Publishing Painting Books

It still is an incredible journey for painters of today, but the buying "numbers" just aren't there presently for companies to be able to produce in the same capacity they once did. It doesn't mean people aren't painting any longer...or that they don't love it just as much as they used to; it just means not as many are, due to a huge NUMBER of reasons, which have been discussed forward, backward, upside down and right side up.

It has nothing to do with what one or two companies did, or didn't do in our industry, and while it's true some classes get canceled, and some big chain stores don't sell "our" products like they once did, those buyers that once purchased in large volumes wouldn't cancel classrooms, or not order product to sell if painters were still purchasing, as they once used to.

The big craft chain stores are only carrying a few select books, and mostly they're "craft" publications now...so many of the small shops have closed...and painters that gather around the kitchen table, and in the majority of home studios, while they are still in existence around the country just aren't cutting it right now. Who then one might ask...would the publishers be selling to?

There's still a bunch of passionate painters...there are still painting lists...groups...chapters and such, and those that will follow and buy from their favorite designers, and some painters flocking to the conventions, but compared to when the market was so affluent it's nothing now compared to "then".

It is often noted how quality in these big craft chains has been compromised, but in truth, many painters wouldn't pay for quality.. They'd rather purchase an item from abroad, that was inferior, or have the guy next door cut something for them...cheaper. Everyone can understand people wanting to save money, but just these type of actions have brought us to looking at cheap product now because the public really wouldn't purchase "high" quality for the most part. Look at all the wood suppliers and other large companies that have closed that really did sell good quality items?

One must wonder how often some in the past have "looked through" the books in Michael's, or the painting shops, back when they were in abundance, only to then go and order them from Artist's Club at a cheaper price or use a "wholesale" connection? Sure, the designer is getting their royalty out of that... (sometimes ...not always) but Michael's and the big craft & painting stores ended up seeing that their book inventory was still sitting on the shelf and not selling. Companies cannot stock what isn't selling any longer and they won't.

Emotions run high for so many of the new and upcoming designers today. They're just as passionate, and have so much to share just like the designers of yesterday, but the numbers to share them with just aren't there as they used to be...again...for a NUMBER of reasons.

All things run in cycles...and this will too. Painting hasn't died, and some books will, of course, continue to be published, as will packets and some magazine publications, but designers and artists can't blame the publishers for not publishing...nor even the big chain stores for not carrying "our" products.

If the books and product had been selling, they would still be on the shelves for sale. If we come back in numbers, if we start supporting the decorative painting industry again by doing that, if trends change, if we somehow instill new interest and new growth in the industry, if, if, if...sure...it will come back, and who knows? Maybe even bigger than it ever was?

So many companies are tightening their belts, and if what they're selling...isn't selling...they are finding other products to carry that are. No company can stay in business to "wait it out".

Look at our own TF's list! How many have said they have so many books and packets and surfaces now that if they live to be 100, they'll never get it all painted? Sure some are still going to conventions, and are probably going to buy more stuff...but they are becoming VERY selective, and not at the rate they did several years ago. The numbers, be it $$ or painters... just are simply not there any longer.

When attendees at trade shows say "it was a great show because I didn't have to wait in line to purchase anything"...well, that's just one small example of the crunch we're seeing now because without the "lines", the exhibitors and companies aren't making the money they need to keep on keeping on.
It's a domino effect, and when one area becomes compromised and begins to hurt, they are all affected in many ways.

It costs upwards of $20+ thousand dollars just to publish one really good book. Publishers today have to think REALLY hard about putting that kind of money out and if major publishers like Plaid and others aren't doing it, many have no choice but to follow suit, and hopefully...maybe... wait it out if they can find other ways of keeping the doors open until that day.

It's a "new world" for many designers today. Some veteran designers are going to be ok, simply because they have such a huge following. Others have had to get out of the business totally, especially if painting had been their main income.

New designers need to be very innovative, tighten up their belts, find a little "bulldog tenacity" and wait it out by being "out there"! They should bring on the packets on their websites...go with magazines when possible...advertise in the magazines so people know they ARE around and WHO they are...teach at conventions...teach locally, support the conferences, and chapters, exhibit if and when they can, and stop worrying so much about the book industry having to cut back.

They'll come back if and when it becomes profitable again to do so. There are many great designers out there that have never published a book, and they've done really well in this industry and continue to do so today.

Quite often painters will say they won't purchase a "packet" because they'd rather spend the money on 1 book that contains numerous projects...which sounds logical, but most often, they've either bought one that was not very informational, or they've never purchased a really good one that offered as much as so many do these days.

Packets DO sell, maybe not in the 10,000+ range of numbers that books used to, but they are a product that a designer CAN produce, still affordably, one of the few products a designer does have control of the pricing...and it's one way of making sure the designs are available to the painting market today and ensure that the designer's name is still "out there", until the cycle comes around, with more people taking interest in it again.

So to all the new and upcoming designers...don't think that just because a book isn't in the making at the moment, painting is over because it isn't...not by a long shot.

If we do nothing...then that's what will happen. If we give up and quit designing because we haven't "put out" a book, sure, the turn around cycle will take longer, if it happens at all.

If we all keep trying to promote Decorative Painting, and introduce it, as many ways as possible to the "non-painters" of the world...it will take hold again. So...bottom line...push those designs as packets for now, or classes...whatever... and let people know you are out there and show them once again...this is a learnable art form that anyone can learn!