2017 Holiday #6

2017 Holiday #6. - 4"x 6" Miniature Original Watercolor

$300

Managed a painting in between my care taking duties.  Great reflections in the window and the brickwork kept me busy.

Family update: We got through the hardest 4 days.  I think it was all a bit rougher than Linda was expecting.  Should now be on the upside.  Thank you to everyone dropping off meals and goodies.  Makes my like easier!

2017 Holiday #5

2017 Holiday #5  ~  4"x 6" Miniature Original Watercolor
$300

Switched it up today and went with a still life.

Family update: I brought Linda home at noon today and I am playing caretaker.  Going ok.  She is hurting a bit and finding a grove at home.  Realized lying flat in bed feels different than a hospital bed. Since the doc used glue she has no bandage so she took a shower tonight. She's sporting a nice shade of purple
We were told she will feel worse for 4 days as the block wears off then will start feeling better.  Today was only day one!

2017 Holiday #4

2017 Holiday #4  ~  5"x 5" Miniature Original Watercolor
$300

Broad street Lititz after our little snow storm.

Since I started late with posting Holiday I am going to post through the weekend, so make sure you check daily!  Don't miss any.

Family Update: Today was Linda's surgery day.  She has a new hip!!
Doing well; walked a few times (out of bed 4hrs after surgery!)  ate (food pretty good), took a nap.  Everyone at the Surgery Center in Limerick Pa is wonderful. They are super attentive, she has a big private room (only 12 beds) I can stay with her.  Dr. Deirmengian is fantastic.  He said the next 4 days will get worse (in time to be sent home!). After that it's to be better each day.  Thank you all for your prayers and kind notes.  You are all the best clients and friends a person can have...

2017 Holiday #3

2017 Holiday #3  ~  4"x 6" Miniature Original Watercolor
$300 

This is from a photo our friend Joan took from
the Chester Springs PA area.  I like the reflections

in the window.

By the time this blog arrives in your inbox  (Thursday
morning) Linda should be headed to the surgery center.

2017 Holiday #2

SOLD!
2017 Holiday #2  ~  4"x 6" Miniature Original Watercolor
$150 (unframed) to the first person to email me.
available till 7pm Thursday and if unsold it will go on my
show stand at $300!

Another scene is from Main Street, Lititz.
Look closely at the reflections in the transom.
The painting is so much better than the photo.
Lititz looks great at Christmas!

2017 Holiday #1

SOLD!
2017 Holiday #1   ~   5"x 5" Miniature Original Watercolor
$150 (unframed) to the first person to email me.
available till 7pm Wednesday and if unsold it will go on my
show stand at $300!
This little scene is from Main Street, Lititz.

Studio Update:  Open House was another success. There are still plenty of Original painting left for you to pick from and we restocked all the prints. Check my website.  You may visit the studio over the holidays, just give me a call 717-627-3383 to make sure I'm here.  We are also still filling shipping orders but don't wait much longer!

Family Update:  Right after Open House we took a one week cruise with our friends the Hildebrands.  We were celebrating their anniversary and wanted a bit of a rest for Linda.  We sailed on the Norwegian Breakaway from NY to Bahamas.  Here we are on Cocoa Beach, FL

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The next big thing on our plate is Linda is having hip replacement surgery on December 14th and then three months later a knee replacement.  She inherited bad joints. 
So I'm in charge in the studio, actually, I am totally in charge!!

one more weekend...

OPEN STUDIO this weekend…
Friday, November 24 from 10am-5pm
Saturday, November 25 from 10am-3pm
at 4 N Spruce St. Lititz, PA

Mini holiday prints make great gifts!

    

We restocked the prints and have plenty of original paintings available!

                    

 

All available prints and originals are on my website: www.andysmithartist.com

Feel free to email an order, we already started shipping!

The studio will be closed from 11/26 to 12/4, after that its open by chance or call for an appointment!

We are open Friday!

