by ruralpearl | Jun 24, 2012 | Art Fairs & Art Travels
I had a really great first day at Artfest Midwest in Des Moines. ‘Twas a bummer that it rained most of the day for the folks at the outside Des Moines Art Festival that coincides downtown, so I was very glad to be inside a dry, air conditioned building. Thanks to all you folks who came out.
After my show was over, I headed to the downtown show where I had some friends from various parts of the country exhibiting.. and then they took me out to dinner and surprised me with a little birthday cake (with tricky self-igniting candles) afterward since I also turned another year older today, and that warmed & swelled my little ol’ heart.
by ruralpearl | Jun 23, 2012 | Art Fairs & Art Travels
I made my way to Des Moines, IA, today and set up for this weekend’s ArtFest Midwest at the Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fair Grounds. It was a pleasant drive, and I discovered this week that I could do an internet search for “free audio books”, which yielded quite a few offerings. So, I listened to part of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Nature” on my way. Here’s an excerpt:
“To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature. Most persons do not see the sun. At least they have a very superficial seeing. The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child. The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood. His intercourse with heaven and earth, becomes part of his daily food. In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows.”
More to come…
by ruralpearl | Jun 12, 2012 | Art Fairs & Art Travels
My best year at the Smoky Hill River Fest so far, despite the high winds and dust accumulation. The wind actually helped with the heat, but I heard another artist’s tent blew over and lots of things went crashing.. major bummer.. I’ve thought about upgrading to ProPanels — the gallery looking wall panels — but the grid that I use is nice and heavy and keeps things on the ground, so I’ll probably be sticking with it for awhile.
I’ve had a great start to my summer shows — much better than anticipated.. Which means, I now have an insane amount of work to get done over the next few weeks– before sun up to after sundown, today included, from now on. 4am, I’ll see you soon…
by ruralpearl | Jun 9, 2012 | Art Fairs & Art Travels
A good day despite this layer of dust that now covers me. And I forgot, once again, to take a photo of my booth.
I discovered one of the challenges of using a portable credit card processing mechanism (Square in my case, which has made my life as a traveling art seller much easier, most of the time): When there’s not good cell reception (AT&T — what gives? What happened to Anytime, Anywhere?) and little to no available public broadband access, it becomes near-impossible to process credit cards. I found myself walking laps, holding my cell phone (which is what I process cards from) in the sky, casting spells, begging and pleading, just to get a signal.. Although I did manage to process every card presented to me (at almost every show, 50 – 75% of sales are via credit card), it took up to 5 minutes to get the thing to go through. It kept “timing out” and I even managed to somehow delete two sales off the thing after it “timed out” while trying to process the signature after the people who purchased items had already left.. Oh well.. you live, you lose, you learn. I’m just not sure what I learned yet– I haven’t figured out a solution to process credit cards when there is inadequate network access.
Anyway, a word of caution to Square using vendors. One more day full day of the River Festival, and then I’ll be on my way back home.
by ruralpearl | Jun 8, 2012 | Art Fairs & Art Travels
‘Twas a long, hot & sunny but enjoyable day. Thanks to everyone who came out to the festival. I started my day out at the newly established Starbucks/ truck stop.. There used to not be a Starbucks along I-70 between Topeka and Colby (opposite ends of the state), but alas, the corporate coffee giant rears it’s pricey head to please weary travelers with their usually predictable caffeine fix, myself included. I inhaled my triple shot, hung my work, and planted my director’s chair in the dirt. My booth neighbor is a potter from Southern California (whoa, long trip..) and we chatted all day about this and that: kayaks, surf shops, running, burritos, Mexico, dogs & cats, beer, art fair stories, blah blah blah. Always a major plus to have good neighbors at these things. Wind predicted for the next couple days- always a challenge with a canopy tent, but I shall deal ’cause that’s all you can really do. I forgot to take my usual booth shot, so perhaps a picture will accompany my next post. Til then..
by ruralpearl | Jun 7, 2012 | Art Fairs & Art Travels
Hello from Salina. There’s something both comforting and lonely about the smell (lighting, feel, wall art, hum of the A/C, etc) of hotel rooms. I’m usually armed with a bottle of wine or something of the like, my computer, and my portable cutting board so I can get some work done during my down time. I’ve got nine more hotels booked through the end of July.. Some for shows, some for time between shows while I loaf around Colorado. Home always feels so good afterwards, but I love being out here, wherever here is. It’s always a little adventure, regardless. On a rambling note, this brings to mind the Fraggle Rock song lyrics (I don’t know what the song is called): “I’m always here, I’m never there, I’m never ever anywhere, except here, ’cause here is where I am.” …It’s been a really long day…
by ruralpearl | Jun 7, 2012 | Art Fairs & Art Travels
I’m about to ramble my way a little bit west through the lovely flint hills of Kansas to Salina where I’ll be exhibiting at the 2012 Smoky Hill River Festival. This is my third year there — always a good time. Got my new tent all ready to go (after destroying my last one..). Here’s some details:
Smoky Hill River Festival in Oakdale Park, Salina, KS
Friday: 10am – 8pm
Saturday: 10am – 8pm
Sunday: 10am – 5pm
See you there!
by ruralpearl | Jun 6, 2012 | Art Fairs & Art Travels
Firstly, let me say THANK YOU to all of you who came out to last weekend’s art fair in Topeka. Truly one of the best art fairs I’ve ever had. And I am so, so honored to have won 1st place in 2D art. This is my third show in a row in which I’ve won 1st place, and I feel a little like I’m bragging when I say that, but lately I feel like I’m really getting to where I want to be with a lot of my work– getting it to look and feel like I really want it to look and feel (I can’t really explain what I mean, but maybe you get it)– and I think that must be showing through. I don’t know… Anyway, what a nice honor, and one which I think every artist who puts themselves out there deserves. Here’s a little article about the results of the Art Fair from the Topeka Capital Journal: http://cjonline.com/news/2012-06-05/art-fair-awards-and-proceeds-announced
by ruralpearl | May 15, 2012 | Art Fairs & Art Travels
I just received word that I’ve been accepted into the 33rd Annual Art Westport 2012 — an art fair for local artists (that live within 40 miles) in the Westport section of Kansas City, MO, on Sept. 7 – 9. This is my first year to apply because it’s my first year living within the required distance. Exciting!
by ruralpearl | May 14, 2012 | Art Fairs & Art Travels
I had a great weekend in Wichita. I was very honored to receive the award for “Best of Show in Drawing and Illustration”. Thanks to everybody who came out!
The drive home last night was lovely.. driving through the Flint Hills is always awe-inspiring — it seems like the world just sort of unfolds in front of you. I had a few minutes where I wished I could pull over with my camera, but alas, I left it at home.
And now, back to work I go to prep for my next 6 shows (the Mulvane Mountain/ Plains Art Fair is next — the first weekend of June) and finish up my work for the Topeka Library exhibit.
