Quartzsite Art Walk Adventures

And Getting Back into the Groove of Teaching

November 2022 came in paint-spattered for me and ended colorfully Sharpie marker-ed after a whole lot more dabbling in art than I have done in many a moon. A random question at a local monthly Ladies Luncheon led to an invite to participate in two art shows and an art walk, all happening within an 11-day period. I declined the soonest, as I would only have two days to prepare, and set my sights on the other two events, happening the following week. One ended up overbooked somehow so I was removed from the line up at the last minute. I was just thrilled and amazed to be invited in the first place, so I continued to prepare for the upcoming Quartzsite Art Walk. When faced with a wall, I have been known to carve out a custom window.

I had some painted rocks and repurposed Altoids tins already in stock, and an idea for some lanterns made from upcycled glass jars. Most of my arts have been crafty as of late. It was time to roll up my sleeves and get busy.

I had recently purchased a vintage 1970’s-era Moroccan leather mother and baby camel pair of statues. The wee one came with the original leather saddle, but I made the tasseled blanket and faux-leather saddle and bejeweled necklace for the mama camel from bits and pieces found in my sewing bag. Everything is “camel” driven here in the Q. My camel centerpiece would have sold several times that evening had it been offered for sale.

I used contact paper to make camel stickers for my lanterns. After painting over the stickers, I peeled the sticky paper off to allow candlelight to show through the clear camel shape. I added copper handles and flameless candles, bringing a warm glow to my booth as the Quartzsite Art Walk was an evening event.

As far as “fine art” goes, I had very little to show given the short amount of time to prepare. Luckily, I had recently created the drawing bottom left (you will hear more about that one in my next post). I also had a few watercolor paintings on hand from when I first landed at Dan’s place. A four-year-old taught me how to paint in this style with cheap watercolors, salt, and vinegar. I had one Elmer’s glue and acrylic paint batik panel, mounted on a wooden canvas frame.

A visit to local thrift shops yielded twenty-something decent frames for a buck or two each. Score! After loading up my virtual shopping cart with right-sized prints of some of my best photography, which in my opinion, is better than my art AND my writing, I was told that photography is not considered a “fine art” in this Southwestern Arizona one-camel town. Sad, because I have some gorgeous photos of local places that no longer exist which I would think folks around here might enjoy. I will make a post about my photography some fine day, but until then you can check out my Brenda Cordray Art page on Fine Art America and my 21feathers Redbubble accounts for a lavish sampling of items that can be created from my photographs.

As always, wardrobe was a very last-minute thought for me that afternoon as I prepared for the Art Walk. I always assume something “good enough” will be hanging in my closet with matching shoes and handbag, just waiting for me to slap ‘em on and high tail it out of the house for some fancy event.

As a highly empathic person, my first choice is always protective black. As an artist, my soul needs a “color pop”. Solid black shirt with ombre aqua and blue hand-dyed floor length cotton prairie skirt (not shown) and over-the-knee black suede pirate’s boots (even though I broke a toe the night before) were comfy and familiar. A glittery, sparkly floral scarf and matching butterfly pin, both pinned at crazy angles on my shirt did the trick for the color pop. Weird, but as our buddy Alaska Dan Lesperance (our favorite entertainer of the evening) exclaimed, so very ME. Yes, and that’s all I can ever be is so very ME. It was fun to meet and greet friends new and old, and to share news of my upcoming offerings.

As a result of my string of invites, I decided to take my magical little “recent drawing” to Quartzsite’s Desert Camel Beads and Crafts shop to see if new owner, Georgia Sellman, would be interested in letting me hold art and arts and crafts classes there every Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. Yes! She was very excited about the idea, so I took the idea and ran with it.

This month I dug deep into my roots to access art instruction skills learned teaching classes at Michaels, Minnesota Fabrics, and Mothers of Preschoolers classes nearly 30 years ago. I am happy to report that doing this kind of activity is just as enjoyable as it was back in the early days and comes naturally to me. It has been nice to take a little break from writing to stretch my creative wings in another direction.

With two classes under my belt and another cued up for this Friday, I am happily finding my creative flow. Stay tuned, and I will show you how they went! And if you have already seen this stuff plastered all over Facebook as I advertise my classes, bless you for your patience. It’s just what you have to do to gather a crafty crowd.

Until next time. color your world, people. Doodle something and find a way to make it count somehow. I am glad I did.

Blessings,

Brenda Cordray

“The Desert Rose”

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