It’s Spring! Dance and Sing!
Great things are happening! In sharing this post, I hope you will be inspired to persevere and never give up. Good things take time.
The Youtube channel just reached 3000 subscribers – it’s crazy! Kudos to my nephew, Jake Phillips, who got the idea started about a year ago.
My first big time art show was a complete success and a great learning experience, as scary things usually are. You can read more below.
I’m starting a new painting for the online school today. It’s a surprise!
The next show will be at Eagle Nest Gallery at Nazareth High School in Nazareth, PA. I’ll be teaming up with two friends and former colleagues – Suzanne Oswald and Mike Daddario, to display our work during the month of April. If you look at the website, you will see their names, but I’ll be there too.
Here’s the story of Saturday, if you need a boost in confidence…
The North Penn Select Craft Show is one of the finest traditional and contemporary craft shows in the Mid-Atlantic region, attracting artists from 14 states. There were over 95 artists and crafters, featuring all kinds of unique items.
It was an honor to be selected. And unnerving.
When my husband and I entered on Friday to set up, the self-doubt kicked in.
I felt overwhelmed and humbled – like a fish out of water – like gummy bears on pizza – like a kindergartner among high schoolers – totally out of my element.
Everything was professionally done- sleek looking walls, all kinds of shelving and inviting displays, and everyone had lighting – except me.
I had grid walls covered with burlap lined with material from a cut-up curtain using a glue gun – not enough walls to fill my area. And no lights. My heart was sinking, despite my husband’s attempts to provide moral support. I couldn’t sleep that night, although, with coffee, I felt better in the morning and did the 45-minute drive through snow, giving myself pep talks the whole time.
In a nutshell, there was no reason to worry, as is often the case.
Everyone, from the student assistants to the adult organizers and the artists, was friendly, helpful, and welcoming. Absolutely no sense of competition. And there was free coffee in the morning.
I sold a large painting before the show even started – that piano above my sign.
It was fun to demonstrate this lion painting – it drew people into the booth.
Here is what I heard all day from everyone:
- “Welcome to the show”
- “Your work fits in perfectly”
- “Are you coming back in November?”
It was an honor to participate and share ideas with with two veteran watercolor artists whom I admire: Andy Smith and Keith Mountford.
And, best of all, one of my former students – Shirley Petko – stopped in at the end of the show! We had a great visit and she helped to tear down – I can’t thank her enough!
Shirley is a wonderfully interesting young woman, a globetrotter, historian, and writer. I love to read her blog about her world travels, and admire her adventurous spirit.
So the day was a resounding success – I’m sending my registration to participate in the November show, and this time there will be lights and more walls!
Thanks for reading to the end, and I hope this inspires you to keep moving forward and don’t listen to those negative voices – they are wrong!
Looking forward to warm weather!
Awesome! Congratulations!!!!
Thank you Jane!