Connection, camaraderie, creativity and community were celebrated during the Old Town Newhall and Santa Clarita Artists Association’s Fine Arts Festival on Sunday afternoon.
People were seen walking throughout the three blocks of fine art made by 23 different artists while music was playing throughout.
Qiana Tarlow, chairperson of the festival, loves these events because it gives artists a chance to show their work.
Tarlow added that these events also give artists the opportunity to be social.
“I’m kind of just a social person. I love people walking by and talking to them about art. I love the camaraderie with the other artists. I love supporting other artists. So, it’s just, it’s a really fun vibe for me, but it’s also a great venue to be able to show my work as well,” Tarlow said.
Tarlow is a fine artist who uses watercolors to paint. Her booth at the festival featured many flowers, plants and botanicals from Descanso Gardens in Pasadena that she painted “plein air.”
“They’re painted plein air. And if you don’t know what plein air is, it’s a French term, meaning painting outdoors. And it’s more challenging because you have the sun moving, the light is changing, the flowers are slowly opening,” Tarlow said. “I’ve actually started painting a flower that was a bud, and then two hours later, it’s open. So, you have to catch things actually kind of quickly.”
Tobi Beck, one of the featured artists, was thrilled because she sold one of her paintings on Sunday.
“The best part is being able to connect with people as they come in. And we, you know, get to talk about the piece, and you get to hear some of the story, maybe why they’re inspired by it,” Beck said. “And then inevitably, it leads to both of us sharing our stories. And it always happens that it’s kind of kismet where there’s some connection between me as the creator and them as the interested collector.”
Beck said her paintings are inspired by growing up in the projects in Boston, and seeing certain things that had a story.
“But being a kid, I just remember like, we would walk downtown, you take the train … you have all of that, like, broken brick, stained concrete, chain-linked fences, even honestly trash or like, you’re walking down and there’s like a wad of gum,” Beck said. “Bubble gum like on a mailbox. I always loved that as a kid. It just reminded me every time I saw something or like a rip sticker on a light pole. You know, it’s like someone was here and they left a mark.”
Beck added that being at the festival and seeing artists makes her feel fulfilled.
“I really, it feels hopeful. I could cry again … but yeah, it really is because every person walking on this street right now has a story. Every single one, whether it’s a positive thing happening or a negative thing happening or both of those things co-existing, you know, and we need light. We need something to look forward to. Something to either inspire, if it’s not making you happy, at least inspire you,” Beck said.
During the event, there were also chalk artists creating live paintings for people to look at while walking through all the booths, a face painter, and live art lessons for attendees.
Zach Heffelfinger, one attendee, said he came because artists need support no matter how long they have been doing it.
“But I think it’s smart because, you know, a lot of artists, they don’t always get the most support, you know, at the beginning of their careers or throughout their entire careers. So, it’s good to find a support system wherever you can, you know, and I think this helps motivate people to keep chasing their dreams down,” Heffelfinger said.
