Traverse City Chocolate Festival
"Salted Caramel" Getting started
"Salted Caramel" Getting started
"Salted Caramel" in progress
"Salted Caramel" Almost completed.
The Traverse City Chocolate Festival marked a big milestone. I have
wanted to do live painting events for some time now and finally got the
courage to book one. Because we artists tend to be our own worst
critics, we often construct barriers in our own minds that keep us from
unusual opportunities to expand our audience. But with a little help
from fellow artists, we can learn to recognize them as self-imposed and
take steps to shift our thinking. I've read some great articles put out
by Fine Art Views, and of course art business consultant Maria Brophy,
that have helped me to break through those barriers and I feel free!
I've had so many 'ah-hah! moments in the last year that it's hard to
know where to start. One of the biggest came while I painted a chilly
chocolaty salted caramel drink at the Chocolate Festival last week.
I really had no idea what to expect as I prepared to paint as part of
the entertainment for the crowd there. Would anyone want to talk to a
plus-sized grey-haired woman...or even notice? Would they think it was
weird? Would someone criticize my work or scorn my methods? Would I be
able to finish or almost finish by the end of the short day? Would I
even be able to talk and paint at the same time? These kinds of
misgivings can short-circuit creativity and motivation, but because of
those great articles I mentioned earlier, by the time the doors opened
and the crowd flooded in, I had convinced myself that it didn't matter.
I was there to paint, chat with guests, and hopefully get a few people
to sign up for my email newsletter. That was all I needed to focus on
and the nervousness dissolved as I began to paint.
As it turned out, people were VERY interested and I had many
opportunities to discuss my work with people. Most who came by took a
business card. Quite a few said yes to the newsletter. But perhaps the
most enjoyable part was that I got to hear other people's stories.
There was a dad encouraging his daughter to talk with a real live
working artist because of her own interests in art. Shy at first, she
soon loosened up and became quite animated. There was the woman who
stood by watching silently and respectfully for a long time before she
wandered over for a closer look, yet never spoke. Then two teenage
girls peppered me with great questions about everything from how I made
the caramel look so real to how I kept the paint off my black clothes.
A few people asked if the painting was available. The lady who won my
door prize stopped by to thank me and I gladly wrote her a note on the
back of the small painting to commemorate the moment. I felt like a
consarned celebrity! The whole atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant as a
steady stream of people stopped by to watch, ask questions, and share
their thoughts. Yet with all that activity, the painting was almost
completely finished when we packed up. It will be dry enough to sell as
a new work in a few weeks.
Will I do this again? You bet your life I will! I've already been
invited back for next year. Plans for making it bigger and better are
already churning around in my head. Besides, I got to spend a weekend
away with my best friend, visit family on the way, and sample great
chocolate. I don't know about you, but I'd call that a success!
Whisper Of Light 8" x 8"
Whisper Of Light 8" x 8"
"Whisper Of Light" will soon be dry enough to share with the public as
a new available work. Ever wondered what would happen if a butterfly
wandered into the house?
If you are interested in purchasing it, let me know. Of course, if you
are on my newsletter subscriber list, you are automatically notified
before the general public.
Coming In May: Free drawing for a small painting, open to subscribers
only.
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