2022 Hudgins VA #6

SOLD!

 SOLD!    $100. (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 6/2 the price goes to $225

A view of the Chesapeake from Hudgins VA.

Family Update:

This past weekend we had the RV out for the first time this year AND took our first tandem ride.  We were showing in Chestertown MD and Linda found an interesting trail.  Cross Island Trail in Grasonville, MD.   Made of boardwalks and paved trail, an easy 6.5 miles out and back for a total of 13 miles.  Passed our first snake on the trail and saw lots of birds.   This morning I went for a bike ride, yes in the heat, giving me no excuse when asked to pick strawberries!  I have now requested a pie and some jam.  Thank you Ron and Carol for sharing your berry bounty!  We were scheduled to bike ride on Wednesday with friends but Linda is working on plan B to avoid the heat.

2022 Still Life #20

mini original watercolor  $225

A great amber glass bottle... 

I was recently contacted by a family member who just lost their parent and in settling the estate have several Andy Smith prints to sell. Actually their parent was VERY supportive over the years!   I said I would post 2 of them... I am not taking a commission, just helping a client.   contact:  Karin    suggested prices or make a good offer!

Deep Sill (Sold out print!)  #65  original frame 20x22...$150 

AND

Autumn Mums (Sold out print) #260 Original frame 14x18 $100.00

Chestertown Tea Party

If you are in Maryland... come see me on Saturday:
Chestertown Tea Party
Saturday, May 28 from 10 to 4
Space #34 on High St. between Queen and Water St.
Chestertown MD    Check the info here.

I took a little painting break this week because I had so much to do. Took my Suburban to the shop for inspection. Picked the RV up from the lot and took it to New Holland also for inspection. Worked around the house and yard a bit. Errands: post office, UPS, groceries, etc. Ran to pick up the RV and scrubbed and waxed it. Linda asked me to unlock it so she could check inside and my key did not work... the RV place gave me the wrong set of keys so I had to drive back to New Holland to get the correct ones. I am always amazed how places conduct business. I know they are super busy and have more work than they can handle and I like them but they should be trying to woo me and to sell me a newer bigger RV! They offered to mail  my keys, are you kidding, with our postal service it would take a week, we are leaving on Thursday. I had to drive back and correct their mistake. Took over an hour round trip of my time, for the second time in a day. Maybe a $20 gift card to use later or even a free roll of camper toilet paper! Maybe a "we are very very sorry".   Back home to pack for our weekend show. Plus camping stuff plus tandem stuff if the weather co-operates. We had our air conditioners serviced this morning by a nice young man just started his own business. I recommend him if you are near Lititz. Cameron Hawthorne cell: 717-990-6008   And I had my implant checkup at the oral surgeons. We started watching Call the Midwife on Netflix and I must say I have been enjoying it so add it to your list. Probably more of a woman's series but I like it.

See... no time to paint!

Meanwhile the remodel is showing signs of progress. Drywall is starting!  But I caution Linda not to get too excited, there is still a long way to go.

Tribute to Maggie

I want to post a HUGE tribute to a very special person.  

I received a call that one of the most important people who paid a pivotal moment in my life is not doing well. I immediately called her to chat and to thank her and tell her we will meet again...

Marietta Marguerite DuPont Sansone Alitz     I knew her as Maggie!
We met in 1988 at a show in Seaside Park, NJ. This wonderful woman approached me and gushed over my work, made a broad announcement she was going to sponsor a big one man show AND she followed through!  I was struggling, trying to show full-time and work a job to pay for the shows! Trying to decide at the end of each year if I wanted to keep going.  She simply was my champion, she believed in me and loved my paintings.

 Maggie puts together this exhibit.  

Here we are!

Maggie arranged a big TV interview (I have a copy of the tape)  and a newspaper article and lots of publicity.  She knew people!!





Maggie provided this huge exhibit space and Linda had to hang the paintings. There was a pianist and a fabulous food spread. To be honest, I was shocked when the place filled up.  I sold more than I had ever sold.

It was that point that I quit my other job and went fully full time.  She helped me understand I could do this.  She has been my champion  for 33 years and she will forever be in my heart.

2022 Still Life #19

mini original watercolor.  $225.

