business issues for visual artists

Kelsey KeefeBridgewater, [email protected]

3 May, 2011

To whom it may concern,

Hello! With this letter I am enclosing a few photographs of my artwork. I specialise in hand-woven, hand-dyed textiles such as scarves and shawls in addition to commissioned works for special occasions.

In a recent visit to your shop I came to feel that the overall aesthetic and presentation of your store meshes quite well with my own works and for that reason I am interested in meeting with you to discuss the possibility of your store serving as a venue for the sale of my work.

I look forward to hearing from you! At your earliest convinience, I would love to schedule an appointment to meet with you at which I would be glad to bring in physical examples of my work as the tactile element of textiles can hardly be relayed through photographs alone.

Affably,

Kelsey Keefe

Fiber Artist


Artist StatementFabric is utilitarian, common, and often unappealing in a tactile sense. Weaving, as a process, is mathematical, rigid, and time consuming. However, hand-woven fabrics are visually stunning, soft to the touch, and rare in a world whose fabrics are the products of mass production.

I find the mathematical rigidity of the process appealing in its contrast to the the results. Each thread is accounted for, each anticipated even in the earliest planning stages. My approach to weaving is quite strict and I appreciate the delicacy of fine yarns. My approach to dyeing, however, is far more happenstance: in the application of colour, dyes should wash over fabric like water. The unpredictability of the dyes set agaisnt the careful mathematics of the weave structure lend themselves to beautiful results.

Fiber Artist


Visuals ListShibori Scarf I 65” long x 10” wide

28 epi white cotton warp28 epi white cotton weftWoven Shibori in indigo dyes woven in a bronson lace pattern.

Fiber Artist

Shibori Scarf II 65” long x 10” wide28 epi white cotton warp28 epi pale blue tencel weftWoven Shibori in indigo dyes woven in a bronson lace pattern.

Shibori Scarf III 65” long x 10” wide28 epi white cotton warp28 epi grey cotton weftWoven Shibori in indigo dyes woven in a bronson lace pattern.


Education2007 - 2011 Bachelor of Art in Art History and Crafts

History of Textiles/Textile DesignInterdiciplinary Minor in Asian Studies Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts

Employment2008-2011 Weaving Instruction (Tapestry and Lap looms)

Bridgewater-Raynham Regional Highschool

2010-2011 Weaving / Loom TutoringIn-home loom assembly, warping and instruction on basic weaving techniques upon request.

Publications and Exhibitions2006, 2007 Attleboro Arts Museum, Attleboro, Massachusetts

2007 Gold Key, Scholastic Art Awards, State Transportation Building, Boston, Massachusetts

2008 Mobius Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts

2009 Invitational, Imago Gallery, Warren, Rhode Island

2008, 2009,2011

Annual Student Show, Anderson Art Gallery, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts

Relevant Course WorkStudio Arts: Weaving - I & II

Advanced Weaving - III, IV, VGraduate Weaving - VIDrawing I & IIGraphic Design IWeb Art IBookbinding I

Art History: Asian Art: India, China & JapanIslamic Art & ArchitectureIntroduction to African ArtHistory of ArchitectureEarly Modern Art & ArchitectureArt & Architecture since 1940

Other: Business Issues for Visual Artists

Course focused upon the planning, curation & promotion the 47th Annual Student Art Exhibition while discussing the importance of entrepreneurship to the budding visual artist.

Internship in Art History

Scanned and cataloged Ottoman textile slides, researched their context and subject matter while assisting in the hanging/dismantelling of shows within the Art Department at BSU. Culminated the semester by examining the textiles first hand at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Directed Study in Art

Independant research project which focussed upon Central Asian Ikat.

Study Tour: Science/Technology in Japan

A two week tour taken in Summer 2009 to the cities of Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima and Kyoto. In each city I explored local textile production centers as well as cultural sites.

Activities2010-2011 Student Government Association

Senator, College of Humanities & Social Sciences

Fiber Artist

2011 theBridge, volume 8


Initial Expenses$5000.00$300.00$300.00

$1300.00$220.00$200.00

Cranbrook Countermarche LoomWarping MillElectric Bobbin Winder13” Macbook ProWeavePro softwareSmaller Weaving Accessories: - Bobbins - Shuttles - Heddles

Recursive Expenses$19.00/cone$22.00/cone$59.99/cone

$20/.5 gal.$11.70/10 lbs.

$3.00-$10.00/2 oz.

$800/month$200/month

10/2 Mercerized Cotton8/2 Tencel20/2 SilkSynthrapol Low FoamDye ActivatorProcion Dye

Studio Space RentalUtilities

Fiber Artist

IInitial expenses with the exception of the laptop have all been squared away. My loom, warping mill, and bobbin winder were purchased used off of Craiglist and they came with many of the samaller accessories such as bobbins, shuttles, reed hooks, et cetera. I also have a starting supply of yarn and dyestuffs. I think I am fortunate to not necessarily need a studio space outside of my home at the begining of this venture: as long as I have the space for the loom I can weave.

In order to get a better sense of my potential income I did a mock-up for warp/weft calculations for a series of 5 scarves woven on a single warp. Using a single warp means I would only need to dress the loom once and would be able to make five very similar or duplicat scarves. The cost of yarn would be $35.53 for the total project, or $7.11 for each scarf. I did not include the price of dyes or dyestuffs, but in general $30 goes very far in that realm as the dye itself only costs $2.95 for a 2oz. jar which would last, at least, through five to ten scarves depending on the saturation of color.

While I can, technically, turn a profit by selling a scarf for any price over eight dollars that is a horrible idea. So, to determine a price, I need to set a value for my time. Allowing myself a $9.00/hour (45 hour weaving/loom set up, divided by # of scarves woven = 9 hours * $9.00 = $81.00) a base price of $81 can be determined. Given the fact that certain textiles will require additional time and supplies, this seems like a fair base price. While I realize that 45 hours per week with a profit of only $405 is sort of pathetic I will admit that the 45 hour estimate is likely an exaggeration and is taking into account the rate I weave when faced with other school projects.. I am aware that I will, indeed, need to weave faster-- and be able to still provide products which are a high enough quality to justify the price.

Other ways to supplement my income will have to include lessons, loom set-up and maintence. I intend to take advantage of both web-based sales through my own website or, alternatively, etsy.com. I also believe that because textiles are one of those things that you must actually touch and get a feel for before buying that it will be a lucrative choice to develop relationshuips with small shop owners, gallery owners, et cetera who are willing to display my textiles and sell them.


Fiber Artist

Warp Use Weft Use5

6510

20%2.0

28126

6032533638520%687840

49513.75

4620.00

number of items being wovenfinished length in inchesfinished width in incheswidth take-up/shrinkageshrinkage plus take-up amount (to get right width & # of warp ends)ends per inch (EPI)width of warp on the loom and reedfringe length in inchestotal fringetotal inches woventotal number of ends (EPI)finished length + fringelength take-up/shrinkagetake-up in inches of wovenweave one item this longloom waste in inches (including samples)inches woven, take-up & loom wasteeach end in yard lengthtotal yards of warp

3012

360117,000

0117,000

3,250

pics per inch (PPI)inches wideweft inches for 1inch of weavingweft for total inches woventake up in inchesinches woven and take up in inchesdivide by 36 to get yards of weft

Yarn Weight4,200

2637,8701.871.100.77

yards per poundounces per yards per poundtotal # of yard - warp & weftboth yarn warp & weft # & ozwarp only in # and oz.weft only # and oz.

Cost$19.00$20.90

$19.00$14.63

$35.53$7.11

warp price per lb.warp total

weft price per lb.weft total

totalprice per

business issues for visual artists

Documents

indigo dyes

long x

art history

bronson lace pattern

weaving instruction

anderson art gallery

basic weaving techniques

bachelor of art