Art Fairs are a Tough Way to Make a Living.

Hi there. How are you? Me....I've been better. 

2 years ago, I quit my teaching job. We moved 300 miles away from home, so my husband could start a new career. I was hoping to make art a full time gig in our new surroundings. 2 years later, I'm feeling dejected and pretty lost. Full time artist, I am not. 

Art fairs were part of my full time artist plan. I had been doing a fair or two each year while I was still teaching and had much success. (I won "Best of Show" in the first art fair I ever participated in.) Now....I'm not so sure about the art fair gig. Let me explain.

I spent this past weekend participating in an art fair in Chicago. This should have been a good show for me, or so I thought. It was a well run, well promoted fair, with a great reputation in a well-to-do Chicago neighborhood. I was surrounded by high caliber artists and I was excited. Conditions seemed ideal for sales. 

Before I get to the bad news,  I'm happy to report that I did sell this Male Cardinal original! (I knew this guy was special and would sell quick. I did this piece just a week before the show.) Otherwise, this fair was a bust..... I  didn't make enough money to cover the application and booth fees I had to pay to participate in this show. This was the second fair in a row this summer that I've lost money doing. Ouch. 
 

I've had bad art fairs before. Plenty, in fact. But there seemed to be a very logical reason why those shows turned out bad. The show was poorly promoted, the fair attendees were not my target demographic,  or I was placed in a really bad spot with no traffic. There seems to be no excuse for this one. It's hard not to take this one personally......I start questioning my skills as an artist and a salesman.  I wonder if it will ever be possible for me to make it as a full time artist. I have my home town art fair in 2 weeks time. This usually is my most profitable show every year. But after 2 really bad shows, I'm even worried about this one. I'm losing my confidence.

There are plenty of people out there who make their living at art fairs. I have some ceramicist friends that have been doing the art fair circuit full time for 20 years. I just don't think I will be one of those people. It is so much work and travel for so little reward! I know I don't have the constitution for that!

I'm at a crossroads. After 2 years, I've spent much more money on fees, travel expenses and supplies than I've made participating in art fairs. My credit card debt is ballooning and it doesn't seem fiscally responsible for me to continue to pursue many more art fairs. Matt and I can't afford for me not to make money!  If I'm going to make it as a full time artist, I need to find other revenue streams....But where? This is my current struggle. I'm feeling pretty lost right now. 

Don't worry, I'm not giving up, but I have to find a better way. Ta-Ta.

A Birdie and Bucktown

"Female Cardinal" 8" x 8" mixed media on cradled hardboard, $150.

Hi there. How are you? 

Yep, I went there....Another bird piece! This one features the female cardinal my favorite feathered friend. I know that most prefer pretty red male cardinal, I like the female's "mohawk" and her slightly rounded form. Are in you interested in purchasing this cutie? Do get in touch. 

Next Weekend: Bucktown Arts Fest!

Next weekend, Matt and I will be packing the Element and heading up to Chicago for the fabulous Bucktown Arts Fest. Join me Saturday August 24th and Sunday August 25th, from 11 am to 7pm in Senior Citizens Memorial Park. Find me in booth #18, which is located right on the park grounds. I'll have some brand new work debuting here. Hope you can join me!

And last but not least....

I've got a birthday coming up over Labor Day weekend. I've decided to celebrate with a "BOGO" print sale in my Etsy shop. Details forthcoming. Be excited!

So, ta-ta for now. Do enjoy your weekend friends! 

New Lockets!

Hi there. How are you?

I'm really excited and proud of my newest collaboration with the lovely Cat of Polarity. 

She's created 4 new lockets and a bracelet, all featuring my work. 

Each locket comes with an initial charm and 3 interchangeable magnetic faces. 

That's 3 necklaces for 1 price! Score!

Two of the lockets feature floral designs. 

The other two feature my chair illustrations. 

The chair designs each come with a lid featuring an inspirational message.

This locket is a great reminder to slow down, take our time and just sit with it!

She's also created a bracelet! Cute, isn't it?

All of the new magnetic locket sets and bracelet can be purchased in Cat's Etsy shop.

  They ship directly from Cat's studio in New Jersey and she's ships crazy fast! Hope you love 'em. 

Ta-Ta.

Bird Nerd

Hi there. How are you?

This is my brand new piece featuring Matt's favorite bird, the Tufted Titmouse.

