It’s a warm summer Saturday afternoon in July. You and your friends go to the local annual art fair. It’s fun. Colorful. There’s fresh squeezed lemonade and the smell of kettle corn. Look at all those white tents and friendly artists vying for your attention!

You stroll around for a couple of hours. Walk past a booth that catches your eye with some beautiful scarves billowing in the breeze. See a couple of beachy paintings that remind you of last year’s summer vacation at the Vineyard. You think about buying some early holiday gifts that you could knock off your list. Maybe you visit the beer tent for a local craft brew and listen to the live band playing favorites from the 60s and 70s.

There’s only one thing missing to make this a perfect afternoon – YOU DIDN’T BUY ANYTHING!

That artist that caught your eye just paid hundreds of dollars to rent their space. Perhaps they gave up going to their family reunion for a chance to sell some of their wares at the fair. Probably had to call in some favors from friends to help set up and transport their art to the site.

It’s easy to forget that the art at an art fair is not just window dressing. It represents someone’s passion for their craft and perseverance to create enough work to fill the booth. It means that they had to put aside their insecurities about whether their art is “good enough” and hope that even just a few people will be interested enough to purchase something.

If you talk to the artists, most of them will tell you that they don’t expect to get rich from selling their art. A few make a living from it, even fewer make some profit here and there. In fact, the love of their craft and their passion for painting, pottery, sewing, jewelry making, woodworking, etc. is their most important motivation and reward.

So, at your next art fair, say “hello” to an artist. Make some eye contact. If you’re not ready to buy but love an artist’s work, take a card. Check out their website after the show and do your holiday shopping later in the year. I promise that your purchase will more than enrich your home or personal style, but will reward the artist with the great satisfaction of knowing their art is appreciated by you!