Art Fair Report, Hawk WIP, Commission

A week has gone by since the Kent Art in the Park art festival.  I had a death in my family and stopped in Coshocton on the way to the festival and then stayed with my mom on the way back.

Here is an image of my booth and an image of the crowds and other parts of the festival.  It was a nice laid back place to be. Though cutting the light a bit and also leading to intermittent showers of acorns, being in the trees was quite peaceful.  I enjoyed talking to many of the festival patrons.  I drew nice crowds while drawing.  Some other artists cautioned that demoing can lose customers -- that it is really important to talk with the customers. I never ignored them totally.  However, I did draw less and talk more on the second day, it did not seem to make any difference on sales.  Total sales was 5 greeting cards.  I did expect better from such a big show.  Most artists said their sales have been steadily declining the last two years.  I do not regret the experience, but have done better at the other shows I have been in, thus far, saleswise.  Ironic, in that I really thought this was going to be my best sales opportunity yet.

I am proud that I was able to attend, set up and take down my outdoor display on my own .  I did get some volunteer help with it a few things, but know I could do it entirely on my own if I had to. 

I enjoyed meeting some other artists.  Have promises for commissions, which as usual, may or may not come through.

Below are the sketches for a commission I received at the Zanesville Y-Bridge Festival.  The finished pieces will  only br 3 1/4 by 5 and 1/4 inches.  One dog is a full grown Great Dane and the other is a Great Dane puppy.  I am relieved that the customer just approved proceeding after viewing the compositional sketches. 

Here is my hawk portrait WIP at the conclusion of Kent Art in the Park.

I still have a little ways to go with it, but am generally pleased with  it thus far.

Until next time, thanks for stopping by!

Abbey, Portrait 2, finished

Once again time has gotten away with me.  Here is the second Abbey portrait, finished.  The client is pleased.

I do have another commission to do from the Zanesville fair.  Two very small portraits, 3x6 inches, one with full body and background -- so once again I have my work cut out for me.  I will not be working on these until after the art fair in Kent, Ohio, Art In the Park,  I will be participating in this coming weekend.  The set-up is on Friday and the fair is Saturday and Sunday.  I lucked out with getting a hotel three miles away at $42 a night (EconoLodge), which is good because I am staying until Monday morning.  The show will be having an artist's dinner after closing on Saturday, the first time I have experience such a perk!  I went to undergraduate school at Kent State University, but have not been back there since.  The art festival is in a park near the University.

I have posted a few things, and will post more, on the Prismacolor gallery website.  I currently use mainly Prismacolor pencils.  While browsing there, I saw an artist who uses colored pencils very expressively while portraying animals.  Her name is Maria Spencer and I admire her style, a style very seldom seen with colored pencils.

I will be working on setting up my tent several times this week before going to the show.  I worked on it yesterday, but must become much more efficient.