New Rhythm and Blues

Last Sunday at the Kingston Barnes and Noble a surprise guest came to visit. Terry Adams, piano player for NRBQ, stopped by to buy a book and tell me that they played a surprise set at Raphael’s talent tent in 1969. They weren’t competitors, but knew DJ Raphael and stopped by for fun. He was delighted to hear that Don McLean won the contest not long before that. I asked him to look for photos. Keep your fingers crossed!

Art that’s Healthy

Suzanne Ashley is curating a show/fundraiser of images called Art for Health to create a sense of comfort and relaxation for patients, visitors and staff at the Hudson Valley Hospital Center. I believe the mind is a powerful thing and wouldn’t be surprised to know that imagining oneself inside a beautiful image eases the mind. I’m sharing a few of the photos I entered with this post. If you’re interested in participating, they’re looking for Hudson Valley landscapes, water views, florals and figurative work. The show will take place at Boscobel. Your art may also be selected to become part of the permanent collection, seen by over 100,000 annually. All media are welcome, maximum dimensions not to exceed 40” in any direction. Artists retain 75% of sale price. To enter, send images to smithstudio1@comcast.net.

Making Your Blog Less Stressful to Manage

The hardest thing for me as an artist about blogging is the pressure of posting on a regular basis. I did two things to ease up some of that pressure. First, I brainstormed a bunch of ideas for each category that I write about (e.g., my work, artist tech tips, my site, etc.). Then, I used Excel to create a blank form with month, title and category headings. I took at least one of the ideas from the brainstorm list in each category and spread them out over a 12-month period (using a pencil). Some things, like my sneak peek at my home page photo, come up every month and were easy to assign. Of course, life is fluid and I’ve made many changes in that original plan. But, for the most part, I stick to it and manage to keep blogging and keep my sanity at the same time.

I'll be at Barnes & Noble Aug 16/17—Will You?

It's fair time again! That means I'll be in local bookstores for book discussion/signing. I'm going to be reading a 1889 speech given by NY Governor Flower at the fair on How to Keep Boys and Girls on the Farm. He was addressing the threat posed by western expansion. Very prescient.

A collection of my photographs from the fair are on display in the Kingston B&N. They're having an artist reception the same afternoon of my reading. A 2-for-1 Molly Ahearn day!

Poughkeepsie Barnes & Noble: book discussion/signing, Saturday August 16, 1pm

Kingston Barnes & Noble: book discussion/signing, Sunday August 17, 3pm

Kingston Barnes & Noble: artist reception, Sunday August 17, 3:30pm

Sweet Baby Chica

We said goodbye to our best friend Chica last week. As Ryley said, it tore a hole through our hearts. We will miss her big brown eyes, her licks, her love, her loyalty, her speed, her messy drinking.

Chica was a hunter. She stalked snakes, deer, bunnies, bees and squirrels. She ran faster than lightning. She hated cats. She knew the word cat in 4 languages including pig latin. You couldn’t whisper the word and she was off barking in chase. Unlike our other dogs, Chica thankfully kept her distance from skunks—most of the time. Once, she chased a wily fox around the yard and over the fence. Another day she trapped the woodchuck in the pool. Did you know woodchucks can swim? She was a bird dog, but I never remember her stalking a bird—even the pesky peacock who came from the farm across the road and wouldn’t go home.

She waited for each of us to come home every day with unbridled joy and jumps and spirit. Vaya con besos Chiquita. Te amo.

Insider's Look: Space Shuttle

Readers of my blog get the first look at my new home page photo every month. This is another in my Americana collection.

The space race was on at full tilt when I was in Mrs. Clark’s sixth grade class. I remember her wheeling in a television to watch one of the launches. So much promise, so much pride. Where has all that American ambition gone?

Be the first to buy a Space Shuttle print and get a 50% discount on the size of your choice.