About a year ago I published Part I of Mona Majorowicz's musings about art fairs. Here is Part II. Her blog is entitled: “Fur in the Paint, Art, Animals and the Creative Experience.” Be sure to read the entire post, as it is full of good analysis and information.
So, as discussed in Part 1, the big benefit of doing art fairs is that you get out there and get seen by the people who love art and those who have an art related business. All of the opportunities listed below, happened over the course of several years and from being in several locations.
-- CASH No need to elaborate on this one.
-- Exhibitions On average I get offered 1 or 2 opportunities to have a solo show with galleries or art centers a year. This is nice because there is none of that waiting by the mailbox for the return of my portfolio, while wondering whether they’ll like me. At the art fairs most times they just introduce themselves, hand me a business card and say “We’d like to extend an invitation for you to exhibit with us.” Very Cool!
“In my opinion galleries should be judging the work before them. . . Alas, those kind of Utopian ideals rarely exist.”
I have done some solo shows several years back. But I haven’t taken anyone up on this offer recently. You all know that I am all about keeping the bills paid. I am fortunate in that my originals sell fairly quickly. And I would rather sell now, over setting aside artwork for an exhibit in hopes of selling it later.
-- Awards Currently, I have no real use for awards (other than it is always nice to have your work recognized,) as I am not actively looking for exhibitions. However, galleries like to see awards on your resume’ because then they don’t have to figure out if your any good on their own. (I know that sounds a little harsh but I can’t really see any other purpose for including awards and honors on resume’ when submitting for a show. In my opinion they should be judging the work before them. No other criteria should enter in. Alas, those kind of Utopian ideals rarely exist.)
-- Apples ‘N Oats The opportunity to write for this equestrian magazine came because the editor (the oft mentioned Carol Eilers) seen a write up on me (with image of painting) in one of the local newspapers, a few years back. The article was written to promote the the Iowa City Art Festival. I never did see the article but the weekend of the event I had dozens of people mention it to me. Anyway, Carol seen the article, went to my website, read my artist journal entries and apparently thought my quirky (and often grammatically incorrect) writing style was something her magazine could use. So she extended an invitation to write for her.
-- Patrons, Collectors and Mailing Lists My definition of a patron is anyone who buys original works. A collector is someone who buys prints but has yet to invest in an original. My mailing list is comprised of both types of buyers. It is primarily through art fairs that I have met these people.
“…art fairs…allows me to work on earning an income, while getting opportunities presented to me, that I in no way have to after.”
My previous post on mailing lists details the hows, whys and organization of my list. Nearly every name on my list has been a direct result of attending an art fair or meeting them at an event that I was invited to, because of an art fair. These people have seen my work, like it and requested to be added to my mailing list. Had I not been doing art fairs all these many years, I certainly wouldn’t have the large, well-defined list that I do.
-- New markets I have been invited to horse events, zoo conferences and all sorts of expos because someone has seen me at some art fair somewhere. Many of these events I would never have known about or had access to without the benefit of an invitation. The most recent example of getting into a new market area is The licensing agreement.
-- Wholesale Accounts In a like manner, many business’s and gift shops offer to carry my art when they see me at an event. Nearly every wholesaling contact that I have, has come where a business owner has approached me to sell my work. Once again it is participating in art fairs, that brings the customer to me.
Now I want to be clear that art fairs are not the only way to bring these things into your business. In fact, there may well be easier methods. What I like about doing art fairs is that it allows me to work on earning an income, while getting opportunities presented to me, that I in no way have to go after.Learn more about Myra and read the comments on this post.
Many thanks, Mona, for allowing me to share this writing of yours.
What have you learned at art fairs? Comments below.
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