Skipping Painted Stones Blog

10/25/2025 0 Comments

Big News!

Many of you know that in my twenties I ran a privately owned art gallery called A Piece of Work, Inc. It was my dream job, and I'm so thankful that I had the opportunity at such a young age.

I learned so much about networking, event planning, advertising, and more! It turns out I truly love the business side of art!

This is the water cup I use at work!

Since that gallery closed its doors in 2014, I've wanted to work in a gallery again, and in more recent years, I've been dreaming about owning my own gallery.

Now there are pros and cons to owning an art gallery, as there are in all things in life.

Pro - I already have the knowledge and experience to run it.

Con - I already have a full time job, so would this be a second job with limited open hours? Would Jon run it for me while I'm at work? (The answer to that is NO.)

Pro - I'd have my own space to host art events, and wouldn't need someone else to host me. (Shout out to Lee Shiney though - the old school he lives in is AMAZING and you should go see it!)

Con - I'd have a mortgage, utilities, property taxes... Would my sales each month be able to cover that?

Pro - If it's windy or raining, I don't have to worry about a tent.

...And on and on and on in my inner monologue. I did talk it over with Jon, but nothing was really decided... until recently.

What if I had a mobile gallery?

I could get a trailer and remodel the inside to be a clean, classy space for art display! And bonus, I get to use it to store my display tables, easels, tent, card rack, etc. which gives me more space in my home studio - and trust me, square footage in my studio is limited and PRECIOUS.

That shape reminds me of something... ;)

Allow me to introduce MAGS, my Mobile Art Gallery! She doesn't look like much now, but I'll document my journey from start to finish with the remodel. I don't have a specific date for completion, so I'm just working on it as I have the time.

I am so excited to be taking on this project, and I can't wait to share it with everyone!

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7/28/2025 0 Comments

How to Be a Guest at an Art Event

Some of you might think this topic is common sense, but I've seen the question come up a number of times so I think it's worth writing about!

If you've never been to an art event like a gallery reception, art fair, or studio tour... you should! Especially if you are an artist, because chatting with other artists can be so rejuvenating for a creative soul.

What I wouldn't give for a hanging track like that in my own house!

Let's first talk about what to expect, starting with appropriate clothing. At a gallery reception, guests may be dressed nicely. At a more casual event (think a county art center vs a reception at the MOMA) it's perfectly acceptable to wear a nice enough pair of jeans with a logo shirt - you do get bonus points if it's an art related shirt. On a studio tour or at an art fair, anything goes. Flip-flops with socks and shorts with a fanny pack? You do you, babe! You'll get bonus points for wearing art-related attire here, too.

At gallery receptions, guests hang out chatting with each other, and the featured artist(s) or gallery employee(s) may get up and speak to the crowd. If there's a presenter, you should listen quietly so you don't disrupt or distract. There will most likely be a time for questions at the end. Don't be afraid to raise your hand if you want to ask a question, and wait to be called on. Don't be afraid to ask questions, either, even if it's just a generic "Can you tell us more about *THAT* piece?" Many artists (and actually most people in general) hate talking in front of crowds, and creating art can be deeply personal so putting your art out there is like putting yourself out there. So people asking questions can be a lifesaver to an artist who has no idea what else to say.

An art fair is much more casual; the artists aren't necessarily presenting to a crowd, but please also feel encouraged to ask them questions. A studio tour is a great mix between an art fair and gallery event. There may be demonstrations, maybe not, but the artists on studio tours want to have conversations with their guests.

Next let's talk about food! Gallery receptions most likely have some hors d'oeuvres, maybe some wine offered. Please feel free to eat and drink, but it is not intended to be a meal so be polite about how much you take. And if you choose to drink alcohol, absolutely do NOT get drunk. Food offered at studio tours is similar - not meant to be a full meal. Artists at art fairs are probably not offering food; there's most likely a food vendor there that you can buy food from.

Regardless of the type of event you are at, you absolutely must must keep all food and drink away from the art! After you are done eating and drinking, make sure you wash and dry your hands well. Don't EVER touch a piece of art without the clear permission of the artist. And if you are flipping through wrapped prints or thumbing through books, you want to be sure your hands are clean and dry so you aren't damaging what you are touching.

