2.22.22, twoday, my day in the studio; I am starting on the more daunting project of documenting art from the 1980’s and 1990’s. To back up, I want to talk a bit more about one of the tasks that most people don’t know about in an artist’s studio duties; the inventory. You gotta be in the mood to update your inventory ledgers going backwards from now to 1968, which I was last weekend.
Working on handwritten records 2001-2022 in the studio
This project is a part of a larger one, to organize my estate. Under the category of “How I Run My Business Manual”, I was advised to digitize my inventory. It’s always been easier for me to keep ledgers in pencil, so I can erase location of work, revise prices etc., because I got into the digital game later in life shall we say. However, I have begun that task with Artwork Archive.
Realizing, I can probably never add everything before my expiration date, I decided to make the pencil ledgers as accurate as I can and photograph them into a PDF. It was such an amazing review that yielded a 52 page document of 2,151 works of art from 2001-2022. Now at least I have a complete record in case I lose the original notebook.
The batch I was working on goes back to 2001. I was making good time because I’ve been a pretty good record keeper since that time. It’s not so bad once you get going and are motivated. One thing I did that was fun was to go back and put a red dot on all the many sold pieces. And it’s fun rediscovering art that had been forgotten.
Since I am writing this blog and NOT being so motivated to start that, we could call this procrastination because I want to make a post on this auspicious day. I can always add an addendum later.
Working on handwritten records page one, 2001, lots of red dots
I applaud you, Kathleen! SO much art!
thank you, the feeling is mutual, Marilyn
Excellent post, Kathleen! I applaud your record keeping and your sales. One I bought is dated 1998 of 2 lovebirds beside an open window looking out on a sunset. The framing covers the name. I still love it! Personally, I am also creating / updating an inventory of my home furnishings and financial records, business and art. Nothing like the reality of a sister losing all she had in the Sagamore Marshall Fire in CO to increase awareness of the need for such records. And having them electronically and saved also away from home! Thanks for this sharing on such a powerful day.
Hi Rebecca, I’d love to see a photo of the one you describe, and I’m happy you still enjoy it. I think Elizabeth’s experience spurred me on to do this project. Sadly, in the slides I saw a portrait of me that she had that was destroyed in her fire. That’s just the tip of the sad things she lost. I am just now realizing that my favorite photo of me, a black and white with a sun masked doll sculpture, was taken by her. It’s in the grid of the self portraits blog (I guess I lied a bit there).