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