Struggle Series: a mix of old and new

As an identical twin, I grappled with a seemingly constant identity crisis while growing up. My sister and I strove to distinguish ourselves from each other, but encountered problems because we liked most of the same things. Plus we liked each other; we just hated how other people seemed to group us into one entity. Everyone likes to be noticed for their own specialness!

This concept was explored a little during my Graduate Certificate show at Hood College, but I was left feeling that not only had I barely scratched the surface, I could have done it so much better. My skill and techniques have now grown enough that I would like to tackle that concept again for a series that will be featured in my December show.

I plan on creating the sculptures by two methods: one is the East Asian wedged coil technique, and one is a method I learned from reading Beth Cavener Strichter's website: forming the sculpture out of solid clay, then cutting it up, carving it out, and reforming it as a hollow sculpture. I'll update on how that works out, and whether I have the patience for it!

What A Difference A Frame Makes!

This tile of two entangled seahorses is one of my favorite new designs. However, when the tiles were finished, they did not impress me. I really love the design but somehow the tiles were lacking.

Since I also work in mosaics, I cut an oval wood backing (with a jigsaw) with about an inch of extra space all around the tile, glued on the seahorse tile, and added a mosaic border with glass pebbles.

Two of the finished wall hangings (each one is different in color and frame) sold at Artsfest!

Lessons Learned

This weekend a dream of mine came true: I was in Artsfest at Annmarie Gardens in Solomons Island, MD!

I remember about four years ago when I took my then-boyfriend (now husband) to Artsfest and told him that one day I wanted to be an artist displaying there. And this weekend, that dream was finally realized :]

Overall, it was a great weekend: our booth display as well as our artwork got many many compliments, the weather was fantastic, and we sold some work. However, we did not sell anywhere near what we had hoped or expected. I take that as a learning experience, since it was our very first tent show.

Here are some lessons learned:

*Have a big awesome piece at the front of the booth. We put Callie's "Welcome Home" glutton on a plinth out front and it worked fabulously for drawing people in.

*Tent banners are worth their weight in gold. The banner and the big awesome piece drew people from across the corridor like bees to honey, and then they would be intrigued enough to wander inside.

*Wall pieces sell the best. Not a new concept but it was brought home this weekend, as 70% of our sales (and 90% of sales to people we did not know) were wall pieces.

*Artwork priced $15-49 sells the best. Only two items were sold above that price range to people we did not know.

*Bring directors chairs! We had two choices: sit in a lawn chair behind or next to our sales desk, or stand. We did both throughout the weekend, but a directors chair would be great next time.

*Bring an umbrella for the sun! The weather was GREAT--- for people who weren't stuck in one spot in the sun all day. I got a bit of a sunburn despite applying sunscreen fanatically :] An umbrella stand shading our sales booth and directors chairs would be perfect.

Those are the big lessons from the weekend. I will plan my next show with more wall pieces in the magic price range, and see if sales increase.

If you know any other important tips for art festivals, please let me know in the comments! I welcome all advice :]

Resigned to Reality

One of my sculptures is thick, and it hasn't been drying as quickly as I'd like. The final bisque before the show needs to run tomorrow in order for me to get everything glazed on time, and I've been trying to hurry along this nice sculpture. Finally, however, I realized that there is no way it is going to dry in time. I had to talk myself into realizing that the omission of this sculpture isn't going to make or break my September show, especially since it is a higher-priced artwork and this is an arts festival rather than a gallery setting. I would rather have this sculpture for the December show than risk it cracking and ruining all my hard work.

Some things you can't rush. I have been restraining myself from hurrying along my kilns because I almost ruined a beautiful piece once by opening the kiln too soon-- I actually witnessed the crack form along the surface, and although I put the lid back down as soon as I realized what was happening, the crack was already there. Luckily it was a mural I had planned to mosaic, so I worked it into the piece, but it reminded me of the costs of being impatient.