Edmonds Arts Festival poster artist David Marty has plenty to celebrate.
Not only will a special display of his paintings be viewed by hundreds of festival visitors over this Fathers Day weekend, Marty also became a grandfather this week.
The painter said he is thrilled about the baby, but the new arrival won’t keep him from attending the festival, which Friday to Sunday at the Frances Anderson Center. Along with participating in the fine arts show, he has a vendor booth where he plans to sell his paintings.
When Marty’s daughter — the new mother — was a toddler, Marty participated for the first time in the festival’s juried fine arts show. He exhibited a painting of his young girl playing with her red bucket on a beach in Edmonds. He put a price on the painting, not expecting it to sell.
“My wife was not happy when it sold on the first night,” Marty said. “I don’t do much figurative painting, but even if I do paint my new grandchild, I certainly won’t sell it. I wouldn’t be forgiven.”
Marty describes his landscape painting style as representational.
“However, over the years, my worked has softened and been influenced by impressionism,” he said. “I am attracted to scenes that give me a sense of calm, and it’s neat to hear when people pick up on that.”
The oil painting used for the festival poster is of the Edmonds marina at sunset. The original painting “Evening at the Marina” will be displayed at the art show.
“It wasn’t difficult for me to combine my love of Edmonds sunsets with the marina,” Marty said. “It’s a great honor to provide the art for this year’s poster.”
During his college years in Southern California, Marty spent a summer on Lake Whatcom and fell in love with the Northwest. It was easy to make the move north, and Edmonds seemed to call to Marty and his wife. A former graphic designer and illustrator, Marty now focuses on painting.
“We love Edmonds and its active arts community,” he said.
Festival posters will be for sale in the event store for $20 for the large poster and $10 for the smaller size.
Marty shows regularly at the Cole Gallery in downtown Edmonds. More about the artist is at www.davidmarty.com.
During the festival more than 200 artist-exhibitors will display and sell fine arts and crafts. Look for jewelry, painting, photography, ceramics, glass art and more.
Inside the center, three galleries showcase juried fine art made by more than 200 artists. All art inside the galleries is offered for sale as well.
The festival is known for its efforts to display the work of student artists. Don’t miss the downstairs exhibit of more than 1,000 pieces of art from students in the Edmonds School District.
Performing artists at this year’s festival include well-known local and regional bands performing original and cover pop, rock, blues, world, folk, indie, and alternative music. Featured bands include the Stacy Jones Band, Easy Company Band, The Side Project, Nick Drummond &Friends, Reggie Garrett &The Snake Oil Peddlers, the Winterlings, Kitt Bender Trio and the Adrian Xavier Band. Also set to perform are music and dance groups from local schools.
Four out of 22 food vendors at the festival are from Edmonds. You can find coffee and baked goods from Walnut Café, tacos or sliders from Here and There and the salmon caesar salad from Scotty’s. Epulo plans to serve wine, beer and snacks on the plaza level.
Kids can make art on the southwest corner of the Artists Plaza, above Edmonds Library. Fish prints, a collaborative mural and other projects will be part of the fun.
Free shuttle parking for the festival is available at the former Woodway High School site, 23200 100th Ave. W.
Only service animals are allowed at the festival.
If you go
The 57th annual free Edmonds Arts Festival is 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 13 and 14 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 15 at the Frances Anderson Cultural Center, 700 Main St., Edmonds. The festival offers fun for all ages and includes food and art vendors, a “Kids Create” area, entertainment, the well-known juried art show and a student art show. More information, including about parking, is at www.edmondsartsfestival.com.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
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