Molly Ahearn

2009 Photo Contest Winner!

2010-01-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Elisa Shaw for winning my 2009 photo contest by a landslide! Her beautifully toned black-and-white image of a young boy with his chick tells us a touching story of trust and friendship—without need of words. Thanks to all who entered images, I thought they were all worthy of a prize. Looking forward to the 2010 contest already!

Vote for your Favorite in 2009 Photo Contest

2009-12-11T11:17:00.000-08:00

The photos in my second ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST are all worthy and represent distinctly different types of photography. Please take a moment to view them all and then cast a vote for your favorite using the quick and simple poll feature in the lefthand column of this blog. Remember this contest is different from most since you, my blog readers, act as judges instead of an industry expert. Pass the word to every photo lover you know. Good luck everyone!

Last Call for Entries Photo Contest 2009

2009-11-22T05:30:00.000-08:00

The deadline is Monday, November 30, 2009 for this year's photo contest! Hurry and get your entries in now. Comb through this year's images and choose the one you think will win the most votes. Remember, this contest is decided in a vote by my blog readers, not professional judges. Good luck!

Spectacular Views from the Hudson River Walkway

2009-10-23T05:47:00.000-07:00

The Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad bridge has been closed since a devastating fire May 8, 1974. Such a large part of the city skyline, it has seemed almost a ghostly presence, a foresaken steel relic doomed to one day simply fall into the river below. Walkway over the Hudson has been trying to convert the bridge into a public walkway since 1992. Construction finally began on this dream project last year and the bridge was officially opened to the public as part of the 400th Centennial Celebration of the 'discovery' of the Hudson River.

The fall foliage made my first walk across the bridge truly spectacular. Though sometimes afraid of heights and despite a healthy wind (see the flag), the bridge didn't sway at all. As you leave the Poughkeepsie side, you walk above houses and roads and rail lines. It's truly breathtaking to stand mid-river and take in the view—Catskill mountains to the north, the Mid Hudson Bridge to the south. I was particularly impressed with the steel truss structure. The 80-spot parking lot is no nearly enough to accommodate the curious. So, best to visit during the week until the crowds thin out.

Originally constructed in 1889 with funds from prominent tycoons Henry Clay Frick and Andrew Carnegie, the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge was deemed to be an extraordinary engineering achievement. The bridge stands 212 feet above the river, stretches 6767 feet and is a classic cantilever and truss bridge.

2009 Photo Contest

2009-09-16T05:59:00.000-07:00

It's time to comb through your photos and pick the best one to enter in Molly Ahearn's 2009 Photo Contest. Remember, it's not judged in the usual way by a photography professional, but is selected by popular vote of my blog readers. Last year there were many, many beautiful images making the vote a very close one. For complete rules and instructions, check my website.

Last year's winning photograph was taken by Nadine Robbins.

The second place winner was: Dave Clarke of Scotland with an outstanding black-and-white image.

The third place winner was: Tracy Sofka of Poughkeepsie. Gorgeous blue jewels.

ASV Tour Draws A Crowd in Clinton Corners

2009-09-08T07:17:00.000-07:00

Rather than clean out the barn, my husband suggested setting up a portable gallery under a rented tent for the Art Studio Views Labor Day tour. We had a few tense moments on Friday trying to figure out how to hang my photographs from the rented pipe and drape setup. Five trips to the hardware store and a lot of worrying on my part resulted in a simple, elegant solution involving chains, s-hooks and shower curtain rod hangars! It really looked beautiful (thanks Bill!). The weather was spectacular and a slight breeze drifted through as people wandered through the last 20 years of my photographs. My sister Margaret was such a huge help. She helped talk to people about my work and made tons of sales for me (my mom was her best customer!). I couldn't have dreamed up a better advocate. Her husband, Smitty, made delightful summer treats—heirloom tomatoes with celery on cucumber slices. I met many new neighbors and enjoyed talking at length to everyone, especially the handful of young aspiring artists and old family friend Jimmy Borghoff and his family. I was deeply touched by everyone's genuine interest in me and my work. Thank you all!

p.s. If you're wondering, I rented the tent from Paul Crittenden at Aladdin Tent 889-8547 in Hyde Park. He's wonderful to work with.

Oblong Offers Deep Discount on My Book to Fairgoers

2009-08-24T08:37:00.000-07:00

For anyone who hasn't wandered through either of its homey stores—one in Rhinebeck and the original in Millerton—Oblong Books & Music is a local treasure. Time will disappear as you comb through recommended novels, art books and books featuring the local area. Their music collection is simply outstanding. If you're looking for hard-to-find blues or folk recordings, Oblong is the place to be.

I jumped at their invitation to sign books at their booth at this year's fair. AND they're selling the book to fairgoers for only $9.99, down nearly 40% from its normal $15.95 price tag. Find me in Building A on Saturday from 3pm to 5pm and I'll sign your copy!

Please pass the word about this special opportunity to anyone who might be interested. Remember, this book makes a great gift to parents and grandparents with long memories of the fair.

American Youth: Images of the Obama Generation

2009-08-16T03:36:00.000-07:00

Been so busy working, decided I needed some inspiration, so I went to the Fovea Gallery in Beacon Friday afternoon. An impressive group of photographers from every genre—portrait to documentary—was assembled to take part in pictorializing the lives of today's 18-24 year olds. I was drawn in by this powerful cover image from the book by Erika Larsen and wasn't disappointed when I got there.

The images were mounted very simply on thin board with brief captions. Young debutantes at the Plaza Hotel in New York in their virgin white gowns. A lusty lesbian couple embracing legs and hearts entwined. The boots of a never-to-return Iraqi soldier sitting inside the front hall. A series of portraits posed with their messages to god—Can you hear me? What the F#@k were you thinking!? A Palestinian-American woman sips the sunlight through a forest of trees in an Ohio park. Go-go boot-clad Seattle Seahawk Sea Gal cheerleaders in their tanned muscles and exploding bustier tops.

Also going on right now is a Windows on Main Street show. A couple dozen storefronts have been turned into gallery space. A perfect 1-mile stroll winds you up at a mural exhibit public art display on the side of an old factory building. So, spend an afternoon in Beacon! Find the Fovea Gallery at 143 Main Street/www.foveaeditions.org.

Hudson Valley Art Studio Views Tour Labor Day Weekend

2009-08-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

Are you staying home this Labor Day and looking for cool stuff to do? The annual Art Studio Views Tour will be Saturday and Sunday September 5 & 6 from 11am to 5pm. I’m stop #1 (sometimes it pays to have a last name that begins with ‘A’!). Come on by and see what photography I’ve been up to. There are 22 other talented artists on the tour, so make sure to leave time to visit other studios. You can download a map and artist details at artsnortherndutchess.org/asv to plan your route. My friend and fellow Hudson Valley 7 member, Joanne Klein lives just around the corner from me.

I’m going to have all kinds of photographs for sale—Dutchess County Fair, Cowgirls, Truths, Lies and Legends, New York City, Ominous Skies and more. I’ve got to clean out the barn so prices will be discounted at least 50%.

As an extra bonus, I designed the ASV brand this year—from logo to website to brochure and more. So when you go the ASV website, know that it was a Full Deck Design project. I can’t wait to see the logo plastered all over Northern Dutchess!

Fair Photos at Barnes & Noble

2009-08-12T06:37:00.000-07:00

The Dutchess County Fair runs from August 25-30 this year. I’ll be giving a slide show with my latest fair photos as well as some historic ones at the Kingston Barnes & Noble on Sunday, August 23rd at 3:00pm. I’m always interested in meeting people with fair stories, so please pass the word to everyone who might have one to share with me. Of course, I’ll be signing copies of my book The Dutchess County Fair: Portrait of an American Tradition (Black Dome Press, 2007).

