The Roadside Artist

A last minute decision to enter two paintings in the fair - thanks to pressure from family members - meant I would have to see something of the event, even though it’s a bit much for me.

I haven’t worked at the county fair in years, but they usually have a caricature or portrait artist somewhere on the grounds. Here he is…

Caricature Artist Booth At The Fair

He was charging the going rate for a caricature, a bit more for color images. I didn’t see him do a color portrait, but he did a lot of line drawings. His shading was pretty good, I can’t comment on the caricature because it wasn’t my style.

I’m glad he’s using his talent in any case. He used to be a security guard, I think, but he found something that suited him better. There isn’t a lot of money in it, I can tell you, but I’m sure he’s happy.

Oh, I know I already mentioned this but the two paintings I entered under duress both won ribbons, although not the grand championship. I had a better painting or two but they were unframed and the fair requires frames - even for gallery wrapped canvas apparently. That was a bummer, but then again I didn’t really want to enter anyway.

I can say I’m an award-winning artist, now, but then again this isn’t the first time I’ve won some meaningless award. I say ‘meaningless’ because it never seems to amount to anything. My paintings were selling much better a couple of years ago before I became an ‘award winner.’

That relates to why I draw people, I suppose. There are no awards to be had, but there is a little money if you are good. Very little, but still, that’s done more for me than all the medals and ribbons.

Tags: Tillamook