Open Studios

[xinie]

I'm participating in Bedford Center for the Arts Open Studios in November. I thought it was a community-building event, but it ends up that it's an upscale (?) craft fair. I'd appreciate input on a couple of things, because I'm just too spacey to give it thoughtful thought- my head just keeps going around in circles.

1. I need to pick a picture of

Comments

[geekpixie]

I love the second one :) Craft shows are weird, sometimes the low priced stuff sells, because people want stocking stuffers, etc, and sometimes the high priced stuff sells because people assume it's valuable because you've assigned more value (and it is valuable, but I'm taking about their perception here)

I'd say jewelry and hair bits, due to the proximity to holidays. I agree on the paper thing, people really do sell the effort to make such things quite short.

[lizzielizzie]

GAH! Social circles collide! *head asplode*

[xinie]

How often do I mention that I wish there was a Venn diagram application for LJ, FB, etc?

[lizzielizzie]

While I find artist statement #2 whimsical and amusing, I think you should go with pretentious artist statement #1 instead. :-)

Anyone who loves cards would not pick up a handmade one and think they could do better at the dollar store. Only the Walmart-mentality people think that. Be confident in your work and your prices, and people will read that from you and pay you what you deserve.

[miss_jenith]

I really like the second one. To me, it reads like an invitation to have a conversation with the artist (you) and your enthusiasm for your art comes through better. For the paper stuff vs. jewelry Q - do you know which is more heavily represented by other artists? Your work is great for both - so maybe look for the best niche at this particular event (esp. since they are trying to limit each individual artist's offerings...)

[xinie]

It's hard to tell. There is always lots of jewelry, but I think it will mostly be by glass artists. Collage artists will be selling collage straight-up I think. But there are tons of photographers, who will probably mass-reproduce their art on cards to sell for the holidays. So... okay, it looks like jewelry would be more interesting.

Maybe I can do some "stationery sets"- a set of cards with a matching journal- boxed up for gift-giving, and still fit that in.

As I wrote this, I starting thinking of a timeline for a display... a chronology... started with the cards (here is a selection), paper scraps that I couldn't part with went into necklaces, felt flowers and buttons from cards became their own species... yeah, lemme think on that. Each artist is able to have "space" (they haven't decided how much yet) at the main studio, and that might be a good "piece" to submit, an Evolution of an Artisan...

[wwpostergirl]

Jewelry can be the most over-represented category at craft fairs, in my experience. However, I see no problem with having a bit of both (jewelry and paper products).

[xinie]

I totally agree with you about jewelry- especially beaded jewelry- being overrepresented. Plus, as lizzielizzie can attest to, there is a VAST array of complexities of weaves and quality of materials with the beaded jewelry, but probably few consumers are aware of that.

The problem with paper goods when I am at craft fairs is that my one-of-a-kind cards are competing, price-wise, with laser-printed card reproductions- and almost everyone would prefer to pick out a set of ten identical (but still nice!) cards for $15 than three of my unique ones.

[rbetts]

"... lots of buttons." I love the second statement! Honestly, I only read the first statement to its conclusion because I wanted to compare it to the second one's cleverness :-)

Hope you have a good time at the studio/fair.