Mercenary Graphics Jim Christiansen, report as working artist, at Modesto ART and Wine festival

Illustrated report by James D. Christiansen, artist's perspective of working a spot at the modesto art and wine festival, from the blog of Mercenary Graphics and JB Presents, for the Modesto Blues Festival, on working vacation until next JUNE. http://www.myspace.com/modesto_blues_fest

This blog inspired by my friend Ruben Porras, alias Modesto Mojo of http://www.modestofamous.com where though I am a volunteer blogger, and happen to be entered in as one of those 100 artists showing and hoping to sell ( I' sold two, ok day on that, blast for everything else) and my modestofamous guests got no can find, don't know modestofamous at the gate and bought tickets, need to talk to Mitch to have comp or something, or maybe the bee, everyone knows mojo....remember that Chris Ricci, .....anyway, this is on my day at the X Fest of Art Shows, the MODESTO ART AND WINE FESTIVAL. ......

Here is my classic sign, hand made, original, and because the cool ones I typeset on computer not printed, as ran out blue ink, can't find that cartridge i just bougth, and it was time to go.

I got in early, set up pretty fast, though got all three sides of the wire mesh triangle, and my damn s clips were wrong, so borrowed a pair of pliers from Glenn Hutsell, and needed clips, and.....first time to this show.....anyway, need a little work on the copy of the instructions to artists on the actual layout of this exhibitor space, ....but traffic in to set up real easy, so while waiting to open, did this sketch of my view from my spot.

next is our first customer in area that I drew, type you want to sell to

somebody did get a sale right off, and later, as wine served, this guy picked his up from next spot over

 

It's a long day, need to get lunch, use porta potties, get wine yourself, and so....this is one of a friend of artist down the way, with wine, filling in the chair while ......I didn't remember what the artist doing, celebrating a sale I think.

 

about three hours into it, my first sale showed up, and we got offer of twenty dollars, up to 30, and receipt correctly filled out.  Just a note, even these original sketches could be yours for real money, even if you right click and copy as many do. I drew these while at work.

Pleasant enough afternoon, and I was in the midst of drawing this obvious must be an artist model, when JB showed up to say Hi, brought Linda, etc, and...

 

Wine is really going, its 3 pm, afternoon rush crowd

 

below are a couple of the artists comparing notes on sales, wine, music, etc, as it was all part of the festival.

 

The discerning Art and Wine patron festival goer below, quite complimentary of my work, and of course, drinking BEER.....they have that .....

 

sometimes it pays to plan ahead, so I wasn't busy, so wrote up this list.

the guy below, was sitting for a portrait

 

They had kid's venues too, and I saw some of that, but we're over in the wine area, with Fat Cat, Tresetti's and the parking garage.

About this time I had gone by the kid's venue, seen friends near Gallo Center side, still unable to get cigarettes, though got two of friend Dave Hanley, played second set on the Off the Air stage. ....which reminds me DAVE HANLEY, will be my special music guest at State Theatre Art Walk event, Sept. 20.  Solo bassist and recent guest John Ady, I found out played on four CD tracks for Dave, and also introduced me to his wife and cute kid........

and after that, finally, and unfortunate, was the final sale of day for me, but got some great leads, still working on some sales after we're done, money being tight, and....at least i hope so.....

 

Did this self portrait, facing Tresetti's side, across from where I've sometimes sat with my guitar, "monster" bugging the patrons with my sort of guitar playing.  Had the harps with me, didn't practice, but Rachel Renae, Jon Valenti, were great, music great all day, but its an ART event, so sort of focused on selling ART....... I'd been up since 5 am, finished the resume thing, and other around 2 am, so a bit tired, then writing this blog.......need more coffee, then go to bed

 

Can't blame the lack of sales on the RESUME I wrote, been doing Art since I was three, so that's 48 years at work.......now adding more art promotion to what I do with JB. but with Mercenary Graphics in charge instead of JB Presents, nonetheless, John came back, bought stuff from someone else, says it was Linda not him.......but.. got a rose commission from her.   So, we're working on expanding art stuff in Modesto area, with others, like Mitch Macetti, Chris Murphy, AngryF, Chris Ricci, Brad Hawn, Glenn Hutsell, others we know, even Copper Ryno had art show, Greg Edwards, this is an event with a lot of promoters in music, art, and community getting together to do it......together, the fun event, well done friends, and glad to be able to rent my little art spot, see music friends support us art folk, and nice crowd and all.

  

Which brings me to, for the price of Two Cigarettes, remember I came under prepared, I get to remind you, DAVE HANLEY, will be our music guest, and i'd remind Dave, I know he's done art himself, and welcome to bring it with the ukelele, the banjo, perhaps even his guitar. at the following event, where Glenn Hutsell, Bill Harris, Doug Holcomb, we hope Julie Hawkins, Nathan Anderson, Chelsea Gilmore, can join me, keena wells, edd godsey, perhaps others, at the September Third Thursday Art Walk Event........

Next show for Jim, Keena and Edd, the Riverbank Art and Chalk Walk, or see http://rioarts.org August 24, who I hope will let me off a bit early, so I can catch my music guest John Ady and Rhythm Deluxe, and Tommy Castro Band, at where we hold our art walk event, THE STATE THEATRE/////

Next month, we do not have benefit of the Jane Austen Book Club film group to draw a crowd, so we'll figure those literary types will remember we do this on third thursdays now, and put on a good show. 

http://www.thestate.org for events, box office open noon to three, our event is FREE, and we serve beer and wine and POPCORN.

  

Remember ART IS FOR SALE, and supports your artist, and.....remember your wallet.