One Down, Two to Go!

I just am recovering from a very long weekend at the Glenwood Springs Strawberry Days Festival. What a weekend! This was my first official art festival. I was so nervous coming up to it. There is SOOO much that goes into these things and I was just sure that I forgot something. Luckily, I didn't really find anything that I was missing. There were some lessons I took away from this show. Here is that list

1)I have a very supportive group of people that love me very much-expanding on that...My wonderful husband, three beautiful sisters, and future brother in law all came out to help and make sure everything ran smooth. My whole family are my biggest fans. My tent was supplied very graciously by my uncle (also a artist-very talented one). And I have friends that cheered me on through out the weekend. That helps big time! So thanks to all my homies :)

2) I don't believe that I would enter into this show again. Although it is a beautiful town, with great people, it wasn't the show for me. This show is Art/Crafts fair. That "/Crafts" part really changes the demographics. There are a lot of people looking to buy bbq sauce and lawn decor and not so much paintings. Noted

3)People want to be approached but not sold to. There is a fine line here and I think it may take a while to master this. I am no sales woman, so any tips people may have would be helpful. Even if your not into sales, let me know how you would like to be approached in this situation (maybe not at all). I want some feed back on how this looks best.

4)I don't like the way my pricing labels look. I used foam core, and Avery labels on top. They looked a little Janky. Is there anyone out there that has a better solution? My wonderful hubby hubby suggest black foam core with gold pen hand written. Not a bad idea! What else we got?

5)Set up early. If they give you the option to set up before, do it. They had asked if we wanted to the day before actual set up was scheduled. I told them no, I would just do it in the morning. We got there in the morning and my tent space had totally been surrounded by other tents. Booth set up is a lot harder without some elbow room.

6)Have a wide variety of priced items. I needed to make some pieces so people like, well me, can buy art.

Over all, it was a great first show. I sold some stuff, I got some commission interest, and some other great contacts. I feel so great about moving forward to the next one. Glenwood Springs is such an amazing town that I will be back soon, with or with out the festival. Now it is time to paint. I have lots of work to do before show number two. I will keep you posted.

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Empezamos!

So here I am, 26 and a professional colorer (as my husband Andy likes to tease me). Although my professors tried their best to scare us about our future, I don't think any art school in the world could prepare you enough for what's ahead when you chose the path of an art career. I knew that it would not be all cupcakes and gumdrops. What I didn't know, was that my post college would consist of working with high schooler girls at a cupcake bakery, doing punching in to unload palates at midnight at a frame store, or checking patients out after they got their carpal tunnel checked out. I worked at a plastic surgeon's office for a year and a half with no medical experience (obviously)and loved it. I have discovered that there aren't a lot of places for us right brained free thinkers to find a 9-5. I have been sort of a roaming nomad in the career department, and have just stumbled upon whatever job I can find.

Although this has been fine for the time being, and I am VERY thankful for every job that God had provided me with, I am ready to seriously pursue that dream job that is just right for me. Not the one just right for right now. I know that God has created me to create, so create I will. This blog is the story of my adventures in shooting for the moon. Come along for the ride with me. If you pray, pray alongside me for my journey. If you don't, just enjoy traveling this road with me. I would love to hear any feedback along the way, so feel free to voice any comments. Thanks for sharing with me!