By Paul Hendrickson –

Every year my family looks forward to attending one or more of the many summer art fairs held near our town. The artists are typically residents of the surrounding towns and cities, and a few are from other nearby states. Their artistic mediums are as diverse as their backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common – an intense desire to create.  Their creations are one-of-a-kind and bring a touch of uniqueness to a world that often rewards conformity. We all want to see our communities thrive, and supporting the local art scene is one way to do that. For that and many other reasons, artists deserve our patronage and our encouragement.

Get to Know the Artist

During our last visit to a local fair, I decided to slow down and speak with a number of the artists. The vast majority of them were more than willing to converse about their artwork and what inspired them to create the different pieces. They appreciated someone taking time to ask questions and make observations versus discussing whether or not their art would match the sofa or wall color in the living room. I found that most of them were not good at selling, which did not come as a complete surprise. Their energy was focused on creating art, not marketing it to would-be customers.

Learn the Story Behind the Art

Every painting, sculpture, drawing, and photo has a story. Learning the story behind the art from the artist that made it adds value to the piece. It is something you cannot find at a retail chain that sells decorations. Something drove the artist to create the work, and it reflects some part of them. It may mean something different to you, but knowing the original intent or emotion behind the art gives it more life.

Quality Art is Not Cheap

Much of the art at the various fairs is incredibly expensive, but deservedly so. Artists spend hours upon hours creating their work and honing their craft. Some of the materials can be expensive as well. The artists I met seemed uncomfortable discussing the price of their art. They never pushed their wares on me or tried to give me a coupon to buy their art. There were no point-of-purchase displays with flashing lights, but since I would drive the purchases home in the back of my car, shipping was free.  

I find if you search long enough, you can find a piece that speaks to you and fits your budget.  When my wife and I were first married we found an artist whose work really spoke to us. We were on a tight budget and could not afford any of his sculptures, so we bought several colored glass pull-chains he designed for ceiling fans. They still come with us every time we move into a new house, and many people have asked where they can purchase one.

Encouragement Welcomed

If you cannot afford a local artist’s work, there are other ways to support them. Find their website and share the link online with friends and family. Take a business card or two and share it with your business associates or someone that might be able to move the artist’s career forward. You can pay them a compliment or share your impressions of their work and how it impacted you. Most artists are working other jobs to support their craft and need all the help they can get to take it to the next level. Hearing your feedback and encouragement adds fuel to their creative fire and gets them through to the next fair or showcase.