I just spent the weekend in New Smyrna Beach and it was awesome. The turnout of art patrons was truly unbelievable. What made it more remarkable was the fact it was a 3 day event. I met more than a few patrons who attended all three days. By the end of the third they hugged me like an old friend who was moving away. :) Not to even mention how beautiful the weather was.... Overall it was a really a fun weekend and I look forward to next year!
Boca Raton Fine Art Show - Jan 24 & 25 2015
I am headed south for the winter. :) Boca Raton will be my first show of 2015 and I think it's a wonderful place to start!! Last year was unexpectedly good for me and my work and so I have high hopes for the coming 12 months.
Boca Raton is another new town for me. I must admit that, in all my years in Florida, I have only driven past it on my way from Jacksonville to Miami. :) But now I am excited to stop there and spend the weekend. I am sure both the people and the weather will be delightful (it's South Florida in January right?!) So if you are there please come and visit. Thanks!
Post script: My complete winter schedule is Boca Raton Jan 24-25, New Smyrna Beach Jan 30 - Feb 1, and Mount Dora Feb 7-8. Looking forward to each event!
The Resident - San Marco Art Festival
My mother-in-law lives in San Marco, and she came across a write up of the San Marco Art Festival in their community newspaper, The Resident. My dad and I were both included, so you could say that we are kind of sort of a teeny tiny bit famous now:) Below is a snip from the paper. Here is a link to the paper's website where you can view the whole edition online. http://www.residentnews.net/
San Marco Art Festival
I am in my home town this weekend. I've always loved San Marco. It's the perfect place in Jacksonville to host a festival (no offense to downtown or Riverside! :) ). The weather was chilly but nice yesterday. Today will be beautiful and I'm gonna enjoy it!
Downtown Gainesville
What a great time!! And I was lucky enough to get a award for my art....
Downtown Festival and Art Show - Gainesville, FL
I'll be in Gainesville on Saturday and Sunday - Nov 8-9 for the 33rd annual Downtown Festival and Art show. Aside for some overnight rain on Saturday, the weather looks to be absolutely lovely (I admit to being cold in Atlanta last weekend ;) ). Here is the festival website: http://www.gvlculturalaffairs.org/website/programs_events/DFAS/downtown_art_fest.html
Last year I attended this event (only as an art lover not a participating artist) with my dad and my oldest son. All three of us loved it. My son ended up buying a print from the artist Eddie Myers (love his work). It's always fun to watch as one of my children finds something at a show that really speaks to them. Here is a link to the artist's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ArtOfEddieMyers
So come if you can, it should be a great time!
Chastain Park Arts Festival-Nov 1st and 2nd
Back to Atlanta and it's gonna be cold. I am very excited! I love Chastain Park and I am really looking forward to the weekend. I do hope that the Saturday chill doesn't keep people at home. Hopefully, since it's still early in the season it will be fun and give us an early holiday kind of feeling. haha....that sounds silly but it's possible. :)
The festival website is here http://www.chastainparkartsfestival.com/ I am at booth #158. It's close to the parking lot and amphitheatre. Please stop by if you are in Atlanta.
Lastly, they incorporated my piece, "Unspoken" into their festival poster. I love it! Take a look.
Ocala Arts Festival!
I am in Ocala this weekend! It's such a quaint and lovely setting right in historic downtown Ocala. The weather is beautiful and I really couldn't ask for more! :)
I've been able to walk around and look at all of the art and it's really impressive. There are so many great artists here! It's a huge honor to me that I was selected to show my work with them. Here's to a great Sunday!
Atlanta Arts Festival Recap
Thank you Atlanta! That sums up my feelings after last weekend's Atlanta Art's Festival. It was both fun and productive, which is what I always hope for. Plus the weather on Sunday was so nice. It was overcast but not raining and almost chilly. After a long hot Florida summer it felt wonderful. I can't wait for Fall.
Final note on the festival - the author for the Wanderlust Atlanta blog included a blurb on me in his recap of the festival. That was a nice surprise. Even my husband Toby got a mention! :) Here is the link.
http://www.wanderlustatlanta.com/2014/09/atlanta-arts-festivals-artists-share.html
I now get a bit of a break before the next show. Below is my schedule for the rest of the 2014. Hope to see you in my booth sometime! Thanks to everyone!
- Ocala Art Festival - Oct 25-26 - Ocala, FL
- Chastain Park Arts Festival - Nov 1-2 - Atlanta, FL
- Downtown Festival and Art Show - Nov 8-9 - Gainesville, FL
- San Marco Art Festival, Nov 15-16 - Jacksonville, FL
Lazy Days and Piedmont Recap - Plus looking ahead
So, I am a little slow in posting following the back to back weekends in Atlanta and Cary, NC. I'm sure you know how it is. :)
First - the Piedmont Park Arts Festival. The park itself was super. It's everything you want from a park in a big urban setting. Perfect really. For me and my art, the festival was fun and successful. I was even lucky enough to get 3rd place overall!
Second - Lazy Daze, Cary, NC. Loved it. It's a Saturday only event (which I had never done before) and I think that made it just that much busier. My booth was constantly full and I was able to meet so many people who seemed to be genuine fans of my work. Overall, it was great both in terms of selling my art and also just meeting cool people.
