Every time I do a show the amount of artworks I bring always seems to be either an under estimate or an over estimate ... I can never seem to get it "just" right :-).
So, if you sell paintings or wall sculptures, how many artworks do you bring to the average art show (break-down the numbers)? Also, what sizes do you bring and carry most of? What is the lowest priced item you carry and descibe it (size, material/type).
Thank you.
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Thanks for the DIY wall tips. I think I will make my own walls, as well (sort of) out of GRID WALL panels and other materials. They are extremely sturdy and I think will do well with my heavier artwork.
Thanks for the photo ... nice painting. I've done work similar to that and I cannot remember which artist(s) were the inspiration for that style (so much for learning anything in AP Art History Class many moons ago :-). But, with my acrylic paintings, I have used a base coat of lightweight paper clay about 1/2" thick and then with a square stamp (or circles, your choice) press the pattern in at varying depths until you get the desired effect. Smooth out the edges and apply whatever abstract aged technique you want to the painting (metallic paint is great) ... And, VOILA, you are done with a textured masterpiece! :-)
I have many more square pieces (3 dimensional and flat) that I need to post on my site ... But i am frantically preparing for my next show ... If only we could STOP TIME or CLONE ourselves! ... Or just be filthy rich and successful where you can actually get interns to do the grunt work for you :-)
Thanks again ... If it does not end up being a disaster, I will post photos of my do-it-myself wall panels when they are done.
Thank you everyone for your great answers. They were all very helpful.
Also, Jorge, thanks for the picture. I love your layout. Is that a 10'x10' layout? If so, it looks much bigger with the layout you have. Also, where did you get or how did you create your walls? What kind of material is that and how much weight can it hold (individual works and total weight capacity)? I also LOVE the side wall flap (with your podium and sign-up list to the right). Do any of the shows give you any flack about that side panel and how it may stretch beyond your allowed boundary?
When I do photography in a show I have no issues with bringing stock. But, when I do my metal, one of a kind, metal art, which has a much higher individual price tag and size, I have found it very hard to select sizes that I should bring. Also, with the economy being what it is, I find it difficult creating pieces that are $50 or even less than $100. Unfortunately I can't sell prints of my metal wall art so that really restricts me. I guess I really have to bear down and create some small pieces ... After all, small "economical" pieces usually save a slow show.
We used to sell photography (now retired). In the beginning we just covered every inch of the panels with photos large and small in many sizes. I think once Norm said he had 116 photos hanging (gasp!). No one could get any idea really of the quality of the work because there was just to much to see.
Early on we participated in the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival in Winter Park, FL, a prestigious event. The rules there said you could not hang more than 16 pieces on your display. Imagine our consternation. Imagine our delight when we found out that was really a very good idea and the sales were terrific!
That said here is what we ended up with:
-images in five sizes: 20 x 24, 16 x 20, 11 x 14, 8 x 10, 4 x 5. Not everything in all the sizes and not everything framed, and very few in the largest size - two or three, as our van was mighty full.
- we had boxes built to hold four 16 x 20's (I'm talking image size here, not outer dimensions of the frames) because under glass that was as many as I could carry.
-smaller boxes held six 11 x 14 framed images
--we did not frame 8 x 10 or 4 x 5
This work was all handcolored originals, so we were pretty limited by that. Our lowest price was a 4 x 5 matted to 8 x 10, selling for $45. Our highest price item was the 20 x 24 framed to 26 x 28 and selling for $495. Really excellent prices for hand colored work.
You should have one large piece which you may carry from show to show but it will push the sales of the next size down. We carried the most of the 11 x 14's but made our best profit from the 16 x 20's.
I'm a photographer, and I've also been doing this for just two years, and I haven't figured it out yet either. Most of my larger prints are in the 16 x 20 range. I do have one 12 x 36 panoramic print. I carry most of my framed prints (all but the pano) in plastic tubs. I can put 4 large tubs in the back of my pickup, but it's tight. Last weeks show was inside, so it fit nicely. This weekend is outside, so 4 large tubs and my tent are a little tight. Since I can never figure out what sells the most, I try to be prepared! I can cover the walls in my tent with what I carry in 3 large tubs, so if I knew what would sell, that's all I'd carry:-)
So, to summarize, carry everything that will fit comfortably, because you can never tell what will sell!
There are a lot of logistical considerations that you haven't specified. To name a few: How are you packaging your work? What type and size vehicle do you have? How far are you traveling to get there? What non-resell items do you have on site besides your tent (such as: sales table, area rug, browse bins, racks, panels, etc.) that will constrain the amount of cargo room you've got for your artwork?
As a photographer, I want to fill my walls with work, and the larger the better (particularly on the back wall, where the real "eye catchers" go). Right now, that means 10-12 works 16x24 or larger, and a few smaller ones 16x20 or so.
In terms of how much smaller work to take along for the browse bins, it's a challenge. I used to bring all my work to each show. But then, once I had the tent set up, I'd have to spend valuable time pulling 2 copies or so of each item to put in the browse bins. Recently, I've found it more efficient to pull my "two copies" of each work into a plastic bin BEFORE the show and load it in a separate tray for transport. Then, at the show, all I have to do is unload the plastic bin contents into my browse bins, and I'm good to go.
