Having big expectations and confidence that I would do well in during the CFA art event, I headed gung-ho and gangbuster to Scottsdale, AZ on January 6th, 2012. Since it was my first year doing this event, I really didn't know what to expect until shortly after I had arrived.
A couple days after I arrived, we began constructing our booth / studio / gallery space each of us were assigned. There were 100 artists participating from across the U.S., with 18 artists (myself included) from Utah. By noon Friday, January 13th, our booths were complete. The opening reception started the event the following day, beginning with VIP night from 5pm to 9pm.
The collectors responded to my work well, which boosted my confidence this event would be a great experience.
Unfortunately, eight weeks went by without a single sale, before what seemed like bad luck finally gave way to an actual sold painting (a 9 inch x 12 inch sketch to an online client). A few days later, I managed to sell a 11 inch by 14 inch painting of a waterfall to a Phoenix resident. Prior to my first sale, I did have several almost sales and I did manage to generate interest in commissions for a few clients. for example; I will be spending several days in May or June 2012 on a 100,000 acre ranch in Wyoming, painting plein air sketches to prepare for the Wyoming ranchers commission. I also will be providing several paintings for another Phoenix resident once his remodel is complete. There are also a few more potential like minded opportunities which may happen before the end of the year --- opportunities which were born out of the CFA event.
On Monday night (the very last week) before the end of the event day, I managed to sell my 4 ft. x 6 ft. Grand Canyon painting for $10k, which alone made the whole 10 weeks worth attending the show. After the show, I drove to Barnes & Noble to purchase a specific book---about a 4 mile drive. After buying the book I was looking for, I proceeded to head to the RV park I adopted as my home away from home. I only drove a couple miles when my truck finally broke down and completely died. I had been crossing my fingers and praying for the truck to hold up throughout the CFA event, it couldn't have happened on a better day! Had it happened on a non-sales day, I probably would have cursed!
To sum it all up, the entire experience was worthwhile ---the good and the bad. I learned from both. Even though the 10 week art exhibit has concluded, the CFA 2012 event isn't really over until the end of the year. Before the year is over, I'm confident I will reach my financial goals that I had set for the event. What did I gain from the experience?...
* I learned how to communicate better with people.
* I learned how to sell my artwork and that I could overcome what seemed at first like monumental physiological, social and communication roadblocks.
* I was once again reminded to put my faith and trust in the Lord.
* I gained some really great contacts and friends.
* I learned more about running my art business.
* Just because something was hard, it doesn't mean it was a waste of my time.
I am definitely putting my name in the hat for the CFA 2013 event. It will be an even better experience!
4FT. X 6FT. GRAND CANYON PAINTING
This painting recently sold at the Celebration Of Fine Art 2012 event In Scottsdale, AZ. It was painted from a view at Yavapai Point when Sammee and I visited the national park in 2006..
