Pitching the TENT

One of the ways an Artist can sell their work is by doing "ART SHOWS". (insert dramatic music).

There are all sorts of shows, from the small church basement Craft Show to the high end Hand Made Art Affairs. All require that you pay for the space which allows you to sell your art.

I have found that the Juried Art or Artisan shows and festivals are the best fit for me and my work.  That means that I have to submit pictures of my work, a bio and pay a jury fee. If the organization or promoter likes what they see, I am then invited to participate in the show. I then send in the Show fee along with their contract and I'm am now ready to hit the road.

  Most shows require a white 10' x 10' artist tent. You want one with sides that you can close for when you do 2 and 3 day shows and have to close the tent (booth) up at night. As for how you set your booth up, there are as many different ways as there are artists. For me, it is an ever changing look, as I try to fine tune how I display my glass. I use black table cloths with teal accents, black metal grids from which I can hang my work so it shows to the best advantage.

However, the grids are heavy and bulky and I have been looking for an alternative. I recently purchased a Mesh wall that stretches across one whole side of my booth (tent) and hang my pieces using drapery hooks. This is a lighter weight option and I feel that it helps show off my work.  

As I continue to read and learn, I am sure that I will continue to fine tune the look of my booth so that it will attract buyers and show off my work to it's best advantage.

Particapating in out door Art Shows can be very challenging, you feel like a circus roustabout every time you are setting up and tearing down your space. You are at the mercy of the elements, and rain is not your friend. There is the unbearable heat and the finger numbing cold, the unexpected wind and even the critter that used your tent for shelter during the night. You have to deal with the event organizers, most of whom are wonderful, but there is always that one who is jerk. Then there is the customers. Some shows, they just walk right on by and you don't sell anything, and some shows, you never get the chance to sit down.

But through all the trials and tribulations, nothing beats how beautiful your work will look in the morning sun. Wow, I made that.













 

It's all about the Memory

 A baby is born, a loved one pass's, these are two very powerful moments in a persons life. So it is an honor for me when I am asked to create a custom piece to commemorate such an event. 

When I am asked to  design a piece for a newborn, I try to create something that will grow with the child, something that they might like to hang in a window when they are grown. So I try for a little whimsy, a little lightness, but always something with meaning.

 This was for a newborn whose name started with a "J". It just so happened that the father was an avid fisherman.

This was for a baby girl who's parents had decorated the nursery in a Fairy Land theme

                       Then there were the proud 

                parents of a new 

                 Doctor son, who wanted 

              something simple but 

                     masculine.

 When I am asked to  design a piece as a memorial for a passed loved one, I like to try to incorporate any poems or verses that the family may have used on the Memorial cards. I also try to convey the loved one's personality in the piece. I want this to be something that will bring peace to the family and hopefully help them remember the good times.

  These were made for the family of a gentlemen who passed suddenly. He was a veteran and loved vintage car and motorcycles. One of his daughters dried the roses that all the daughters held during his service. I just knew that I had to make each box different but with a mechanical feel.

This was for a lovely lady who passed away very tragically at a young age, leaving her husband and three grown daughters. These flowers were brought from the cemetery after her burial and pressed and dried.  I tried for a sense of lightness and openness that I hope will make her family feel as if she will always be with them.

 Being asked to help commemorate these very momentous moments in someones life is something that should be approached with  thoughtfulness and respect. And hopefully, you will have brought some joy and/or peace into the lives of the new parents or the remaining family members.