If you are considering selling your arts and crafts through various art festivals this year, here are some tips to consider. Most shows require a non-refundable entry or application fee, and if accepted a booth fee. The application fee can range from $10 -$25 and the booth fee can range from $50-$500 or higher depending on the show.

If you are accepted to the show, you will be required to display your work in a specified booth, generally a 10′ x 10′ display tent. E-Z UP tents are some of the most economical and convenient tents on the market. However, there are more expensive tents that are built from sturdier materials. Make sure you have weights and other braces to keep your tent stable if the weather is windy. Anchoring down the tent will save you a lot of trouble and headache if the weather becomes bad. Depending on what you are selling, you will need the proper display to present your work to the shoppers.

If you have paintings, you will need wall displays to hang your work. Nylon mesh panels by Flourish are very durable and easy to setup with the appropriate wall braces. Other systems are available too, depending on your needs. A properly designed display will keep your work from damage, present it professionally to your customers, and aid with your inventory. You will also need a POS system. Many options are available, and choosing the right one for your art will benefit you greatly. Accepting credit cards is a must. Many customers find it convenient, so providing them with this option, as well as cash and checks will make checkout a lot easier.

Don’t plan on standing all day – eights hours at a craft fair is long and tiring. A chair can put your feet at ease, and provide you with necessary relief. If you are selling fine art prints, you will want clear acid-free bags or wrap to protect your art. Remember, you are outdoors and protecting your art is your top priority. Also, print racks will aid in displaying your prints, and a sign or labels with clear pricing will give your booth improved functionality. If you have framed art, corner protectors are a good idea. Although framing corners can be bothersome, they can save you a lot of repairs later. Some picture frames can handle bumps and dings, however softer woods will nick with the slightest touch. Using stretch wrap and framing corners will give your work added protection. You can further protect larger pieces by using a blanket or moving covers to guard against scratches. Even a sheet of cardboard placed between works can stop breakage and punctures. If you have smaller works, you can wrap them in bubble wrap and transport them via a plastic tub. If you’re handy, you can build a wooden crate and line it with a 1/8″ foam insulator to keep out the moisture. Using a few silica gel packs is a good idea to fight moisture too.

Remember to bring petty cash to make change; a helper or two if you don’t want to do it alone; and a beautiful smile to warm the hearts of your customers. The list below are additional items you may find helpful to make your next event run smoothly.

• Velcro
• Sales Slips
• Business Cards
• String
• S Hooks
• Rag
• Visa or Mastercard Sign
• Sissors
• Pocket Knife
• Pens
• Tool Box
• Cell Phone
• Highlighter
• Portable Desk
• Tape
• Calculator
• Bump-ons
• Pricelist
• Credit Card Printer
• Cash Box or Money Bag
• Plastic Bags (big and small)
• Stapler
• Camera
• Address Book
• Sales Tax Sheet
• Walkie Talkies
• Wipes
• Lotion
• Art Show Info Packet
• Maps
• Tent
• Sand Bags
• Stabilization Bars
• Tent Walls
• Print Racks
• Table
• Tarp/blanket
• Cardboard
• Artwork
• Bug Spray
• Broom and Dustpan
• Sunscreen
• Stretch Wrap
• Trash Bags
• Petty Cash
• Pliers
• Chair(s)
• Umbrella

I woke up one morning with a vision of a lady in a red dress ballroom dancing across the floor. I slipped my feet into my slippers, darted into my studio, grabbed my sketch book and pencil to draw what my subconscious had just presented to me. My initial thought was “this is going to be a challenge” because you never know if you can capture the true vision of your imagination. But, there it was! The sketch. I did it! At least to a certain degree. I had a sketch of what woke me upon my bed. Now, all I needed to do was paint it. But how should it look? Will I paint it in watercolor, oil or acrylic? And on what surface? Because of the playful nature of the picture that filled my mind, I chose watercolor on Aquabord. The dress was vibrant and I could display it in many ways. I drew the image onto my surface and began to paint. After a few hours–I got it! That’s it! I had accomplished capturing a vision upon my bed and now it was on my chosen canvas–Aquabord. I was ecstatic! I had a dream in my hand: A vision crystal clear. I probably stared at this work for hours taking breaks here and there. I know it sounds a little silly, but this was a personal accomplishment. I had reproduced a midnights dream, which became a series of unique little paintings I could paint forever and that literally tickle me every time I create one. This one vision turned into a group of fun and exciting works, each painting having its own unique dance and drama that has entertained even the distant art lover. Who ever dreamed up the phrase “Sweet Dreams” – Thank you!

