Every November, my mother would put aside her work projects and do a special painting. That would end up being our annual Christmas Card and would be added to the general offerings she had the following Christmas.
It took me a while, but I started the same tradition, although only one of my cards was ever offered for sale. It does make me think about if I were to try and sell art, where would I go? Which harbors would be the most conducive to sailing in and setting up shop, or at least landing a wholesale client or two?
We sail the US East Coast, and I’ve not done enough in the southern states to have a good grasp of those locations, and I’ve also been neglectful with sailing in the Chesapeake Bay so not much there either. But New England and New York, I have a firm grasp of and have some ideas.
It’s easy to go through the map and pick out every tiny town as a potential spot, especially along the coast of Maine where that is quite true. The importance of “raising the bar” criteria wise then becomes important. To make the list I decided to add a few requirements. A harbor where I would comfortably anchor in a serious storm of 40 or more knots, somewhere I have stayed at least two solid weeks at anchor and preferably more, and somewhere that would likely result in higher paying customers than just anywhere.
So here we go. From Bar Harbor Maine to New York City these are the harbors and spots I’d drop anchor that I think would be the most fruitful art sale wise. Since everyone’s art is different, I’ve not looked at any specific shops or galleries to highlight. Instead, the thought would be to arrive and start walking.
Bar Harbor Maine
The anchorage in Bar Harbor is pleasant enough. Sail around the outside of Bar Island and there is a good anchorage just off the campus for the College of the Atlantic. Sadly, they no longer offer the use of their dock for cruisers, so you’ll need to cross the bar at high tide or go around Bar Island in the dinghy to get to the town’s dinghy dock. If going around, it’s only about 1.5 NM, so not too bad.
Bar Harbor covers my usual needs for an anchorage, good holding, an easy dinghy dock, a grocery store, a hardware store, and a bunch of café options.
The town is also peppered with small shops where a visit at the edge of the season might just land you a wholesale customer.
Portland Maine
Portland Maine has an excellent anchorage and a couple of spots to land with the dinghy. The town has put a new dinghy dock for cruisers by the train museum, and there is the boat launch (pickup and drop off only) that is just across from the anchorage.
The city is another cruise ship city, and when the cruise ships are in town, a good part of the sidewalks are taken up with folks who set up tables to sell directly. In addition of course to the many galleries and shops.
We’ve spent more than a month at anchor with the convenience of multiple grocery stores, hardware stores, cafes, and just about any marine service. Including, which makes staying for a month or two more convenient a Pumpout Boat who will visit you at anchor. The pumpout is run by the nonprofit “The Friends of Casco Bay” and they ask for $15 for a pumpout, they’ll mail you in December and remind you that if you donate more than the suggested $15 for each pumpout, they’ll be able to continue to pump everyone out and not need to turn anyone away for the lack of cash.
Gloucester Massachusetts
There isn’t much in Gloucester art gallery wise, and I’m not sure Gloucester would be the best place to sell art for a premium price. But it is an excellent anchorage. Much more convenient than trying to anchor off Rockport MA which has some potential, or the limited anchoring options in Boston MA. No what Gloucester Mass has is an excellent anchorage, a free pumpout boat (just call the harbormaster) and access to the Massachusetts commuter rail. This makes anchoring in Gloucester and using the inexpensive commuter rail to access the towns of Rockport, Beverly, Salem, and Boston with ease.
The excellent protection, pumpout boat, and access to multiple towns make a stay of a month or two on anchor a realistic possibility, offering the chance to work on those connections.
Provincetown Massachusetts
We spend a lot of time in Provincetown. The fishing village turned artist colony turned LGBT oasis is a solid blend of all of those things. The naturally protected anchorage is also a helpful feature. PTown, as it’s known, offers an anchorage with excellent holding. And in a serious storm, it offers options to get solid protection in any direction by moving very short distances.
A practical stop, boating-wise, there is a grocery store, hardware stores, a chandlery, and all of the other things a cruiser would need for a stay of a few months, including another free pumpout boat run by the Harbormaster’s office that will visit you at anchor.
The town is full of art galleries, street musicians. And several artists are selling on the street. PTown is also a town where art sells for a premium.
