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These two shows are both being held on the weekend of Sept. 28-29-30.  Any opinions on which is the better show?  Neither is particularly expensive; both are attractive from a travel/intinerary standpoint. 

Thanks!

April 14 & 15

The 7th Annual Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival returns to the visually stunning setting of The Woodlands Waterway in The Woodlands, just north of Houston, Texas. Produced by The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council Inc., in alliance with community partners, the WWAF raises funds for the Council's non-profit mission to provide regional cultural enrichment opportunities that encourage, support and promote the performing and visual arts.

This award winning two-day celebration of the arts attracts art patrons and tourists from across the nation. Featuring 200 juried fine art and fine craft artists from 36 different states and 3 countries along with performing arts, delicious food, wine tasting and an "Art of Food" Chef demonstration tent to complement your experience.

Still considered a 'new' show among the artists in the Texas spring circuit, the festival has quickly earned a stellar reputation in artist care as well as in art sales. Eric Lee, invited 2012 fine artist in our show told us recently:

This will be my fifth year at The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, and like the community that hosts it, it just feels right. The festival staff, volunteers and patrons all appreciate the art and the artists that create it. A wonderful show.

More than 16,000 people attended last year's festival. The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival is ranked among the Top 100 Art Festivals in the U.S. by Art Fair Source Book. 

For detailed information about the festival and to purchase tickets online, visit www.woodlandsartsfestival.com

Same question, which should I do? I have always done well at the Fall paradise City show, so why am I looking to switch?

I have always heard that the St James Court show is the IT show , so I applied,

now I have a dilema. I am a clothing and accessories maker, any thoughts please? Thank you so much, and I am doing the Wyandotte street fest, in reply to the last post, but I have never done it before.... 6 weeks in a row on the road, ( Wyandotte will be #4 just before Ann Arbor Street Fest...).it is starting to make me a bit nervous.. Oh well, that's always a fun place to be.. (nervous that is), thank you so much, Liza

I've been applying to the CPFA show for the past 5 years to no avail, but I have just recently been accepted.  I've heard wonderful things about this show, however I have heard being on the side street is not so advantageous.  I've been placed on Fraser street.  My work is very edgy and usually attracts a younger crowd and I seem to benefit from late hour shows that go into the evening.  I do VERY WELL at the Deep Ellum Arts Fest, 4th Avenue Street Fair, Utah Arts Fest and shows in Denver & Chicago.  I have average sales at Florida shows, mostly towards Miami area and I do average in Tampa area.  I don't do so well in older/conservative/fine art crowds.  I have lower priced originals for not-so rich young art buyers and I seem to do better in Fair-type party atmosphere shows than I do at Fine Art shows.  Though my work doesn't seem to be classified as fine art, I have won Best of Show awards at the 2011 Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, the 2011 South Miami Arts Festival, and 2011 Highland Fest.  Anyway, I've also been accepted the Wyandotte Street Fair, which I've heard good/bad things.  I'm torn between which show to do.  My worry with the Penn State show is that I'll be on the side street and that my work won't be as appreciated as it will be in the center of the action at the Wyandotte Street Fair.  I can only choose one as they fall on the same date.  Can anyone please provide any insight on Fraser street of the Central Penn show?  Other factors include, I live in Utah and the Michigan drive is obviously much closer than the Penn drive.  The Wyandotte show goes until 11pm and the Penn goes til 8pm.  Can anyone please provide any pros/cons of either show?  Thank you so much for your help. 

- Tai

www.weirdchief.com

My work for reference to your help:

Call for Artists

September 15 & 16, 2012
Saturday, 10 A.M. - 7 P.M.; Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Omaha, Nebraska
Aksarben Village, 67th and Center

*Extended Deadline: April 15, 2012

NOTEWORTHY:
*Affluent Shoppers
*Mixed-use Urban Lifestyle Setting
*Established Neighborhood
*Multi-use Park and Amphitheater
*Free and Convenient Parking Garage
*Jury/Booth Fees: $25/$300; electricity available at $75 extra charge


ARTsarben will showcase the work of 80 artists from throughout the U.S.  The goal of this art festival is to feature traditional fine art that will attract buyers and browsers of every age group. This festival will also include fine crafts such as offbeat, creative and assemblage artwork. Overall however, keep in mind this is a high quality juried fine art show.

Aksarben Village is a $300 million development that combines retail, restaurants, entertainment, residential and hotels to offer an exciting planned urban community in the heart of Omaha.  For more information about the Aksarben Village area, please visit www.aksarbenvillage.com.

Established art fair presenters the Omaha Summer Arts Festival and Vic Gutman & Associates are proud to partner to introduce this new fall event. For more information about the surprises that await you click on the appropriate links, or contact us with your questions. Apply today at Zapplicaiton.org.


NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS:

*Extended Deadline:  April 15, 2012

Notification: April 20, 2012

Booth Fees Due: May 20, 2012

Apply Online at: www.zapplication.org

By search:
ARTsarben – Omaha Summer Arts Festival Presents ARTsarben at Aksarben Village

Email Inquiries to: amcnabney@vgagroup.com

If you are doing Howard Alans Pittsburg Shadyside in august have I got a deal for you. I've reserved a two bedroom suite at the Shadyside Inn which is two blocks from the show site and I'm looking for two female roomates looking to split the cost. The suite has a living room, kitchen, two bedrooms and free parking. I'll be taking one bedroom and the second has two twin beds in it so you might be sharing a room if I get two people interested. The cost will be 60.00 a night for friday & saturday. with two roomates or 100.00 a night with one roomate. You won't find a cheaper rate this close. If interested drop me an email kays.kreatioms@yahoo.com  If you would like to see the hotel go to www.shadysideinn.com

September 15 & 16
Atlanta, Georgia
Piedmont Park
200 Artists

Deadline: April 23

Bringing together outstanding artists from all over the country with the large and enthusiastic art buying community of the Atlant area, AAF will feature 200 of the country's finest painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal craftsmen, glass blowers and more!
              
              
Important Dates/Deadlines:

• Application deadline: Midnight (EST), April 23
• Notifications emailed by: May 4
• Acceptance fees due by: June 1
• Booth, corner & electrical fees refunded until: June 30
• Set up dates: Sept. 13 & 14
• Show dates: Sept. 15 & 16

Items of Interest:

• Held in Piedmont Park
• Juried show; artists selected by a panel of experts
• Limited number of participants to increase sales
• $7,500 in award money
• Artists retain all proceeds from their sales
• Commemorative poster image will be selected from a show participant

Artist Amenities:

• Artist Awards Dinner
• Artist hospitality providing continental breakfast & refreshments
• Booth sitting
• Load-in/load-out at booth space
• Free parking (parking information will be forthcoming in artist acceptance packet and/or check-in packet)
• 24 hour security patrols
• Discounted rates at participating hotels

How to apply:

You can download and view the The 2012 Atlanta Arts Festival Prospectus (165kb pdf)

Please note that all applications must be submitted electronically via Zapp: https://www.zapplication.org/index.php 

Thank you for your interest in the Atlanta Arts Festival.

Contact us if you have any questions:

Email: info@atlantaartsfestival.com 

I mean't to add this a long time ago.  I've been so busy with other things that had to be done first.  I thought some of you might be interested in this show.  It is held every February in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  It is a one day show. February is a great time for something like this because people are tired of being stuck in the house and they are ready to do some shopping.

The place was packed.

The Garage Sale Art Fair is a place to sell off old stock, slightly damaged stock, or any artwork that you don't mind selling at a discount. I wanted to add it here so some of you could decide if this would be something you might be interested in for next year. 

Connie knows everybody!

The place was packed with shoppers.  I wanted to take some photos of the booths without people so you could see the set up but it was hard because there were lots of shoppers.  And they were there to shop!  When we arrived at about 10 am there was a line of people waiting to get in to the place. 

Vinnie chatting with Connie.

The artists came from all over and they had nice things to sell.  There was a good variety, too.  The show didn't seem heavy in any one medium.  As I walked around, I asked some of the artists (when I could get one not busy with a customer) how things were going.  I got good responses. 

They were buying, too

This is a show put on by Bonnie Blandford.  She has lots of people there working to keep the show running smoothly. Those workers were visible, too.  If you needed to talk to one because of a problem you could get to one within minutes.  There are drawings for cash giveaways every hour.  They also announce periodic mark downs or half hour specials.  All of this extra excitement keeps the shoppers there and ready to buy. 

We did see several AFI members taking advantage of the eager shoppers.  To name a few, there was Vinnie Sutherland, Ginny Herzog, Beth Keenan, Steven Huyser-Honig, Stan Baker (who was making a killing again this year).Who do you think would have a phone like this?

I've added a few photos.  Sorry about the poor quality.  I used my cheap little Nikon because I didn't want to carry around the good camera that is heavier.

Hi friends!

My name is Krisztian Gajdus and I am an engineer who live in germany. I start to draw when I was very young and learned painting autodidactic in hungary & germany. I decided to show it a general public now. I hope you enjoy my artworks! Comments are wellcome.

You can watch it in my Photos or follow the Link: http://alltradeart.coffeerings.co.uk/gajdus-krisztian

Best regards to all

K. Gajdus

Saw this on the news last night and googled the company. There are salespeople all over the country going from one small business to the next telling owners how they can save them bundles of money. It is only a matter of time before they hit the art show circuit.

