Strathearn Art Walk - Fun in the Sun

Finding some shade!

On Saturday, I  set up my booth at the annual Strathearn Art Walk.  It was a beautiful day, with lots of great artists / vendors and the weather helped draw a record crowd. This was my fourth art fair experience and probably the most successful one.  I had lots of wonderful people stop by and received some very positive feedback.  I managed to sell 3 original paintings, a few prints / cards, 3 potential commissions and made some great connections with other art minded people.  

Thankfully, my wonderful spouse helped me haul and set up / take down everything and gave me a break part way through.  I managed to race around the site to check out other booths - there were approximately 300 of them, so it took me awhile.  I especially enjoyed meeting some of the other artists and seeing their work.  I held a free giveaway draw for one of my prints, which was a good idea, as I now have a potential commission from that.

So my take-aways from this art fair:

1)  WEATHER is probably one of the biggest factors to a successful amount of traffic through your booth.  Not much you can do but come prepared and hope it is nice out!

2) LOCATION - the park was a really nice spot and most booths had great flow through of people.  Mine was right on a walking path, lots of people wandering by, you did not get to choose though.

3)BOOTH SET UP - not too crowded with stuff, lets more people wander through and looks clean.  

I did not bring a lot of extra art, so when I sold my pieces I didn't have much to replace them with - lesson for next time

4) SIGNATURE PIECE - wow, so many people stopped in because of my large central painting of the mountain town - trying to guess where it was.  Excellent way to start a conversation.

5)BE PREPARED - I finally had my Square credit card reader, a proper cash box, wrapping material for sold paintings - lots of business cards.  I seemed professional this time!!  I did run out of drinking water for myself and so did many food vendors, so I was pretty parched by the end.  More water and snacks next time.

I brought my Plein air easel and paints but as it was sooo busy I didn't have time for that.  I still think it is a good idea if it were a bad weather day though.

Check out this link for some good tips I reviewed (afterwards for some reason) Bob's ideas for art shows

Completed Series

Well this is the second painting of the old blue truck, entitled 'Out to Pasture'.  I enjoyed trying to get the rust and I really liked the bright purple peeking through here and there.  I am attempting a quick dry in the sun, so that the painting will not be tacky on Saturday for the Strathearn Art Walk.  It is the second largest art fair in Edmonton, with tons of vendors, music, food trucks, etc.  Hoping the weather holds!

Art Fair but the Weather isn't

September is a busy time here for outdoor Art Fairs.  Unfortunately the weather has not been as FAIR. Typically fall is gorgeous in Edmonton, with nice crisp blue sky days and gorgeous leaves changing colour.   Today it is trying really hard to snow. 

Last weekend was the Strathearn Art Walk which was huge, the second largest one in Edmonton.  My hubby and I enjoyed strolling around, checked out the Alair Homes tent, as a couple of my pieces were in there. We also purchased some awesome charcuterie boards made from old wine casks from For Wood Sake. 

Alair Homes tent

  I am participating in another art fair this weekend, the Art in Our Park event.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate! I have been helping get some Interactive Puzzle Boards prepped for group activities.  I am also putting my 'woodworking' skills to the test.  I had to make a stretcher board for an odd sized piece of canvas. YouTube kind of helped and I was fairly pleased with my finished product - usually mitred corners are my downfall.  Not Today!!