Thoughts on Crested Butte - A Suggestion For Artists

 

 

 

 

The camera simply cannot do it justice.  Sadly, it's the only tool I know how to use.

So last week when we were in Crested Butte it was their official wildflower festival, not that I saw much festival happening, but those "in the know" know that the peak of wildflower season in the wildflower capital of Colorado is the 2nd or 3rd week of July.  It was truly spectacular, fully deserving of the title.  The following week is the painters' festival, so there are also a charming crop of streetside artists, painting away on their little easels.  We like to drive by nice and slow to see what their renditions look like.  I'm sure they love it when we gawp at them out our windows.  (-:

I love a riot of beauty in nature.  What bothers me about nature though, is she just doesn't photograph well (for me, at least).  I spend a week surrounded with spectacular beauty, snapping left and right at every Amsel Adams worthy view I see, only to come home to find a hundred disappointing photos that fall short of the mark.

So here's what I'm thinking.  If you are pulled over in Crested Butte, or wherever your local spot of riotous beauty may be, working on your artistic renditions, why not put a website decal on your car so I can jot it down real quick and buy something from you when I get home?  Or, better yet, open up the hatch to show your work and hang a price.  Do you know how awesome it would be to bring home a painting for a souvenir?  What a great conversation piece, and a fun way to support the work of artists, face to face.  And you know, if you just wanted a way to make a few bucks as an artist, here's an easy scam I would be all to willing to fall right into.  Get really good at painting one spot (when you get tired of that spot, pick a new one).  Paint 15 or whatever of the same scene, and then set up your easel on the side of the road, putting on the finishing touches.  Hang your sign advertising your art is for sale.  When I pull up to admire your work and ask to buy, you can say this, "Well, the paint isn't quite dry, but if you give me your email address, I can send you a paypal invoice when it's finished, and ship it to your home address."  Truly, I wouldn't even care if you had 30 of the exact same painting in your workshop at home. 

What do you think?  Is this a crazy idea?  I guess the other artists across the road might think you were a sell out.  Is that it?  Still, a website would be subtle enough, I would think.

Anyone got a painting of some idyllic scene in Crested Butte they want to sell me?  (-: