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Monday, June 22nd, was a prep day.   Because this was going to be an outdoor event, I'd been watching the weather channel now and then for the past ten days.  Initially, it looked fabulous, but then the hurricane in the southern states hit land and the effects were going to be felt far north.  

Six days to show time, the prediction was 30% chance of rain.  Not bad, because that's a 70 % chance of no rain. I like those odds, but we're talking Mother Nature here, and she's sometimes pretty fickle.  Four days to go and the forecast was 60% rain.  Rats.  I wasn't about to cancel the show, so I bought a second pop-up gazebo to have if needed.  Two days out and the weather prediction is back to 30% but calling for thunderstorms.  They can be hit or miss, but bring a lot of rain in a short period of time, if you get one.  

Monday afternoon, Steve and I went to the patio and set up one gazebo, just in case.  I debated whether to put it up at all, as the weatherman was calling for thunder storms overnight with the sky clearing by mid-morning. We put it up ... just in case it might be needed.

Day 1 of Art on the Patio - A major storm front rolled through our area starting at 3:30 a.m. and for the next two hours it was quite violent. Loud, crashing rolls of thunder, lightning, heavy winds, and torrential rains that dropped over three inches of water in two hours.  By 5:30 all was quiet, but the power was out.  No coffee to start my day!! 

I was anxious to get going, get everything set up.  We arrived at David's Tea at 8:30, and started to unload and carry easels through to the back patio.  Screech to a halt.  The storm had created havoc with branches and leaves all over.  The deck was dangerously slippery, and before we could do anything, it required a major scrubbing to make it safe.  I ran down the street two blocks to a dollar store and bought four rolls of brown craft paper, which we rolled out as a walkway across the wood deck.  We wiped down tables and chairs and once again swept the patio of leaves and debris.  Then on to setting up easels and arranging art work.  By noon I had 2/3 of my display up and organized.  I noticed the sky getting darker, I was silently saying 'Oh please don't do that... please don't rain.' Agonizing over whether or not to take my paintings down, I decided to take my chances and hoped for that 70% chance that it was going to roll right on.  A local news crew was coming to film and interview me, and I wanted my art to be up and available for filming.

Three minutes after they arrived, it started a fine sprinkle, then a bit heavier.  It was a mad dash to get paintings off the easels and under cover.  I was soaked, but the paintings were safe, just needed some wiping down.  Within seconds. the skies opened up and the rain was torrential for the next twenty minutes.  Thank goodness for the two TV guys, because there was no way I could've gotten all the paintings under cover by myself, and it could've been a total disaster with multiple ruined frames, matting and paintings.  The interview went forward and included panning in on numerous of my works, which showed beautifully on the evening news.  

The day turned absolutely gorgeous, with warm temperatures and sunlight filtering through the overhead leaves and branches. People started arriving early, although I was still setting up after the rains, but that was fine.  I had a story to tell and a way to engage with browsers.  From then on it was a steady stream of two's and three's, with everyone commenting on the amazing closed courtyard venue.  My first sale (Concerto) was within an hour, and the purchaser agreed to leave it with me for the duration of the show.  (There is something about red dots on a purchase that stimulate a 'feeding frenzy'.)  The day finished very well with numerous sales, a ton of positive comments about my works, and over all, affirmation of what I do.  I was on a high!

More tomorrow to wrap up this blog series.  

Have a great day.

Carolyn