The Meadow Art Studio

Let’s talk about the glamorous (read: exhausting) world of being an artist at summer markets.

First off, imagine waking up at 6 a.m. on a Saturday—usually your only day off, technically—to haul your pop-up tent, 40-pound bins of prints and cards, a couple of folding tables, your somewhat brilliant DIY display setups and some wild hope into a field or parking lot. Why? Because it’s market season, baby, and the art is not going to sell itself.

Markets are often held on Saturdays or at local events, when people are wandering around in sandals with dogs, strollers, and iced lattes. In theory, it’s dreamy: sunshine, music, community. In reality, it’s sunstroke, wasps in your kombucha, and someone picking up your $300 original painting with one hand while chewing a hot dog and muttering, “My niece could do this.”

🛍 The Upside: Why We Keep Doing This

Honestly? There are some perks.

• It gets your name out there. Even if someone doesn’t buy today, they might follow you online, or come back with their art-loving cousin next time.
• Your art stays fresh. Prepping for markets means you keep making. You stay inspired. You finish things.
• You sharpen your brand. Over time, you learn what works—visually, verbally, and emotionally.
• You become a DIY display wizard. Trust me, you’ll know how to make a stunning booth out of IKEA curtains, twine, and hope.
• A modest income trickles in. Cards, prints, and the occasional painting do sell—and those funds help pay for your (now $48) tubes of paint.

🤡 The Downside: Thick Skin Required

That said, it’s not all sunshine and PayPal notifications.

• People say the wildest things. There are actual TikToks about this. “I could make that.” “Do you do dog portraits of dead dogs?” “Why is it so expensive—it’s just paint, right?” “I [my sister, my aunt, my friend] could do this.”
• Handling without buying. Someone will flip through every single card with sunscreened fingers, sigh loudly, then leave. That’s the game.
• The regulars return…with feedback. “Still haven’t sold that one, huh?” I have a fixed frozen smile for these, but wish I could say ‘Thank you, again, Cheryl. Would you like a loyalty card for backhanded compliments?’
• Permissive Parenting. All of the toddlers/small children with sticky hands grabbing at your displays and their permissive parenting parents who let them.
• Thievery. Yup, it happens all the time. Quick fingered tourists and locals. Let’s also not forget those with cameras who steal your images quite casually.
• Market layout politics. Artists usually need tent walls to hang work. But most markets are designed for food vendors with a single front-facing table. Convincing a manager that you need side space? That’s an art form in itself.

And let’s not forget the economy: in Canada, we’re in what I call a “depression sundae” with a recession cherry on top. Disposable income is sparse. Art supplies cost as much as tuition. So when someone does buy something, it feels like a tiny miracle. Make sure you can have a variety of smaller items available, so that all price points are covered. Keep your profit margins very low, as I suspect the economy is not getting better any time soon.

💡 Should You Do Markets?

If you’re an artist wondering whether to do summer markets, here’s my answer: yes—but know what you’re signing up for.

You’ll need patience, humor, sunscreen, and serious emotional boundaries. But often you’ll also meet the loveliest people, feel your art being seen, and create a living breathing extension of your creative practice. The most important thing – make great market buddies who will make your market life so much easier.

Just don’t forget your tent weights. And maybe bring a sign that says:
“Yes, I made all of this. All by myself.”