Basically they promise really low percentages (verbally), you sign a 3 year contract and when your bank statement arrives none of the things they had promised are true.  In the past they were making most of their money by making you lease a wireless terminal from them (another 3 yr. contract) and then charging a ridiculous amount for it each month. When I checked their site I saw that they are now getting into the smartphone swiper business also.  Don't sign anything until you have googled the company and checked it out first! If it sounds too good, it probably is.

Payment Solutions Corp- no,no, no!

Glad he's dead?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-bc-us--obit-kinkade,0,5107630.story

I’m a fine crafter, not a fine artist.

There.   I’ve said it.

I visit this site often, and I’m an avid reader of the comments here. I love to read the blogs about shows you’ve done, or your philosophies and perspectives on the art world. I’m fascinated by the thread about show integrity. I don’t tend to comment much because, well,

I’m a fine crafter, not a fine artist.

As a result, I’ve not always felt that my input belongs here. You see, I don’t have an artist’s background. I taught myself how to sew. I started sewing clothing for my daughter because I couldn’t find quality pieces in stores without paying an arm and a leg. Then the patterns weren’t really what I wanted her to wear, so I started creating my own designs. I’d take the leftover fabric and make an outfit for her doll, just for fun. And then, her friends wanted to match their dolls too, word got out, and here I am. And I know what I am.

I didn’t study art in college; I haven’t taken courses in design. I have an MA, not an MFA. So when I read the posts written by fine artists, I stay on the sidelines, watching and learning, but not commenting because, well, you know...

But now I’m diving into a new adventure, one where I get to swim with the big kids. I’ll be participating in the Great Lakes Art Fair in Novi, Michigan, next week. I’ve attended the show several times, but never applied before, because I felt I didn’t fit in – you know, that “art” thing. But a few fine art friends of mine – who’ve done the show - encouraged me to apply, and so I did, and, well, I was accepted.

So here I am, getting ready to step into a new realm of shows. I’m eagerly anticipating it, because I like to push my limits – how else will I grow? I’m looking forward to the challenge this offers me, since I’m definitely going to be the little kid in that big kids’ pool.

I’ve got to be honest, however. After reading comments here about the declining quality of shows or that of the accepted artists, I do have a bit of trepidation as well. Perhaps I’m one of the riff-raff who are besmirching the art world with my pedestrian wares, and, accepted or not, the big kids won’t be happy to see me swimming amongst them.

I hope that’s not the case.  I’d like to think that, even though I’m not formally trained and my work is far from museum quality, there still is a place for someone like me at a show like this. I may not be a fine artist, but my work is original, well done, and created entirely by me and me alone. I’ve never claimed to be more than I am, but I do take pride in what I am.

I’m a fine crafter, not a fine artist.

I hope there’s room for me in the pool.

A  recognized master in the medium of graphite, David will surprise you  with what is possible using only a pencil. On his technique, David  explains, "While many artists draw with an  emphasis on lines, I use  light and shadow-contrast-to delineate  surfaces, much like a painter  uses color. In that respect, my approach  to drawing is more like  painting."

"Cloud Gate", two cradled Claybord™ panels, 30" x 10" and 30" x 30"

Discovering in junior high that he wanted to be an artist, he has spent the intervening years exploring many media and has been able to make his youthful dream come true. Growing up in Oregon he spent many years as the senior photographer for Harry & David and the Jackson & Perkins mail order catalogs. So chances are pretty good you have seen his photos!

He says,  "It was a great job that I loved very much but my passion always lay  with drawing. In fact, the photography supported me while I began my art  career and allowed me to, fifteen years ago, turn my attention to  becoming a full-time artist and I've never looked back!"

Coming to the art fairs about five years ago with his drawings he says this is the best and most risky decision he has ever made. He has embraced the lifestyle wholeheartedly and the shows and the patrons have reinforced his choice. Mainly traveling the Western events from Washington to Texas he is piling up awards and is enthusiastic about his "new" career.

See him in April in The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival near Houston and at the Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival.

Learn more: www.artfaircalendar.com/featuredartist

I have been approached at several of the shows I have done recently by gallery owners asking me about wholesale prices for putting my work in their gallery and additionally asked about selling my work on consignment. I know most want a sizable discount...which is somewhat understandable.

My 1st. question to anyone who does wholesale your work ...or send it to galleries on consignment is what type of positive and negative results have you experienced?

If you send it to a gallery on consignment what is a reasonable time to leave it in the gallery to be sold or when should you decide it is time to remove it?

