Open Studios recap

[moominmolly]

I think that that was the most socially exhausting thing I've ever done. Six straight hours of being happy and social, talking to a stream of people (some of whom want to stop and give me sincere compliments), two days in a row. Last night, it was a tremendous amount of effort to even send instant messages. I did a lot of wall-staring, and then an awful lot of dilletante-snuggling, and today, I'm a little more human.

But it was GOOD! Great, even. SO many people I knew came by to stop and look and chat. I felt very supported. I'm still crappy at accepting compliments -- fennel, who kept me company for a while, told me to stop downplaying my efforts to people, which I hadn't even realized I was doing -- but each and every person who stopped in to say hi made me feel really happy, so thank you. I sold enough to make an actual profit. I sold things to total strangers. Lots of people took my business card. But the whole thing would have been worth it even without all that just to see the one quiet guy flip through my books for a while and then say, "it must be nice to walk around in the world and notice stuff like this every day."

Yeah! It kinda is, now that you mention it.

I have so far to go, artistically, so much to improve, and so many projects stuck in my head waiting to be done, but I guess the hundred days project is working: I'm actually starting to do some of that work, and it feels good.

Comments

[entrope.livejournal.com]

"it must be nice to walk around in the world and notice stuff like this every day."

Well said.

[inahandbasket]

congrats on making a profit via art! That must feel nice, I have ambitions to at least have it pay for itself some day...

I'm so sad we didn't make it up your way, I accidentally stomped on prosicated's toe while salsa dancing the other night, and she's not up to walking far. We didn't make it much past Davis Sq.
Luckily you posted them here as well, so I can echo the "Squee!" comments of others.

[tcb.livejournal.com]

I sold enough to make an actual profit.

Wow, that's great! Either your costs were low, or you sold a bunch! I sold a few as well, but nowhere near my cost..

But the whole thing would have been worth it even without all that just to see the one quiet guy flip through my books for a while and then say, "it must be nice to walk around in the world and notice stuff like this every day."

precisely. I was blown away last time by the comments that I got, and this time was the same. What was particularly satisfying were the few people who actually took the time to read what I wrote and even got what I was trying to say. A lot of people took post and business cards, and I got about 20 more names to add to my mailing list.

I'm glad that I was able to inspire you to get out there and have the experience! And so sorry I wasn't able to see it!

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

I sold a fair amount, actually! It was kinda cool. Made me feel bad for not having more stuff that I had done outside of the hundred days project, since everyone's just seen all that stuff. :)

You wrote something? Clever! I didn't even label anything.

Thank you again! I was sorry I didn't get to come by and see you, too.

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

Hooray! That sounds like a fabulous experience. I'm so sorry we didn't have time to come to town to see it :-)

[kimberlogic.livejournal.com]

I wish I'd been in town for the big debut! I'm so happy for you! And I want to buy a print of the cranes - email me about cost?

[fanw.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you sold a lot! That's gotta be a wonderful feeling. You know you are now officially a "professional photographer"! I look forward to seeing all the marvellous photos you'll take in the coming months.

Brava!

[rintrahroars.livejournal.com]

How fantastic, that you profited both financially and professionally! It's refreshing to read that someone who is, to my eyes, a really good photographer thinks of herself as still a work in progress. I've met folks whose work seems to be at the same level as yours is, and THEY have huge egos.

So, gosh you're KEEN! Congratulations on your hard work and yay for your successes!

[metagnat.livejournal.com]

It was cool and exciting to see all your photos on display, there! I really love them. They are like moments. Some of them feel very intimate and all are interesting.

-E

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

It was really great to have you guys come by! And some of the photos on display felt strangely intimate to have out, so I'm glad that translates.

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

Since we wound up making to only 4 locations, I'm glad we made yours first:)

[avacon.livejournal.com]

I'm glad we made it to yours!
And thanks again for your advice on Costco...
I think you also inspired me to start making
prints of photos that I like and putting some
of them in a binder.

What photo size to you find works best
for general-purpose prints?

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

The 12x18s were a little unwieldy to bring around in that big book, but more impressive. I think the 8x12s were easiest to deal with. For the record, I got the Itoya portfolios that I had at Pearl.

[gretchens.livejournal.com]

yay! I have always been impressed by people that manage to haul their cameras *everywhere.* I get so hung up on logistics (and the fact that I very rarely carry a bag or anything more than keys+wallet -- even now that I'm a mother) that I have more missed photos than captured ones. You're obviously an excellent capturer. ;)

[drinkywinky.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry I missed it, last weekend exploded into household tasks.

~Pete

[ceo]

I'm sorry I missed it. However, we were in Renee's last weekend and gosling expressed admiration of one of the photos on the wall and then said "Wait... that's David! And Natalie! Oh! That's Molly's work!" and we were all generally delighted.

[signsoflife.livejournal.com]

That's so wonderful!

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

Hooray! You ar AWESOME.