Ours... to fight for

The Four Freedoms or Four Essential Human Freedoms is a series of 1943 oil paintings by one my favorite American artists, Norman Rockwell. The Four Freedoms theme was derived from the U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt's 1941 State of the Union Address. During the speech he identified four essential human rights (Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom From Want and Freedom From Fear) that should be universally protected and serve as a reminder of the American motivation for fighting in World War II. Roosevelt's message was: "In the future days which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms."

Thank you should be said every day to our military service members, both active and veteran, for your dedication, courage and sacrifices to protect our freedom.

NEW Workshop: Accounting for Artists

Maryland Lawyers for the Arts (MLA) is offering a new series of workshops for artists this fall. And this FREE "Accounting for Artists" class definitely caught my eye!

The class will take place at School 33, 1427 Light St., Baltimore 21230, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. CPA Erick Lee of Hertzbach & Co. covers basic accounting for artists, including recordkeeping, spreadsheets, accounting software, and taxes. Reservations for the workshop are required but all you need to do is email william.pace@promotionandarts.com or call 410.396.4641.

Top Ten NEW Print Ideas for 2010

The craft shows will be in full swing in April and I've got to get carving. Sticking loosely with a Top Ten list, this is a list of my new illegible ink print ideas for 2010. (Ideas are listed in alphabetical order - thus, the word "loosely.") But I need your help! Leave a comment with your favorite idea (or a new idea) and win a limited edition illegible ink card set (value of $20). Winner will be chosen at random on 03/01/10.

1. Amaryllis
2. Bicycle (or perhaps a tricycle)
3. Butterflies (similar to the sea shells series of prints)
4. Dinosaurs (similar to the alphabet series of prints including allosaurus, ankylosaurus, brontosaurus, stegasaurus and tyrannosaurus)
5. Football
6. Fish (also similar to the alphabet series)
7. Jellyfish
8. Orange Tabby (this one is non-negotiable; a print dedicated to my sweet Hoppers)
9. Rhino
10. Wagon (designed for my soon-to-be-new nephew: the little red wagon that could)

Thank you and good luck!

Top Ten illegible ink Prints of 2009

It seems like the last week has been full of everyone's Top Ten lists so I thought it might be fun to start a couple of my own. The first one to tackle (since I've also been thinking about tax season with the start of this new year) is my Top Ten list of sale items (by volume) of 2009.

So, here is the Top Ten of illegible ink Prints in 2009 - thanks to all of you!

#10 The Snapdragons: Reds, pinks, yellows, purples and blues. These flowers roared into the ten spot of 2009 sales.

#9 The Rooster: Available as a framed print or festive card, this cheerful crooner was designed to call in the new year.

#8 What a Pair: One is the loneliest number, so why not have a pair of feathered friends? I imagine he's listening to my hen's every cluck.


 #7  Mushroom Hunt: You don't need a fancy pig to sniff out these delicious mushrooms. These prints are one-of-a-kind, printed in black ink on a soft brown paper (and sometimes colored with soft pastels to highlight your taste).

#6 Chambered Nautilus: Many echoed the sentiments of Oliver Wendall Holmes and Andrew Wyeth by purchasing this spiraled and coiled nautilus. Hand painted, ensuring this nautilus never blends into the darkness of the sea.

#5 How Now, Brown Cow:  This happy cow is not from California but he still maintains a carefree, sunny attitude and definitely encourages you to choose him over "chikin."

#4 Penguin: The holiday season favorite, this peppy penguin easily slid his way into the third spot in sales.

#3 T is for Turtle: Not everyone has space for The Animal Alphabet but the Turtle from that print has swam into multiple frames and card sets throughout the year. While he is not number one overall yet, he was the first animal sold out at each of my craft shows this past year.

#2 Maryland Blue Crab: Just add Old Bay! This crab puts the charm in Charm City. Edged out by just a pinch, he may claw his way into the number one spot next year.

#1 The Owl: He has a feather in his cap and puts a smile on your face. Two years in a row, this wise owl is the reigning sales champion.

Hoo(t) knows, maybe he will be the Triple Crown Winner of 2010?

Download Now: Baker Artist Awards iPhone App

There are 49 days left to browse and vote and/or nominate yourself for the 2010 Baker Artist Awards - a celebration of Baltimore's artists. (I this first sentence is more a reminder to myself that I basically have a month to get on the site and update my pages!)

The real reason for this post today is to let you know about the cool updates to the Baker site as well as their new iPhone app. The site has been tweaked from last year - allowing users a lot more flexibility in posting their work, as well as making it easier for artists and voters to navigate the site and network. The homepage now features a section called "Favorite Artists" by Baker users as well as extremely intuitive ways to share on Facebook, Digg, Email, MySpace, Twitter, etc. And the best part of all of this? It's FREE. So, sign up and share your work or vote! Baltimore's reputation is at stake.

