A Day at the Market

On Saturday morning, I packed my stuff into the van and headed to sell my wares at the Dawson Creek Farmer's Market for the first time in about three years. Farmer's markets are fun. As a child, I used to love sitting behind Grandma's stitchery-laden table on Saturday mornings. At the time, the market was held at Dawson Creek's scenic art gallery and the tourist traffic was energizing. I tasted my first macarons at the farmer's market, and never failed to walk the ramps to the top of the former grain elevator, studying local paintings and sculptures in the art gallery.

My farmer's market table is a mishmash of items. My girls did some sewing and made a half dozen items, and I had nine loaves of bread (I love to bake, did you know?), paper crafted items (mostly cards), my watercolour cards, some vintage look painted signs and a few paintings. I always bring a large easel to display a special watercolour painting, and then I had some unframed paintings along as well.

Farmer's markets are just as fun as I remembered! I enjoyed visiting with the other vendors (the lady across from me had an assortment of jams, jellies and pickles - she even had bacon jam!!) and my variety of items ensured that I had many interesting conversations with customers as well. My girls enjoyed looking at all the items for sale, and they joined a friend who was selling hot dogs and helped out at her table.

While my sales weren't enormous, my objective for taking part in the farmer's market is the opportunity it affords me to be visible as an artist in the community. Though I exhibit several times a year in the art gallery, have paintings in the summer ArtWalk downtown, and advertise watercolour classes, the farmer's market gives me the chance to speak to people about my paintings, to put a face to my work, and to share my enthusiasm for what I do and love. The large painting on display was my Autumn's Edge scene, and I had also happened to bring the smaller study piece I did while preparing for the larger painting, and it was fun to show both pieces to people and explain how I work out a painting with a smaller study.

I love meeting people and while staying at home painting in the studio may get work done, I really need time to build relationships in the community as well, and I'm so thankful that I get that chance through my classes and events like the farmer's market. I hope to be there at least once a month until fall. Drop by if you get the chance!