With being the Official Artist of 2009 HITS Ocala, I was fortunent to get a week in "vendor row" to set up a booth and try to drum up some commissions. In the years past, the weather has been anything from too hot, too cold, too windy and almost always, too rainy. This past week we had everything, but the too hot. I remember one year when the VIP tent by the Grand Prix ring came crashing down from one of Florida's famous winter/spring storms. So with all that in mind, I took the opportunity to deck out my utility trailer and make it a mobile gallery. On Monday, I emptied it out and painted the walls. Tuesday I laid the carpet, packed it back up and set up for the week ahead. With a little music from my ipod, furniture made for small spaces and paintings hung on the wall, I felt very secure and "out of the elements" painting away in my new mobile gallery.
I have to admit, this was better than sitting at a weekend art show waiting for someone to come in my booth to buy a painting. First of all, I know so many people on the show grounds, I felt like I was home. And even in the middle of the day, when riders and trainers were at the ring, there was a lot going on to keep me entertained while I finished a portrait and almost finished a landscape. Out of the wind, the sun and on Sunday, the rain.
I had a really incredible show. And I have to admit, I love my little trailer.