It’s also a great opportunity to see the images from my Truths, Lies and Legends collection that are hanging in the café. I’d LOVE to talk about that.

So, come out on the 23rd, we’ve got lots to talk about!

Advance Your Artist Website: Hire a Professional Web Designer

2009-08-07T04:24:00.000-07:00

If you’d like to be a successful artist, you should be making art, not hassling with website design and maintenance. Professionally designed and managed sites are an investment in your craft that when done well will pay off in recognition and possibly sales. As my regular blog readers know, I’ve just launched Full Deck Design, a firm specializing in designing and deploying eMedia. I’m about to meet with a couple of artists interested in creating websites and thought it was the perfect opportunity to outline how to prepare for working with a professional web designer.

Tips on Preparing for an Artist Website
1. Website Purpose. Will this be a place dedicated to selling fine art? Or do you just need an online portfolio? Have people hire you for custom work? Advertise your classes/workshops? Or do you have another goal?
2. Determine How You’ll Measure Site Success. Sales? Number of visitors to the site? Exhibit opportunities? Gallery signings?
3. Design Guidelines. Decide who will design the look of your site. If you already know how you’d like the site to look, tell the designer right away. It may save you some money. Bring a sketch outlining any special features, fonts, colors. Print samples of sites you like and what you like about them.
4. Clear Communication. Make sure you choose a web specialist that you’re comfortable with. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions. What is very familiar to them may be Greek to you.
5. Functionality. Do you want to include a link to subscribe to your blog or eNewsletter? Include an animation? Have fancy navigation or portfolio features? Include a shopping cart? Be compatible with handheld devices?
6. Decide on a Budget. Be honest about what you can afford to spend. Your budget may limit the functionality features, but better to set the parameters before the clock starts ticking.
7. Domain Name. Contrary to what some web hosts would have you believe, you can purchase a domain name easily and directly from many places online. I use NetworkSolutions.com. I know many people who let their web host purchase a domain name for them who subsequently wouldn’t give them their own domain account information when they wanted to switch host companies. So be careful!
8. Site Map. Most artist web sites focus on the portfolio but may also include press/news, bio, artist’s statement, gallery affiliations, class/workshop schedule, store and contact pages.
9. Content. Gather information for each site page. Try to include appealing visuals for text-based pages—a head shot for the bio page, a video of you creating your art for the home page, press clippings for the press page, etc.
10. Quality Imagery. Your art MUST look beautiful. Invest in high quality, high resolution image files. If you’re a photographer, consider digitally watermarking images or preventing image downloads with code.
11. Affiliations. If you’re a member of an arts organization or other professional organization that could reinforce your credentials, have them send you a logo to include on the site. If you’re involved with Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or any other networking site, you might consider including links to them as well.
12. Search Engine Optimization. Do you want people to find you easily via search engines? See my earlier blog explaining this further.
13. Timeline. When do you want your site to go live? Is there a special event in the future?
14. Web Host. After the site is complete, you will need your user name and password to upload the final files.
15. Ongoing Maintenance. Who will be responsible for updating content? Discuss options with the designer that might allow you to handle after the initial setup.

Insider's Look: Jumper

2009-08-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

My Photo Stories
Swimming in the crystal-clear lake was strictly forbidden, but after a 5-mile run Anna didn’t care.
Or…
After losing his job and then his wife all in one day, Alexander wondered if a belly flop off the 60-foot drop would put him out of his misery.
Or…
Upon awakening from a sun nap on the warm October rocks, Sally saw the line of fire ants marching into her shirt.
Or…what are your story ideas?

Behind the Photo
The water in the lake at Minnewaska State Park is crystal clear. Some strange chemical combination prevents any life from enjoying its beauty. Once, I took a photograph half below the water here and half above for the cover of a publication printed by the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies.

Be the first to buy a Jumper print and get a 50% discount on the size of your choice. This is my August 2009 home page photo, part of my Truths, Lies and Legends collection.

Barnes & Noble Artist of the Month

2009-07-29T06:52:00.000-07:00

The Kingston, NY Barnes & Noble has invited me to be artist of the month for August. I'm very excited about showing 10 pieces from my Truths, Lies and Legends collection. [One of the pieces—Aluminum Foiled—is on loan from the collector.] The common thread throughout all of my work as photographer is that I consider myself a storyteller. Until now, I have used a journalistic approach where multiple images seen together tell one complete story. With The Truths, Lies and Legends images, each image tells a story of its own. I choose a spectacular natural setting and place something in the frame—a card with crayon-colored boxes, a bicycle, flowers—that transforms the scene from a landscape into a stageset. Then, I write stories to possibly explain the scene. Those stories frame each image as you can see in the above image. Come on out to see what it's all about!

Jokers Are Welcome at Full Deck Design

2009-07-12T07:11:00.000-07:00

I don't usually talk about my day job on this blog, but today I simply couldn't resist. I've just opened a boutique graphic design firm specializing in web and print media—Full Deck Design. My first job was to create a brand for an open studio tour for a group of artists. The artists love what I designed and are hoping it will attract lots of visitors this labor day. If you'd like to see it, check out a mini view on my newly launched website or check out the Art Studio Views website directly.

Please consider asking me for an estimate the next time you need web or print work. You'll get the full deck if you hire me!

July 4th Parade: A Slice of American Pie

2009-07-06T05:22:00.000-07:00

Insider's Look: Frosted Pumpkin

2009-06-30T14:22:00.000-07:00

My Photo Stories
His father made fun of him for being afraid of the family jack-o-lantern, but Teddie had a plan to get rid of it.
Or…Sick and tired of green goose poop littering his cornfields, his tractor tires and his boots, Farmer O’Leary took to scaring them off with lit jack-o-lanterns.
Or…Ned just missed seeing little Jack Frost powder the corn stalks with the season’s first frost, the breath from his tiny horse forming large clouds of white smoke.
Or…what are your story ideas?

Buy a Frosted Pumpkin Photo
Be the first to buy a Frosted Pumpkin print online and get a 50% discount on the size of your choice. This is my July 2009 home page photo, part of my Truths, Lies and Legends collection.

Bounty Show Big Success

2009-06-23T04:25:00.000-07:00

The weather was dismal, but the G.A.S. gallery was packed. The first group show of the Hudson Valley 7 was a major success. For the first time, I showed work from my Truths, Lies and Legends collection—a combination of my written storytelling and my photography. I was a little nervous about what people might think, but was delighted to hear giggles and words of praise as people read the stories. I even sold one! Thanks to everyone for coming. Thanks to Jen for snapping my picture!

Main Printing Matches ModernPostcard

2009-06-16T06:23:00.000-07:00

In these tough economic times, it’s good to save money when you can. But, it’s even more important to support local businesses. If you can do both at the same time, well, that’s a no-brainer. We chose Main Printing in Poughkeepsie to print the post cards for our upcoming Bounty show. Owner Marla Neville recently bought a high-end digital machine that allows her to offer color output at competitive prices. She matched ModernPostcard’s price for a 5x7 post card. Add to that, her eye for quality, and the card is beautiful. If you need small-run printed pieces, ask her for an estimate. You won’t be sorry.

Loved Lisbon

2009-06-12T06:49:00.000-07:00

Lisbon is a charming city. The old trolley cars from San Francisco run up and down its steep hills. A broad, tree-lined central avenue reminiscent of La Rambla in Barcelona runs to the heart of the city. Much of the old town was completely wiped out by a devastating earthquake/tsunami. Since it was all rebuilt at the same time and under the control of a king, the buildings flow seamlessly into one another. Instead of marble, the Portuguese use an easy-to-carve type of lime that comes in shades of black, white, blue and rose. Tiles of it decorate event the sidewalks. The Monastery of Saint Jerome shows off spectacular carvings in the white lime. We didn’t have nearly enough time in Lisbon. I will definitely return one day.