Nantucket Massachusetts
Nantucket offers a spacious anchorage and easy shore access. A practical stop that offers a pumpout boat through September each year and is fairly welcoming to cruisers. I’ve never had an issue, but from friends it seems to be a mixed reception. Some have stayed for six or more weeks without any issues, and others have received a visit from the harbormaster asking them to move on after just a week or so.
Still worth the stop, and one walk through the shops downtown will help show why. Whatever you think your art is worth you will likely need to add an extra zero to the end of your pricing to fit in. Maybe two extra zeros.
Excellent holding, a solid grocery store, hardware store, cafe, library, and just about everything you could need.
Martha’s Vineyard Massachusetts
In many ways, Martha’s Vineyard is similar to Nantucket, with a good anchorage if you can get to the other side of the Beach Road Bridge and find a spot in the pond. Easy shore access and prices in the shops to remind you that not everyone has the same amount of money.
Aim for Vineyard Haven, get a good spot, and if you’ve had good luck in the area close to the dinghy dock, there is a bus service that goes to all the towns on the Vineyard, so you don’t need to give up your spot or risk a bad spot. And of course, the theme of free pumpout boats makes a longer stay that much more realistic.
Newport RI
Anchoring in Newport RI is simple enough, we aim to get as close to the King Park Dinghy Dock as possible. And then will use that dinghy dock or the one by the Maritime Center. While Newport has a strict two-week anchoring limit, this limit “evaporates” after October 15th and doesn’t return until April 15th. So if you show up on October 1st and stay until October 31st the harbormaster won’t visit to chase you off. And of course, the shoulder season is a great time to visit the shops when they’re not busy.
There is all the typical needs for a cruiser, but this pumpout boat is a paid service if you want to stay at anchor. If you’re daring enough to sail over to the Maritime Center there is a dockside pumpout service there that is free to use.
Port Washington New York
I have often described Port Washington’s Anchorage as one of the most convenient I’ve ever been to. It helps that the dinghy dock is directly across the street from the grocery store, that there is a free pump-out boat, and that the holding is rock-solid. Which you pay for when you need to pull the anchor back up. Seriously, give yourself an hour to get it up and get it washed off.
It’s a good spot to spend some extra time and leverage the train system. Much like Gloucester, Massachusetts, had easy access to the Massachusetts commuter rail, the Port Washington Anchorage offers convenient access to the Long Island Commuter Rail. Easy and relatively inexpensive access to New York City, where you can see what you can do in the Big Apple.
Who Didn’t Make the List and Why?
So there is my list. From Bar Harbor to NYC, spots to stop for a while to try and sell art. There were many that I wanted to include, but some, like the areas on the eastern part of Long Island, such as Shelter Island, I’ve just not been before. And some areas, such as Kennebunk and Ogunquit, Maine, would be great places to sell art, but don’t have a viable anchorage.
I also thought of Rockland, Maine, which would be a likely stop if you were to try to get all the way to Bar Harbor. It has a good anchorage and is a practical stop, but not the “Big Nantucket” style of prices I was aiming for. Although few places offer those “Big Nantucket” prices outside of Martha’s Vineyard and Provincetown. Cape Cod really is a place apart when it comes to pricing art outside of the big cities.
Where would I focus for a summer of selling art?
Thinking about where to sell art over the summer in New England, I think hands down my choice would be to base myself in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The anchorage is friendly and supportive of long-term visitors, offering all the necessary support. The local artistic community can be leveraged for support, encouragement, guidance, and, heck, just vibes.
It’s an easy sail to either Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard, which gives you quick access to the higher-priced markets. Although Provincetown isn’t exactly an inexpensive spot for art. There are about 20 upscale galleries on Commercial Street, Provincetown’s 3-mile-long main street, and about 50 lower-end galleries are in parts of town off the main thoroughfare. For those looking to sell on the street, it appears there are a few restrictions. According to what I’ve read, only six art pieces can be for sale, and you are subject to the same time restrictions as street performers, meaning things need to be closed down by 11 pm.
You’d also need a state seller’s permit and a federal identification number, and register with the town, which I’m pretty sure is free. But with the large number of galleries setting up, it is likely unnecessary to set up as a street vendor.
Resources for Artists in Provincetown:
Art Supplies
Organizations
From The Galley 