Anything beyond those "two copies" stays home (if it's a local show) or in my minivan. (If you're keeping good track of your best sellers, it's smart to bring a couple of extras of those.) When I started out two years ago, I had lots of large (20x24 and up) works in my browse bins, but I've cut that back somewhat because they weren't selling as much as my medium and smaller ones.
This is what I'm doing currently, and my minivan is just about maxed out. ;-) And so far, at least, I haven't lost many sales because I didn't have something in stock.
Hope this helps to answer your question. Lots of variables to consider.
I've only been doing this 2 years, so I'm not sure how valuable my reply will be....But, I ALWAYS like to be as prepared as I possibly can be - in what I'm finding out is a very UNpredictable enterprise. I usually try to take about 30 paintings, mostly 16 x 20. I also bring about 30 matted giclees. I like to err on the side of overestimating even though it means more carrying and lifting heavy bins. But, I'd rather have the paintings there if needed than lose a sale because I didn't come prepared. Hope that helps!
Replies
Thanks for the photo ... nice painting. I've done work similar to that and I cannot remember which artist(s) were the inspiration for that style (so much for learning anything in AP Art History Class many moons ago :-). But, with my acrylic paintings, I have used a base coat of lightweight paper clay about 1/2" thick and then with a square stamp (or circles, your choice) press the pattern in at varying depths until you get the desired effect. Smooth out the edges and apply whatever abstract aged technique you want to the painting (metallic paint is great) ... And, VOILA, you are done with a textured masterpiece! :-)
I have many more square pieces (3 dimensional and flat) that I need to post on my site ... But i am frantically preparing for my next show ... If only we could STOP TIME or CLONE ourselves! ... Or just be filthy rich and successful where you can actually get interns to do the grunt work for you :-)
Thanks again ... If it does not end up being a disaster, I will post photos of my do-it-myself wall panels when they are done.
Hugo
www.HugoCruzGallery.com
Also, Jorge, thanks for the picture. I love your layout. Is that a 10'x10' layout? If so, it looks much bigger with the layout you have. Also, where did you get or how did you create your walls? What kind of material is that and how much weight can it hold (individual works and total weight capacity)? I also LOVE the side wall flap (with your podium and sign-up list to the right). Do any of the shows give you any flack about that side panel and how it may stretch beyond your allowed boundary?
When I do photography in a show I have no issues with bringing stock. But, when I do my metal, one of a kind, metal art, which has a much higher individual price tag and size, I have found it very hard to select sizes that I should bring. Also, with the economy being what it is, I find it difficult creating pieces that are $50 or even less than $100. Unfortunately I can't sell prints of my metal wall art so that really restricts me. I guess I really have to bear down and create some small pieces ... After all, small "economical" pieces usually save a slow show.
Thanks for your continued good advice.
Hugo
www.HugoCruzGallery.com
Early on we participated in the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival in Winter Park, FL, a prestigious event. The rules there said you could not hang more than 16 pieces on your display. Imagine our consternation. Imagine our delight when we found out that was really a very good idea and the sales were terrific!
That said here is what we ended up with:
-images in five sizes: 20 x 24, 16 x 20, 11 x 14, 8 x 10, 4 x 5. Not everything in all the sizes and not everything framed, and very few in the largest size - two or three, as our van was mighty full.
- we had boxes built to hold four 16 x 20's (I'm talking image size here, not outer dimensions of the frames) because under glass that was as many as I could carry.
-smaller boxes held six 11 x 14 framed images
--we did not frame 8 x 10 or 4 x 5
This work was all handcolored originals, so we were pretty limited by that. Our lowest price was a 4 x 5 matted to 8 x 10, selling for $45. Our highest price item was the 20 x 24 framed to 26 x 28 and selling for $495. Really excellent prices for hand colored work.
You should have one large piece which you may carry from show to show but it will push the sales of the next size down. We carried the most of the 11 x 14's but made our best profit from the 16 x 20's.
So, to summarize, carry everything that will fit comfortably, because you can never tell what will sell!
As a photographer, I want to fill my walls with work, and the larger the better (particularly on the back wall, where the real "eye catchers" go). Right now, that means 10-12 works 16x24 or larger, and a few smaller ones 16x20 or so.
In terms of how much smaller work to take along for the browse bins, it's a challenge. I used to bring all my work to each show. But then, once I had the tent set up, I'd have to spend valuable time pulling 2 copies or so of each item to put in the browse bins. Recently, I've found it more efficient to pull my "two copies" of each work into a plastic bin BEFORE the show and load it in a separate tray for transport. Then, at the show, all I have to do is unload the plastic bin contents into my browse bins, and I'm good to go.
Anything beyond those "two copies" stays home (if it's a local show) or in my minivan. (If you're keeping good track of your best sellers, it's smart to bring a couple of extras of those.) When I started out two years ago, I had lots of large (20x24 and up) works in my browse bins, but I've cut that back somewhat because they weren't selling as much as my medium and smaller ones.
This is what I'm doing currently, and my minivan is just about maxed out. ;-) And so far, at least, I haven't lost many sales because I didn't have something in stock.
Hope this helps to answer your question. Lots of variables to consider.
Lisa Crisman
www.LeftEarArt.com