As the sounds of guitars and banjos wafted up from the riverfront in Niles Saturday, an artist stood in front of an easel propped at the corner of Third and Main Street, a wood burning pen in his hand.

Hal Mayer, of Niles, worked carefully, burning one tiny hole at a time into a piece of wood nailed to the easel, creating what would eventually become a portrait of a Studebaker car.

“With all the love for car shows around here, I thought it would be a good piece for downtown Niles,” Mayer said.

As Mayer worked, he explained to fellow artist Randi Pickley, of Edwardsburg, the process he used for creating his art.

Not far away, Pickley had set up a table full of photos she had captured outdoors. One photo featured a squirrel staring directly into the camera, as if it was having a chat with Pickley.

A few tables down, Lois Anderson, of Union, Michigan, explained the way she uses the art of air chasing and glass fusing to create one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry.

“I love to move metal. I tell people, ‘I’m disabled, but I can move metal,’” she said. “And I love showing people my work.”

The artists were accompanied by a handful of other makers, lining the sidewalk surrounding Resurrections, a home furnishing and art store located at 227 E. Main St. in Niles, for the inaugural Canvas Downtown Niles.

John Crothers, owner of Resurrections, coordinated the event with the same motive he had to open his store in downtown Niles: to showcase local artists and help them sell their work.

“I’ve done art shows in the past, and I know how hard it is for local artists to sell their work,” Crothers said.

The business owner was excited by the large crowds in the City of Four Flags Saturday. The 15th Annual Bluegrass/Americana Music Festival drew thousands to Riverfront Park — so many that people were forced to park in downtown streets, which provided more traffic to downtown businesses.

Crothers, of Vandalia, credited this sort of growth and the leaders responsible for it for his decision to open his business in Niles.

“They’re doing things down here,” he said. “They are trying, and a lot of towns aren’t. There is a lot of positive stuff going on down here and it is good to be around.”

Crothers will host three other Canvas Downtown Niles arts and craft shows this summer. Each event will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 4, Aug. 5 and Sept. 2 at the corner of Third and Main Street.

Crothers encourages other artists who would like to participate to contact him at (269) 635-5233. There is no cost to participate.

In the meantime, shoppers can view the work of many of the artists featured in Crothers’ store, as well as unique furniture and other home décor.