What's Happening!!!

So it has been some time since I last wrote down the happening in the Pottery Zen world. I had my first professional art show. It was a wonderful experience. I now understand that I need to step up my tent display to make it comparable  to all the professionals around me. I am looking into buying the Pro Panel art fair displays for the tent. They are versatile as well as breakdown into collapsable walls and shelves making them easier to transport. You are able to buy the display in pieces so you can start with where your budget starts and build it up from there. It seems to be the industry standard for art fairs and really allows for the mobile, stable aspect of the business. I will probably be ordering the first half of my tent display in a week. I will write more information once the product has arrived and I get it set up. I can post pictures as well so you can see what half the display looks like. 

As far as sales go for my first fair. I did ok. I have learned that having a theme will help bring my booth together and create unity for my viewers. I think by unifying my pieces and creating a pleasing display it will help my sales go up as well. When people are given less options on design/style and more options on function it seems they like being able to mix and match items. Like a cup and bowl, or pitcher and cup... etc. Plus having a wide price range from $10 or $20 up to $300 really opens your doors as a seller to all income ranges that are looking to add or start their collections of pottery. 

As an artist at this art fair I learned other new things like stepping up my lighting one more notch. I found some track lighting at Home Depot that I bought an attachment so they can be plugged in versus hardwired. They should be here on Friday which will allow me to try them out. More to come on those as well. Another learning curve was having a cooler in late August full of water and healthy snacks. The snacks at the art fair were OK, but expensive for what kind of food and how much you get. Another thing is having a fan available for air flow on 100 degree days. It really helps get you through. Extension cords, power strips, sandbags, tape, and chairs have multiples available at all times. Have a good amount of cash change for those cash buyers. Square is great, but sometimes the readers aren't great. Have multiple readers if possible. Business cards go like hot cakes so have a ton. Set up a mailing list and have a sign up sheet in your booth. 

Art fair donations... Don't be surprised if the art fair wants you to donate something for the kiddos. Have some extra things in your box that you don't mind donating!

As you can see a lot I have learned, and so much more to take in. Stay tuned for more to come!

The Holidays are almost over...

December has ran away with it's days and we all seem to be hanging on for dear life as we are steered into the New Year. 

On December 21st I picked up my diploma from college. Yep, I did it! Finally! I have my BFA. It is truly anti-climactic though. I am starting my Masters degree right away. I really have no time to waste anymore. I am already in debt for college and nowadays a Bachelors degree is as simple as a high school diploma. So here I go again. On the 24 month road to my MFA. It is worth it though. It is giving me time to work on my art and learn more things that I wouldn't have had time for. I am leaning for my main focus to be more 3D than 2D. It is something I am enjoying more and I can always play in 2D stuff on my own. The 3D work is the work I need more time as an apprentice. With that said the New Year will bring me new beginning as a college graduate, and a true masters student. Something I have learned about being an art student is that everyone has a love for some kind of medium. Rather than try to be the best at all of them, it is time to focus on your hearts medium and what calls to you more. 

As I mentioned in the last blog I got my own potters wheel at home. I am busting out pieces left and right to start building my collection of things. I already have events on my schedule for 2016 where I will be attending art events to sell my ceramic art. It is truly exciting to see your dreams, goals, and work come together. So far it look like in June I will have be at Liberty Courtyard winery in Evansville, IL and in November I will be at an Art & Wine Walk in Belleville, IL. That is as far as I have gotten in my schedule for the sales events. I am running into an obstacle of needing to purchase a tent for the outdoor art fairs. There are a lot of opinions on what tent to buy. I think I am going to start with the $300 EZ Up type tent. Not that I will pick that particular brand, but something like it. Once I get that I will be able to start the process of art fairs and see if that will work for me and my medium. I would like to try 3 or 4 fairs this 2016 year to get my "feet wet" with the idea of this business avenue. I will have to find a way to fund this purchase to get things off the ground. 

Other than these two items I have been full force throwing clay and planning for next years events to try and reach people with my art. I am in the infancy stage of all this, but I am truly blessed with what I have rolling so far! 

Until the next post... Happy New year!