I create art quilts that look very much like paintings...I spend alot of my time in my booth say..."no really ...it's fabric". I applied to many shows (20+) all over the map using the throw it against the wall and see what sticks method. In my mind the shows were divided into 5 tiers with the number 1 being the local church art show and number 5 the best in the country. In truth I wanted to believe I belonged at the number 5 level. The jurys didn't agree (waitlisted for 1). I did make several level 4 and lots of level 3. I have done 4 shows so far and scheduled for 5 more in the fall, still trying to decide if I should do shows around christmastime.
I am not sure 2 d stuff sells well when people are shopping for gifts and not for their own wall space. Of the 4 shows I've done I've won prize money at 2- nice , cause I didn't sell much at those 2 shows. I had one really good show (cherokee triangle) people seemed very receptive to fiber art there. Anyway I have more questions than answers. I've not felt comfortable posting real reviews because I don't feel like I have an accurate read on these shows. My stuff may not be selling but your cutting boards, jewlery, and photos were flying out of the booths near me. Right now I am trying to decide if I need to develop a series that is smaller and cheaper for the people who want to spend less than 50 dollars .
Framing keeps coming up as an issue as well. Customers seem to respond to fabric art feeling more valid when it's framed. Right now I have black, brown, driftwood, and unframed options based on what looks best with the piece...however it makes the booth look fairly cluttered. I also have pieces that are every subject , people, animals, fruit, landscapes...If it sounds like chaos, well it feels like that. I've haven't narowed my subject matter because I can't imagine only making art using one subject- just a personal preference.
You can see my crazy work in progress website- http://www.sharontesser.com/ yet another thing on my to do list. I am here often, reading the wisdom of others and believe that someday I will have experience to benefit another artist. Right now I am just trying to clear some cobwebs between my ears. All comments and advice welcome.
Comments
I fixed the link.
Larry Berman
Sharon, the link you posted to your site doesn't work because of the little hyphen after it. I did remove the hyphen and was able to see some of your work. You have some attractive work.
Post a booth shot so people can help you with that. You will get lots of help on how to make it look better and that does draw in the crowds. The people here are more than happy to offer helpful criticism so that you can excel.
Welcome Sharon. 2D stuff does sell and you are right, the better the show the better the sales, so keep aiming for the "5's".
Last weekend I attended the Milwaukee Festival of Arts and the poster "girl" was Sandi Garris, who also does "fabric paintings" -- so to speak. She came out of Amish country and spent years replicating that kind of work. She has been doing shows quite a while and now her work has taken such leaps that it is on the poster at this good show. Yes, her work is more in the vein of "quilting" rather than pictures, but I suggest you visit her website, take a hard look at what she is doing and see if there are some lessons for you.
Most of her work is framed. She is dying and cutting and sewing, very laboriously, but the work is beautiful and can work for traditional as well as contemporary: http://www.sandigarris.com
(Hope you don't mind I edited your blog into paragraphs, and added a couple of tags. Good job on your first post and I hope you will return again and again.)
Sharon - I like you work at lot. Very interesting. I also do fiber art (clothing and wall art) and although there are a lot of fiber art pieces out there that are just 'hung' on the wall by a rod of some sort, (most quilts are done that way) I have also experienced where people think of it more as 'art' when it is framed. I have some pieces that just 'hang' and others that are framed.
I try and group things together in the booth that look good together. If there is something special I want to highlight I hang it separately. I also think it's important for the booth to not look cluttered as you said, just too hard for people to see the work when that happens. I do a variety of subject matter - some sell better than others, but I think it's a response to the colors a lot.
Framing has it own issues...I've heard from visitors ...like that but wish it was in a different colored frame. The frame is your choice but I try and keep it neutral and dark.
One comment about your website - for my 'older' eyes it sure is difficult to read the red text on the black background! Might work better it is was white text instead :)
HTH
Sue Foss
Sue@fossions.com