Anyone who knows me at all can tell you that birds are about that last possible subject they'd expect me delve into. You see,  I am anything but a "bird nerd." Actually, birds pretty much gross me out, and I've had several traumatic experiences with my feathered foes. There were two different encounters with nests of dead baby birds, I've been crapped on while inside a moving car, and was traumatized by a bird that continually flew into a window at my childhood home. 

So why on earth would I choose birds as a new subject? It has a lot to do with my husband, who has blossomed into a full blown "bird nerd." 

He's built a bird sanctuary outside our living room window.

Birds of all kinds are attracted to the squirrel proof feeder.

I have to admit that I do like to join Matt in his through the window bird watching. They don't freak me out so much when there is glass between me and the birds. I've actually grown fond of the hummingbirds and female cardinals that frequent our feeders. And believe it or not, I'm about to start another bird piece!

"Tufted Titmouse" measures just 5" high by 7" wide and was created with collaged paper, black ballpoint ink and a little touch of rusty orange colored pencil. If you are interested in purchasing this piece, do get in touch!

Do you have a favorite bird you'd like to see me tackle? Please let me know!

Until next time. Ta-ta!

P.S. My blog address has changed! This blog is now a subdomain of  jenniferjohansson.com and lives at blog.jenniferjohansson.com.

The "June 20" are Finally Complete!

"Scratch", 8"x8", collaged paper, black ballpoint ink and white Prismacolor pencil on cradled hardboard, $250.

Well hi there! How are you? Did you miss me?

I'm sorry I've left this blog inactive for such a long time. I just haven't had the time or the will to write.  The bug to blog finally hit again, so here I am!

I'm proud to report that I have finally met my goal of crafting 20 new pieces in the month of June! Well, actually, I made 19 new pieces in June and just got around to #20 (pictured here) this week. Better late than never right? You can see all 20 pieces here.

This new piece is based on a photo I shot out at Scratch Brewery, in Ava, Illinois. Scratch has quickly become one of our favorite places in Southern Illinois.  Out in the middle of nowhere, the Scratch team has built a charming indoor/outdoor tasting room where they brew and serve incredibly tasty beers. Yum! Scratch is filled with all sorts of interesting chairs, so you'll be seeing more pieces based on photos I've shot there.

So let's talk about this new piece. I was immediately drawn to the contrast of the mismatched wooden chairs against the rusty red siding. I had actually photographed this spot on several different trips to Scratch, but finally captured the perfect shot/lighting on our last visit. As my followers know, I'm very drawn to cast shadows, and I liked the shadows these chairs cast onto the siding.

This piece is indeed for sale! I don't tend to list these larger originals on Etsy as they don't sell there, so if you are interested in this one, do shoot me an email.

Do let me know what you think of this new piece! Hope all is well in your world. Ta-Ta!

Love for Laumeier

 

Hi there. How are you? Did you miss me?

Art fair season is upon us  and I'm off to a fantastic start! Last weekend I traveled to St Louis for the  Art Fair at Laumeier - on the stunning grounds of the Laumeier Sculpture Park. Everything about this event was top notch! (Well almost everthing.....Artist parking was easily a mile away. Not fun when your husband has a broken ankle! That's a story for another day.)

I was so impressed by the quality of the artists in this show. Vendors traveled from all over the country to take part, usually a mark of a good show in my book. We met some great people, had fabulous weather, and ate some great food. And best of all, I sold a lot of art! 14 originals in fact! 

  

By the end of the weekend, my booth was looking quite bare, which is a good thing..... But man, do I have some work to do! With home renovation dominating my off season, I didn't get nearly as much art made as I need to sustain myself through the art fair season. I've challenged myself to make 20 new pieces between now and my next show at the end of June. It's a lofty goal, but I think I can do it! The majority of the pieces that sold at Laumeier were my smaller, lower priced works. I can whip those out quicky! 

You probably won't hear a whole lot from me on the blog over the summer. My studio time has to be spent making.  If you'd like to see what I'm up to, I do update my Facebook page regularly, so visit me there. 

Ta-ta for now!

A Visitor in the Studio

Well hi there! Happy Saturday to you.

Our house was a little fuller this week, as we had Jack in town for his spring break. 

 I can't ever get him to pose for a picture, so this is the best I got of him all week! 

We spent Wednesday working together in the "capsule" (my tiny studio.)

 Jack worked on a Flash animation.

  I worked on a Dala horse for Matt. 

He's been asking me for a year to make him one. Sorry it took so long Matty! 

We peacefully coexisted in these tight quarters all afternoon. 

Here are the end results. Enjoy!