I participated in my first Open Studios today for Arts Benicia, here in Benicia, California. I didn’t show any of my collage art. I only had my altered books which worked out just fine because my space was limited.

Since my “studio” is a spare bedroom about the size of a postage stamp, my husband’s boss, who owns a contemporary furniture store, was nice enough to allow me to show my books in the store. It was perfect place for displaying my books because there are so many surfaces to place them on: coffee and end tables, dining room tables, etc. I even mangaged to get my hanging books on the walls, using nails and screws that were already in place.

Another nice thing about this location was that it is very close to a lot of other artist studios as well as the main gallery where many of the artists, including me, have a piece of their work on display, along with a tag indicating their studio location.

I was very excited that I sold two books and two calendars. Although it’s hard to part with my books, it’s also very exhilarating to find someone who’s willing to pay cash-money for my art work. To me it means that they really like what I’ve created, and that is very gratifying. I know some people create art just for the pure joy of it with no intention of selling. I even had a friend of mine say that she wasn’t interested in selling her art work because she thought that she would be “prostituting” herself and her art. She is an extremely talented and creative book artist, and thankfully has changed her atitude about that. But for me, part of the pleasure I derive from creating my altered books and collage art is sharing it with others. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that the kind gentleman who purchased St. Dymphna (one of my most recent Reliquaries) is going to have that sitting on a book shelf or his coffee table, and he’s going to look at it and smile.