Last weekend, I wrapped up my short tour with The Oddities and Curiosities Expo. I participated in three shows close to home: Louisville, Columbus, and Indianapolis. This was my second year working with them, and when I applied, I wasn’t sure how many shows I would get or what my commitment level could be. I made the mistake of holding out for a different convention that was highly anticipated but ultimately turned out to be a flop. Needless to say, I won’t be making that mistake again. Next year, I’d like to make time for 6-8 shows with O&CE if they’ll have me. I’m honestly amazed at how well I did as just a small table vendor. The talent at the convention is incredible, and it’s overwhelming to resist the urge to spend all my money on the lovely vendors. To keep myself in check, I set a rule: I can only buy one item for myself at each convention. This year, I bought a woodcut print by Travis Lawrence in Louisville and, in Columbus, I found a Muntjac deer skull that I’ve been wanting for a long time. Deer hold a special place in my heart, and this unusual little animal often appears in my art. Look it up online if you’re curious! I kept my cool in Indianapolis and didn’t come home with any collectibles, but I did let my daughter spend some money, so that counts.
My best sellers across the board include pieces from my Cordyceps series, the *Last Supper* (aka *Prima Cena*) print, the *Winter Witch* (aka *Winter Solstice*) print, the *Ritual Night* print, individual ghoulish cherubs, and all of my stickers. Every copy of at least one of my art pieces finds a home, but those I mentioned are my most popular. In Indianapolis, I decided to bring a few original paintings because several people in Columbus had asked if I had originals. I was shocked when one of them sold within the first hour of the show! I regret not asking the nice woman who bought it for a picture holding it; I was simply too excited to think of it. My daughter was inspired by all the vendor artists and began drawing while she sat with us. I let her display some of her pieces on my board for a small price and a free sticker from mom, and she ended up making some sales! I didn’t push anyone to buy her drawings. Most people would see her work and ask about the story behind it, and once I mentioned it was my daughter’s art, they insisted on buying it. She has a tough time dealing with attention, which makes her anxious, so it’s sometimes hard to gauge her feelings when people talk to her. However, she lets her guard down around us, and she was genuinely touched by the support. It was wonderful to involve her. Her father and I were a bit concerned about having her in the booth all day, fearing she would get bored. We were glad to see her drawing instead of playing video games or scrolling on her dad’s phone all day. She loved watching the sideshow performers and kept asking us questions like, “How does that guy not hurt himself when he hammers that nail up his nose?” I kept reminding her that they are professionals and not to try that at home!
This is the type of art exhibition I love. I think I’m done with gallery exhibitions unless I’m invited to participate in a group show, but for now, vending has been the best way to share my art and connect with buyers. I believe people are more inclined to buy when they can meet and talk to the artist and engage directly with the artwork. I enjoy setting up my table so that people have to sift through the bins at the prints. Additionally, while some attendees might come to the expo just to browse or collect from a specific vendor, they are generally eager to see everything on display. I appreciate that bars, coffee shops, and restaurants want to showcase art, but I feel that people are often in a different mindset there; they might only acknowledge the artwork hanging on the wall for a couple of seconds without considering ownership or researching it further.
I’ve also enjoyed making friends with other vendors. There’s a genuine sense of community among the O&CE vendors, which is refreshing. When I first considered stepping into the world of vending, I worried there would be negativity or pretentiousness. I was part of a group chat for arts and crafts vendors in Kentucky that was unrelated to O&CE, and I was put off by one participant’s attitude towards the expo. This individual was upset about not getting into the exposition and began disparaging O&CE and its vendors. They claimed the expo didn’t care about local and regional vendors, only selecting the same people for their shows, and that the work on display wasn’t any good. After listening to their negativity about the vendors, I felt compelled to chime in and mention that I was in the show and had applied just like they did. It was disheartening to read such disdain simply because they weren’t accepted, so I decided to leave the group. I even tried to offer some professional advice but received a passive-aggressive response instead. DIY makers should be supportive of one another, no matter where we come from. I am grateful to be accepted and welcomed in cities and states outside my own. Holding a negative attitude like that individual displayed would be counterproductive to being a vendor.
While I’m done with O&CE shows for the rest of this year, I’m not done with vending. I have a show scheduled every month until November, with most being in Kentucky. However, I’ll also be heading down to Nashville in June for the Rotten Revival Show and then to Ohio for the Halloween Market in July. You can find all the information on my Events page.
My shirts have arrived, and they’re now available for sale! If you attended the Indianapolis show, you were able to grab one there—thank you to those who did!
I’ve started sketching out a design for a linocut featuring the Grim Reaper in the famous Marilyn Monroe pose, where the street vent blows her dress up. It just screamed to be on a shirt and a sticker, so I ran with it. The color variants are rust and citron, as I wanted to move away from the standard black t-shirt. I love a classic black tee, but this design needed to be on a different color. Contact me directly to purchase a shirt for $30.00.
-love and light always
