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       It isn't pretty. Sometimes I think maybe it's just me. I have done art festivals in many, many states over a period of 30 years (yikes) and

my career has been a very good one. Shows were very strong for most artists up until 9/11 and then again when the Great Recession kicked in 2007-2008. Before that time, there were scads of folks who bought all kinds of art for their homes, second homes and as gifts. That was back when "everyone thought they had money" (jobs, investments, security).

       But times have changed and now those same art show goers, now seniors, are watching their pennies (and dollars), telling many of us:

"We're downsizing", or "We have no more wall space", or "We don't need any more art". So why are they coming to art shows? The answer is it is something nice to do, to look at nice art and point.

       Most artists me included say that sales are about HALF of what they used to be. HALF!! that's 50% of what it used to be. But have the show fees and hotel costs and gas & food costs gone down????? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! WAY!

       So you may ask, "Well, what is selling at art shows?" I can tell you, it's jewelry mostly plus some practical art stuff like cutting boards (art? really?), and functional stuff like pottery, or scarves. Wall art is now a challenge to sell. The millenials don't have the $$$ for originals and for that matter, 97% of American cannot afford most original art over $350.

       I am always flabbergasted at women who flock around jewelry booths whether the jewelry is cheap or not. It's like a magnet. I've always said come Armageddon, women will still be buying jewelry and if enough time permits, shoes too. Really? Really!

      But shows are what I do and I can't stop at this point.  And this year I am starting off with 4 shows in Texas, one of which is the biggest in the country I think. It's Main St. Ft. Worth and they get a crowd over 4 days of 430,000. I know this because I count all the sneakers and divide by two. This will be my 4th time in this show but the first with all new work. Not humor. The first 3 times I showed my Art That Makes You Laugh work and I sold a ton of my prints, I mean a ton. But then for 4 years I could not get accepted again until this year. My new work got the jury's nod.  

I was thrilled to get in again. But hey, I only had about 8-9 pieces in this new non humor style. So, my wife said, "Get to work" and so I did.

I have been "at it" for about a month and a half and now I am closing in on 30 pieces total with a few more small ones to go. This style was a few years in the brewing. The basic approach is to squeeze the acrylic paint out of small plastic bottles so it's like "Drawing with color".

It's very graphic and striking. My "Old Glory" of a our flag sold this fall and I will do another one even larger for the Ft. Worth show.

So I am hopeful that this TX tour will work out OK-from these shows I do get some commission work, these days mostly

dog pieces of their "child". These are very funny and I love doing them for people. These are a keeper.

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So that's all the news from this artist, good luck if you do shows. And don't sit in the back of your booth reading a  book or playing solitaire or Crazy Birds on your smartphone- get out there and schmooze with people- engage and sell! Good selling.