Minnesota

Crossing the state line into Minnesota marks our 10th state on this tour and about 11 months living in a van. When we got here the heat was a major problem but as the weeks went on it got cooler and cooler and the more north we went, colder and colder. I love the way everything looks around here - the water, the trees, everything. I could easily see us coming up here once a year to spend some time. However, the bugs are crazy here, I've never seen so many bugs and so many different kinds. Lucky for us not everything bit, but damn did they like to sneak into our van during the day and come out to watch TV at night. I guess its all the standing water, which looks cool, but man oh man it makes for a crazy bug time. I don’t know if I could take the winters here, they just sound bad with way too much snow.

We stayed with some wonderful people in Minnesota and it all stemmed from a Facebook post an old co-worker made on our behalf. I am always surprised by how people are so open to the idea of us coming over and staying in their yards. Oh and he (our old co-worker) and his lovely wife just had twins!

The first place was with a girl he went to high school with (who also has twins - 7 year olds!) and had a nice spot cleared out under some tall trees which provided nice shade all day long. It was almost too perfect, like they knew we were coming years in advance. We got to speak to goats, ducks and chickens and best of all we parked right in the middle of the farm lands I have been drawing lately. And how appropriate was it to spend time with twins in Minnesota and talented twins too, these little kids were great, playing piano and cello...its always good to see kids picking up an art form, hope they stick with it and become famous (I want front seat tickets mind you) even if one kept pulling our plug outta the socket and that’s not good for the van.

Then we stayed with his parents which kept us full of wine and entertained. They had a great view of the Mighty Mississippi and had a beautiful yard with plenty of shade. They had a lot of bird feeders around so we got to see all kinds of birds. We had a great time there and got a lot of work done. Everyone kept telling us next year when you come back……..

With all the lakes, its people come off looking like coastal folks in their bathing suits and flip flops. Lots of runners too with great trails around the lakes and through many great looking forests. As much as I wouldn’t want to be here during the snowy times I would love to see how everything looks with snow around. Well, maybe not since all the half naked girls would be bundled up.

It seemed like every Wal-Mart we pulled into was under construction or had too many people walking around. We prefer to be hidden or tucked away in the corner of the parking lot were no one goes, but Sam’s Club to the rescue, seemed like all the Sam’s were in the prefect locations with the prefect spots.

The shows we did were just alright, nothing spectacular, we did think we would have done a little better and I wish we had. Everything would have fallen into place had the show in Minneapolis and the one in Duluth been better. There is still a strong chance we might come back for more since both places have more shows to do but as you know everything is up in the air right now.

Art In Bayfront Park In Duluth, Minnesota

Strike 3 you're out - this picturesque city was spoiled by one hideous show. The Art in Bayfront Park festival was really the show that coined the term “Farts And Crap Fair”. Don’t call in the big guns till you're ready, this was a second year show which seemed to have no jury. It was a real "anything goes". I don’t know what to tell you folks, I really did think Minnesota was our new home away from home but time after time we felt invisible. Southern California comes to mind.

However, the town of Duluth is a really beautiful place and if you're looking for some great boat watching they got it. We met some really nice locals and got to walk around everyday after the show. I can see why so many people come here to vacation. If we didn’t need to make any money to live this would have been the best show ever. Weather was great, parking was good and there was a beauty pageant and the winner could go on to be Miss Minnesota, which would be pretty cool if she went on to win Miss America.

The show itself wasn’t good for fine art, if you wanted henna, there were 2 places to get it, if you wanted tie die, there were 3 places to get it, and if you wanted a golf game that looked like a lawn game you could get at any Wal-Mart or Target, well it was there and the guy said he banked too, don’t complain to me about only making 3 grand, there was even 2 kettle corn vendors.

We did get some of the coldest beers Duluth has to offer at Bowery Bros after tweeting with them a bit. We got some really good pictures of boats and ships so any day now we can see some drawings of those. And for the first time ever we sold a drawing as soon as I finished it and hung it on the wall. But we wouldn’t come back to this show until they get rid of all the buy/sell and lower the amount of craft.

How Long Will You Be Touring?

