Category: Blog

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Farmers Markets Return

This past week I participated in 3 Farmers Markets and another Strand Art Market. Four events in four days, and each one very different. It started with a new market for me, Lake Placid. The main road through town is all under construction and it’s a little congested, it was a decent market for me. I sold a lot of cards and have found that the layout makes a difference. Putting the cards at the front of my booth they get seen and purchased. At the Willsboro and E-Town Market they were back at the table and didn’t sell as well.

I was also at the Strand on Saturday and that was the best market so far. I sold several of the driftwood pieces and my smaller studies as well as sold most of my cards. It will be a busy week to make a few more paintings and printing more cards.

I finished two new cardinal paintings early last week and put them up in the market, both sold quickly. Cardinals are one of my most popular birds. I also sold a Humming bird painting that I added it last minute after fixing the frame. I had one the paintings blow off the grid racks and break the branch off the frame.

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Turtles Arrive

This past week I did a series of Turtle paintings . The inspiration came from seeing a turtle on a log in the marsh at Ausable Point Beach. I was impressed with the bright bottom side of the shell as it was reflected in the sun.

The paintings will be mounted in driftwood frames, some I have already made and others I will have to do soon. I will have them available at the next art and farmers markets. I will also post them on this site as soon as I can.

At the past Strand art Market I sold almost all of my cardinal paintings and decided I need to have a few more for my first Farmers Market in Lake Placid. I expect the market to be very interesting an believe that my driftwood frames will make a positive impression.

I am painting in the sun room full time now and saving the studio in the basement for frame work.

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Mothers Day Art Market

Yesterday was the Mothers Day Art Market at the Strand Center for the Arts. It was a very good market and almost felt like a pre-Covid event. There were 45 vendors with a wide variety of booths.

I had a very good market and sold several paintings, and a bunch of note cards. I really need to get the card sets on the site. After the last market I sold 2 commission pieces. I had many other inquiries again this market, mainly for pet portraits. As you see below I have been busy in the studio.

This is the new fishing series that I developed for this market. One is already sold.

I shot a sort video of my booth, see it here.

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Spring Painting

Like spring cleaning, spring painting gets me ready for a full summer Art Market season. I plan to add a few more farmers markets this year . I have finished most of my indoor chores, just one bathroom left to remodel but it may have to wait till fall.

I have started to paint more and have finished a few that I will post today. The painting of Trevor – Ausable River Split Rock Falls has already been sold to a person that is on my advance mailing list. I will be doing more of a series of pieces similar to that one.

With a Mothers day Art Market at the Strand coming up in May 8th I have a few that I am finishing up to have for that market.

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Strand Spring Art Market

March 20 was the Spring Market at the Strand in Plattsburgh. I successful market for me with good sales and many new contacts. Interest in my paintings was very good but the majority of my sales was in the small paintings and cards.

It was a sunny day but didn’t warm up as much as expected due to a cold wind. It just reached 44F and with the wind it didn’t feel above freezing. When the wind died down the sun was glorious and a harbinger of warmer days ahead. I used the stand alone displays and didn’t use the canopy setup, I wanted the sun to shine on my art.

Looking forward to the next market in on May 9, warmer days ahead.

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Winter Projects

The Golden Look

With the winter in full force, I have had the chance to tackle a few new projects. A little painting and a little time making a new barrister bookcase for my wife’s sewing room has kept me very busy.

Barrister Case 1
Barrister Case 1

I enjoy making furniture and while it ends up being a fair amount of time, I really like the results. This is a photo of the in process piece. I constructed each shelf is a separate section, giving me an easier time moving it around the shop. I used up a number of pieces of my lumber pile making the doors and I had the plexiglass from a “yard sale” at a local company a few years ago. Just awaiting door pulls and glass clips to finish the piece and get it out of my shop. My next furniture piece is a flat art file cabinet, like the ones used by architects for drawings and maps.

A couple of Foxes

I did complete a few pieces and have made a number of new frames so I have inspiration. I am also working to finish up the floor tiling the in master bath in the month of February, so painting schedule will slow down some.

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Back On-Line

It has been some time since I have been able to post, I finally have high speed internet at my home studio. Prior to this I have been limited by speed internet in my ability to add to my blog posts. Up loading photos has failed multiple times prior to the new internet, so adding blog posts made no sense.

Velda
Velda

I have a completed several commissioned paintings in the past two months for people that I have meet at the few markets. I have painted several pets and a couple of landscapes as Christmas presents. Happily I was able to complete all well ahead of my delivery dates. I always worry that I can meet the needs of my customers. Velda , Remmy and Buddy were a few of the pet portrait commissions.

  • Remmy in Birch Frame
    A commissioned painting of a golden-doodle.
  • Buddy the Boston Terrier Mix

I have been busy with many projects including making more than a dozen driftwood accented frames.

I have completed a couple of Heron paintings. The same subject in small and large sizes. Challenging myself to paint larger is a goal for 2021.

Heron in Wind – large 18×12
  • Heron in Wind – Small

A few Herons to round out the post.

Will be posting weekly now I can connect to the world!

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A Fall of Fun

Asheron

This fall has been great. Great weather and a chance to see the wildlife around my home. A fox has been around and was trotting across the lawns while we were on a walk. We were surprised by an owl flying just over our heads and into the woods. At the marsh down the road I saw a raccoon in the long grass scampering away and the herons have been close to the parking area making the car a perfect blind.

All this nature has been an inspiration for many of my paintings.

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Pet Portraits by Request

I did a few pet portraits for some friends and toon a commission to complete one by a customer ate a farmers market.

The first portrait was of Abby, a springer spaniel. We walk our dog Nico, along with Abby and a few other neighbors each evening. Abby is such a gentle dog. It took be 4 tries to get the true essence of Abby on paper. Learning that painting pet portraits isn’t easy. The big challenge for me is the eyes.

The other pet portrait is of a fellow artists “Shop cat” a Main coon cat that sits in his shop and watches him all day.

The final interesting part of the process if when a customer loved my dog paintings and asked if I had a painting of a Boston Terrier mix with one eye. I laughed and said not yet. he said he wanted done and he has his dog with him. He paid me for a small sized painting and we went over to his dog Buddy and too a number of pictures. Once I finish the piece I will send it to him in Texas.

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The challenge of outdoor markets

I have started to display my work at a couple of local farmers markets, with some minor success. Maybe a dozen vendors if we are lucky and as few as 50 people during the day. But it’s good to get out and work through setting up and displaying my art. I will have to make a list of booth fixtures I must bring. Today I forgot all my display racks and had to get my wife to bring them. Lucky it was not to far and she is a good sport.

The bigger challenge is one it the villages has become a “hot spot” and I believe that market will close. None the less I and learning and making connections with other crafters. It’s a real community, with interesting people

I also completed a few paintings this pas week and have added them to this post. Sold my kingfishers at the last market so wanted to do more.

I will be showing at the Strand-Ed art show on 9/26 10/3 and 10/10. It is a series of outdoor markets just for art. I will have to use my pop-up tent. Glad I have one, and I am working on display details.