Art and Wine

With  Labor Day weekend approaching our thoughts turn to the Art and Wine Festival on Sept. 10th. This is a benefit for the American Red Cross.    Last year it raised $50,000 for the ARC. 
  This is probably the most fun festival we go to, mainly because the people are all having such a great time tasting, shopping, and listening to good music.  It has to be good for us to haul our inventory to the Garrett County Fairgrounds for a 6 hour event.    Here are a couple of (not so great) photos from last year.
Come see us if you are at the event.

Who are these two goofs??

Original paintings on cards

I have been taking miniture paintings and mounting them on cards.  Each painting is about 3" x 4".  I sell the cards for $8 each (and people buy them).   Each painting is an original watercolor , not a reproduction.
Actually it is a pretty good deal.. . .$8 for a painting.
Here are a few of the pieces/cards.

suealoft@aol.com

http://www.theloftshop.com/

Lake Paintings

It has been an interesting season at The Loft Shop.    The summer of 2011 has been unusual, to say the least.   The  number of visitors to the shop have been inconsistant and sporatic.   The sales have been remarkably good considering the economy.    We have found out:
1. Our rack cards are a great marketing tool.
2. Paintings sell. I have sold 30 + paintings since the first of July.
3. People come whenever they want, not particularily concerned about our official "hours" or days we are open.
This past weekend a lady observed that I didn't have any "lake paintings" in my inventory.  (I had sold 3 last week).    I assured her that there would be some by the end of the weekend.  So I quickly snapped into action and turned out these two painting.    (an easy, familiar scene for me)

This painting is on 140 # Arches watercolor paper.   It is matted for a 16 x 20 inch frame .

I like to work on different kinds of paper, so I did the same scene on Masa(rice) paper. It is a whole different look.

It is matted for a 11x14 inch frame.

Pottery by Lynn Lais

The Garrett Council Arts Council is sponsoring a show by Lynn Lais.    Lynn is the resident potter at Spruce Forest Artisan Village in Grantsville, Maryland .This is an extraodrinary show.   Lynn's work is wonderfully creative and beautiful.   This show is not a duplication of the work you see in his shop at Spruce Forest.   It is new and original.  If you are in Garrett County, let me urge you to stop by the Gallery at 206 E Alder Street to see his work in the Backroom. 

Let me assure you that my photos do not do justice to his work.   Maybe they will be a teaser for you to go in and see his show.

                                                                            suealoft@aol.com
                                                                         http://www.theloftshop.com/

Collage

Artist Studio Tours, which were sponsored by Garrett County Arts Council, were a huge success. The five artists who were at The Loft Shop had a wonderful time displaying and explaining their art. Collages are my success story for 2011. People seem to love and buy them. Here are the two I was able to do over the weekend.