Left: The button for this year's Minnesota State Fair Sketch out. Click on the image to view an enlargement.
Yep, the buttons arrived on Saturday and I've been dancing around (wearing mine of course) ever since. (Tip: it looks particularly fine pinned to a heather gray t-shirt.)
Everything is set for the big day:
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2011
If you haven't been to one of the Minnesota State Fair Sketch Outs before here's what you need to know: we have TWO meetings on the sketch out day. The first is at 1 p.m., the second is at 4 p.m. (See the handy map below for meeting locations and times.)
You can find out current Fair admission costs at the Minnesota State Fair website. I recommend that you bring a little money for a food treat, and for rides, of course, if you like rides (I don't, it's too hard to sketch while screaming.) Participation in the actual sketch out is free to anyone who wants to sketch from life.
You can attend either meeting, or both, or neither (and just sketch). Most folks (myself included) show up early in the day, sketch for a couple hours, and bring our first sketches to the 1 p.m. meeting. After a brief show and tell and some planning, we break up either into small groups or singletons and get back to sketching until the 4 p.m. meeting. At that meeting there is more sharing of art and stories of our Fair encounters. We will also take a moment to take photos of people holding their sketches, so that we can document the day. The second meeting typically lasts 30 to 50 minutes. Following the second meeting some folks continue to sketch into the evening hours while others head home.
You can pick up a participation button at either meeting (while supplies last). The buttons are FREE. Just show me a sketch you've made at the Fair and you get a button!
Let's say you can't join us for either meeting (and you don't bump into me in the barns on Saturday), well you can still get a button (while supplies last) if you send me a jpg of one or more of your sketches. (I'll put a button aside for you once I receive your jpg. and we'll arrange for you to pick it up.)
You can participate in the sketch out on ANY DAY of the Fair. Just go, sketch from life, and send me a jpg. We realize that not everyone has the same day off! (I take almost all my days off to go multiple days to the Fair, but then I can't help myself. You might see me on another day—say Hi! Or sketch me for Project Journal Infiltration. Or both.)
Left: A map showing the locations for the 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. meetings on the day of the sketch out.
EMERGENCY UPDATE 8.26.11: I've just returned from my first visit to the Fair this year and they have moved the cinnamon bun stand to the Northwest corner, across from the cattle barn. A BRIDGEMAN'S ICE CREAM STAND is on the Northeast Corner now. Look for us at Bridgeman's on the Northeast corner.
The first meeting is on the same corner as a cinnamon bun stand. Look for us just behind the stand at a table, or on the curb. The second meeting is in a large "food court" area with tables. If you get there early, grab a table and keep sketching. I walk around the entire court yard just before the meeting starts, to round folks up. Click on the image to view an enlargement.
Your sketches will be published on the Urban Sketchers—Twin Cities blog, along with sketches of other Fair attendees. It's a great way to show the world what a great Fair we have, and encourage other sketchers to join us next year! (I'll also be looking for someone to design the 2012 button, so it's good to get your work into me.)
In addition it is a fantastic opportunity to practice your sketching-in-public skills. There is no better place to hone your observation skills. Whether you like to sketch people, buildings, views, or animals there is something for your to sketch at the Minnesota State Fair. Turn a corner, turn a page, start sketching. (In fact I think I just came up with a great motto!)
The MSFSO grows a little every year. Last year we had 15 intrepid sketchers. I hope you can all return—and I hope that you all bring a sketching friend. If you don't live in Minnesota now is the time to visit! I won't be happy until there is a sketcher every few yards! We've got a lot of Fair to cover.
