Hello! Does anyone out there drive either a small bus (like a short school bus or a handicapped-accessible community bus) or a small box truck? If you do, what kind of MPG do you get?
I love love love my Nissan NV, and can fit a cot in it... but when the time comes for a new vehicle, I'm really thinking about one I can make into a more livable RV-ish thing, and still have enough room for my big paintings and tent stuff.
Thanks for any info you can provide.
I'm a painter who occasionally does large format paintings (i.e. 40X40, 60x20 etc..) and I'm looking for the most economical and practical vehicle for traveling to art festivals. I am admittedly a foreign car lover; Honda, Toyota and Nissan and I like a vehicle that is reliable and gas friendly.
I'm looking for used vehicles in the price range of $8K - $12K... but would like to spend less than $10k.
My thoughts are the Honda Element, a minivan, or a car which can pull a trailer. If I get the Element or a minivan I plan to build a platform so I can store stuff on top and on bottom, then the platform could double as a bed so I can sleep in my car during two or three day festivals. If I get a car with a trailer I'll just plan to camp out or stay with friends, family or a hostel I suppose.
Any packing tips would be helpful as well. this will be my first year doing festivals full-time. I still trying to figure out the best way to package my paintings for minimal wear and tear...and prints for that matter.
Thanks
Erik
Well, I traveled long and hard this year and I think I will be staying closer to home with all the traveling expenses and all.....to make a long story short, I added the expenses and what I netted.....That was alot of traveling and work to only make a few hundred dollars a show! So I decided to stay closer to home and try the smaller shows in my area plus it was taking a toll on my health. I'm getting very creative on where and how I'm displaying my work and extending my subject manner to things I haven't painted in years. It seems to be working or the economy is starting to pick up...slowly but surely.
I ask you fellow artists, what have you been doing to keep on going?
I started Phoenix Rising Designs in 2004 after about 6 years of apprenticing and selling for other artists and designers. I have worked some really great art shows and one really muddy one. Seriously, shin deep in mud and sleeping in my van. The bathrooms weren't finished with walls between the toilets so... Anyway, I've done my share of moving around with my work! haha I am a wife and mother to one son and I homeschool him. I also fill in at a vintage clothing store and a bead store and teach classes at a wellness center on Gemstone Therapy.
I mentioned "people", right? Well those of you who have helped me in the past are free to add your stories as well. Rozee, we almost got stolen, remember? haha Brittany, you helped me for about 6 or 7 seasons and fell asleep with mud and rocks in your hair, right? My husband and son helped be run stuff to the van in pouring sheets of rain in Huron, Oh. Cambrey, how many lunches did we eat at that apple festival again? These are the silly, crazy, and (sick, right?) fun stories but I also have met some great people, had wonderful sales and fantastic times on circuit too.
I am currently working like crazy to add more wholesale accounts to my business. My styles are tribal and steampunk jewelry. I have an online store http://www.phoenixbartender.etsy.com/. Why "phoenix bartender"? Well I like the mythical creature and I've been a bartender since 2001 at night and an artist by day.
Rambling on...thank you for reading and thank you for adding my business to your "LIKE" list on facebook.
