Last Easter Sunday was my first time back at Artplein Spui after almost 2 years. I was quite
nervous about returning. A day like that runs more smoothly when you’re in your routine and
I feared I had lost just that after being away for a time.
The day starts early packing my bag, bringing food, tea etc and dressing like it’s way below
zero (Celsius) because being out all day is pretty cold most of the time. Then I get on my
bike and go to my studio at the Nassaukade where I have my cargo bike loaded with my art,
my high fold up chair, lamps, plastic back- and side cover and 3 big pieces of cloth to cover the
stands’ table, front and back, and much much more. All in all the cargo bike is pretty heavy.
It’s always an adventure to manoeuvre it through the centre of Amsterdam.
Next stop is Spui square where the empty stands are ready for “dress-up”. This takes about
between an hour or an hour and a half depending on any help, how much stuff you
have and routine… It took me quite a while because I don’t have any help and my routine
was a bit rusty but when everything was ready it felt like I never had been away.
It was good to see so many familiar faces and so nice to meet fun new colleagues like
Marije Dijkema and Cil Laurens.
The reason why I stopped presenting my art at Artplein Spui was because I was spending more
money than would come in… I think most people who come across the Spui stumble on
the artmarket by accident, they’re just pass by or going from A to B. They’re not prepared to
spend a lot of money.
That’s why I decided not to bring any of my drawings or paintings, just my lino prints and
some dry point etchings, all between € 20,- and € 100,- which I think is very affordable. Next to
that I brought my Sleeping Animal cards and some hand stamped cards I recently made.
I also brought some test prints of the tote bag I’m working on (ink is still not dry!). I sold one
bag to a friend but you won’t see the bags back at Artplein Spui because I’m not allowed to sell
them there.
Next to my illegal bag I sold 5 cards which is pretty depressing I think. Again, spending more
than is coming in…
I don’t want to quit after just one foul ball but it reminds me of what I recently heard on a
podcast I like to listen to: Your Creative Push. Presenter Youngman Brown interviewed
Cindy Hohman of the Art Marketing Project. She said you don’t only have to know who your
audience is but you can actually choose your audience. And just maybe my audience is not to
be found at Artplein Spui and just maybe I should stop looking for my audience there…

🍃🍂