A few other "dont's" to stick to regardless of the type of event: Don't take pictures of the art without permission from the gallery/artist, this is especially the case if you are intending to print a copy of the art later. Not cool, because many artists offer reasonably priced prints of their work already, so you'd essentially be stealing from them.

Don't say "I/my kid/my dog/etc. could do that in like 5 minutes!" This is extremely rude, invalidating, and truly disheartening for artists to hear.

Don't ask why a piece is so expensive, or complain about the cost being too high. I've already written a post that breaks down why art can be expensive. We understand that not everyone can afford to pay high prices for art, but that doesn't mean that we don't deserve to charge fair prices for our artwork.

A good rule of thumb to follow is the classic from Bambi - if you don't have anything nice to say, just don't say anything at all. Artists are people, too, and mean or insensitive comments do hurt our feelings. And on the other side, comments like "I love this!" and "This is so cool!" still make our day, even if you didn't purchase anything.

And rest assured, you aren't required to purchase anything. You can just quietly look, and that is perfectly acceptable! You also aren't required to start up a conversation, or carry it if you don't know what to say.

In my days as a Gallery Director, I used to repeat the quote "The highest compliment you can give to an artist is to buy a piece of their art!" And while that's still very true, as artists we we also really appreciate people who just plain appreciate art. There are so many ways for people to support their favorite artists without spending money: sharing and commenting on their social media posts, attending their art events, and spreading the word by telling other people about their artwork.

But, you know, if you DO want to buy a piece, then you should absolutely do that!

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6/15/2025 1 Comment

The Value of a Supportive Partner

My absolutely amazing husband is NOT a fan of my art...

And whenever I tell people this they are horrified on my behalf, which is really funny because I'm always saying it with a grin on my face. Some people have even launched into whole speeches about how "that's not right!" But who are they to tell me the faults in my relationship? Who are they to judge someone else's taste in art? I'm well aware that my toasters aren't everyone's cup of tea (or slice of bread?) and that's totally fine! In fact, it's one of my favorite things about art - that everyone is an expert on what kind of art appeals to them!

...But he's 110% supportive of me and my art. Especially when he doesn't have to be involved! For example, painting the walls in our house. I've pretty much done what I want, usually after asking him "How would you feel about yellow and gray in our bedroom?" or something similar, and he always replies "I have no feelings about that" AKA "If I don't have to do any taping or painting, I don't care."

Enjoy this glimpse into our home.

Exhibit A: Our basement stairway. I didn't even ask him about this one, I just went ahead and did it in the middle of the night over the course of three days. He got up for work one morning and saw a wall full of tape. The next morning there was paint, and the following morning it was done!

Our whole house was tan, it was the worst!

I remember painting our living room. That took a couple days too, there's a lot of edges that needed tape. While I painted upstairs, he took the kids and occupied them downstairs so I could work uninterrupted. What a guy! :D

He's also the one at home with the kids when I'm traveling to art events. I have a handful of events that I'm a regular at, plus my big nerd weekend in Sioux Falls every year (this year I'll be be at the 605 Con on June 28-29 with Ms. Chevious and Rachael Sitzman.)

Usually when I have an art event, he leaves me to my own devices. I've been selling my art for long enough, I know what I need to bring. For outdoor events, I lug around my 10'x10' tent; set it up and tear it down by myself. I load and unload my tables, totes, and other equipment like a card or print rack. It takes me about an hour to set it all up on my own, and I don't mind the exercise.

Art in the Park 2025, Harlan IA

My daughter loves drawing, coloring, and writing, and wants to be either an artist or an art teacher when she grows up. She's now old enough that I can start bringing her along to events. A few months ago I brought her to a gallery show, and on June 1st this year I brought her with me to Art in the Park in Harlan, IA. She's seen me running a group exhibition and watched me selling my art to the public.

