Steve Sanford
Well-known member
All~
For the first time this year, I participated in a biannual event here is southern Washington County - the Open Studio Tour. I and 15 other artists opened their studios to the public for 2 days (July 18 & 19). Hundreds of people follow a map around the region and visit artists who might interest them. Info on all of the artists at: http://www.studiotour.org/steve-sanford/
We had a fine weekend. Success was high from a social/community perspective but more modest from a business perspective.
These signs identified Pencil Brook Farm as a destination.
Once in the driveway, we tried to direct the traffic flow. Everybody enjoyed Susan's numerous wildflower gardens.
In addition to selling artwork, I also took the opportunity to teach about gunning and its history.
Each studio provided cold drinks and also a place to sit down and rest.
One table held all of my fancy work - what I call my "mantelpiece birds". One of these - Mallard Preener - has been purchased by a local museum.
This wall showed that I do not just carve - and that my interests (at least occasionally) stray beyond birds. The oil figures are from my time at the Saratoga Life Studio - which I joined after retirement in 2010. That portrait of the guy with the dark hair and beard is moi circa 1990. The watercolors are mostly recent - some of them destined for notecards.
All the memorabilia around the hearth is my "permanent exhibit" in my shop. The cork Black Ducks on the stove are from my saltwater rig. I painted the Yellow Warbler when I was 24......
My 13-foot Sweet Gherkin holds some gunners I was willing to part with. The cork merg - aka Bull Shellpecker - is also headed to a museum.
I will miss this Broadbill. He is one of the "fabulous four" that were all disqualified from a gunning bird competition because of the raised primaries (a signature feature on all of my wooden birds for 35 years).
I included this view just to show Sweet Gherkin's nose....
This is the outfeed bench for my table saw - and held antiques - several cork Wildfowler's from Quogue - and a couple of maker-unknownLong Island Brant with in-use paint by SJS circa 1990.
One of my benches showed the carving process. The rehabbed Bean's Coastals hanging up were picked up by their duckboats.net owner.
We also sold sets of notecards, business card holders and copies of When the Broadbill was King on Great South Bay DVDs.
Most important, we met many new and interesting people, got to visit with a bunch of old friends, let my neighbors know what goes on in that barn, and swapped plenty of stories.
All the best,
SJS
For the first time this year, I participated in a biannual event here is southern Washington County - the Open Studio Tour. I and 15 other artists opened their studios to the public for 2 days (July 18 & 19). Hundreds of people follow a map around the region and visit artists who might interest them. Info on all of the artists at: http://www.studiotour.org/steve-sanford/
We had a fine weekend. Success was high from a social/community perspective but more modest from a business perspective.
These signs identified Pencil Brook Farm as a destination.
Once in the driveway, we tried to direct the traffic flow. Everybody enjoyed Susan's numerous wildflower gardens.
In addition to selling artwork, I also took the opportunity to teach about gunning and its history.
Each studio provided cold drinks and also a place to sit down and rest.
One table held all of my fancy work - what I call my "mantelpiece birds". One of these - Mallard Preener - has been purchased by a local museum.
This wall showed that I do not just carve - and that my interests (at least occasionally) stray beyond birds. The oil figures are from my time at the Saratoga Life Studio - which I joined after retirement in 2010. That portrait of the guy with the dark hair and beard is moi circa 1990. The watercolors are mostly recent - some of them destined for notecards.
All the memorabilia around the hearth is my "permanent exhibit" in my shop. The cork Black Ducks on the stove are from my saltwater rig. I painted the Yellow Warbler when I was 24......
My 13-foot Sweet Gherkin holds some gunners I was willing to part with. The cork merg - aka Bull Shellpecker - is also headed to a museum.
I will miss this Broadbill. He is one of the "fabulous four" that were all disqualified from a gunning bird competition because of the raised primaries (a signature feature on all of my wooden birds for 35 years).
I included this view just to show Sweet Gherkin's nose....
This is the outfeed bench for my table saw - and held antiques - several cork Wildfowler's from Quogue - and a couple of maker-unknownLong Island Brant with in-use paint by SJS circa 1990.
One of my benches showed the carving process. The rehabbed Bean's Coastals hanging up were picked up by their duckboats.net owner.
We also sold sets of notecards, business card holders and copies of When the Broadbill was King on Great South Bay DVDs.
Most important, we met many new and interesting people, got to visit with a bunch of old friends, let my neighbors know what goes on in that barn, and swapped plenty of stories.
All the best,
SJS
