Challenges of a Shop

One of my favorite things is selling at local markets when the weather is nice. I love the conversations that happen in the booth. People tell me what caught their eye, share memories sparked by a painting or photograph, and often point out things I hadn't always considered myself. Occasionally, one of those pieces goes home with them, and that is so rewarding.

Maintaining an online shop is a very different experience.

Every piece needs a listing. Every listing needs photographs. Those photographs need good light, which usually means carrying the veneered plywood display board I use at art fairs outside and laying it on the ground. Unfortunately, the ground is never level (never), the light changes by the minute, and I spend a surprising amount of time nudging prints back into place and trying to prop the board this way and that way with whatever is on hand.

This afternoon, however, the challenge wasn't the just uneven board.

As I was trying to photograph my Winesap print of apples from Terhune Orchards, Tiny visitors kept appearing.

At one point I caught myself thinking, Why am I trying to do this?

Almost immediately another thought followed.

I’ve never seen those little bugs before. I wonder what they are?

Even during the most ordinary task—photographing prints for an online shop—the nature reminded me that I wasn't working alone. Those tiny interruptions became part of the afternoon, another unexpected observation that made me smile.

Even the inconveniences have something to offer.

See more: Hope for the Caterpillars, Learning from the Market, Dragonfly Card Set, Skipper Card Set