Last Summer, I enrolled in the Maine College of Art's Master in Arts Teaching Program, a rigorous yet rewarding ten-month marathon to learn how to share my artistic journey, experience, and energy with the young minds of tomorrow. The days are long, the workload intense yet gratifying preparing you for 'the day in the life' of a school art teacher. Huddled closely alongside eight equally minded teacher candidates, we have grown in so many ways, unimaginable in such a short period of time.
From the classroom to the museum, workshops to field trips, term papers to Petcha Kutcha's, we have all respected the mountain. Now, under the watchful eyes of mentor teachers, we are putting our practice to the test leading K-6th grades in their art rooms. Personally, I've led close to 500 students per week in rural Poland, Maine, all of them unique and welcoming. In the coming weeks, I'll travel to Portland Arts & Technical High School for a six-week internship with juniors and seniors from all over southern Maine via their commercial art department, I'm really looking forward to this visit!
Soon, in May, I will graduate and be on the search for an art teacher position in Southern Maine. Additionally, I will continue in my artistic ways including new lobster designs and attending all my favorite art shows during Maine's gorgeous summer months. Becoming an art teacher will allow me a perfect balance of life's work, as well as an avenue to deliver a meaningful contribution to our youth and their communities. Art has always been a positive experience and release for me, a way to explore the freedom of creativity, the act of making something from nothing. We all have this gift, discovering it from within can be the puzzle, one I hope to help solve for students who feel the arts are out of their reach. For those who love the arts, I will share their passion and push their ideas, our art room will sing with active making.
Stay tuned for more from the art room, and as always THANK YOU for your continued support throughout the years, you have helped me considerably to discover where my path has been leading me all along!
Andrew
"Me" by Everett, 5th Grade Poland Elementary Regional School
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Once I arrived, a day before the big weekend, I laid eyes on my subject and knew my idea was going to be perfect, delicious, scrumptious, mmm. I dropped my box full of tools and paint, grabbed my wife's favorite kitchen knife and got busy slicing and dicing the 185.5 pound beast. After about an hour of cutting, looking, cutting more, pondering, answering questions about what it was ("Is it a hamburger?"), selfie-ing, looking from a far, slicing up close and finally saying, "Yup, that's good!" I coated a thick layer of white paint on the sculpted giant.
Allowing time to dry I grabbed lunch at King Eiders around the corner, great meal and cozy atmosphere, as all the locals know. When I got back to my piece there was a HUGE crowd and all these TV cameras around my pumpkin, ok, just kidding, it was just a curious young couple and their tiny baby. I quickly got busy, the white paint had dried perfectly and my belly as full as the brush was paint. I started with the bottom, and worked my way towards the top where most of the carving took place. I had eaten many of my subject matter before and had a page full of examples to capture the essence of the idea.
I wanted the piece to feel like it was real, not a pumpkin but something else. After a few hours of paint and some added lettuce from my friends at Gifts at 136, my contribution to this year's festival was complete, a Maine Lobster Roll!
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]]>This summer started off like cracking open a claw of a freshly steamed keeper, ahhh, and not before long we were knee deep in lobster meat. Going into this season I had a new approach, focus on my wholesale accounts to accommodate the masses, utilize their brick and mortar and expand in territories I was absent in, unfortunately this meant less art festivals but hopefully more availability. Sometimes you need to take a risk, and as much as I loved doing the show circuit I felt this was the way to go. Looking back I could have done both, executive decision made, look for me at the Maine Summer Shows in 2017!
There was one show I had to do, my all time favorite (even before the lobsters), the Yarmouth Clam Festival. This year was just like the previous four I've participated in, fun, busy, full of happy folks laughing, dancing, oooing and ahhhing. Great music, food, entertainment, competition and community spirit like no other. The weather always plays a key factor and this year we had a taste of it all, hot, cool, sunny, downpoury and straight up gorgeous! My 11 year old daughter Alida helped out again this year and if she works hard like Dad she soon will be selling something (glitter glue, green slime, cupcakes are on her short list) at the festival, she caught my entrepreneurial spirit and I couldn't be more excited for her! It was, and always is, great to catch up with everyone at this show, it is truly a highlight of my year!
