Spring?

One day, I've been promised, spring will come. If it stops snowing, I will be doing (up to) three shows in May. It's going to be a busy month!

Firstly, I hope to be returning to main street Sykesville for their Fine Arts and Wine Festival, held on May 4th. These are the photos you're looking for.

On May 10 I will be back at the Boonsboro Green Fest for the 3rd time. Here's hoping for a beautiful and dry May Day. Bring your recyclables, donatables, and buy some repurposed items, crafts, plants, and of course, photos!

On May 18 I will, for the first time, participate in the Arbutus Arts Festival. This looks like a busy festival full of crafts, food, and family entertainment.  Come check it out!

More thoughts on local interest

I probably sounded a bit bitter last time I talked about local interest photos. Oft asked for and rarely produced. I have a few of my town, and this spring, I did some recon after a show and took some pictures of a place I'd return to in the fall.
The entire time I was there, lazily taking pictures, all I could think was, 'I'm pandering.' This was probably an elitist and stupid thing to think. Having taken the pics and printed some out and gone back to that fall show, I am still of two thoughts on local interest. Many people saw them and did one of two things. "Hey, I know where that is!" or "Where is this?" Ironically, some of the pictures were too close to where we were (less than a block) and still too far away.
I thought, well, that's it, I can't even pander right. But on the other hand, I did sell a few that in any other town, I wouldn't have. So, I still don't know what's best.

One bit of magic did happen as an argument against local interest (or at least 100% local interest). One guy flipped through one box of pics and pulled one out. He looked at it with wonder and bought it immediately. He told me that he and his wife had been in the exact place and waited for an hour for the sky to cooperate. They ultimately gave up and told themselves 'one day, we'll find the picture we were looking for.' And, so he did. He happily took the picture and it is now a tool for him to remember a special trip, place, and feeling. For a minute, I felt self actualized.

Magnets

I am super-stoked (and high on glue fumes) to introduce Under the Same Sun magnets for your viewing, purchasing, and fridge decorating pleasure.  After many contemplative hours and a little online research, I've made 47 of these beauties, all for you. 
 The reviews are already pouring in.

"Best day ever!"  -your fridge

"I want to be held up by these gems."  -your kid's homework

"No one will see me under these."  -your grocery list

"One of these over your face will improve this picture."  -your older sibling

 "Don't get too distracted while getting a drink." -one of these awesome magnets

Custom Order

The hardest part about having this very small business was (and is) deciding which pictures to offer to sell.  Inevitably, of all the prints I make, someone comes up with someething I don't have.  But yesterday, someone asked for something that I did have.  Just not physically. 
This has me wonder if I should take the suggestion of making a portfolio, or just carrying the lappy around to pull up special requests. 

Anyway.  Marsha, is this what you had in mind?  Email me.  ellieunderthesun@gmail.com

Spring Things!

The long awaited and short (at the moment) spring schedule for Under the Same Sun is here!
On May 5th, I'll be at the Catonsville Flower Festival and Garden Party, fancy!

This is a celebration of spring and the opening of their summer Farmer's Market.
Join me (and others) for colorful arts and crafts as well as a chance to brighten your day with some flowers and fresh veggies.  

http://www.catonsville.org/events/flowerfest.html

On May 11th, I'll be in Boonsboro, Maryland at the Greenfest.  This is fast becoming a favorite of mine. Here you can bring all of your recyclables and they'll take care of them.  Here's a comprehensive list of what they'll take  http://www.boonsborogreenfest.com/recycling.php.  Then you can find some re-purposed arts and crafts.  You can eat delicious food.  And after all of that, you can stock up on recycling products such as compost bins and rain barrels.  The hippie in me wants it all!

http://www.boonsborogreenfest.com/

Customs

I have custom orders on the brain. This past weekend I had my first print-only custom order. I am more than happy to resign myself that you can mat and frame pictures exactly to your liking. So, officially, I'll make you a 5x7 print for $5, an 8x10 for $10 and an 11x14 for $15.
These too can be mailed or picked up or delivered or whatever is most convenient.

On that same subject, while I don't sell online that doesn't mean you can't order. It's better to go straight to the source and that is via my personal email. There is a fairly extensive gallery flipping it's little heart out on the right hand side of your screen. If you see something you like, just let me know. I'll make that picture into anything you can think of. Well, just short of mugs and t-shirts, but I'd find a way if you wanted it.
Shipping is whatever the post office charges, and that's about that.

If you've been to see me at a show, you know many more pictures exist. If you vaguely remember something you liked, I am sure I can figure out what it was for you. I was there for most of them (haha)!

P.S. I'm thinking of a little website redux. I am not very good at design and such, but not quite happy with the way the 'ol blog looks. If you're a frist time visitor, bear with.

Do your Wurst.

Thanks to all my Frederick peeps who came out for octoberfest!  I know that it was really for the brats and the beer, but at least some of you bought some pics too!  This was a great event that I hope to continue to participate in.  I got free food, free drink, and got to use frederick's oldest bathroom.  Surprised some old friends, made some new, and didn't get stuck in the mud.  So, a rousing success.

Thanks again for making it my most successful two day show yet! 

Last show of the year is coming up on December 1st.  Right here in downtown Frederick.  Details to follow, 'cause you know you want 'em. 

A Real Show

Hello to my many, many readers. 
I am very happy to tell you that one of my photos (the well-groomed highland cow) has been chosen to be in the National Juried Photography Exhibit 2012 at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center.  The show is Juried by William Stapp, and he knows some stuff!  So come to downtown Frederick to see mine and many more awesome photos this fall.  The show runs from November 3rd to the 25th. 
More details here. 

And you can nab your own copy of the well-groomed highland cow.  It is easy as coming out to Oktoberfest this weekend and saying 'Hey, Ellie, lemme at that highland cow.' and I will reply, 'It's famous now so it costs $600 a print!'  Just kidding!

Oktoberfest

Join me this weekend for Oktoberfest at Schifferstadt.  This Frederick, MD tradition is October 20-21st and will feature local artists, history, and German beer!  (need I say more?  good, 'cause that's all I've got.)