Mystic — Katie Decker only recently started painting but she's confident that next year, she might have her own tent at the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival.

Still lifes? Portraits? Landscapes? Abstract expressionism?

"I'm still deciding," the 11-year-old said with a smile, a few moments after wowing a crowd by custom designing a water-marbled silk scarf at the booth for Shibumi Silks of East Haddam.

Along with organizers at the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, Decker and her mother, Allison, visiting from Merrimack, N.H., highlighted the festival's emerging student artists. For the first time, the chamber invited a group of 16 regional artists between the ages of 10 and 22 to display their art for free.

"We have a lot of returning artists and a lot of high-quality artists but some are retiring," Chamber of Commerce President Peggy Roberts said at the event's headquarters at the Mystic River Yacht Club. "This is our way to attract some new emerging artists. We went to high schools, colleges, and used Facebook and word of mouth."

Roberts said despite threats of a thunderstorm, almost all 230 artists and vendors showed up for the event, the chamber's 61st. She said more than 60 volunteers helped with logistics while multiple police and fire services helped keep the thousands of visitors safe.

"It's a rain or shine event," she said. "Everybody has a good time. We try to bring something new every year."

The event draws sculptors, jewelry makers, woodworkers, painters and craftspeople who line downtown Mystic's streets.

Speaking of lines: Philadelphia artist Anastasia Alexandrin uses ink or charcoal pencil "one line at a time, over and over and over again" to produce intricate, haunting and sometimes humorous drawings of women and birds, especially owls.

Between sales at her Water Street booth, Alexandrin said her themes initially focused on "girl power" but she joked that she's evolved into "the owl lady without me being aware of it happening."

"All these pieces are about flying free and being who you want to be, and not being limited by anything else," said Alexandrin, a classically-trained artist who travels to shows, festivals and galleries between the East Coast and the Midwest. This weekend is her third visit to the Mystic event, where she gave credit to visitors because she goes "to some festivals when it rains, and nobody comes."

On the other side of the river, fine woodworker and metal sculptor David Tanych sat with his family as onlookers snapped photos of his towering hammer, whisk, bottle opener and screwdriver.

Tanych, a former businessman who owned a building supply store and spent 20-plus years in manufacturing and flooring, works out of studios in Kirby, Vt., and Culver City, Calif.

"Everything I ever made was functional, whether a business or piece of furniture," he said of his past life.

But Tanych said his wife, painter Meryl Lebowitz, "showed me the way" and encouraged him to make art.

"Am I not living the life?" he said.

The festival continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

b.kail@theday.com