This is it, we are out of time!  Our doors open Friday at 2pm!  The cooking is finished, the table is set.  I can personally tell you the sangria is pretty darn tasty!  I did a last minute inspection for spider webs (we have a very old house!).  We do have cats but the boys will be banned to the upstairs room, the house has been vacuumed and wiped but if you are allergic I'm giving fair warning,  I can safely say there is something for everyone, from a bookmark to a large original painting.
So... we are ready.

2 days till Open House

Here is the latest update...

Studio windows sparkle!  All food shopping finished today.   All new labels on the paintings.  Porch paintings hung.

Studio organized and shrink wrapped prints on the table

Tomorrow is cleaning and food prep day and Thursday is cooking day.  And then its time!
Doors open Friday at 2pm.   Remember to bring your postcard to get your discount.

6 Days Till Open House

Time is going fast!  I picked up 39 more frames this morning.  Bought all new light bulbs for my panel lights, replaced 2 bulbs in the studio overheads.  All three overhead lights were cleaned (no bugs laying in them, very important!).  Refrigerator scrubbed and ready for all the snacks.  Linda finished updating 280 address changes.  Rug laid on the newly enclosed porch and panels are up.
Linda also added the paintings to the website but NO early sales, you have to wait till 11/17!
Packed the van for this weekends show at Spooky Nook.

Here are a few more paintings for you to put on your wish list.  These are both mini originals.

Only 9 Days Till Open House...

I am seeing a bit of panic in Linda's eyes... we are down to 9 days till Open House.    Her  "to do" list looks to me like its on track.  I got the porch tarp hung.

I picked up 57 more frames today so there is still some framing going on.  Linda picked up the wine on Saturday.  I hear there is definitely a Fall Sangria being served.  Menu is complete and I saw a grocery list.  There is a lot happening here.   Meanwhile I am still painting and my cutoff is Sunday night.   Here is another glimpse of what will be waiting for you.

I have one more show for the season. It is local so that makes it easy.   Booth #100

Open House

Two more original paintings to show you.  I have been stockpiling for several months.   None are available till 2pm on the 17th!  Just a teaser...

Today was the 1st day to sign up for the ACA.   We have been blessed with great insurance for the past few years.   ACA was great for us self employed artists.  We had 34 years of high premiums and $7000 deductibles that covered nothing.  Our daughter Abbey was even born at home and we paid cash!  So finally something we can afford and use.  I know its not good for everyone.  Anyway, Linda spent several hours getting it all updated but still needs to pick a plan.  Helpers were here cutting mats (yes, more mats!)  and framing (yes, more framing!).  I am not going into more details on how Linda puts together our Open House, if your interested, go to the right sidebar, to October and November of prior years.  I figured by now you know!  On my list this week is to put the tarp on the side porch, which gives us an extra room.  I'm waiting for a nice day.

Open House

We are moving furniture and setting up the panels.  That box in the far back of the photo is a case of 8x10 frames that came today.  Doesn't look like much but its coming together.

While all this busyness is going on I am still painting.  Here are two new paintings.  They are NOT available until 2pm on Friday, November 17th.  But you can put them on your wish list!  They are also not titled if you with to add your suggestions!

  

17 Days Till Open House!

And the count down begins... 17 days till Open House.  You should have your snail mail invite.  Here is a copy, feel free to share with your friends interested in my work.

Linda is ready to take print orders, we can ship now for about a week and orders placed after November 10 will be shipped after Open House.  You can order on my website using PayPal or email or call (717-627-3383)

Questions? send an email!

Open House update

Tonight is my final class for the year.  That means the tables for class get put away tomorrow and the panels to hang paintings soon get put up.   The invitation should be in your mail box shortly  (depending on our postal service!)  There is lots of mat cutting and framing going on, supply orders daily and I think Linda has her menu together.  I heard a lot about Autumn Sangria!