I get asked all the time about how long we plan to stay on the road living in an RV. There really is no time limit or schedule we are sticking to. We want to at least hit every state to see when and where is a good time to be at any one city or venue. Once we have made art pieces of all the states, well all 49 we can drive to, I don’t know what we are going to do about Hawaii, I want to get all the images out there in anyway possible. Postcards have been working out really great for us but with only 7 images they are lacking. In my mind before we even got our van I was thinking about 5 years. That seemed like the right amount of time to run around and see everything. I met a lady who had almost seen it all in 3 years, but 5 still sounds reasonable. Although I do joke with Hannah that I’ll stay on this ship till my knees wont let me up into it and when I can bend over to reach all the tanks.

Ever since the beginning I have been saying that I want to be well known from New York to LA. The same way I’m known in my home town of San Antonio, I can go to any show, any venue, and someone there will know me or my work. Chances are good I will know them too. I want to grow this feeling of home no matter where I go. How long will this take? I haven’t a clue. Will it work? It might. But you need to have goals and I set some pretty high ones.

Would You Ever Settle Down?

We sometimes talk about building a studio in TX out on the ranch. Like getting a few of those big shipping containers and converting them to a live/work studio. I have seen some pretty cool ones and learning to live in 96 square feet it would be more than enough room to do everything we could ever think of. Having a studio where we could do open studios at is the only thing I miss about being on the road (although I’m working on a plan to fix that part, blog coming soon).

When we are in a really nice small town we think how it would be to set up a gallery or something. With UPS going everywhere, it wouldn’t be any harder than it is now to run our business. I think this in every small quiet town we go through and I see a for sale sign on a cute little building. It must be nice to live in a town like that and be known as the big shot artists there. Maybe set up a little school to show people how to do whatever little craft they are doing for money. Talk to kids about following their dream. There’s just so much one can do and so many different routes you can take.

That’s the best part about this crazy life we all live. There is no right or wrong way to do anything, there’s no how to book big enough to cover all the whys and hows to do everything and there’s no road map to making them work. It is as free as the wind and as powerful as water flowing down a stream and they both can take you as far or keep you as near as you want to be. We try to stay open to any and every opportunity that comes along and we put all our faith into believing we are making the right decisions and stand tall and except the outcomes.

But for now its living life as it comes, traveling from state to state, from show to show. Who knows what the future will hold, but chances are we will be there standing on our own, building our name, and producing the best products we can.

The Bluzilla

Well, well, well, today we got Mr. Blu. Blu is a bad ass artist tearing up the San Antonio art scene. I went to school with this dude back when I was learning how to make websites and graphic stuff. In an attempt to learn more and more about live painting I want to pick Blu’s brain about it and about his art.

nemo: Ok sir, tell me what you have been doing all these years since we last sat next to each other in that damn flash class?

Blu: Well I since our classes together, I finished both Print and Web associates tracks, worked in the sign industry for about a year and a half, and now in the screenprint industry for about two years. Beyond the norm of academics and dayjobs, I've been hard @ work on my own art doing freelance work, a few gallery shows, and a ton of live art.

nemo: You know we were talking about live art and you know I have to ask, how did you get into doing all these live art shows?

Blu: I started out by watching a favorite artist online, Jim Mahfood aka Food One. he was doing a lot of live art which was dope as he was doing a lot of comics before. fate would have it, a local art battle sponsored by ArtSlam and Blue Moon showed up on Facebook so I just jumped in hed first into it and got in. @ the time I was showing @ Gallery 11 on First Fridays and Craig Patterson started incorporating live art, so I painted there a lot too.

nemo: This isn’t a question but I gotta say that picture with you with that model you painted on was hot. Have you noticed anything about your art since doing it live? Have you gotten more confidence or gotten faster?

Blu: Wait, which model?? haha!! yeah man speed is the definite thing I noticed first. and then confidence. those two grew very quickly. I also noticed I was creating a buzz as I was always painting with my hedphones and gettin down, being really animated. I just have a ton of energy when I paint live and it draws crowds I guess.

nemo: What has been your favorite thing about painting live?

Blu: My favorite thing about painting live would be the looks on peoples' faces as I work. initially they look perplexed and when they come back an hour later, they're really blown away how the painting comes together. another thing I like is opportunity. I've had many doors open in the local art scene just from people seeing me work live. body art being the most notable.

nemo: What’s it like painting in a group like you do and have you ever been the only one on display? What’s the difference?

Blu: Painting in a group is mad fun. I paint with a ton of different people but my two solids are Sabrina Rabbit and Aesop Cardenas. we have a nice flow together and work well as we put our egos aside, paint over each others pieces or add to them, and just get a long great while we work. we have fun yo, always. I've yet to do a solo show but it is something I would like to do later--i don't mind pressure, I welcome it.

nemo: So painting or drawing? Which one would you rather be doing and why?

