Welcome back. My brain is still in Camping Mode (mmmm…camping) and the RAW show feels like it was a loooooong tiiiiiime ago…three whole days ago! I have 875 photos to edit from one weekend of camping! Who’s to say I don’t enjoy my digital camera?

The RAW people suggest you give yourself 3 hours to hang your art before the show, but after getting ready/cooking delicious homemade pizza (dear Corinne–that pizza is the SHIT, love Liz) and an hour of heavy traffic on the way for some sporting event we arrived with one hour to spare.

Of course, with three people helping out, the paintings went up in a flash.

I had requested the same spot as before, and it seemed ideal, but turned out to be a disaster (more about that later).

RAW made each artist a little framed statement of our choosing. Mine was about as minimalistic as it gets: “My artwork reflects my longtime obsessions: the female form, bright colors and sparkle!”

I took the Boy’s suggestion and typed up each description of the paintings neatly instead of scrawling them on neon cardstock with Sharpie, a’la the July show. We spread out my business cards on three small tables. The area seemed primed for success.

We had the paintings hung in 15 minutes. I didn’t put my shoes on until the show started. Oddly, I wasn’t allowed to hang any paintings over the “wallpaper”. It was hideous, but it advertised medicinal marijuana, so I didn’t mind too much.

“You guys look like you’re on an awkward first date,” I teased them. “Move closer!”

So they did this.

Is it just me, or is this the best photo of Corinne EVER? I mean…so far? Fabulous sweetie darling sweetie darling.

The Boy shows off his chest.

The butterscotch blondies Corinne thoughtfully baked before the show eased my sweating, frazzled state…momentarily.

Nerves nerves nerves. But why? I had done this show before. Why was I so nervous the second time around?

As before, each artist who participated in the show was supposed to have a videotaped interview, but when I went upstairs for the taping, the lack of air conditioning, end-of-summer heat and the bright light positioned on my face was simply too much. I could feel my make-up melting, my legs sweating all over the couch and I lost my mojo. I told the videographer I couldn’t do it–I was just too damn hot and flustered.

He couldn’t have been nicer about it, and offered to come back to me. I wanted to do the interview, but first I needed to settle my nerves.

Half a Xanax and some fresh air did wonders.

I still didn’t go through with the interview, however. Since I had already done a video I didn’t have to do another one, and I was grateful. Diva behavior? Nah–heat + nerves + unfortunate Type A personality tendencies (I’m way too hard on myself) = a bit of a mess, occasionally. Once I discovered I didn’t have to be interviewed I was fiiiiine.

It was a beautiful night.

We were very glamorous. Corinne did an admirable job walking in her high heels. I had a bit more trouble, but at least I didn’t fall down. My silver wedges are really really high.

“I was going to call this photo, “The Perils of Platforms“,” I told the Boy this morning.

“What’s the peril?” he snorted. “The danger of being attacked by a troll?”

Lerve.

Stay tuned for Part 2: what happens after the Xanax!