Artists at Sawdust Festival feel effects of economic downturn

The Sawdust Art and Craft Festival in Laguna Beach wraps up on Sunday. The festival offers a colorful overview of the Laguna art world. But it also paints a gloomy picture of the economy.

The 45-year-old festival is filled with funky booths selling lots of handmade items like jewelry, paintings, and photography. Sawdust exhibitor Sue Thompson says the festival “was started by a bunch of hippies” who were "rebelling against the show across the street that was juried.”

The Festival of the Arts across the street — Laguna Beach ’s oldest art show — chooses its exhibitors. At Sawdust, if you’re an artist and you live in Laguna, you’re in.

Thompson’s sold her paintings of restaurant life at the Sawdust Festival for 11 years. Like most artists here, the festival is when Thompson makes the bulk of her sales. But this summer is different. She says art sales are slumping like the economy. Buyers come with a specific amount of money to spend, or no money at all.

“It is unfortunately something that people cut out of their budget,” says Thompson.

To connect with buyers on a budget, Thompson paints some smaller works. Thompson calls them “grab-and-gos.” These small original paintings and limited edition prints are a little more affordable and appealing to price-conscious buyers.

The Gullen family from Marin County is scoping out deals at a nearby photography booth. The family comes to the Sawdust Festival every year and usually leaves with something, too. But not this year.

“I don’t know if we’re more reticent this year or not,” says Dave Gullen. “We might be a little more picky on the margin.”

His wife Julie Gullen jumps in. “I think the economy has definitely impacted our decision to buy this year, like we’re thinking maybe next year.”

Not everyone’s buying habits have changed. Mary Jane Weismann and Pat Rober are longtime friends from San Diego who have visited the Sawdust Festival for the past 35 years.

Weismann and Rober are retired and living on fixed incomes. They usually take home jewelry and smaller items.

“We were cheap before the economy went bad!” says Rober.

Some Sawdust exhibitors say they’ve dropped prices to bring more people to their booths. But wildlife photographer Carrie Zeller says small sales do only so much.

Zeller says one big one can make your whole summer. That’s what happened to her.

“I sold my biggest piece to a prince! And he’s in Saudi Arabia right now,” says Zeller. “So that was a good one.”

But few artists bank on princely sums.

Painter Sue Thompson says at Sawdust and throughout Laguna Beach, it’s a daily grind that’s grinding a little harder this summer.

“You know, it is a struggle for artists in this economy. It’s a struggle for artists in a decent economy. And it’s a rare thing when an artist can make a living out of it and not have one, two, or three other jobs,” she said.

The artists at the Sawdust Festival have until Aug. 28 to make their summer sales. Then they’ll pack up and hope for a better summer next year.