My wife Jen and I traveled to Bar Harbor for too quick a visit. I was invited as the featured artist at The Maine Lobster on West Street, sipping wine and chatting with the tourists, great time and shop, check them out! Acadia is stunning, the whole coast is breathtaking and something that every one should take in, we're booking a return trip, maybe by lobster boat! The greatest thing about my job is being able to travel to all the picturesque Maine towns and villages sprinkled along our rugged coastline, the store owners whom sell my product are the finest in the business, check out my BUY LOCAL page for a certified LIAA reseller in your area or on your travel agenda.
One of the greatest benefits of being an artist is the ability to reach and help others emotionally and sometimes physically. The reactions to my work is the fuel that keeps me on the illustration road, but when my work generates money for charities or families in need it feels like I'm making a difference. Over the year's I've donated many pieces to many charities, silent auctions and fundraisers, and again this year to The Jimmy Fund, Maine State Society Foundation and Painting for a Purpose. There is nothing more gratifying than help others, if you think my work could help your cause, benefit or charity send me an email and I'll do my best to accommodate, never hurts to ask!
Currently I'm preparing for the Leaf Peepers, Cruise Passengers, the Big-E and Holiday Shoppers. I'm working on a few new lobsters and drafting up plans for my Pumpkin Lobster for this year's Damariscotta Pumpkin Festival (check EVENTS page for details). This go around I'm using one of the larger pumpkins versus many smalls. What will it be you ask? Check it out in front of Gifts at 136 Columbus Day Weekend.
As always thank you for your support and interest in my work. I've always said the more you put in the more you get out, you all have proven this to be true, again thank you!
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With the Regency's Atlantic Room as the backdrop, we gathered around large packed round tables and enjoyed talks focused on a range of subjects encountering retailers from the web to bricks and mortar, security to legislation, failures, accomplishments and the lessons we learn along the way.
David Brooks of Flyte New Media got us started off with the importance and usefulness of social media, email marketing and being authentic. Amanda O'Brien of Planet Dog spoke to the everyday use of the all your data and how cross referencing is a layup to success. Brett Wickard of Bull Moose Music continued that conversation of data but not necessarily using data from the past but forecasting what it means in the future as well as the importance that everyone in your organization must be on the same page, focused and in the now.
I first met Brett when I was 13 in Brunswick, he just opened his music store (not the current Brunswick store, the one before that next the armory) and I recall walking in and seeing him sorting through boxes and boxes of tapes and cds. I became an instant fan for Brett carried music no one else did, plus he allowed me to help him work around the shop as if I was an employee, part of the team. We laughed about child labor law infraction but back then I didn't care, it was a cool place to hang out! Whenever I walk into a Bull Moose today I always think back to the hard work he exhibited then and how it has paid off for him now. Brett is still the same guy, a true inspiration and perfect example of "the more you put in the more you get out".
We transitioned into security, fraud, hackers, and that if you think you're safe from it you're not. Tom Litchfield, VP of Retail Technology at NRF, went into the technical side of things from a 40,000 foot view, Eric Shepherd of OTTO Pizza brought it down to ground level with his recent experience with being a target of a credit card breach. Eric and his staff did everything they knew how to remediate the issue of which was small in comparison, but on a local level it is crucial and imperative to be open and honest with your customers. Eric and OTTO did just that and are now more prepared and secure then ever and their customers are grateful for it, also grateful for their pizza, go get some!
Laura Hnatow of Sea Bags and Topher Mallory of Mexicali Blues spoke about on and offline marketing content and the importance of standing out from the crowd. If you follow Sea Bags socially you know they do it well, photography, stories, contests and a real genuine connection with their followers. It was the first time I met Topher and we seem to be cut from the same cloth, a tye-dye piece of cloth. Great guy, funny stories, well traveled and a real grasp on life, treat each other well, stand by your word, it's easy!
From there we enjoyed a group discussion with Matt Shay of NRF, Heather Sandborn of Rising Tide Brewing and Don Oakes of Sea Bags led by Curtis Picard of RAM. Matt was cool and formal but Heather and Don really made my ears perk up. Heather's story sounded identical to mine, career change, working from home, family, bills, trying to stay afloat, but like I she knew that if she worked as hard at her own business as she did for other previous occupations it would work out in the end. If you've tried one of their local brews you know they're on their way to great success.
When Don was asked a question, too many times I answered in my head the similar words that he spoke there after, was he reading my mind? Of course not but just in case I hid behind the person in front of me so he couldn't see me, just kidding but his story and business mind are much like mine so it was weird yet refreshing. He's a talent and, like I, spent many years at LL Beans, a Maine based business, the gold standard of customer service and a great example of how any business should run theirs. At Sea Bags he works closely with his team and has grown the company tremendously over the past three years while maintaining the quality and uniqueness of their products.
