artoberfest, carb-tober-fest!

Holy cow, October is almost over! It feels like the month has just flown by. This October has been filled with wonderfulness, though, don't you think? The first half of the month featured my painting workshop at Maine Behavioral Healthcare and the final Second Friday Art Walk of the 2014 season; the second half of the month brought the Yarmouth Art Festival, ARToberfest, and a last-minute development, too: a solo show at Mister Bagel in Brunswick!

ARToberfest was, fun, fun, and more fun! It turned out to be a wonderful community event, just like the Gorham Art Fair had been in years past. There was a nice mix of arts and crafts, and no two booths were quite the same. ARToberfest provided all participants with 8 feet of pegboard, so I didn't have to worry about schlepping and assembling (and then disassembling) my metal racks, which was really nice. Of course, I filled that 8 feet about as much as I possibly could have!

No wasted space! 

When I arrived to set up on Friday afternoon, I was thrilled to find that I had been assigned to the space directly across from the Think Greene booth! Sabrina Thiemke-Greene and her husband, Jeremy Greene, are dear friends who I haven't seen in quite some time. Not only are Sabrina's wares beautiful and thoughtfully crafted (making them a joy to look at all weekend), but I knew that if there was any downtime at all, we'd fill it easily with conversation and catching-up.

Think Greene! 

My first sale of the weekend came on Friday evening. A little boy and his dad stopped at my booth when they first arrived at the show. The little boy told his dad he wanted to buy a magnet, and his dad suggested they walk through the show first before making any decisions. Sure enough, a little while later, they came back and he made his choice. I think it's a big compliment when little kids like your work, and I'm happy he still wanted to get something from me after seeing all of the other possible choices at the show! 

Art for all ages! 

I started Saturday morning off with my first-ever iced Rocket Fuel, courtesy of the Gorham Grind! I can tell you it will most certainly not be my last, either...it was delicious! If you find yourself in Gorham and you need a pick-me-up, stop by the Gorham Grind. You will not be disappointed! Carson Lynch is fantastic at what he does, providing service with a smile to all those who are in need of caffeine. Thank you, Carson! That Rocket Fuel did the trick, too...it kept me going all day long. Good thing, because it was busy, busy, busy! 

Starting the day off right! 

I had a wonderful day on Saturday, filled with lots of laughter, time spent with old and new friends, time spent with family (yes, it's true: my sister, Addie, and her husband, Marc, came all the way from Boston for ARToberfest!), pleasant conversations, and lots of sales, too! I sold a mixed media piece, a bunch of magnets, and three paintings! WOO HOO! I even treated myself to a Think Greene t-shirt and, in turn, Sabrina and Jeremy treated themselves to a couple of magnets!

What a deal! 

Artists supporting artists! 

I am so happy I was able to participate in ARToberfest this year, and I'm already looking forward to the next one. Major thanks to everyone who was involved in putting this wonderful event together. Yay for community! Yay for ARToberfest! 

So, here's the Mister Bagel story: a few months ago, I got a Facebook message from my friend Linda saying, "I'm not sure if you're interested, but Robin at Mister Bagel has artwork on display all the time and she is looking for artists." I jumped at the chance and said, "Sure!" Linda gave me Robin's information, I emailed Robin, and sure enough, Robin felt my work would be a good fit. Lonie Ellis (who is wonderful!) was scheduled to have a show of her encaustics followed by a show of her fiber art, so we weren't quite sure exactly when my work would go up, but we knew a show was imminent. Sure enough, I received an email from Robin early in October (just before Second Friday Art Walk!), saying that they were thinking now would be a good time with the holidays approaching. I asked if I could wait until the end of the month because of ARToberfest, and thankfully, that worked out well for everyone! 

I heart carbs.

