Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Art Fair Hangover

My Booth at Queeny Art Fair Spring 2013

Art Fair Hangover - that's what I call the Monday after an art fair weekend. On Monday when I wake up, I feel like I have been run over by a truck. I have great memories of fun times and I am still high from all the positive feedback, but my body hurts from the mysterious bumps and bruises that I don't remember getting.

It's not all bad though, one of the things that I find so refreshing is the camaraderie that happens among artists at art fairs. Yes, you do occasionally meet a grumpy art fair artist who has lost the ability to stay positive and be kind, but MOST time, the strangers you met during set up on Friday, become your good friends that you hug goodbye on Sunday.

Where else can you find competitors (for lack of a better word) rooting for each other in such a way, other than at an art fair? I had this lovely couple come into my booth for the second time considering one of my larger pieces  I was giving them space so they could talk and I would go visit my neighbors in nervous anticipation. Not knowing that I knew this couple was in my booth, each one of my neighbors would warn me that I had some people who looked serious in my booth. They didn't want me to miss this opportunity. As I finished up the sale, they each stopped by for an update, hoping it came through for me. THAT is a great feeling. I had the same feeling when I watched my neighbors getting to sell their work too. It gives me faith that people really do value hand made, original art. It also makes me feel happy that we all get to keep doing this crazy "job" because people appreciate what we do. Gives me warm fuzzies, I tell ya!

By the way, I updated my web site with all of my new work as of today! http://heatherhaymart.com/




4 comments:

  1. I remember doing craft shows - and I miss that same kind of comraderie. It is like a big family!!

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  2. Art shows are fun, you have a great setup and your items work incredibly well not only on their own but also as a whole. I've only ever done one day shows but even then I feel like I've been run over by a freight train afterwards. I'm quite the hermit so interacting with people and talking about my work is both exciting and draining. I love the camaraderie at these kind of events too.

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    1. Thank you Kathryn. I find that if I am going to go to all the work of setting up, I might as well do it for the whole weekend. The one show I did that was one day, was kind of nice too though. Short and sweet.

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