best way to make sample board??

[katyabbott]

I want to create a sample board of the designs I can do that people can pick from. How do you all do this? Paint designs on paper to display - or use photos from people you have painted - how do you make it durable?

Thanks!!
Katy

[JBax]

There are lots of ways, but I'll share mine.

I got a plastic shoe hanger from Lowe's. It's flat on one side, and has about 24 pockets that hold 4x6 pics perfectly. I hang it flat side out from my pop-up-tent. It folds up flat, so it travels very nicely. The pockets open up towards the inside of the tent where I am (my pics are less likely to disappear). And, I can change what pics I want to display.

What I noticed was, people wanted to take me to the menu to show me what they wanted. They were surprised that I had painted the people in the pics and would remember what I had on my menu when they said they wanted "what that girl with the blue swirly eyes" had. I'd shy away from a menu, but the fact that I charge more than the $1 craft paint hooker across the street (long story, I'm still bitter) I feel I need to post them to justify my slightly higher rate.

[katyabbott]

Great! thanks - is this the type of thing you use?
http://www.amazon.com/Honey-Can-Do-SFT-01240-10-Pocket-Hanging-Organizer/dp/B001F51AF8

[JBax]

This is the closest one I found on line:

http://www.amazon.com/Over-Door-Clear-Organizer-Storage/dp/B000IXOH7G

This is mine in action: (the picnic basket is weighing it down at the bottom... I forgot to mention You'll need that)

[katyabbott]

Ah! Now I understand! Thanks so much for the visual!

[aprilmoonflower]

what a great set up Jen! Love it and it's so simple and not "busy"!

[Judy]

Hey Jennifer:

What do you have supporting your brushes and water tray (is it a board?)

And how long does it take you to set up (if you are alone?)

[Judy]

Hi Katy

I'm still experimenting with my set-up. Currently I have 3 ways. For 2 of the ways I use a pocketchart that I had in my classroom and either a garmet stand or a stand that I made from PVC (the PVC one holds up to bigger jobs and wind but the garmet stand is lighter). The other thing that I just got is a display board (also from a teacher store). When it unfolds it is in the shape of a triangular (looking at it from the sides). It has 2 magnetic whiteboards on each side along with 2 rows of pockets. This I'll use for smaller jobs/birthday parties or where space is limited. I'm presently putting magnets on my pictures so they'll stick to the magnetic white board. Also allows me to write end of line time down. I haven't tried it yet but I think it will work oK.

Most of the time, the kids bring me the picture they want. Haven't had any problems with pictures going 'missing' and kids are quite cooperative to put them back for me.

Both ways I can easily change pictures. Pictures are laminated on heavy cardstock. Most of my display pictures are ones I've painted on myself as I don't ever seem to have time to take pictures and ask for a photo display form at the events I paint at.

http://www.learningresources.com/product/teachers/shop+by+category/teacher+resources/pocket+charts/standard+pocket+chart.do?search=basic&keyword=pocketcharts&sortby=bestSellers&page=1&

http://www.learningresources.com/product/teachers/shop+by+category/teacher+resources/magnetics/write-on-wipe-off+magnetic+demonstration+tabletop+pocket+chart.do?sortby=bestSellers&

I've also used a duo-tang with plastic baseball card holder sheets. Pictures tend to fall out of this though, but still allows me to change. Cheap and easy to transport but only 1 kid at a time can really look at the pictures though.

Hope this helps

Judy

[katyabbott]

Thanks Judy- that does help. Do you use plain paper to paint the design on and then laminate onto the cardstock once it's dry?

[Judy]

No problem Katy.

I've only used photos. They are from a digital camera, downloaded onto a computer and taken to Staples to print in color on heavy cardstock and laminated. Staples uses the pocket laminate sheets so I have to cut the pictures apart, leave a little space and then they laminate it for me. You have to make sure the picture is sealed all around the edges.

[WyndyO]

Nice setup Jen!! It looks like this is a 2 painter setup! I have the Fat Max but found it too cumbersome and moved into a Scrapbook Crop Mega Wheel Zebra tote....after my shoulder hurt from my loaded tool bag -- but I love the Fat Max in everyone else's setups when they use that top table and it looks so workable.
Love the display board too!! Practical and affordable but still professional looking!