Gray is the Color Porto

2009-06-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

Porto, like the liquor of the same name, is an acquired taste. The gray skies melt into its gray buildings—broken only occasionally, and as a result, somewhat shockingly—by brilliantly -colored ceramic tile facades. The tiles apparently stand up to the stormy Atlantic weather. A brutal dictator, António de Oliveira Salazar, ruled Portugal from 1932 to 1968. The scars of his torture and pillage remain in the minds of its people. In a small town not far from the border, a statue of a broken chain celebrates their freedom upon his death.

Stone River Archival Rocks!

2009-06-08T10:48:00.001-07:00

Got my prints for the Bounty Hudson Valley 7 show and they look fabulous! I know I’ve mentioned him before, but seriously, if you need quality digital output call Steve Kerner (845.679.6286). He knows more about profiles than you’ll ever dream of learning. And being an artist himself, he knows how to talk to artists about subtleties in color, hue and contrast—over the phone!

BOUNTY: A Show by the Hudson Valley 7

2009-05-31T07:06:00.001-07:00

About once a month, I get together with 6 other artists to talk about art, motivate each other and enjoy each other's home cooking. We call ourselves the Hudson Valley 7 and we're about to have a group show at the G.A.S. gallery at 196 Main Street in Poughkeepsie. I'm going to be showing work from my new collection, Truth, Lies and Legends. The opening reception is sure to be as lively as the art. Join us June 20 from 6-9 pm.

Jennifer Axinn-Weiss is a mixed media artist who has exhibited for over 25 years. Jennifer creates textured, often figurative works, at times blurring the boundary between painting and collage. She currently employs vintage imagery of Geisha and Victorian women evoking both romance and contemplation.

Susan Hoffman, a pioneering contemporary quilt maker for over 35 years, thinks like a painter. Fabric is her palette and stitches are her pencil. Using traditional piecework and quilting techniques, she is inspired by the environment we share and the warmth quilts generate— both literally and metaphorically.

Joanne Klein creates minimalist color field paintings in which color relationships and linear planes are fundamental to the articulation of emotive content. Her work is both controlled and exuberant.

E. Elizabeth Peters is a multidisciplinary artist whose recent work explores the history of 17th century Dutch still life painting and the continuing impact of global trade and post colonialism in contemporary art and culture.

Helen Suter incorporates diverse, reused materials in her large-scale steel constructions, small objects and works on paper. Her current body of work reflects her opposition to all wars, an idea to use fabric and her confidence in communicating perceptions, feelings and concepts through purely visual means.

Elizabeth Watt is a photographer whose lush 20x24 polaroid Botanical studies are reminiscent of Dutch still life paintings. Elizabeth draws her inspiration from painting, collage, sculpture and nature. Her photographs are characterized by a painterly sensibility, classical composition and exquisite light.

Seaside in San Sebastian and Cathedral-side in Santiago de Compostela

2009-05-31T06:42:00.001-07:00

One cool thing about traveling with a tour group is the local guide who introduces you to their city and its history. Cristina, our guide to San Sebastian was a chatty, lively woman who shared (perhaps too much) its history. Napoleon conquered the city in 1858. When the Spanish forces came to liberate them from his reign in 1863, they trashed the place and burned it to the ground. As a result, there are very few old buildings.

San Sebastian became a popular seaside resort when Queen Elizabeth visited as part of a cure for a herpes (!) condition. Her treatment included medication and a daily dip in salt water. An oxen-drawn carriage was pulled through the sea enabling the water to rise up through her skirts. At the end of her stay, the herpes was gone, she spoke of its beauty and its cure, and the place has been a hot spot for the rich and famous ever since.

Life in the Mountains of Northern Spain

2009-05-25T09:13:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Barcelona

2009-05-20T06:44:00.001-07:00

Thirty years ago, I went to the University of Barcelona for my junior year of college. A brief four years after Franco’s death, people were trying to rebuild the Catalan heritage that he’d tried hard to extinguish. Forbidden to speak their native language (a completely different tongue than Spanish) throughout his 40+ years in power, scholars were trying to piece together a dictionary from old-timers who could still remember it. Fancy my surprise upon landing to discover that no one wanted to speak the Spanish I’d come to learn!

Cell phones and computers didn’t exist and phone calls were prohibitively expensive so it was the first time I was really all on my own. Perhaps the best year of my life, I met all kinds of new people from all over Europe, ate (and loved) exotic food like octopus and artichokes and paella and ugly-looking mushrooms, learned to conserve water and heat and electricity and gas, and so much more.

A highlight of the year was my family’s trip to visit at Christmas. I was thrilled to show them the splendor of ancient and beautiful Barcelona. My mom was so excited to go to Spain, she’d booked their airline tickets before I’d even been accepted into the program. Thirty years later, she treated me to a three-week visit back to Spain. THANKS MOM!!!

Swimming Fish in Bilbao

2009-05-12T04:05:00.000-07:00

Frank Gehry (nee Goldberg) blasted into international stardom with his design for the Guggenheim in Bilbao. The curved titanium shapes were inspired by memories of fish swimming in his grandmother’s bathtub at Passover. I’d heard that the building was more of an attraction than the art inside, but that was not the case when I visited. The best was a powerful collection of work by Cai Guo-Qiang. A room full of broken statues of workers and exploited Chinese during the of Mao Tse Tung's Reconstruction smacks you in the face. I’ll never forget the look on the mother’s face as she reaches for her baby that’s being taken from her by a soldier. Another piece called The Age of Disbelieving consisted of several wooden sculptures hanging at different heights. Each sculpture depicts a different religion, Christ at the top on his cross, Buddha, angels and other characters I didn’t recognize; all shot through with hundreds of arrows. Check out his work on the Guggenheim site.

Couldn't resist taking a shot of Jeff Koons' pansy-covered puppy.

A Feast for the Eyes

2009-05-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

Miss me? Just back from three weeks touring Spain and Portugal with my Mom. What a treat! Here are some photos from the Boquería in Barcelona, a truly delicious place.

Art Gallery Opens in Rhinebeck

2009-04-10T09:49:00.001-07:00

With its quaint downtown full of shops and restaurants and its reputation as an artists’ haven, Rhinebeck is the ideal spot for an art gallery. Owners Joel and Linda Weisbrod and Executive Director Jeff Romano invite you to the grand opening of Gazen Gallery the weekend of May 1-4. Gazen will feature Hudson Valley artists working in photography, painting, sculpture and mixed media. They’ve got an exclusive to sell some of my best-known photographs from the Dutchess County Fair and Cowgirls collections. Other work for sale includes Elizabeth Watt’s gorgeous b+w photographs of flowers and nudes, Joann Klein’s striking paintings, Jeff Romano’s intriguing constructions and drawings, David Borenstein’s playful ‘paintings,’ Barry Entner’s groovy glass sculptures, Kari Feuer’s oil-painted landscapes and Joel’s photographic giclées on canvas. If you’re interested in showing your artwork in the gallery, contact Jeff.

Centrally located in the Montgomery Row building (around back), make visiting Gazen part of your May Day weekend plans. They’re open from 10am to 7pm. The official address is 6423 Montgomery Street. Phone 876.4ART (4278).

Spring Moments in Central Park

2009-04-06T08:10:00.000-07:00

Strolled through the park on my way to and from aipad a couple of weeks ago. The mild 55-degree weather brought everyone out into the park. Didn’t have time to stop and enjoy it, but shot a few as I walked.

Insider's Look: Sunflower Portrait

2009-04-01T12:37:00.001-07:00

My Photo Stories
Infused with the spirit of her work, Doris brought her class of terminally ill students to a field
of sunflowers.
Or…
Vincent’s obsessions were all born from his fervent belief in God.
Or…
Mothers think the world of their children, but Cassandra took it to a whole new level when it came to her son Chad.
Or…what are your story ideas?

