An Artist's Packing List for a Sale

So I thought instead of posting a painting, I'd  write a post about what I typically pack selling my art at an event; it's usually a summer or Christmas time activity. What triggered this post idea is that I spent an hour "tidying" up my studio - I was beginning to have too many random papers on my table and less room for painting. During the shuffling of papers I found an old check list and I'm going to share it and maybe edit it as I create this blog post.

[ ]  Package paintings (includes clear bags and properly labeling items with price and inventory number)
[ ]  Signage (including About the Artist, and any special promotions - sales/discounts)
[ ]  Blank Watercolor Paper (for the long days I like to work on paintings while I sit)
[ ]  Paints in portable palette
[ ]  Paintbrushes
[ ]  Tin cup for water
[ ]  A rag (for my brushes)
[ ]  Pencil
[ ]  Masking tape
…. And now for the important stuff
[ ]  Receipt book (with pen!)
[ ]  Change ($20's, $10's, $5's, $1's, and quarters)
[ ]  Change box (to put the money in)
[ ]  Square (it plugs into my phone so that I can charge credit cards)
[ ]  Newsletter Sign Up List
[ ]  Display Items (I have a couple print holders that fold up)
[ ]  Table (if needed)
[ ]  Tablecloth (to make the table look pretty)
[ ]  Chair
[ ]  Butt pad!

Art of the American West Art Show & Sale

"We are pleased to inform you that your artwork has been accepted in the Art of the American West Art Show & Sale sponsored by Red River Valley Museum."

First impression - Music to my ears. Second thought - I need to mail my paintings! TODAY!

"Buckaroo" and "Chuck and Bleuch" were accepted into the Art of the American West Art Show & Sale! I received my email yesterday (Tuesday) during my lunch break. Thoughts reeling, the paintings need to arrive in Texas by July 5, plus there's no mail service on the 4th of July … crunch time! So, during my afternoon break I called a couple places to get my ducks in a row.

The moment I clocked out of my 40 hour/week office job I went home, found my 11" x 14" frames and my two paintings. I then drove into Portland to Tap Plastics. 

The thing about watercolors is that they need to be displayed under glass, and the thing about glass is that you don't want to ship it due to the danger of it breaking in transit, so I was getting some plexiglass! I opted for the non-glare plexi and it fit perfectly in the frames!

Another thing about watercolors, other than displaying behind (plexi)glass, is that the actual painting can't touch the glass. Why? Because if the glass sweats, the painting/paper/photo will stick to the glass and it's never ever the same. So the next stop was back towards my home to Michaels to find suitable mat board. I found the perfect precut mat board … double, outside cream with a weave texture and the inner mat was a dark brown (just about the same color as my frames).

Then it was back to home to clean off part of my kitchen table, pull out the power tools, framing wire and hardware, and wire cutters. An hour or more later, plus being super picky about the smallest pieces of lent trapped between the plexi and the mat board, they were ready to be mailed!

For this shipment I needed something quick and easy. I went to FedEx. I took a look at the paintings and thought "If I'm lucky (?) I may never see these again. Here's hoping they both get sold!" It took a max of 30 minutes to get them all safely nestled in layers and layers of bubble wrap and they fit nicely in the same box. They will arrive in plenty of time and I didn't have to give an arm and leg!

Here's some info on the show:

"Art of the American West - Celebrating the National Day of the Cowboy"
It runs from July 27 to September 14, 2013
The Preview Reception is Saturday, July 27 and tickets are $10 each. Maybe some one will go for me. ;-)

Red River Vally Museum
4600 College Drive
Vernon, TX 76385

And some last minute photos before the framed paintings were shipped. You get the idea … 

"Buckaroo"

"Buckaroo" 

8" x 10" 

I worked as a horse wrangler the summers of 2008 and 2009 at Camp Baldwin near Dufur, Oregon. The man responsible for all the horses used in that Boy Scout horse program was Scott. He is one of the most understanding and compassionate cowboys I know. Scott taught me many things about horses; their perspective, body language, release pressure as rewards, and much more. This painting is one of Scott, his cowdog and horse.

"Wildflowers II"

"Wildflowers II" 

8" x 10" 

SOLD

I picked these flowers last weekend while out in the woods. The foxglove and a handful of daisies (not painted deer ferns) made a nice little arrangement. I painted the fresh flowers from life to mix things up a bit. What do you think of them?