Up next - Atlanta Arts Festival Sept 13-14 Piedmont Park. As I mentioned in an earlier post I am headed back to Piedmont Park in mid-September. So...hopefully the weather will be slightly cooler and will I see some familiar faces. ;)
Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival - Aug 23rd
This weekend I am making the trip to Cary, NC! I am very excited. I've never shown my work in North Carolina. I basically love the state and frequently dream of moving there. Maybe one day...
The festival takes place in the historic downtown part of Cary, which is just outside of Raleigh. I love Atlanta but taking my art to somewhere new is always special. Wish me luck! Below is a link to their website.
Atlanta Arts Festival
Atlanta! Clearly, I am loving that city lately. September 13 & 14 I will be taking part in the Atlanta Arts Festival. The festival is in Piedmont Park which means it will be back to back for me (don't forget the Piedmont Park Arts Festival on Aug 16-17).
And even better news is my piece And Everything's Quiet was chosen as their 2014 commemorative poster. http://www.atlantaartsfestival.com/poster_2014.php
So....see you there!
Piedmont Park Art Festival
Back to Atlanta! :) I am taking part in the 5th annual Piedmont Park Art Festival on the 16th and 17th of August. Even though I've been to Atlanta countless times in my life I don't think I've ever been to Piedmont Park. Apparently, it’s right downtown and the biggest park in the whole city...so, kinda puzzling how I've missed it. Hmmm....that might be like a metaphor for my whole life! haha....bear with me.
The Saturday hours are 10am-6pm and Sunday is 11am-6pm. Admission is free. The address is 1215 Piedmont Avenue, Atlanta GA 30309. If you are in the neighborhood please come by my booth. All of my new work from the summer will be there.
Here's a link to the festival website. www.piedmontparkartsfestival.com
Buckhead Update
I had the greatest time in Buckhead! Chastain Park is such a beautiful place - shaded, hilly, and really lush given the winter I know they had. It was the perfect backdrop for an art festival. For the second festival in a row I received an award! This time it was the 'Director's Choice' award. I am very grateful.
Also, on Saturday, HGTV's David Bromstad stopped by my booth! He gave me compliments on my work and said he was 'obsessed' with Blue Moon (which later sold). It was nice to hear and chatting with him for a second was very cool!
Lastly, I had a number of pieces sell and I've updated the website to reflect that. Here's to a productive summer!
Buckhead Spring Arts & Crafts Festival - May 10th-11th
I will being heading up to Atlanta the second weekend of May for the Buckhead Spring Arts and Crafts Festival. The festival is held in Chastain Park on Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday hours are 10am-6pm and Sunday 11am-6pm. Admission is free. The address is 4469 Stella Drive, Atlanta GA 30327. Here is some more info from the festival website and a link.
The fifth annual Buckhead Spring Arts and Crafts Festival is a two day Atlanta outdoor event with an emphasis on the visual arts. The event will feature up to 185 fine painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal workers, glass blowers, jewelers and more! The festival will also offer visitors the opportunity to view artist demonstrations, enjoy live entertainment, participate in hands-on art activities, and enjoy festival food and beverages.
Shrimp Fest Update
The Shrimp Festival was so much fun. We met so many terrific people, found new patrons, and even won an award...which was super nice. My newest piece, Wanderer, got first place in the 2-D mixed media category. And as fortune would have it, it then later sold to a very lovely, interesting, and funny couple...like I said, what a wonderful weekend!
Isle of 8 Flags Shrimp Festival - May 3rd - 4th
For the weekend of May 3rd-4th I will be one of the exhibiting artists in the upcoming Isle of 8 Flags Shrimp Festival. It is held in the downtown historic district of Fernandina Beach, FL. My booth will be right on Centre Street so for all who can make it I should be easy to find. I am really looking forward to it especially because my dad, Don McDowell, will also be an exhibiting artist! He is a welded steel artisan and sculptor. Below is a link to his blog. We are both very excited to be presenting our work in the same show.
http://mcdowellsculpture.blogspot.com/
Below is some more info from the festival website and a link.
The first Shrimp Festival was held in 1964 to celebrate the traditional blessing of the shrimp fleet – once a major industry on beautiful, historic Amelia Island. Up to 150,000 people attend annually during the weekend event to enjoy fine food, fine art and special activities. The Island Art Association (IAA) sponsors the arts and crafts portion of the festival in conjunction with the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival Committee. Annually about 325 artists and craftsmen are juried by IAA into the show. The arts and crafts exhibit has been consistently recognized as one of the best art events in North America by Sunshine Artist Magazine and has been ranked in the Top 200 many times in recent years.
Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival - April 5th - 6th
Hey everyone! I'm going to be one of the exhibiting artists in the upcoming Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival! It is held in the downtown historic district of Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 5th and Sunday April 6th. There will be a coinciding jazz and blues concert on Saturday so that's pretty cool as well. Feel free to come to Gainesville and pay me a visit!
Below is some more info from the festival website and a link as well.
The Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival transforms downtown Gainesville's historic NE 1st Street and the Thomas Center Lawn into an international destination April 5th and 6th. Top artists from all over the United States and abroad present sculpture, printmaking, painting, 2-D and 3-D mixed media, jewelry, photography, drawing, watercolor, wood,fiber and glass artworks. Spring Arts is a juried show with more than $20,000 in awards and purchase awards. More than 130,000 visitors are expected to attend each year.