I had a very full weekend! It started off on Friday with a full day at the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts. I met my artist friend, Susan Hook, at 11:15 and got home at 9:30. We went to 4 different presentations and walked around and viewed the art in between.
This is the fourth year I have entered pieces into the Festival. I decided to take a different approach this year. I entered two of my paintings that I really liked and wanted to try juring into several more shows in the near future--- "The Gathering" which took a second place ribbon in the Village Gallery of Art Juried Show in May and "Tree with a View," which was juried into the Beaverton Arts Association Showcase 2006 in March. I did not want to sell these two yet so I priced them very high with the intent to give them exposure to this very well attended show. I felt fortunate, both pieces got hung in good areas. In addition, I wanted to enter them into the juried competition. I'll post pictures of these two paintings in my photo album.
At such a big show--over 1000 pieces it is hard to even get a painting noticed let alone win an award or sell. I did not win an award nor did I sell anything. I have been told that this is not a major selling venue. It has so much potential that I would like to challenge it's organizers to perhaps re-think the 40% commission they charge in addition to the entry fee. If they charged less, artists would feel more comfortable pricing their work more reasonably and thus the buying public might be able to afford to buy more pieces. If more pieces sold I bet LOFA would make more money. Do the math! Go for volume! Make it Win-Win. Make everyone happy--LOAF/Artists/Buyers.
My only complaint about the festival was the turn In/Registration process. One. It is always on Fathers Day. Couldn't it be on the day before? My father lives in Seattle... Two. The process involved 4 lines that took me almost 2 hours to get through. I'd like to help next year.
Congrats to my friends who won awards in the open show! Nikki Blackwood, Karen Landey, Carol Barnett. Nikki even sold all 4 of her pieces! WOW!! Also congrats to those I know who were juried into the other segments of the show! Carol Levy, Stephanie Brockway, Karen Landey. In addition, Linda Aman and Allen Greene who were invited into the Chronicles exhibition. One of my favorite parts of the day was running into artists that I know. It was good to see so many good old faces.
The presentation done by the Splash Critique Group was really topnotch! Very professional. Susan and I went to 4 different demos and panel discussions. I learned a lot and enjoyed the day. Their show was very professional and interesting also. Later I was standing outside the show near the restroom and I had an "Ah Ha! Moment." When my friend came out, I said, "Susan, look into that room and invision us in 10 years. We can do it." She agreed. I have been wanting to be a part of a good critique group for the past year. I long for good solid critique. I found that current groups are reluctant to add new members and that I would have to start one myself. I have set a goal to form a core group within a year. I invision meeting once a week to paint socially and holding a critique session once a month during one of these meetings. I'd like to book other artists for demos and mini workshops. Members could also offer a mini workshop for free. Friendship and art. We can do it and aspire to being like Splash. It will take a long time to hone our critique skills but it will be worth it as it will definitely improve our painting skills.
Enough for now. Thanks for reading. Lenall
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