Hello Blog

I've been away for awhile. Not on vacation or anything like that--my studio has been so busy I almost forgot I even had a blog! October was an extremely busy month, thanks to, ironically, people who actually maintain their blogs. The more blogs that featured my work, the more people I had visiting my website and Etsy page, which, in turn, would include other bloggers who would include me on their blogs. It's interesting to see how the blogosphere is playing such an important role in helping independent artists get their work out into the world. I enjoy interacting with buyers, and not having a middleman allows me to keep my work affordable. That said, I think the galleries/stores are great to give people a chance to see the work in-person--I think that experience is important and I'm glad to support it.

Fire & Ice

Finally (almost) finished my leaf peeper print and hope to have it framed up before all the leaves are gone! Actually, it needs a few small tweaks and then it will be ready. If it were actually ready I'd have it as the photo above. Instead, due to the chilly weather, I posted my Constellations print.

I had a local fire department contact me Friday about shooting a bunch of portraits and group shots. Then tonight, I had a person contact me today about buying several of my fine art photographs. I almost forgot that I used to be a "photographer", if only because t I made photographs frequently. I've been focused on drawing since early in the summer and making and selling graphic art and illustrations has kept me busy. Would love to get back into making photographs on a regular basis.

That said, I have several drawings I'm excited about finishing up and it's my goal to have a series of kid's room/baby nursery illustrations ready for the holidays.

I had hoped to have some prints available in Stowe, but the gallery I was working with was not a great deal for me. Especially since my framed work is custom framed in Vermont using frames handmade by my father-in-law, I can't see giving 50% to a gallery right off the top. I love Etsy and using the internet and blogs to sell work. It allows me to keep my work affordable, and I like that I actually get to interact with those buying (or looking at) my work (if only via email). Did I mention my Etsy site? http://www.nativevermont.etsy.com.

Autumn, Front & Center

I was pleasantly surprised to see my Barnacle Whale illustration on the front page of Etsy this morning. It has sent a lot of visitors my way and I've received some nice messages from the Etsy community. Had a special request for a yellow dog version of my black dog swim, so you'll see the new version in my Etsy store soon. I think they'll look great as a pair.

It is getting chilly here and anyone who was in denial about summer being over must finally accept it! I love autumn, although I was hoping to get one more found of golf in before winter!

It looks like I may finally be able to finish up some autumn illustrations and make them available by next weekend. I've said it before, but I do miss having the entire summer off to work all day and have no other responsibilities to worry about!

Getting lots of requests for customized work as I write this. I better get to work!

Shipping Off

Just finished packaging up some prints. Got some news tonight that someone had purchased the old Frog Hollow building in Middlebury, Vermont. I'm going to go to sleep tonight dreaming about moving to Middlebury full-time, running a gallery/store, making work in a back studio, and having my wife teach and make her ceramic work in the basement studios. Goodnight...

Sleeptying

My ten year high school reunion was canceled today. It seems like with Facebook, etc., you pretty much know everything you need to know about everyone you went to high school with, whether you were friends with the people or not. I know for me it was not worth the time and expense to travel back to Ohio for a weekend of seeing people I'm already tired of seeing on Facebook! Have social-networking sites made reunions obsolete?

Plus, I'm too busy drawing owls and moose and lumberjacks! You know you're busy when the week and the weekend blurs together and you've forgotten what month it is. You also know when you're not sleeping much and you get sick and stay sick for awhile. I'm finally starting to feel better, although it's 1:42 and I should be sleeping. I miss the summer when I could get up and draw all day, everyday.

I finished this owl platter tonight that I've been trying to get done for awhile. I think it's really fun. I'm going to post it on Etsy as soon as I get a good shot of it. This weekend is do-or-die for my autumn-themed work. If I don't do it now I'll totally miss the season!

I'm really looking forward to after the holidays when I can focus on some non-seasonal designs, specifically some baby nursery/children's room designs I've been sketching. I'll take a hiatus on the lumberjacks and owls and replace them with elephants, walruses, and penguins.

Tree House

Nice message I received through Etsy today about my Keewaydin print from someone browsing my shop: http://www.nativevermont.etsy.com.
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Okay, this is funny.
I randomly clicked on your whale print off the front page and stumbled upon this.
Last weekend my family spent our 16th year at Keewaydin for our family reunion.
We've been able to use the camp because Abbott Fenn is my cousin.
It was bitter sweet because this was our last year there and i've spent a good chunk of my life visiting with family there. It was such a nice surprise to click through your work and see this. It made my day.

brie
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Seems as though my lack of sleep has caught up with me and I'm a bit under the weather with sinus-congestion-headache-thingy. I'm trying to make the most of my weekends now that we're back to school, but it seems like Saturday and Sunday fly by and I accomplish a fraction of what I planned. Nevertheless, I was able to fill most of my orders and I'm hoping to get ahead this week so that I can draw some new pieces next weekend.

I bought some really nice paper today, but I'm trying to forget that it is really nice. There's something about crisp, clean, expensive paper that makes me very cautious about drawing, which is counter-productive when you buy paper for drawing. As I leafed through the paper at the store I fantasized about having this tall, tree house-like studio in Vermont where I would sit up on the top floor and draw all day. The studio would be full of really nice paper and I would not be afraid to draw all over it.

Eye Strain

It has been difficult to find time to finish some new work. My in-laws are headed our way this weekend and I was hoping to send them home with lots of prints and pieces, but I've been waiting for supplies and have not had a chance to do anything. I'm customizing some Black Dog Canoe Co. pieces for some different lakes in Vermont and New York. Should have some old but "new" work up on Etsy in a couple of days.