There was definitely a flair of arts in the air on First Avenue Sunday, where dozens of jewelers, painters, wood carvers, wool spinners and other artists convened for the 13th annual Arts on the Avenue.
The scores of visitors who roamed through the tents were treated to a visual feast of colour and creativity, and could choose between hundreds of pieces of handcrafted treasures, from stone mugs to origami cards to life-sized paintings.
Ladysmith resident Jack Fisher’s wood carved avian art has been a regular at Arts on the Avenue since its inception.
“It seems to get better each year, I would say, certainly bigger,” he said of the festival.
Fisher’s hand-painted, life-size birds are world famous and have sold to collectors in over 16 countries. The birds have been his passion for the last 27 years, although he is known for his celtic furniture as well.
“I enjoy the carving and the painting aspect,” he said of his trade.
Cecile Von Woensel, of Nanaimo, has sold her realistic natural art at Arts on the Avenue for the last two years.
“It’s a great event, it’s in summer, so the chance that people are getting out enjoying the weather, enjoying the arts, is big,” she said. “The organization is really good.”
Woensel, who immigrated to the Island from Holland a few years ago, said the move was right for her artistic career.
“I think there is much more variety in trees, so that gets more intense for me to experience that,” she said.