All Packed Up

I'm finally ready for the market. I got my tent on Tuesday. I've packed up almost everything already, lol. This is why I love my minivan. :-)

Wish me luck!

Portland Saturday Market here I come! Sunday July 6th. 

More Saturday Market Readiness

I need everyone to cross their fingers my tent gets here tomorrow! Although it is going to be in the 90's, so maybe I don't want to go this weekend, lol.

I mentioned that the Saturday Market encourages creative displays, so I've started adding some things to my basic display. I'm sorry for the bad cellphone pics and equally bad garage lighting.

This is  not an art fair or festival but an art and craft market. There are some amazing artists, but there are also duct tape crafts and tie-dye. The aesthetic is just different than a big fine art show that requires a minimal look to appreciate the art. A packed full, fun display is much more important here - if it looks like you don't have a lot of merchandise they'll move on to the next booth.

Upgrade #1 -  I bought clip on lamps to brighten the artwork. I also decided to have my two front panels FULL of prints so when people walk by they will catch their eye. These are all framed prints. 

These 8 - My retro prints - will go on the other side welcoming people from the other direction. 

Upgrade #2 - Okay it might seem crazy to hang a big vintage curtain in the back of the booth, but I am hoping it will be a big quirky backdrop when walking by that shows there are fun things within. It is actually a duvet cover I found at Salvation Army last year.

Here it is closer. I am also using trouser hangers to hang some prints on the short panel. I would hang framed art there but I will be standing behind there and I don't want people to scratch them when they pay. The sign you see on the back wall I think I am going to move onto the cart so its not a big white wall facing the walkway. I made the sign last year using a stock photo of a table and chairs and inserted my art on the walls to show that they look good grouped. I'd like to make another one using my vintage work. 

The other two blank panels will have originals on them. I want the originals in the inside of the tent because I don't want them in direct sunlight and also I've sold a bunch of them, so the groupings will be all mixed up as opposed to my full print groupings. 

Here is the sign by the cart, but I need to figure out how to hang it on there. I think I've seen magnetic hooks at staples. 

Upgrade #3 - Here's the $1 frame from IKEA - so cute isn't it? I made a sign in it that says the price of my packaged prints and that I accept credit cards. I will have one on each side of the cart. 

I feel really good about what I have to offer. I counted and have 29 different prints on offer - almost all made since this time last year!

New Props & Getting Ready for the Saturday Market

First some goodies I picked up for still-lifes. I have a pretty girlie big one in my head that these items might be used in.

I haven't decided if I should chip the rest of the paint off of her or use her like this. It is a vase if I want flowers in it too, but I might use it without flowers. 

GETTING READY FOR THE MARKET

I signed up and was juried into the Portland Saturday Market which I plan to go to this weekend on Sunday. Yes it is called the Saturday Market, but it is open Saturday & Sunday. I say I plan on going because the space given is 8x8 instead of the usual 10x10 and I had to order a new tent. Which would be fine but silly me forgot to change my address in paypal and the new tent went to New Hampshire & then back to the seller. I am hoping they can get it to me by the weekend. 

The Portland Saturday Market is really a fun atmosphere and they encourage sellers to be creative with their displays so I have been collecting booth ideas on Pinterest. http://pinterest.com/mealpod/art-fair/ My camper would be so perfect but even if I still had it, it is way too big for the requirements. Remember: 8 feet x 8 feet! 

Here's my setup so far, which is basic. My friend gave me this library cart that I am going to use for my prints. It is really pretty big which is great. It has to be positioned though on the side so people can walk around it. It is two-sided so it will hold this amount of prints on both sides. I need to figure out what to put on the white side that will be facing the line of traffic to get people in the booth (see the next picture). Whatever I decide could be put on with magnets since it is metal. I am open for suggestions! 

Here's the rest of the booth in my garage - minus the tent. My panels are 3 feet wide and 6 feet tall. I made covers for them out of charcoal felt that will fit snugly once I attach all the velcro. I decided to have two panels on each side and then 2 half panels in the back so it feels more open and less claustrophobic. Since the tent is 8 feet wide I can angle the front two panels open more so people will be able to see the artwork when walking by. I plan on putting the framed prints on the front panels and originals more inside the booth. 

Over the half panels I have a bar that connects to the taller panels that I was thinking about putting some fabric panels on. I was playing with some fabric I had on hand but will obviously need more of it. I thought it would lighten things up. Or I could hang some prints or something on the bar instead. Again, I am open for suggestions. I have some good pins that might work on that pinboard I mentioned http://pinterest.com/mealpod/art-fair/. The whole thing also won't look so oppressive when filled with my white frames and colorful artwork. Plus I am allowed lighting so I was going to go to IKEA and pick up some hanging light fixtures with pretty shades or maybe clip on lights for the panels. 

Another thing I already picked up at IKEA are these sweet little plastic frames with a tulip base for $1! I got a bunch of them to put signs in. They are double sided too. You can see one sitting on my print rack. I'll need to stick them on somehow - Maybe velcro. 

Please give me any suggestions on how to pimp this booth out! I want it to be playful but not in bad taste, lol. I do have a great 12x36"black frame I could use in some way too. 

Pink Mixer

the Pink Mixer

8"x8"

I picked up this pink mixer at the Salvation Army in Keene before I left. I'd like to plan a larger "baking"still-life with it too. 

Varnish Experiments

I am thoroughly enjoying living near a big city. I have had to order my art supplies online because my only art stores in Keene were Michaels or my local frame shop, who was great but had limited items or you had to know what you wanted to special order. I went to the Dick Blick the other day in Portland and was able to pick up several varnishes to try out. If you order online you have to pay a fee for the flammable products so I never ordered too many online to be able to experiment with. 

I am varnishing on a makeshift table made out of a wardrobe moving box. I'm glad they get to be used for something. 

Here's The varnishes I got to try. On the left is Grumbacher final fixative that I sprayed on first. It did a good job not altering the colors much. It slightly darkened the darks which I am okay with. It did also eat a little of the green background on my slug picture below. That, however is probably because that was straight Coloursoft and I was told that some Coloursofts are actually water soluble to an extent. Next time I will make sure to layer some prisma over that color or at least a colorless blender. 

The other two were mentioned by Ranjini Venkatachari who works very similar to me. This stuff is AMAZING. I bought satin and gloss. When the satin dries you wouldn't even know it was there except when you touch it and feel the protective barrier. I think I can even photograph it without glare. The gloss will bring out your colors more and make them slightly more vibrant if you are looking for that. 

This is my CPSA etry that will be going to the International show this summer. I was worried about varnishing it because I was having issues with a lot of things changing or pencil being eaten away with the Krylon I was using in Keene. I am SO pleased. It really didn't change at all and I can feel confident sending it off to California. 

This is the one that the background green got eaten away by the fixative. I really think that color must be a little water soluble so I am not too worried about that. 

Next I need to try the Golden Varnish without the fixative and see if that is okay as well.