Art Zoos and other Tips

It's the middle of June and art festivals are in full swing.  This weekend Handsome Husband and I shared a spot in the Graham Gallery tent at Cottonwood Art Festival in Hastings, Ne.  It's a very nice event and we were happy to be there.  Big thanks to Angela Graham for hosting a wonderful group of artists to hang out with, and thanks to tent-mates Nicole Gustafsson, Max Miller, Steph & Chris with Pixybug Designs, and Mary Vaughan for being so much fun. 

Art festivals are a bit like being in a zoo.  People come and stare a bit before wandering off to look at something a bit more interesting. 

To make the whole affair a bit more civilized, Handsome Husband and I created a few guidelines for folks who plan on attending an art festival in the near future.

Forthwith our helpful hints:

Artist's don't bite.  Well, at least the ones I know don't.  It's okay to look at us and say hello.

Resist the temptation to ask the artist if they plan on being famous after they die. Most of us are working on it now.

It's really okay to visit with the artist.  Please understand, though, that the artist is there to sell their work, and while your Aunt Ruby and her purple-ribbon-winning county fair watercolor entry is truly fascinating, we must sometimes interrupt to attend to others. No offense intended to you or your Aunt Ruby.

The artist knows you can't draw a stick figure.  Neither can half the population of the free world, including the artist with whom you are sharing that bit of information.

Please do not allow your jaw to drop or your eyeballs to bug out when you inquire about prices.  Spitting out your lemonade is also unnecessary.  Simply take a slow, deep breath and back away from the booth without bumping into anything with a price tag on it.

Absolutely bring your children to art festivals.  Probably shouldn't let them in an artist's booth with their quadroople-scoop bubblegum pink icecream cone, however.

No, the artist is not starving.  Ha ha right back atcha.

Enjoy your phone conversations somewhere else.  Anywhere else.

Enjoy art.  Don't be intimidated.  It's okay to ask.  We love talking about what we do, and it won't cost you a dime.

Another Birthday List

As you remember, last week was my birthday, which means it's time for another Grateful List.

One item for each year. (Yeah, I know, it's kinda long.)

My Official Grateful List for 2009:

Number 1 - always - my family. All of you.

The rest, in no particular order:

coffee shared with good friends

fresh vegis from my garden - or anyone else's garden for that matter

Angela, Robin, Marcy & Nicole at Graham Gallery

good books

soft blankets on chilly nights

good paint brushes

friends. all of you.

solitude

time to relax

calm water

people who make me laugh

opportunities

Grandpa's recovery

excellent food shared with friends

good framers (Warren Cradduck, Lincoln, Ne., and everyone at Graham Gallery)

cool evenings

a garden full of black-eyed susans

comfortable shoes

good jeans

long car rides with good friends

challenges

fresh corn on the cob

honest politicians

smart blogs

my easyl plein air easel

a butterfly bush full of butterflies

vacations

campfires

modern medicine

mirrors

velcro

honesty

understanding that comes with prayer

smart people


eye glasses


starry nights


pre-packaged mulch


folks who build stuff


good haircuts



mondays


paychecks

offers of help


mechanical pencils


Burkholder Project


people who know how cars work


good teachers


mentors


digital cameras

hot showers

plain t-shirts


clean windows


people who read my blog

It's amazing how quickly I came up with this list. It's a great way to celebrate, and an excellent exercise in, well, remembering how great we have it. Try it for yourself.


Go ahead, I'll wait.

What are you grateful for this year?

Do You Want to be a Duck?

Y'know how Mom always admonished you to hang out with the right kind of people? Well, I know where you can find some folks who would make her grin from ear to ear.

I had the distinct pleasure of hanging out under the Graham Gallery tent at the Cottonwood Festival in Hastings, Ne, the last couple of days.

Angela Graham, gallery owner, has, over the years, managed to surround herself with a group of truly delightful, kind, funny and incredibly talented people. Bunches of of them gathered this weekend at the park, some to share their artwork with the public and some to hang out and help.

Daniel Keys shares a story for Fine Art Views about a duck for (this will all make sense in a moment) who thought he was a chicken. Something about the egg falling out of the nest and being added to a hen's nest by a well meaning farmer. The duck hatches and thinks it's a chicken because that's who he is surrounded by. Of course he never learns to fly, or swim, or quack very well, or any of the other ducky things he should be doing because he's not hangin' with other ducks.

The point is that in order to be the best person - or duck - that you can be, you should surround yourself with the right kind of du-er-people. Or artists.

Three years ago I managed to walk into a gallery run by a kind, patient, intelligent, honest woman. She has surrounded herself with kind, patient, charmingly goofy and intelligent people, who in turn have surrounded themselves with the same. And I got to hang out with them for the weekend. I feel smarter already.

After hanging with my peeps (sorry!) I start my week challenged to think more deeply about what I do and why I do it. I'm excited to try some new ideas on new surfaces thanks to the kindness of new friends who were encouraging and helpful.
I am ready, stronger and fearless to move forward artistically thanks to support from this new flock of mine.

I got me a flock Mom can brag to the neighbors about.

Who's in your flock?
Yellow Leaves on Blue Water 2009 Sold!