Anyone at Sugarloaf Craft Festival in Gaithersburg, MD?  We're booth 15.

Karen Cooper's recent blog post, Running with the Bambi's, makes the point that you don't look back, you continue to learn and experiment.

Staying on top of all things "art fair" and not looking back is one of my mantras too, so last week I spent a day in Ann Arbor, MI, attending the Arts & Cultural Tourism Marketing Forum presented by the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Ann Arbor Arts Alliance at the historic Michigan Theatre.

The AA CVB sees travel and tourism as part of economic development and do direct marketing to bring visitors to town to stay overnight not only for university and sports activities, but also for cultural activities.

They have had wonderful growth in recent years. They "fill more beds" (CVB talk for hotel room sales) more consistently than any city in the U.S. except for Las Vegas! Their statistics showed a solid drop off in sales (beds) in 2009, and earlier in the century when Michigan really got blasted by the tech bubble busting and the auto company problems, so that Michigan and Ann Arbor were the first into the economic collapse and then because of their marketing and the attractiveness of the area they were the first out.

Take a look at their website: http://www.visitannarbor.org/

and this video:

Art fairs is one of the main tabs on the home page. Then look at their great presentation of the art fairs. Kudos to Mary Kerr from the CVB and Ken Yarsevich of the Pure Michigan campaign, bringing tourist and buyers to the state.

Why am I posting this here? All you show organizers who are visiting the site please take a good look and copy some of these good examples.

Is your CVB doing some of these things? Can anyone give us some more good examples?

I am a printmaker. I create relief prints; mostly lino-cuts on hand-made paper and directly water-colored. I print everything myself on an old Charles Brand etching press. I do not sell reproductions. Here is a letter I got from the Gasparilla show:

"I've reviewed your application and have noticed that your booth photo includes a bin for displaying reproductions of your work. In accordance with our Festival Rules, you must answer 'yes' to the application question regarding selling reproductions at the Festival if you plan to do so. I've marked your application "Incomplete" so that you may login and change your answer to that question as necessary. Thanks and please let me know if you have any questions."


Ashly Anderson
2013 Festival Co-Chair
Gasparilla Festival of the Arts

This was sent a day before the deadline for jurying and went into my spam folder. I did not see it for 3 weeks. I have called and emailed numerous times but no one has bothered to email me back or call. I am hurt, frustrated and feel like I have been accused of lying because of ignorance about the art of original printmaking (plus I want my jury fee back!). What is my art community's take on this?

I just read an article about artists who have their works used in movie and TV productions...and getting paid well for it.

Background scenery, plot points, interior design, atmosphere, etc. 

In fact, it said "The demand for background art is so great, in fact, that middleman firms have sprung up to help connect artists with filmmakers."

I always think that finding new ways to sell (or in this case "rent") their works is worth looking into.

Here's the link if you're interested (and who wouldn't be!)

Artists find profitable niche: renting their work to movie makers

Some artists are turning a tidy profit by renting their work to movie makers as set decoration.

Did anyone do the new Paragon show in Fort Worth this past weekend?  I was just wondering how the show was.  I was unable to do it but I am doing the one in Dallas next weekend.  I was able to go down on Saturday and walked the show for a little while and it looked sort of scary i.e. no patrons.  I would guess there were around 50 artists and I did see some nice work.  But, seemed like the buyers were very scarce.  I was able to talk with a couple of people and they said they weren't doing much.  It did look like the load in/out would have been easy.  Trailers were parked very near the tents.

I'm just trying to get a feel for what we might expect in Dallas because those I talked with were planning to do it as well.  I hope you did well in Fort Worth and, hopefully, Dallas will be even better.  I'd like to see those two shows catch on and grow into something lucrative. 

I have recently been invited to see the jury process for the first time.

This may sound crazy, but what do I do, I am interested in seeing this.

This will be my first real jury show.

I know it will be educational for me as well.

What about dress, is there a dress code to this kind of thing?

Will other artists(not the judges)be there too?

Can I talk to them afterward?

What do I do when I get there?

I guess I am a little nervous.

