Paintpushers

The Drake University Agricultural Law Center is sponsoring an art competition in conjunction with two conferences. The theme is “Rural Lands and Rural Livelihoods” and the art will be on display September 20 through October 17th, 2007. The entry fee is $15 for the Open Division (18 years & above) and $10 for the Student Division (Must be enrolled in a university or college). Submissions are due by Wednesday, August 29th, 2007. There will be an opening reception Thursday,  Sept. 20th at 5:30 p.m. where the awards will be announced.

AWARDS

BEST IN SHOW: $500

OPEN DIVISION:

• First Place: $ 400
• Second Place: $200
• Third Place: $100
• Honorable Mention: Ribbon

STUDENT DIVISION (enrolled in College or University)

• First Place: $300
• Second Place: $200
• Third Place: $100
• Honorable Mention: Ribbon

PURCHASE AWARDS………total $2,000 to date. Purchase Awards to be announced.

Download the entry form or contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information.

‘Tis is the season for outdoor art fairs and festivals. Whether you’re looking for home-grown local artists or artists from across the country you don’t have to travel far. Take the Des Moines Arts Festival for example. There are so many different artists that you’re bound to find something you like. Unfortunately, large crowds, sticker shock, and seemingly unavailable artists can be intimidating. Here are some tips to help get you through:

 
• Prepare at home. Think about the space you’re looking to fill. Take measurements and write them down so you don’t buy something too large. You can keep the colors of the room in mind, but don’t obsess about matching them exactly. Despite what you may have been told, art does not have to match your sofa (or your pillows, drapes, carpeting, candleholders, chotchkies, cat… I’m sure you get the point). Remember to wear comfortable shoes and sunscreen. Your body will thank you for it. You might also consider bringing your own water bottle and/or snacks to save money.
 
• Walk through the entire festival once. Take your time and go into the booths. Often, artists put their largest and most impressive work at the front of the booth. It may take some time and patience to navigate around other people and find the smaller treasures hidden in the back.
 
• Look for a work of art that you love and don’t settle for anything less. It doesn’t matter if it’s the perfect size for the stairwell, the colors match your new duvet perfectly, or your artist friend thinks it’s the most amazing thing ever. If you don’t feel anything when you look at it, don’t buy it. If you’re buying for investment, keep in mind that there is absolutely no guarantee that the value of the art will increase over time. Feel free to research the artist online and learn more about his or her life and artwork. You can usually find an artist’s web site on the cards they give away for free at shows.
 
• Talk to the artist. One of the best advantages to an outdoor show is that you get to meet the artist in person. Most artists are happy to discuss how they create their art, what it means, or even give advice about where to display it. Don’t know which person is the artist? Look for someone hanging out at the back of the booth. Some artists wear name tags and some don’t. Some artists are friendlier than others and will introduce themselves (if the booth isn’t too crowded). 
 
• Don’t be put off by sticker shock. The price of a given piece of work is calculated to, at a minimum, cover the costs of the artist’s time and expenses. These expenses include not only the materials needed to create the art, but also the fee to participate in the art show ($325-$400 for the 2007 Des Moines Arts Festival). Other expenses include traveling (transportation, hotel, food, packaging the art to prevent damage), tent and booth walls, framing, and marketing (printing postcards, business cards, etc.). Most artists don’t get rich from selling their art, but they don’t want to starve either. If they did starve, they wouldn’t be around to produce the art you love.
 
• To haggle, or not to haggle. Haggling can be insulting to some artists. Why? Some artists put their heart and soul into their work and believe that isn’t something that should be bargained on. It is also considered unprofessional for an artist to undercut prices agreed upon with any galleries that represent the artist. The only reason you should try to negotiate on the price is if you really love a piece of art that you truly can’t afford. Artists can usually tell if you’re being sincere and may be willing to help you out. The artist might also have a policy of giving a small discount for paying with cash or for buying multiple pieces at the same time.
 
• Don’t give up. If you can’t afford the art right now, the artist may be willing to let you make payments over time. It never hurts to ask. Likewise, if you find a painting you love but it’s the wrong size or colors, don’t be afraid to ask the artist if they’d be willing to create a similar painting for you. If you’ve taken the time to walk through the entire festival and you didn’t see anything you loved, save your money and try again at the next show.