Artwaves, or Artpond in Stagnant Waters?

Love Bridlington. Just breathing the sea air again. Just hearing those gulls again. Bathing my eyes with the blue infinity of the sea again.

Being part of Artwaves always an honour, an exciting experience where to meet exciting and interesting artists, new and old. Brilliant place, brilliant atmosphere......rubbish business.

Once more. Load the car, drive miles, unload the car, get excited, set up, check, check again, price items, spread your work out in the best light, chat to the public, take plenty of compliments and admiring comments. Even get the Head of Culture interested in a commission.....

Sell nothing.

The festival is a fun day out for families strolling in before or after their fish and chips to keep the kids entertained. Great community feeling.

No art sales. Well, at least not many down below where all the artists were hidden!

Perhaps the art exhibition with its prominent position as the first thing visitors see as they come in did sell some....

Many of us artists exhibiting doubted we would return, as many who had been there previously didn't this year.

I have a dream, two dreams even...

One is that Artwaves will reconsider its marketing technique and how and where they place their exhibitors and the other, that Ian Rayner, East Riding Interim Head of Culture and Customer Services, will actually contact me to at least discuss the commission he was so keen about.

Here is to you Ian....I might throw in a free portrait....