On Sept. 17, the 56th annual Bel Air Festival for the Arts will be held in Shamrock Park from 9am to 5pm. The festival “includes some of the finest and most unique fine art, photography, and hand-made crafts on the east coast,” according to the official website. 

     Sophomore Mia Siegel is one of the 350 artisans who will have a booth at the event. So far, she has prepared many things that will eventually be sold, including earrings and keychains. Siegel says, “I make things that I generally would wear. So, when I’m making a new pair of earrings, I always have a trial round where I make the design for the first time and decide if I like it or not.”

     This is not Siegel’s first experience with the festival. Last year, she also had a booth where she sold her work. She shares, “I was convinced people would hate my stuff – totally terrified. I’m a youth-vendor, which means that I get to use a booth for free, whereas other vendors have to pay. I thought they would trash on me because of it.” She continues, “That’s not the case at all, though. Everyone is super nice and supportive; they like to see youth-vendors with a passion for art, so they’re very kind and supportive to us all.” She adds that although this is not her first time being a vendor, she is still “a bit petrified.”

     Siegel has been selling her work professionally for a year; along with selling things at Bel Air Festival for the Arts, she has also sold some digital commissions of her art. Not only that, but she has also designed two tattoos for a client of hers. The sophomore shares that the tattoos are both inspired by album covers from the band Incubus. “It’s completely crazy watching something you drew  get put on someone else permanently,” she adds. Her client who got the tattoos done, Mr. Jay Buchman, will be present at Siegel’s booth at the festival, acting as a live model of her work.

     Siegel adds that generally, the festival is a super positive experience. According to Siegel, the festival is a diverse experience that people would “definitely have a fun time being a part of.”