 Hi there! Thank you for viewing my page and reading my blog. For the most part, I wanted to use this to share in the process of making art. But there is definitely an outcome in mind after the making process! Over the past 6 months, I've been very fortunate to meet some amazing people and show my work in a few different places. In May, I was a vendor in the Kenton Neighborhood Street fair in North Portland. The day was supposed to be beautiful, so I was really excited at having my first street fair experience. As the morning progressed, though, rain crept in and took over for the rest of the day. I was able to meet a few people who ventured out, but didn't sell anything that day.  In July, I showed my work at the Mississippi street fair, also in N. Portland. That experience was wonderful, but very crowded!! There was an estimated 20,000 people there, trolling through tented aisles looking for beer and visual stimuli. Unfortunately, I think several elements prevented people from really making a good profit at street fairs this year. It seems to be a great experience for attendees, but not so great for vendors. On the positive side, I met a great fellow who asked me to show at his first Monday Authors in Pubs event downtown a couple weeks later. Also, I almost ran out of the stock of business cards I brought, so that made for a great networking day!  Authors in Pubs is a monthly event, whereby local writers sign up to stand on stage and read a short piece from their work. Some are published, some are looking for like-minded individuals to critique and help them find their way into the professional writing world. My involvement, however, came from meeting the founder at the Mississippi Street fair a couple weeks prior. I was told that the event has started hosting artists as well for the past few months, just to add some extra conversation piece and possible revenue. My opportunity was at the August 6, 2012 event, where I sold more than both of the previous street fairs combined. It was a wonderful adventure, and the authors there were very talented. If you are in the Portland area, and are interested in seeing what it's all about, please check it out. Authors in pubs is at the Jack London bar (basement of the Rialto Poolroom). SW 4th Ave and Alder. It's a free event every 1st Monday of the month, and they usually have great drink specials, a band, an artist, and some amusing authors to listen to.  I also started a new project with a pottery painting place downtown called Ready, Paint, Fire! They have a canvas painting party every Thursday night, and I signed up to be one of a few artists who host the party and teach people how to paint an entire image in one night. My theme is "tourist Portland", so I've been trying to come up with creative, easy images that aren't all landscapes. This is one I get to do next Thursday, August 30. Below is a bridge I painted with the class a couple weeks ago. So far it's been very fun, the classes are small and it forces me to think about painting in terms of explaining a technique and helping others visualize the painting process in an easier way so they aren't intimidated to finish something beautiful. :)  My next challenge in artistic endeavors comes in preparing work for the Autumn Equinox and Harvest Fair taking place really close to my part of town in SW Portland. It's happening on September 22 and 23 this year. The more I think about it, the more pressure I put on myself to produce some good stuff. Most of my work has a nature theme, anyway, with female figures, trees or leaves and outdoor themes. We'll see what comes of it, and I'll be sure to update with some in-progress pictures!
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