The Everyday Life of a Working Artist by Leslie Saeta: Persistence Pays Off

Friday, March 27, 2009

Persistence Pays Off

Three Boats, Oil, 11" x 14"

One of my goals this year is to show my art at a local venue in a big way (like 25 - 30 paintings). Earlier this year I set my sights on one of my favorite restaurants in Pasadena. The restaurant is amazing. Fantastic food, wonderful and friendly environment and amazing art on the walls! This particular restaurant showcases a different artist every five weeks or so. The artists are wonderful and the paintings sell.
So a few weeks ago I spoke with the owner and she promised to look at my website. No luck! So, I went back this week and took in my portfolio. The owner remembered looking at my website ... but she wasn't sure if my art would sell in her restaurant. She was very nice and still took the time to look at my portfolio. She still wasn't sure about my work so she asked me to bring in three of my paintings. So I didn't waste time and brought them in the next day ... and she really liked them! She said the paintings looked very different than on my website and she would like to do a show with me this year. Yippee!
I won't give you details until the show dates are final, but I can't wait to tell you about this wonderful restaurant! I guess it is important to remember that persistence pays off! And I guess I need to do something about making my paintings look better on my website ...

18 comments:

Marian Fortunati said...: I'll bet I know which restaurant that is. Let me know when you have your opening... It's a great restaurant... paintings sell well and she's a really nice lady!!! (If it's the one I was thinking about!)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!; March 28, 2009 at 8:30 AM
David Larson Evans said...: Congratulations you have the talent to go far.Making small goals lead to achieving big goals.; March 28, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Jeffrey J. Boron said...: Way to go Leslie...your work has a very special and unique style!

Jeffrey; March 28, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Leslie Saeta said...: Marian,
You are too smart. I am pretty sure we are both talking about the same place. Thanks for your kind words.; March 28, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Leslie Saeta said...: David,
Thanks for visiting my blog. I left a post that your idea to add the wheels to your easel is very smart. I am going to do the same this weekend!; March 28, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Leslie Saeta said...: Jeffrey,
Hello and welcome. I went to your blog and your brush strokes and colors in the lake painting are wonderful! Glad to have found you.; March 28, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Paintings by Irit Bourla said...: Congratulations.I am so very happy for you.
Give us a date so we can visit the place.; March 28, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Jala Pfaff said...: Congratulations! This painting is really awesome, by the way.

Thanks for your comment on my post Suspension 2. Stay tuned; within a day or two I will do a new post specifically on the process I use for the big knife abstracts. Warning: what I do is extremely simple! :)

I don't know why I keep forgetting to add you to my blogroll so I can come check on your work. I'll do it now.; March 28, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Leslie Saeta said...: Irit & Jala,
Thanks for your encouragement. I PROMISE to let you know when the show happens. Probably later in the summer, I think.; March 28, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Edward Burton said...: Hey, congratulations, Leslie! That is so great!
I'm looking forward to hearing more about it.
Wonderful painting too.; March 28, 2009 at 5:48 PM
susan hong-sammons said...: Hi Leslie,
Thanks for your comments on my blog. And yes, it means all art work sells for $300 or less. It's a fundraiser and a nice way to develop you collection in our lovely economy.
I'm very glad you did leave me a comment because it now has open my world to your fantastic paintings. I can't wait to see more and more!; March 28, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Paula Villanova said...: Wow, that's really important feedback re: how our work translates from our websites. Thanks for posting this and congrats on getting your show!; March 28, 2009 at 7:14 PM
Leslie Saeta said...: Edward, Susan and Paula,
Thanks for commenting on my blog. Paula ... I agree that we need to think about how we photograph our art. I think tomorrow's post will address this. Thanks!; March 29, 2009 at 8:40 AM
gianlucio said...: Hello Leslie, this beautiful painting with boats Congratulations!!!
Ciao!!!
Gianlucio; March 29, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Leslie Saeta said...: Gianlucio,
Thanks so much. I went to your blog but I need to get my translator to work. Or brush up on my Italian! Thanks for visiting!; March 29, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Kim VanDerHoek said...: Persistence and a very quick follow through on your part made the difference. You could have taken her maybe as a no and put off bringing in your work for a month or more but didn't and now you have a big show coming up. Congratulations! It is well deserved!; March 29, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Leslie Saeta said...: Thanks Kim! My whole life has consisted of a career in sales so I guess I am fortunate to be able to use all of this experience with my art. It is funny because I ran into the restaurant owner last night and she did call me "very persistent". My husband just laughed the entire time ...; March 29, 2009 at 10:51 PM
FCP said...: Congrats on your upcoming show. And I agree with earlier posts about not photographing in bright light. I think all of us struggle with getting photos to do justice to the paintings, especially since there is so much variation from monitor to monitor.
Good luck-I really like your boat series.
Faye; April 2, 2009 at 3:21 AM