thoughts, works and occasional videos

So, off to your first multi-day event?   Take note.  It is amazing what can go wrong so here is a checklist and a bit of advice.

Checklist:

1. Bring every bit of painted clothing you have.  Hours of weather: humidity, sweat, rain (location dependent) and or cold, spilt coffee or painting medium…will leave you wanting several clean sets to change into.
2. Boots, hiking and or rain (environment dependent) with good support.  Duct tape never hurts in case the weather and age gets the best of them.
3. Sunscreen and bug spray (season and location dependent) and maybe even bear spray (based on recent posts I’ve seen online).  By the way, check out non-toxic mixes such as peppermint and clove oils.  But no sweet perfumes if in bear country. 
4. Food: Pb and j along with bread (unless in bear country!) anda knife for spreading it.  Bears and bees do love honey, that is a no go! 
5. Water bottle.
6. A hat that holds against wind as well as sun and gloves (painting gloves and gloves for warmth).  It is amazing what can go wrong. .
7. Painting umbrella …you won’t believe how bright the sun makes your colors look.  When you take the painting inside,  your heart may fall into your stomach at how dull it now appears.
8. Maybe a stool, even if you don’t normally use one.  13 hour days can be long if you are like me.  Talking of which, bring an antihistamine and check out what poison ivy and sumac look like in case you want to sit on the ground to paint.   If in snake territory, check out types/images of indigenous snakes and keep your hands out of rock crevices, rock tops if hiking and any dark places.  Nothing like the added pitter patter of a racing heart after an incident.
9. Check to be sure your frames fit the canvases. This is very important   (display apparatus and mats if using papers, etc) before leaving home!!  The night before the show, when I thought I could relax, I spent two hours whittling the inside of my frames with a mat knife because they were 1/16 of an inch too small for the paintings that were SUPPOSEDLY sized the same!
10.  Don’t forget your pochade box, pastels, watercolor supplies, etc  …it is amazing what we can forget when anxious about a new experience such as the ‘first event’!)
11.  Business cards in your shirt pocket in case you hike off leaving everything but the necessities in the car.  Postcards or other marketing material you may have.
12.  If oil painting and usually use a rolling cart, check out backpacks with wheels in case you want to go off trail.  You may well explore new terrain during this event.
13.  If you are staying in a dorm, check beforehand to see if you should bring your own bedding and towels so you don’t unnecessarily load up your car.  If in a home, never hurts to check as well.
14.  It may not hurt to have a back-up easel.  Am I going overboard?
15.  Extra hanging hardware (eyescrews, d-rings or other, wire) and a screwdriver.  Point driver and points if using one, stapler, etc.  It never hurts to carry a hammer. 
16.  Extra screws and wing nuts if using a French Easel. It is a pain in the neck to waste time finding a hardware store when you are trying to paint!
17.  Make sure you have enough solvents and double check your paint colors. (Viridian, anyone?) , palette, palette knives, brushes, rags and bungee cords for tying things down if the wind picks up.  (they even hold paintings onto easels)
18.  This is a great time to try nocturnes if you have never done one so bring lights for this occasion.  They can always serve as a back-up flashlight.
19.  And last but not least, a camera with extra batteries and/or the battery charger.  It will be fun to record your progress and your paintings on location.  Also, in case your painting/s sell, you want photos for your files.
20.  Oops, final addition to the list: cell phone with chargers, spare tire if driving along with warm clothing for nights if you get stuck somewhere and the temperature drops (location dependent).

Advice:

1. Many going who know the area may not attend get-togethers; but especially if you are going alone to this event, go to whatever get-togethers the venue  offers.  Any familiar face during your stay makes for a much nicer time.
2. If you are not a real experienced painter, really take note of the difference between cloudy days and sunny days.  One location can be boring on a cloudy day but when the sun comes out it basks in light and shadows.  Push those grays on a cloudy days to emphasize it’s subtleties.  On sunny days, enjoy the colors!
3. On the second day of my first event I thought I would never do this again (The pressure did affect my art.  It is hard to define, but it tightened me up).  By the end of the event I left saying  ‘See you next year’!  (It did not hurt that I made some nice sales)
4. Take your thick skin with you.  Judging is always fickle.  Art truly is in the eye of the beholder.  One judge looks for a great frame, another looks for technical expertise, and another creativity with the full range in-between.  What is said is not always true and there can also be politics involved.  Welcome to life.
5. Stay safe and have fun.  It is exciting, nerve-wracking and fun.  Welcome to a whole new ballgame and for some who get bitten by the bug… the world of plein-air event junkies.