Here is my new print
"Day Dreaming"  

$50.00 print only  ~   $100.00 framed print 17x21"


I also printed one new Holiday Print:  "Lynn's Barn"

$15 print with mat ~ $35.00 framed 8x10

On an odd note, In today's mail I received a box.  Linda was pretty excited, I opened it to find a large heavy plastic bag with nice zippers and several handles... to replace my torn bag that holds my tent poles.  She went on to explain its a "body bag".  She read in an art blog that body bags make great tent bags, designed to hold weight and are the right size.  She went on line and ordered one.  Who knew you could just order a body bag.
Wouldn't and shouldn't someone ASK what a citizen needs with a BODY BAG???

Latest commission

My latest commission had its grand unveiling and is hanging in its new home.  Stacie’s Corner Cafe at 813 Dalton Division Road, Dalton, MA.  A new restaurant in the Berkshires.

I met Scott and Stacie at a show I did at the Hancock Shaker Village.  Scott followed up with an email asking if I would paint something for him as a gift.  He requested sleigh bells, they mean something to the couple.  Hanging on something white, maybe with flowers.  That morphed into a bucket with yellow tulips and a barn door, adding a shovel for balance.  I had all of 15 days to make this happen, while trying to teach and show.  I put in several late nights.  I think I got his vision and they are happy with the painting which is now hanging in the restaurant.  So if you are in the Berkshires please go check out Stacie's Corner Cafe and tell them Andy Smith sent you, and check out my painting!!

Saturday Show...

I am honored to be included with this pretty fantastic group of craftsman.  This Saturday from 10am to 3pm held in the Allegheny Evangelical Lutheran Church at 1327 Alleghenyville Rd, Mohnton PA.  Free admission!!  Please share with your friends.

Open House time!

We are in full Open House mode here at the Smith Studio!  Invites are here and ready to put in the mail next week.  The new print arrived and is signed and numbered and ready for framing.  I'll share that next week.  The new mini Holiday print is also here and ready for framing.  All the mats are cut for both prints.  Frames are coming weekly.  Glass is coming next week so I have a day for glass cutting coming up.   Extra stock is framed on the older prints.  I am sure Linda did more than this but its all I know about!  I did see the folder for the food was on the table so I am guessing she is working on the menu.  My job is to painting. I have several great larger paintings ready for framing.  Below are five new mini paintings I just finished.  I am not offering them for sale until Open House.  This is just to tease you!

2017 Landscape #11

4"x 6"  Original Watercolor - A Painting A Day

Landscape #11    $225.

Thinking Fall pumpkins...

This weekend you will find me:
FALL FOLIAGE FESTIVAL
October 14-15  from 9am to 5pm
Bedford PA
My space is on Juliana St. #177 (4 from the corner of Penn St)

I want to share a sweet story.

Last year the Simpson family purchased my print "Heritage"

This past weekend they came out to the Waterford Fair in VA and stopped at my booth and said hello.  This morning in my emails I received this message:

 I just wanted to let you know that our family was absolutely thrilled to find the real window that you had captured and painted in the print we have in our kitchen! We have been staring at this beautiful painting for the past year now, and it was so fun to stumble upon the real-life inspiration. What a fun surprise to end our day in Waterford.

Heritage hanging on
their wall!

The real window!
In the village of
Waterford VA

The Simpson Family

in front of the window!

Monday

I do not know where the past two weeks went.   I was shocked to see I have not posted since Sept. 18.
I have been working on larger paintings for my open house and we did a show in MA which meant we were gone 5 days.  Last week Linda kept me pretty busy getting ready for Porchwalk which was this past weekend.   Below is a photo of the girls who were exhibiting, sitting on our straw bale sofa!

I took on a large commission and have been spending the past few days getting the drawing approved and today I spent the day starting the washes.  Its a gift so I cannot share till mid October.  But it is going to take my full attention.

This weekend is a big show, Waterford Fair.   If you or any friends are in the Waterford (Leesburg) VA area this is a winner.  There is a lot going on in this small village so wear your comfortable walking shoes!

