Ventura

Last Saturday was spent in Ventura, California, at the first Ventura Art Festival.  It was my first art festival, too.  I have attended many art festivals, but this was the first one where I was one of the artists selling my works to the crowds, so it seemed fitting that I started with the first year of Ventura's Art Festival.  It was such a magnificent day!  Tina Bluefield and I got there with a loaded up vw van at the dark, early hour of 6 am.  We unloaded and set up our booths in the cold, damp morning air.  By 8:30 am, we had things looking pretty good, and were ready for the day, and for some caffeine!  We were fortunate enough to be on the sunny side of the tent, and I was happy for the warmth of the sun.

The Ventura Chamber of Commerce did such a wonderful job of organizing this event.  There were many volunteers ready to watch our booths if we needed to escape for bathroom breaks or food.  There was food and coffee.  There was live music!  There was a steady stream of people, strolling by.  What more could we have asked for???  I feel that my first art festival was a great success.  I managed to set up a booth with my art, hang prices, engage people and tell them about my art without too much stuttering, and I even sold some things.  I also had the privilege of meeting one of the followers of this blog!  How cool is that?  (If you are reading this, Terri, "hi!")  The festival lasted until 6 pm, and then we tore it all down.  Gordita the vw van was loaded from floor to ceiling with art once more, and we went in search of some food before driving to the hotel room and collapsing in a heap.  It was a long but rewarding day.  Tina even won the Best of Show for one of her large paintings!!!   Here is a photo of Tina with her booth, which was right next to mine.  Doesn't she look great?

I would like to shout out a big thank you to the volunteers and the organizers of the Art Festival!  I was glad I came, and I hope to come back next year.