June 21-23  
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee Art Museum
180 Artists
Deadline: Nov. 20

Join us for the Lakefront Festival of Arts in our magnificent setting at the Milwaukee Art Museum.  The award-winning, nationally-recognized festival takes place inside the museum's spectacular Santiago Calatrava-designed building addition, as well as on the adjoining outdoor museum grounds. LFOA is a gated festival that attracts 30,000 patrons enjoying the festival rain or shine indoors AND outdoors!  LFOA is a fund raiser for the Milwaukee Art Museum's Art Acquisition and Exhibition Fund presented by Friends of Arts.

The Lakefront Festival of Arts media coverage includes developing an aggressive public relations and marketing campaign each year, including:

• targeting a number of online and print publications
• TV, radio and social media vehicles within Southeastern Wisconsin, Madison, Green Bay and Northern Chicago markets.
• The festival receives onsite coverage from every major news station, as well as onsite live radio broadcasting.

A total of $10,500 in awards are presented each year! Ten awards of $1,000 each are given where excellence is determined by the jurors.  These artists are automatically invited back to LFOA for the next year.

Jurors also select Honorable Mention award winners, all of whom are automatically invited back.

A single $500 Sculpture Garden Award will be presented to (1) artist participating in the Sculpture Garden  that has been chosen by a unique sculpture judge the weekend of the festival.

Artist's Benefits: 

• Cash awards, Artist breakfast, booth sitters, electricity, guest housing, Museum admission, program image, 24 hour security

LFOA Special Features include:

• Fiber Art Fashion Show on the LFOA main stage, highlighting unique fashions created by LFOA artists
• Sculpture Garden-An outdoor Sculpture Garden will be professionally designed and installed to showcase outdoor and large scale work. We encourage artists, not limited to sculptors, to apply and take advantage of this distinctive festival feature.
• An online Silent Auction-Featuring numerous works of art donated  by talented LFOA exhibiting artists.  Bidding is open to the public, and is online prior to the festival weekend, offering art lovers a chance to bid from home or in person.  The silent auction provides the public with a highlight overview of the festival artists.

Learn more: http://lfoa.mam.org/

Artists interested in obtaining an online application for the 2013 festival, please follow link: www.zapplication.org/public_fair_preview.php?fair_id=2271

Thank you for your interest in our festival, please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.  Best of luck to you in all your future artistic endeavors!

Krista Renfrew-Festival Director, lfoa@mam.org 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find more fine art fairs for your 2013 season: www.CallsforArtists.com

We are pleased to announce the winners of the Estero (FL) Fine Art Show on October 27 & 28, at Miromar Outlets!

$500 Purchase Awards

1. Patricia de Leon Alfonso, Painting - pictured
2. Su Griggs, Clay 

$100 Awards of Excellence

1. Mauro Pozzobonelli, Sculpture 
2. Rosario Garcia, Jewelry – Precious 
3. Herion Park, Fiber 
4. Kurt Ruby, Metal 
5. Luciano Duse, Photography 

The Estero Fine Art Show is a production of Hot Works

Do you sell your 2D art on notecards?  I highly recommend it.  I think that art show patrons like to support the art that they appreciate, even if it is a small way.  Greeting card carousels are not expensive and card sales have made the difference from a miserable show and a decent one for me.  I print my cards myself, but would love to find an economical volume printer.

I wrote in my blog about the evolution of custom pencil portrait cards.  I cracked myself up writing it, I hope it makes you smile if you have time to read it!

http://www.pencilenvy.blogspot.com/2012/11/christmas-card-wars.html

That's probably the last time I'll write in my blog until the new year.  Tis the season!

Love to all

Hello, Everyone:

We just accepted an invitation to Mt. Dora, February 2013.  Any input regarding space requests?  We cannot be near food or music and would like a quiet space in shade (sun issues), etc.  Who wouldn't?  If someone has suggestions we would greatly appreciate it since we have never been there before.  Any input would be wonderful to reduce our stress! 

Thanks in advance.

February 16 & 17

(Altamonte Springs is about halfway between Orlando and Sanford)         

FREE ADMISSION Art & Music  festival will feature 130 artist displays of jewelry, glass, fine  crafts, mosaics, paintings, photography, pottery and sculpture available  for purchase.

The juried art & chalk art displays will be  judged for $8,850 in cash prizes & ribbons. The festival will also  include children's activities, street chalk painting, festival foods,  music & street performers.