Behind the Photo
Every year I admire this field of sunflowers just outside of New Paltz. I persuaded my son to paint a portrait for this Truth, Lies and Legends image. His then eight-year old eye captured their sunny, happy feel brilliantly. (Proud mama.) He came along when I shot the actual photo and was more interested in playing in the dirt than helping.

Be the first to buy a Sunflower Portrait print and get a 50% discount on the size of your choice. This is my April/May 2009 home page photo, part of my Truths, Lies and Legends collection.

Blog-o-Meter Reading March 27, 2009

2009-04-01T12:36:00.001-07:00

Search results for Molly Ahearn:
• Google: #1
• Yahoo: #1
• MSN: #1

Google Page Rank for my site: 2 (out of 10)

Number of page views to this blog: 5887

Number of page views to my site: 5,398

Number of email subscribers: 26

Is Photography Dead?

2009-03-29T06:54:00.000-07:00

To quote Twain, ‘reports of death have been exaggerated.’ Despite the recession’s forced pull back of aspiring and edgy photography, I saw a few jewels and some cool new techniques at this year’s aipad (Association of International Photography Art Dealers). In order to see as much as possible in one visit, I skipped any booth showing vintage work I’ve already seen. (I confess, however, to gazing fondly at Bruce Davidson’s images from Central Park.)

The most inspiring work in my eyes was from Julie Blackmon (Catherine Edelman), Carrie Mae Weems (Charles Guice) and Holly Andres (Robert Mann). Blackmon’s images star family members in intriguing and somewhat disturbing moments of everyday life. A small boy watches a young shirtless girl through the picture window of a suburban ranch house. She shoots multiple images and combines them in spectacular color and clarity. Weems’ images are sometimes playful and sometimes in-your-face disturbing views of cultural and sexual identity. A series of powerful portraits match nursery rhymes to subjects with closed eyes or bodies facing away from the camera. All of them are posed in the exact same scene—looking into a round dresser mirror at the bed opposite. Holly Andres’ images were inspired to be covers for Nancy Drew novels. You don’t need to know that to appreciate their intriguing and lonely girl subjects. A girl bends over to right a bottle of milk spilling down the front stairs on a misty night; a girl sits in a beautiful aqua dress amid dozens of paper doll-like cut outs from magazines.

Photographers using different techniques that drew my attention included Jim Campbell (Bryce Wolkowitz), Abelardo Morell (Bonni Benrubi) and Louviere & Vanessa (A Gallery for Fine Photography). Campbell sets up a still camera alongside a video camera. Using LED technology he is able to insert shadowy images of people moving through a still scene. I suspect this is a hint of what’s to come. Morell’s images are gorgeous. He creates pinhole images by blacking all the windows in a room, pricking a small hole and then exposing the scene for many hours. The image from outside is projected on the wall of the room upside down. Louviere & Vanessa process is almost as exciting as their imagery. They coat aluminum with black gesso and overlay gold or silver leaf squares. The images have a spectacular rich metallic duotone look. An oversized image of a German Sheperd leaping through the air was truly inspiring.

I was thrilled to see the work of local photographer Carolyn Marks Blackwood at Alan Klotz’ booth. She works in abstracts and changes in light that evoke wonder and tranquility. It’s not immediately apparent that these images are close up details of ice chunks and water ripples on the Hudson River.

Take the time to visit some of these galleries. There is a lot of good work to get your creative juices flowing!

All images shown here are property of artist and shown to inspire you to see more of their work.

Attention Graphic Designers: Buy Molly Ahearn Photos Through Alamy

2009-03-26T13:29:00.001-07:00

Signed up with British company Alamy to sell my photos online. As a designer, I find their images fresh and varied and their user interface lightning fast. It’s the first place I go to look for royalty or licensed images. So far, I’ve uploaded a few hundred images. Search my Alamy library by hitting the link above the search box, or type in Recession, Alaska, Hudson Valley or Outer Banks. (Designers, maybe you’d like to bookmark my Alamy page?)

Fellow photographers, Alamy offers a 60/40 split favoring the artist; a heck of an improvement over the 50/50 or 40/60 of other agencies. Take advantage of their extensive keywording opportunities to make sure your photos get the most traffic. I also put a link to my Alamy search page on the home page and the portfolio page of my Web site.

Wanna Know How to Make National and International Calls for Free?

2009-03-23T05:42:00.001-07:00

One of these days the free online stuff will be a thing of the past. For now though, you can do lots of stuff without spending a penny. Skype is an internet phone service. You can set up a free account and dial any other Skype user around the world and talk for free. [Free calls come in handy when you get that show in Buenos Aires, Paris or Sydney!] I’ll admit the audio quality isn’t as good as an old-style Ma Bell phone, but then again, what phone service these days does? If you have a video camera built in or attached to your computer, you can speak face-to-face with your caller. Our son really enjoys video calls with my husband when he’s traveling. If you want to get rid of your hard-wire telephone line altogether, you can buy a Skype phone and set up a paying account at a fraction of what you’re spending now. Of course, who knows how long these internet deals will last.

Great Book Starring Chelsea Gallery Owner

2009-03-17T08:01:00.001-07:00

Sometimes spending a lazy day with a good book is the best medicine. Just read what my mom would call a good beach read—not too challenging intellectually, but a real page turner—The Genius by Jesse Kellerman. The premise of the book is that a young Chelsea Gallery owner discovers the abandoned work of an artist who’s created a single piece of art out of thousands of 8-1/2 x 11 size pages. On the back of each small page is the number of the page that should line up with each edge. Imagine a mind that can recall all those pieces so precisely. Grab a copy and let me know what you think.

Make Fabric from Photos

2009-03-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

Ever wanted to make a shirt or a tablecloth from one of your photos? I found a neat website—spoonflower.com—that creates fabric from photos or drawings. Here's one of the designs from their library. Though I haven’t tried it yet, the process looks pretty simple. Upload a jpg, png, tif, or gif file of your photo or design. Select what size fabric you’d like (swatch 8”x8”, 1 yard, 2 yards, etc.). Then you decide whether you’d like the design to print once in the center or create a repeat pattern that will fill the area of your fabric order. The orders are printed on 100% cotton fabric and cost $18.00 per yard ($5.00 for an 8”x8” swatch). The company is a new one, so orders could take up to 3 weeks. After they get through the beta testing stage, you’ll even be able to sell your fabric on their site if you’d like. What fun. I’ve got to try this.

Insider's Look: New Beginnings

2009-03-06T04:12:00.000-08:00

My Photo Stories
Richard chased Susannah laughing through the field below the orchard; unable to wait, he ripped off her dress.
Or…
She thought of him leaving with that young woman as she angrily threw every object in the house reminding her of their 30-year marriage into the back field.
Or…
After her last daughter chose not to wear the silk wedding gown she’d so lovingly saved, Esther gave it to her granddaughter to wear around the house.Or…what are your story ideas?

Behind the Photo
My friend Nadine Robbins loaned me her wedding dress for this shot. The orchard is very close to my home and I always enjoy the burst of flowering trees early in the spring. They should be blooming soon!

Be the first to buy a New Beginnings print and get a 50% discount on the size of your choice. This is my March 2009 home page photo, part of my Truths, Lies and Legends collection.

Black-and-White Power

2009-03-02T12:27:00.003-08:00

Recently, I was looking for a photograph for an old client and stumbled on these portraits I took years ago. It made me think that color isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Maybe I should consider shooting portraits again. Anyone interested?

p.s. Anyone recognize the woman posing alone?