Stratford Hall was packed with subject matter!  For me it was eye candy in every room.

Linda is headed to the beach with girlfriends so I am a FREE man... well, as free as a married man with a honey do list can be!  My big plan is to put extra miles on my bike... not sure how much painting I will be doing.

Save the Date:
Chestertown Tea Party
Saturday, May 28 from 10 to 4
Space #34  High St. between Queen and Water St.

Chestertown MD

There are events both day but I am only exhibiting on Saturday.
If you are looking for a fun day this is it.  The town is wonderful, there is a great little show, a fun parade, and the throwing of tea into the harbor...  Check the info here.

2022 Still Life #18

mini original watercolor.  $225.

Another beauty from Stratford Hall.

I have to air out the tents and tarps over the next few days, it drizzled at the end of the show day, just enough to make everything wet.  And I had two tents, a nice big display but 2 wet tents with 7 tarps!

2022 Rooster

mini original watercolor   $225.

This handsome guy was strutting his stuff at the farm at American Revolution Museum in Yorktown, VA.


Friday I am spending the day at Lititz Elementary School for Fine Arts Day. Hoping to inspire young artists! Then at 3pm we have setup for Heart of Lancaster Show. Fingers crossed for good weather. Hope you are planning to come out on Saturday.

2022 Still Life #17

mini original watercolor. $225.

A fantastic bell (with shadows) from the Met Cloisters. I am always amazed with the workmanship from so long ago.

Packing for Saturdays show... Stop out and see me!

Space #22

2022 Landscape #12

SOLD!   $145. (unframed) 5x5” mini original watercolor.

 Available to the 1st person to email
(framing $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 5/12 the price goes to $225.

This was from my bike ride this morning.  Beautiful Lancaster County farm land.


Family Update: We had a great weekend in NYC with Abbey and Ben. We took the train up and the kids met us at the station in the pouring rain. Ben dropped us off at the Met where I took in the Homer exhibit.



FYI: mask wearing required in every building and cab and no one was fussing about it!

Sunday started with a Mother's Day Picnic in Central Park. The kids spend a lot of time there and its only a few blocks from their apartment.  We just missed all the blooms but the park is beautiful. It smashed all my old preconceived (old news) ideas of how dangerous the park is, especially at night, it was filled with families and runners/walkers/bikes.

Next was Linda's treat, it has been on her travel list for years. The Met Cloisters and it lived up to her excitement.  I felt like I was in a castle in Europe.  I am pretty sure we will be going back here.




We had a wonderful time with the kids and they took great care of us.  Monday it was back on the train and back to work.

2022 Window #6

 
mini original watercolor   $250.

There are so many great windows at Stratford Hall and I think they all had fabulous views of the Virginia landscape.

Family Update:  Sometimes it is hard to balance painting with all the other stuff there is to do.  Our Volvo has been in and out of the garage several times lately.  Small things with a big price tag.  I planned on selling it and switching to a more gas friendly auto so balancing the repairs with the value is tricky.  Today I picked up the RV and took it for inspection at Shady Maple RV so its ready at the end of the month.  I have been trying to help Linda in the yard and flower beds.  I cleaned out my bike room and had several boxes of bike parts and "bike stuff" that I donated to The Common Wheel in Lancaster.  They have wonderful programs, so if you have a good bike or if you are a bike geek with parts piling up I really recommend donating.  Oh, if you have some painting (house)  that needs done we just used Harry Weaver from Lititz.  He just started his painting business, Weaver Painting so call him before he gets booked!  We were happy with his work and will be using him again soon.

2022 Still Life #16

 mini original watercolor   $225

Another still life from Stratford Hall.  

Get this on your calendar!  My space is #22
FREE!

2022 Still Life #15

 
 mini original watercolor   $225

Green Glass from Stratford Hall.

Family Update:  We were home all weekend and my plan was to work on a larger painting I have drawn.  However Linda had a honey-do list that needed accomplished.  I am proud to say the whole list is checked off!    Mothers Day weekend will be spent in NYC with Abbey and Ben. Finally getting to use the train tickets that we had changed twice because of Covid.   Abbey is taking me to see the Homer exhibit at the Met.  I am very excited, Happy Mothers Day to me!!  I am sure she has something in mind for Linda too.