I am thrilled about the timing, and I am very happy to have my work up in such a sunny, new building. Mister Bagel gets a lot of traffic, so a lot of people of all ages will be seeing my work, and plus, I love their bagels! They have the best bagels I've found outside of New York, and that's no joke...and I'm not just saying that because they have my artwork up, I've been saying it for years! They are smaller than New York bagels (which is a good thing, I think!), but the taste and the texture are very similar, and that makes this carb-loving Lawn Guyland girl very, very happy.  

end of the season

I know, I know...this is yet another long overdue post. I've decided to stop beating myself up about this sort of thing, because that method clearly doesn't work...so, hey- that's progress, right? Let's get this party started!

The final Brunswick Second Friday Art Walk of 2014 is officially in the books, and my head is spinning! It feels like six months went by in an eye blink. Friday, October 10th, was the last Second Friday Art Walk of the season, and although it was a bit slow, I had another fantastic night. Solidifying his official "collector" status was Michael Gorzka, who stopped by (with the lovely Kat!) to purchase "Praying Mantis, Amy's House," the painting he was debating over during the 10x10! He felt that "Sugar Snap Peas" looked lonely without its friend, and I couldn't be happier about the two paintings being reunited...especially because they have found a very good home where they will be loved and appreciated!

Reunited and it feels so good...

So long, farewell...

Not only did I sell a painting that night, but I sold a handful of magnets as well...and I am happy to say that this means I managed to sell at least one item at each and every Second Friday Art Walk this year! Woo hoo! As we all know, when one season ends, another one begins...and there are all kinds of other shows coming right up, two of which are this week: the Yarmouth Art Festival and Artoberfest! Here's a brief rundown:

The 6th annual Yarmouth Art Festival is a juried show, with quite a bit of competition: nearly 350 pieces were submitted, and there were only 162 pieces chosen. My painting, "Clementine," made the cut! The Yarmouth Art Festival will be held at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church (396 Gilman Road, Yarmouth); the show runs Wednesday, October 22nd through Friday, October 24th, 10am-7pm, and Saturday, October 25th, 10am-3pm. There is an artists' reception (with music and refreshments!) on Thursday, October 23rd, 5:30pm-8pm. This is always a really well-attended show, and it feels good to participate: entry fees and sale commissions support St. Bartholomew's programs, including contributions and member support of local community services such as Friendship House, Yarmouth Community Food Pantry, and St. Elizabeth's Essentials Pantry in Portland.   

Artoberfest used to be known as the Gorham Art Fair, and I am glad it is back after taking a brief hiatus! It looks like this year's event should be another fun time, and giving back is a priority for this show as well: there will be over twenty different vendors, and each participant will be donating something for a raffle, with the proceeds raised going directly to fund student scholarships for after school and summer arts programs in the Gorham community. Want to check it out? Artoberfest takes place at the Shaw Gymnasium (behind Baxter Memorial Library), 75 South Street, Gorham; Friday, October 24th, 6pm-9pm, and Sarurday, October 25th, 9am-2pm! I would love to see you there! 

  

sunflowers = smiles

Today was my first-ever painting workshop at Maine Behavioral Healthcare in Brunswick, and I feel really good about how it went! About a month and a half ago, I received an email from Kate at Maine Behavioral Healthcare. Kate said she came across my work in the Second Friday Art Walk brochure, and reached out to see if I'd be interested in being a "guest artist" for an afternoon. I called Kate and said, "Well, I'm not really a teacher, but I could certainly be a facilitator of sorts, and I think I could help them to have fun and realize that art isn't scary." Thankfully, Kate loved the idea, and she booked me for a Monday afternoon in late September. We ended up having to reschedule for today, but I think it worked out perfectly: this past weekend, Terry and I visited his sister, Heather, in New Hampshire, and while we were there, we stopped by a local farm. They had giant sunflowers for sale (only $1 each!) and I knew they had to be a part of my workshop!

                                                   

Getting them in the car was a bit of a challenge!  

