Customer Spotlight: An Interview with Kes Woodward
Can you describe the process that you use?
I In terms of process, I am truly the opposite of a “plein-air” painter. I do not work directly on site. It takes a long time for me, when I have spent time in a place, for that experience to settle deep enough in my consciousness that I feel I have something to say that is more than “Isn’t this a beautiful place?” Not necessarily more profound, but at least more personal. I visited Denali National Park for more than two decades before I ever painted the mountain Denali. I go out into the landscape and try as hard as I can not to even think about how I might paint it, but instead to focus on being in that place—at a time of year, time of day, time in my life.
What led you to start using Metropolitan frames?
The frame below is what Woodward uses on all of his paintings.
Profile: 121
Wood: Ash
Finish: 05 pickled white
with black interior
Do you order online or on the phone?
I call Metropolitan about once a year, Lea Ann answers the phone, sees my number, and says, “Hi, Kes. How are you doing, what can we make for you, and when do you need them?” and I order lots and lots of frames. I order them in sizes that I typically paint, and I order a lot of them because shipping to Alaska is a significant portion of the cost, and it helps to get a lot at a time.
How have you set up your studio for framing? Any tips you think other artists would appreciate?
I don’t really set up for framing, as it’s so quick and easy. I assemble small frames on a table, others on the floor. I order them cut-to-size with wedges. It would be impractical and astronomically expensive to do otherwise, when they’re being shipped to Alaska, and there’s absolutely no need. For 30 years those sections have been perfectly cut to fit, and they go together in minutes. I didn’t even know there were instructional videos, and I can’t imagine why anyone would need them. It’s so incredibly quick and easy. I frame each painting as soon as it’s done, and then start another painting.
How do you sell your work?
I have been represented by and sold my work through a number of very good galleries over the years—from Alaska to Reno NV, Charlotte NC, to Montreal.
In 2005, I created a website on which I post images of and brief comments about my new paintings as they’re done. I typically make a new posting on the site when I have three new paintings. On my site, I have an “Available Works Album” with images of all of my work available anywhere in the world, along with size, medium, and price. I am very uncomfortable talking about the prices of my paintings, and I hate answering questions about prices, so I developed that Available Works Album purely to keep from having to answer those questions. I really didn’t expect to sell things from the site, and I’ve never tried to promote the site or increase traffic to it. I developed it just to let collectors of my work know what I’m doing now, and I send a brief message to all of them each time I put up a new post. To my great surprise, many of them started buying more paintings directly from me, or from the galleries that have my work on consignment, after they’ve seen the paintings on my website. I don’t hide the site, of course, and others see it as well, and often buy paintings as well—all across the country and beyond. I follow up every inquiry instantly, and again, it remains a surprise to me, but I now sell the vast majority of my work directly from the site. I am very careful not to poach clients of my galleries, to encourage collectors to get the painting they want directly from the gallery that represents me if that’s where it is, and everything sells for the same price everywhere. I never discount the cost of paintings I sell directly, as I don’t think that’s fair to the galleries who have invested in me and my work.
Any other advice you think artists would appreciate about your practice?
I think every artist has his/her/their own way of working, and especially since I quit teaching at the University 25 years ago, I wouldn’t presume to give any other artist advice, except to focus on doing the work. I go to my studio and work long hours every day, do a lot of paintings, and don’t wait for a scheduled show to do my work. And in terms of sales, I don’t think about them or worry about them—a good thing, because I’m always wrong about which paintings will sell first—but I do follow up instantly on every inquiry, and I ship my sold paintings immediately by FedEx 2-day Air.