I did something scary this summer… well, scary for me. I submitted an application to be one of the artists in a local art exhibition. Every year, the Draper Visual Arts Foundation has an exhibition in a historic barn at a local park. I went to it last year and really loved to see the work on display from local artists. This year, the Draper Art in the Barn exhibition has been expanded to let artists showcase their art in tents outside of the barn too. So they will have more than double the number of artists than any previous year.
I was accepted to be one of the new artists and I’ll have my artwork on display outside the barn. I’m both excited and kind of terrified. This is an ENTIRELY NEW thing for me and to say I feel a little unprepared is an understatement.
I am confident in my art, thankfully. But where I feel unprepared is in the display aspect. I have to bring all of my own display stuff, table, tent, anything else. Thankfully, the show ends at 7pm, so I don’t need to worry about lighting. We are good on a tent and table, but I am having to research how to display my framed artwork in a way that is sturdy, because who knows if it’ll be windy that day. And whatever I do needs to be affordable. I have no idea if I’m going to continue to do this art exhibition thing. I want to, so fingers crossed it’s a positive experience.
Ultimately, cross everything that it isn’t windy! Thats seriously my biggest fear.
I bought myself a mat cutter for Christmas last year, so cutting my own mats will save me a bunch of money. This week I have been cutting mats and getting paintings and prints into frames. Custom picture framing is extremely expensive. I know, I used to be a picture framer! Being able to cut my own mats and use ready made frames is making this a lot less stressful on my wallet.
When it comes to displays though… there are so many options. I will probably get a few grid walls and hooks and see how that goes. Then I will display a few smaller frames on a table with little easels.
Both of these are originals! Both will also have a few giclée print options available for sale too.
I am planning to sell vinyl stickers and I’ll have a bunch of prints for sale in a handful of different sizes. I will have a few paintings in 5x5, 5x7, 8x10, a couple of 8x12, and a few 11x14. They are giclée prints and really beautiful. The giclée printing process provides higher image detail than traditional photo printing. It’s honestly hard to tell the difference between the print and the original… unless you’re me and know which is which.
I am not planning to sell a ton of original paintings because I usually make a few changes to them in Photoshop before I turn them into stickers or prints. But I am considering selling a few originals. A few I may attached a large price tag because I don’t really want to sell them… but I’d be willing for the right price.
All 3 of these are originals paintings
Wish me luck! If this exhibition goes well, I will submit an application to be a vendor at the Draper International Arts & Crafts Festival that’s in mid September too.
