Gate Queen and the Fair. August 7, 2024.

Do you have someone in your life who opened gates rather than keeping them closed? Someone who helped you become a better version of yourself? Tracing back through my youth, I was so fortunate to have someone I will call The Gate Queen. She was truly the only reason that doors of opportunity were opened. She welcomed and guided me through new experiences that were foreign to me. In so many ways I have her to thank for everything from helping me learn socializing skills, get my driver's license, birth control, and introduced me to the opportunities provided by the county fair. One time she even took the heat off me from my dad when he found a pregnancy test in my bathroom trash can (that right there is an amazing friend)! Alas, county and state fairs were one my favorite things growing up. As a rural kid, the Malheur County Fair was a place that was somewhat sacred for me. I bonded closely with my friends who joined me in these experiences, but it was all possible thanks to Gate Queen. Attorney Angel was there also as a winning arts, crafts and baking champion! Gate Queen showed and sold cows, and she was so poised and organized while maintaining fun. There were opportunities at the fair, but especially for those of us from rural communities. These feelings and memories were reignited in my mind because this week, I went to the Wisconsin County Fair as a competitive plein air painter.

A competitive plein air event can look different depending on the organization and venue. This particular event allowed for up to 60 artists, with a $50 registration fee. After signing up about a month in advance, I received several information packets for different categories of competitions that are wrapped into this two-day event. First of all, paper and/or canvases get stamped during the check-in process. Some very nice folks checked me in and put a unique stamp onto the back of my watercolor paper. I went with mostly Arches rough rough gain 140 lb paper. The first day's event allowed for two paintings typically of larger sizes, and one postcard-sized (5x7) to be completed between 9am and 9pm. No photo references! I brought my bespoke plein air box and a backpack full of water, snacks, extra paint, tape, sunscreen and of course my big dumb hat!

I walked around the fairgrounds, watching 4H families prepare for the day's work and vendors starting up their deep fryers and inflating plastic baubles. Large eye-catching rides and product booths were being restocked for the day's business. The smell of sawdust, manure, and grease brought me right back to my youth. I walked a little bit until something jumped out at me--antlers atop a ranch style gate with the spiraled poles of the Ferris Wheel directly behind it. It was cloudy and felt like it could rain, but it was comforting because I knew the spirit of the Gate Queen would guide my way!

What you see here is some green painter's tape on parts of the painting I wanted to keep white, protecting it. Unfortunately, I did not plan appropriately and lost the integrity of the brightness in the final painting. But hey, I was there to learn not just to try and win. Another lesson courtesy the Gate Queen.

During that time, it had been about three hours, I had many folks walk by and watch, some make comments, and ask questions. Many folks didn't know what the competition was or what this kind of painting was called. I got the chance to tell people about this kind of thing, letting them know we had a limited time during the day to paint competitively. I knew for sure that several artists around the area were working in oils and pastels because random folks told me about the other painters were doing incredible things! By this point in the day it was starting to get warmer and I had been neglecting my food and water intake. I was stationed right up next to the Wisconsin Cattlemen's Association vendor where all the folks working there provided many words of support, encouragement, and offered me food and drink. I got myself an all beef hot dog and some chips and took some time to rest.

Next, I settled into the show arena for a short while to watch some of the youth animal shows and competitions, which was fun. It very exciting to see a very diverse group of young people doing these events with many different strengths and approaches to showing. I wandered through the animal barns, visiting my favorite--the pigs--and took a little time to get sad and cry a little thinking of my fair pigs. I thanked them for their life and sacrifice to allow me some opportunity 20+ years ago. It's kind of perverse, maybe, but I was raised to respect and love the animals that will also provide sustenance.

I moved throughout the carnival areas and saw many fun scenes, but thing really jumped out at me to paint. I found my way to an eating area where I sat down to gather myself and look around. Food is a large part of what fair culture is about. People enjoying food and each other is a very important element of this particular magic. Then, I saw the perfect moment and did a super fast sketch of the scene because no photos!

These young people, with the magical present-time only bubble around them, sat on the curb of the walkway enjoying their food and this incredible moment. Matching shirts and practical clothes, enjoying a moment with one another that they may not realize may very well be the best time of their lives. I didn't even take time to put my painter box together, I just started painting as fast as I could on the postcard sized paper. Throughout that time, folks would sit next to me at the picnic table, and one group of ladies just talked about Star Trek. It was a magical fucking moment I was meant to be in, no doubt.

