Another great day.......

at the Fulton Street Artisan Market. Only two Sundays left and the market will be closed for another season. Stop by, say hello, and see all the great new Halloween and fall decor ideas from The Rare Hare Studio.

My muse..................

It's been a week and I have just not felt anything creative, it was hard to try and make the bird and the insects, but I tried to stay focused. It was not easy. Yesterday while setting up my booth for the Fulton Street Artisan Market I took a look at it and thought, damn Bradley you really do need to focus, what is it I want to do? What kind of artist do I want to be? I had Halloween, Christmas, Alice in Wonderland, Fairies, bugs, birds, and watercolor paintings. What a mess. I cant decide what i want to do for the Grimm's ADO challenge, I have hardly started to sketch in my Sketchbook Project, and the Carnival has fallen to the way side. What am I doing?

Well as the day went on yesterday and I sold, bugs, birds, fairies, and watercolors I decided maybe I can have an eclectic mix of things, and then I brainstormed about the Grimm challenge with my friends Heather and Heidi and i now know what I'm doing for that. I have created four new faces and hands today and I'm ready to continue tomorrow after work. I'm not sure where you went my Muse or when you came back but boy am I glad to see you again. I've missed you.

A quick glimpse of the Elephant Man. covered by his cloak, dressed in rags, afraid to show his face, he hides in the shadows. The Freak Show promises to be more then you have ever seen before.

Things to do..........

Well lets see the second freak is almost done and the third will hopefully be started today. I have no idea why I want to do this series of characters and create a Freak Show, but I do and I will not be happy until they are done so I better just get with it and get this out of my system.

I plan to enter the next ADO challenge, the theme is Grimm's Fairy Tales, thank goodness I have a book of stories by the Brothers Grimm. Trying to decide which story character I want to create is not easy. Any suggestions?

I better get through the freaks and the Grimm challenge fast because I need to start working on Halloween and Christmas. I have witches, headless horsemen, pumpkin people, elves, Kringles and more that all want to get out of my head and take form. I'm joining some of my Fulton Street Artisan Market friends at a home show in Lowell in November around deer hunting season. Ill be sure and post more information as we get closer to November.

I wont be at the FSAM for a couple of week, I have to work at my real job, but hopefully when I return Ill have the Freak Show done and more fun and creative things to share.

So much to do and not enough time to do it

Freak Show

Well the first character in my little freak show is done. Who knows how many more will come, what characters do you think I should create? I thought I would give you just a small glimpse, but I do not plan to reveal them until the tent goes up, the lights go on and they are all together in one place. The Freak Show will make its West Michigan debut at an upcoming Fulton Street ARTisan Market, look here for the announcement.

Happy 4th of July

Yesterday I spent the morning and part of the afternoon at the Fulton Street Artisan Market, it was the first day that I have been able to participate and join my FSAM friends. What a great day, it was a little warmer then I would have liked, but the sun was out, the market was 3/4 full with vendors and the attendees were in good spirits.

At first I was a little concerned that my "art" is too crafty. I'm of course my worst critic and just was not feeling like i belonged there. My booth was not set up at all the way I like it to be, I usually like there to be a general theme that runs through the display and yesterday there was none. I had patriotic items next to Santa's, next to Halloween, next to watercolors, next to Alice and Wonderland, with a few fairies flying over head, but there most have been something about it that drew people in because I had a very good day, I was not disappointed at all. People commented on my pieces, were interested in some of the process it takes to create many of the items, and I may have even found a holiday event this fall to show my Kringle's (Santa's) at. Over all it was a very good day.

I need to thank my friend Adam for helping me out and finishing up the day for me when i had to go to work and for packing and taking down my booth for me. I would also like to thank LaShelle of Designs by LaShelle, we all need a person to be in our corner, I'm lucky I have a great family and friends, but I met LaShelle last year at the FSAM and ever since then she has been a great source of encouragement for me. She is always there with a smile on her face telling me how much she enjoys my work, someday its just nice to hear an encouraging word.

Fulton Street ARTisian Market

Well I'm finally going to make it to the FSAM this week. Tomorrow on July 4th I'll be at the market from 11am to 3pm. Of course I didn't get EVERYTHING done that I had hoped to, but I have a decent eclectic mix of things to show. Santa's, Fairies, patriotic items, and an assortment of Alice in Wonderland items. In the coming weeks I will be adding more holiday items and my favorite, Halloween. Hope to see you at the market and Happy Fourth of July!!!

Trying to decide.........

I have the day off today from my "real" job and Its nice to actually be doing something creative. Of course I'm not going to get everything done that I had hope to today. I always said when i had my own business how much I had wished that the days were at least 28 hours long if not longer. Twenty four hours just is not enough time, especially for someone who likes to sleep. But as my family always told me you can only do as much as you are able to.

Today I'm working on a few small watercolor paintings, I had hoped to get done some painted fabric pillows and a few other things to but i don't think its all going to happen. I was wanting to join my fellow artisans Sunday at the Fulton Street Artisan Market, I'm just not sure I have enough to take and the fact that's its a hodge- podge of stuff bothers me too. I have Halloween and Christmas stuff, water color paintings, and some of my Alice in Wonderland pieces. I can not decide if I just take what I have and set up or wait until I can create this "themed" booth like I like to have. My displays always have to be as interesting as the art I'm selling. The fact that I have to get someone to help me for a few hours because I have to teach a class at work and that it might rain is not helping me decide.

I guess ill just keep creating, take an inventory tonight, see what else i can get done tomorrow before and after work and let you all know then if you can find me at the market on Sunday.

Fulton Street Artisian Market

After work today I stopped down at the Fulton Street Artisan Market on Fulton and Fuller. Imagine my surprise when I pulled in after 2pm to find the market packed with both artists and market shoppers. I had to park at the very end of the market and it looked like is would have been at 11am. PACKED!!! I could not believe it.

It was totally amazing, there was painters,wood workers, block prints, cement birdbaths and fountains, jewelry and new art created from old "junk" it goes on and on, I was told there were like some 83 artists. I could not believe it. I saw old market friends and made new ones. It made me want to create and get ready in a few weeks to share my talents again this summer.

This will be my third summer at the market and I can not wait to join my fellow artists. The FSMA board needs to be congratulated on the success of the market and its continued growth, they are doing a great job. Thank you friends, Ill see you at market soon.

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