I’ve got a problem. When I go to art fairs, I tend to lump some artists into Inspiration, Perspiration and Mediation.
Inspiration: I could make that, and I just might.
Perspiration: I would have to work very hard and a long time to afford that.
Mediation: I will have to convince my husband that we need this $500 original portrait of an Edward Gorey-esque Cookie Monster.
Then there is a fourth group of artists that leaves me flummoxed and my digital camera’s flash card empty, artists that are so good at what they does that I feel uncomfortable taking a photograph of their work. Generally these are people doing something so remarkable and so unique that I couldn’t for the life of me duplicate it — ever.
And I want it — oh so bad.
Melissa Stiles is one of those people.
A Portland-based former architect who decided to stay at home with her children and create structural jewelry that might add some really nice lines to my face, Stiles probably had the sexiest stand at the fair. She had a display of scores of sound jewelry designs, every single piece of which I would wear.
Here are a few other fine stand-outs that were really great, but perhaps not so stellar as to induce me into an art-viewer’s stupor:
Kevin Eslinger – I want your Cookie Monster! And not just the $30 print, but the $500 original!
Rachel Austin — I want one of your luminescent map paintings!
And more than anything else, Vicki Banks, I desperately want your $1,300 bronze scarecrow! I look at this woman’s work and it is imminently clear that she is someone who really sees the world.
Also, I would like a scallop-edged forest green medieval-looking bathrobe that makes me feel like Cate Blanchette in Elizabeth. But I need the size large to actually be large enough to fit me.
There were some great artists there. Several new ones that I hadn’t seen before so I got quite a few cards.
I was impressed too. I counted only about five where I thought: Hmmmm. Hobbyist.
Rachael Austen has been making my heart pitter pat on etsy for a good long while. She makes pictures that have both maps AND poppies. Does it get any better? I’m seriously digging your blog, btw.
Thanks, I like to be dug. Rachel Austin is working with lots of images I like. Tents and poppies and maps and birds… If I could I would have a wall of three like-sized paintings of hers.
Hi Emily (I’m Jan & Chris’ friend, we met a few months ago at dinner at their house). I splurged and bought a little tiny Austin painting. Poor Rachel, she had to suffer through the indecision. I ended up with birds on a wire and little white flowers, it matches my bedroom. Love your blog, what a refreshing take on a place I still haven’t fully embraced as “home” after 13 years. I’m going to try harder from now on!
Cara, I think I might have seen you at the fair, but I was being shy… I want a tent/map painting! Or better: three. I think she should sell her line of paintings to Anthropologie.
Looks like we missed you. I was there at the Salem Kiwanis Booth selling pizza.
I know.. it’s kind of blasphemous to sell PIZZA at an ART fair.. let alone Pizza Hut pizza. But hey.. it was a fund raiser, and we do good things. That’s my rationale.