Artist Linda Rosso chatting with a hiker who came across her while she was painting. The hiker is a collector of Rosso’s work.

Among war stories plein air painters tell are tales about the absurd interruptions they experience while working. Painting requires concentration, and wacky questions or unintentionally insulting comments may not create the best environment for that. But Linda Rosso suggests turning this attitude on its head.

In a recent blog post in which the artist filled in for blogger Lori McNee, Rosso acknowledged the many challenges the genre offers plein air painters — heavy equipment, weather, and so on. Then she moved on to marketing.

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Rosso painting en plein air

“If these obstacles weren’t enough, people interrupt us to talk while we are painting!” wrote Rosso. “It’s a wonder we get anything done, much less create a body of work to sell. WAIT … that’s all wrong! We plein air artists have it made — we have a unique marketing and sales advantage over studio artists. We can talk to strangers, and turn them into collectors!” Rosso then gave some specific comments an artist may make to a curious bystander. Read more at the blog post.

Although many artists almost literally hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign on their backs, having business cards on hand to give to an interested visitor only makes sense. It’s about meeting potential collectors halfway.


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