Thank you for your email response to my exhibition and demo at the Smithsonian Circus Arts Festival, held on the Capitol Mall in Washington DC. Yay! It was
definitely a highlight for my circus-themed paintings.
As I previously mentioned, I was invited to this 2 week event after the Curator visited my gallery opening in Sarasota, Florida. My exhibit was "The Magic Circus" - I was celebrating the retired circus family. This was amazing, as the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus announced they were finally folding their tents for the last time. Talk about timing!
The painting demos at the Smithsonian needed to be quick, short and with immediate results. My choice was to demonstrate painting a Circus Clown face. Everyone's attention span was not very long as acrobats tumbled above me and aerialists board around my demos. This experience was one of my dreams.
So what to paint? After toning a 9x12 Cheap Joe's canvas with a mid-tone color, I simply painted a "round ball" with facial features, then added a red nose. (so much for all my years of painting knowledge) - this was quick and had positive reaction. Three pieces sold at my first demo!
To read an interview by Elise Hough about my experience, click here.
To view Bob's photo album of sights and experiences at the Smithsonian Circus Arts Folklife Festival, click here.
In your own career, you may be invited to paint a demo - Do it! For some reason, crowds seem to like watching while paint live. Probably like watching car races... waiting for the crash.
The experience interacting with people while painting can be exhilarating and rewarding. Secret: Tell stories while you paint... just like a TED Talk. Tell stories to make your point. Hope this helps the next time you're asked to do a demo!
Keep your brushes wet!
