Susan Brown Fine Art: Blog

In August 2021, I was accepted into the juried Santa Cruz Open Studios that took place Oct. 9/10 and 16/17.

I knew it was and is a big deal in Santa Cruz, in fact, I'd attended this event several times in the past and much enjoyed going to various Studios, seeing the variety of art forms as well as the gardens and homes, if those were also open. 

Little did I know how much work was involved in preparing for this! And how much marketing and advance notice to potential visitors would be required! This is sponsored by the Santa Cruz Arts Council, who does a lot of publicity and preparation, including special green signs for each artist, a beautiful printed catalogue which lists each artist by name, medium and area, and has a representative image (chosen by each artist) of the work. I chose as my "branded" image a painting of Downtown Santa Cruz, which I used on postcards, in the cataogue, several ads, as well as emails. We worked for weeks getting the garden in shape, cleaning my studio, framing paintings, printing giclee prints, etc. etc.... then we had to make the signs, (the Arts Council gives the green signs with no lettering), and post them up on telephone poles, and on street corners the night before the event (we were doing this at midnight the Friday before the Sat. opening.

(I was told this is part of the ritual!)

It was a success (although I have no actual way of evaluating what this means...) There was a steady stream of visitors, paintings and lots of prints and card sets went to good homes (<* and  I had some wonderful conversations and made new friends.