I love this! It is amazing fun to see art come to life. When there are art festivals (for selling), I see the people who are casually working on one of their art pieces always gather a crowd. But occasionally there's the person who becomes so involved with the art that they have their entire focus on the art and forget to sell :-)
My art is not drawing and painting and I can hardly imagine passing up the opportunity to attend this event.
If I were painting, and if I went to compete, I would have to spill out away from the crowd or else I would spend all my time visiting with everyone who came near.
You bring up some good points. I spoke to several of the artists as I admired their work but I imagine that if everyone talked to them they'd get nothing done!
A lot of people can work and talk. Or reply, then paint, while they wait for your response. I just don't happen to be one of those people.
I could however come up with at least 3 applications to any slight enquiry for artistic suggestions, solve your nephew's reading quandary, and suggest improvements to your diet.
But
I would not be painting at the same time ;-)
ps have you checked your steemit.chat lately? I left a poorly shot, "head in the clouds" photo there. I don't have permission from the artist to share it widely.