Well, it's been almost two months since I participated in the Strathearn Art Festival here in Edmonton, so I thought it was about time I wrote a little about the experience.
Looking back, I have mixed feelings about how things went.
On the one hand, it wasn't particularly successful as far as sales go, which, ultimately, is what participating in an art fair is all about. I sold one painting and two prints. Not exactly a banner day!
On the other hand, I received quite a few compliments on my work, which was certainly encouraging. There were even a couple of occasions when people seemed genuinely interested in purchasing some of my paintings. Unfortunately, neither sale materialized. Those two sales would have made a significant difference to the day's results. But I suppose that's just part of the art fair experience, and I'm sure most artists who participate in these events have similar stories.
There was another positive aspect to the day: I got to spend it with my daughter, and we both had a really enjoyable time. That alone made the experience worthwhile.
So, where do I go from here?
Well, I'm not ready to give up on art fairs just yet. I'll give it another shot next summer, this time at the Strathcona Art Fair, and see how things go.
In the meantime, I have some work to do. I think I need to come up with a stronger selection of paintings to offer, and I also want to add my sculptures as well. Lots of work to do!