Art show preparation is not a one woman show at Marie Stephens Art. My whole family ends up getting involved!  

It's a constant process of adjustment, adding on, taking away, and tweak, tweak, tweaking. I am sometimes even making art the night before the show, as new ideas always seem to strike at the 11th hour.

From getting some last minute hand painted cards ready for the show while my husband Tim drives us along the interstate, to working with my mom to sew new coverings for our gallery walls, it is all a family affair.

 As Tim and I drive cross country in our van that is packed to the gills,  my boys were being driven by his sister in the opposite direction with their aunt to spend the week with her family, while we work at the art show. 

When we go to art shows, our van is packed with art, walls, tent, tarps, tools, duct tape, clamps, ratchet straps, zip ties, tons of packaging, a million other things, and a whole lotta love. 

Why do I say whole lotta love, you ask? Because that’s what it takes to pull off an art show when you have kids and dogs and family!

My husband is the head of transportation and logistics, booth construction, and most importantly, my calming force.  

Our moms: Always our biggest cheerleaders, encouraging us along the way, and helping us with our children, and in so many other ways over the years.

My sisters in law are always encouraging and great for bouncing ideas off of, predicting trends, and helping out in any way they can. 

I can always count on my brothers, and brothers in law for honest business advice and straight forward talk.

And last but not least, the dads.  Both Tim's and my dad just have that way of helping you see what's important, and in such a calm and comforting way.

 It takes a village, truly!