Forum

Painters: Bottom line, what are the best shows? Especially in NY/MA/CT, but anywhere really worth the trip

Posted by Jennifer Fox on August 18, 2010 at 8:20am in Art Show Information and Discussions
I'm relatively new at this, having done only 3 fairs, plus a couple of local main street events, which worked out nicely.  I'd like to pursue art fairs, but am having a tough time discerning which shows are really the best for original oil paintings.  Not prints.  We have some prints available, but we find in general that the more prints and photographs for sale in our immediate proximity, the worse we do.  Are there any shows that are really good for people selling original oil paintings?  I've heard from others we meet at the fairs that "nobody buys originals", but we run an exhibition space/gallery out of our studio, and I know that not to be true.  We do ok out of our own space, but I like the idea of art fairs as a way to reach buyers during our off season, and to build our client base in the region.

I've read feedback that the sunshine list isn't necessarily that reliable, So, can any painters selling original work recommend any particular fairs? 

You need to be a member of Art Fair Insiders to add comments!

Join Art Fair Insiders

★
★
★
★
★
Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –
Follow

Replies

  • Chris Hoyt August 19, 2010 at 8:03am
    Just an observation.

    I see so many newcomers to the "circuit" and after doing only a few shows they want to know where the "best" shows are!

    The "best" for whom? I can recommend shows in new England, and New York as well as New Jersey but I won't. Why? Because what I may consider a good show may not be what you want..

    I also don't know how much you're willing to spend for a space, nor what type of booth setup you have. And your experience in doing shows is still at an amateur level. You have a good product, and you know other venues, but like Larry said, this is a whole different ball of wax.

    You need to do shows with other exhibitors doing other media. You need to experience COMPETITION. Competition from other exhibitors who aren't "fine" artists or craftsmen. And only doing shows in all venues do you get that experience.

    Experience like doing a three day show in a New England drizzle. And selling nothing. Dollying in 100 yards from your truck to your space because the ground is wet and no vehicles are allowed on the grass. Experience in being "Unlucky Pierre" and getting that one bad spot in the show nobody goes near. Experience with promoters who will tell you one thing and do just the opposite. Experience in how to read a contract. Many promoters have a discalimer at the bottom in essence saying "the above rules will mean nothing if we so decide".

    Experience in how to do a show! Long gone are the days when we could set up our booth and sit in the back reading a book and the customers would come in handing you money. Today, selling your work is 50% of the business. And you'll be right next to professionals who have been selling their work for decades. Or be set up right next to someone who has crap from China. Because the promoter utilized the last sentence in the contract.

    Yes, you have to experience promoters who can do a jig under the belly of a snake!

    I'm not trying to discourage you, I want you to succeed! But doing shows/fairs is a learning process. You will make mistakes! And you must learn from those mistakes we all made at one time or another.

    As far as other postings. We are adults here. And some "talk straight". But Munks is telling you the truth! He may go about it in a different way, but his wisdom is priceless! And if you're hurt by some comments made by others who are trying to help and educate you, you've gotta develop a thicker skin! Because the public is much worse!

    So where are the best shows? I dunno. Because only you can find the best shows for you, nobody else.
  • Nels Johnson August 18, 2010 at 5:37pm
    Good reply Phil, you hit the nail right on the head about "research." God! This girl already has more info than it took me 5 years to amass in my lowly beginnings.
  • Connie Mettler August 18, 2010 at 5:35pm
    Hi Jennifer,

    Hope you are still with us!! This site is moderated, but very loosely, because we believe that all will behave nicely and treat each other well. That being said, we also tolerate some folks who do get carried away because they bring us a different point of view and often bring in some gems of insight. Really.

    Here are a few more shows to consider in your neighborhood: Armonk, NY (October, I believe) and Reston, VA (in May).

