October is a building Month

So I took a few days off and got some much needed relaxation ... now it is time to morph into Tom the Builder.. well at least Tom the Handy Man. Lets just say that after a summer show season the "honey do" list has swelled .. and I guess that I better get to it before the snow starts flying.

I do have a canvas stretched and I do have a show in early November in Des Moines but for now I should act like the Nike commercials and " Just Do It"

Peoria Riverfront

Just finished the last of the month long show dates with the Peoria Art Guild Riverfront Art Show. This is the go to event in the arts in the central Illinois area and I'm so fortunate to be able to take part in it. When you are from Peoria and you mention that you are an artist the very next question out of any ones mouth is " Are you doing the Guild's show?" The reason is that the bar is set very high to attain a spot at this, one of the premier shows in the state, event.

Last year I was doubly fortunate in winning an award and getting an auto-invite to this years event, not so lucky this year. So next year I must re-jury into the show and wait be my computer for the jury decision.

But for now, I'm looking forward to taking a few days to recover from the pressure of producing more shaped canvases and just hanging out with the family - I think I want to cook dinner and just watch TV .

Just when you think you have it figured out!

Early in the season I had a string of really bad shows - I mean the kind that you lose money at ! It is not fun but it is part of the art biz. Like my friend Linda Wilmot says "sometimes you harvest and sometimes you plant the seed" she always puts such a nice spin on the fact that people thought that I was invisible and that I didn't even recoup gas money to some of the shows, much less booth fees and lodging.

Well once the summer shows started people seemed to all of a sudden see my booth - it must have had a cloaking device attached to it somewhere - and I started selling some stuff. The new shaped canvases seemed to be a hit - I might have them priced too low - but I would rather sell them than not - so we'll keep them priced as they are. Then just as I think everything is going really smoothly and I have all the answers to what people at art shows are looking for - Edwards Place!!

Granted it was my first year at the show - so maybe people don't take you seriously for a while - but I could feel the cloaking device kicking in as the few people there walked by my empty booth.

The load in and out was difficult ( limited access to center grass area and your not allowed to drive in) my cart doesn't roll well on moist earth. Yes - the weather wasn't great either - as it rained and was overcast both days. There was also a noticeable absence of large crowds ( could be due to the weather ) and the total number of artists at the show was also down from previous years ( so I was told by other regulars)

Well at least I will have plenty of stock for the Peoria Riverfront Show this weekend!

Signs - signs - everywhere are signs...

I went back to Lincoln and checked out the start of the whole blog thing in a post a few back . I was remarking on the fact that recently I've had to turn up the productivity dial and get some of these shaped canvases finished.

It seems that I have fallen ( Yet again) into something that people really want - Signs.

So - I'll be painting them up!!

Rees Carillon is AWESOME!!

I've been doing outdoor shows since 2004 - and I have yet to find one that pampers the artists like the Carillon - Frank , one of the many volunteers, was at my booth literally every 1/2 hour with his wheeled cooler filled with yogurt, soda, water, snacks of all types. Frank actually must have offended some of the other artists by "bugging" too much as he was reprimanded before starting on Sunday about checking too often.

And if Frank didn't bring you enough - the Artist VIP tent was in the center of the show and they would get you anything that you needed. Barb and Dan Walker do such a great job of making sure every thing is as comfortable for the artist as possible.

Other shows do a good job - but gooey Cinnamon sticky rolls for breakfast and real Starbucks Coffee come on!

Opening in Galesburg ...and then...

This last weekend The Woman and I went to the opening of the dual show in Galesburg IL - and it was fun! I mean usually these things are sort of dry affairs ( not dry as liquor - the wine was flowing - I mean quietly looking at the art and trying to look sophisticated - and if you know me it doesn't usually work) So we are hanging out and people are actually stopping by and seem very interested in David and my work - the evening passes quickly and I manage not to embarrass myself ( at least I hope)

We spent the rest of the holiday weekend stretching canvases and generally getting ready for the onslaught of other shows - 10th and 11th - Rees Carilon / Springfield - 17th and 18th - Edwards Place / Springfield - 24th and 25th - Fine Art Fair / Peoria Riverfront.

Got a list in my head of things that I would like to have done- the problem is that I may have scale it back as time is slipping away!