One Week Until The One of A Kind Show in NYC

I’ll be very busy this weekend getting ready for the inaugural One Of A Kind Show in NYC next weekend. Held in Pier 94 on the West Side of Manhattan, it is definitely the biggest and most expensive show I’ve ever participated in. Doing first time shows is always a risky proposition, but given the location and the subject matter of my work (Hudson Valley), I feel fairly confident and I’m looking forward to the experience.

I have to say the amount of promotion that the show organizers have done so far is truly incredible, with major spots in newspapers, TV, magazines, Facebook, Twitter, brochures, and other promotional materials. They gave me 10 special VIP passes for my top customers that gives them free admittance, plus extras like drinks and shipping discounts- the red carpet treatment. There will be a preview night on Thursday where artist’s get to highlight their work, and meet media and press.

As usual, I’ll be working late in to the night this weekend getting everything ready, with a combination of canvas and framed prints. I’m also introducing new “digital mat” prints that I hope will allow me to present a high quality format at a more affordable price point. Basically, the print and mat is created in Photoshop, printed on a really nice watercolor paper, mounted on a rigid board, then framed without glass. I coat the print with a protective coating for dust and UV since there is no glass to protect it otherwise. This creates a very unique look, where the print is much more dimensional, has no glare, and the mats look incredibly convincing.

Is this for everyone? Of course not, and I don’t mean them to replace real traditional mats. In fact, I just recently purchased an Esterly Standard Speed-Mat for my studio (it’s mounted on the wall in the 2nd and 3rd photo) to give me more flexibility and efficiency in cutting mats. I love the look of double mats for large prints, and the Speed Mat makes cutting them a piece of cake.

But I’m always looking for different ways to give potential customers options, and think this is a great way to get a unique print in an office and home setting where cost and/or glare is a problem. I’ve even used these in a large medical office, and they’ve gotten a great response. Plus they just look cool!

As I’ve said here many times before, selling at an art show is hard work, but it’s a great feeling when that work pays off financially, and I’ve been very fortunate in that regard. But in all honesty, it’s the ability to share my enthusiasm and passion for nature with others that really makes the hard work worth it. This particular show will require 12-14 hour work days, and that doesn’t include time in the studio in preparation. But I get tremendous satisfaction from meeting and talking to people about their interests in nature and photography. And given the rather solitary work of a landscape photographer, it’s a welcome change.

More to come on the show – stay tuned!