From there we mingled over Rising Tide brews and networked like a hive of bee's, it was awesome. I and a few others were thrilled to be asked to display our work as the center pieces of the tables, and as you can imagine I didn't hold back! It was great to hear feedback, compliments and suggestions to help solidify my path. I met and caught up with so many great folks and will always be thankful for the opportunity, never let one pass you by!
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Back then we decided to move the family and business from southern Maine to Midcoast Maine, and has been nothing but a miracle and a dream come true. Throw in six Holiday shows, the Holidays and preparing for the biggest trade show of the year, and in the country, Atlanta in January, and the time has literarily flown by.
For 6 years I've been learning the ropes, doing what is needed to grow a business, for the most part many right moves and of course plenty of bad ones. Discovery is always the goal, the lessons you learn and the journey your take help direct you to the next big decision, for me that was Atlanta, The Gift Show of all Gift Show's. I prepped and prepped, built a new hard wall booth and made the 3000 mile round trip with two close friends who were also exhibiting at the show. Atlanta was an eye opener and in hindsight my expectations may have been too high, there was good and there was bad, but overall I met some great folks, networked a ton, picked up some new accounts and safely made it there and back to Maine with two close friends whom exhibiting at the show.Now as I move the business into the new year I have realized the direction I'm on is a great one, keep after it and focus on what is working, push it to the next level. Maine is my home, a global destination right in my backyard, I couldn't be more happy. New England Products Gift Show coming up next month, then we liftoff into the summer season, which in Maine is pretty sweet, like a freshly caught lobster roll, drizzled in butter with a hint of salty air, at a local shack by the rocky coast.
I will be sure to add more posts in the coming year, if you would like to join our newsletter, 'The Current' and never miss a story simply enter your email address and sign-up on the bottom of this page.
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Three years ago I was asked to participate in an event titled "Painting for a Purpose", a fund raising effort in Portland Maine looking to raise money for grants to distribute to local schools art programs. I was inspired by their efforts and couldn't resit. Tina Edwards and Tracy Floyd, as well as many others, got the ball rolling and before long their was a room full of local artists eager to help. I was pleasantly surprised and excited to find out the theme was lobster boats with each artist given a blank wooden boat roughly 2 feet long. "Paint it anyway you want...", was the instruction, "we're excited to see what you come up with.", were the words every artist loves to hear, run wild imagination, run wild.
As much as I wanted to unload my old school style, a tabled freeform approach to my work, I felt I needed to keep it as appealing to many considering someone would want to bid, buy and hang the piece. As quickly as I gathered my supplies I ran into a roadblock staring at the primed white wood, where to begin. Sometimes the spark ignites quickly and the artistic fire roars, other times you need to work hard to get it going, this time was just that, an ocean's worth of ideas to cram into a small wooden lobster boat. 'Ocean' and 'Maine' clicked and before long the letters of our state emerged across the vessel like a great whale from some famous tale. As I filled in the lines I realized I was making waves, no literally waves were appearing as I continued until the final touches touched down.
Two years later I again participated in the event, of which, by this time, had gained a lot of support and a nice following, the work and effort of the Painting for a Purpose staff and volunteers was the key. This time we worked on the thing that carries time, clocks. A simple yet elegant wooden square was the starting point, were you went from there only time would tell. I wanted to be a bit more controlled this time and began with breaking the square up into segments, 12 in fact. Lines, circles and the dividing by two inward made me feel like a mathematician, I was always fond of geometry. A similar color scheme as my boat, the clock took shape and hopefully became a nice addition to a kitchen, bedroom, den, library, lighthouse, office, yacht, studio, doctors office, or maybe a time capsule?
This year, my third, I had the privilege of being asked to use my 'Lobstering Is An Art' lobster outline as the base for the artists to work their magic on. I couldn't resit and immediately said yes, it wasn't long before artists had their large wooded lobster to render and manipulate as they wished, hopefully not in boiling hot water. I thought about this one for a while. I've drawn and designed hundreds of these for the past 5 years and figured it would be easy to do something on this medium and scale, I guessed wrong and struggled for weeks. Eventually I stumbled across a bag of sea and weathered glass in a collection of things and materials I was saving for a rainy day. With plenty of glue I applied pieces throughout, lots of blue, green and brown mosaiced the inner outline of the lobster giving this blank slate a fresh coat of glass paint. Using acrylics I applied circle patterns representing water and ripples giving the glass a new feel and texture. The finished piece looks awesome and I hope it brings in a bunch of money for Painting for a Purpose's auction this coming November 5th at Dimillo's Restaurant, Old Port Portland, Maine. Stay tuned for more information leading up to the event.
