Shohini Ghosh, artist
Hi Colleen, Thank you for organizing the workshop with Patrick. It was very helpful and insightful on the obvious mistakes an artist typically makes. – May, 2012
Maxwell, Denver artist
The workshop created the opportunity to practice the art of listening. the ability to listen to another is the first step in building a trusting platform to communicate. once that is established, ideas can be shared that both party’s can relate to.
Another important lesson learned during the workshop is to be conscious of not only body gestures but tone and speed of the talking voice. the ego can manifest in many ways, including insecurity, arrogance and lack of patience.
Going thru the role playing methods introduced during the workshop, one sees clearly how these behaviors can jeopardize a positive and beneficial situation into one of misunderstanding and unease, and in doing so, rare meetings with influential others never reaches its potential. as bob dylan said ‘know your song well before you start singing’
I was able to practice the methods taught at the workshop this morning. a client visited my gallery and purchased three of my prints at a price we both felt good about. and a friendship has begun. – May, 2012
Megan McManus, Philadelphia artist.
I make Oil Paintings and Drawings. From 2000-2006 I sold my Art through galleries. They determined the price, gave discounts to certain clients, and received 50% of the sale.
About a month ago I launched my new and updated website. I was thrilled when I received an email from someone who wanted to buy one the paintings they saw on my new website. I was also petrified because I had never sold my work on my own. I was unsure of what to charge and I was afraid of any negotiating that may come up in the conversation with the buyer because I do not consider myself to be a business savvy person. I started asking people what I should charge and that’s when I met Colleen.
Colleen helped me determine the price of my Art by coming up with a simple mathematical formula. Not only did she help me come up with a formula for pricing my paintings; she taught me not to negotiate, but to apply discounts I was comfortable giving and to determine those discounts before the sale. She gave me conversational tips to keep the buyer engaged and pointed out how important it is to listen to the buyer and let them guide the conversation. Colleen also addressed my questions concerning the gallery I had shown with in the past. I was expecting the advice to end there but Colleen held my hand during the entire sale. We talked before I spoke to the buyer, she called me after I talked to the buyer to review the conversation, we spoke a few more times during the final transaction and again afterward. She was my coach and cheerleader during this process and I can’t thank her enough.
Working with Colleen has made me feel empowered to sell my Art and that is priceless. The Art community needs more people like her! – 2011,
Laura Cowperthwaite, Broker Associate, Your Castle Real Estate (business partner)
“Colleen is a true treasure for Denver’s creative community and indeed any artist interested in building their career. She is passionately committed to her clients and brings an amazing amount of knowledge and skill to her coaching clients. She is upbeat and enthusiastic. She understands complex processes, knows architecture, budgeting, and the politics of getting getting large scale projects from conception to completion. I highly recommend her.” February 4, 2011
Margaret Johnson
“Colleen really helped me value myself as an artist and I think she can inspire other artists to get what they want out of their careers.” May 6, 2011
Mel Ristau
Top qualities: Personable, Expert, High Integrity
“Colleen’s years of experience in the public art network as an administrator and as an artist uniquely qualify her to guide both established and emerging artist who have interest in developing business within this specialized market. She provides expert knowledge and guidance, is creative, thoughtful, engaging, and she radiates a genuine enthusiasm for helping her clients achieve success. She is pleasure to work with and I jump at the chance to recommend Colleen.” August 26, 2011
Kim Tyrrellm Executive Director, Colorado Alliance for Arts Education (business partner)
“Colleen was wonderful to work with. She was very receptive to new ideas and went out of her way to make sure that our project was highly visible and carefully managed. This was especially impressive given our time and budget constraints. Colleen’s warmth and sense of humor combined with her skills and professionalism enable her to develop and maintain strong working relationships.” September 21, 2008
David Rhodes, Deputy Manager of Aviation – Planning & Development, Denver International Airport (colleague)
“Colleen managed the art program at DIA with passion and competence. She was an excellent advocate for the program and it flourished under her direction. Her positive attitude was always appreciated and I enjoyed working with her.” September 1, 2009
Woods Allee, Director of Captial Planning and Special Projects, Denver International Airport (colleague)
“In my experience Colleen was a proactive detail oriented manager. I worked with Colleen on several iniatives and found her to be knowledgeable within her specific area as well as having an appreciation of the complex process of administering a very large hub airport. Colleen was always efficient and pleasent to work with.” August 31, 2009
Susan Moore, Property Manager – Airlines, Denver International Airport (colleague)
“Colleen worked tirelessly and enthusiastically to expand DIA’s art program. She was very creative with using vacant concession spaces and open mezzanine areas as galleries. She brought in art by children, local artists and international artists, providing the artists exposure to the public and, in turn, enlightenment to DIA’s customers and employees.” August 31, 2009
Reggie Norman, Denver International Airport Architect, AIA (colleague)
“No other art consultant or art strategist in the U.S. provides the kind of comprehensive hands-on installation and knowledge of codes, combined with revenue generating ways to incorporate that program as Fanning Partnership.”
Amy Laugesen, Artist, Public Artist, Art Program Coordinator, DIA (colleague)
Frank Palumbo, Senior Engineer, Denver International Airport (colleague)
“Fanning Partnership works intensely with the artist, to get the required information, the size and shape and weight, code information, and creates a living guideline for all of the installation requirements for the location.”
