This morning Lloyd and I went to Whyte Ave and had coffee, then strolled along the Art Walk. I love doing this each year, but for some reason I don't remember, we didn't make it last year. It was lovely to get back there this year though. The Art Walk is basically where for three days artists can have a table on the sidewalk along Whyte Avenue and can sell or display their art work to the public - sometimes they are painting or drawing as you walk by too. It is mainly paintings - watercolour, oils, acrylics etc etc - but there is also pottery, jewelry, altered art, sculpture, mixed media etc etc....there were even handmade cards there today! A few photographers have there work there too which often makes me think I should frame some of my pieces - flowers, fences, old barns I have taken - because we walk along saying 'OMG I could have taken better than THAT' - really some of the pictures and paintings are CRAP!! - I know art is in the eye of the beholder but REALLY - some of the art you see there is really weird.....and Sam could do better!!! ;) There is also some really GREAT work there though - even some of the work that isn't my style you can see the talent behind it!
We sat in the coffee shop and had brunch, people watched and chatted for a while, and then strolled along looking at all the art walk. They had closed off part of Whyte Ave this year and had lots of stalls selling goods in the middle. I bought a book '1001 Ways to be Romantic'. It was new, but only $2!!! :) A lot of the stores had sidewalk sales but were saying 'Make us an offer'!! :)
One of our favourite artists Ian Sheldon was there again. I saw a couple of other artists that I really liked too and I'll do separate posts about their work I think - one of them does workshops on journaling and altered books and I'm thinking of taking one of her classes in the Fall. Very Kelly Rae Roberts-like ;)
Anyway, the weather was gorgeous, we had a lovely morning...oh and stopped off in Chapters to get Abigail a Fancy Nancy book ready for the Tea Party she's attending in a few weeks at the library!! :)
One funny thing was that we spotted a really unusual caterpillar on the sidewalk - it was right where people were walking - so Lloyd couldn't just leave it there!!! So he picks it up - and then we have no clue where to put it! So then he decides he wants to take it home to show the children! Of course this is at the START of our stroll! So he decides to EAT my apple bran muffin...then he puts the caterpillar in the muffin bag...then he spends the morning carrying a caterpillar (who he names Frank by the way) around the Art Walk in a muffin bag from Starbucks!!!! OMG!!! :) So our date at the Art Walk was a bit of a threesome - me, Lloyd and Frank ;)
I love you Lloyd :)