Many thanks to the folks at Painting for a Purpose! Also thank you kindly to those who bid on and eventually won my previous two submissions, I hope you can make it again this year! If your interested in participating please visit their website at www.paintingforapurpose.net, thanks!
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Over the past three months I've been cruising along doing what I do, festivals, creating, producing and distributing my product to the many stores carrying my work. Starting at The Old Port Festival the weather couldn't have been sweeter! Large crowds came out and carried over to The Yarmouth Clam Festival's 50th Annual event, always an amazing time! Wrapping up the show circuit in Rockland for The Maine Lobster Festival, we enjoyed five days on the water with perfect weather and atmosphere and always many great laughs and conversations with other artists and visitors.
Now with the kids back in school I find I have a little extra time to get back in the creative process. I've been doing some work with the Maine Lobstermen's Association and also the Center for Maine Craft's Craft Weekend, both of which allowing me the freedom to produce some great stuff (see below)! I'm also working on a painted wooden lobster (my LIAA outline!) for Painting for a Purpose's annual fundraiser which makes donations to area schools to support their arts departments, look for more information in the coming week.
Additionally I've started a series of eight 24"x12" abstract lobster paintings on birch wood, available to purchase upon completion. These originals will not be reproduced and may be in a gallery towards November, stay tuned. A couple more lobster designs are also in the works, Dog Lobster and Lobstermen's Lobster are on deck.
Thanks to all who visited, posted, shared, liked, called, ordered, reviewed and appreciate my work, as an artist it is the greatest feeling!
Faith contacted me last Summer about creating a large format version and I couldn't resit, "A hooked lobster?", sure I said without hesitation. A couple months passed when a small packaged arrived with a hooked version of "Long Island Blue Sea Glass" as a gift, I was amazed, impressed, in awe and thought how amazing the Spring version will be.
Faith's father was a lobstermen and with her friends hook for fun. "This will be fun to do, as long as I'm above the sod!" she mentioned while bringing a smile to my face. She is part of a rug hooking guild in Portland and York and occasionally shows her work, not long ago at Bowdoin College. Recently Dahlov Ipcar has given Faith and her friend permission to do one of her paintings, her choice, "Cats Entwined", can't wait to see it!
Thank you Faith!
The time had come, I was headed back to school and as much as I was looking forward to my return trip to Waterboro Elementary, first came a visit to Mrs. Brewer's seventh grade class at Thornton Academy in Saco. I have to admit, I was a tad nervous. My previous interactions with a large group of students was wonderful, but they were 2nd and 3rd graders, easy to amuse. As the students poured into the modern facility I immediately flash backed to seventh grade, these "kids" were young adults, impressionable and astute, yet chill and comfortable.
The topic they were exploring was Colonization and how different talents in the colony helped, each in their particular ways, like say an artist who could communicate with images for those who could not read. As I sat at the front of the room, under a large screen rambling on and on about my life as an artist and the oddball lobsters I've created, I noticed the group was very curious and began asking some great questions. We spent a lot of time talking about individuality, standing out from the crowd, trades, craft, and the simple fact that the more you put in the more you get out. We talked about the difficulties of occupation, adapting, and that if you're not failing you may not be trying hard enough.
We looked at many lobsters and how you can enjoy what you do. That an idea is just an idea without commitment, dedication, passion and the ability to take it to the next level. We talked about how important the arts are, whether it be in the form of a lobster, chicken, or goat, whether it's styling hair, playing banjo or writing a short story. It was a delight to have a short time with them, they were awesome, and much to my surprise I received a collaborative lobster drawn and signed by them all! Thank you guys and thank you Mrs. Brewer for the invite!
WATERBORO ELEMENTARY
A couple days later I headed back to my neighbor Mrs. Finn's school, Waterboro Elementary were I had the privilege to speak in front of roughly 200 kids from K-5th Grade, and a workshop with three classes to follow. These little guys were no seventh graders so I briefly touched base on the boring stuff and quickly got right into the lobsters projected on the wall behind me. Before we got started the principal went over the rules, stay seated, be quiet and if you had a question to raise your hand, easy enough.
