I never get a lot of visitors to my home gallery as we are 1km off the highway but this year has been the worst since I opened. However, for the first time I had some locals stop in for a mini lesson and the Watercolour Painting Party I blogged about last week.
The Saturday Afternoon Summer Art Market that I have organized has also been a bit strange. Every Saturday we set up and wait, and wait, and wait for visitors. We have done a lot of promoting on social media, put out rack cards and posters as well as some big signs at the venue but our efforts have been mostly unsuccessful. Visitor numbers and sales have been disappointing but we keep hoping things will improve.
The unsettling part has been due to the fire situation in BC and the high temperatures.
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| looking south across the flats |
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| looking west across the flats |
There have only been a few small fires in the valley and they were quickly handled by the local fire departments and wildfire crews. The closest major fire is about an hour away across the lake at the top of a mountain. It is not endangering people or homes but it is very hard to fight because of the terrain. The biggest fires are many hours away from us but the smoke from all these fires makes its way to our area and makes life difficult. That is what you see in the above photos - there are mountains behind all that smoke haze - and that is what we have been living with for weeks.
We finally had some rain yesterday and a bit today, as well as cooler temperatures although we need a whole lot more of both.
I haven't been doing very much art (too busy organizing things I guess) but I have managed to get a few things done.
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| #1048 - Rough Seas - unframed 8 x 10 acrylic on canvas board |
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| #1044 - Still Life with Blue Vase - unframed 7 x 10 watercolour |
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| #1049 - Dragonfly with Camellia - 5 x7 matted to 8 x 10 quilling and watecolour |
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| enjoying the seeds from the Amaranth Velvet Curtain |
Thanks for stopping by - I hope you will let me know how your summer is going.
Interesting story. I hope things perk up in the gallery for you and the fires stay away - lots of love, Mad x
ReplyDeleteThanks Mad. Everyone here is hoping the same things.
DeleteHey Val, any fire Is too close. The smoke makes it difficult to enjoy the outside as well as not being good for you. It seems the weather is pretty mixed up and the rain is either on or off, floods or drought. You would think after all your snow you would be in the rain pattern. Hoping rain and cooler temps for you
ReplyDeleteHi Nelvia. I agree that any fire is too close; that is what has made things so unsettling. I was thinking the other day that the forests shouldn't be this dry because we has so much snow but I guess 2 months of extreme heat (for us)wiped out the benefit of the snow. We are all keeping our finaglers crossed for more rain. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteSorry to see your sad view Val, very glad to hear no one is in danger, and no homes have been lost. No good breathing that, and I am sure it is affecting your treasured garden time. Wishing for more rain for you all :)
ReplyDeleteLove your little visitor, think he is begging for a portrait, LOL. Glad to see you are getting some creative time in! i love the new bud on your dragonfly, and the baskets and tablecloth on the still life really catch my eye ;)
Really sorry to hear that your market has not been improving. Have you thought about maybe trying a few weekends in the fall? Or next spring? It is such a great idea, I hope you are able to give it another go and I hope for better attendance :)
Wish you well!
Thank you so much Sheila for your concern. Yes, the smoke has impacted my garden time but others have it worse so I am counting my blessings. My husband said I should paint our visitor's portrait but I figure I have the photo so I don't need to - lol. I am glad you like the paintings. About the market, yes, I have thought about doing some days in the fall but there are so many other things happening then that I won't have time. We are, however, thinking about something for next year. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteSo sorry to hear that the fire is so nearby. Hopefully it will be contained soon. The smoke affects so much including the air quality. I'm also sorry to hear that your art market hasn't been too successful. It is so hard to get something new started. Will you continue to hold it through the fall? I like your new pieces, especially the quilled one. I still find those so fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThanks Joan. Unfortunately, the worst fires near us are in very steep terrain and very hard to fight so until we get a few days of rain I thin we will have to live with the smoke. We won't be continuing with the art market in the fall as there are too many other things happening and the tourist numbers dwindle. I am glad you like my new work, especially the quilled pieces. I am having fun playing with them and making them fancier. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteSorry to hear your having a slump in business and also having to deal with the smoke. Hoping things settle soon and you'll be able to see those beautiful mountains again.
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy, thanks for you comments. We have had a few cooler days which has been great but we really need some rain to help with the fires and the smoke. As for the business - in art it is always a chancy thing and all you can do is your best. Have a great day!
DeleteAnd still it continues...we can only hope the rains come. Love your boat painting, my friend!
ReplyDeleteThanks Win - we had about 3 minutes of rain so far this morning - hoping for more!
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