Warm Fuzzies

Over the weekend, I went to the Holiday Art Pop-Up at a local restaurant, The Skillet. If memory serves, this is the 3rd annual pop-up, and I've gone every year. The variety of art on display is always impressive, and it all has special local flavor.

This year, I knew four artists in the pop-up and had a great time chatting with them about their art, their lives, and the future. Supporting artists, especially local women artists, is a passion, and I ended up buying something from each of the artists I knew.

As I walked out of The Skillet I was practically skipping. I felt deeply happy to have spent time with these artists and grateful that I could afford to buy something from each of them. The warm fuzzies generated from those interactions lasted several days.

Dear reader, I think I'm finally starting to understand why people like to hang out with artists! Before now, I was always a little mystified, as artists are normal people. We eat food, sleep, work, have friends and family. But we also have embraced a creative way to express our life experiences, and getting to know artists, their lives, and how they create is fascinating.

In the past, I used to feel a little embarrassed to talk to an artist; I didn't want to say something stupid or insensitive. And I never thought I could afford to buy art from an artist, so I shied away from engaging with them in art fairs, markets, street corners, etc. But now, well, now I plan to talk to them all, everywhere I see them.

And I've realized there really isn't pressure to buy anything; most artists are happy to talk about their art and connect with someone about their practice.

Being seen and appreciated is powerful. And artists need to be seen and appreciated.

If you can buy something, that is fun too. Because once you take it home, every time you see it, you think of your experience with the artist. That memory enriches your life for the entirety of your life, and more than likely will continue to provide warm fuzzies for years to come.

I'd inspired to share what I purchased that warm winter afternoon at The Skillet:

Mug by Taylor Kuiper 

Taylor Kuiper is a young ceramic artist who shows her work at The Corner Art Gallery in Las Vegas. She creates practical items like this mug that fits perfectly in my hands and larger sculptures. All year she's been working on creating her own ceramics studio and is excited to start creating in her personal space.

Print by Estrella Encinias

Estrella Encinias is a young artist who enjoys making art in a multitude of ways: drawing, painting, printmaking, and jewelry making. Her work is at The Corner Art Gallery in Las Vegas, and she does a great job showcasing her artwork on her Instagram: thur.stars.eyes.

The print above was inspired by the letters she received from her uncles while they were incarcerated. She said everything they sent her was covered in beautiful artwork.

Prints on kitchen towels by Nancy Camacho  

Nancy Camacho is a talented printmaker, her designs have powerful graphic elements and tell stories about the experiences, people, cultures, and places that have impacted her life. Nancy often says that her art is her therapy – her artwork expresses her feelings about politics, social issues, or family issues, and she uses a lot of symbolism. Not only is she a printmaker, but she also paints - on tortillas - because they are symbols of her culture and history.

Oil painting by Carrie Williams

Carrie Williams is an atelier-trained oil painter who paints objects and people beautifully with an eye to the darkness and strangeness of our society and world. Her brushwork and technique are expressive and impressionistic, while her understanding of the structure of the person's face or the object is solid and based on real observation. This painting was larger, and the model had something on her head, but Carrie didn't like it, so she cut the painting down, cropping the face off-center and drawing the viewer in. You can see more of her artwork on her Instagram page, carriemarikowilliams.

Just sharing all of this with you has given me MORE warm fuzzies!

Now, I hope you get out and buy art directly from an artist so you can feel warm fuzzies, too. 😊