Art Fair, Part II

Well, we left off at the corner Starbucks. Let me show you a little more of San Juan Capistrano.

Main entrance to The Old Barn Antique store. It's a GREAT place. Super big, meandering isles, and lots of goodies!

I love this:

Some different areas where booths were displaying their wares...

It's kind of a hodge-podge of what people have to offer. Lots of beautiful jewelry. Then you have various hand-knit items, wooden boxes, adopt-a-pet programs, metal workers, one abstract painter, someone who made aprons in different sport team logos, one vendor who had his loom and was working on a scarf.  Avery fun, very laid back feeling to the whole day.

It mystifies me how to understand what people want to purchase and at what price. I guess in this arena, it is just up for grabs because there really isn't a theme. I have SO much to learn! I spent a good portion of the day battling my thoughts in my head. "Why did that whole group of women just walk right by our table without looking?" "Who has $100.00 to drop on a piece of jewelry at an outside Fair? Do they plan for this or is it spontaneous?" Then there was the woman who picked up this collage, admired it, talked to her friend about it and said she just had to have it:

It is slightly different than the first one I made, but I am happy with it. I was getting pretty excited while she looked at it. It makes you feel so vulnerable when you put out your creation for the world to see, let alone buy.  I quoted her $55.00. Without a word, she turned around and walked away. I was speechless. I wanted to run after her and ask, "What?! Too much? Am I being ridiculous? The guy next to us wants $180.00 for a piece of glass he bought at Michaels and encased in silver and put on a chain....What am I missing here??!!" Nice thoughts, huh? Like I said, a battle in my mind.

Later that day, a woman was admiring this collage:

It is something new I tried. The canvas is antiqued, and I printed out the lettering and transferred it to the canvas with carbon paper. Then I painted over the transfer and sharpened it up with a black pen. I added a swallow- the native and beloved bird of San Juan Capistrano.

"How much?" the nice lady asked. I decided to try a different price, even though it was marked on the back. "$35.00" was my reply. "Hmmm." she said. And then she walked away. Wow. Any advice here? Am I asking for too much money? Do I need a thicker skin? Is it the venue? Is it because it was our first time there and people need to get to know us? I am pretty green behind the ears when it comes to this stuff and I really like to get it right the first time-ha ha ha ha!!! Silly me. It's ART.

Aside from my wonderings, it was a blast to be able to talk and connect with people. Some just want to talk. People will tell you about their families, or their life path. One person asked if I was a romantic. One told me about his Great Aunt who drew for Audobon in the 20's and 30's. Aren't people fascinating?

This is a domino I whipped up for a gal who really, REALLY wanted one that said Hope. We had dominoes that said peace, grace, serenity, fly, you name it. But she had a friend who was ill and wanted to give her some "hope". She left our table and wandered away empty handed. Wendy and I thought for sure we had SOMEthing that said hope. Lo and behold, we did! I made it up just in case she came back around, which really wasn't likely. But you know what? She did!!! And she liked the domino! And bought it!! I just about gave it to her, but....

We sold a couple of wallets, no votives, no glass bowls, no collages.

But we did sell some dominoes!

Enough to cover the cost of a show in Newport Beach in June!! I am thinking it will be a great show.  The ladies from the "Art Auxillary" were walking through the fair asking people if they would be interested in joining their once a year boutique. Newport is a beach world all unto it's own, so it should be interesting to do this fair.

As much as I battle with those thoughts in my head, I always want to keep in the front of my mind WHY I do this with my friend. Or why I do art at all. 

For the sheer joy of it! I can't NOT create!! I want to encourage others through my art, to meet others, to always learn. O.K. when I sell something, the thought of getting money for what I create is beyond my imagination. It's cool! But I want it to be the icing on the cake, not the whole reason for doing what I do.

The fact that I can even show what I am doing AND blog about it AND you take the time to read my blog AND leave such sweet comments is pretty amazing.  I LOVE doing this!!

Well.

All I can think of to say at the end of this post is, thank you for being a part of this journey.