WHAT: Fine Art and Fine Craft Festival
WHERE: Cranes Roost Park, Uptown Altamonte, Altamonte Springs, Florida
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, February 16-17

Show hours: Saturday 10 am - 6 pm / Sunday 10am - 5pm

 
NOTEWORTHY:

• Limited to 130 carefully juried artists from across the USA
• Over $8,850 in cash awards
• Drive up load-in and load-out at; free adjacent parking
• Sunday morning artist brunch
• Highest household buying income in the region
• Major advertising and promotion: newspaper, radio, social media
• World-class entertainment/high public attendance
• Children's and family activities
• Abundant, affordable accommodations and restaurants

Life requires so much less than we sometimes demand of ourselves.This is so because often we fail to realise that the requirement of life is Elegant In Its Simplicity.

Life asks us to be here and now;To be present during this moment

We often demand of ourselves to be there and never:To be absent during this lifetime

There is more to life than we know. Our longing for fulfillment and contentment directs our search for Truth And Transcendence.

As Artists we are more fortunate than most to both be aware of this and to realise its signifificance as our Creativity constantly calls us in the direction of this Otherworldly Reality.

We need not be afraid of this beckoning once we realise that Courage is never the absence of fear but rather the Acknowledging of the presence of that fear while Denying it Place.

True Greatness arises from Simplicity,Elegance and Endurance In its Season.

What tree did ever not blossom before bearing evidence of its fruit

What flower did ever not bud before blossoming and blooming in all its Brilliance.

So too there are Seasons in our lives.

As artists on the art show circuit we Transcend Time and Space so our works may be seen and sold.

In a simple yet profound way this allows us to Creatively weave a Tapestry of Protection and Inspiration around a Darkened and Despairing World.

Well, we will still call this a Tequila Report even though I had iced tea.  Had some smooth stuff a week ago with Lou Garofalo, but they will be few and far in between.

Anyways, I did the Great Gulf Coast Art Fest in Pensacola,FL last weekend and on Monday, the way home to Tampa, I decided to do a little side trip to Apalachicola (Hereafter referred to as APP).  Had not been there in 20 years and was curious about how it was doing.  Seen many articles about it, and they all sounded good.  APP is known for their oysters.  It lies right at the mouth of the APP River as it empties into the Gulf.  Plus I figured there would be good photo opportunities there.

Anyway you travel, it takes a while to get there and it is worth it.  A charming village by the sea.

From Pensacola you head back east either along the coast on Route 98 which takes you thru a gazillion traffic lights in Destin, Panama City and Port St. Joe.  Another way east, which I took, is to go I-10 and get off at Marianna.  Don't visit the Boys Correctional Institution.  Instead, go south on Route 71.  It will take you to Port St. Joe and then a little jog left gets you to APP.  If you are coming up from south Florida, like from the Tampa area it is best to take the Tollway up to Brooksville, get off and head a short distance west on Route 98.  Then turn north on good ol' US 19 up to Perry than follow Route 98 on an eventful journey thru pine forests, little towns like Carabelle and you will get to APP.  Took me 90 minutes going the way I went.  Should have gone right back up Route 71 after leaving--but NO!, I wanted to take the scenic route back to Tampa, via Perry.  A half hour  down the road I got pulled over by an  unmarked Statey(highway patrol}.  He clocked me 71 mph in a 55mph zone.  Yikes!  Knock on wood, I haven't had a speeding ticket in ten years which amounts to 275,00 miles driven.  Not that I didn't deserve one once in a while, just they never caught me, I was too slick.

Well this guy had me good, checked my driving record out--and issued me a warning citation--no money fine.  In my book this guy was a Prince in the pine woods.  Well, as I left him, still going to Perry on 98 (not mph) I got about 30 miles from it and guess what?  A local Sheriff followed me all the way there.  Put it on cruise control at 55 mph and sauntered on.  It is slightly un-nerving when the Law follows you like that.  The good thing was, I was high on the sugared ice tea and not worried about getting a DUI.  He turned left, finally, and I went on to Perry and then  home to a grateful wife.

OK, by now you are wondering, "Where the Hell is the Tequila Report?"  Its coming "pardner", its coming.  Up in the panhandle we do things nice and slow, not fast like you city-slickers in Naples and Ft. Lauderdale, hell, put Ft. Myers and Tampa in there too.

If you look on a map of Florida you will see where APP sticks out into the Gulf, it is right at the bend in Florida leading to the Panhandle.  It takes a while to get there.  Eat more oysters, slam some shrimp and quaff some beers and stay there for the night.  They got several rustic, but good, inns there.

