I hung a cafe show yesterday. It's my second self hung show. The first one was so easy, aside from the nerves of being the first. This one. .Well, let me tell you what I learned.

1. When you scout the space, measure and check the hanging system thouroughly, and count the hangers.

2. Small paintings look miniscule on large walls.

3. Bring more tools and tape, wire, museum putty than you can imagine needing.

I'm so thankful I had help. It was so awkward working around people trying to relax in their favorite spot. I felt like a complete jerk when I asked someone to not sit there as I was just about to get that corner done. It took 2 hours because I didn't know enough about the hanging system and had a whole different arrangement in mind. Well, it's up and it was a learning experience. I also learned that I can take critisism without feeling too badly about it. An old man said to me he found one of my paintings "irritating". I'm not sure what he meant, except that he didn't like it. And I'm okay with that.

Winter has been fun around my house. The birds are so active if you just feed them a little bit. We've been putting out peanuts and mixed seeds and then we sit back and watch the sillyness. I'll be hanging my collection of small bird paintings as well as pieces from other collections at the Mount Vernon (WA) food Co-Op February 1st. Come by for a cup of their yummy soup or a latte. My paintings will be there through the month.

I have been doing this bazaar in Clear Lake WA for years. I started doing stamping and scrapbooking with a dear friend. We had lots of fun together. She made the cutest little candy ornaments. The kids loved them. My son got involved and made some treats and launched his young career as a photographer. I've since moved on to paintings and my friend has moved on to grandkids. It's still fun but a little more serious since obviously, I'm trying to launch a serious career. I love to shop this bazaar as much as love to meet potential clients and fans and visit with old friends.

Some of my favorite vendors include one that makes felted wool slippers. I hesitate to share this one because sometimes she's out of my size before I get there and so advertising for her isn't always in my best interest. ;-) Another is this found object bird house maker. They're so cool and fun to look at. To my shame, I've never been able to choose one. A local cheese maker also has a booth here every year and I look forward to my little container of cheese curds which I will hoard in my booth and try not to eat the whole thing before the day is through. There are always bead jewelers and fused glass makers, people that work with clay and wood, and everything is affordable and good quality.

The bazaar is a fund raiser for the school so there are raffles and concessions. Christmas music plays in every room and the halls are crowded enough to force you to slow down. Every nook and cranny of Clear Lake Elementary will be filled with crafters, artisans, and cooks.

Clear Lake Elementary, Clear Lake WA. On HWY 9. 9-3 Saturday Dec 4th. Hope to see you there!

Plein Air Paint Out Bellingham opens Friday November 5 with an artists' reception. Come and see what happened to this canvas. www.bluehorsegallery.com

360 degrees of subject matter and the birds kept calling my gaze upward.

Another plein air day!

This plein air stuff is starting to grow on me. I even got my picture in the paper! You can see me in the background between the artist and her canvas. ;-)

This is me at Holly and Commercial in Bellingham, WA on a cloudy day in August.

Plein Air painting

So, I went out and painted in public for really the first time. I mean, I've painted in public but sort of incidentally. The point of this outing was actually to paint in public. The event is called Plein Air Paint Out, organized by Trish Harding of Studio UFO in Bellingham.

Now, in case you're an artist considering an event like this, go for it! How liberating to know people are going to look at and judge your work and there's nothing you can do about it. It's done. And you know what, it doesn't hurt so much. I actually got a lot of nice comments and really, who's going to say something mean to your face. And realistically, no matter how accomplished an artist you are, you aren't going to appeal to everyone all the time anyway.

Over the next several weeks, I'll be tweeking and trying to perfect the paintings I started. Perfection is always just out of reach, but we must reach for it. The show starts November 5 and I'm excited to know at least one of my canvases will be hanging at the Blue Horse gallery for most of the month. I'll be there for the opening night, I hope you will too.

Hop over to www.maryquintrall.com and join my mailing list to get info and reminders!