but I haven’t made any sales. I am sure there are plenty of other artists (and not just Van Gogh) that struggle with the sales end of art. What can they and I do to promote ourselves, or to find buyers willing to purchase the rainbow of possible artistic creations? Are there websites that work best for this? Do you mingle a lot to make connections and if so, at what kinds of events? Any ideas should be helpful.
Leifert: The sale of the painting in summer camp was a total shock. I did not solicit it, but it was in the same breakthrough year that I danced to “Misty” and wrote the poem, so looking back, I’m not surprised. I like selling my art, but I don’t paint just to sell it. I paint because I really love to create paintings. But I also like producing results. I think as an artist you have to wear two hats. Artist and marketing person. I took every opportunity—now I refine and only take the good opportunities where I get paid or don’t have to pay. There are a lot of people who want artists to pay money for the “opportunity.” I’m on a few of the better websites, some I was solicited by others to join, and to others I applied to join. But I don’t sell paintings from my website or any other. I make my sales by talking to people that come into my sphere. People want to feel connected to the artist and the artwork. They also want to see it in person to see the texture. That doesn’t happen on the internet. I have no formula. I’ve had mentors in the art business and have taken their advice. My first gallerist, Sherri Barnes at the Phillips Fine Art Gallery, and I became good friends. She is the one that suggested I paint the dancers. She said, “you have to become known for something specific.”
Faktorovich: In your first email, you wrote that you explore dance in part “as a meditation, the roots of religion and how it relates to harmonics and science.” Can you elaborate on this point? How is dance a meditation? One might argue that meditation is about a lack of movement, stillness, and the silence. Isn’t dance about the opposite of these? You then write, “I’m now 60 and I approach my career like a 25-year-old because, these days, people live much longer, and I never intend on retiring… Fortunately, dance is still in my life. It inspires the painting. I still practice 3-4 times per week and I have the energy and vitality. Remember, choreography also helps the mind.” First, I previously did an interview with a farmer who said he can never retire because he has no savings on which to do so. Are there any financial motivations to your decision, or do you hope to keep on going simply for the joy of creating art and dancing? I personally also hope to never retire from my passions. Secondly, when you say that you practice 3-4 times per week, for how many hours do you practice per day and what types of dance do you exercise in, and do you do some additional exercise on top of these sessions? I am sure some of my readers want some tips on how to remain vital and strong across their lives.