So, I set up an autumn still life, with eight giant sunflowers, two gourds, five apples, and two decorative pieces of fabric. The sunflowers were so big, I had to keep them in the oversized plastic bucket Heather loaned me so I could get them home from New Hampshire! There were five people in the group today, and everyone's face lit up when they saw the bucket full of sunflowers. They were even more excited when I told them they could each take one home with them at the end of our session! I started off with a quick introduction (including showing the group examples of my work in magnet form just so they could get a sense of who I was and what I did), and then I passed out paint, palettes, paper towels, water cups, and canvas panels to each person. I also put a giant pile of brushes in the middle of the table so everyone could choose their own. They were a bit tentative at first, which makes sense (painting isn't something that was very familiar to them, and sometimes a blank canvas can be intimidating to even the most experienced of artists), but as you can see, they turned out some pretty nice (and very individual) work! 

different points of view

The afternoon went by quickly, and before too long, it was time to clean up. One woman in particular asked if she could work on her painting the next time they met, which I thought was great! Everyone thanked me for coming, and I thanked everyone for spending their afternoon creating with me. I hope all of the people who attended this workshop today will look back on the experience as being a positive one. I know I certainly will! 

a september to remember

It's the last day of September already! Where did the time go? I have to say, it has been an awesome September, filled with fun, new experiences, and a bunch of different venues showing my art (such as Cool As A Moose,  St. Joe's Coffee, The Gallery At 11 Pleasant, and The Cupcakery)! I think it's safe to say that I will remember this month very fondly.

So...the 10x10 Brunswick was this past Friday, and once again, it was a fantastic evening. Every year I am impressed with how professional, beautiful, well-attended, and well-organized the 10x10 is, and this time around was no different. Well done, 10x10 volunteers and committee members! You make it look easy, and I know it's not.

Anyway, I've never been able to get it together to arrive early to the 10x10 before, but this year was different...another first! I was able to witness the line of people forming to get into the show as soon as the doors opened, which was so cool!

sneaking in early!

Anyway, I was very happy to see a familiar face waiting on line at Curtis Memorial Library: Michael Gorzka, digital librarian, children's book author, and the man behind "Curtis Creative Spaces"!  Terry and I waved at Mike, so he knew we were inside already. The doors opened, and Mike and his lovely friend Kat were among the first ones to get in. Mike hurried over to my paintings, threw his hand into the air, turned to Terry, and said, "Which one should I choose? I can't decide!" Terry said, "Go with your gut!" A few nearby art lovers saw that Mike was plagued with indecision, so they chimed in with their vote: "Sugar Snap Peas"! 

choices, choices! 

The choice was made, and a 10x10 volunteer was on the scene immediately to remove the painting from the wall and escort its new owner over to the checkout line. Yay! 

"Sugar Snap Peas": SOLD! 

I am excited about this purchase for a variety of reasons, and I will list two here: 1. I know that "Sugar Snap Peas" has gone to a good home, where it will be loved and appreciated, and 2. this is the second painting of mine that Mike has purchased, so it's official: I have another COLLECTOR! Woo-hoo! 

Terry and I hung out for a while enjoying all the wonderful and very diverse art...at one point, Terry turned to me and said, "There's a lot of really nice work here...I think this show gets better every year!" We were also able to spend some time chatting with other artists in the show, including Hati Modr, Mandy Russell, Sarah Brayman, Catherine Worthington (who sold both of her pieces as soon as the doors opened!), Mary Becker Weiss, and Debbie Casterlin (who cracked me up by saying, "I've been reading your blog! Is that okay?"), among others! We ended the evening with a quick trip to El Camino so I could have a celebratory mojito (and a microbrew for Terry), and then we grabbed some takeout from Shere Punjab so we could enjoy a laid-back dinner on the couch in our pjs. What a fun night...I'm already looking forward to next year's 10x10! 

today's the day!

