Here are three sets of watercolor paintings that I am considering for 5 X 7 note cards. I will have one of these sets of three watercolors printed next week in time for an art sale on November 7. I wonder which set will make the best-selling note cards, and that is where I can use your help. If you will leave your vote in a comment on this blog, I will enter your name in a drawing for a gift set of the three that are printed. Check back on Monday, October 29, at noon and if you are the winner, be sure to contact me with your address so I can mail your gift to you.
Set A below
Set B below
Southport Boats, 22 X 30, watercolor, © 1988 Judith G. Glover
Robin Koehler says
Judy,
These are all beautiful.
Since you will be in NC, I would suggest you choose either B or C. I might even go so far as to suggest that you switch out Beaufort Boats for either the Docking too Fast or Ft Macon Fishing. I know you have your reasons that you grouped them the way you did though:)
R
judith says
Thanks for you compliment and opinion, I am thinking the same thing – NC subjects for NC people.
judith says
For my records, Cindy and Andy Klymchuk voted for Set A and Laura Durham voted for Set C.
judith says
Judy Via voted for Set A and Martha Miller voted for Set C.
judith says
Robin, which Beaufort Boats would you switch out, the one with the people sunbathing on deck or the one without people? If it is the one with the people, I think that’s a good idea.Thanks.
Diane Freeman says
Hello Judith:
How nice to meet you and enjoy your wonderful paintings – such talent and mastery of watercolor.
I know that the boats and seashore themes are popular in your region, however, because of the season, people tend to like the landscapes with snowy and late fall and winter scenes. Even in warm climates, folks lean toward the country winter scenes around this time of year – I live in Arizona and have observed this in my neck of the woods (or should I say “cactus”). Having said all of this, my vote is for set A. Good luck in your endeavors and “happy painting”. —Diane
judith says
Thank, Diane, for stopping by and looking at my paintings. I appreciate the positive comments. I am so glad you mentioned choosing cards that are appropriate for the season. I hadn’t even once thought of that and it is definitely an important point.
Edward Schuldt says
Hi Judy,
I would take Shenandoah Valley Farm–I have always liked that a lot–“Docking Too Fast”, and “Fort Macon Fishing”. They provide a good blend of mood and light, something for every occasion.
They’re all gorgeous!
Edward
judith says
Hi Edward.
Thanks for thinking about the selection from the perspective of mood and what the sender would want to convey for different occasions. That’s another approach to deciding what to print that I hadn’t thought of.
Shenandoah Valley Farm is a painting of the farm where I grew up. My sisters and I used to climb the two tall hardwood trees in the middle ground of the painting.
judith says
For the record, I pulled these votes from Facebook: Mae Carroll voted for sets A, C, and B in that order. Sue ChurchGrant created her own assortment of Hanger Farm, Neighboring Farms, and Docking Too Fast.
susan gainen says
Hi Judith —
I love them all. My suggestion for marketing is bound up in the location of your sales. I would select the group of paintings most closely related to the geography of your sale. People are often drawn to purchase images that are “local.”
That said, I would select “A” — good luck.
Susan GAinen
judith says
Thanks, Susan, for the good advice. We are a little closer to the water than the mountains where the sale will be.
Bobbie Hunt says
While my personal favorites are the landscapes, I think set C may have the most mass appeal, and the third picture in set C is my overall favorite. Your depiction of the water surface is just beautiful in all of the boat scenes.
judith says
Bobbie:
Thanks for your opinion. The third picture in Set C was not a commissioned painting, but I gained a commission from it. A man in North Carolina liked it enough that he wanted a similar painting with his boat in it and with the name of the boat painted on the stern and reflected in the water.
Betty Reitsma says
Hi good painter! I enjoyed seeing your jewels in watercolour. I would vote for set C, they breath freedom and calm, and tension too, when too early docking… Wish you lots of success,
Betty Reitsma, The Netherlands
judith says
Thank you, Betty. I am delighted to have a vote from across the Atlantic. That’s a good observation about the calm in the last two and the tension in Docking Too Fast.
judith says
Thanks to everyone for participating and for helping me reach a decision. I have decided to print one from each set based on the input I received. Your responses definitely changed my thinking. I will print Neighboring Farms, Docking too Fast and Southport Boats.
The winner of the set of three note cards is Cindy and Andy Klymchuk of Ontario! Cindy and Andy, please make sure I have your correct mailing address by November 5, 2012.
Beverly Martin says
Hello Judith – I enjoyed seeing all your fine watercolor paintings and am drawn to each one. Each group has its own appeal. However, I believe your set C Beaufort Boats is your strongest group of paintings in composition and technique and communicate such a pleasant sense of tranquility and beauty of being around boating that many people can relate to.
judith says
Beverly, thanks for your thoughts on set C. I am disappointed you were a day too late to be entered in the drawing.
Mike Driscoll says
Nice stuff . I was messing about online to see how other people mat and frame their watercolors and through the sea of almost good I found your art . Definitely the the landscapes should be made into cards by far your strongest work. Some of the boat paintings are nice but i see too much snap shot. Of course I would do most of them as cards my experience is you never know what people will like. So I scan them myself if they are small and keep them on cd for later prints. The Larger ones I group up as they give me a discount for quantity.
So the original question I was looking for is do you use colors mats to frame your work or do you just use a single
white -off white 4ply? What i’ve been doing as I mat and frame my own is to use a white 1/4 reveal with a colored mat that picks up the colors in the painting. Its more work and expense and I wonder if it’s really worth it. That my 2 cents from New Hampshire be glad to hear from you and your thoughts on mats. Mike Driscoll
judith says
Mike, thanks for the quick critique of my art. Tell me more about what you mean by too much snapshot in the boat paintings. I’ve always used either a single white, very light grey or antique white mat for my work. Lately, I’ve been doing small works, 8 X 10, that fit in pre-cut mats I order from Jerry’s Artarama. They come with a pre-cut foam backing and I also order sleeves to fit the outside dimensions of 11 X 14. These are not framed before they are sold, but they will fit into a standard 11 X 14 frame. Some people who buy art have it re-framed to suit each individual interior, so what I am using now seems closer to disposable than a custom cut mat. Everything I use that could touch the painting is archival.