[JBax]

Yep, this is my festival set up with my painting partner, Lana, who is a lurker round these parts. She's just about to start another degree and she works full time, so I'm going it alone for the time being and maybe this summer we will reunite again for larger gigs.

Judy... not sure which one you mean, so I'll explain both. The one on the left is an old desk of mine and the elevated part is where a monitor is supposed to sit. It's heavy, so I want to replace it.

I love my fatmax, but only use it for festivals when I bring the tent. It's serving as storage right now. The top flips open to make a perfect flat support. In my gallery is pics of what's sitting on top. At a local store I found some trays that fit perfectly inside the top, and I sit them across the open lid to make a surface. It worked really well, I had grip things holding them together for support, until a curious child wondered what would happen if she took the grip off and my brushes went flying. It's a fp's life long dream to have a kid-proof set up, I think. I really like having everything self contained, so I think for next season I'll experiment with a board game. They're stiff and fold up really nice and I can throw a table cloth over it.

I really don't know how long it takes me to set up alone cause I've never done it. I tend to ignore how I'm feeling and push through, so my husband comes with me. He keeps an eye on my health, manages the line, and he's a photographer, so it's super helpful. I'm glad I married him. But to guess, about 20-30 minutes with the two of us to set up tent, hang signs, put up tables and chairs and then arrange the goodies (and that's when I had individual paint cakes to open). I'm still working out how I want everything to flow, and keep people out of spaces they shouldn't be in, and make things as nice and easy as possible.

[Judy]

Thanks Jennifer,

I hadn't noticed the tray on the far left of your fat max. By using the trays you pretty much eliminated the need for a table! Good thinking!

[Judy]

Thanks Jennifer,

I hadn't noticed the tray on the far left of your fat max. By using the trays you pretty much eliminated the need for a table! Good thinking!

[Criss]

For displaying my pics I use an easel, (that I duct tape to my table due to heavy winds in my part) and a poster board picture frame with a collage style of my pics.

The poster board picture frames are plastic, flexible and very easy to change the pics within.

[aprilmoonflower]

I need to do this. I will likely not be working with a tent set up though (at least not at first)..

What I was thinking about doing was attaching clear pockets to a sandwich board type thing, then I could just get large prints and switch them out depending on the occasion. Does anyone think that would work?

Any other great ideas for working at bday parties or restaurants? Looking for something compact that will fit like say 10 designs on and the words "face painting".

[aprilmoonflower]

something like this would work I think. What do you think? (going to look around and see if I can find something cheaper though)

http://www.displays2go.com/product.asp?ID=6931

[Psalmbook]

April,
That looks a little heavy & it's one more big thing to carry.

I was thinking this would work & be light weight.

http://www.schoolaidscatalog.com/classroom_management_pocket_chart-p-49701.html

[aprilmoonflower]

that looks perfect! I wonder how I could make it self standing? (I don't want to have to rely on having a place to hang it) but maybe it won't be as much of a hassle as I'm thinking?

[aprilmoonflower]

or maybe when I get my directors chair I could find one to clip onto it and hang off the back somehow? that would work right?

[Psalmbook]

That might not work. You don't want a lot of kids around your chair. They'll bump it & your table. You'll want the display near your line to keep the kids busy.
Maybe a pvc pipe frame to hang it from... but then your getting into bulky again... hmmmm

[aprilmoonflower]

maybe a portable easel?

[aprilmoonflower]

or maybe this kind of banner stand might would work? I wonder how much the banners are or if there would be a way to make it interchangeable somehow..

http://www.vistaprint.com/banner-stands.aspx?xnav=TsrItem&xnid=aLMDefaultNamePFIDA0PPluralProductNameAccessories&dng=Accessories

[Perry Noia]

What I do is use my home made stanchions (that's another thread) and put a string between the two.... on the string, I hang laminated photos with two holes punched in the top. As the kids are waiting for their turn, they have a chance to pick what they'd like. Also, since the pics are all two sided, they can look at all the pics before they get into line as well. For parties I just take the stack of pictures and toss them out on the floor for the kids to look at while I'm painting some of the others.

For the restaurant idea, I like the pocket chart... why not find a way to attach it to the edge of your table?

[aprilmoonflower]

I hadn't gotten as far as a table yet Perry! (doh!) I will just find something to clip on that way!

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