 If it is an out-of-town gallery what expectations should you have from the gallery to ship it back to you if not sold in a reasonable amount of time?

What type of contracts/agreements should be expected between you and the gallery?

What is considered a fair and reasonable commission or wholesale discount?

I realize these are alot of questions, many of which might have possible been discussed before...but I haven'y been able to locate the discussions.

I appreciate your advice and help...

What is anybody doing besides Howard Allen in July?

Wise words from one of social media's most listened to people, Seth Godin:

then you've handed control over your happiness to the gatekeepers, built a system that doesn't scale and prevented yourself from the brave work that leads to a quantum leap.

The industrial system (and the marketing regime) adore the mindset of 'a little bit more, please', because it furthers their power. A slightly higher paycheck, a slightly more famous college, an incrementally better car--it's easy to be seduced by this safe, stepwise progress, and if marketers and bosses can make you feel dissatisfied at every step along the way, even better for them.

Their rules, their increments, and you are always on a treadmill, unhappy today, imagining that the answer lies just over the next hill...

All the data shows us that the people on that hill are just as frustrated as the people on your hill. It demonstrates that the people at that college are just as envious as the people at this college. The never ending cycle (no surprise) never ends.

An alternative is to be happy wherever you are, with whatever you've got, but always hungry for the thrill of creating art, of being missed if you're gone and most of all, doing important work.

From Seth's blog at this link: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/

Thanks Scott Fox for sending me this good stuff.

For those of you who may not be keeping accurate records of all your credit card transactions, be aware that your credit card  processor is sending the IRS a form containing  all your gross sales at the end of the year starting with 2011.

http://www.cardfellow.com/blog/irs-reporting-6050w/

Well, Englewood always presents lots of options for good food and drinking, been doing it for over 10 years, so I know the area well.

Just so you know, Englewood is just south of Venice,Florida with Boca grande just a mosquito's flight down the road.  

You are surrounded by waters here, sounds, creeks, rivers and the Gulf. Lots of seafood around, lots of places to tipple and have a cool one at.

Let me tell you about some of my favorites.

If you just want to have cold one and enjoy the view, head out the causeway to Englewood Beach.  Across from the Gulf when you turn south is the White Elephant Bar and Restaurant.

It is rambling place with three bars and live music at night.  Nothing fancy, but they give you a fair pour at a very reasonable price.  Had Makers Mark on the rocks for under $6.50 along with a cold one.  Nice view out over the harbor with large sailboats berthed here and there.

For really good seafood and a nice environment you can't beat Farlows on the water.  It is one of the best restaurants there.  Owned by a husband and wife team, he being from St. Croix, USVI (hence all the emphasis on yummy fish baked and sautéed with good veggies and fruits and peppers. His wife from Louisville brings in a lot of good Kentucky fare like a hot brown sandwich.)

They have items like, flounder w/crabmeat for $14  on up to fish of the day baked in good stuff for $24.  They do a mean top round steak that is marinated in vinegar and honey for $14 and it will melt in your mouth.  They have sushi-grade tuna and lots of fun appetizers.  They carry a fully stocked bar with an expert bartender who makes plentiful libations at very reasonable prices.  Try the mojitos made with homegrown mint, it is a winner. This place was good enough, that I ate there two nites in a row.  

Down the road, route 775 which heads you to Gasparilla Island, home of Boca Grande, lies a quaint little seafood village community called Placida.  

They have great seafood restaurant there called the Fishery owned by Gary Allbritton and married to Margaret who has a cool gallery there.  Margaret was a major force on our circuit in the 70's and 80's.

Again this is old-time Florida.  It is the real deal, nothing fancy, but all yummy.

They sit right on the water which offers a great view at sunset.

The image I used for this blog was taken last year at twilight right behind the restaurant.

Here you are going to get great fresh fish, hushpuppies and all the usual trimmings.  It is worth the twenty minute ride down to it.  If even that.

As Nancy pointed out, the Myakka Fish Camp restaurant bar is great local favorite.  The prices are right, the beer is always cold, and you get a great view on the river.  Heck a gator might pull up beside you with a cooter to trade for one of your hush-puppies.  Just kidding folks, no gators are going to pester you.

Sunday morning for breakfast head to Stephanos just up the highway from the art show.  Enjoy a leisurely omelet or a morning riser while perusing the local paper, or go big time beforehand, and go to the Publix and buy the New York Times, that will give you serious reading pleasure for hours-end and then you will still have the crossword puzzle.  A great way to start the day before the show opens at 10 AM.

Just to be fair, I could not locate the Placida jpeg I wanted, so I have used this image of the sunset on Englewood Beach almost across from the White Elephant.  There, I have "certified" it.