I like to let you in on my show notes from the art shows I attend, so here is my latest… Arts in Harmony. Arts in Harmony 2015 turned out to be pretty good. Although I noticed a decline of vendors from the past few years as well as an alarming decline in shoppers.

I’m not sure why a certain show does better than another. This particular art show has it all… great art from many different types of artists… fantastic music, good food offerings and even a friendly competition in the form of a sidewalk chalk art competition. Really a full days worth of fun if you stop to enjoy the live music or at least a good chunk of your day… well worth a short drive.

Maybe the low attendance could be that this past weekend was the one of the first really nice ones as far as weather was concerned that we’ve had. Or it could be because there was just so much going on other than what New Harmony was offering. I know the Kentucky Derby was going on and with it lots of parties, even locally in New Harmony at Sara’s Harmonie Way (a great spot to grab something delicious to eat and then walk next door to the bar area and have an original beer from the recipe of the Harmonists – just tell Lord Jason the bar keep I sent ya). I know there was a Master Gardener plant sale going on at the 4H center. I think I heard of a craft show as well.

I’m wondering if there just isn’t enough advertising to be honest. This is such a great show, the music alone should bring in crowds. Plus, it’s all free! With all the competition for how to spend your time, I think there needs to be a premium effort put towards advertising. And not because I come from an advertising background either. How else are people supposed to know about it? There should be newspaper, radio and a TV spot at the right time could do wonders.

my view to my right

Ah well. Enough with the show notes critique. Like I said, I had a decent show mostly thanks to my collectors that I send invitations to that are local enough to attend.

In the picture above you can see my friend and fellow artist’s booth with painted gourds (Denise Burns). She also does beading and origami. She has way more patience than I do. I heard her tell passer-bys that this one particular (very small) necklace took 1,500 beads! Seed beads no less.

Further against the wall you can see my friend, fellow artist and garden enthusiast Tom Wintczak. His art is pottery. He was the inspiration for a painting I did last year called “The Potter”. You can see “The Potter” painting here.

You may notice from the very top picture that I now have three booth panels. I broke down and bought another panel to accommodate my newest painting triptych “Mellifluous Wind”. The triptych looks pretty good up there I think, but they could stand to be a little closer together. I loved the extra space I had to hang paintings and plan to get another panel sometime.

I use www.GraphicDisplaySystems.com for my booth set up and love their service and quality. I called to order the panel and the person who answered the phone (I think her name was Bonnie) was so helpful and I felt she really took the service part above and beyond. They rushed the job and got my panel to me without extra shipping or rush charges in just 2 days. I highly recommend them for all kinds of displays. Don’t you just totally appreciate good service?!

My view to my front left

Well, that’s about it for the show. Like I said, the music drifting in was fantastic and so was the kettle corn smell wafting in. I’m done with shows until September unless something comes up that I don’t know about. You can always see what I have lined up on my Events page.

Oh and one more thing I want to start mentioning on these show notes that I’m trying to get into a habit of writing about. That would be the winner of the drawing that I have during a show. I have a deal where if you sign up to receive my newsletter during a show then that gives you a chance to win a free matted print! 8″x10″ matted and ready for a frame. This show’s winner was Peggy E. yay Peggy! She selected “Hoo Me?” painting of a baby barn owl. I would imagine she received it in the mail today. I love making someone’s day. Below is what she won. I’m thinking of starting a monthly drawing for newsletter sign ups. What do you think?

If you’re new to my blog and website have a look at my ‘About’ page in the menu at the top. I’m an artist – a painter mostly. I paint a variety of subjects including cranes, ravens and crows, flowers as well as anything having to do with nature especially trees and tropical scenes. If you’re interested in my art, I have a newsletter mailed about once a month that gives you special status for invitations, birthday greeting and more. Sign up here for it.

some of my paintings