Are we having fun yet?

I have been silent for a good while. At first, it was because I was in a lull and no one wants to write about (or read about!) being in a lull. That's why the evening news is so eventful--no one hears about the thousands of regular people going about their regular days, just unusual (and usually gruesome or scary) events. I am determined to at least mark for the record that not every day is a success. So there, social media.

In any case, I have multiple events to report on. It was a treat to visit Red Hand Brewery in Lakeville, Massachusetts to display my work on the walls. Thank you Brian, the Tranquil Viking, for giving me this opportunity. It was a lovely night at Brian's close-knit, comfortable brewery and fun to meet some of his regulars. It was so rewarding to reconnect with friends from high school and others who came out for the opening. Small crowd, but a meaningful one, and I am honored to brighten up the brewery with my colorful works.

And then there was the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival. To set the stage, I had attended this show several times as a visitor, once buying a painting despite the objections of my then-husband. It was an iconic show and the talent level was (and is!) extremely high. I was ecstatic when I received the email two weeks before the show that there was a booth available if I wanted it. I jumped at the chance, particularly because I was planning to visit family in the area at that time anyway. I was going to the Mystic show! I was an artist in the Mystic show!

The volunteers were lovely, the leadership was chill and confident, and my booth was in a great location near the stage and, more importantly, the bathroom. I forgot both sunglasses and a cap so the bright blinding mornings were a bit rough. The afternoon shade from the trees behind my booth was welcome, but with exceedingly high heat and humidity, I was the most sweaty I have ever been. I fell asleep immediately upon securing the hotel room that night. Two days of the heat was twice as nice--but at least my body was somewhat acclimated by Sunday.

I had high hopes for this show. This was a real "fine arts" show. Here is where I would sell a significant painting and get my mojo back. Alas, I have my mojo back but it was only tangentially related to the show. Saturday I sold one 11x14 painting (the one in the picture), one of my favorites, to a lovely lady with two tiny dogs and a big smile. I sold a smattering of reproduction magnets.

On Sunday, I made one sale. I sold one magnet. And I sold that magnet to a family member. 

That was not how this show was supposed to go. As with the Canandaigua show, all of the vendors around me complained about the lack of sales. The crowds were heavy but not many people bought anything. I don't think the man across from me sold anything the whole weekend. 

I received incredible responses from the sizable subset of folks who were attracted to my art. "Wow." "OMG." "These are amazing..." etc. etc. There were a handful of interested parties but I think they were looking for a Connecticut artist. I am never surprised that someone does not want to take home a several thousand dollar painting, but my much more reasonably-priced pieces in the browse bin did nothing for visitors.

So, I heard the message. Loud and clear. And I WILL SELL PRINTS! For some reason, I thought the print process would be arduous and I wouldn't make enough on each to justify the cost of the high-quality photography, paper choice, and professional packaging. There is a process, but it is not terribly arduous. The prints I have created so far involved three main activities:

1. Taking a very clear photo of the original. This involves a new iPhone (17), the time of day when the sun has just passed by such that it is bright but shady, and a steady hand while squinting to find the grid lines on my small phone screen.
2. Finding a place to reproduce this high-quality image. So far, I am happy with www.mpix.com. I use the highest quality fine art paper and it shows. The colors are represented beautifully and the texture and weight of the paper create a solid piece of wall art.
3. Completing the package. For each small print (8x10 and 9x12) I provide a mat, a backing board, and an acid-free clear bag. Larger pieces are not sold with matting.

And the prints look fantastic!  Now you can have a Meadow Fern Studio original look-alike in a smaller, more economic form. Originals are still available, but prints will be offered starting at $40, with Lazy Daze my inaugural print-inclusion show.

Prints will be available on this website soon as well. I expect to concentrate on 8x10s and 9x12s, although there will be others and you can tell me what size YOU want. 

So now you have three reasons to connect with me: a.  you just can't get that big painting out of your mind and you have to have it; b. you wish to talk to me about a commissioned work; and c.  you want to talk to me about prints in various sizes. Or you just want to say hello to me in my booth or discuss the method behind my madness. Find me on Instagram, or communicate through this site. I'd love to hear from you!

The experiment marches on...