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Michele Rushworth · 10-09-2002, 11:58 PM

I just did my first outdoor art show this past weekend. This show attracts around 300,000 (!) attendees and over 150 people picked up one of my business cards, so I hope I will see some good results.

I bought a 10x10 white canopy at a nearby sporting goods store. It was a bit hard to find white but I know many art shows require it.

I don't have walls yet so I used all four easels from my studio to put paintings on. I also have a folding room-divider screen that you can put photos in. I used it to display pictures of paintings I have done that are now in other homes.I wired it to one of the corner poles for stability.

I worked on a commissioned oil portrait during the show, partly to attract attention and to give me something to do for two days times eight hours. I got a surprising amount done and was astonished to learn that I can paint with hordes of people around and kids blowing on carnival horns more or less constantly.

Because I was demonstrating, I wanted to keep people out of the booth. (I know that's the opposite of what most people want to do at art shows, but I didn't want anyone bumping into my wet painting). I ran a wide blue ribbon around all four sides of the booth at about waist height. It worked pretty well, though one little kid did reach under the ribbon to run a tiny finger down my painting. I guess he wanted to see if the paint was really wet!

I met a very nice portrait photographer who recommended a supplier called Levin Company. If I do many more shows like this I will get some of their very nice folding display easels and racks.

10-09-2002, 11:58 PM	#7
Michele Rushworth CAFE & BUSINESS MODERATOR SOG Member FT Professional Joined: Jul 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,460	I just did my first outdoor art show this past weekend. This show attracts around 300,000 (!) attendees and over 150 people picked up one of my business cards, so I hope I will see some good results. I bought a 10x10 white canopy at a nearby sporting goods store. It was a bit hard to find white but I know many art shows require it. I don't have walls yet so I used all four easels from my studio to put paintings on. I also have a folding room-divider screen that you can put photos in. I used it to display pictures of paintings I have done that are now in other homes.I wired it to one of the corner poles for stability. I worked on a commissioned oil portrait during the show, partly to attract attention and to give me something to do for two days times eight hours. I got a surprising amount done and was astonished to learn that I can paint with hordes of people around and kids blowing on carnival horns more or less constantly. Because I was demonstrating, I wanted to keep people out of the booth. (I know that's the opposite of what most people want to do at art shows, but I didn't want anyone bumping into my wet painting). I ran a wide blue ribbon around all four sides of the booth at about waist height. It worked pretty well, though one little kid did reach under the ribbon to run a tiny finger down my painting. I guess he wanted to see if the paint was really wet! I met a very nice portrait photographer who recommended a supplier called Levin Company. If I do many more shows like this I will get some of their very nice folding display easels and racks. __________________ Michele Rushworth www.michelerushworth.com [email protected]