Singing the Art Show Blues

This has been a particularly exhausting two weeks.  I have had art show commitments across town on two Saturdays in a row. This probably makes a total of 6 or 7 art shows that I have participated in these past few years of my young art career.  So far I haven't a single positive experience to report.  I can only imagine that art shows could be exhilarating if the end result was a number of sales or a pocket full of solid contacts had been made.  Alas, that has not been my reality. Not only did I loose the revenue I would have earned giving lessons to my Saturday students, but I got to pack up exactly the same amount of artwork that I came with.  My only real comfort as I look back over these exercises in futility is that I didn't pay much for booth rent for either event. 

Rejection for something that is so personal and emotional as ones artwork can be a hard pill to swallow.  Oh you get plenty of people who come by and make comments about what a great artist you are as they compare you to the only two artists that the uneducated art public know, Bob Ross or Thomas Kinkaid.  They might even gush over just how amazing your cowbells are but then they all walk, away to never been seen again. 

To end this blog on a high note, I am happy to report that the very next day I sold two cowbells; one through my sister-in-law and her Facebook post and a second because my sister had three bells out on the counter of her Pahrump, Nevada mini- market and one of her customers just had to buy one.  I guess the question here to ask is, "Will I ever do another art show?" I would answer probably so because it seems this is something that artists do.  I will do a little research before time and try to make sure I am participating in the RIGHT show that has been marketed properly and is a good fit for for my style of artwork and of course my COWBELLS.  

                                

If you are interested in seeing more of my work or perhaps ordering your own hand-painted cowbell then visit my website at Julie Townsend Studio

It's not and Emmy or and Oscar...It's PAHRANAGAT MAN!

My "Pahranagat Man" trophy-based of local petroglyphs 

Last Thursday I loaded my car with art work and my artist friends and we headed north of Las Vegas 149 miles to the little Nevada town of Caliente for their 45th annual Memorial Day Art Show.  Now I'm probably one of the few people on the planet (besides the residence) that would consider Caliente a destination but I have always loved this little town so add an art show and you would have to chain me down to keep me away!  Reality though prevented me from driving back during the actual show so yesterday I drove back just to retrieve the artwork.

 I was completely in shock as I arrived and the historic train depot in Caliente, Nevada to find that not only had my painting "Casting Out the Darkness" won 1st place in the Acrylic category, but that my piece that I titled "Autumn Gold" won first place in the "Peoples Choice" category.  This designation got me a BIG fatty blue ribbon and a one of a kind unique trophy featuring none other than "PAHRANAGAT" man holding a palette and a paintbrush.    Its a 25 pound hunk of junk welded together to form a unique work of art or as my husband says a "Home Defense Weapon."

In reflection this morning this honor of "People's Choice" is better than any "Best of Show" or cash prize (Of course that would have been really amazing) but to have my work selected by the public is SO much better than the opinion of 1 judge.  The public is who we really paint for and this past weekend the public spoke and I'm blown away by the experience.  Believe me when I say that Pahranagat man is going to find a prominent place in my home!

Standing with my piece that was awarded the First Place People's Choice ribbon.