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!