    Sunshine Artist has an unmatchable database of events and is useful for filling weekends when you are hoping to make money. It is a useful resource for many, but not all, especially high end, I'd guess. Their ratings are based on the number of audit cards that get turned in by artists, so an event like St. James that has a lot of artists, and many at lower price points, will get a higher rating, sort of. ArtFairSourcebook has excellent information, again it is based on those who send the information into them.
  • Nels Johnson August 18, 2010 at 12:35pm
    Here is my input for you from a photographer who has made a living at selling his work all over this country for 35 years, and who is prospering even in this recession. On this forum you gotta be able to handle the heat from the likes of "Munks" and maybe even me as well as input by Larry. They are all good things. You are a relative newbie to the biz. The outdoor circuit is a whole different ball of wax. When most of us started, in the early 70s and 80s there was no such communication medium like this. You are getting a whole lotta stuff for free--easier then we had it. But, you still have to do some legwork. People aren't going to hand you "gold" on the platter that easily. You have some good beginnings from what has been offered--hopefully you will prosper from them.
    • Munks > Nels Johnson August 18, 2010 at 12:59pm
      Agreed!

      "There are some people who, if they don't already know, you can't tell 'em."
      -Yogi Berra
  • geri a. wegner August 18, 2010 at 12:08pm
    Coconut Grove Arts Festival is originals only. It is in Florida but during that particular weekend there are tons of East Coasters in town.
  • Munks August 18, 2010 at 11:19am
    My post was a response to Larry Berman's response to your posting.

    I felt his response to your posting was woefully inept and as I said in my deleted response: "drivel". I was concerned because I felt then (and still do feel) that you were given at best - flawed and at worst - lousy advice.

    I deleted my posting because I saw your "patty-cake" postings back and forth with Larry and I knew that my impassioned plea to conduct your own research and filter the information you receive would either fall on deaf ears or be dismissed due to your vast knowledge of art fairs, (i.e. "3").

    I was also concerned that others on the forum would think I hijacked your thread to admonish Larry Berman's less than stellar advice to yet another artist. That is the primary reason I deleted it. I went off to a class, a kickboxing class after I deleted my post and wrote "nevermind" in it's place. I couldn't help but think about this thread throughout the workout. I wondered what the world would think of a boxer that had three matches that apparently did not go well and who posted a question for help on a forum only to dismiss valid feedback out of hand as if he or she were some kind of champion in the sport.

    It would be a short boxing career to say the least.

    Nonetheless, I defer to your expertise "Jennifer" and I apologize for my attempt to provide you with viable, intelligent alternatives to Larry Berman's response. It is without any sarcasm whatsoever that I wish you (or you both) good luck in your art show career and I truly hope you prove me wrong and sell lots of paintings at art shows!
    • Diane Wright > Munks August 18, 2010 at 11:34am
      The problem with asking what are the best shows boils down to best shows for whom. Even when I talk to other jewelry people I am reticent to give what I consider "best shows." Sometimes a show that is fabulous for one is lousy for another even in the same medium. Can't tell you why. Best advice that I was given was go walk the show prior to applying. You can research online and look at who else has done the show in the past and what their work looks like but that is not the same as actually going to the show the year before applying. I don't always do that but when you don't - you pay your money and you take your chances. I walk a show that was touted to me as a good show and found it too big with too much junk in between the good stuff. It was also not inexpensive and I will pass on it for next year. Look carefully at the guidelines to see what % of prints are allowed. I don't know of any all orgininal painting shows - although there may be some. Do your own research and be safe.
    • Jennifer Fox > Munks August 18, 2010 at 11:29am
      Is this site moderated? I was really hoping for some substantive advice, and I feel that "Munks" comments are really quite inappropriate and rude. Is that typical of this site?. As for the quality of Larry Berman's advice, which was to the point and substantive (I cannot say the same for yours, "Munks", which did not address the question asked), I followed up on his suggestion, and thought that his recommendation of the Rittenhouse show was dead-on correct, and am hoping for more like it.

      I certainly did not pretend to know about the art fair business as a means of selling work, and that's why I was asking for advice. Your snide comment is uncalled for.
This reply was deleted.