Ventura County Fair artists showcase creativity, perseverance through their work

VENTURA, Calif.—Before the carnival lights come on and the fairgrounds fill with people, local artists are putting the finishing touches on their work.

For Monica Graves, the sky is her canvas.

“I’m a sunset chaser,” Graves said.

The Ventura resident recently picked up photography as a new hobby. This year, she submitted six photographs to the Ventura County Fair — all taken using only her cellphone.

Graves said the changing sky inspires her to slow down and pay attention to the world around her.

“It's a changing canvas every single day,” Graves said. “We're so blessed that the sun comes up every day and it goes down, and it's in such a beautiful way that it goes down.”

Her submissions include photographs of mop heads and images documenting the aftermath of the Camarillo fires.

“I'm like, ‘I have got to see this through,’” Graves said. “I did not want to be defeated.”

For other families, entering artwork at the fair has become a tradition.

Sindy Madrano of Oxnard was at the fairgrounds submitting artwork created by her nieces, Tatiana and Maria.

“They had some watercolor paintings. They had a clay art,” Madrano said.

The artwork will be judged alongside pieces submitted by artists from across Ventura County.

Fair organizers say the entries include plenty of pet-themed artwork.

“A lot of pets. Lot of pets,” one organizer said while sorting through submissions.

There may be a ribbon at the end, but for many artists, the reward is simply putting their creativity on display.

The Ventura County Fair runs from July 29 through August 9.