Today is the 10x10 Brunswick AND the final Art Walk Lewiston/Auburn of the season! I can't be in two places at once, but my work can...so if you're in the L/A area (and you're looking for an excuse to have a cupcake!), then stop by The Cupcakery (97 Lisbon St., Lewiston), where I have four paintings on display! If you're in the Brunswick area, come to the 10x10! This is always a fun (and VERY well-attended) show: it's so big, it takes place in TWO different buildings! This year, my work will be in the Morrell Meeting Room at Curtis Memorial Library. Doors open at 6pm, so don't be late if you have your eye on something in particular! Plus, it's for a good cause: all work is priced at $200; $100 goes to the artist, $100 goes to Arts Are Elementary! How can you go wrong? Speaking of Curtis Memorial Library: thank you, once again, for promoting my work! You are awesome. :)

special sneaky-sneak-preview!

i can't freakin' believe it!

When I was in college on Long Island, there was a radio advertisement for a local electronics equipment store (called Tops) that would start running right around Thanksgiving. I can still hear it in my head...picture, if you will, two male voices with over-the-top New York accents:

Voice #1: "Can you believe the holidays are almost here?"
Voice #2: "No, man, I can't freakin' believe it!"

Clearly, this ad made an impact on me if I can remember it roughly twenty years later. I've been hearing this exchange in my head lately, except it's a little different at the moment:

Voice #1: "Can you believe the 10x10 is almost here?"
Voice #2: "No, man, I can't freakin' believe it!"

That's right, cats and kittens: the 10x10 is almost here, and frankly, I can't freakin' believe it. It seems like just yesterday when I was submitting my forms and working into the wee small hours of the morning to get my paintings finished in time for the deadline! The 10x10 Brunswick is a fantastic show, and it is something I look forward to every year since I've been participating in it. In case you're not familiar with this fun and fabulous show, the 10x10 is a benefit art exhibit and sale for Arts Are Elementary. It takes place on Friday, September 26th, from 6pm-9pm, and it is such a big show, it takes place at two adjacent venues on Pleasant Street: the Morrell Meeting Room at Curtis Memorial Library and the Parish Hall at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. There will be a public preview at both venues on Thursday, September 25th, 6pm-9pm, and on Friday, September 26th, 12pm-3pm. People quite literally line up around the block to get into this show! As soon as the doors open, people file into the respective rooms, find the pieces they would like to buy, and signal to the 10x10 volunteers. When a piece is purchased, it is taken off the wall, wrapped, and sent home with its new owner...no red dots at this show! If you arrive after a piece has been purchased, you will be able to see a photograph of the work in its place. This feature was a new addition to the show last year, and I think it is a wonderful solution...that way, if you arrive late, you'll still be able to see what's been sold! I will have two paintings in the show ("Sugar Snap Peas" and "Praying Mantis, Amy's House"), and this year, my work will be in the Morrell Meeting Room at Curtis Memorial Library. For more information (and to check out the online preview!), please go to the website: www.10x10brunswick.org! Here's a pic from last year's show!  

photo credit: Mary Becker Weiss

cool places

WOW! So many cool things have been happening lately! I'm just now getting the chance to sit down and write it all out...of course, I meant to do this days ago, but hey- what can you do?

Second Friday Art Walk was absolutely fabulous! This month, I was the "adopt-an-artist" at Cool As A Moose, and it was a wonderful experience from start to finish! I was able to set up my work right in the front window, and they let me keep it up all weekend long! Caroline and the entire staff at Cool As A Moose couldn't have been nicer. They made me feel so welcome and appreciated, and they did a great job promoting the event (and my work!) on their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages! Here are some daytime pics:

action shot!

Having my name on the sign felt very official. 

