It’s certainly been a busy summer!
Never have I felt so tired (other than maybe jet lag) as I did after doing my first 2 day show which was at the Staffordshire County Show in back in May. As it was located an hour from my house it was a 5am start to 7-8pm both days.
By far the biggest challenge of the 2 days was live drawing which I have only ever previously done on school trips when I was younger. At times I would turn around and see a crowd of around 15 people watching me which was amazing but slightly terrifying. However, it proved to myself how far I have come with my confidence – if I had told myself what I would be doing a year ago I would have just laughed!
![](https://pritchart.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/E6B61B66-87B9-4F56-B134-20FC4FA3EE8F-1-768x1024.jpg)
My second stand was at a 3 day dog agility show held in Shrewsbury in July. It was only a small show (there were only 5 other stalls) but hundreds of dogs! Having so little stall holders gave a nice atmosphere and we all became quite friendly with each other over the 3 days. Most of the competing dog owners stayed on site through the entire show meaning I came to know a few of them as they would regularly walk past to watch the progress on my drawing of a hurdling collie. I even had a surprise special announcement over the speaker system “Now ladies and gentlemen, we have somebody very talented here today. She is a pet portrait artist currently drawing for all to see. Once you have finished your rounds, I highly recommend you wander over to see for yourself”. I couldn’t stop grinning for the next few minutes…!
![](https://pritchart.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/19554477_1301974583248676_6487811202896124615_n.jpg)
The 3rd and 4th shows were both one day each. Ludlow dog day held in July was another very hot day but lots of fun, I even had my photo taken for the local newspaper! http://www.ludlowadvertiser.co.uk/news/15431905.Ludlow_goes_to_the_dogs/. The Kidderminster horticultural show in September was nice and close to home and the best show of them all as it gained me the most commissions and I sold a lot of cards. I also had different friends come to visit me throughout the day to see my work too which was lovely.
As well as these shows, I’ve been involved in 2 exhibitions. The first was the Church Stretton open exhibition in August which ran for 2 weeks and the second is the Wolverhampton Society of Artists exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery which is ongoing until November 2017.
![](https://pritchart.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/DSC_4474-2-678x1024.jpg)
I’ve loved being so involved with shows and exhibitions this summer, it’s been a great opportunity to talk to so many people about my work and their pets. Every minute was enjoyable and I can’t wait for my next shows…