Chasing Down The Muse: Experiencing a day in the life of a Sawdust artist

As the summer festival season goes into full swing with the opening this weekend of the Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters, so many of the artists find the various festival grounds their new home away from home for the duration of the shows.

When this is the case, it seems everything changes — hours one keeps, food habits, clothing choices — the list goes on. It is often a complete transformation for the artist. My intention with this column is to give you, the reader, a peek at one fictional artist’s transformation, a day in the life. Here goes.

The artist arises just as the first birds begin their chirruping in the nearby trees of his home in the canyon. A quick stretch releases tense muscles as his mind runs through all that must be done on this day. Climbing from bed, the smell of hot coffee wafts on the cool morning air and draws him into the small kitchen for that first warm sip.

Coffee in hand, the artist starts a load of laundry before he sits down at his desk to check over yesterday’s list and add to it. Between sips, the e-mail is checked, lingering bills are paid, items are added to the never-ending to-do list.

In the silence of early morning, the artist hears the distant sound of the surf on the sand. Knowing that it will help in the course of the long day ahead, the artist opts next to grab his surfboard and head to Brooks Street for a couple of waves. The pleasure this gives him will linger in his mind throughout the whole day. Donning his wetsuit, he takes off.

Home again, but of course, now still farther behind, he hurries through some last touches to a mixed-media piece he has been working on. Maybe…no, he does not want to rush it.

A protein shake in the blender, the artist begins gathering what he will need for the 12-hour day at the festival grounds. Yesterday he had missed having that two-inch brush; he will take that with him today. Blank canvases are already stored in his booth along with paints and other tools of his trade. He was cold last night, so he grabs a jacket to ward off the evening’s cool breezes.

Oh, no! Our artist had counted on making a sandwich for lunch, but the bread already has mold on it. There are some wonderful places to eat at the Sawdust — Deb’s Deli, the taco place, the Greek and the new Wizard’s Pizza — but the luxury of two meals there will have to wait…rent is due. He grabs some grapes and slices cheese from his poorly stocked refrigerator for lunch and a snack. He will put these in the Healy House kitchen’s refrigerator upon his arrival at the Sawdust grounds.

The Healy House was finished and dedicated in 1989 and is a godsend to the artists who spend the summer’s long days and nights in their booths. A large space, it has a well-equipped kitchen, a small half bath and cushioned benches for a quick nap. It is one of the few places on the grounds where an artist can be away from the hubbub for at least a few precious moments if he or she should choose.

Lunch packed in with the other items he will need for the day, our artist takes a last look around. In just moments, he must catch the bus that will take him to the depot, where he will then catch a trolley out the canyon to be at the Sawdust Festival grounds when they open at 10 a.m.

So this is how a day begins for our fictional artist. And it IS just the beginning. He will see many things in the day ahead, not to mention the many days still to come of this 2009 festival season. His world has narrowed down to this finite scheduling and yet broadened to include myriad new experiences. The limits of this column cannot cover a whole day in the life.

So here is this small peek. I will try to open the window on more of the artist’s experience as the summer goes by. Meanwhile, come on down to the festivals and see some of this for yourselves and listen to the artists’ own stories. And don’t forget to check out www.lagunabeach passport.com for those wonderful deals around town.

CHERRIL DOTY is an artist, writer, and creative coach exploring and enjoying the many mysteries of life in the moment. She can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (714) 745-9973.