Blog-o-Meter Reading February 27, 2009

2009-03-02T12:27:00.001-08:00

Search results for Molly Ahearn:
• Google: #1
• Yahoo: #1
• MSN: #1

Google Page Rank for my site: 2 (out of 10)

Number of page views to this blog: 5600

Number of page views to my site: 5137

Number of email subscribers: 26

Molly Ahearn’s Top 10 Most Popular Blogs

2009-02-26T07:03:00.000-08:00

Wanna Know How Many People Visit Your Site?
My Website Sucked
10 Ways to Dress Up Your Blog
Molly's Work
Molly's Website
Truth Lies and Legends
Denali Killer Peak or Gentle Giant?
21st-Century Artist Hangout
Shoot First Ask Questions Later
Tech Tips for Artists

The Moment of Truth

2009-02-26T07:02:00.000-08:00

I started this blog a year ago to figure out ways the internet could help my career as an artist and share that info as I learned it. I had no idea if anyone would read it or care about my little corner of the universe. When I began, I decided that to give it a real try, I’d blog for one year and see what happened. Happily, the blog brought new attention to my work. I was chosen for a big show and had works in several collaborative shows. I’ve made new friends. People from my past continue to pop up and say hello (which I love!). As you can tell from the year’s most popular blogs, I’m really proud to have helped other people in their internet struggles. And so, I’ve decided to keep blogging.

Insider's Look: Prayer for Minnewaska

2009-02-26T06:27:00.000-08:00

My Photo Stories
The sky, gray in sympathy, looked on as Indian maiden Minnewaska laid down mountain laurel in memory of her lost child.
Or…
As part of a full moon, equinox ceremony, the group of seven witches conducted a purification spell to purge the land of negative energy.
Or…
His first day on the job, Park Ranger Rob Gaston was horrified to see flames consuming the trees like matchsticks.
Or…what are your story ideas?

Behind the Photo
Last April a brush fire burned more than 3000 acres of forest in Minnewaska State Park. It has been one of my favorite places to hike and photograph since moving to this area. I was greatly saddened to see the charred remains of old growth forest.

Be the first to buy a Prayer for Minnewaska print and get a 50% discount on the size of your choice. This is my February 2009 home page photo, part of my Truths, Lies and Legends collection.

Hard Times in Chelsea

2009-02-18T11:13:00.000-08:00

Last week I went with a couple of friends to scope out the gallery scene in Chelsea. It was uncharacteristically quiet. We didn’t think much about that until one gallery owner told us that six of nine galleries in his building had been forced to close. He was hunkering down for a tough year. I have to admit, I felt personally discouraged. After spending the last few months preparing my Truths, Lies, Legends images for an exhibition, I realize that now may not be the right time. Gallery owners can’t afford to take risks on emerging artists. In fact, several of the photo galleries were showing reliable classic work by Steiglitz and Weston.

Holland Cotter wrote an interesting piece in last Sunday’s New York Times about how hard economic times affect the art world. While art may not be selling during recessionary periods, they are often times of heightened creativity and change. Artists tend to flock together, cooperate, collaborate, create. When New York City faced bankruptcy in the 70s, artists took up residency in nearly derelict buildings in Soho showing their work in ground floor apartments and performing on rooftops. This cheered me. Perhaps the next few years will bring new ideas, new thinking and new opportunities for artists. I'm ready. Are you?

Beach Fever

2009-02-18T10:25:00.000-08:00

Winter has been harsh and long this year in the northeast. And then February came in like a breath of fresh air. One day last week it hit 50. I’ve been out walking and breathing and yearning to sink my toes in the sand. Let’s go to Mexico. I can taste the margaritas now.

Do I Need a Model Release Form?

2009-02-11T10:08:00.001-08:00

When I decided to exhibit my photos from the Dutchess County Fair, I didn’t have a single model release. I’d been photographing the fair for ten years. I never would have made that mistake shooting professionally, but because I was shooting the fair for fun, it never crossed my mind. I was lucky and was able to find and get permission from everyone. Many of the kids had grown and had children of their own!

Learn a lesson from me. Always get a release. It makes life much easier. Technically, you need to compensate people for modeling. I’ve found that people are happy to be paid with a nice print of the photo they’ve posed in. Also, write a description on the release form of the photo, so you won’t have any trouble identifying what it’s for years later.

For detailed information on when you need releases and sample release forms go to the American Society of Media Photographers web site.

Sedgwick Machine, Poughkeepsie

2009-02-04T04:00:00.000-08:00

As you drive south from Poughkeepsie along Route 9 you’ll see the abandoned Sedgwick Machine building near the Hudson River. Sedgwick used to make elevators. Though the train still passes faithfully at its feet dozens of times a day, the company—like so many other riverfront industries—closed long ago.

Gillibrand Territory

2009-01-28T06:37:00.001-08:00

Kirsten Gillibrand was my representative in Congress before being appointed by Governor Paterson to take Hillary Clinton’s senate seat. The district is notoriously conservative, especially on issues surrounding gun control. Here’s a slice of the population. [For those who can't read the bumper sticker on the right, it reads, "Elect a Hero and a Hottie!! McCain/Palin '08."]

Blog-o-Meter Reading January 27, 2009

2009-01-28T06:36:00.000-08:00

Search results for Molly Ahearn:
• Google: #2
• Yahoo: #1
• MSN: #1

Google Page Rank for my site: 2 (out of 10)

Number of page views to this blog: 5222

Number of page views to my site: 4862

Number of email subscribers: 24

Obama Inspires Me

2009-01-21T07:24:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I was proud to be an American. The world was watching and we didn’t disappoint. We showed that we can stand together despite our differences, graciously. His words glittered in the crisp January air and inspired millions including me. Never thought I’d quote Beyonce, but perhaps she expressed the exuberance of the younger generation best when she said, “He makes me want to be smarter; to be more involved.” Words to me that predict our dark days will pass, that our great nation is on the rise again. Good luck Mr. President.

Arctic Air Batters Artist

2009-01-18T05:07:00.000-08:00

The weather turned brutally cold this past week in Dutchess County, New York; an indicator that my husband was soon to depart for Florida. With predictions of temperatures below zero and wind chills in the ridiculous numbers, I knew I needed to address a lurking problem with my car before he left. Over the New Year’s holiday there was one cold day that I couldn’t get my diesel jetta started.

So, I brought the car down to the shop thinking I needed new glow plugs. They couldn’t replicate the problem since the engine was warm (I hate it when they say stuff like that). But, they could see troubles. The intake hose (?) was so clogged air wasn’t getting in to the engine and the diagnostics indicated a bad glow plug harness. Sounded good. “Can you fix it today? My husband’s leaving at 4 am for Orlando.” Because they’re awesome guys and I’m a good customer, they managed to get it done. I hugged Kevin. Didn’t mind the $500 bill. And, miraculously the check engine light that has been on mysteriously for 5 years, was off.

Next morning, the car didn’t start. Aaaaaah. Ten degrees below zero. The third time I tried to turn over the engine, all the lights in the car blinked on and off and the clock reset itself to 12:00. Called the shop and they said, “now you’re describing a battery problem.” I rescheduled my morning appointment for afternoon and called my neighbor for a jump. The car took a few tries, but did fire up. I headed back to the shop. The battery tested fine (it was warm) but it was the battery that came with the car when I bought it in 2002. Okay. How much for a new one? “This is no ordinary battery; it’s massive,” they said. “This is a $200 battery.” They sold it to me for cost at $150 and didn’t charge me for labor. Two hours later I left and made my afternoon appointment. I didn’t hug anyone. The check engine light came back on.

The next morning, Saturday, we were supposed to have gone on a day-long trek through the woods dragging a sled with the cub scouts. Mercifully, it was cancelled due to cold. I was going to try and start that car anyway. I got up to shower and when I turned the faucet, nothing came out. Not even a drop. I groaned. Frozen pipes. The thermometer said 12 below. I called my engineer husband for advice. He was breakfasting (he was probably sitting at an outdoor café table in the sun). Stoke the fire in the wood heater and open the hatch to the attic (where the water pipes run), he suggested.

