First art fair

Jean Kelly · 04-27-2005, 11:51 PM

Thank you Richard, I'll be reading that magazine before the show and start coaching myself. I spent 17 years in sales before I went into HVAC, selling was easy then because I was selling a decent product that I was very knowledgable about. Selling my artwork is a whole different ballgame, I feel like I'm giving away part if my soul and never know what to say. So I'll read alot and practice on my poor suffering husband.

Marcus, I'd be interested in hearing about your experiences selling in Singapore. Be sure to start a thread on it, it's so fascinating to read about other countries and cultures. I complain a lot about my family, but I wouldn't have it any other way. My father, mother and others of the older generation are all dead, and even when they were alive were inaccessable (just not really interested). I made it a point to keep my own kids close and I have a big crazy extended family! Plus if I really needed security I could bring my german shepherd, but then the customers would stay away too.

Jean

Jean Kelly · 07-14-2005, 02:07 PM

Hi all,

I got my tent yesterday. I ordered one from Dick Blick, with two sidewalls and the weight bags. We're going to set it up this weekend, hopefully it's as easy as the advertising says it is! It cost a little over $200. so well within my range.

I'm going to use "Jux" as my demo painting. Unfortunately, he is in Arizona so I will have to use a stand in and work on his jeans while I'm there. Hopefully, I won't be painting much. If I start another painting for the demo, I might not have it far enough along. It would be in the "ugly, scary" stage. Maybe that would be okay as long as I have finished works there to compare to. What do you think? It may be very confusing to people to look at a demo painting with a stand in model,("Jux" with my son standing in as the bluejeans model).

I still have to frame some of my work, and am getting very nervous about this whole thing. I talk to myself daily to calm myself down and when the anxiety level gets too high I walk in the woods or go find the horses. They bring me back down to earth and reality. I'm really not that important in the grand scheme of life.

Jean

Michele Rushworth · 07-14-2005, 03:40 PM

I personally would not use a stand in model when painting a demo. People walking by will have one thought and that will be, "Boy, that painting doesn't look like that guy at all!" Really, they won't stop to think that maybe the model is an understudy.

If the whole thing is making you nervous, don't demo. That way you can just stand there, be charming and talk to people about your finished works. An artist who's demonstrating but is nervous is much less effective than an artist who's not demoing but is relaxed and talking confidently with people who stop by, I think.

Linda Brandon · 07-14-2005, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jean Kelly

It may be very confusing to people to look at a demo painting with a stand in model,("Jux" with my son standing in as the bluejeans model).

I recommend my pal Half Nelson who also looks good in jeans. Not to imply your son is reluctant to model, but he may be useful for other things (taking money from art buyers while you work.... ).

You're smart to paint from life in public (even if you use Half Nelson - he counts as "life" for these purposes) because then you'll not be dismissed as "just copying the photo".

I think you will be terrific at this and I hope this fair goes really well for you, Jean! Best of luck to you!

Kimberly Dow · 07-14-2005, 03:58 PM

I agree with Michelle completely on this one.

Have fun Jean!

Jean Kelly · 07-14-2005, 05:28 PM

Linda, I forgot about "Half Nelson", he might just be the solution! Working on a new one in the early stages scares me to death, I'm just not that comfortable in front of people yet. But finishing up the bluejeans would be a piece of cake.

Thank you all, this was a big help. Michele, I know I would be quaking in my shoes if I had a new painting to work on. Kim, I'll do my best to have fun, I hope it doesn't rain and storm. The last time I was in an art fair, we had tornadoes and heavy rain and lighting. Everyone had to run for cover as the police were evacuating the exhibitors till the worst of the storm was over. That was in 1992, when I was making art quilts. What a disaster!

Jean