Matilija Poppies, 5×7″, NFS*

What does “sundry” mean? Various, miscellaneous, separate, diverse. Its use is redundant in the title of this post, but a longer title seems to please the search engines. Maybe I should use all four words. . . but maybe I should just get on with it here.

1. I took a calendar to a friend in a convalescent hospital, along with a wrapped book. She received the book, but the unscrupulous front desk did not deliver the calendar. When I called to ask about it, my inquiry was met with surly and suspicious defensiveness. Ugh. My friend was scheduled for release last week, so I saved the final calendar for her return home.
2. A customer in North Carolina ordered a calendar, and it was never received. First Class Large Envelopes don’t have tracking through the USPS.
3. Since the calendars are sold out, I looked into reordering. The smallest quantity is 10 calendars, which would cost me $23 each. Nope. I told the North Carolina customer that I’d send her a refund check.
4. Something told me to verify the North Carolina address before sending the check. Sure enough, she had given me the wrong one, and she told me to forget the refund.
5. If the calendar makes its way back to me, I will mail to her at the right address.
6. The List of Calendar Ideas now contains nine different suggestions. Maybe I can design for nine years ahead. 

 

*NFS means Not For Sale

 

Most folks don’t know the difference between these two J words; most people don’t need to know.

Many artists don’t know either, but artists who want to participate in shows need to know.

Juried

This means, “We might let you into our show or we might not. Don’t call us; we might call you, IF we deem your work worthy of our Mighty Event.”

Judged

Judging results in this: “Her piece is the best; we liked his better but it didn’t fit the categories so we gave it First Place instead of Best of Show. Yours is pretty decent, so here’s an Honorable Mention.”

Juried and/or Judged

Some shows are juried because they have standards; some shows are juried because they have limited space; some shows are juried for both reasons.

Some shows are judged because ribbons or prize money might bring in more artists and/or better sales. (I think ribbons make good bookmarks.)

Judging is extremely subjective, even when there are guidelines that the entrants are supposed to have followed. I watched a judging demonstration once, where the audience got to see the give-and-take that happens among the judges. Because of this negotiation and trading of favorites, an ugly piece got first place. I found it to be disappointing, but it certainly explained why award selections at art shows seldom make sense. 

The lesson was helpful, and pushed me to decide to not participate in most of those types of shows. My work is for my customers, regular people rather than those in the Art World Who Know Better Than Most. 

Gotta admit though, it is nice when one of those folks acknowledges my work. Still, it is better when I can satisfy customers.

Using pencils, oil paints, and murals, I make art that people can understand of places and things they love, for prices that won’t scare them.

(I’d rather get a check or cash than another bookmark: a satisfied customer is the best reward.)

2023 Calendars Available Here, $20 inc. tax.