March Musings: It was Art:Surrey…and my Birthday!
Spring is finally on its way and it makes me soooo happy! I love having seasons but when things start growing, the weather is gets warmer, and the days longer, it makes me excited and very motivated! Lately, I’ve realised just how much the seasons impact my mood, motivation and work output!
Art:Surrey Art Fair came at the perfect time in some ways as I was starting to emerge from my semi hibernation state and felt ready to ‘get going’. On the flip side the Friday with the set up and private view was also my birthday so not such good timing there!
I was really looking forward to Art:Surrey for several reasons; being an ‘artist’ for the weekend, exhibiting my new recently finished piece and catching up and meeting artists. I feel really positive (and a little proud!) of my current work and where its going so I was excited to see what people thought of it. And what a weekend it was!
Not only was I surrounded by the loveliest artists but it was super busy all weekend! I had so many amazing comments about my work, a few pieces found new homes, there’s a potential commission on the cards and a gallery approached me interested in exhibiting a couple of my large pieces! I absolutely loved the atmosphere and energy the whole weekend!
So, on that note I thought I would share my top tips for visiting an art fair as a customer……
Top Tips for Visiting an Art Fair:
1) Come along ‘light’! Only bring what you need, do not over pack. If you travel there in a car, leave coats etc you will not need them, they are bulky and will get in the way when walking around looking at the art work. If it’s busy, coats and bags become even more of a pain. There is so much to see, these events have lots of stands and artists to talk to and you want to enjoy it!
2) Flick through the event brochure before the event. You will receive one of these when you arrive but they are also online with links to each artists website and social media accounts. Seeing art in the flesh is always a completely different experience but it is worth having a bit of a look before hand and noting down any artwork which has grabbed you or a particular artist whose work you like.
3) Bring a pen! It sounds silly but trust me it’s worth remembering. There are so many artists and even more artwork exhibited that it can be easy to forget where that particular piece you liked was hung. A pen means you can make notes as you go around, again making this an enjoyable experience.
4) It can be overwhelming! When you arrive it’s almost like you don’t know where to start. Just follow the flow of people which is a lot easier and less stressful than fighting against it.
5) Take your time! It’s not a race, enjoy the experience. It’s worth having an initial look, chat to artists and note down anything that grabs your attention in your brochure, then have a coffee in the cafe and talk about what has stood out. Then when you have had a break from the colour and busyness revisit the pieces and artists that stood out to you.
6) Talk to the artists! Quite often chatting with an artist about why they create pieces the way they do, how they find inspiration, why they use those particular materials….it can give a different and deeper insight into the work and process, creating an understanding and appreciation. The artists wont give you the big sell, their work is incredibly personal and they created it because they love to create. And, honestly, we love to chat about our work….or anything really!!!
7) Measure up! Before you visit, if there is a particular space where you were thinking of hanging a piece of art measure it before hand. It is also worth measuring other areas in your home in case you see a special piece that speaks to you but might be too big or small for the space you had in mind. It’s also worth taking a few photos to help you to visualise it in the space.
8) Trust your instincts. If you keep thinking about a particular piece it means there is that connection. I had several visitors come back to ‘Autumn Explosion’ several times as it kept drawing them in. In the end it came down to affordability and where it was going to hang.
9) Discuss Logistics! Some artists will offer frame choices, and will bring the piece of art to your home so you can see it in situ before buying. However, this is a gamble as the piece could sell between that conversation and the visit.
10) Don’t be afraid of asking for a commission. If you love an artist’s work and style but maybe you have a particular size or subject in mind discuss this with the artist. Commissioning an artist isn’t much more expensive and it’s actually a lovely experience for both parties; I have always really enjoyed it. It will mean you will have to wait for it to be created but, you will be part of that journey and its always worth it if you love that piece of art!
When you visit an art fair enjoy the experience of seeing art and speaking to artists. It really is a great day out; I always love these weekends as they are a chance for me to see art, talk to artists, chat to visitors and display my work. I really hope this has helped and as always any other tips, let me know and I will update this moths blog!
See you next month!