Studio Sequence # 3

The work begins to take shape:

and then more....

Studio Sequence #2

The next day, background colors are added:

and then, a little color:

Studio Sequence #1

Here is the start of a new series......

I've already painted the backs, and primed the fronts:

Working...

I'll be working non-stop between now and May.  I've got three big shows coming up:

The Baltimore Craft show

The Atlanta ACC Show

and The Smithsonian Craft Show

I'm pretty psyched.  I've got a lot of work to do, but I've also got a lot of ideas.

I'm doing a sort of weird quilt series, and my new "textures" series:

I'm going to start stretching canvas tomorrow, and intend to shoot my shop during the process.  I'm also planning on doing some workshops this summer.

Happy New Year!

OMG!! It's been a year since I posted anything, and I've vowed to be better at posting news.

Mare and I have a gallery together, The Tree of Life Gallery, in Chestertown.....here is a link to that page:

http://treeoflifegallery.wordpress.com/tree-of-life-gallery-of-american-craft/

I've had a busy week, mostly working on commissions.  I finished three pieces (one of which is too large to photograph, but I hope to post pictures once the customer has received them) for a couple in Michigan.  Here are photos of two of them:

I also made a piece for a nice lady in Boston:

I made a pretty cool one for these wonderful people in Chestertown, and a couple of other ones that I didn't photograph.

December, and the last show

Well, I have two back to back shows, the Philadelphia Museum Show, and the Washington Craft Show under my belt; and although I sold quite a lot of work, hardly any money to show for it.  I'm really wondering what it's all about, Alfie......

Was that a run-on sentence, or what?  Anyway, tomorrow, I head up to Boston for my last show of the year, Craft Boston Holiday, at Boston's historic Cyclorama, a really cool round building built after The Civil War, to hold a giant diorama of the Battle of Gettysburg (I think).

Been working non-stop since Washington to fill in some gaps.....we'll see........

and yes,

Chairman Mao......

he's bac

Post Northampton Report

The Northampton Show was very disappointing.  I barely made my expenses.  I really don't know what to do with my work.  This whole "craft show" thing really isn't working out.  Here is why:

1.  We have to pay an exhorbitant amount of money in order to show at these places.  The promoters make a real effort, but one of the things they do is get more and more artists to show.....they increase their bottom line, but there's only so much spendable money out there, so sales get spread pretty thing.  The fees to participate have not gone down to reflect the current economic downturn and the fact that they are fitting more artists in....they've actually gone up!  So artists are suffering.

2.  The main market for fine art/craft have long since been the "baby-boomer" generation....and they already have lots of stuff, they are downsizing.  Younger people would rather buy cheaper stuff to decorate their cribs, so they can afford electronic gear, and they don't recognize the value of collecting.

So.....

But also, I recognize that there is an issue with my work in particular.  People who who plonk down some big money for some (kind of bad) art to hang on their walls, won't pay to put it on their floors.....

I need help.

I really don't know what to do anymore........

(to be continued)