Tuesday, 28 October 2025

The Wanstead Independent Book Fair / Too much artwork?

 


I'll be selling stuff at this book fair. 

Let me rephrase that: I'll have work on a table which people can buy, if they wanna. It's the first fair I've done so  don't know what to expect in terms of sales. We'll see.

More info here 

Along with original pieces of visual poetry and my books there will be collages. 


Here's a recent piece I made...

Unreal, RTomens, 2025

Preparing for the fair, choosing what to take, meant sorting through all the boxes and realising...oh shit...there's too much! I got sick of the sight of it all. Which made me think that less is more when it comes to a customer's eye and maybe I should take less than I intended, which was to maximise the space in folders and on the table because if I feel sick of seeing it perhaps they will too. There is such a thing as too much choice.

Then there's the other little voice inside saying 'No, take as much as you can because that maximises the chances of someone seeing the one they want.'

Could I have a bargain bin? You know, the kind of thing you see in charity shops filled with scarves and crumpled ties...a quid each. I'd put my...lesser (?) work in there...because I do know what's lesser amongst all the pieces I've created. By what criteria? It's an instinct, as well as looking objectively. That aside, there is a lot which could go either way; pieces I think are OK but someone else might love. 

I'm sure all prolific artists have contemplated either giving away their work or just chucking it out. I could put a boxful out the front of the house and let people help themselves. Looking at the mess of papers as I have this week, it's tempting. What would it matter to me? Someone might take it home and treasure it. Wouldn't that be better than just storing it in boxes? 

I'll let you know how it went.

TTFN

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