The sounds of spring are in the ears of every plein-air artist. The birds are chirping. The trees are beginning to bud. And, at least in the south, the bermuda grass is starting to turn green and wake up from dormancy. Like the grass, the excitement of plein-air painting is rising in the hearts of every artist who enjoys painting in the element. The exhilaration of catching the morning light or evening shadows; The mood of a colorful scene, and maybe a bit of history on the tip end of the artist’s brush is appealing. But remember to stay focused. If not, you may miss creating a lasting work of art for the ages. Several years ago, when I was painting in plein-air, I experienced a – plein-airjacking. I had just left a spot by the Great Lakes and was on my way to find a new location. I spotted a beautiful scene about 15 or 20 minutes from where I was painting. The scene was an artist’s dream! The sun was off in the distance – just above the waters horizon; a small bridge lay in the foreground while small white sail boats sprinkled across the lake behind it; a tree canopied the bridge with reverent glory as bystanders stood and walked beneath it. With easel, brushes, and paint in the car, I saw the light. I parked the car, set-up my easel and watercolor block, prepared my palette, and sketched an outline of the scene that captured my attention. But just when I dipped my brush into my jar of water to make my first stroke, a young boy, about 9 or 10 years old and his friend (a little girl the young boy said he was watching) road up on their bikes and asked – what was I about to paint? Of course, who can resist cute little kids, so I told him. I pointed to the completed sketch and the scene in front of my easel. I thought once he had this information they would continue on their bikes to some other destination that kids have in mind. But it appeared that I was it. He proceeded to ask if he could paint or if his friend could paint. He asked if he could have a piece of paper and a tube of paint. He asked if my daughter could paint. He asked if my daughter could recite her poetry. He asked where did I learn to paint. He asked if I could teach him right now. He asked what colors I was going to use. He pounded me with questions for about an hour and 30 minutes. Then, a truck pulls up and a young lady steps out about 13 years old with her own arsenal of heart felt query which lasted another 30 minutes or so. I was done. Although I tried not to be rude by ignoring the trio, the picture perfect scene had disappeared into the faint light of the evening. I had been plein-airjacked. The beautiful scene in front of me was now gone. The sun had lowered, the colors faded, the sailboats had come in, and I was without a painting. Hopefully, I left some lasting impression on the three inquisitive art lovers. As spring draws closer, and we stand at the door with easel and brush in hand as pleinairists – stay FOCUSED in plein-air painting.

Recently saw Rembrandt at the North Carolina Museum of Art. It was interesting to see how many paintings were not attributed to him.

Where will you find your next artistic inspiration? Don’t let it slip away, it may be right in front of you. Finding inspiration isn’t always easy. I have been inspired by nature, literature, television, and my own imagination. However, there are times when our creative bank comes up a little short, and finding inspiration for the next work of art can be a challenge. What can we do? Sometimes, painting a simple still life can get the energy flowing again. But, if that doesn’t do it, a plein-air painting of an outdoor scene might generate a creative spark. Even sketching your thoughts in a drawing pad can ignite your creative spirit and become the catalyst for new and exciting works. On September 11, 2011, I was watching the 9/11 memorial services on television. During the memorial service in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, President George W. Bush gave a speech about that tragic day. During his speech, I was drawn to a sea of yellow flowers that stood behind him in the distance that seemed to echo the spirit of that moment. As I sat and listened to the President’s speech, I was drawn to the field behind him; The flowers and grass blowing in the breeze; The flowers waving and clapping their hands like they were singing a song. That moment was my inspiration. I became so captivated by it that several days later, I stretched a 36″ x 48″ canvas, took out my acrylic paints, and painted a field of yellow flowers from memory. I entitled the painting “The Heroes Field.” For me that field became the voice of those who lost their lives there. That field was my spark. Now, every time I look at this painting, I remember everyone from that flight, their sacrifice, our country, and the inspiration of that moment.

Painting on aquabord is a refreshing and gratifying experience. Especially painting with watercolors. The one aspect of the material I enjoy most, when the colors are blended correctly, are the brilliant hues you get with every painting. I enjoy lifting, pulling, blotting, and moving the paint and water across the surface of the panel to get just the feeling you want in a work of art. Painting on aquabord is like painting on paper with a few exceptions: It dries faster than paper; the colors have a little more punch; you can paint without stretching paper; you can lift pigment a lot easier; and of course, you can frame it without glass using the proper preservation spray. When I started painting with the medium about 7 years ago, I wasn’t sure how I would take to it. But through the years, it has become one of my favorite surfaces to paint on. When I feel like expressing myself in a vibrant and artistic manner, a layer of watercolor on aquabord can create just the right emotion. The next time you feel the adrenaline pumping to create something special – find your favorite hide away – a secret garden, and retreat with a brush, watercolor paint, an easel, a panel of aquabord – and FEEL the experience!

Every painting I’ve been fortunate to create has enlightened me about something. Either the medium I’m using, the painting surface, the brushes, the theme, myself or the lovely people that view them. Over the years, I have come to embrace this experience, realizing that the application is a marvelous part of the process. Just painting can be enjoyable, but the feeling you get when the paint, the environment and the process speaks to you is unparalleled–unraveling the many questions that surface when painting in a certain medium, or trying to communicate a subject. I am confident that when you allow this process to occur, not only does your eye mature, but you grow as well.