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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- With a simple brush stroke, the City of Bridges transformed into the City of Artists.

Saturday marked the 3rd annual Walk on Art Street in Ottumwa.

Main Street Ottumwa's Cindy Woodbury estimated more than 1000 people showed up to view the artwork of vendors from five states. And the artists couldn’t be happier to be here.

“It’s nice to just sit here and carve and listen to the music and visit with friends, there is just a lot of neat things going on here today,” said John Hendrix. 

Hendrix, like all the artists, displayed his talents and looked to make few dollars. Hendrix was also working for a cause Saturday. A member of the Wapello Wood Carvers, the group carves eagle canes to give to wounded Veterans.

“We carve every Monday from 1-4. For anybody who would like to carve I will provide the band-aids and a knife and they can come in,” Hendrix said.

He had collection cans sitting on the table to support the cause. 

And if carving isn’t your thing, don’t worry. Art comes in many forms and is often open for interpretation.

“You get to see through another person’s eyes because when you look at an artwork it’s somebody else’s thoughts or ideas. I think that is what people see when they look at an artwork,” said former Indian Hills art professor Richard Dutton.

Dutton said the poor economy has hit many artists hard in recent years.

“(Art) is not a necessity, it’s a last dollar… it’s a last dollar,” Dutton said. “People have a hard time letting go of it for art right now.”

Overall, many vendors said they had a very successful day and the weather could not have been better.

Many vendors brought their supplies to show off their talents at this year’s Walk on Art Street. Dori Lewman brought a number of smiles as she drew caricatures during the afternoon.