Harrisburg, PA Patriot News Artfest

Memmorial Day weekend was spent in Harrisburg,PA at their beautiful art show on the shore of the Susquehanna River in the downtown Riverfront Park. The juried show had 275 artists from around the country. The quality of the work was outstanding and the crowds were huge.

Load in and tare down was a real challenge but overall the show was a good one with lots of artist amenities and a wonderful artist party Sat. night. The weather was rainy Friday and HOT Sat. and Sun. I was assigned a beautiful spot under a big tree on the shore of the river. It was one of the few shady cool spots in the show.

We had a great weekend at the show and met some amazing artists. Also, our friends from Philadelphia made the trip to see us at the show.

Canton National Art Show

This is the second year for the Canton National Art Show at the Canton Museum of Art. The show had 75 artists from around the country. Only three us were from the Canton area. Me, Ted Lawson, and Bill Shearrow. The show had a fabulous collection of very talented artists. Unfortunately, the crowds were light and sales were lower than last year. It was a very nice experience and I'm glad I decided to apply and participate. There were many complimentary comments and it could have been very successful because there were several customers who seemed to really like my paintings and were back several times to measure and decide. Unfortunately, I only sold three paintings. It could have very easily been ten paintings.

The opening preview night was elegant and high class. the food was gourmet and the wine plentiful. The museum provided the artists with a very nice Italian dinner before the event began. I'll consider this show again next year and hope for better sales.

Stark ARThology

The launch party and art gallery opening for the new book Stark ARThology was last night at the Canton Museum of Art. Music, food, beverages, and hundreds of art patrons. The book Stark ARThology was the brainchild of Jessica Bennett and IndigoInk Press to feature the artwork of some of the finest Stark County artists. The book launch gala was well attended and beautifully detailed in the main gallery of the Canton Museum of Art.

Most of the featured artists were in attendance and were there to meet the public and sign books and talk about their work. For me it was great fun and a real rush to have so many people ask for my autograph. The book is a beautiful work of art itself and includes a picture of each artist, a photo of one piece of art from each artist, and a short artist statement and bio. of each artist. My painting "Jungle Moon" will hang in the main gallery of the CMA until the end of the month.

I know what many of my friends and family are getting for Christmas this year.

Cleveland By Hand

Last weekend was the Cleveland By Hand Art Show at the IX Center. It was a successful show, one of my best of the year, and a weekend full of friends, art, food, drama, and fun. Several friends and past clients made the trip to Cleveland to see the show and my new artwork. The art show was very high quality...over 250 artists from all over the country. My booth neighbors were from Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina, and New York. I had a great time meeting them and getting a close-up look at their amazing art and a glimpse at their creative spirit. Like I've said before, the human factor of these art shows is so powerful and continues to be the most rewarding experience of the shows. Talking to the other artists and learning a little about their life story and their art, remains the highlight of all my art show experiences.

St. James Court Art Show

What an experience !! The St. James Court Art Show lived up to its reputation as being the No. 1 open air art show in the country. The Old Louisville section of Louisville, KY was converted into a three day fine art show featuring 750 + artists from all over the country. The show was spread out over a several block residential neighborhood of the most beautiful homes and mansions that I have ever seen. Each home and garden was more beautiful than the next. We were set up right in their front yards or on the sidewalks and lawns near the street. This was the most impressive art show that I have ever been involved in or that I have ever been to.

As you can imagine, parking was a nightmare but it worked out as I found a nice church parking lot for the three days. The show was actually several shows in one, similar to Ann Arbor, in which each neighborhood had their own set of helpers, volunteers, judges, jury, hosts etc. All the neighborhoods together call themselves the St. James Court Art Show.

I was set up on a beautiful tree lined street called 4th street in front of an impressive three story brick mansion under an old maple tree. There were artists booths on both sides of the street and a street full of art shoppers for three days. At times, there were so many people that the crowd just seemed to stop as they seemed to be unable to move in either direction. Each artist was asigned a host couple that treated us like honored guests. We were given breakfast in the mornings...on Sat. we were asked to have breakfast at one of the residences. We were provided with box lunches and snacks during the day and on Sat. evening we were invited to a wine and appetizer get together for the artists.

During the show, when there was room, I would set up and easel and paint in front of my booth. That was fun and seemed to attract a lot of interest. In fact, I sold two of the paintings right off the easel to a cute couple who paid me before they were finished and came back the next day to pick them up. I also traded one of the paintings that I was working on to an artist across the street who said she loved watching the painting come to life during the day. She makes amazing artsy purses. Now Gail has one of her creations and she has one of my paintings to decorate her home in Florida.

All in all it was a great experience that I won't soon forget. I plan to return next year if I'm accepted again and will be looking forward to exploring other parts of beautiful Louisville,KY. It's a very difficult time to try to make money at selling art. Most of the artists I've talked to are having record low sales this year. Several have said that this year's sales are down as much as 90% from past years. For me, I tell myself often that I must savor the experience... the travel to new and beautiful places, the meeting of new friends and interesting creative people, the amazing art. I have to separate the experience from the sales. Last weekends experience was amazing... the sales were just OK...just enough to meet my expenses for the weekend.....that being said, I came home much richer from St. James Court.

Oh, BTW... on Monday we came home by taking a little side trip down "The Bourbon Trail". We visited several Kentucky Bourbon factories such as Makers Mark, Jim Beam, and Wild Turkey. Beautiful country and what fun...each of these places gave tours and Bourbon tastings !!!

Riverfront Art Festival Columbus Ohio

The Riverfront Art Festival was a fun event full of great art, great music, good friends and good weather. The event was held on the banks of the Scioto River that runs through downtown Columbus. The event coordinator provided activities for the patrons until 10PM...the most spectacular being the WaterFire activity in which fires were lit on the water as music filled the night air. We had a great time with several artist friends ... the quality of the artwork was outstanding... the musical groups were top notch... but the sales were below average for all I talked to. On to Louisville, KY for the St. James Court Art Show in a couple of weeks.

Black Swamp Art Festival

Just back from a weekend in Bowling Green. The Black Swamp Art Festival was a well run high quality event. Very easy load in and load out and close parking for artists. HUGE crowd all three days (Not sure where all the people came from. Bowling Green seems to be out in the middle of nowhere,,,but the people came in big numbers and the sales where good) Top quality artists from all over the country....many of them say that this show is always one of their best for the year. A very talented stained glass artist next to me from Florida sold 15 pieces ($450-$500 each) For me, it was a good show but not my best...a few sales and numerous "Be Backs" that never did. I think they came back and then decided to buy stained glass instead. The sales paid for my expenses and our little weekend trip and that's always my minimum goal...oh well... maybe next week I'll WOW them in Columbus. Next weekend River Front Art show in Columbus.