Indie Art Market at Beatnik's is TONIGHT!!

 

If you have yet to check out Indie Art Market at Beatnik's in Worcester Massachusetts, I highly recommend you check it out tonight!! Especially with the holidays rapidly approaching, why not get all your shopping done tonight and buy some unique items for family and friends this year.

 

Along with the new book MEMENTO MORI I completed with my wife Syd, I will also be selling some of her fine jewelry at the show tonight.

 

So come on down, grab a Wormtown Ale on tap and a bite to eat and buy some unique art items!!

stART at the Station artwork

Illustrations I have completed thus far for stART at the Station. More to come throughout the week:

 

Plethora of Poets at Annie's Book Stop of Worcester

Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester is holding a reading and signing for six different, local poets from 7 pm to 9 pm on Friday, July 27th. The poets that will be there include Lori Desrosiers, Eve Rifkah, Joshua Michael Stewart, Susurrus Din, Dan Lewis, and Paul Richmond. All... poets will be reading from their own works, and signing books.


Lori Desrosier’s first full-length book of poems, The Philosopher’s Daughter, is forthcoming from Salmon Poetry in 2013. She has a chapbook, Three Vanities (2009). Her poems have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies.


Eve Rifkah is author of Dear Suzanne (WordTech Communications, 2010, and Outcasts (Little Pear Press, 2010). She was founding editor of the literary journal Diner, and co-founder of Poetry Oasis, Inc., a non-profit poetry association for local poets. For more on Eve Rifkah, check out: http://www.everifkahwriter.com/


Joshua Michael Stewart has had poems published in multiple journals. He currently has two chapbooks out, Vintage Gray (2007) and Sink Your Teeth into the Light (2012). Visit him at http://www.joshuamichaelstewart.yolasite.com/



Susurrus Din owes much to the Masters of the Macabre, Gothis Horror, and World Myth/Folklore. A tome of his photography and poetry, Mendicant the Hidden, Votary of the Sepulcher, has been recently unleashed.


Dan Lewis lives on the edge of the Patch Reservoir in Worcester, MA. He is the author of the chapbook, Tickets for the Broken Year, and a full-length poetry collection, This Garden. His work has been published in many journals.


Paul Richmond started writing 37 years ago by keeping a journal. Many of his works have been collected to create "No Guarantees – Adjust and Continue" and "Ready or Not – Living in the Break Down Lane" with a third book due out in June 2012. He runs Human Error Publishing. Visit him at: http://www.humanerrorpublishing.com/

For more information on the event, please contact Annie's at (508)-796-5613 or check out their website at

http://www.anniesbookstopworcester.com/

Happy 10th Anniversary stART on the Street!!

A photo of the Fall Show taken from the stART website

stART on the Street has been taking place since 2002. One would be inclined to think it's hard to believe that a little art show that first took place on Main Street in Worcester 10 years back has turned into pretty much the premiere venue for artist and crafters in the area and beyond!!

However! Knowing many of the people involved in making stART  a success every year, it's very little surprise that little art show has become one of the most highly praised events to attend and one of the most coveted for local artists and artisans to take part in every year. The Spring Show on Green Street almost filled up immediately with people participating and despite stART having to use their rain date for the first time in event history, it was still a success and very highly attended.

What has made the show a success and very popular with artists is the fact that the people involved LISTEN and take people's suggestions on how to improve the show very seriously.

My first experience with stART on the Street was back in 2005 when I took part in a show called Spring Art at the Station. I had picked up a sign up sheet at CC Lowell. I believe at the time the show was being hosted by several artists groups. Including stART. But on a whim I signed up for it.

I was 29 at the time. I had been working at the Art Museum for a couple years. I had nothing published at that point and I was working hard to break out of my introverted shell and get more exposure for my work. I had a few small art shows at that time but nothing monumental.

A show at Worcester's Union Station intrigued me. Especially since it had been only five years since they renovated it to it's original glory. The following year after such a great experience with the show at Union Station I took part in the first year they hosted what was to become the flagship show on Park Avenue.

A lot has happened in seven years since that initial show both for me and for stART itself. I now have eight more books published which I sell along with my prints and small works and a wife who is now selling her own original fun household items at the shows now.

And stART itself just seems to get better every year. And this year it's their 10th Anniversary. So you know the boys and girls who put stART together have something big planned for the Fall Show that stARTed it all.