I also shut the window in the furnace room. It’s been open since another engineer friend came to visit and told us there was no ventilation in our house. I have never understood this. Just seems like a waste of heat to me. And now it seemed ridiculously naïve to have left it open and expose the water tank to 12 DEGREES BELOW ZERO! Also, this cute little Carolina wren has been coming in through that window every day for the last several. When I came home on Friday, he was perched on top of my brand new computer. I chased him into my bedroom and shooed him out an open window.

The water suddenly came on while we were eating breakfast. Yeah! I showered and went out to dare the car. I gave the glow plugs several cycles before turning the engine over. It didn’t fire the first time, but the second time it burped. By the fourth, the engine coughed into life. Yes!

So, in case you’ve been wondering why I haven’t been blogging about art—mine or anyone else’s—this is what I’ve been doing. This morning it’s 20 degrees, a virtual heat wave. It’s snowing at a pretty good clip. I’ll have to face the snow blower later. What do you think the chances are that it will start?

Last Look at Christmas

2009-01-12T13:48:00.000-08:00

Love those holiday lawn scenes. Been waiting for the perfect sunset to shoot this one. Wonder if there's a kwansa lawn or a hannukah lawn somewhere.

I Was Bruce Davidson’s Apprentice

2009-01-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

In the early 90s I worked with Bruce Davidson, famed for his street-style photo documentaries of the New York City subway, life on E. 100th Street, Central Park and others. This is an excerpt from a journal I kept recording our time together.

New York City, March 18, 1991. Palms sweating, I got off the elevator and stood before Bruce Davidson's door smelling the overwhelming odor of cat urine. Here I found myself before Bruce Davidson’s door; my hero’s door. After sending a desperate letter pleading for him to ‘engage me in some capacity,’ he called to say he was interested in meeting me. "Oh God, I am so lucky to even have the chance to talk to him for a half hour – and he's going to look at my pictures."
As soon as Bruce’s wife opened the door, all of the nervousness left me. Their home is just that—homey, safe and welcoming. The first thing I saw was an oversized photo from the Subway series; on another wall, a 4-foot by 3-foot blow-up of the Verrazano Bridge amidst the fog, a ship passing underneath.

Then Bruce popped his head in—balding; glasses propped on top of his head, the glasses string hanging in front of his head instead of in back; short, and so nice. He wanted to see my work right away. His eyes soaked up my images; he looked through my book several times without comment. Then he carefully suggested ways for me to improve upon the images and the way in which they’d been printed. Should have burned the back of the pig more. Should have focused farther into the car with the three Puerto Rican teens which would have gained me more depth of field. He said I could have used fill flash here to solve the depth of field problem altogether—f11 or f16 with 1/8 to 1/4 fill. First thing he said was he’d take me in the dark room and he’d show me how to print one of my shots better than I had already done. (Unbelievable!)
We talked and talked. He gave me a tour of his apartment and his photos. The couple from E. 100th St., the Hispanic woman sitting on the edge of a pink spread turning around to the camera, the dwarf in a restaurant onlookers jeering and snickering, scenes from Wales, the shot of E. 100th St. itself, the buildings like a wall with a triangle of street in the cover corner, people hanging out the windows.

Overwhelming to see those images that have been dancing in my brain for these past years. If B.D. only knew the number of times I’d taken his books out of the library. The time I’d spent studiously trying to understand what makes his pictures so perfect, so alive and so meaningful. I think him the greatest American photographer. And, here I am in his studio looking at his pictures. He talking ot me as though he’d known me for years—as though he’d been waiting for me.

He had obviously decided to take me on before I came. I took off my jacket and started to work for Bruce Davidson.

First order of business was to organize his 450 contact sheets (in numberical order) from his recently completed four-month assignment to shoot the people of Chicago for National Geographic. What a learning experience to see how B.D. stalks a shoot. How encouraging to see that every frame isn’t perfect, isn’t what he wanted. Sometimes he misses the focus, too.
The final images are so strong. The opening picture is of a black street musician singing up into his microphone, the streets of Chicago passing by him. A Polish woman cutting her husband’s hair with a sister standing by laughing. Flags. Mexican flag waving over a parade held by a Mexican mounted on horseback. Real people doing real things. How does he do it?

B.D. tells me his next assignment from National Geo is Central Park. He’ll take me with him (I’m dying!). A woman in his bilding was formerly involved with the Parks Commission and knows some of its deepest secrets—a man who cultivates honey from honey bees. This would be a great opportunity to work a photojournalistic assignment with ‘The Master’ that I couldn’t share if the location were farther away.

Bruce made us lunch from leftovers of a dinner party they had last night. His wife is apparently a good Mexican chef. Over lunch he quizzed me on what kinds of lenses I have. I told him 50mm, 70-210, 300/doubler and the 28mm I shoot with most. He recommends I buy a 35mm. B.D. shoots with a Canon EOS system; replacing his trusty Leica. I don’t know why, especially since he claims the Canon is so complicated he hasn’t figured it out yet. Think Canon gave him the camera for the promo of him using it.

Later in the afternoon, a potential investor showed up to look at B.D.’s work. He has no idea who B.D. is—his son and B.D.’s daughter were in some high school production of Cabaret and I secretly believe all he wants is copies of the pics B.D. shot of the show. Once the guy came, he wouldn’t go away! He kept asking, ‘what else?’

Insider's Look: Color Boxes

2009-01-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

My Photo Stories
To Sarah’s complete delight, Santa left her the slim and sleek flip video camera she’d longed to receive for Christmas.

Or…

After sitting on the window seat in the Walkers’ living room, their interior decorator sketched a color palette for their newborn son’s room.

Or…

Andrew, diagnosed with autism at age two, feels better when things are organized.

Or…what are your story ideas?

Behind the Photo
Fall in the Hudson Valley bursts with crisp color. From this clearing on Sunset Hill in Clinton, you can just make out the Catskills in the distance.

Be the first to buy a Color Boxes print and get a 50% discount on the size of your choice. This is my January 2009 home page photo, part of my Truths, Lies and Legends collection.

2008 Photo Contest Winner

2009-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

As a way to highlight the work of other photographers, I started a photo contest on my website this year. Instead of being judged in the traditional way by one judge, the winner of my contest was selected by visitors to my site, blog and anyone else who heard about it. The work was of a very high caliber and extremely varied. Congratulations to all 20 photographers! It's not too early to start thinking about the 2009 contest. Keep checking my site for details.

The winning photograph was taken by Nadine Robbins! A Tribute to Norman Rockwell.

The second place winner was: Dave Clarke of Scotland with an outstanding black-and-white image.

The third place winner was: Tracy Sofka of Poughkeepsie! Gorgeous blue jewels.

Dutchess County Fair 2008

2008-12-28T09:52:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd end the year with a bang. Finally got around to sifting through my photos from August's Dutchess County Fair. My faithful fair companion Harriet Bass, Ryley and I jam-packed our two fair days with old favorites like Rosaire's Racing Pigs and bull riding, and events that were new this year like gospel singers Sammy Terry and the Highlights, Hansen's trapeze act and the high diver who plunged 80-plus feet. Things are changing at the fairgrounds as the new manager settles in. Now's your chance to let him know what you liked and what you didn't like. Leave me a comment (click on comment window below this post) and I'll forward it to him.

I haven't gotten releases for all of these images, so if you recognize someone, let me know how to contact them.

Blog-o-Meter Reading December 27, 2008

2008-12-28T05:05:00.001-08:00

Search results for Molly Ahearn:
• Google: #1
• Yahoo: #1
• MSN: #1

Google Page Rank for my site: 2 (out of 10)

Number of page views to this blog: 4757

Number of page views to my site: 4372

Number of email subscribers: 21

Vote on Best Photo of 2008

2008-12-23T05:33:00.000-08:00

As a way to spotlight other photographers, I started a photo competition on my web site this year. Twenty submitted images. All of them are contenders. Instead of asking a professional photographer to judge, I'm asking all of you to vote on the best of 2008. Simply follow the instructions. You will have a chance to see all of the images from inside the survey.

