On a Saturday night in May, creators from throughout the area gathered at Stanley Marketplace to sell their work, from fluorescent jewelry and digital prints to buttercream-slathered cinnamon rolls, crocheted animals, and candles shaped like glasses of lemonade.

The most notable difference between this arts bazaar and the usual Stanley markets: the age of the artists.

The inaugural Creator Market: Teen Takeover featured youth ages 13–18 showcasing their favorite pieces.

Nixon Palmer, 13, was excited to display his Colorado Art Award-winning self-portrait alongside a drawing of a tiger with robot legs and a tail that sprouted into a Venus flytrap. “Being here lets me express myself through artwork and show my talent and how much I’ve been improving,” he said.

The market also gave Palmer his first opportunity to sell his work. “When people take interest in my art, it feels really good,” he said, noting that he sold a scratch-art portrait of his dog, among several other pieces.

Three friends from Denver Green School Northfield were offering scented and gel candles. Isabella Fernandez, 13, explained, “In class, we had to write a goal for something we wanted to do, and we decided we wanted to start a successful candle business.”

While they began making candles at school, they soon moved production to Fernandez’s basement, honing their skills and building a website along the way. “It’s taken a lot of trial and error,” said Grace Loy, 13. At the market, their candles poured into seashells mesmerized customers.

Through tracking their transactions, Fernandez has developed an interest in finance. She said, “We save some, we buy materials, and we also like to shop.”

Cora Tillinghast, 13, was a walking advertisement for her Kandi bead jewelry. Bracelets lined her forearms, and a Kandi tie hung from her neck.

“Art is really important to me,” she said. “Isn’t it every little girl’s dream to make and sell their bracelets?”

Zahra Aman, 15, loves to crochet so much that she does extra chores at home to save money for yarn. Her market goods included fiber chickens on keychains, lightweight shawls, and a blanket adorned with crocheted roses.

The local Central Park Artists club was on hand to connect with their student counterparts. Artist Lili Floyd said, “These are amazing kids. A lot of them are self-taught, and it’s fun to see all of their work.”

Floyd, who grew up in a rural area without an artistic mentor, said she “feels strongly that artists in the community should support” young makers. “I want them to keep creating,” she said. “Don’t ever doubt yourself.”

Encouragement from others helped Hope Love, 19, turn a hobby into a livelihood. A few years ago, they were experimenting with digital drawing on their phone. Family members gifted them an iPad, and they now sell their work at comic con conventions.

“Art is how I express my love for things, my anger, my frustrations. It’s a way to escape the world,” Love said. “For the longest time my art was just for me, but here I am, getting to share it with the community.”

The event was organized by CR38TED, the group behind Stanley’s First Friday Creator Market (with adult artists). Founder Ian Brown said, “I wanted to show young people that they can turn this into their future.”

A second Teen Takeover market is planned for September, with hopes of regular events in the future.

Front Porch photos by Christie Gosch