Blog

Sorry about not writing the day after Art on the Patio wrapped up, but truth to tell, I was exhausted.  This was my first solo show, and I was working on my own, without the benefit of gallery staff; no hands-on help to get the patio ready.  I admit I was more than just a little naive about what was required to make it a success. 

I paint almost every day, and I rarely ever finish a work quickly, but over the past two or three years, I have amassed quite a number of paintings, the majority of which were not framed and ready-to-hang.  I know that artwork that is attractively framed allows the viewer to imagine it on a wall in their home, which makes the likelihood of a sale better.  The customer doesn't have to think about anything but where they want to hang it.  Besides, a framed work of art looks finished and the art is enhanced.  Hence, I made multiple trips to get all of my paintings 'properly outfitted'.

 A friend and I created announcement post cards and printed (300) to hand out to friends, neighbors, strangers, and leave at the tea shop; I even went across the street from the tea shop to the Grand Theatre, where an event was taking place, and I handed out the ad cards as people were milling about.  I borrowed easels from fellow artists.  I spent 6 - 8 hours over four separate days getting the patio and courtyard ready.  The trees hadn't been trimmed in years and branches were growing out of the trunks at waist level, other branches hung down to my shoulders.  There were numerous suckers at the tree bases, vines growing up and into the branches, dead saplings here and there and thick layers of decaying leaves over much of the patio perimeter.   I trimmed everything to at least seven feet up, I raked leaves and discovered patio stones that had been hidden underneath for some time.  I pulled vines and removed the dead saplings.   The place looked amazing and welcoming.  (David's Tea got a bargain when they got me.  I'm an award winning gardener as well as an artist.) When the event closed the first evening, all 35 pieces of art work were brought into the tea shop Tuesday night for safe keeping, and Wednesday morning I set everything up once again.  That day was a mix of sun and cloud and a bit cool, but people still came to the art show.  

Going into this, I regarded my time & effort, and out-of-pocket expenses as reasonable payment for the educational component of preparing for my first solo show.  If nothing sold, it was still an investment in me.  I was excited and proud to be showing my work and to have the opportunity to chat with guests about how I did something, the processes of bringing individual paintings to fruition.   I met a number of budding artists and several disenchanted artists, all of whom stated they were inspired to get back into painting with more passion; to do it more regularly.  Honestly, comments like those inspire me!

It was an excellent two days, and I truly enjoyed myself.  Enjoyed it enough that I've already made a booking to do the same event, same place, same time next year.  

Ciao.  

Carolyn