Blu: Man thats a tough one!! but I think I would choose drawing over painting. I've always felt more of an illustrator than a painter. year of comic books I guess.

nemo: What subject can we see in the future from you? Any new mediums or supports?

Blu: Expect any and all subjects @ any time. I would love to try some political works like Banksy. and some conscious/spiritual work like Alex Grey. as for media, Im always lookin to explore new elements, oils are probably the one I want to try next tho.

nemo: Any new projects coming up?

Blu: New projects, I have the second volume of my mini artbook/zine "Delayed. Sleep. Phaze." in the works, maybe some of that domino jewelry you turned me on to, I want to get some shirts going, and also find some good writers to practice some storyboarding. I also got a few other projects I can't talk about just yet but they're gonna be stellar.

nemo: What would be your ideal show?

Blu: My ideal show would be a dope gallery-style spot, with a fresh dj like my homie Chacho spinning great hip hop and funk music, a place for people to dance, some live artists, and overall just a fun time.

nemo: Any words of advice to someone looking into painting live?

Blu: I would advise anyone wanting to get into painting live to start goin to see it firsthand if possible. talk to promoters and other live artists. once your in, leave your ego @ home, stay loose, and have fun! remain open minded and talk to everyone.

nemo: Anything else you wanna add?

Blu: Live art can be really dope for an artist and their career if you go in with the right mindstate. it can open lots of doors and can improve your work immensely. also if there are any of your readers wanting more info on the subject they can contact me thru Facebook or Twitter or e-mail. also check out my main site and my weekly art blog. and also thanks for a dope interview Nemo.

nemo: Thanks man for taking the time to e-mail back and forth to get this interview done!

Woodland Hill Winery Art Festival In Delano, Minnesota

The winery grounds were as beautiful as can be when we pulled up to the site. Everything was so green and they had these cool red barns. As usual we showed up way too early but we were able to set up way before the other artists even showed up.

Since we couldn’t park there we stayed at the closest Wal-Mart which as about 10 miles down a dirt road. Sad thing is they had some really nice places to park and plugs everywhere, oh well. The owners didn’t really seem to want to have anything to do with us, could be cuz we were new. It hurts a bit when there’s only a handful of artists and they never stopped in to check out the work.

This show was mostly crafty stuff with very few art and even less fine art. I did get a chance to meet a really cool oil painter who might do the show we are going to try for next year so hopefully we will be next to each other. However our new friend who told us about this show was next to us so we got the scoop on all the nearby shows. The only good thing about a slow show is you build great relationships with the artists around you.

So the show was sucking bad all weekend, no one was even giving us a chance. Now we really know how it feels to be invisible. Even the cool looking people who seem to have good taste weren’t giving us a try. But right at the last minute a group of good looking girls came in and snatched up 2 originals which made it all worth it and who knows if that could lead to more action later on.

Tear down did come with free cookies and the girls were too cute so I had to give them magnets for all their hard work. Its pretty sad when you do a show at a winery and you don’t make enough to buy a glass of wine. But you folks need to remember this is all one big game and we gamble every time we step out here and just like the lottery you can’t win if you don’t play.

Uptown Art Fair In Minneapolis, Minnesota

The few days we spent running around Minnesota before the show gave me a good impression about what the state has to offer. I really love the diversity in its people and I was hoping to meet a lot of them at the Uptown Art Fair. Which no doubt had tons of people, they say about 375k people walk the show every year. However, walking the show and stopping into a booth is a very different thing, but it made for some great people watching. This show had nothing I like in a show, from the "you must do this and cant do that" to its lack of hospitality towards its outta state folks, to a tear down that was the worst I had ever seen.

Set up was pretty easy since they had us come in at different times and were only given 2 hours to set up then we had to move our vehicles, which was more than enough time for us. Everyone around us was a 1st timer at this show and I only spoke to a few people who had done the show twice. I’m guessing everyone on the “mall” part were the newbie’s and the ones on the street may have been the vets.

First day of this 3 day show was hot and it seemed like it was affecting the crowds too. It was painfully slow and the few people that were walking around were all sweaty and seemed to not want to stop walking since that was the only wind out. Although we knew Fridays are always kinda slow for us since our buyers are most likely at work unless it’s a holiday. I did get to walk the show to see some old friends we have met on the road and there were a few. Its funny to see what circle of shows people do and its crazy to know we jump them all.