Which now leads me to the Tequila Report.  See how I made ya read all that other stuff before I got here.  Well, by now, you are either a fan of my reports, and want to know all, or I just lost you somewhere between Panama City and Perry.

It is a delicious trip, stay with me.

HOW I WAS HUNGRY FOR LUNCH AND FOUND BOSSES' OYSTER HOUSE/BAR

I walked around took pics and started looking for the  best place to eat oysters--which led me to Bosses'.  I am an old cracker and I love my shellfish, hell, I love anything out of the sea, and will eat them all, that includes Mermaids.

Bosses' sits right on the water.  There is inside and outside dining.  The place is nicely painted, it is no dump.  Who wants to sit inside when you can be outside and duck ravens and pelicans who are looking for free lunch.(They do the catgut stringed effect which keeps the critters away so you can enjoy your food.)

Well, Bosses' has about a million ways to eat oysters, from the traditional, raw on shell, steamed, Rockerfeller et al.  But I spyed several inviting newbies I had never tasted before.  So I ordered two of them.  Darn, a good tequila would have gone great with them, but I had to settle for iced tea.  No more booze in the afternoons or liquid lunches.  I get two glasses of booze a day--usually a good red wine, and that's it.  Gotta do it if I want to stay around for a while and write Tequila Reports.

Well, what did I order?  You would never guess in a million years.

I ordered "Oysters Japanoise"  (that is no misspelling} and Oysters Tacos.

The Japanoise was very yummy and visually appealing.

They brought you this big iced silver tray with six oysters laid out on it,raw.  But it is what they put on it that makes it unique.

On top was some fresh cut scallions, a dollop of wasabi, and two yes two, nicely rounded piles of fish eggs.  We call them caviar, the Japanese call them Tabbiko.  One Tabbiko was red with the hint of smokey , slightly salty flavors.  The yellow Tabbiko was salty and clean to the taste.  These two mounds were piled high on the oysters.  I took my time and enjoyed every bite.  There was nary a fish egg left on that plate when I finished.  I heard three pelicans cry in despair.  Sorry boys, find someone who is sloppy with their  food, but you get none from me.

Next course--the Oyster Tacos.

They put four, lightly steamed oysters in each taco shell, mounded on lettuce, tomato and a little onion.  I threw a little Louisiana Hot Sauce on them and ate with  great relish.

OK, even if you don't like what I had, there were many other choices.  Fresh fish cooked any number of ways.  Fresh Shrimp.  They had it all.

Around APP there were at least twelve other places I could have gone to--they all looked good. APP is charming village with great architecture and a sense of time.  You can feel the time that has been spent in this town.

BTW, that weekend, when I did Pensacola, they had their annual seafood festival.  Over 75,000 people came to little ol' Apalachicola.  That  should tell you a lot.

Well, it has been a while since I did a Tequila Report, hope you enjoyed the journey.  Good eating and good drinking--Nels.

We hear a lot of talk about photo quality and the jury process and, really, it hit me yesterday what we're talking about.

 I sat through the first day of the Fort Worth open jury and it was quite an experience.  It was the first one I’ve ever attended and I was surprised in some areas.  I understand the jury’s only job on this first day was to decide “yes, no or maybe”  so, there seemed to be very little going on.  No dialogue or conversation of any sort.  They went through the photos very quickly with no conversation of any kind.  The second time they looked at them, a very short artist statement was read while the photos were being viewed.    They had a few more than 1300 applications and that’s around 6500 photos they had to look at.  To say they hurried through them would be a gross understatement.  There were 214 jewelers with five photos each and the only thing the jurors will ever know about them is how good their photos were.

I now understand why it is necessary to have photos that blow their socks off.  The person with nice, yet average, photos doesn’t stand a chance.  They don’t have time to study artistic quality so, the photos with the greatest initial “pop” are they ones that catch the jurors attention.   It doesn’t seem quite fair because a lot of outstanding artist are being left by the wayside simply because their photos aren’t eye-popping.

If  everyone could see this they’d be lined up down the street at Larry Berman’s house!  I suppose the bottom line is this:  If your photos don’t snap, crackle and pop, you’re not going to get in.  Simple as that.  The jurors won’t even notice the artist whose photos do not fit this category.  You could be the best artist on Earth and you’re going to be quickly overlooked and cast aside..  I now have a much better idea of why it is so difficult to get into some of the better shows.