Syd and I have our application signed and mailed in. Like I said. Looking at how fast the Spring show filled up, we weren't taking any chances.

But with all that said, Happy Anniversary stART on the Street!! Here's to the 10 years working up to this and here's to 10 years more!!

stART on the Street: Spring Edition

This will be the third year stART on the Street will be hosting their Spring Show. The last couple of years they have held it on Main Street as opposed to Park Avenue where the Fall show is held.

After a rather lackluster turn out on Main Street last year, I was talking to Tina Zlody at an art show for Derek Ring and she mentioned at the time stART was in talks about pulling up roots on Main Street and opting for  a different location.

I had given her my two cents about my experience last year. Although, it was entirely disappointing, it wasn't nearly as successful as either the Fall or December show. At the time things were still pretty hush hush because a decision had not been reached.

But a location was ultimately found and this year stART on the Street: Spring Edition will be held on Green Street in the Canal District!! And it sounds as though this year will be an absolutely doozy of an event!!

Along with what has made stART successful in the past with over 150+ artists and crafters, live music, activities for children and a food court. There will also be a classic car show this year!!

Don't think Summer Nationals with screeching tires and kids revving up their ridiculously souped up cars until they blow something in the engine and have to be towed away.

But I'm sure you'll see some amazing cars from bygone era's.

You never know. You might even see the Sr. Herholz's 1937 Chevy on display.

Not only will I be selling copies of my books, prints and original artwork at the show. But this will be the first sTART on the Street event to feature my wife Syd's fun household items made from recycled vinyl.

She is offering bowls, wine holders, file holders, jewelery and earring holders. ALL made from used LP's!!

It's all taking place Sunday June 3rd from 11AM till 5PM on Green Street. For more info log onto stART on the Street's website:

stART on the Street: Spring Edition

Hope to see you all there.

My Yearly stART on the Street Blog

I'm pretty gobsmacked (I think that's probably the best way I can put it) that stART on the Street is nearly upon us once again. It just seemed like this whole year has really gone into hyperdrive or someone hit the Improbability Drive because here we are in September with stART less than FIVE DAYS AWAY!!

Then again, I suppose I've had enough going on this year that made the whole thing fly by.

But here we are. Another year and another stART!! It the show I look forward to most every year as far as the art shows and festivals go in Worcester. And there are quite a few really great shows either taking place or starting up in the area that people should take part in.

But I still have a soft spot for stART. I've been doing the Fall show since they started hosting it on Park Ave in 2006. I think it was 2006 at least. And it seems like every year the people involved in putting stART together always go far beyond what they do the previous year. And every year the show just seems to get better not only with making the show a great deal of fun for the general public.

But also how user friendly and helpful they have been to all the vendors (including myself) who take part in the show every year. If something doesn't work with arrival procedures and set up the year before, they go out of their way to make it as organized and pain-free as possible the following year.

If you're a young artist who is really looking to get his work out to a larger audience I highly encourage you to take part in as many local shows like stART or Indie Art Market at Beatnik's as possible.

I mean, even if it's a Craft Fair at your local Church don't look down your nose at that. It's exposure for your work that as a young artist you can use to your advantage.

Don't get me wrong. Personal websites, Facebook, Twitter and web blogs are all fine and dandy with getting your work out there. It's a marketing tool so use it for all it's worth.

However, the only way you will ever get people to really care and interested in your work they need to get to know the face behind the art. And these shows are your best bet at doing so.

The only way you are going to build a fanbase (at the loss of a better word) is to get out there and become your own advocate. As much as you are an artist you must also consider yourself a small business as well. This way you show there is a pulse behind the art. You are selling both your art and yourself to the people.

And don't sell yourself short. The worst thing you do is give people the impression that you think your work is not that great. At the same time, I suppose don't get an over-inflated ego over your work.

But you can give the impression that you enjoy what you do. Just because a few people may not like your work doesn't mean everyone hates it. The best advice I was ever given as a young artist was by a fellow local artist Don Cadoret who told me "There's an audience for everyone".

And doing a show like stART on the Street is a good way of finding that audience and getting people to know you a bit better. From there you can not only build a fanbase but also build a list of clients who might take an interest in regularly buying your work and maybe contacting you for commissions.

You'll never know until you take a chance.

And as I say every year, if you have one or two bad shows don't write the event off as a waste of time. If you make back on what you spent for the table that's a good... um... stART.

