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I am really perplexed about this especially regarding some of the top shows.  We're experienced artists at shows.  Often a promoter's instruction sheet, instructs artists to submit the photos representing the full range of their work which means if you are a 3D artist with functional ceramics, you are to show not only your more intricate items but also your "more ordinary," for lack of a better word items:  the ones that are  less complex to produce and less impressive and lower priced.  When 3 or 4 pictures are required, (not counting a booth shot, we always submit the more complex pieces requiring and showing more skill and more imagination.   We also have those pieces and others like it in our booth. One year after getting into a top rated show, we were approached by a jury person who walked around and we were told that our photos didn't include the full range. That was true as we make about 20 different items and certainly didn't think it would be impressive to do a group shot of the lower range items.  The following year, we submitted one out of 4 photos that did show a more ordinary piece.  We were not accepted that year and speaking to other artists, we were later told not to listen to those instructions in the paper work.  Always send the best of your work, other artists advised us since the competition does the same.   I now think the jury who looks at maybe several thousand photos is not going to be impressed with the artist who includes the mundane photo.  I'd like to hear from artists as well as jury people.  What is your experience with photos and also a jury person's response at shows when you see a booth that doesn't include the full range.  I'm not speaking here about artists who apply in one category, but  then slip into their booths a high percent of something else that would actually fit into a different category.  I'm talking about one body of work that holds together.  Thanks for your response based on your experiences.

April 30 & May 1

This acclaimed arts festival focuses on contemporary, urban, and one of a kind art designs.  Over 125 artists sell their art which includes jewelry, fiber, mixed-media, glass, ceramics, photography, sculpture, wood, painting, paper, and illustrations.  Art in the Park has a Kid's Court, Food/Gourmet Food Vendor area, and Acoustic Music.  

Art in the Park is located on the grounds of the Elmhurst Art Museum, Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, and the landmark Wilder Mansion.  Elmhurst College is located across the street and downtown Elmhurst is one block away with trendy restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques.  

Art in the Park is considered a cultural arts destination with over 10,000 people attending annually.  Elmhurst is an art loving community and is a very affluent area with new homes ranging from $800,000-$3million.

Contact:  Roz Long, roz@rglmarketingforthearts.com

Hello all!

With apologies to Bob Hope, I want to thank all of the artists who have submitted reviews (their memories) of the shows they have participated in. I have learned, and continue to learn a lot from these reviews. As an art festival producer, it helps to have a broader idea what the artists like and don’t like. Not that we can always do these items, but it does help to know what is desired (and not desired as well!) and have a goal. For well over 6 years I have been part of another festival producer in Southern CA. Now I am spreading my wings, and ‘flying’ to Northern California and Nevada starting a new company called CWB Events. As of this moment, I only have three events on the schedule, but plan on adding more very soon. Reading all of the reviews was a real education, and now I have the opportunity to put it into practice.  I am always open to new (and old) ideas and suggestion, as learning is a way of life for me! The goal was and is to have quality art and high caliber artists. I plan on continuing with that goal as CWB Events, while expanding as I can. Again, I thank you for the time it takes to submit your reviews, and I look forward to reading many more!

Thanks
Curtis Beck        

Hi,

Nice piece in the Banner.

“Bonita Springs National Art Festival brings thousands to Riverside Park”

Barry or Ehren artfest@artsbonita.org

Tel: (239) 495-8989

Bonita Springs National Art Festival web site:
http://www.artcenterbonita.org/artfest/

I'm a digital artist and the work I create is an odd size. Pictures are either horizontally formatted or vertically formatted, but they are all around twice as wide as the are tall, or twice as tall as they are wide. So, when I size them down to 1920 pixels on the longest size, there is lots of black space. I'm considering showing cropped sections of these paintings for Zapp for my applications. I can crop some of them so they look pretty good in a square format. But when a juror looks at the booth shot, they will see the actual pictures in the booth, not the cropped ones I use for the jury. The cropped pictures will definitely have more impact, but is it kosher to show cropped images? Anybody out there have an opinion on this?   

Here's a little inspiration during these dark winter days, or for when you are wondering why you are doing what you are doing, from Casey Sheppard's, Case of the Nomads.

Three or four years ago, I began showing a few experimental images as part of the mix in my art fair booth. They were kind of fantasy oriented with surrealistic imagery and a bit of humor. They were mixed in with an assortment of landscapes and nautical images inspired by my location on Lake Michigan. I thought that if I showed a lot of different things and subject matter in my booth I could appeal to a bigger audience. I had some mild success with this mix of subjects, but began to notice that the fantasy stuff was outselling the landscapes.