White Christmas

2008-12-22T04:24:00.000-08:00

It's been a few years since we've seen snow like this. Aren't we lucky to live in such a beautiful place?

Rejection Letters Make You Feel Like a Talentless Piece of Lint

2008-12-15T03:56:00.000-08:00

I have received enough rejection letters to wallpaper my hall. Nowadays many places don’t even bother to send a formal letter on nice stationery, preferring a quick email instead. No matter the delivery, rejection is always a blow to the ego. The words kind of blur a bit after that first sentence, as you prepare yourself for the rest of the correspondence. Thanks for entering, the level of work was high, but you didn’t win…again. Rats. I didn’t win the Aperture Competition…again. (A girl can dream, can’t she?) Purdue University also turned me down recently.

Sometimes I make myself feel better with a few choice words and a hand gesture. Others I treat with a big fat glass of wine. A younger me might have tried tears. Occasionally, I’m grown up enough to reconsider my entry. Was it my best work? Did I describe it well in my artist’s statement. Or, was my work okay, but the winner’s soooo much better. (As is always the case in the Aperture Competition, which actually makes me feel better about losing. It reminds me to work harder and try again.) Don’t know who won the Purdue show, but suspect it’s that sort of avant garde/Whitney Biennial kind of art.

My yoga teacher would say to take a deep breath. Sometimes it works. What’s your remedy?

Flash Failure

2008-12-10T04:06:00.000-08:00

You plan and plan. You shoot tests. You get in the right spot, despite the crowd. And then someone accidentally bumps into your camera knocking the flash just enough off of its seat that it doesn’t fire. By the time you notice, the event is nearly over. Ugh. That’s what happened to me during the Sinterklaas parade. Frustrating! I did get some cool shots of the fire-eaters. Richard Prouse’s painting of the Hudson River valley made a spectacular backdrop. Jeanne Fleming did an incredible job organizing the weeklong series of events. Really cool stuff—7-foot tall puppets, dancers, bagpipe players, celestial figures, singers and storytellers. The kids really enjoyed being part of the event carrying their lit stars. Hundreds of people were involved and thousands enjoyed the fruit of their labor.

New York City Christmas

2008-12-05T13:16:00.000-08:00

My parents used to take us into New York City at Christmas to see the window displays along Fifth Avenue and the tree at Rockefeller Center. The smell of roasting chestnuts filled the air. Maybe a few snowflakes fell. My dad treated us to lunch at the Gingerman. I always ordered Coquille St. Jacques. Don’t think I’ve had it since. Now, I take my son. This year we went to see the show at Radio City. I had the impression that the Rockettes were all about fluff and leg kicks. Not true at all. The choreography and skill was quite amazing. The kids loved the 3-D ride on Santa’s sleigh over the city. Ryley’s class is making stained glass art, so we ducked in to see the windows at St. Patrick’s. A good day.

Insider's Look: First Move

2008-12-02T04:29:00.000-08:00

My Photo Stories
A dapper young Irving awoke after death amidst the ruins of the Overlook Mountain House with nothing but the memory of chess to amuse him.

Or…

Webelos scout Brian had no regard for the nature around him, nor his leaders, sullenly setting up his pocket chess set, when all of a sudden…

Or…

The perfect crime is a debatable achievement, but chess champion Ivan Ropovich was looking for a challenge.

Or…what are your story ideas?

Behind the Photo
The ruins of this hotel are slowly crumbling near the top of Overlook Mountain in Woodstock. Hikers who can withstand the 2-mile-or-so steep uphill climb can wander through its main hall and peer into the depths of the once splendid guest rooms. The Miss Haversham in me sees the fountain spouting ice-cold mountain water and lush gardens welcoming tourists. An unfortunate fate met all three hotels on this site. The first two burned to the ground; one on April Fool’s Day. As a result, an enterprising businessman decided to use concrete for the third, the one pictured in my photo. He ran out of money before completing it.

Be the first to buy a First Move print and get a 50% discount on the size of your choice. This is my December home page photo, part of my Truths, Lies and Legends collection

Sinterklaas: A Feast for the Eyes

2008-11-30T10:09:00.000-08:00

Last night Sinterklaas came landed on the banks of the Hudson River. The night sky not far behind, the boat was draped in lights and guided by claus hat-wearing kayakers. The grumpus’ beat their drums and twirled their ritual dances in expectation. Hundreds paraded through the streets of Rhinecliff behind Sinterklaas on a prancing white horse. Next Saturday, the townspeople of Rhinebeck will host Sinterklaas and the grumpus' in a day-long celebration. A parade of lit stars and children will be an event not to be missed.

Blog-o-Meter Reading November 27, 2008

2008-11-30T10:08:00.000-08:00

Search results for Molly Ahearn:
• Google: #1
• Yahoo: #1
• MSN: #1

Google Page Rank for my site: 2 (out of 10)

Number of page views to this blog: 4389

Number of page views to my site: 3784

Number of email subscribers: 17

Tag, You’re It!

2008-11-25T05:22:00.000-08:00

Bloggers like to have loyal followers, but it’s easy to get lost among all the voices on the internet. One way to increase readership is to share your blog audience with other bloggers’ and vice versa. That’s just what Carol Lambert did when she tagged me. Carol paints found objects in her native Alaska and shares them on her blog. I met her some time ago through artscuttlebutt, a community for artists.

To follow the tagging procedure, I’m supposed to
1. put a link in my posting about the artist that tagged me
2. write 5 -7 unusual things about myself
3. tag 5 - 7 other bloggers and let them know.

Bloggers I Tagged
Sally Ahearn Nepotism is completely okay in cyberspace. My sister Sally is a writer and editor. Her blog offers helpful advice to writers from her own experience as well as many guest experts.

Donna Iona Drozda My cyber friend Donna is a very spiritual person and her paintings reflect a deep sense of thought and symbolism. She also inspires and guides others to reconnect with their own inner creativity. Her blog is always worth stopping by.

Cheryl McClure I also met Cheryl through the butt. A very successful professional artist, she uses color in a sensual way that draws me in every time.

Paul McCubbin I went to high school with Paul. When I first started my blog, he reentered my life by leaving me many helpful comments and suggestions for how to keep it going. He maintains several blogs, I like the Central Park Zoo blog best.

Deborah Mix Deborah is a talented illustrator and uses her skill to make all kinds of gift and craft items. Check out her needlepoint Santa!

Nadine Robbins Nadine’s portraits are so lifelike, many people mistake them for photographs. She’s halfway through her yearlong project to paint artistic couples, so look for a show announcement next year.

Unusual Things About Myself
1. I can still do a handstand.
2. I can whistle extremely loudly using my fingers.
3. I have been in every state in the country except Hawaii and Louisiana, two places I definitely plan to visit.
4. One weekend while my husband was out-of-town, I had a Home Depot employee sell me everything I needed and give me instruction on how to install tile in my bathroom shower. (My husband says I did a great job!)
5. Every year I get together with several girlfriends for Wild Women’s Weekend where we do secret things and laugh a lot.

Last Chance to Enter Photo Contest

2008-11-21T04:03:00.000-08:00

Procrastinators, listen up! The deadline for my online photo contest is fast approaching. You need to email your images to me by midnight on November 30 to be eligible. Check my web site for complete instructions. Don't put it off any longer—send your image today!

