Discrimination at Art Fairs

[Julie Deane]

Michelle -

Could you offer pencil sketches or some other quick art to sell at the show, but also have your paintings displayed, with brochures? Would that satisfy them?

[Joan Breckwoldt]

Originally Posted by Julie Deane

Michelle -

Could you offer pencil sketches or some other quick art to sell at the show, but also have your paintings displayed, with brochures? Would that satisfy them?

Michele, I think Julie's idea is a good one, but I'm not sure if you do the quick sketches.

Maybe you could have some other paintings for sale, some landscapes or still lifes in your booth? Of course you still need to display your portraits, that's the whole point of being there. But could you have some portraits that are labeled 'not for sale', or heck, put high price tags on them. What are the chances of someone buying a portrait of somebody's else's child? Anyway, maybe some combination of this will work for you and appease the fair people.

Joan

[Michele Rushworth]

Thanks for the suggestions about sketches and landcapes but I really don't want to dilute my message with other types of work.

I think if I submitted my current portrait samples as "figurative works for sale" that I wouldn't be accepted into the show. I don't think they're the type of paintings that anyone would buy, other than the people commissioning them. There's sometimes a fine line between figurative and portraits but I think my samples (as you can see on my website) fall very clearly in the area of commissioned portraiture.

[Joan Breckwoldt]

Originally Posted by Michele Rushworth

I don't think they're the type of paintings that anyone would buy, other than the people commissioning them. There's sometimes a fine line between figurative and portraits but I think my samples (as you can see on my website) fall very clearly in the area of commissioned portraiture.

Michele, I am familiar with your beautiful work from your unveilings and your website, what I'm suggesting is that you present your portraits as works for sale or I guess that would be called 'figurative' paintings. I agree, most people wouldn't buy a portrait of someone they didn't know. You know that and I know that, but I thought maybe this would be a way to get around the limitations the fair people are setting.

Originally Posted by Michele Rushworth

I think if I submitted my current portrait samples as "figurative works for sale" that I wouldn't be accepted into the show..

Why not? Are you saying the fair people wouldn't go for this idea?

And, what's to stop someone for putting in an order for 100 stuffed bunnies at the fair? Or calling the bunny maker later and setting them up as a regular supplier to a retail store? Shop owners go to those fairs to search out things for their store, I'm pretty sure. They might be ordering more crafty items later. They are crafty! (Sorry for the bad pun , it's getting late.)

Just trying to help.

Joan

[Heidi Maiers]

Michele,
I agree - this would be discrimination in my opinion. To answer your original question, I can start your list by giving you several shows that I've participated in here in AZ that have had no such rules about commission artists. The Tubac show had no commission on top of the booth fee, but the Scottsdale shows required 5% of total sales. I had several sample pieces there that were for sale, but as expected, did not sell any of them.
The shows are:
http://www.tubacaz.com/festival.asp

http://www.888artfest.com/5thavefall/index.html

http://www.888artfest.com/scottsdale/index.html

This one I hope to participate in either this year or next:

http://www.thunderbirdartists.com/fe...festival.shtml

[Leslie Ficcaglia]

I suspect that the relevant variable here is whether or not the venue gets a cut from sales onsite. I do only one show, which is one day, indoors, with racks provided, and there is a booth fee but all proceeds from sales go to the artist. I have always been welcome there. On the other hand, some of the local galleries won't show work that's not for sale, and also don't permit business cards or other forms of direct solicitation for future commissions. So I have no place to showcase my work despite the burgeoning of galleries in my area. I suppose they're allowed to make a business decision like this, but it's irksome. In your case it's especially annoying since you were permitted to show at the fair in the past.