It was a gorgeous day, and as you know, that always helps the foot traffic at an art walk! Lots of people were out and about in Brunswick that evening, and I am happy that so many friendly faces chose to stop into Cool As A Moose to say hello and check out my work. Not only did I sell a bunch of magnets (including a couple of "Sugar Snap Peas" magnets, available for the first time!), but I got some mind-blowing compliments, too: Michael Gorzka told me that he hadn't been interested in art until he saw my solo show in the Morrell Meeting Room at Curtis Memorial Library back in January 2013 (what?!?!), and Hati Modr told me she pulled up my website the other day in order to show her painting students "what was possible with color and line." WOW! They just about knocked me out with their kind words! Something else that just about knocked me out was an unexpected visit from a very special lady: my cousin Betty, all the way from Long Island! My cousin Frankie, Betty's son, was playing guitar at the Tontine Mall outside of Summer Island Studio for Second Friday Art Walk, and Betty made the trip to see him play (as well as to help Frankie and his lovely girlfriend, Shannon, move from their apartment into a house)! They wanted to surprise me, and boy, did they ever. 

I'm glad I got all dressed up! 

I know I mentioned in my previous blog post that I had gotten prints made up of four of my paintings...well, my prints made their debut at Cool As A Moose, and Frankie was the first person to snap one up! He wasn't the only one, though: as I mentioned, I was able to keep my work up all weekend...when I arrived on Monday morning to take everything down, I was happy to discover that I had sold two more magnets AND an "El Camino" print! Woo hoo! Thank you so much for everything, Cool As A Moose. You really are the coolest! 

My very first print sale! 

So, I took down that show on Monday morning, and on Tuesday, I had my work hanging at a totally new place for me. Do you have time for a story? Here goes: as some of you may know, I have a day job designing closets for Closet Factory. A couple of weeks ago, I was measuring closets at a client's home. At the end of the appointment, we got to talking, and I mentioned that I was an artist. He said, "Oh? Do you ever show your work at coffee shops?" I said, "Sure," and he proceeded to tell me about an open house he was putting on at his shop, St. Joe's Coffee in Scarborough. There would be live music, free food, free locally-roasted coffee, and free "bennies," all to celebrate The Feast of Saint Joseph. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. First of all, my high school was named after Saint Joseph; secondly, "bennies" are known to me as "zeppoles," and they are one of the most decadent, sinfully delicious things I've ever eaten (and I've never seen them outside of Long Island); thirdly, a few months ago, I actually drove past St. Joe's Coffee and wrote the name down with the intent of contacting them to see if they would be open to showing my art and promptly forgot all about it...until that very moment. It all seemed so serendipitous, I just had to say yes! 

All set up and ready for fun! 

I showed up around noon and started setting up as soon as I could. The tent was very roomy and very sturdy (which was a relief...this was my first time showing my work outdoors, something I've always been nervous about), and I had a wonderful spot to the left of the stage. People didn't start arriving until mid-afternoon, but that was perfect: I had a very comfortable amount of time to get my space just right and enjoy some fabulous food and coffee! The musicians arrived just as I was heading inside to get something to eat...and that's when the fun really started. All the way from Philly, it was Angela Everwood and Paul Jamain...and, let me tell you, they were absolutely fantastic! I was so impressed with how good they sounded, and I just couldn't sit still while they were playing. Plus, they were really nice people, too! 

groovin' on a sunny afternoon!

I must confess, I went into this experience with zero expectations. I figured, "Hey, it's free, and it's a chance to get my work in front of a whole new audience; plus, I'll be able to get some free coffee and zeppoles, so how can I lose?" Well, it turned out to be a day full of winning: not only did I meet some cool people and eat yummy food, but my name was drawn in a raffle for a $25 gift card to St. Joe's Coffee, plus I sold a handful of magnets AND a painting! Pretty awesome for zero expectations! 

"Eye Of The Storm": SOLD! 

Thank you so much to David and the entire staff at St. Joe's Coffee for putting on such a wonderful event! I truly appreciate the opportunity...and I will definitely be back for more of your tasty offerings! If you are in the area (220 Gorham Road, Scarborough), stop in and treat yourself. Even if you're not in the area, you should put yourself in the area! The staff is friendly, the menu is creative, and the prices are very, very reasonable. You will not regret it! 

A magnet sale to a very talented musician! Thank you, Angela Everwood!