I remembered reading Connie's advice about focusing on a narrow subject so as not to confuse my audience. I wondered if that advice really applied to me. I didn't want to lose all those customers who bought my landscapes and other assorted subjects. But finally, after I had enough of the funky images to show, I took the plunge and eliminated all but my fantasy, surrealistic stuff. You know what happened? My sales almost doubled. I continued to develop this series of images, and I'm having the time of my life. People love this stuff.

Locally, here in Saugatuck, Michigan, people are used to seeing my beach stairs paintings and local landscapes. I've been showing the funky stuff, that I call the "Urban Punk" series in local galleries, but this series has been selling much better at art fairs. Hopefully that will change now because I'm opening a one-man show of the Urban Punk Series at the Holland Area Arts Council on Friday, January 15 with a reception from 6-8pm. Its open to the public and all are invited. Its a show of all the work I've been doing over the last three years... work that I'm also showing in my art fair booth.

I've still got a pretty healthy inventory of the more conventional imagery that I used to show at art fairs. I went through a lot of angst and soul-searching before putting this stuff into storage and focusing on the Urban Punk images. Its never too late to try something new and to mix up the pot a little. Here's where you can see the Urban Punk Series on my website: http://lebenart.com/pages/urban-punk

Just wanted to Thank Lynn Wettach, of Holiday Art Shows, for my space at the Jan 1/2 show in St Augustine. I won a space with her through Art Fair Insiders, and I gotta tell you, I would love to work with her again! 

 LARGE spaces, plenty of back space, quad set-ups, so everyone had corner space. Super easy set-up and break down. Friendly staff, nice coffee and breakfast for the artists.

Lynn made sure to stop by each artist to say hello and make sure things were good.

I say , give this show a try, lots of fine art at this show , with really good advertising.

Just curious as to what Artist mostly do during the show off season?  A lot of people go to Florida for shows, some just take a break and/or work on their Art, others try to dig deep for small local shows or venues like Home shows or Flower Shows, or get a temp job? Since I'm tired of watching my bank account dip this time of year Im considering a new strategy. I mostly take a few weeks off, work on updating new product, applying to shows and doing my taxes. How about you?

After 5 joint replacements since March 2014 - yes 2 hips, 2 knees, rt reverse shoulder -- and knowing that I am on avoidance for left shoulder surgery -- and am now having epidurals for my back -- we have decided to do a few shows this year.  Has anyone done the Pittsburgh Arts and Craft Shows, Nassau Shows, and Gilmore Shows?  What are thoughts?  

Thanks in advance.  

• Our 40th Annual Spring Art fair
• Limited to approximately 130 artists
• An air-conditioned indoor art fair, no worry about the weather, tents or security
• Jury/Booth fees ($25/$200); free electricity 
• Cash awards totaling $4,500
• Booth sitters, 24-hour security. Rest easy knowing your booth is locked up safely at night.
• Excellent marketing campaign, expanded to television, newspaper, magazine and radio advertising, internet and e-mail promotion
• Promotional postcards, business cards and coupons provided free to exhibiting artists
• Live music throughout the art fair
• Wine tasting Friday & Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon

Important dates:  

• Artist's entry deadline:  January 15
• January 24 Late Deadline for Artists Applications ($25 late fee applies)
• January 26 Artwork has been juried
• January 30 Artist notification via e-mail. Acceptance letter will soon follow.
• No booth fees will be refunded after March 3
• April 10  Booth set up starting at 9am, must be finished by 4pm   

Learn more & apply: www.artfairatqueenypark.com/  

You may also contact:  Vic Barr, GSLAA President

(314)997-1181  vicbarr@sbcglobal.net 

Artsy Shark needs 48 artists to feature and promote 

in the coming months.

Are you interested? 

This is a competitive, juried process. 

Deadline is midnight EST, January 11, 2016.

Apply: http://www.artsyshark.com/become-a-featured-artist/

May 21  
Marion, Iowa (Cedar Rapids)
50 Artists
Deadline:  January 19

Application Fee: $25; Booth Fee: $225

Greetings from the Marion Arts Festival, in Marion, Iowa! (East Central Iowa). Named by ArtFairCalendar.com as among "America's Best Art Fairs" in 2013 and 2014, the MAF presents 50 artists, offering both fine art and fine craft to an audience of 10,000.

Marion is a "vintage uptown" type of community, and a part of the Cedar Rapids metro area.  Our show is one-day, intimate and purposeful, with the mission to be an event through which you will thrive. (Here, we're obligated to insert that we're volunteer-driven, kind of hokey and maybe more than a little mom-and-pop ... in good ways, mostly.) No beer, no bands -- just art.(However, we do cop to good falafel.) 

New this  year:

Thank you for your interest, and for the work you do ... we count ourselves lucky that you're out there.  Please don't hesitate to contact us for information and encouragement!