Second day came with the only good thing about this show, a breakfast at Chino Latino. And this wasn’t just a honey bun in a plastic bag and a juice box breakfast, it had pans and pans of eggs, bacon, French toast and fruit. You folks know how much I love the food at these shows and this was some of the best. But the day was long and hot and very few sales were going down.



I just love getting pictures when no ones paying attention to me



 The last day started off a bit cold and we had a nice breeze going and people were actually coming in and picking up pieces. This show had strict rules about the number of prints and products we could show so we didn’t have any necklaces out but on the last day we busted out our little guns in hopes of making gas money. What were they gonna do? Not let us back next year? We did mange somehow to make a little bit of money but for all the hype and the price of the show we felt it needed to be better.

We were set up on a grassy sidewalk about 5 feet over from the street which made it hard for people to want to step up just to step in so they went over to the booths that where on the street. We also paid 45 bucks to park which they failed to inform us that we couldn’t park overnight. We did stay one night there since there was another trailer there. I hate when these shows leave the RVers out in the cold on overnight parking. And would it kill you to provide cold waters for the artists? I would understand if we paid 200 bucks or less to be there, but it was one of the more expensive shows we have done and we kinda felt left out in the heat to pay for $3 waters and $6 smoothies. It seemed like everyone’s sales were down but that’s been the situation all over no matter where we go, even though we didn’t do all that bad this weekend, we expected more.



guess what I'm drawing soon



Tear down was crazy, since there were no cops directing traffic or keeping the non-artists out, they were trying to use the streets while we were trying to get all our stuff in our vans and get outta there. So all the people who had no idea what was going on were all mad cuz they couldn’t get through and were just honking and honking and giving all of us ugly stares. What a headache, it took a lot longer to get outta there than it did to set up. Worst tear down ever in the history of tear downs.

We did get to meet some local artists and we did hear about a show to do to in between the 2 we are already doing here. The worst part was that I only met one person this weekend that would say Minnesota the way everyone thinks they say Minnesota. But still, we are glad we did this one and although we wouldn’t do it again there are 2 other shows going on the same weekend not to far from this one, so who knows.

 

best art piece all weekend was stuck to a poll infront of our booth

Colorado To Minnesota

Well, we checked the mail one last time in Denver to get in an order of dominos that Hannah’s mom sent us. She drills holes in the top and puts eyelets in them for us while we are on the road. We have been thinking about getting a small drill press to have here in the van, but haven’t been able to make the jump and get one.

Then we headed over to the grand opening of IKEA just to hang out, yup just to hand out, we were looking for AC and maybe a chair or two. Rockbottom gave us free beer coupons and since the IKEA was way to packed and the AC couldn’t keep up with all the people we went for lunch at Rockbottom. Then over to the nearest Wal-Mart for supplies so we could hit the road. This trip was going to be easy since we didn’t need to be in Minnesota for about a week and it was only about 1000 miles so we only drove about 3 hours each day. We did take in many of the sights and I got a lot of work done, which I will share througout out this blog.

First day we went to Sydney, Nebraska and just stayed at a Wal-Mart since most of the rest stops in Nebraska are too small to allow good parking. The state is in the middle of re-doing them all to add more parking spots but we only saw a few on this trip. 18-wheelers are at every place you could think to park and there must have been about 30 at the Wal-mart we stayed at. We were kinda hidden amongst them. The weather was pretty good, although we weren’t ready for the humidity. Best part was we were able to fill up with water at the Wal-mart garden section, which was great since we were already down to half a tank. We got 0 channels so no So You Think You Can Dance and no Lady Gaga.

Next day it was on to Carhenge in Alliance, Nebraska, which is a replica of Stonehenge in cars. We had a great little lunch there and walked around a bit and talked to the nice people in the gift shop. Then over to North Platte to stay at another Wal-Mart. Here we were able to pick up a few TV stations and watched a little Shark Tank (I wondered if I would be able to plea my case to get an investment from them, pretty cool show). It was very hot and it seem like we couldn’t drink enough cold water to stay cool. Sure would be nice to be able to stay at campgrounds and RV parks during these hot times.

Then off to Grand Island to the fourth Wal-Mart of the trip and the second time we parked too close to the sprinklers and woke to a spray in the face around midnight (it sprayed the water right through the window near our bed!) Sad thing is that it was so hot it was not only welcomed but embraced. Although the 3 o’clock waking by some guys with a loud paint spaying thing repainting the stripes in the parking lot were not. Once again it sure would be nice to be able to stay at a campground or RV park during these hot times.

