Here are a couple of things I've been working on this week. I'll be bringing them to Knoxville on Saturday and Chattanooga on Sunday :). The above one is called 'Talking to Clouds' and the one below is 'Peachy Keen' which I thought was quite appropriate for the the Peach Market on Sunday :). I really love both of them although they're very different. Talking to Clouds is really neat because it looks like the telephone lines are going through the clouds - I don't even know how I did that lol! It had something to do with the settings on my camera and brightness of the clouds - the light somehow overtook the telephone line in spots so that it looks like the clouds are covering the wires. I tried to think of all kinds of names for it - Stairway to Heaven, How We Talk to God, Communion With Clouds.....I could go on and on - I finally decided on 'Talking to Clouds' to keep it simple. 'Peachy Keen' - well, it's rather self explanatory :). I love the warm, peachy colors and the vintage feel. It's fresh yet old-fashioned at the same time.

Thank you Chattanooga for the warm reception :)

Neighborly

So Chattanooga was awesome, I'm definitely going back this week. I'll probably make it regular Sunday thing now :). All the market goers were very friendly as were the other vendors (with the possible exception of one who will go nameless lol - backhanded compliments anyone?). But it was a great day, I met so many people. I also felt good because a lot of my customers told me their stories and explained what the particular photograph they bought meant to them. That it reminded them of something from their childhood or something that recently happened to them or their wedding day...there were a lot of little stories exchanged in conversation. I love that I can give people something they can hold onto that corresponds with something special in their life or from their past, it's that emotional connection to my work that makes it all worthwhile for me. I truly truly truly think it's important that we don't forget those parts of ourselves that believed in the magic of blowing dandelion seeds, or making wishes, or just laying in grass looking up at the clouds in amazement and awe. I think we get so caught up in our day to day rushing around or our immediate problems that we sometimes forget that all of that is still out there just waiting for us to notice it and believe in it. So when you go outside today, don't forget to look up - at the clouds, or at the birds sitting in a neat row on the wire on your way home from work, or just notice the happy little dandelions popping up in your yard (or your neighbor's yard if you don't like them in your own lol). It will make you feel lighter and happier inside :).

I'll also be at the Knoxville Market on Saturday - I hope to see everybody there!



The Seduction of Clouds (not in my shop at the moment)

Going to Chattanooga....

'The Only Explanation'

I'm going to be going to the Chattanooga Market this Sunday to sell my artwork. I'm really looking forward to it. It's about 2 1/2 hours from my house so it's going to be a quite a little drive. I enjoy driving though so it should be ok. The Chattanooga Market's on Sundays so I'll still be able to do the Saturday market in Knoxville. This represents a big step in branching out for me. I've only sold (in person) in Knoxville so heading over to Chattanooga is the next step in my Big Plan. The Big Plan involves selling my artwork across the United States, not through my online shop but through travelling to art shows and markets and helping everyone find their 'happy place artwork' =). I've sold across the US in my online shop (+ Ireland, England, Australia, Hong Kong, Canada and Alaska) so I know there is an interest in places outside my local area, it just a matter of focusing and building up enough inventory to make it worth my while expense wise to do it. I generally just sell prints of my work at the markets with the occasional canvas but I'm going to have to build up a good canvas inventory to sell since they bring in more money. My goal is to get every single photograph printed onto a large canvas and paint it. I have a good start, but I have to organize my time better so I can spend more time in my studio. I absolutely love the process of recreating digital layers with acrylic paint - it adds a lot of depth and uniqueness to each piece.

I'll post and let you know how the Chattanooga Market goes...from what I hear, it's a very artsy market so I'm hoping all will go well! I just hope I don't get lost getting there....

We took Sesame to the lake last Sunday

It was really fun, we found a quiet spot where she could swim and we could wade and hang out. I got some great photos but managed to get my cell phone wet. Sooooo glad it wasn't my camera that got in the water!



That's Richard watching Sesame take off through the water, she's a Golden Retriever so she's a water dog :). I think this spot on the lake is my new happy place.