This is a small portion of a mixed media piece that  I have created to depict the warm and loving memories I have of a place and person from Winter Harbor, Maine.  This is one in a series of approximately 25 works called “Hometown Memories”.   Maybe you know this place, or someplace like it!

I’d like to introduce you to Marie Clark, or if you happen to be from Winter Harbor, Maine, I’d like to reintroduce you. JM Gerrish Drug & Sundries was started by Marie Clarks father in the early 1900’s, and she was the proprietor for approximately 25 years until it closed in 1992.  This was above all else a gathering place.  She sold ice cream, penny candy, tobacco products, newspapers, patent medicines and various souvenirs and sundries.

This was the place to go to meet people for coffee & tea, for ice cream  & candy, for friendship and news of the day.  The atmosphere was built around yesteryear with oak & glass showcases for the penny candy and the glassware.  The soda fountain counter was marble, a customer could sit at the counter and watch Marie make ice cream sundaes and milkshakes.  There were ice cream parlor style tables and chairs for other customers.

Marie Clark always made folks young and old feel welcome and comfortable.  She knew everyone by name and probably their parents and grandparents as well.  I have created a couple of mixed media pieces that depict Marie and some of the memories that accompany her in my mind.  Tea cups and tea pots are the focus for one piece, doilies, flowers winding throughout.  The other piece has the ice cream parlor and soda fountain as a focal point.  Marie of course is the star of both pieces.  I hope you enjoy these and the idea behind them.  I am always excited to hear feedback and ideas.

In the newsletter “The Informed Collector” I found an artist from New Zealand who has a daily art blog.  She does a painting a day and posts them on her blog along with information about the location and/or the medium she uses.  Sometimes she also sells the paintings.  Her link is http://www.karenjohnstona.blogspot.com

I get a newsletter titled “The Fine Arts Newsletter”, in today’s edition a blog was highlighted that I found very interesting.  Jan Stommes writes in her blog “A truly intrinsically motivated person does what needs to be done.  They are compelled to create and share.”  She states that she has met many artists who share this feeling, and so have I.  If you are interested in reading more here is a link to her blog. http://www.janstommesart.com/blog/51018/working-without-the-guarentee-of-profit#

Have you heard of blog radio?  I found this very interesting spot today.  Leslie Strata hosts a radio show where artists help other artists.  Today she invited Laura G. Miller to do a presentation on cleaning up an email page.  Last week Leslie hosted programs about doing a web site, each day presenting an opportunity to focus on a  different area of the site.  This was the first time I have heard the show and I found it to be interesting.  The site :  http:www.artistshelpingartistsblog.blogspot.com

The last site I will mention today is a local artist from Sullivan, Maine.  I did mention him a couple of days ago.  Phillip Frey has been creating and showing art of Maine in Maine long enough now to have developed a very good reputation.  His work has been shown at the Couthouse Gallery in Ellsworth, the Gleason Gallery in Rockland and many more.  Phillip was chosen to be a scholar on Cranberry Island this past summer.  He also teaches art classes in various areas of Maine.  His site is http;//www.phillipfreypainting.blogspot.com

I hope you enjoy some of these sites, happy blogging!

I am very supportive of blog sites that come up with creative ways to draw the visitor.  When you look at all of the sites available to the hungry reader it does not take long to realize that something needs to stand out.  When Nicole uses the funny titles I go to her site to read how she will spin this information.  I would seriously go to her site anyway because I already know that what she has to say is usually very interesting, informative and well written.   So reputation does play a part in this also.  I think that funny or thought provoking topics lead me to think that this person may have something to say or worst case scenario they will make me smile!!!  How bad is that?  This brings us to the use of specific words that may draw more followers.

I did some research using art terms to see what would happen.  When I use the words “art” and “artist” the response was equal and somewhat higher then I expected.  When I compared those to “art galleries”,”art shows” or “art education” I got a surprise.  The last three topics received almost no response.  I noticed that one artist blogger I follow uses as an address her name followed by the word art.  I wonder if maybe that address helps her get followers.  When I was involved in a project we set up a web site.  In deciding the name of our group and the site we did some research.  Using the word Schoodic in the name increased the odds of getting the attention of interested people exponentially.  This example stuck with me as Nicole had us doing the research for this blog post.  It makes me wonder if I have chosen the correct name for my blog.  Always wondering, should I use more smoke and mirrors?