Then off to Omaha to see some sites. We tried to walk around the river and downtown but it was way too hot and sweaty. We did make it out to see the “HI” tree but then it was back in the van and in the AC to Des Moines and this time at a Sam’s. We stopped by to see a cute little town with a Danish windmill and we noticed there was a beautiful little RV park with full hooks ups, cable and everything we could use for only $20.33 a night however we couldn’t afford that. Living the dream right…

Then all the way into Minneapolis and our first taste of cooler air. Since the show isn’t for a few more days we hoped around Wal-Mart to Wal-Mart during the nights and from libraries and parks during the day looking for wifi and shade. As far as I can tell Minnesota has a good mix of people and I like that, so here’s to a good time and a great show (cuz we really need a great show). If you're in or around Minneapolis you can find me at Up Town Artfair August 5th - 7th and get your free dog or cat magnet.

What Would You Be Doing If You Weren’t An Artist?

I want to step this backwards to see what I would be doing if at any point in my life something would have changed and put me on a different course. As it stands right now, I’m a professional artist touring the nation in a van trying to build my name and my brand. If I wasn’t living and working as a professional artist I think I would still be making some kind of art, maybe not drawings or paintings, but something. Ever since I can remember I was using my free time to do some kind of make believe project. I have a strong desire to create and an even stronger desire to sell what I create.

So what if Hannah didn’t quit her job to hit the road with me? I know even though the economy is crap and that a few of her coworkers got caned, she would still have a job and chances are just the way they relocated us to Denver we would have been relocated somewhere else and I would be out there everyday meeting the people of that new place and setting up little shows and slowly building a name in that area. Since her old company was world wide who knows where we could have ended up.

If I wasn’t an artist trying to get more out there we might have never moved to Denver in the first place and would still be living in the house we bought to grow old together in. We would have gotten through most of the renovations and would probably have a beautiful garden with bamboo all around. Really cool little walkways to different pockets in the yard to do different things in. Although I do know how freelancing architectural needs would be working for us, I’m sure we would make something work. Also we might not have bought that house since we only wanted to be in that area cuz we believed it was the next great art district and we wanted to be a part of it. We might have bought the house we were in before that which we were renting. We did drive by it when we 1st got back into Texas and it was all boarded up and had a for sale sign on it. I did love that house.

I know I would still be skateboarding and I might have built a ramp in the backyard since I would have so much free time on my hands. Since I have always wanted to be a writer since I left my mom’s house and started living my own life I might be doing that. I did start writing a novel about the same time I started painting and who knows where that would have taken me. It was a story kinda like how "Lost" was, but instead of being on an island it took place in an office building. I did trash the notebook I was writing in once the art thing took off but I think it would have made a great movie.

Before all of that I had a business where I made architectural models and I was slowly building a client base all over south Texas. I might have still been doing that. I worked for a lot of big firms and one-man firms in San Antonio, The Hill Country and even out towards Corpus. I could have still been building on that. I have always wanted to work in wood and during these slow times where I might not have kept busy I might have started to make furniture or even do movie sets or something cool like that. Ever since I was little I have always wanted to make something and make a living off it, so if I couldn’t make models I would be making something. Plus Hannah has always wanted to own a business (any business), so in time we would have come up with a product and would be pushing it out in the world.

For a moment while going to school I was learning the notes on a guitar, who knows if I would have kept that up. I do know one thing, if I do something I want to be the best at it that I can be, so in the 5 years or so since that I might have been pretty good by now. Being that Hannah has a drummer and a singer in the family and that we once played a song with some co-workers for a company talent show (we won by the way) I might have been able to talk a few people into starting a band. I think marketing a band is a little bit easier than marketing art. And if I could write a song half as good as I draw a circle, hell even an 1/8th as good, we might have gone far (this idea still isn’t off the boards though, just gotta give this art thing one hell of a great try.)

I still don’t think we would have had any kids but we would have an alarming amount of cats. I would hope we would still be as happy as we are now with no matter what we would have ended up doing. We both have that kind of mindset and I do believe we wouldn’t be wasting away in a dead end job hating every minute of life. But who knows if things were any different I could still be living at my mom’s house smoking pot in the backyard doing odd jobs for little old ladies in the neighborhood.