I recalled my visit from the previous year and how excited the kids got when they saw "Lobster Sundae" for the first time. I felt like a Beatle, or a Jonas Brother, or someone I didn't know. It was a moment I will never forget and one I was hoping for again. This time around, instead of cheering, I mentioned to shake your hands above your head if you liked the lobster and we'll see which is the most popular by silent decision. That concept started off well but slowly more and more voices, cheers and giggles accompanied the shaking fingers, then, as if Superman just flew into the building, "Lobster Sundae" stole the show. It was magic and at that point the rules went out the window as I continued and wrapped up my presentation. I took a few questions afterwards, which, for the most part ended up being the chosen students favorite lobster, and a few "can I have your autograph" thrown in to make me blush.
We headed over to Mrs. Finn's classroom which was connected to two other classes whom also were participating in the workshop. As a class the students created their own lobsters as well as some attempting the "Maze" I had brought just in case they came across a creative block. It was a blast seeing their minds go crazy via the pencils in their hands. Some got to work quickly, many Minecraft concepts as well as hearts and flowers, some took their time, really considering what they wanted to do or what the heck am I doing? One in particular was stuck, only two little ice cream cone looking doodles on the lobster. The student was upset, couldn't think of what to draw, and started to get emotional. I mentioned that in the art world you are never wrong, if you don't like what you did, start over, and that you'll never know what to throw away if you don't see it on paper. I checked in 15 minutes later and the lobster was full of color and design, it was breathtaking, then I got emotional.
As an artist growing up I never realized art's importance in young minds until my visits to schools and the comments I hear back from teachers and parents, thank you for all of them. My mother always encouraged me to draw and I always had plenty of materials to be creative with, I do the same for my two because it's FUN!
As I watched Steve and his cameraman Tim pull in my drive, I felt a wave of excitement and then eager anticipation, let's do this! After getting my mic on, Tim set up his lights and camera while Steve mentions, "Here's what we'll do, just do your thing and pretend we are not even here, we'll do some questions towards the end." Awesome, I can handle that I thought, and before I knew it Tim was capturing angles from every direction, it was surreal!
I was working on a new lobster, showcasing First Responders and all they do, and thought it would be fun to include Steve and Tim within, reporting on the scene, which, after some consideration, wasn't as tragic as initially conceived, simply a garage fire and a sinking sailboat, no casualties. I bounced back and forth from the different stations, trying to cover as much as possible and even though they were not specifically asking questions, I recall rambling on and on about everything and everybody I've met during the past four years and how much fun I've been having. After an hour and a handful of Q&A's we wrapped up and within a week they aired the story much to my delight.
So many thanks to who ever gave Steve my business card! Thanks Steve, Tim and WMTW for your great stories about Maine Made! Well Done!
Watch the video and slide show here: www.wmtw.com/news/maine-man-turns-lobstering-into-art
Tim Doane of WMTW-8 News and me!
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You now have the option of sending a $20, $50 or $100 LIAA Gift Card via email or print version to your loved one this Holiday, or for any special occasion!
]]>I'm nearly finished booking all my events for the upcoming Holiday season, please visit my EVENTS page for up to date listings. Many familiar places as previous years and a return to MECA for one of the best events all year, truly a sight to see and the place to be.
I'll have a few new items to share throughout the run, mark your calendars, can't wait to see you!
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I'm very excited to be invited to participate in the annual tradition dedicated to our state's most famous species. The art and craft tent is where you'll find myself and some of the finest Maine artists and craftspeople you'll ever meet, their work is the only thing more exceptional than themselves and the range is not to be missed, nearly every medium is covered, some you never knew existed!
The fun starts Wednesday July 30th and goes until Sunday August 3rd. Check out their schedule to plan your day(s). Hope to see you there!
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Hope to see you there!
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For more information please visit: www.portlandmaine.com
6-24-14: As much as I tried I unfortunately missed my deadline, HOWEVER I do have new concepts in the works, they're simply not ready at this time. "THE LOBSTERS" and "PRIDE LOBSTER" both made it to the Old Port Festival, two more coming very soon and with fingers crossed even more for the upcoming Clam Festival!
]]>As always feedback is welcome, have a look around and let me know what you think.
Thanks and have a great day!
Andrew
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