Side note: she wrote me a script for greeting the people at Art in the Park. Thanks, kiddo, but I promise this isn't my first rodeo. ;)

We had to load up and leave the house by 8am! I set my alarm for 6am and while I was getting ready I heard my husband get up. He was getting a small cooler ready, filled with food for us to have at the park! He filled water bottles up with water and even tossed in a couple bottles of soda for a treat! Then he popped a fresh batch of movie-theater style popcorn for us to have. He also helped load up the van. I didn't ask him to do any of it, he just did it because he cares. What a guy!! :D

He might not attend all my art events as the arm candy he could be, even though when we met he definitely told me that LOVED going to galleries! But he supports me by going above and beyond. I've been in relationships before where I was not only unsupported, but actively torn down and mocked. It was awful to experience, so I truly understand just how valuable the support Jon gives me is. It's essential! I know I wouldn't be where I am today without his acceptance that he's married to an artist, and that just plain makes life weird sometimes.

To end this post, I asked him to write about what it's like to be a non-artist in a relationship with an artist:

"It sucks." - Jon McAndrews, June 2025

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4/16/2025 0 Comments

The Engineer (an unrefined excerpt)

Tuck was tall for an earth fairy, standing at around two and a half feet tall. It was difficult to tell the tint of his pale skin and shaggy hair through the brown grease and gray ash that covered him from the tips of his pointed ears to his metal-clad boots.

Nearly every waking moment, he wore a pair of dark, bronze goggles that he had crafted for himself years ago to protect his sensitive eyes. The goggles were on their sixth elastic strap; originally a bright orange, this strap was the same dingy tone as the rest of him.

He wore a tan long-sleeved shirt, unbuttoned at the neck under a pair of dark brown canvas overalls. The overalls were clearly custom-made for him, with an unusual amount of pockets and loops. He filled them with bits and pieces of metal, screws, nails, washers, and various small tools. He never knew on a daily basis what he might find a use for, and so he preferred to carry a collection of supplies with him (even if sometimes his shoulders ached by the end of the day from the extra weight.)

The street was filling up with a bustling crowd - humans, fairies, elves, and other unique creatures. Air fairies buzzed overhead, darting back and forth among the birds. Horses with riders and carriages cut through the current of bodies like boulders in a river.

Standing next to the female water fairy he had met the day before, Tuck watched the crowd go past. They all seemed so busy. Everyone had something to do, somewhere they needed to be... except him. His stomach growled, but it was drowned out by the noise of the busy street.

Tuck stumbled as a small green plant fairy collided with his knees. He peered down at it, covered in leaves and greenery. It got back to its... feet? Stump? Roots, perhaps? Tuck was sure there was some sort of foot in there, but he couldn't quite tell.

Its face was round, with big emerald eyes and plump cheeks. It squeaked in surprise as it stared up into his huge, black goggles. He supposed he looked like some sort of bug-eyed giant to the young thing.

Tuck crouched down in front of the child, shoving the bronze goggles up into his already messy hair to reveal large clean circles of skin underneath. The young plant fairy gasped as they came eye to eye. Her vine-like green hair trembled slightly. Tuck smiled, pulling a small lump of silver metal from one of his many pockets. He showed it to the little fairy, winked playfully, and began rolling and tugging on the metal. He used a combination of his magic and his oversized, powerful claws to form it into a clumsy flower with four petals and thin stem.

He offered it to the child, who reached out only after their parent (Tuck wasn't sure of the fairy's gender, as they resembled a bush more than a male or female) nodded encouragingly. As the child grasped the little silver flower, their eyes wide with awe, Tuck nudged one of the petals with the tip of his claw, sending them spinning like a wheel.

The young fairy's face split in a wide grin, and it bounced up and down with delight. The parent thanked Tuck and the pair continued on their way down the street. Tuck stood, replacing his protective goggles over his eyes as he rose.

"What... are you?" the water fairy next to him asked in disbelief. Metal fairies didn't exist... Did they?

"Oh," he chuckled. "I'm an engineer. If I had more time, I would have smoothed out the stem, maybe added a fifth petal. If I could hollow out the stem like a straw..."