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

Keep trying and don't give up. The only way you're going to be able to make a name for yourself is getting out there and promoting yourself through these events. Many of my fellow artists who happen to work in comics and illustrations like Derek Ring, Alison Cowell, Veronica Fish, Brian Nelson and Bob Noberini have done these shows in the past and have had some very successful shows.

So, if you're new to the event and happen to walk by my table, stop by and chat. I hope to see you all there.

stART on the Street is TOMORROW Sept. 19th!!

Apart from Halloween, Thanksgiving and Oktoberfest, this is the only other reason I look forward to the Fall. I've been doing stART on the Street since 2006 and I've enjoyed participating every year!! The people involved getting this event off the ground manage to find a way to outdo themselves every year.

I have new artwork ready for the show. As I've explained in past blogs, much of this artwork started out as a way to sell stuff that I wasn't able to sell on E-Bay. But it seemed to take on a life of it's own. The work that didn't get even a passing sniff online has sold almost immediately. Now I'm actually creating new illustrations for the event.

But there's so many great artists and crafters to check out, I highly recommend you take a stroll down tomorrow. The event is happening along Park Avenue between Pleasant Street and Elm Street from 11am till 5pm!!

They might have expanded it to down towards Highland Street but I'm not sure. Nonetheless, come check it out!! You'll have a great time!!

A Survival Guide to stART on the Street ;-)

Okay! I admit the title's a bit over dramatic. Just because stART is such a great event and a pleasure to take part in.

This whole thing started out because a couple friends of mine are taking part in stART on the Street for the very first time and asked some advice. I thought I would post an edited version of that on the blog for anyone who is also taking part in the event for the first time and is a little nervous:

1.) Bring plenty of money to make change. Lots of $1's and $5's in particular. I've found I go through those the most when I'm making change.

2.) You might want to consider selling your books without change. This will make the whole process of making change so much easier. You can go two ways with that. If your book sells for $12.95 you can sell it for $13 adding the signature as extra. Or you can sell it at a discount price just for the event. Kind of a Catch 22 because you're not getting as much for them but you might end up selling more of them.

3.)People love original artwork and prints. For the past year or so I've been selling pen and ink sketches on E-Bay for about $9.99! I had gotten the idea from Andy Fish who had gotten it from one of his students. The idea behind it is giving people the opportunity to own original artwork and not have to mortgage their first born doing so. I've had a lot of pieces that just never caught any interest in the auctions so I decided to sell them at the show and they sold!! Usually I've sold them at a discounted price from what I have sold through E-Bay. If you live around and about ole Woo-Town there's a place on Park Avenue called PIP right across the street from Peppercorns that does excellent work. You can tell them Bret recommended them to you because you were told they do excellent work on prints.

I usually make 10 prints total and sell them for about $5 a piece. Since PIP's is very affordable, you can easily make your profit back on the printing cost :-)

3.) Always be upbeat and courteous without looking like a used car salesman :-)

DON'T IGNORE PEOPLE WHO COME OVER TO LOOK AT YOUR WORK. You have to remember that the only way to make people interested in your work is to make them interested in you. Be engaging but at the same time you don't have to look like you're visiting the dentist office ;-)

The thing I constantly think every time someone meets me at a show is even if they don't particularly care for my work I want them to say "I met Bret Herholz at this show and he was really nice". Just because they may not care that much for your work, they might know someone who would be interested.

NEVER BE RUDE! Just because someone might not like your work or might say something that sounds very insulting DON'T BE INSULTING BACK!! Mainly because what you could see as an insult might not be an insult.

And if they are being insulting it's not going to help your work to be the same way. Because these people could turn around and start saying nasty things about you and spreading rumors about what a jerk you are.

Which may be completely false. But some people are just shallow enough to base their entire attitude about you on one bad comment you make or one appearance.

It's one of those being slow to anger and water off a duck's back sort of things.

4.)Don't be discouraged if you don't make the mega millions. Each year I've looked at it if I make back just as much or more than I did on the table then it's a good day.

Don't let a slow day your first time out discourage you from doing another stART show. It can be a mixed bag. I've had certain shows that were a complete bomb and then I've had shows that I've made a killing. So, never judge your experience on one show.

5.) Network! Have plenty of business cards printed up and use this opportunity to make connections with other artists and crafters at the show. It's always good to expand your social circle in the art community.

AND FINALLY...

