for me to paint! 

We Miss Our Open Studio Events!

If this were a normal year, we would be cleaning the studio today, and converting it into a pop-up gallery for the First Friday Art Walk that would be happening tomorrow.  Sadly, with the C-19 threat, we haven’t had anyone inside the studio except for a few individuals who stopped by to pick up paintings.  On a couple occasions, I have taught drawing lessons, and everyone wore masks and sat 6 ft apart.  Little to say, I don’t believe the pandemic will be over by First Friday in December, which is when we host the super fun holiday studio party.  I usually brew a couple batches of home-brew for the event, but this year I can forego brewing.  

During the summer this was just fine.  We were in McCarthy, and we don’t normally have open studio parties, because on Friday nights most Alaskans are out of town, recreating in our beautiful wilderness, or busy with sporting events.  Now that Winter is breathing down Fall’s neck, we’re starting to really miss the open studio events.  October First Friday is one of my favorite times to regroup with my Anchorage friends and collectors.  The studio is very useful — we are here every day working on paintings, mailing online orders, but it’s starting to get a bit lonely, especially when I look at my unused Art Show sign.  Dragging the big hulking beast of a sign out to the front of the building is a chore I always associate with the party itself.  The uncertainty of how much art I might sell, or who might stop by is always present when I am dragging it out.  Now on one of these Friday nights I don’t have any plans.  I guess I will read a book, or work late making paintings.  

I miss you all, and look forward to when this pandemic is over, so we can all get back together for a “cup of coffee” at the studio.  I love offering a cookie, and maybe some of those little carrots, as well as having a chance to show off my newest work to you in person.  I stand by my tagline, “Real Art is Better,” and even though I have been selling more art online than normal, I really like seeing peoples’ reactions to the original paintings.  Currently I have several paintings hanging at reHARU Sushi, and I encourage you to go there not only to see my art, but also to eat the delicious Japanese food!  Also, if you see a painting on my website that you really like, you can always arrange a studio visit.

So I raise my glass, and toast, “Here’s to staying healthy and hunkering down so we can get through this pandemic soon!”  Stay safe out there, people, and I look forward to seeing you when I can!