This a.m. I went to Visalia to set up for the backyard boutique. I GET TO BE INDOORS!! So, if it rains, no worries, no cutting and running. No wind, no uneven ground, and more space than anyone deserves. This is wonderful, so tomorrow I will take a few extra items – some original pencil drawings from the calendar and my biggest best painting of the Oak Grove Bridge, my favorite bridge, right here in Tulare County.
A necessary element of the business of art is showing and selling. Art fairs, craft festivals, backyard boutiques, speaking engagements, demonstrations (not carrying signs of clever rudeness while hoping for teevee cameras – I mean showing people how I paint or draw)–these are all ways of reminding people of my products and services.
Today I am setting up for tomorrow’s Backyard Boutique. (Not officially called that, but I like the name and remember, I am 58 and this is my blog.)
P.S. I think it should read “29 crafters and 1 artist”.
P.S.#2 It might rain. If it does, I’ll have to cut and run.
This is an annual backyard boutique in Visalia. I participated last year and was very impressed by the quality, variety, organization and attendance. If you like shopping, looking at handmade items, hanging around nice people, then this event is for you!
Kaweah is the name of the river (rivers – it is THREE Rivers) in town. Artisans are people who make specialty stuff; more precisely “workers in a skilled trade who make things by hand”.
For about 18 years I have been part of a group called “Kaweah Artisans”. We do shows, which we prefer to call “boutiques”, 2-3 times a year. We change venues, and our membership fluctuates.
The rules are one maker per medium, be different from the crowd, be professional, and know how to display well. So, if you make something cool but not cutesy, are professional in your conduct, approach to business and display, and we have no other item maker in your category, we’ll take it to The Committee and decide. If your items meet the criteria and our space is not too crowded, The Committee will probably say yes. (But not if you have a reputation as a jerk; this is a very small town within a small county, and life and business are hard enough without personality complications.)
When I joined, there was a florist, a jeweler, a jam maker, a photographer and a weaver. Only the weaver and I remain of the original group. For our next show, we will be joined by a jeweler, a gourdista*, a cosmetic maker, a photographer, a small sculptor, a potter, and a chocolatier.
We still have our original banner, looking tired and worn out. It was time to update things.
When the banner arrived, I unrolled it outside to see how beautiful it is. Samson helped.
I FORGOT TO ORDER IT WITH GROMMETS!! The local hardware had them.
THE VINYL WAS TOO HARD TO PUNCH THROUGH! Our neighbor lent a hole punch.
And, Trail Guy put them in!
Kaweah Artisans marches on with lots of help from our friends, neighbors, family and pets. Our next boutique will be on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving.
*Do you like the word “gourdista”? I just made it up.
Arts Visalia hired me to teach 2 beginning drawing workshops this summer. In June, there were 5 students. The time flew and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. In August, there were 5 new students, and once again, we all had a very good time of learning.
They learned about the basics of drawing, and a little about me. I learned a little about them, and that taking photos with the iPad isn’t a plan if I want to show you the photos on the blog.
After much techie wrangling, I found a way to show you the photos. Tech explained is boring; tech wrangled with is alternately frustrating and exhilarating. I’d rather be drawing, teaching drawing, or blogging.
If it appears that everyone is drawing the same thing, that is because everyone is drawing the same thing. It is much easier to demonstrate once for everyone than have 5 different things happening at the same time.
Here is your opportunity!
Did you wish you had been to the reception for Gray Matter, but you had to miss it because you have such a full life?
Here’s a second chance to see original pencil drawings by me and three of my very advanced drawing students.
There might even be some fabulous brownies. . . not promising, just saying maybe.
Another successful Three Rivers Redbud Festival in the can!
This is how my booth looked upon arrival on Saturday morning.
The large wet bridge painting seemed too fragile to ride in the back of the Botmobile, so I walked it down to the Memorial Building. Perhaps that helped to speed the drying process.
Nikki Crain, Handweaver Extraordinaire, was my next-booth neighbor. We like to do shows together, and have been for about 25 years or so. She took drawing lessons from me for several years, and we know how to cover for one another and help one another through the various ups and downs of events.
These paintings sold (the sizes are not in correct proportion to one another here: real sizes top down — 6×18, 8×10, 6×6, 6×6, 10×10)
I met a future student, reconnected with old friends, met some friendly people from Australia (either there are no grumpy people on that continent, or maybe the grumps don’t travel to the US), worked out a trade deal with another vendor, and met a bunch of new folks that I probably won’t remember. I hate that forgetting thing, but people are always nice about it. As a bonus, I collected another peculiar sight for the blog when I looked out the window on Sunday afternoon.
The reason for going over subjects like this is because I want to give you a complete picture of what an artist’s life consists of. (No, I don’t get to just sit around and draw all day. Phooey.)
This could be called “Celebrating Agriculture With The Arts”, but that title already belongs to the Madera Arts Council.
First event of the past weekend was a reception to view and celebrate the new mural at the Tulare County Farm Bureau.
WOW!!
I was given a chance to bid on the project, but when I heard that Colleen Mitchell-Veyna was interested, I told the Farm Bureau to just hire her because she is The Best Muralist Ever. (Then I proposed doing the coloring book, Heart of Agriculture)
First, inquiring minds need to know: why do so many people drive white cars??
Morning light, more distance, and squaring up the camera would do this more justice. Colleen had to revise her design multiple times in order to show off the Best Cow in The Entire Country and to satisfy the bureaucracy in Visalia.
The event was a good time of reconnecting with people I hadn’t seen in awhile, meeting new people, and catching up with The Best Muralist Ever.
Colleen, I am so proud of you!
Redbud is a gorgeous tree or shrub that blooms in March in Three Rivers (and probably many other places.)
For many years, Three Rivers has had an arts and crafts fair called the Redbud Festival. It happens in May, this year on Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14.
Where?
So glad you asked – Three Rivers Veterans Memorial Building
When?
Great question – 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, 10-4 on Sunday
This is how my booth looked last year. Oh dear, there is that 24×30″ unfinished painting of The Oak Grove Bridge. I may bring it again this year, along with FIVE coloring books, ZERO tee-shirts, many cards and lots of new paintings (including a rooster, a pair of hens, and 2 paintings of eggs).