6.) HAVE FUN!! stART is a great time!! Just have a blast chatting with the people and the other artists and crafters. stART on the Street has been a huge help to me for getting my work out there and I hope you both have a lot of success selling your books and artwork at the show. And I hope it's the first of many for you.

Incidentally, if you're given the opportunity to sneak off for a bite to eat, head on over to the Armsby Abbey for some food or a pint. Just be sure to check the chalkboard on how much alcohol by volume is in the beer your ordering. You don't want to be completely tanked when you go back to your table ;-)

Make plans for another night of beer and socializing

So, bring your sketchbooks, pens, pencils, notebooks, laptops and sheet music for another night of art, beer and socializing.

stART in the Park is TOMORROW 6/1/08!!

Sunday June 1, 2008
11:00am - 4:00pm
Beaver Brook Park, Mann and Chandler Streets
Worcester, MA
FREE!!



100+ artists and crafters, performers, food vendors, kids activities, organizations and more!

A day long celebration of arts, crafts, culture, cuisine and fun in the sun! Join us for a free celebration in Beaver Brook Park on Mann Street in Worcester, MA. Bring a blanket and spread out a picnic lunch or purchase food from area restaurants and caterers.

Items available for purchase include arts & crafts, produce, decorative and edible plants and more - be a responsible member of the community and sustain local small businesses!

Visit the stART in the Park webpage:

www.startonthestreet.org

I will be selling and signing copies of Diary of the Black Widow and Confessions of a Peculiar Boy... and Other Stories as well as selling copies of my signed prints and doing sketches all day long!!

See you there!

Improved Pub Scrawl flyer

I changed some of the text slightly to make it resemble the Narragansett label a little more. I also made the background red so it looks like the Narragansett label and not an advertisement for Moxie ;)

The Worcester Pub Scrawl Sunday June 22nd!!

More news about a potential Drink and Draw style event...

As I mentioned in my previous post, I've been continuing to chat with fellow Undercoverfish contributor Pete Beaudoin of That's Entertainment fame and other artists around the Worcester County area through Myspace and Facebook about the possibility of starting a monthly (or bi-monthly) event similar to the extremely popular Drink and Draw which takes place around the country. Tenatively, the event will take place June 22nd at Ralph's Chadwick Diner in Worcester MA.

I will have more definitive information up as soon as I possibly can. But mark down June 22nd somewhere on your social calendar because THAT'S when we hope to have everything going.

Until then, stay tuned!!

Attention Worcesteries!! Under the influence of Artwork...

Hi All!!
I had started e-mailing some of you through the space of my to put a bug in your ear on the thought of perhaps starting up a Drink and Draw type of event somewhere in Worcester.

To Check out what I mean, check out the Drink and Draw Myspace site:

http://www.myspace.com/drinkanddraw

But since I know a great deal of talented artists around and about Worcester, I thought I would put my neck in the noose and post a bulletin about it.

I had found out from Pete that there were four or five artists in his group that use to hold an event like this and Doug Chapel has held a very similar event at That's Entertainment a couple years back called Danger! Artists at Work. Although, this was a non-alcoholic version of the Drink and Draw, the concept was very similar.

Like I said, I've gotten to know a lot of really talented people through That's Entertainment, ARTSWorcester and all the great art shows and book signings that have been organized in Worcester.

I felt if I could at least get some people interested I could then perhaps start inquiring with a few of the local establishments that sell beer for $1 or $2 a bottle or pint.

And it shouldn't just be opened to artists. But also to people who are interested in art, writing and music performance and composing.

Okay, well I gave my two cents. Pass this along to anyone who likes to draw or likes artists and would be interested in something of this nature.

Two new prints available for stART in the Park!!

Well, my Tessie print is not that new. I ran out of the first run of prints back at stART on the Street last September and I haven't been able to make any new ones for the last couple of show.

But Tessie's back just in time for stART in the Park along with a new print Alice and the Chesire Cat which I illustrated at Free Comic Book Day on May 3rd!!

Come on out to stART in the Park on Sunday June 1st!!

I will be selling (and signing) copies of DIARY OF THE BLACK WIDOW and CONFESSIONS OF A PECULIAR BOY... AND OTHER STORIES as well as signed prints of my illustrations. So, come on out and see me sometime!!


Hosted By: stART on the Street
When: Tuesday Jun 10, 2008
at 11:00 AM
Where: Beaver Brook Park
the corner of Chandler and Mann
Worcester, MA 01609
United States
Description:
stART on the Street