My goodness, it’s been a bit hasn’t it? Well, I can assure you there is a good explanation for that. So let me spend this next entry filling the gaps in for you.

Technically, we should be at event 6 in this blog post but in all reality this art installation has had only four events under its belt. The two events prior, did not prove fruitful for allowing this little experiment continue to bloom, and that’s okay too. After all, I am learning as I go and adjusting accordingly. If I have learned nothing else up until now, it is that I cannot force control over this installation. I can only bring the materials to every event, come what may.

What would have been event 3 was my first major art show and the location was a bar. I knew I wouldn’t be able to display the larger canvases, but I still wanted to bring the installation. I had a stack of mini canvases I hadn’t painted so I prepped them for the event. Unfortunately, there was too much going on and it was way too loud for me to be able to monitor the installation on my own. I was only able to collect one doodle from a fellow artist friend attending the show, but I will happily take that as a win as it has become one of my favorite doodles. I selfishly considered retiring this doodle early but ultimately, that would defeat the purpose of this project.

The next event opportunity was one where this installation has been before and it was an Easter themed event, so there was sure to be a lot of people ready to color. I was incredibly excited at the opportunity for a lot of doodles. Sadly, intense winds up to 30 mph made it impossible to even set up the installation. I was defeated and immensely sad, but the show must go on…

Finally, I have you caught up to the gap in time and we have arrived at event 3. In all my learning opportunities during this little experiment, I did decided to make only two changes. One was adding a tip jar and the second was changing from Posca pens to a generic acrylic paint marker set that was a little more beginner friendly and less likely to cost me an intense amount of money to keep this project going. I had also made a decision to let the set of mini canvases continue to travel as part of this exhibit. They deserved a chance at being doodled on just as much as the one my friend did after all. This next event only had a few families adventurous enough to doodle but their joy at this opportunity was infectious. I think my favorite was the son of a fellow vendor who stopped to color. He was so excited that others may doodle on what he began that he didn’t want to leave. Later in the day, his father had to come back and photograph his doodle to show his son. It honestly warmed my heart. Another shock was that people began asking if the canvases were available for purchase. I won’t lie to you, my heart absolutely swelled with joy that people wanted to purchase these doodles. I can only imagine the amount of happiness that would bring those who have stopped to doodle with us so far. That first canvas has changed so much since the first installation that it is honestly amazing and it is hard to not just want to keep staring at it, getting lost amongst the layers of doodles and scribbles. This question did pique my interest and gave me a hard question I now had to face…

When do I let a canvas retire???

I knew I would have to address this eventually, but not so soon. Canvas one is definitely nearing that time and I will be honest, I am not entirely sure how to address retirement of a canvas and potentially its sale. When I make a firm decision, of course I will make sure it is posted accordingly. I am toying with the idea of an auction or raffle where a portion of proceeds go to charity but I also want to be sure I have quality photos so I can offer prints as well. I want everyone to have a chance to have a piece of this project if they wish and I want to make sure any sales or revenue generated also do some good. I don’t know that I would feel right using this little experiment for a mass amount of selfish profit. Obviously, I will need funds to come from somewhere to obtain supplies as I need them but at minimum, I never want to charge people to doodle. I never want that to have a fee so the way I see it, sales may help fund this whole thing and maybe I can do some good for some charities while I am at it. All that being said, let’s move on to event 4.

Event 4 was very straightforward and by now we have developed a good system to keep this installation going. It was a lot of trial and error in the beginning but I couldn’t be happier with how this experiment has come along. We didn’t have a lot of people stop to color at event 4 but those who did were so shocked at the opportunity and could not stop thanking us for letting them doodle. So many wanted to know about all the canvas and why we do this. It really does bring such a smile to my face every time. I never expected the joy this thing would bring. Event 4 also made it clear to me that the first canvas will likely retire by the summer. It has been filled to the brim with doodles and I just don’t think it can handle anymore. I think it is time to let that one move on and maybe find a permanent home. I will admit, this has me a bit teary eyed at the thought of letting that canvas go. I can literally look at all the canvases now and recall all the stories we’ve been told. I remember all the faces and excited people too. The canvases feel like they have a life of their own inside them at this point and I have admittedly become rather attached. Canvas one will get two more events and then retire now. How that will look is uncertain as of now, but I hope wherever it goes, it is loved just as much as I love it.

I have included images of the doodle results from each event on this blog entry but you can now find a complete gallery of all the photos from this project in the gallery and art portfolio section of this site. I am taking so many pictures of the doodles at events, it would be cumbersome to include them all with each blog entry but I don’t want to leave the doodles out of the documentation portion of this project either. I encourage you to visit that section regularly, especially if you have doodled because you may find your doodle featured there. I fall in love with so many of the doodles that I want to capture as many of them as I can before they disappear.

If you would like to browse all the images you can do so here.

Finally, I am sure this is getting redundant by now, but I do sincerely want to thank each and every one of you who has stopped to doodle up until now. This project has breathed much needed life and inspiration into me. I do not know where this project will go after the summer or how big it is going to get, but all I know is I cannot wait to see more doodles. Whenever I can, this project will come with me to events and I am never going to stop asking people…

Would you like to color?

A Lone Doodle, Wild Winds and More

The Second Event