Art Walks????????

I did an art walk this weekend in the SE area of my town. I was not sure what to expect since I had never done one before. I had received an email form one of the partners of the boutique that participates in the art walk, about a month ago and decided to go for it. Two days after the weekend and I still feel mentally drained. I have not had the experience since my injury four years ago, to challenge myself in this way, and I am grateful for the opportunity but I don't believe I will do it again.

I got some exposure, which is great, sold a couple of pieces, which is great, but that is not the direction I want to go with my work. The other person exhibiting with me does a lot of these types of venues for selling his work since he does not want to do the gallery thing because he does not think it is fair they take 50% of sales. I always look at it as I tell them my price and then they add 50% not the other way around.

What seems a little puzzling (not really, maybe more stupid then puzzling on the lack of insight this person has) that the difference between an art walk, where you are there for the weekend say a total of 10 plus hours, you sell one piece, (that is what this person sold) the boutique takes 30%, there was no advertising, no mailers to send out to potential clients, no reputation of what a gallery can bring, no refreshments (snacks and wine or beer) and definitely not the same traffic a reputable gallery can bring. Any (even partially ) decent gallery that has been around for at least five years (same amount as the above mentioned boutique) will not only have the clientele that would purchase your work, for far more then you could possibly sell it on the side walk but that you do not have to invest nearly the amount of time to put everything together as you would with an art walk setting.

I do not want to pursue this venue since I am going much larger with my work as far as the direction it will take me. While I do appreciate the experience of what I went through it is not me.

Above is one of my recent paintings that I showed at the art walk.

AS IS # 21