11/22-23 Ponte Vedra, Florida showed watercolor. Total sales - $0

This was my first show with Howard Alan Events, actually my very first with HAE was Naples in October but I wasn't ready and had to skip it. Based on their web presence and selection criteria, I expected a higher end show, emphasizing fine paintings and sculpture. I was not disappointed. I arrived a day early due to some bizarre time distortion phenomenon, and spent the wee hours of the morning leaving confused messages on the HAE answering machine and trying to find the show. When I realized it was Friday and not Saturday, I checked into the nearby Hilton and went to bed - alone, more's the pity.

I got great feedback from the folks who stepped out of the blazing sun into my tent, I'd say about 5 percent of the passing crowd was tuned into my work. Most foxy babes bee lined for the jewelry booths, which makes me wonder if I have chosen the best medium for self expression.

I met a few other artists, two in particular offered some great insight. Diane is a painter and has been doing the circuit for a long time, more than 10 years plus, maybe even 20 - I forget. She said something about sales being way off lately and that this is the worst time to start on the art show circuit! (my emphasis). So my plan is working perfectly, I am poised to surprise the heck out of you know who, the last thing THEY'd expect me to try is a tour of art shows in the post 9/11, pseudo war, pre/post bush economy from hell.

The jeweler next door had a very dire and sort of gloating prediction based on his own story. He said I'd have to go a year before I'd be profitable. He has a goofy North Carolina accent so that probably didn't help his initial sales much. I threw down the gauntlet and told him I would be profitable in 3 months. I want to wipe the disbelieving smirk off his face with a fistful of greenbacks.

Rafael is another painter who does large sexy canvases of an eastern /art deco flavor. He said it took him 3 months to make it happen on the circuit, which felt like a confirmation and encouragement. He is also a HAE veteran, and a very hep cat. He played Trance and Sade on his boom box and lounged around his booth like one of the tigers in his paintings. I am looking forward to bumping into him again at the Delray Beach show.

On Monday I drove south and landed at the Crystal Lake (!) RV Park in Scotsmoor for the week, right off I95. 'Right off' used here to mean cozily close to. Lush jungle growth blocked my view of cars and trucks streaming by, but their wails and whistles had an errie lilt, especially at night.

Canaveral National Park is nearby and around 6 or 7 am on Wednesday I body surfed naked there. The best waves I've tasted in years, sun just coming up - ecstatic.