Artists' dreams culminate in festival

When John Michael Dickinson first enrolled in an art class at the grounds of the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach 10 years ago, he figured he'd always be a student of art.

But all that changed this year as Dickinson, a mixed-media artist from Newport Beach, saw his artistic dreams come true.

After a decade of diligently attending classes and heeding the advice of those more experienced than he, Dickinson finally became an exhibitor at the Festival of Arts in July.

"I went to the show for years and learned from them and admired their work," Dickinson said excitedly, referring to the exhibiting artists. "It's like the pinnacle of your career in many ways. I'm just on cloud nine."

Dickinson's enthusiasm is understandable. The 75-year-old festival in Laguna Beach is a venue that's tough to beat. This year's event, themed "Young at Heart," features the work of more than 140 Southern California artists.

Sharbie Higuchi, marketing and public relations director for the festival, said the annual event brings a certain special something to the local art scene.

"It is a family atmosphere, but on the other hand it Is a very prestigious art show and the caliber of the art is competitive on a national level, so you have the best of both worlds in a way," said Higuchi, who has been involved with the festival for nine years.

"You can come here and know you're going to be able to find incredible artwork for your home or your workplace but at the same time actually meet the artists and learn about their background," she said.

The festival, which began in 1932 as a way to draw visitors into Laguna Beach to boost the post-Depression economy, was voted one of the top 10 art festivals in the U.S. by American Style magazine for the second time this year. Artists' work must be approved by a seven-member jury before they may exhibit.

Doug Stotts, a Costa Mesa resident and first-time Festival of Arts exhibitor, has noticed a difference between showing his works in Laguna Beach and exhibiting his art locally.

"The taste tends toward the traditional in Newport," said Stotts, who regularly shows his oil paintings in a Newport Beach studio. "In Laguna, I think you get people from more walks of life … they seem to embrace the diversity more."

Diversity is the name of the game at the festival, where artists display everything from oil paintings and jewelry to glass items and photography, while music plays throughout the festival grounds, creating a relaxing environment where visitors feel free to wander from booth to booth.

Dickinson, who hopes to return to the festival as an exhibitor again next year, recalled, "the day after opening night people were talking about what a wonderful night it was; it was like a blur. People were saying, 'oh, my feet are tired' and I said 'my feet aren't tired — my feet never even touched the ground.'"