Art in the Park this weekend in Parker, CO

I'm busy varnishing, putting on hanging wires, and getting ready several new pieces to show at the big Art Show this coming weekend in Parker, Colorado.

THis show is sponsored by the Parker Artists Guild and features all the fine art disciplines - painting, pottery, jewelry, photography, and many others.

The show opens Friday, 8-16-2013, at 4pm, and runs through Sunday at 4pm.  In Parker, CO at the NE corner of Parker Road and Main Street.

See you there!

"Primary Isolation" 18x18inches

World's Cutest Dog - PRECIOUS NELSON

I got Precious a new squeaky toy. She won't let it out of her sight and all I hear is squeak-squeak-squeak.

I won't be painting the next few days. My last outdoor show of the season is this weekend at the Castle Rock (CO) ARTFEST. This is a great juried show with artists from all over the country.

Stop by Booth 71 to say hi. I'm featuring only abstract work in this show.

SOLD

Here are some of the paintings sold during my two recent out door shows. The show I was in this past weekend, the Summer Art Market, was a weather disaster. If it weren't for the fact that many art collectors attend this show, rain or shine, it would have resulted in zero sales for me. Fortunately, with only three hours remaining, I did sell several paintings.

At one point, the rain was coming down so heavy that the water flowing down the side of the street came about 3 feet into my tent. "A River Runs Through It" came to mind. Last year we had a near tornado, this year buckets of rain. Some tents collapsed under the heavy downpour.

So why do artist do it? Go through all the work of setting up a booth, subject their work to possible wind, rain, bumps and scrapes? It's more than just selling the work. It's also the connections you make by being "out there," the camaraderie among fellow artists, and meeting the people face to face who love your work.

As usual, after the show, my husband materialized to help me tear down. Then we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant - I picked up the tab.

Benefits of being in an outdoor art festival

The Downtown Denver Arts Festival over the Memorial Day weekend had great weather and good crowds, but not enough people were reaching for their wallets. Many artists around me did not even meet their expenses. I did OK, but of course it could have been better. This does not bode well for the upcoming summer season I'm afraid.

BUT, one of the great things about spending 3 1/2 days around other artists is the camaraderie and exchange of tips and information. Two artists who stopped by my booth had amazingly artistic eyewear by Swissflex. These eyeglass frames come in a variety of colors and you can create your own color scheme with different colors on the bridge, hinge, and temple parts. I ordered a pair today in turquoise, blue and purple. I think my eyewear should be an expression of my artistic self!

An art consultant said she wants to talk to me about representation. A giclee printer, who says he's the best, wants to do a giclee for me at no charge to prove he's the best. A local arts group wants me to teach an 8 week class on acrylics for the fall. Two pages of people signed up for my newsletter. I was one of the "official tasters" for a creamy gelato vendor (only 6% butterfat) - he kept coming by my booth with trays of different flavored samples. I've already gotten one commission from people who saw my work at the show.

So, even if your sales are not up to expectations, there are many other benefits to being "out there."

On another note, my snuggies, which were custom made in a variety of sizes, worked beautifully. No nicks or scratches on frames and they folded up neatly in a bin during the show. How cool is that?!?!

And the rain, rain, rain

And the rain rain rain
Came down down down
In rushing rising rivlets,
And the river crept out of it's bed
And crept right in to Piglets.

That's the gist of a song from Winnie-the-Pooh. I could not get that song out of my head. Colorado averages 15 inches of precipitation per year and I think most of it fell this weekend on my art festival.
The good news: my tent did not leak.
The bad news: I paid extra for a corner booth, but the wind and rain was coming from the side on which I could have expanded my display, so had to button up the side most of the time.
Good news: Crowd size was pretty good in spite of the weather.
Bad news: Few had money to spend.
Good news: The hail missed us.
Bad news: I ate almost a whole bag of Twizzlers by myself.

Anyone who did not get juried into the Downtown Denver Arts Festival should count their blessings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Art Show - Parker, CO

For those of you in the Denver area, consider this an invitation to the reception for the BLUE show, sponsored by Innovative Artists. The 3rd Floor Gallery is at the Parker Station Building on E. Mainstreet, in Parker, CO.

Art Festival 2, 9027 figurative study of art show patrons

This attractive young lady stopped in her tracks to check out some brightly colored abstract works. I didn't realize until I painted her that she must be a regular at the gym - her arms and legs are very toned. I bet she does pilates. Or maybe it's just youth. This painting is on a 5x7 inch panel and is ready to frame or display on a small easel.
SOLD

Art Festival 1, 9026 figurative study of art show patrons

I took this photo of some visitors of a neighboring booth at the Downtown Denver Art Festival. One has a lot of time at art shows to study the people walking by while they're studying your art. These three were having an animated discussion on the merits of the artist's work.

Of course, I hear incorrect statements all the time, like "Oh, I love her watercolors" - when looking at an oil. Or "I can always tell an oil painting from an acrylic painting." And, my favorite, "Abstracts are easy - anyone could do that." (I'm tempted to open a big can of wup-ass on those people - LOL).

For purchase information on this painting, please see my website.
SOLD

Shih Tzu Terrors

I scared the shih out of my little shih tzu, Precious. I have a show coming up this weekend. That always means lots of last minute framing. The sound of the electric drill scares Precious. I turn on the TV, radio for background noise, but she can STILL hear the drill and screwdriver going in my basement studio. I don't know why it frightens her. Some day, when I am a rich and famous artist, I can just paint, and let someone else take care of the framing.

Isn't she the world's cutest dog?