Art Shows And Being Home (For Now)

The past few weeks I've been running around and participating in art shows around the Long Beach area.  It's been great meeting and chatting with people that come across my little art space.

Before returning home, I became used to being on the road for months at a time while moving from one place to another on a daily basis.  People often ask me what it's like to be home.  It's nice to be in one spot and knowing where I will sleep and remembering where I am when I wake up.  Sometimes on the road, each day was almost a surprise since I didn't stay long in one spot.  I got used to driving around and seeing new things, but being in one space has benefits as well.

I still am not sure how long I will stay.

I love the quote from Elliott Erwitt: "Nothing happens when you stay at home."  It's true for the most part but since I've been out and about in shows, I've talked to more people in the past week then I have in about a year.

It takes a certain personality to show their art to the world and stand next to it.  I have a new respect for artists that travel with their work for a living.  It can be exhausting but in the end, it's rewarding and pushes your comfort zone, which is always a good thing.  I grew up going to art shows and fairs with my mother as a child and at the time I didn't appreciate how much went into it.  Most likely because I was looking for something to do to keep me entertained as any child would. A lot of the time I would just hide under the table and scare people with a spider puppet by their feet.  I suppose I thought it was funny but I am sure my mother didn't think so at the time. Dang kids...

I had a wonderful time at "ALLOW" at the Avia hotel this past weekend and the First Friday art walk in Long Beach the previous weekend.  Currently, I also have pieces displayed at the coffee shop, Sipology. Since I've been putting together finished pieces with photographs already taken on my trip, I haven't had the time to go out and shoot as much as I'd like.  That will change.  I look forward to shooting more in the upcoming months and sharing those images with you.  In the meantime, if you need a last minute gift, I will pack it up and send directly to the person you buy it for with their name on it for Christmas on my etsy site. I also post upcoming events and new photographs on my facebook fan page HERE. :)


As far as Max goes, I think he's happy to be home.

Long Beach 2nd Saturday Art Walk

In my quest for saying yes to new opportunities and doing things I've never done before, I can check off participating in an art walk from that list.  Lastnight, I showed up with 30+ other artists to display work along the downtown streets of the Long Beach Arts District.  I've been to the art walk as a watcher and stroller but never as an artist.  As you can imagine, it is a completely different experience.

I love going to fairs and art walks and at times, you can get lost in the strolling and browsing through art and sometimes, you might not see or engage with the artist.  It's interesting to be on the other side.  It can be a little vulnerable putting your work out there in the open for everyone to see and make comments on.  It's always nice when you have people who come and say nice things, which I was lucky enough to have.  I am grateful to have people come and see my art in person and hear comments like, "your photographs look much better in person than they do on the web."  Whew, that's a relief!  I would hate for it to be the other way around.

Since it was my first art walk, I wasn't sure what to expect.  I had a 10x10 space, so to see how much space that really is, I got out some sidewalk chalk and measured the space and marked it in my backyard and mocked up an art show at home before the art show on the street.  I suppose I like to be prepared.  I didn't have a tent or anything fancy...just a few easels, tables and lots of photographs.

Participating in an art fair gives you an idea of what people like to look at and what they don't.  I love to people watch but it's an interesting feeling of watching people watching you and your work.  All art is vulnerable and showing it to strangers is even more so.  I am grateful to everyone that took the time to come out to say hello and for the new people I met that didn't know I was going to be there. Thank you to everyone who said hello to me.

I can now check this off of my life experience list.  Now... on to the next exciting adventure!