Today's postings
- [Baren 34507] Craft fairs ("Harry French")
Message 1
From: "Harry French"
Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:35:28 -0000
Subject: [Baren 34507] Craft fairs
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Greetings,
So, Andy worked in a quagmire after the rains, Maria nearly got blown away with a tent and now I froze to my bones at a craft fair.
However, it was something I have always fancied doing after reading the encounters of Bareners at craft fairs over the past four years.
No questions were asked about being an artist /craftsman : the 'general public' seemed to accept that artists were a normal part of the local community!
However, being a woodblock printer was a unique event even amongst the art and craft conscious visitors. All the people I spoke to had been to watercolour/oil painting exhibitions, but never woodblock exhibitions. They thought my rough and ready demonstrations cutting plywood from the local DIY store was 'amazing' for a left hander and printing one of my Lewis King master blocks with a ' leaf from a bamboo' was unbelievably simple whilst appreciating the ancient traditions. When children had a go I signed the prints "Harry French, designer and woodblock cutter ", they in turn signed their name as "the printer" and when they went into the third gallery to see the original Lewis King print they seemed pleased to show visitors their print that was part of the whole exhibition.
It was, surprisingly, the 'artist's proofs' and the first print of an edition that received the most attention, queries and sales throughout the two days.
Would I do it again?..maybe not, but I said that about the Baren Exchanges three years ago!
Two webpages of the craft fair.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/h.french1/Gainsborohall.htm
All the best
Harry
Lincoln
UK
PS* Happy Birthday Baren *Welcome to new members and congrats to James!
So, Andy worked in a quagmire after the rains, Maria nearly got blown away with a tent and now I froze to my bones at a craft fair.
However, it was something I have always fancied doing after reading the encounters of Bareners at craft fairs over the past four years.
No questions were asked about being an artist /craftsman : the 'general public' seemed to accept that artists were a normal part of the local community!
However, being a woodblock printer was a unique event even amongst the art and craft conscious visitors. All the people I spoke to had been to watercolour/oil painting exhibitions, but never woodblock exhibitions. They thought my rough and ready demonstrations cutting plywood from the local DIY store was 'amazing' for a left hander and printing one of my Lewis King master blocks with a ' leaf from a bamboo' was unbelievably simple whilst appreciating the ancient traditions. When children had a go I signed the prints "Harry French, designer and woodblock cutter ", they in turn signed their name as "the printer" and when they went into the third gallery to see the original Lewis King print they seemed pleased to show visitors their print that was part of the whole exhibition.
It was, surprisingly, the 'artist's proofs' and the first print of an edition that received the most attention, queries and sales throughout the two days.
Would I do it again?..maybe not, but I said that about the Baren Exchanges three years ago!
Two webpages of the craft fair.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/h.french1/Gainsborohall.htm
All the best
Harry
Lincoln
UK
PS* Happy Birthday Baren *Welcome to new members and congrats to James!