Patriot-News Artsfest review, sorta

Artsfest this weekend was a lot of fun and definitely a worthwhile show! It was really nice not to have to rent a car or hotel room for the weekend to do the show either, since it's about 10 blocks away. I also got some really cool news on Saturday morning, related to my art, but I have to scan in an image before I can post it.

This post is mainly a review of my experience at this year's Patriot News Artsfest here in Harrisburg. It's as much for other readers as for myself, since I'd like to write up my mental notes while they're still fresh in my mind.... I've already been saying the show went well enough that I'll apply to do this show again next year if I can find a friend to stay up here with (since by then I'll be living down in DC and admittedly still don't make enough at *most* shows to cover hotel expenses).

This show was in Riverfront Park, same as Kipona (but further north, I believe). It was much much better for me than Kipona in that I made up my show fees (jury fee, booth fee, bathroom pass WTF fee) the first day. The 2nd day wasn't as great and the 3rd day (Monday, Memorial day) was by far the worst. Which was funny because a lot of artists had been saying Monday was supposed to be the best day! I didn't have high expectations, thank goodness.

At this show it seemed like the patrons were mostly interested in the smaller inexpensive items. I didn't sell any of my 11"x14" matted to 16"x20" prints. I didn't really see anyone carrying around bags with BIG art in them until Monday, when they must've had a chance to see everything they wanted to see and make their final decisions on what to take home. New for this show I made little 5"x7" prints of my "30 Bugs in 30 Days" ACEOs with colored borders. People really seemed to like those, I sold a whole bunch! I also sold a lot of greeting cards (they are 5"x7" and as so they can be framed, they just aren't archival) and mousepads (they're made from recycled tire rubber). Things for me to keep in mind next year- I don't need to go crazy making inventory of my bigger prints.

There was a dinner for the artists on Sunday night which was super, super, super nice of them. I've only been to one other show that did that- Portsmouth's Seawall Show. At both shows my husband and I got to sit and eat with other artists, all of whom were extreeeeemely nice. Have I ever mentioned before that 99.999% of the artists at these shows are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet? I stand firmly behind that statement :)

This was also the first year they've charged admission to the show. (Hooray! I say.) I heard from many artists who had done the show before, and some volunteers, that attendance was way, waaaayyy down from other years- likely because of the new fee. However, I also heard multiple patrons walking by saying things like "If I had to pay to come in here, I HAVE to walk out with something to make up for it!" I'm not sure I get that logic... but as a vendor, I didn't mind that mentality. I'm not sure how many people think that way- if you pay a fee to get into an art show or something like that, would you be sure to bring home something to make sure it was worth your money to get in?

One weird thing about this show was the bathroom situation. On Saturday morning some folks pulling a wagon with beverages in it walked by yelling, "Orange juice? Water? Coffee? Bathroom passes?"
Of course since I can't just pop a squat and go to the bathroom in the corner of my tent, my ears perked up. I hadn't thought to look for bathrooms but I had seen port-a-potties a block or so away from my booth and just assumed those were for everyone. After asking a couple of the other artists and volunteers at the show, I was enlightened: The outhouses were available to us artists, but there were people who would 'man' them and keep them [relatively] clean and pump soap into your hands for you and give you paper towels at the handwashing station. And of course they do it for tips. Ok... fine, whatever. Also a church, a block away in the opposite direction of the outhouses, was selling bathroom passes for use of their bathrooms. They had two bathrooms, each one was private, it was [relatively] air-conditioned and clean and... well... private and clean. Bathroom passes from the church cost $10 (for the 3 day weekend) and the money went to the church. I'm not a church person at all but cleanliness + privacy > outhouse every single time, so I went for that option. Plus I figured after tipping the folks at the outhouses, I would've easily gone through $10 by the end of the weekend anyway. I have to say though, it was a little bit of a shock to not have bathrooms just provided to the artists as part of our booth fee, since we had to pay $300+ for a spot. I've never been to a show where bathrooms weren't provided for the artists. (Then again at other art shows, food isn't provided, water isn't provided, a place to sleep and shower isn't provided, so why should I assume bathrooms would be?) I'd almost rather pay an extra $10 or $20 for my booth that would go directly to whoever is providing bathrooms/keeping them clean, just to not have to worry about figuring out the bathroom situation when I'm there or making sure I have a dollar on me every time. Maybe I'll invest in a chamber pot and not have to worry about this again.

