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The end of life as we know it?
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Message
Posted
I have just spent two Sundays at Market Harborough indoor market with my paintings. I didn't sell a thing, mainly because almost no one came to look; the weather was nice but even so it was a surprise to me, not having been before and having had it recommended to me by a fellow artist. The venue is superb with free Sunday parking, a modern and bright building right in the town centre. It was busy for about half an hour yesterday and then it just died.
On the way home I passed a farm shop and cars were queuing along the road to get in and that got me thinking.
The stalls were selling all sorts at the market, old records, books, jewellery, pottery, old clocks, a real mixture. The range of talent on show there was amazing (not me!) but pretty much everyone went home having made less than it cost to be there (and the stand fees were very reasonable). One lady who had some wonderful pottery made £7 all day which is less than I spent at the Cafe.
Going home in the car I was pondering - are we seeing the end of craft fairs and the like? If people don't sell anything they will not be able to keep going and if no one trades there the events will simply fade away which I think will be a great loss for society. It's not down to the cost of items, Market Harborough is a prosperous town and that farm shop wasn't going to be cheap. I don't know what the answer is but I would be interested to know if it's the same everywhere. I'm going back next Sunday but that will be the last one if the same thing happens. I don't know what the answer is because you have to have somewhere to try and sell your products and if not there, then where? The internet certainly isn't the answer.
It's depressing; I have done shows in Oakham, Newark, Market Harborough and Melton Mowbray this year and it's the same everywhere, stall holders staring into space or just chatting to each other. It can't go on like this. I have sold eight pictures so far this year but only one was at an event like these.
What do people think? Obviously there isn't an easy answer or we'd all be doing it! 
Edited
by Peter Smith
Posted
It generally depends on where they're held - a group of us held an exhibition in a fine venue in terms of amenities, but at the top of the town where there was almost no passing trade - none of us sold a thing, so far as I remember; I certainly didn't! Better advertising MIGHT have helped, but there's a limit to how much of that one can do. I'm in no hurry to try that sort of thing again: though if we could re-establish that art group (its founder sadly died) and could find an established, much visited venue, I might even now have another crack at it.
Posted
You need local scenes Peter! Local or thereabouts albeit landscapes in general will sell better than portraits - buyers like to relate to a scene, this is what I’ve found anyway.
Probably my all time best selling watercolours had the title ‘Weston Church from the Trent’, a wide vista with a sweeping landscape with river and church in the middle distance.
Not twee like it sounds, autumnal colours Hilder style, well my version of course! I sold dozens of them, all based on the same theme… and it was a fairly local scene to my outlet at the time.
But, I don’t paint many to sell these days, and I can quite believe that it isn’t an easy market!
Posted
It doesn't work Alan, that's why my garage is full of pictures of Lincoln, Newark, Oakham and Stamford! I have sold a few of Melton but not many.
Norrette, one was HMS Dreadnaught to a bloke in Canada, two were Foxes, one of roses...there is no connection at all. Believe me, I've looked. I don't frame my canvases, if I did I'd have to at least double the price. I leave that to the customer, if they want a frame at least they can choose one they like.
Edited
by Peter Smith
Posted
You have gone to great efforts on your stand Peter. It looks really good. It is difficult to say why you didn't sell anything. Maybe on a different day or place you might have better luck. I guess with the cost of everyday items at the moment, maybe art isn't a top priority for people when they are out shopping.
Posted
If I'm inviting people to commission portraits Russell I have to show that I can paint them.
Anyway we're getting away from the point; it's not about me, it's about those incredibly talented young people like the woman who sat there all day with her wonderful pottery and made £7. If craft fairs and Sunday markets disappear where is she going to go? Will she just give up? I want her to be making pottery in forty years time, and selling it.
I find it very depressing and I don't know what the answer is. I really posted the question in the first place to find out if it's the same everywhere or is the East Midlands just not a good place to be trading.
Edited
by Peter Smith
Posted
Sometimes people want a painting which reminds them of their holiday - our club is lucky that it is in a holiday destination area. We always sell well. However, I get tired of painting the same thing so I might have some of the area but also subjects which please me. I have displayed family portraits but they are NFS - they are just to display what we as a club can do. I now steer clear of commissions, they are too time consuming. I don’t paint to sell but it is nice to sell some, if only to free up space! No, painting for me is a pleasure, I have to do it for myself.
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