The Sunday Post-Open Studio Weekend

Today, and for the past two days I have been welcoming visitors to my studio for the Sedona region open studios tour and sale.

This is something I have done regularly over the years : going all the way back to one year in February many moons ago when I was bored, and wanted a project.

At the time, I was living in NY state, and they were a fairly new concept. I got many artists on board , with many disciplines...and everyone had a blast.

These days they are much more common, but people still enjoy going around to various work spaces, and meeting the artists. Sales are important, of course.
Perhaps more so,  it is a great way to meet area residents and visitors, and tell them about what I do when I am tucked away in my back studio space.
I am a bit off of the beaten path, but people tell me that the trek is worth it. We live on a hillside, with views of the surrounding high desert, and some of the Sedona rock formations. My studio space itself is wonderful; having spent many years with no dedicated space, I count my blessings often.

To get ready, I select work...a lot of which is already framed from various shows and then choose which others I want to frame and display. Other pieces, I present in gallery wrap, and place in bins along with prints.


For the past several years, I have participated in an organized tour, so much of the publicity is handled. Nice, right? To my own list, I send out an e-blast.
Leading up to the event, I clean and straighten, then straighten and clean!
I also go out and pick up some snacks and fruit, and make sure I have cold water, seltzer, and some wine for my guests.
There is a visitor list to sign, which I follow up with after the event. I have gotten myself set up with a squared up account, as well as a business license, and report sales tax. These things have been handled well ahead of time. The group that puts this on prints up brochures with a map, and there are also directional signs placed along the way to help visitors find the various studios. this is a well organized event, but one could also do the same thing on their own with a few artists.

                                                Come game day, I am up and running !





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