Surrounded by bold watercolors of local scenes like Hecker Pass,
Goldsmith Seeds and Gilroy’s bountiful garlic crop, artist JoAnne
Perez Robinson breathed a sigh of relief as Gilroy Garlic
Festival
–goers swarmed into her booth.
Surrounded by bold watercolors of local scenes like Hecker Pass, Goldsmith Seeds and Gilroy’s bountiful garlic crop, artist JoAnne Perez Robinson breathed a sigh of relief as Gilroy Garlic Festival–goers swarmed into her booth.
Armed with what she called her “art stimulus paintings” – tiny acrylics on canvas that went for about $35 – just in case art collectors couldn’t afford her larger watercolors, Perez Robinson, 51, was pleasantly surprised when she earned back her booth rental fee of $650 by Saturday morning.
“It’s a tough trade so you have to be passionate about it,” she said.
Inspired by her surroundings, the Gilroyan’s booth displayed still lifes and pastorals of Gilroy’s rolling hills and vast crop fields. Endearing portraits of Lucy, her pug, and her daughter mingled with the natural landscapes.
“I just love your paintings,” raved Gilroyan Connie Rogers, as she browsed through a card rack full of Perez Robinson’s prints. “They’re gorgeous.”
Rogers held up a colorful painting of Goldsmith Seeds as her favorite.
“The ones with local meaning are particularly special,” she said. “My favorite part of the festival is the arts and crafts booths. That’s where I do all my Christmas shopping.”
About 15 years ago, Perez Robinson jolted herself from the 9-to-5 grind by enrolling in a watercolor class at Gavilan College. Unlike the bland, pastel smears of color children encounter with their first set of Crayolas, Perez Robinson’s brilliant watercolors captured the vibrant sunsets and colorful vegetation characteristic of the valley.
Nearly 100 artisans from Hawaii to New York showed up at this year’s festival. However, only a handful hailed from South County. A few booths down from Perez Robinson, Morgan Hill artisan and council member Marby Lee, 43, showcased her eclectic, beaded jewelry. A mixture of gem stones and ceramic and glass beads, her necklaces and earrings – which cost about $40 and $25 respectively – have attracted fans at Mushroom Mardi Gras and Taste of Morgan Hill. Trunk shows and boutique sales round out her distribution base. This year marked her first at the Garlic Festival, however. Like Perez Robinson, the mark of success is earning back the booth fee, she said.
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