One left to go for the day! I was both energized by those kids and appreciated the chance to sit down. I was ready for another large painting to be done while standing. How to top that, though? I wasn't sure but sunset was coming soon and I wanted to take advantage of this because it had been so cloudy all day that shadows were kind of tough to capture. I decided to really stretch myself and try capturing shadows and the crowd near a big beautiful tree. Bestie called me and we chatted as I set up my painting box and tripod. My heart was full of love for my friends and loved ones, I was ready to try this very hard scene, knowing that no matter what the painting looked like I was going to try.

Each person depicted in this scene was at one point a real person walking through and I combined them in this scene. The two youths in the foreground were mesmerized by this amazing contraption that sling-shots riders into the air. It was hard to not be infected by their sense of wonder, because that is what should happen at a fair!

It was about 8pm and I was spent. I needed to get these paintings back to the car for framing before 9pm. Spoiler alert, I didn't make it. It started to pour rain about 8:45 and I was having a hell of a time with the postcard sized frame. Luckily, I could turn them in the following day! I made my way to my Airbnb just before the thunderstorm and subsequent downpour started. This was where I realized I was dehydrated and exhausted, but sleep was difficult. The day's events had energized and awoken me, it's almost like being high. The next morning came so fast.

Before getting to the fair, I had to make a stop at a place I have heard locals talk of, called Grebe's Bakery. It was just down the street from my Airbnb, and I stopped in. I got a baker's dozen plus a free 14th donut because it was my first time! On my way out, it was once again dumping buckets of rain. I was drenched and so were my donuts!

This day's event, quick paint, required that all painters be in the same area of the fair, with about a 2.5 hour window of painting and turning in a framed piece. It was raining--hard. I found some cover and plopped down cross-legged. It was cold and wet, but I got it done. This was is my least favorite but I just, couldn't risk having the framing process take too much time. The postcard sized frame I used for the other one gave me a lot of trouble, so I sacrificed time on the painting to ensure I had enough time to frame. I got it turned in just in time. Another thing with these events is that the stamps are supposed to be visible on the backs. Here is the painting and the back of the painting with frame.

I lost some sleep in the weeks leading up to this event because of the framing requirements asking that the stamps be visible from the back of the frame. I was disappointed and shocked that I could not find any examples online. Specific to watercolor, I was baffled. So, reader, you may not find this interesting or useful, but I hope this gives an idea for someone else who might be looking. Watercolor plein air competition framing with visible stamp could look something like this.

First I used paper to mark where the stamps would need windows cut into the foam. I used the paper on the foam to cut it. I used the foam board as the backing and secured it with the glazier points, pushing them into the frame with wire-cutters. On the top photo on the lower area, there is a little extra foam added because I didn't quite get my cut right. There are also several holes near the D-ring hangers because I could not get those suckers to work without breaking the edge of the frame at first--not proud of it but I learned much!

At last, I covered the glazier points with artists tape and the stamps are still visible through the foam windows. I finished up my wire and got it turned in. I have so many ideas of what to do next time and in the future I will be more prepared before coming to the event. I have this ongoing joke with Hubby that I have this awful and weird skill to frame paintings in cars and one of these days I will make a video to show you what a ridiculous process this is for me. I am sure others do a great job and are very organized, but not me!

I met some kind and sweet watercolor painters at check-in and we ended up having lunch together. We got to check out all the paintings submitted and had a great time seeing the different painter's skills and different subject matter. I felt a little like I didn't belong there, but there was such diversity it felt good to have done this experience. We chatted, shared stories, and discussed upcoming opportunities and art supply suggestions and so on. The results of the competition will be posted later, but I didn't want to hang around, I was ready for the 90 minute drive back home.

Before I left, I took an inventory of appreciation and thankfulness for the event, kind folks, and so many other positive experiences throughout my life and the unique magic of the fair. I came, I saw, I painted, and I got things turned in. I didn't hurt myself, my car didn't break down, my Airbnb wasn't bad, and I made some new friends and got to deeply appreciate my old friends in new ways. If you have a Gate Queen in your life, send them some love because it's never too late to say thank you.