How to Find Art Shows Festivals and Fairs to Sell your Art

It all begins with a dream to make a successful living at what I love to do, paint wildlife and nature in watercolor. Maybe you have discovered you love to paint. Maybe you want to turn it into something more. Or, maybe you need a second income with flexibility. Whatever it is, you are looking to sell your artwork at fairs, festivals, or art shows.

I am not an expert at selling artwork, but I know what has worked for me, and I am willing to share it with you in a series of blog posts for artists with a like mind. If this is you, keep reading. Comment (nicely please), ask questions, and follow along. My experiences are being made available and hopefully you will not have to start from scratch like I did.

This is a series of blog posts I am creating to answer many questions asked over social media regarding how I sell my artwork at art shows, arts and craft fairs, and festivals. I am taking each step and creating a post to help you along your way to selling your artwork in this manner. Let’s begin with how to find these art shows, fairs, and festivals. Future posts in this series will take us from finding these events to the day of the event and through to the aftermath of selling your artwork at a booth as a vendor.

Paintings after a trip with my granddaughters to the Nashville Zoo in Tennessee. They chose which animals from my reference photos for me to paint. While the Panther is not part of the Nashville Zoo Exhibits, it was Halloween and they asked me to paint it too. Who can turn down the wishes of a grand baby?

Wait! Display? What happened to Set-up? Preparation for the show? Before these things, you need to know how you want the booth the look. The finished look.

1. Reflect You

A quick Pinterest or internet search will reveal many wonderful booth set-ups and displays. After trial and error and envy of other booths, I learned the best display is one that reflects your personality. Take a look at your home, your closet full of clothes, etc. What does it say about your personality? Visitors to your booth are curious about the artist who created such wonderful work. They are eager to know you. Let your booth speak about who you are.

2. Keep it Simple

My business branding, my artwork, my personality all are simple. I love black and white, with the minimal use of color to express the season, my artwork, etc. If you look at the booth image at the top of this post, it reflects my personality. By keeping it simple, my artwork can stand on its own and make a statement.

Tip: Less is more. Keep reminding yourself of this. I tend to overdo it, and crowd the artwork, then have to scale it back. When too much is displayed and artwork not allowed to shine, it actually equals less sales. I keep a bin of original artwork matted for those who want to see more. I also keep a look-book on the table for ordering prints, so I do not have to display ALL my work and prints on the walls. I can make sales from these when a visitor to my booth wants one.

3. Consistency

My favorite colors are black and white. With a white tent, I decided to use black for the walls. I also incorporated wood black frames to blend in with the background. This allows my artwork to pop. Whatever colors you use, be consistent. Too much going on in a small booth space will distract.

This applies to artwork too. Stick with a theme of work, or a cohesive collection to display. Too many types of work create a busy, distracting booth. I choose to display my animals with a few pets (also animals) to show I also paint pet portraits. They are all painted with watercolor in the same style. This lets collectors and other visitors to your booth feel like you are a specialist and professional. Too many styles, mediums, or painting subjects give a “jack-of-all-trades and master of none” vibe.

4. Think Set-up Time Frame

Keeping things simple will also prevent stress in the set-up and tear down process of selling your artwork at events in a booth. It will also make the packing and travel to and from the event easier. All, of which, make for a successful day.

5. Budget Constraints

If this is your first event, keep it with as small a budget as possible. It takes time to learn the ins & outs of selling in booths, you can upgrade as you go along when you know you love it. Keeping things simple, will in the long run, also enable you to spend your budget (as you make money selling your artwork) on what matters most to you, and customizations that share your personality with the public.

6. Accessories

Tables, table cloths, print racks, hang tags (price tags), signage, order forms, packaging etc are details requiring just as much attention as the tent, walls, and artwork itself. They create a complete experience for your visitors.

I choose to use a 4”x2” table (rather than the standard wider tables) with a black table cloth to match my walls. The table almost disappears in the booth and makes it seem spacious for viewing artwork. The print racks are also black to blend in with the walls, making them almost invisible. However, visitors can easily see the artwork available in them.

Signage is a must! It should represent the branding on your website and other aspects of your business. People who see you at several events and look at your work on social media, in newsletters, etc will immediately know its you, developing a relationship with them, a familiarity.

Final Note:

Take time to sketch, research, and take notes of what you like and do not like for your own booth. Let your booth be an extension of you, just as your artwork is. Happy planning.

Mexican Spider Monkey from the Nashville Zoo. My granddaughter spent weeks after our visit trying to convince me to let her have a monkey.

Stay tuned….

This is just the beginning. My favorite method of selling artwork is through booths as a vendor. I can meet collectors and other artist in person. Talk with them, and interact. This series of posts is just beginning. I will take you through my experiences of locating, preparing, setting up, selling at the event, and the aftermath of the day. I look forward to sharing it all with you.

One of my favorite ways to share artwork is through Instagram @JoyNeasleyStudios. Follow to see daily updates and progress of current artwork as it is painted.