Also, the entire process can get pretty boring if you‘re a spectator only interested in one or two categories.  To me, one of the best things about it was that it offers up some good ideas for booth set-up.

I have felt like I have some pretty decent photos but, "pretty decent" doesn't even come close to what one needs.  The ideal is to have photos that sort of slap a juror in the face as soon as they pop up on the screen.  Anything less than that is simply going to mix you in the pot with about 1000 other people and then it becomes difficult to stand out from the rest. 

One parting thought.  Is it common practice for a jury member to also be an applicant to the show in which he is jurying?  To me, that smacks of a conflict of interest and should not be allowed to happen.  Does anyone else agree?

For those who have never had the experience, I highly recommend attending a jury session for one of the big shows.  I think it will give you a whole new perspective on your photos and whether or not you need to make some changes.  Larry and others have been "preaching" this for a long time and I've now had the opportunity to see why they stress the importance of this.  It can't be overstated.

Friday, November 9 - 11 am ET

In the aftermath of the nation's worst storm in history, Hurricane Sandy, people on the East Coast are working toward reestablishing equilibrium in all areas of their lives. The heavy economic toll continues to be counted. This coming weekend's Fine Arts & Crafts Show at the Westfield (NJ) Armory has been cancelled by the National Guard.

How does this cancellation affect the organizers of the event, Howard and Janet Rose of Rose Squared Productions, in the short term and going forward? 

We'll be talking about:

• how show organizers make their money
• the economic impact when a show has to be cancelled for show organizers, artists and the surrounding community
• the importance of events to local economies
• developing relationships between promoters and artists, their interdependence

We will be taking calls and would love to hear from you. Call in: (805) 243-1338

Access earlier shows: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artfairs

  My last four shows have not been as profitable as I would like. I am new to the art show world, and I am trying just about every show that I think may be a possibility in my area.  I live in Texas, and have decided to stay in my state for the first few years to get my feet wet, and figure out which shows work best for me.  My fall shows are all new to me, and each have been within at least a four hour drive. 

  What is interesting for me, is that for my past four shows, if it were not for men surprising their wives for either a Birthday or Christmas, I would not have made profit.  These have all been large paintings, and one commission, that have been purchased as a surprise gift.  The wives perused the booth first, and then a few minutes later, here come the husbands ready to buy, and practically whispering just like the knock-off rolex dealer with a trenchcoat on a major city corner.  I love to be a part of this, and I have decided that romance is not dead after all (slight nudge in my husband's direction, bless his unromantic heart...). It made my day, literally and figuratively.

  It does make me wonder though, if this is a common occurance, or if people are waiting to make large purchases for special occasions instead of outright buying something that they like. Since I am still new to this business, I am wondering if this is common?

Every American has a right to vote, even cute puppies.

Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100

To all of my extended family of artists -- thank you again from the bottom of my heart for your well wishes, your concern, your caring and your support.

It has now been a little over two months since my unpleasant confrontation with my ex-table saw.  (I now have, with the wonderful help of CREF+, a new SawStop table saw that will protect my remaining fingers.)

The progress that I have made in two months is, insofar as I am concerned, nothing short of miraculous.  The doctor is very pleased and so am I.  To give you graphic evidence of the progress, I have posted a photo of my hand on the day of the accident (8-24-'12) and one exactly two months later.  (Warning - the photo of 8-24-'12 could be considered gross - the fingers had been placed back in their normal positions for this photo.)  THE REASON that I have posted these two photos on my page is to show the progress that I have made.  This rapid progress I attribute to your caring, healing, supportive thoughts and prayers which you have sent to me.  Being on the receiving end of that virtual tidal wave of support and caring is so incredibly humbling and so fills your heart with gratitude and love that no mere words can convey that feeling to one who has not experienced it.

Am back doing shows again - taking extra care of the hand.  This has happened much sooner than I dreamed that it would.  It is still healing and I am still working on adapting to the limited movement, grip, etc., BUT I'M GETTING BACK!!!   (an example of adaptation - I am now working on my typing with one missing finger.  Wouldn't be too bad were it not for the "i", "k", and "m".   ght try typ ng w thout those letters for awh le -probably wouldn't wor .