Street Festival Scenes

Pictured below is my "booth", first time ever to be put up. It was very windy all day, many times I thought of a piece flying off and impaling the back of my head!!!! No pieces ever fell, price tags were snowing however.

Some of the Madison Belles passing by, loved there hooped skirts and parasols.

Paintings from booth across from mine, she won best work in festival.

This was just two booths down, stained glass, beautiful work. She won best booth.

The sweet man right beside me had oil landscapes.

Not too far from Artist Alley was the children's area, this was towards the back end of it.

The view to my left.

We had a blast watching all the babies and dogs walk by, VolleyGirl stayed with me all day. These two were interacting right beside us. Didn't sell much, several snowman orders. It was definitely a learning experience. None of the photos are from Main street which was the major road for the festival. These are from around the section for art dubbed "Artist Alley". I didn't venture too far and leave VolleyGirl, figured that would be the time someone would have questions! May be participating in another on October 16th IF they accept me. I will be creating some more Christmas pieces, finish my 8x8 painting, more snowmen, one from all the SEC teams and particularly schools nearby. More zentangles. Would like to have a couple of more paintings but probably will not have the time. If you want to see some of the pieces finished up for the festival see my previous post.

Final Approach!

18x24 acrylic painting

Literally finished this 20 minutes ago and will get it framed later today. This is totally different theme and style from what I usually do, it just kept popping up in my head so I gave in to it. This style was much faster to paint of course except for the black lines. Yesterday I painted, got that all important haircut, purchased a canopy (got the salesperson to take off $30), purchased S hooks and curtain hooks, plastic poultry "wire", son made a form for me, have business cards/holder out, notebook/pen ready, ropped off 5 paintings to be framed (are ready!) finished the university snowmen and sketched a Santa hat for color pencil.
8x10 graphite and color pencil
I already have a possible five snow piece orders. Going to paint on my 8x8 painting, frame some drawings here, pick up framed pieces, get my tablecloth and set up the canopy and table this evening at the festival!

4x5 graphite and color pencil

I am beginning to get a bit nervous and excited.

8x10 graphite and color pencil

Hoping to get all of it completed and get a half decent night of sleep since I have stayed up the past two night past 1:00 drawing. Would be nice to get to a place where I feel able to take a break and catch up leaving comments.

Panefully, Furiously Working...

Sorry for not getting around to everyone's sites yet...hopefully will during a break later on. I am working away on this 18x24 painting right now. Yet to do, finish the 8x8 paingting, four small color pencil pieces, create two more larger color pencil pieces, finish a zentangle (would like to have another), endless framing, pick up my frames, canopy, display supplies, signs, tablecloth, keeping the washing machine humming so as not to get behind.....and importantly a HAIRCUT tomorrow!!!!!!! Yeah, no problem. Did I mention VolleyGirl is ill and out of classes today, a mom's gotta pamper still......

Snow People Get Personal

7x9 graphite and color pencil on bristol

My niece's family is the subject of this snow family that will serve as an example of how I can personalize snowmen for orders to be taken at the street festival this Saturday or anytime. (Wow, that sentence was a mouthful!) The color isn't completely true in this photo, there is no blue on it at all but you get the idea. Will tweak the "Lego" buttons on the left snowman a bit and check for other places that may need it, might add a very light blue background. Can you figure out each one's interests? Before reading further, see if you can.

Starting from the left, little 5 yr. old "Eli" loves swords, Legos, "Link" from the Legend of Zelda (hat) and pizza with black olives. His dad is a big Vanderbilt University fan, my niece is all about books, cooking and gardening. Finally, 6 yr. old "Finn" loves robots, Super Mario Kart (hat and wii remote), soccer and basketball.

Above is the black/white 8x8 painting in progress, this is the finished background. I am a little further along now. Started an 18x24 painting yesterday afternoon in one of my many moments of insanity. It is a pretty simple design and probably won't be that impressive to most but it is something that continued appearing in my mind (that right there is a red flag!). Thinking it would be fast to paint and I wanted a larger painting for Saturday. Actually, it's off to a good start.....will save it for tomorrow! Again, I can't express the encouragement your kind comments give this uncertain artist, especially after going to the art show on the mountain the other weekend. Nervous about setting up among the other artists. Later, the painting (and the washer) beckons!!!!

"I'm a pepper, you're a pepper, wouldn't you like to..."

8x10 acrylic on canvas board

Finished this painting in record time for me, completing both the tomato and this one in a week. I paint at a snail's pace but those new brushes I purchased after finishing the landscape have already been helpful. Presently I am working on an 8x8 in shades of black and white that I started during the ballgame Saturday. Also, working on a color pencil of my niece's family in snowmen to be my sample to take orders for personalized snow people at the street festival. Thanks to each of you that stops by and leaves a comment, it is a great source of encouragement for me. Your precious time is appreciated.

The pulled pork was a hit....awesome, another recipe to add to the list!!!! First time I had made it....there are a couple of picky eaters here. If anyone would like the super easy recipe, let me know! Busy week, much more to do!

You say "tomato", I say "to-mah-to"

Saturday!!!!! I put a pork butt (pardon me) in the crock pot before bed and later today we will have pulled pork sandwiches. Making vinegar slaw and baked beans in a couple of hours, need to come up with a dessert for the gang...hmmmm. Great ballgame today, Alabama vs. Arkansas.......roll tide! Hope to start another painting, lucky if I finish it by next Saturday though. I finished this 8x10 acrylic tomato this week and will post it's companion...the green pepper.... next, finished it yesterday. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

'Tis the Season To Prepare for the Season

Preparing Christmas pieces for the street festival in color pencil. The snowman is roughly 8x6. I plan to do a couple of more with our most popular college team attire on and also offer customized snow families.

I like doing the ornaments, will probably do a couple of more, simpler though and some of the old fashion Christmas string lights as well. This one is 8x10. Also hope to get a scarecrow or two and maybe a pumpkin or two, neither very large. No, it hasn't put me in the Christmas mood!

Fruits of My Labor

Finished this 8x10 acrylic painting just before the painting I am working on now. I have been committed, uh, er, that was supposed to be I have committed to participate in our local street festival Oct. 1st and am furiously working on more pieces. My painting is slow and would like to have one or two more in addition to pencil, color pencil and some ink work. This strawberry is a companion piece to the banana painting below. May try to do another pair, haven't decided what yet. Tomato and lettuce? Green and red grapes? Peppers? We'll see.

Happy Tuesday everyone!!!
8x10 acrylic