Those of you who have shared your eddress with me received an email with the subject line reading “Have you seen the elephant?” If you live in Three Rivers, you know of him. If not, here are a few paintings in which he is sort of visible on the side of Alta Peak in snow. Have fun!
The Road to Alta Peak – 8×10″ – oil on wrapped canvas – $90
Lake View VII – 16×20″ – oil on canvas in rustic wooden frame – $350
(sold)
(sold)
Tulare County Fire Station #14 at Sierra Drive and South Fork Drive
Here is a look at the building and some of the vendors and merchandise:
my space
some of Ginny Wilson’s photography (it will make you want to travel!)
Sam McKinney’s Gourd Art (you should see her miniature ornaments!)
We pierced women can always use another pair of earrings from Tina!
The painting of the wreath sold but there are plenty of other items from which to choose!
Shows take a ton of work: gather the work, package it, price it, load it, unload it, set it up, and THEN sit there for a day hoping people come, hoping they buy, hoping they buy lots of things and mostly big things.
It rained hard the day of the Senior League Bazaar. There were hardy vendors who set up outside the Memorial Building with canopies. My space was dry inside the building, this year near the windows for better lighting (and a beautiful view of the Chinese pistache trees). Some neighbors of mine had no canopy for their outside space, so I squished my stuff and myself over. Who knows if it enhanced the visitation to both our spaces or if it diminished each of us?? I just know they needed to be dry in order to sell their wares. (Where is that dad-gum crystal ball???)
The show seemed crowded and noisy, always a good sign. It is always a bit surprising that I can walk great distances at a fast pace and feel fine but talking and listening in a noisy room for a day wipes me out. Felt as if I talked and listened to a ton of people but wasn’t selling much. When it was time to pack up, it seemed as if I was taking the same amount of merchandise back to the studio that I brought. Funny thing is that I made money – an average amount for a 1 day show. Go figure! And, I picked up a commission and perhaps another drawing student. Shows are about marketing, exposure, and public relations just as much as they are about sales.
Hot Food
Drinks
Bake Sale
Door Prizes
Handmade Gifts
50 booths
Auction
Rummage Sale
2 comments I hear from people over and over are “I’m out of wall space” and “I’m trying to be careful with money”. Here are my responses to the first: “You can rotate your art” or “Look! Small paintings on little easels look nice on a bookshelf, lamp table or fireplace mantel!” To the second, “Look at these little bitty paintings, hand-painted ornaments and packages of cards – all $20 or less!”
Here are a few more 4×6 oranges in progress – they sit on easels and are $30 each
And these little bitty paintings are $15 each:
So are these ornaments:
It is Show Season – one per weekend through December 11! This is what it looks like to prepare for a show after doing 2 already (or was it one and just feels like 2?) Packaging prints and cards, pricing everything, getting the right mix of merchandise for the crowd (anyone have a crystal ball I can borrow??), remembering all the little hooks, hangers, bits and pieces of the display systems. . . you’d think I would have this all figured out. The truth is that every single show is different. Repeat shows also feel brand new each time because sometimes we are placed in new locations and merchandise varies from year to year. I am a bit spoiled since doing more Three Rivers shows than any other town. If I forget something, I race back to the studio and get it!
In Three Rivers, it is common to watch the river. We cross over certain bridges, or take certain walks and always check out the river to see how it is changing with the seasons. When one frequents the same routes, one comes to accept the sights as normal. I’ve been walking across the Dinely Bridge regularly since January 1999, and I am used to the views. However, there is something rather curious there- it is this vase of flowers, regularly updated and replaced.
The story is that someone’s Mom’s ashes were scattered from the bridge, and her son keeps fresh flowers there in her memory.
There is a wonderful studio and gallery in Three Rivers. It belongs to the versatile artist, Wendy McKellar and it is called “Colors”. ( 41763 Sierra Drive, on the river side of the highway just upstream from Sierra Subs) I have the privilege of sharing a little real estate with Wendy on the upcoming First Saturday – look for the canopy out front!
Yesterday Michael and I took a stroll down to the bridge to see the river. It was peaceful, not too slimy and slow for October.
But wait! What is that??
Someone has been stacking rocks! Now that is a peculiar way to spend one’s time.
Good thing I got the photo yesterday, because this morning all this was under water.
The party was well attended. Very well attended! Here is one area – isn’t that the cutest little building with the grandest oak tree?
I only brought art with Three Rivers as the subject. Almost everything Kaweah Post Office sold.
The stick is where the mailbag hangs so the horse-riding mail carrier can grab it quickly. There were a couple of demonstrations, but I was selling art and missed both. (Don’t you just hate that??)
This might be the only photo I got without people wandering past!
This is the Postmistress, Miss Ida Purdy. Can’t remember the years she served but we obviously had a bit of time travel today!