The other slight inconvenience of this show (that is completely unpreventable and no fault of the show, just something to keep in mind if you're an artist considering it) is that it's friggin DUSTY. I wasn't even on the side of the park where the grass/dirt is (but I did have the back of my tent open on the last day) and my stuff is still covered in dust. I remember things being really dusty after Kipona, but I was also right in the middle of dirt and dust where everyone was walking. This year I was on the street. I thought about dusting things off for the last hour of the show on Monday, before pack up time, but that wouldn't have done any good because the most dust is kicked up by the artists ourselves as we pack everything up- kicking heavy containers around, shaking out our tents and tent walls, fluffing out packing materials, etc. My car is still loaded full of my crap and I plan to dust everything off before putting it away in the garage! Not saying at all that this is anything bad about the show, just something in my mental notes that I need to make sure I remember for next year.

Artsfest...

I had such a blast at Artsfest this year and was so excited that I was invited to show there again!
This year I was able to display on the pavement in the Tent Circle versus the Wooded Path. Don't get me wrong, I loved being in the woods, but wanted to try something different. Plus, both other shows I did this year were in the woods, so it was nice to be on some solid ground! :)

The best thing about being on the pavement was the spot that I was assigned: It was really really close to the entrance, which meant both of my grandfathers were able to come and see me. My grandfather who lives in Maryland takes walks every day, but I don't think he would have wanted to take the hike all the way back to my booth had it been in the woods. My grandparents from Virginia happened to be in town that weekend, too, so they also came by. My granddad had knee surgery a year or two ago, and still walks quite a bit, but I am not sure if he would have wanted to walk all the way back into the woods either.

It was neat getting to show them a little bit of what I'm doing now.

The weather during the weekend was PERFECT, and it was just a wonderful show to finish out my outdoor season.

This was also the first time I did a giveaway at a show, and congratulations to Kathleen who was the big winner! I'm still waiting to hear which print she picks.

Giveaway at Artsfest!

This weekend is Artsfest at AnnMarie Garden in southern Maryland!

I'll be there on the concrete this time (I'm usually in the woods!) in the Tent Circle- spot # 60.

Also, for the first time at an art show I'm doing a giveaway! The prize is an 8"x10" print of your choice from my gallery of art at www.samanthasartstudio.com.

All you have to do is stop by my tent and sign up for my e-newsletter (frequency of said newsletter will vary from seasonal to monthly, at the most). Slips of paper will be provided where you can write your name and email address, then place them into a container. Container is still TBD, hehe. After the show, I'll pick a random name/email address from the container and contact the winner. Then you can let me know which print you would like and where you would like me to send it :)

I'm very excited about being able to offer this giveaway and hope that someone will receive a print that they will truly enjoy- or, if they are picking out a print as a gift, that the recipient will enjoy it as well!

If you click the image below, you can go to their site and print out a coupon for $1 off admission from Artsfest:




Hope to see you there! Weather is supposed to be great- sunny and lower 70's!

Oh nooo.... WHERE IS MY WINGS CD!?

I can't stop singing Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five!
Ohh, I just found it! In the classic rock CD book.

And in other good news, I've been invited to return to Artsfest in Solomon's, MD again this year! :)

Just found out today! What a great week!!!

About Artsfest 2008

http://www.annmariegarden.org/Events/Artsfest/index.htm

Artsfest was wonderful, just as it was last year!

