In 2020, “The Sneaky Mouse” and “Baby Bunny and the Balloon” were in at least one bookstore in each New England state, totaling over twenty locations. This number may have been significantly larger, but with Covid looming, getting books into shops was difficult due to changing policies, lowered consumerism and general uncertainty.
Most of these connections were made through a series of cold calls and email exchanges followed by a road trip which allowed introduction to some amazing people and places.
When approaching bookstores, remember to be courteous.
I mentioned earlier in my career the possibility of writing a book on the creative process. However, I’ve found my journey has been very personal and may not match up with mainstream takes on creativity or be what the average person is looking for. In its place, I have incorporated parts of what was intended to be a larger undertaking into the occasional blog post, like the one below.
One summer day, a lunch date at a flavorful sushi restaurant gave way to invigorating creativity when it was observed that the walls of the establishment were bare. With amazing dishes and a wonderful location by the water, art was the only thing missing. It was asked whether pieces could be produced for these blank spaces and after seeing some samples of work, the fish paintings were hung in six separate places throughout the venue.
Over the course of a month, three more mediums/subjects were explored. Minimal experience with sculpture led to a desire to investigate the craft further. Papier-mâché was used to produce enduring ideas (i.e. a hand emerging from a book, love bomb).
In 2018 and 2019, two fish paintings received awards in the mixed media category at the Warren Art Festival. Coming in first and second place, each was created with acrylics and adorned with shell fins. These scallop casings were found on Rhode Island beaches, though their scarcity meant only a few more renderings were able to be produced.
As with personal growth, an artist’s voyage is never finished. Though niches may be found, and skills capitalized upon, for those still in search of creative preference, exploration is necessary.
After using oils for many years, an introduction to an art instructor led to an attempt at acrylic painting.
Though the casual spectator may quip at its seeming simplicity, abstract painting is a complex process that requires an artist to dichotomies parts of themselves in translation of aesthetics, feelings and experiences.