For the second annual Saltford Festival Avon Valley Artists were invited to hold another exhibition in St Mary's Church Hall. Some 20 members exhibited paintings, in total 87 framed and 20 - 30 unframed. The exhibition took place at the opening Saturday of the festival and continued into Sunday. The standard of painting was good, especially so for an amateur group, with many high quality paintings. There were a good many watercolours, but other media, apart from oils, were well represented.
Jan King, Robert Heal and Jan Weeks man the table. Jan on the right sold 8 paintings, a mixture of framed and unframed, and was easily the most successful member.
The exhibition was actually open when I arrived to do my stint on Sunday midday but as it was lunchtime was empty. I was unable to help earlier as I have been suffering from a virulent cold and cough.
I actually sold two framed and this was one of them. A Snow Leopard. This went right at the death!
Yvonne Harry
Pauline Vowles
Jo McKenna
Pat Walker
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This was the other painting I sold, shown by request.
I don't think any of the above sold (except the one I've just added on 11/06/ 13) which surprised me a little, although having seen what sells (or rather doesn't sell) at numerous amateur exhibitions it is very difficult to determine - not in every instance - the reasons people buy .
A small exhibit at the entrance. The painting on the left from Jan Weeks (pastel) sold.
The painting top centre is another of Jan Weeks works and you can see from the red spot that it was snapped up. Really when one sees the quality of paintings and the prices asked, compared to gallery prices, it is strange more are not sold. I think many are quite as good as some of the paintings sold in many galleries
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Two potential customers with Robert in the centre study a prospective purchase.
We had a steady trickle of visitors during the two days but traffic was not heavy. Despite this some 11 framed and 6 unframed were sold, not particularly high but reflecting the reality what happens at amateur art exhibitions these days. There can hardly be a week without exhibitions taking place within the general area so the market is somewhat saturated and the austerity squeeze is also a factor.
Packing up at the finish. Always the worst part!
I think the exhibition can be rated a success as after all selling paintings is not the only aim. It reflected well on the group and its members. At the beginning of May, when I was at Stow, the AVA had a more successful day at the Newton St Lowe Mayday event when visitor numbers were much higher.