Over our 15 years of selling art at the outdoor fairs (those white tent affairs), I received a huge education on various topics related to art and being a pop-up vendor. In the beginning, I never expected to see these same folks again, but it turns out many artists schedule similar road tours from year to year or have success in certain locations, so they repeat.
Thus, Jay and I became friends with some very talented people and even exchanged art with some of them. The hand-crafted lamp in our living room is a cherished memory of Tom Sayre’s excellent wood turning skills that he gave us in return for a drawing Jay did of him.
We received free CDs from guitar musicians, Greg Hanson and Darren Skanson, who often played in Breckenridge where we were showing art. We loved their live music and could enjoy it again back home. (Still do!)
One of our treasured friends is a gifted painter residing in Kansas whom we met at a restaurant during a brief rain stoppage in Breckenridge. We have visited his home and enjoyed a chat in, of all places, Minneapolis, one of the top-rated shows in the country. He and Jay enjoy phone calls to catch up and commiserate.
My husband often shopped the jewelry booths on his breaks and thus I received some outstanding one-of-a-kind earrings and pendants. I love the fact that we know the creators personally.
While the artist is required to be present in the booth 100% of these shows, wives are not. In the art business, I am “Vice President of Other Stuff” which means everything from scheduling shows, paying taxes, keeping the website current, editing the monthly newsletter, keeping the artist on schedule, and other duties as required.
At the festivals during slow times, I could wander, meet artists, ask questions, and get quite an art education. When we launched the art business, I started at ground zero. I had no knowledge of the various mediums, how to properly mat drawings, where to acquire information about art festivals … let’s just say I was truly a newbie.
I was curious about the processes of creating items like hand painted silk scarves and batik. The various styles of pottery always fascinated me. A very few people work in paper crafts that end up as sculpture type creations. A few artists specialize in American Native art and I could watch them paint at their booths.
What is print making? How did this artist produce an etching? Tell me more about watercolor. Certainly, I did not become an expert, but gained a huge appreciation for the depth of skill required for each of these specialties.
We’ve met talented sheep milk sourced soap and lotion makers right here in Meeker and I order some every year for friends. Over in nearby DeBeque, a framer using real wood has also become a tremendous resource and buddy. And a Rifle resident is an awesome poet published in Colorado Outdoors.
In addition to the art festivals, Jay attended a few classes and is again attending online workshops with world-renowned English artist Mike Sibley. This man has published astounding books about how to draw. Plus, he is very gracious with his time, giving feedback to Jay from across the ocean. We count him as a treasured friend.
We hold high regard for all of these artists’ talents. The art world has opened some amazing doors for Jay and me and I am grateful for the ways in which art has enriched our lives.
By KAYE SULLIVAN – Special to the Herald Times