"Palmera Del Coco" & Me

I love this show. Now that I've done two other sizable outdoor shows and have something to compare it to, this one might still be my favorite. I also love being in the woods! You have about as much room as you want to spread out all of your things! ...If the weather cooperates of course. And the weather was absolutely perfect, so there were lots of people about.

I should have gotten this nice man's name.
We were talking about CCD and bees,
and he recommended the book "Robbing the Bees" to me-
which I received in the mail yesterday!

This year they gave us coupons for free cups of coffee in their new Cafe--- Awesome, and the coffee was even good!!! Who ever heard of a GOOD cup of FREE coffee!?

Annnnnnd...
I even sold my original Red-Eyed Tree Frog painting! I'm so excited when I sell an original. For lots of reasons... of course you have to price them higher than just a print. So it's really flattering when someone loves a piece that much, that they want the real-deal.
Also, it's less crap for me to have to carry back home.
And in a way, I feel like it gives me an excuse to paint something new.

I think I can hear thunder outside- so I'ma go ahead and post this, and--- oh looky! I just got the pics from my dad, so I'll add em, then post. He took lots of pics, which was great, because now I have a more accurate booth representation when I submit my Booth Shot for an art show application.

My sweet husband, probably contemplating how the hell
to get out of helping me take everything down
and get it back home

Ok for real. thunder.
TTFN,

SG

Not easy being green... part 2

But not impossible, either!!

In part of my efforts to make my artwork/prints more eco friendly, I ordered a big ol' box o' paper from Neenah. I ordered Neenah Environment Paper PC 100 White in 80lb cardstock. I chose this paper because it's acid free and archival, which is important for artwork. 80lb is a nice, heavy weight for prints or cards or original work. The best part? It's also 100% recycled and 100% post consumer recycled fibers, which is really hard to find in acid free/archival quality and in a color other than "natural" or something pigmented. This is very, very white, wonderful paper!

**It's also processed chlorine free, FSC Certified (I know there are mixed viewpoints on that, but with this paper and the other credentials it seems like a good thing), and Green-E Certified. You can read more about the benefits of Neenah Environment Paper here!! **


After the Seawall Art Show, I was surprisingly low on note card/greeting card inventory. I was trying to figure out the best option for both my wallet and the environment, since at the moment I just can't afford to get all of my cards from greenerprinter.com (although I would like to, eventually). I decided to take my Neenah over to the local Staples and have all of my cards printed on it. Before placing the order, Staples printed one example proof and I loved it- so I have been able to replenish my whole inventory of cards. Seeing as how there aren't any local printers (that I know of) who would be able to print with solar or wind power and soy inks, I think this was the next best option. I was able to print on the best paper I could find (eco-friendly-wise), and have it done quickly and locally- no shipping!- and the cards look great.

Of course, that also meant that I had to cut, score, and fold the cards myself, and I'm still looking around for recycled paper envelopes. But I figure the energy I spent putting all the physical labor into the cards burned some extra calories for me, Yay!, and had to have saved energy from some machine somewhere that would have had to do it otherwise.

Ok... Back to the cutting/scoring/folding now.

Some of my past news...

September '07- Artsfest In Yo Face!

Artsfest was such a great event and I hope I will be able to do it again next year! The weather couldn't have been better- it was absolutely perfect. The rest of this month I'll spend finishing up a couple of paintings, and switching around my inventory in the restaurant, coffee shop, and galleries.


August '07- Getting Ready for Artsfest


That's right! Just one more month until Artsfest 2007 at Ann Marie Garden in Solomon's. I'm excited. . . and nervous. . . and have no idea what to expect, since unfortunately I've never been to Artsfest before.

In preparation for the show, I'm working on my display and hand cutting tons and tons and tons of mats for prints and framed pictures. Cutting my own mats sure is time consuming (and my knuckles are swollen and sore-- eh, that's beside the point), but the results are really sooo worth it, so I'm not complaining. Plus cutting your own saves tons of money and you can pick from a much wider selection of colors (meaning, non-boring navys and brick reds and other colors that have no business being next to my work because they look ridiculous).