Hummingbird

This young ruby throated hummingbird is on my easel. I have been inspired by the large number of birds that have been visiting my backyard feeder. FYI there are rumors around about when to take down hummingbird feeders. The false info says to take them down so the birds do not stay too long and freeze in winter. The truth is that these beautiful birds desperately need the sugar water to make their long journey south. Hummingbirds are actually carnivores. They use the nectar to fuel their fly catching flight. So please keep those feeders out long into fall. The rule is to take the hummingbird feeder down if you have not seen activity at it for at least two weeks.

crop of my painting in progress

Art and Craft Shows

         I am an artist, because I paint all the time. In order to call myself a professional artist, I must market and sell my work. Ok; sounds simple. It is anything but. In order to sell art, people must see it, right? Where do they see it? How do you get it out there? There are a vast number of places to sell art. Finding them and figuring out which ones are right for you can be hard. Over the next few weeks I will write about many of these.
        Today I want to talk a little about Art and Craft shows. There are many benefits from doing craft shows. Buyers get to see my work first hand. I get to meet wonderful people with similar interests. I get to travel and see new places. I get to be my own boss, this means I have complete creative freedom. What not everyone may not realize is that putting on an art show takes a multitude of skills. Art and Craft displays are basically a traveling art store. First I needed to purchase a lot of supplies, I needed a tent, tent weights, tables, table cloths, display stands, a tool box, packaging, bags and receipts; that's the short list. Being my own boss is one thing, but I am also my only employee. That means I have to do it all, make the product, find the shows, apply for the shows, set up and tear it  down and do it all over again. You would have to be crazy to do this right? Right, and that is exactly what I am. I am crazy in love with making art! So thank you to all of you who support my insanity my buying my art! You allow me to keep doing what I love.

My Etsy Shop

This is something I have wanted to do for sometime now, start a etsy shop. My shop is call what else than Monique Hoch Art. In my shop I sell my original oil painting, fine art prints and art blocks. I have shared a link so please check it out. There are many images in my store that are not on my blog yet.


Fine Art Print of my oil painting "Mushrooms"

I'm Still Here

"Metallic Green Bee" detail of oil painting by Monique hoch

 

 

 

So sorry for not blogging for so long. I have been busy with my life. Submerged in art and my family.
Blogging turned into work.
 Not what it should be, a natural sharing of ideas and experiences. Now my blogging is going to be more like water flowing from a bucket. So remember and please forgive me when I misspell or use poor grammar ect. Remember I am a visual artist that wants to share not a writer.

Three Owl Feathers

             My children Vincent 11, Layton 9 and Crawford 7 had their first day of school today. Vincent, my oldest started Jr High. Where does the time go? First I should let you know I am not one of those moms who finds joy in the start of the school year. I enjoy the light schedule and easy joyful days of summer. I like having my boys home with me. So after dropping them off  I decided to go for a walk with my husband Paul. This would be a much needed chance to blow off the stress and worry about school. As I was following our dog Asti I looked down. There under the pine trees I saw a feather. It was small but what I thought was a owl feather. I looked up to show Paul my treasure and saw that he was holding another feather a much larger feather about 8" long. Wow it was beautiful and pristine. Finally a third feather was found  while walking on the hill top. How perfect three boys and three owl feathers. To make it even more magical they where all found on a blue moon and the first day of school. This to me is a good sign.

Photo of owl feathers found today August, 21 2013 on a blue moon

Wild Raspberries

     When I was a young child my family had a house in the woods. There was a long gravel drive near. Along that bumpy drive grow many wild raspberry and black berry bushes. In mid to late summer the bushes were heavy with sweet ripe berries. How I loved to pick them for my mother. Of course most got eaten before they could arrive home.

       The image of raspberries on a bush bring back some of my fondest childhood memories. Now my children and I continue the tradition of picking wild berries. This year as been an unusually  good year for picking raspberries and blackberries. Ohio's hot wet summer has been ideal for their growth. We gathered so many that I made my first homemade raspberry pie. Of course as always I took lots of photos. Many of my photos will be turned into paintings. I hope that my paintings will help my boys remember our berry picking. So when they grow old, they will look back fondly and maybe even continue the ritual with their children.

       



My first homemade raspberry pie





Wild Raspberries-oil on canvas-12x16