Week two would end with the completion of the painting. Many people stopped by going into the second weekend too.
The area at the venue would frequently get busy with interested participants. Thankfully my wife and our volunteers would keep things orderly.
We were thrilled to have members from Artists Creating Together (ACT) stop by one afternoon to paint. My wife and I were able to stop by their facility the previous evening to meet some of their talented artists and to share the word about our ArtPrize project.
Kait Polzin, Community Arts Captain at ACT works at her easel during the second week of ArtPrize.
We watched anxiously as the canvas continued to fill in. The bold colors really stood out and it became apparent that we’d reach our goal of having the canvas completed by the end of the second week.
My wife Deb was an important part of the success of the project. From organizing volunteers to helping with the paint and brushes, to setting up the painting process, she always brought her enthusiasm with her.
The festive feel of the event seemed to take on another level the closer we got to the completion. The peak was likely the evening when it was announced that our project had made the Top 25! Out of over 800 submissions, Paint the Calder had become a fan favorite! News spread amongst family and friends and people stopped by having heard about it.
Sealy and Jayce Ballard proudly show their colored Paint the Calder sheets, which were handed out for all who wanted them.
Inclusion in the Top 25 also brought satisfaction to our volunteers who made the project possible.
It was easy for people passing to understand the process involved once the painting and subject matter were further along.
As the week progressed and the weekend began, the amount of spaces dwindled and only upper or lower spaces remained.
The vast middle of the canvas was completed and only lower or upper spaces remained.
The canvas became an even more popular backdrop for photos. The Top 25 publicity likely helped, as several people came looking specifically for the painting.
A couple pose in front of the canvas, which made for a vibrant backdrop.
As the second weekend wound down, the spots suddenly seemed reduced to only a handful. These too filled quickly as people made efforts to add their part.
Careful painting of the final spots were all that were left, but each participant seemed to take great care in their work.
I began to make a few touch-ups and the process completed, though the evidence of the paint-by-number process is easily evident in the patchwork of shapes and numbers still visible in the colors. As a final touch, I added Alexander Calder’s signature and year of completion. This signature is visible on the actual sculpture, though less obvious than what I added to the painting.
The final painting brought an equal dose of happiness and sadness that the process was over.