This weekend: October 6-7-8
THE WATERFORD FAIR.
Held in historic Waterford, VA

10-5 each day. 
My space location is “outside the Old School”

for parking and info:
www.waterfordfairva.org

Monday

I went to the weekend show by myself so Linda could get a few things done around the house.  Huge mistake. She goes through things like a tornado!  Stacy was her weekend helper but... it always creates work for me.  The plan was for her to get the gardens in shape for Porchwalk (September 29-30). I am told the gardens inside the fence are as good as they get for this time of year.  Six of the large  brown yard waste bags full.  Then they cleaned out our shed.  I don't understand why she even went into the shed... So now there is a small pile of junk that I have to take to the dump.  Yes, I understand there is now room to actually walk into the shed but was it necessary to do that now??   And she has a large heavy pile of old tear sheets to go to the paper recycle place.  She also cleaned out her studio closet and had a car load to go to the Ephrata Craft Recycle, a small pile for Goodwill and the Library. She was only home alone for three days!  So you know that my day was spent going to these places making drop offs and not painting.  She will not be left home alone for a while!

I did however finish this painting over the weekend and I think Linda is planning to make make it into a holiday mini print for Open House.

This is a barn from the property of my potter friend Lynne Taylor.  I think it was last winter.  I hate snow but Linda insisted it would make a great painting and I hate when she is right!

2017 Landscape #10

SOLD!

4"x 6"  Original Watercolor - A Painting A Day

Landscape #10
$125.00 to the 1st person to email and ask for it!
Available till 9/15 then the price goes to $250.

A back view from the Brinton 1704 House in
West Chester, PA

A Painting A Day

I am offering two paintings today.  The still life I finished before I left last week but did not have time to post and today I wanted to do something very different, just to see if I could pull it off!

2017 Still Life #16

4"x 6"  Original Watercolor - A Painting A Day

Still Life #16    $225.
This is another piece from the Brinton 1704 Housein West Chester, PA

2017 Landscape #9

5"x 5"  Original Watercolor - A Painting A Day

Landscape #9   $225.
A view from our hotel in Pittsburgh PA.

Up date...

In case you were envying my life here is a weekend update:  we left home on Thursday morning and drove four hours to Pittsburgh.  Climbed out of the van and spent the next four hours setting up my booth.  Tired and hungry we checked into our hotel and walked to Fuel and Fuddle for dinner.  We ate here with Abbey when she was going to college at Pitt  so it was a bit nostalgic.  Friday morning Linda was able to sleep in a bit and we took the hotel shuttle to the show around 10:30am to hang the paintings, tidy up the booth and roll up the tarps.  The show was from 1 to 7pm, I finished a painting I had been working on for a week which I will show you later.  We packed up the paintings and caught the 8:15 shuttle back to the hotel.  Too tired to eat, we showered and early to bed.  Saturday we were out at the show by 8am to do it all over!  This is a long show day, it went from 10 to 7!  Yup, that's 9 hours sitting outside making it an 11 hour day for us.  We had mac and cheese from a food truck and that was it for the day.  Oh, Linda reminded me we also had chocolate raspberry cookies!  Again, tired so it was early to bed.  I did win an award!  This show is a very high quality show run by the Pittsburgh Craft Guild so everyone here had excellent work.  I was honored to receive an
"Outstanding Craftsmanship" award.  And with this group that's saying something.

Sunday we were back out at 8am to start all over.  The show ran from 10 to 5.  And at 5 we packed up the booth which took two hours.  By now I am starving so we had an excellent dinner at Point Brugge Cafe .  I was a little hung up on food or rather the lack of it all weekend!  The show was very good for me and worth it, we plan to return again next year.   Monday morning I let Linda sleep in  (there is a pattern here!) and we were on the road by 10:30.  Stopped for breakfast and had a four hour drive home.  Once our feet hit Lititz sidewalks I unpacked the van while Linda handled mail and phone messages and two loads of laundry.  I ran to the store (because the fridge was bare!) while Linda laid out tomorrows work list.  I look up and its night time!!

Tuesday I have two classes to teach.  And I will do this all over again this weekend!
If you are near Doylestown PA save some time to stop out at this very good show:
Bedminster Traditional Artisan Show
Sept. 16-17 held at Delaware Valley University.   More details later in the week.   Off to bed...