His voice faded from her mind. There's only one Engineer in this city, she thought as a grave chill ran down her spine to the tip of her finned tail. The Engineer of Death.

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3/15/2025 1 Comment

The Trouble with Kids and Art

It's December 8th, 2024 as I'm writing this - very appropriately in my Moms Who Create Journal (unrelated, I only have about 10 pages left in it and I'm so sad about that!) (Also unrelated, what are my kids going to do with all my sketchbooks and journals when I die, because I have a TON!) Ok, ok, back to the point!

It's December 8th, 2024, and I've just finished cleaning up our crazy mess of a dining room table (and the floor underneath.) It's been covered about 3" deep with plastic bags, markers, paint, brushes, colored pencils, glue, cut up and torn magazines, crayons, scissors, etc. because back in August I gave myself a crazy 14-day art challenge that I'm currently halfway through. I'll write more about the challenge itself later on.

Between Jon and I, I am the strict parent. This may surprise you, it certainly surprised me, but it's true. Once when I was pregnant with Alex, it was Emma's bedtime. I told her when I was done going to the bathroom (which happened every 15 minutes at that point) we were going to brush teeth and she would go to bed. Everyone agreed, but when I waddled back from the bathroom Jon and Emma were sharing a bowl of ice cream that had NOT been there when I left!

Five years later, if you ask my kids what I hate, they will probably tell you I hate messes. The sheer number of times I say "Clean up this mess!" probably rivals the number of times I say "I love you!" to them. As a disclaimer, my studio is the only room in our house that is in a constant state of mess and chaos, and I blame the fact that it's the random catch-all room. Also sometimes there's 6' statues in there.

This is basically a picture of the whole room.

It took me a good 30 minutes to clean up the dining room this morning, including sweeping the paper scraps that had migrated to the kitchen and hallway, cleaning glue stick residue off the table. putting away all the supplies, and using rubbing alcohol to remove some permanent marker from the table.

What started our art-full weekend was going to an artist reception downtown after work. No kids, just me meeting and chatting with other artists. It had been SO LONG wince I've networked just because. And I came home with creative excitement in my soul! So I got out some supplies (after the kids went to bed) and started collaging with my mom, who was visiting for the weekend. We had a great time, and some of the tension I'd been hanging onto eased. I was creating, and it was FUN.

Fast forward to the next morning, when I wake to a chorus of "We want to make that kind of art, too!" Deep sigh. I love seeing my kids make art, but like with all things, if I'm helping them I'm not able to do it myself. Which is fine, except when I'm actually trying to get some art done. Like when I'm painting a statue that has a deadline, and my girls want to paint at the same time.

My toaster collage!

So I let them create. I gave them the scissors and glue and set them free. I was able to do a bit of art alongside them, which made it even better. They kept coming back to their projects throughout the weekend to do more. It left a huge mess in their wake.

As I cleaned up, I chose not to listen to music or books. I just wanted to think about things as I scooped up tiny bits and crayons. A few days prior to this I saw a video of a woman complaining about the wreck in her house due to her kids' toys being everywhere in her house. She goes to work after making and posting that video - I think she's a nurse - and her work that day was with a little girl in home hospice, who had stopped playing with her toys... indicating that her health was declining and she would pass soon. The woman cried in the video, I cried watching it, and any second now Jon is going to notice that I'm crying as I write this (and then he'll poke fun at me about it!)

The trouble with kids and art is that there's always a mess left behind! And as I've mentioned, I hate messes. But the mess I was cleaning up was the leftovers of a weekend of art and memories made with people that I love. Cleaning up the mess was less work and more of a chance to live in the moment and reflect on how lucky I am to have this mess to clean up.

When my girls see me creating art, they are seeing their mom fulfilling her dreams and making her passions a priority. When my girls as to create art themselves, they are asking to do the exact same thing.

Am I going to revel in every single mess that my children make? Of course not. Will my kids remember that I didn't make them pick up after themselves this time? Oh please, they've already forgotten that there was a mess there. But I sure appreciate the lesson for myself this morning.

(And Jon never noticed me crying, ha ha!)

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