it has come to my notice that i am semi retiring.... yes, it's the truth...funny how those things sneak up on you...i have been creating game boards for 14 years now....and have enjoyed the successes that all artists strive for - people love them, want them, and collect them..., what more could an artist want...
but as fall approaches and the colorful season is upon me - i am stirred to realize that yes, i am in the fall of my own life...and one has to prepare for the upcoming winter years...
my good fortune of being involved in the creative industry began when i was just 19 years old - marketing and advertising...paste-up of ads was my forte...yes, back then it was done with a jar of glue, razor blade and ruler...my, how things have changed...
then it was on to writing commercials, photography, production at radio stations...and raising a family...and running a small company of art...
over the past 2 years my company has grown at such a fast rate due to much hard work, publicity (thanks country living magazine), word of mouth and collectors like you - my collectors cover the entire u.s., canada, and a few even in other countries...having nearly 400 people sign up for my email list - can be somewhat daunting...but it has been a great motivation to turn out new work...
my work will still be available....in a teeny tiny amounts....they will not be carried through stores anymore, what they have is all they have...they will not be sold through catalogs (thanks sundance for 5 years), but pieces will be available directly through me, as always, and exclusively through earth angels toys, jen o'connor...in a very limited amount...
why do i chose to continue working with earth angels?
jen and i have had a wonderful working relationship for many years, and jen truly understands the labor and time that is taken with each piece, she understands that art is not a mass production item...i cannot produce my work quickly...i cannot produce the amount to meet the demands... i can only produce a small amount, a handful a month ... in the past i have been known to create more than 500 pieces in a year during a catalog season...but those are the days of my youth, no sleep - 24 - 7 it seemed...and ohhhh, how the body can't sling wood anymore... earth angels understands all of this, after all, her company is very similar to an artists studio...and her challenges are very similar to my own...her clients appreciate the craftsmanship of each and every piece...and do not want things to be rushed...they are the collectors of american folk art...
what will there be for you - collectors?
my guess is more new designs, more gee's bend based boards, a monthly invitation for you to view finished pieces that can be sent to you directly (no more waiting)...one of a kinds...and yes, you can still order from my website...and yes, i will still be 'here'...i will just be creating art piece by piece, in limited amounts...and will fill my order book according to 8 pieces of art a month....but as i have worked with all of you over the years i realize that you do not mind when your game boards will arrive...you appreciate the craft, and will wait until i can start your pieces...if my books are full until february...you are content to wait until february for me to begin your game board... there will not be anymore 'overselling', it pushes me into a mass production company, instead of a small art studio, which is where i need to be...
so as the leaves begin to change in my mountain region preparing for winter, i too begin to make changes for my own winter season.....
