I’ve been neglecting my blog
The last time I posted an entry here was in the summer of 2022, just before Art on the Rocks.
I have been busy.
I guess it’s time I catch up!
Art on the Mountain in 2021 was a smaller scale replacement for Art on the Rocks, which was cancelled due to some lingering COVID concerns.
The crowd was steady, made up of mostly locals. I sold a few smaller pieces, and one large painting to a gorgeous family of outdoorsies.
I also met one of my Instagram buddies, Jenna, who lives in the Harbor Springs Area.
For those who may not know, Harbor Springs is in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. I live in the Upper Peninsula.
Jenna gave me the names of a couple of galleries. So I contacted them. I got through to Hanni Gallery, and we agreed to work together.
In February of 2022, I drove down to Harbor Springs and delivered a handful of paintings. A few months later, they began to sell!
I’m now a Michigan-selling artist!
I spent the first part of 2022 painting, stocking the galleries I work with, and restocking those galleries.
I was also frantically getting ready for the return of the Art on the Rocks, the Upper Peninsula’s most prestigious art fair. This time, it was happening!
The 63rd Annual Art on the Rocks Art Fair took place at the end of July in Marquette. This event is organized and sponsored by the Lake Superior Art Association.The community was very welcoming! They came out and supported the arts like long lost family members! It was my best Art on the Rocks to date.
My tent broke, so I needed another one. I’m buying a beautiful domed, professional quality art fair canopy from my friend Renee Michaud. I can’t wait to set it up and display my art at the 2023 Art on the Rocks!
Speaking of the Lake Superior Art Association, they have a new website!
The LSAA put out a call asking for help updating their website. I know a bit about WordPress, so I volunteered. The update ended up being a total rebuild. You see, the LSAA lost their access to their old site. So they needed a completely new website.
I’m no webmaster; I just know how to do stuff. But three months later, after lots of back and forth, hours of meetings, and tons of edits, we launched the new https://lakesuperiorartassociation.org/
Please check it out! I think it turned out pretty nice!
I also started working with The Noquemenon Trail Network (https://noquetrails.org/ ) on a project to honor their donors.
This is thanks to my friend Madeline Goodman, who put me in touch with the Trail people. Maddie has been great at supporting and promoting local arts!
The Noquemenon folks are planning a large art installation to put up in their chalet. The installation will consist of four large paintings, each representing a different season, at a different part of their trail system, along with
So far, I have three of the four done: Summer at the Gorge-ous trail; Spring at the Forestville Dam, and Autumn on the Dead River.
The winter scene is in my studio now!
In September, I contacted a gallery in the Madison, WI area about representation. I’m thrilled to tell you that my work can be seen at Farwell Gallery in McFarland, Wisconsin!
Soon after my first shipment arrived at Farwell, one of my paintings sold! Then another! And a third!
I now consider myself a Midwest Regional Selling artist!
Remember, I accept commissions!
I can often accept custom commissions throughout the year. Here are a few that I did in 2022: a memory of a sister, a badass burger, and two very different hounds.
2023 is off to a good start already. I’ve sold a few pieces, and I’ve got a future large commission lined up for the summer! More on that as it develops.
I’ll try to keep up with this blog, and update it more often. If you want, you can follow me on Instagram. I post most frequently there. Find me at https://www.instagram.com/artofjohnfrench/