"Up a Tree" Tuesday

This new illegible ink tree squirrel print will remind you

to keep searching for that juicy nut (even on a Tuesday).

Sneak Peek: NEW Baltimore-Themed Print

Last year - right around the holiday season - I carved a gnome print. (I guess you could say I've been going through a gnome phase ever since the Travelocity Gnome started his commercial debut.)

He was adorable and I loved that I could paint him in the holiday spirit or make him a master of the garden. But apparently my chillin' gnomie was not only pleasing to the eye but also delicious in my Woodley's stomach. (The sensitive stomach my vet says he has... Ugh.)

Of course, the digestive disaster of July 09 meant when The Hexagon organized Hexchange, a Baltimore-themed portfolio exchange for emerging printmakers, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Here's a sneak peek of my edition of 55:

(Now remember, that is the plate on the press so the image is in reverse.) I'm still experimenting with the coloring. I'm leaning towards using black ink and then adding green highlights for her beehive's ribbon and maybe some ruby red lips. I guess the good news is just like the previous print, I can color the happy couple any way you like!

Call for Printmakers - Last Call, that is!

The Hexagon Gallery is pleased to announce Hexchange, a Baltimore-themed portfolio exchange for emerging printmakers. Hexchange will be on exhibit during the month of October, in conjunction with Second Saturdays, a new initiative from the Station North Arts & Entertainment District to bring community arts and music awareness to the area. Following the exhibition, Hexchange will become a part of the permanent collections at the Hexagon Gallery and Goya Contemporary in Baltimore, as well as the International Printing Museum in Southern California. Hexchange is also receiving promotional support from the Bmore Art Blog, the Contemporary Museum and the Station North Arts & Entertainment District.

There are 50 spots in this portfolio. Register now--spots are filling up! (Hexchange is almost full! artists from Bmore (of course), Philly, NYC, Providence, Portland, Honolulu, Oakland, and more!) All artists participating in the exchange will receive a portfolio of 50 different prints.

Fee: $10 for artists in East and Central time zones, $15 for artists in Mountain and Pacific time zones. Artists outside the continental US will be given a payment estimate upon inquiry. This modest fee will cover constructing portfolio mailers, return postage, and exhibition postcards (also to be sent to each artist prior to the show). Your registration will not be complete until we have received your payment.

Print requirements:

• Baltimore-themed, edition of 55
• 11x15 inches
• paper choice and bleed are up to you
• remember to sign and number prints

***Important*** All editions must be received, with your own interleaving, by September 18th, 2009. No extensions, as this will give us just enough time to collate, construct cases, and hang the exhibition.

Questions? Contact Phuong Pham at art@hexagonspace.com.

In the studio...

I have a to-do list a mile long and it just seems to be getting longer this month! May, June and July are going to be busy months for illegible ink (and all my little helpers). Feel free to drop me and line and let me know what images you'd like to see from illegible ink. Right now I'm working a friendly dinosaur!

And be sure to come visit at the upcoming show schedule:

• May 9: Squidfire Spring Art Mart, (Charm City Craft Mafia tent) Baltimore
• May 30-31: Art Star Craft Bazaar, (Booth #42) Philadelphia
• June 20: Pile of Craft, Baltimore
• July 17-19: Artscape, Baltimore

Happy Earth Day!

It's raining in Baltimore (cannot get the Counting Crows out of my head this month!) but the good news is all my herbs have survived the winter and happy, green shoots are poking out of the dirt just in time for Earth Day. In this spirit, here's what I've got going on so far today:

• For the insider tips on going green in Baltimore - and upcycled art and design - visit Baltidome.
• Three green restaurants that I've put on my list as must-have meals for Earth Day: Dogwood Cafe, Feast@4East and Woodberry Kitchen.
• Come visit me on May 9th and check out my new "green" line at Squidfire's Spring Art Mart. I'll be "wo-manning" the Charm City Craft Mafia tent with Bowerbox Press, HVM Designs and Pink Kiss Pottery.

Thursday Night Q & A

Question: What do mushrooms (edible and not so edible), hearts, crabs (blue and some that already hit the hot water), flowering cactus and fortune cookies all have in common?

Answer: They will all be available this Sunday at the illegible ink table at Plant Zero in Richmond. Snap them up and send them as a card or frame one for yourself. Enjoy!

Spring is in the Air!

Baltimore schools had a snow day earlier this week but March's "in like a lion, out like a lamb" mentality could never be more true with the weather forecasters telling us to brace ourselves for 70 degrees this weekend.

Springtime may be in the air, but it's also in the mail - at least in my case. I created these seafoam green and pink wedding invitations for my sister-in-law. Each invitation includes a hand-printed seashell linocut.

Don't you just want to rush out and buy your tickets to Florida? (I've already picked out my bathing suit and flip flops.)