Google Knows Who’s Talking About You

2008-11-19T03:55:00.000-08:00

Google is as deep as you look. Recently, I signed up for Google Alerts which sends me an email every time my name is mentioned on the internet. You can set an alert to watch for anything—photography fellowships, portrait competitions, humpback whales, whatever. Try to target the search as narrowly as possible to avoid being inundated with alerts. It’s been interesting to see where my name pops up. There’s a high school swimmer named Molly Ahearn whose name pops up in the local papers occasionally. I’m quietly watching her career develop. I wonder if she’s watching mine…

Meet Moll Diavolo

2008-11-16T07:13:00.000-08:00

In September’s Art Calendar, I caught a little side note about a blog dedicated to opportunities for artists in Second Life. For those of you unfamiliar with Second Life, it is a virtual 3-D illustrative world that mirrors the real world in every way—currency, home buying and building, shopping—except it is a complete fantasy. The first thing you do is create an ‘avatar’ to represent yourself. This is where the fantasy begins. You can be blonde, tall, muscled, sexy, tattooed, whatever you’ve most desired. My second life name is Moll Diavolo and she’s a vampy babe with a muscled butt (the view I see most frequently).

Having created Moll, I was ready to navigate to Artropolis, the place Ann Aubree created for her virtual ethnography project. Trouble is I couldn’t figure out how to get there. The graphics load in slower than your navigational instructions, so I frequently found myself in a hole, or wall, or under the ocean. I gave up on Artropolis and did a search for art galleries. Bohemia—Home of True Creators & Artists—sounded intriguing. A collection of studios along a tree-lined walkway, I tried to find some art. One studio I entered showed promise. A pig was roasting over a fire and a mouse kept dashing by at my feet. Gray squares—presumably art—were hung on the walls. But as long as I stayed there waiting for the graphics to load, nothing appeared in the gray squares. Sigh.

I searched for photographers. The Google-like search feature turned up 493 results and a sidebar filled with paid classified ads(!) I checked the International Photographers Society, a club for real life photographers who want to promote and sell their real life work in this make-believe world. A window popped up with what looked like it could be a directory but I was unable to make it do anything. Is my computer too slow?

Then somehow I clicked something that landed me in Artropolis! Happy accident. It’s a cool place with virtual art! And, my ‘fly’ capability was activated. I took off and flew around the island. Now I see what people like about second life—flying. I had a little trouble landing, but what fun.

I never ran into another person which was kind of a relief. What would you say? What are their expectations? Will they be themselves, or a make-believe person? I can’t say that I’m a convert, or that I’ll return, or that I can see how it would help your art career. Have you been? What do you think?

No More Shelter

2008-11-14T12:02:00.001-08:00

Sad news to report. Photoshelter, the stock photo company that was founded on the idea that artists should make the lion’s share of sales revenues, has had to admit defeat. Their business model apparently didn’t translate into a profit for themselves.

Though I’d yet to make a sale through Photoshelter, I’d had over 100 of my images selected by their staff to sell and was very excited about the longterm prospects of selling through them online. Maybe there are other good places. I’ll keep you posted if I find any.

Make Your Own Book—and Sell It!

2008-11-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

If you’ve always dreamed of being published, the internet has made it a quick and easy-to-accomplish task. The first thing you need to do is decide what the purpose of the book is and whether you’re going to sell it. If you want a beautiful coffee table-style book of your photography or artwork, you will need high-resolution output, quality paper and a hardbound cover, then blurb.com is a good place to look. For really high-end books check out loxleycolour.com (leather covers!) or photobookpress.com. If it’s more important to keep the price low, consider lulu.com or winkflash.com. I recently used lulu to print programs for my True Cowgirls show. An 8-1/2 x 11, 44-page book with a color cover and b/w inside pages only cost me about $6/per book including shipping. The quality of the printing on the inside leaves something to be desired and I learned the hard way not to have images fill the full size of the page, but at a selling price of $12, many people bought a copy.

All of these sites offer templates that you can download and insert your own images and text. Some of the templates are more artful than others, but using their templates certainly makes the process fast and easy. Since I’m a graphic designer, I prefer to design my own layout using InDesign (layout software by Adobe) and upload a print-ready PDF file. This takes more time, but allows me to maintain a similar ‘look’ to all of my printed pieces.

The beauty of these online sites is that you can publish on demand. In other words, you’re not required to print more than one copy at a time. While this makes the books more expensive for small quantities, you’re only printing what you want to sell or give away. So, if you want to make a big impression at your next pitch to a new client, design a custom book especially for that meeting. You can also make the book available for the general public to buy (and make millions!). The top sellers at lulu are e-Start Your Web Store with Zen Cart, How to Become an Alpha Male, and You Can Beat Prostate Cancer.

With the holidays approaching, making a book is a personal and special gift. Consider a cookbook of family recipes, turn your blog into a book, share your antique car hobby, make an unforgettable record of last summer’s vacation, document your family’s geneology, write a songbook of your original music, or be brave and launch that novel.

Central Park Draped in Fall Color

2008-11-04T03:39:00.000-08:00

Ryley and I spent the weekend with our dear friend Paula at her new place in New York City. We spent Saturday afternoon wandering in Central Park. The leaves were in brilliant Fall plumage and the city was busy preparing for Sunday’s marathon. You never know what you’re going to see there. A woman posing as a statue. Break dancers flipping like pancakes. Avid birdwatchers with scopes. A squirrel that stood on its hind legs and danced like the critter in Caddyshack. Unfortunately, the line was long and the minimum age was 16 to get into the Chanel Zaha Hadid building, so we didn’t see that.

Insider's Look: Table for One—Steak Anybody?

2008-10-31T07:10:00.000-07:00

Readers of my blog get the first look at my new home page photo every month. This photo is part of my Truths, Lies and Legends collection. I begin with a spectacular natural setting. Then, I interfere. I place something in the frame giving the impression that a person has been there recently. My interfering in this way transforms a photographic landscape into the set of an unfolding story. My intention is to involve the viewer as storyteller. To get ideas flowing, I offer a few storylines of my own.

My Story Offerings:
Upon reading of how the cow, Emily (the Vegetarian Activist), escaped from a slaughterhouse, Marissa set up a roadside display to make passersby think twice about steak for dinner.
Or…
A line of curious Angus proved their true nature to be carnivorous as they strained their necks through the fence to taste the raw meat.
Or…
After retirement, Bob developed an odd friendship with his neighbor’s cow Bessie.
Or…what are your story ideas?

Story Behind the Shot
The craziest thing happened while I was doing this shot. I live across from this farm where they raise both Angus cattle (beef) and dairy cows. At least 3 times a week I walk by both kinds of cows and have noticed that the dairy cows are always curious about people and the Angus flee as soon as you approach. Who says cows are dumb? Anyway, when I set up the table with the steak, the Angus cows overcame their fear. They formed a tentative line (that you see in the photo) and then slowly and carefully walked right up to the fence—with me standing right there—and tried to eat that steak!

Be the first to buy a Table for One print and get a 50% discount on the size of your choice.

Last Call for the Rodeo

2008-10-27T04:05:00.002-07:00

Only 3 weekends left to see my True Cowgirls photos at Millbrook Vineyards and Jose Acosta’s saucy Caribbean-flavored paintings. The show ends Sunday, November 16. Personally, my favorite Millbrook wine is the chardonnay, though their pinot noir is pretty tasty, too. Which is your favorite?

Blog-o-Meter Reading October 27, 2008

2008-10-27T04:05:00.001-07:00

Search results for Molly Ahearn:
• Google: #1
• Yahoo: #1
• MSN: #1

Google Page Rank for my site: 2 (out of 10)

Number of page views to this blog: 4007

Number of page views to my site: 3475

Number of email subscribers: 20

Animals Are Not What They Seem

2008-10-25T06:44:00.001-07:00

Colossal. Bewitching. Stunningly beautiful. Disturbing. These are just a few words to begin to describe Walton Ford’s work. I went to high school with his wife and hadn’t seen her for 25 years when she surprised me at my first exhibit opening at the Starr Library in Rhinebeck. So, when he had an opening, she called to invite me. Where? The Brooklyn Museum of Art!!! The show was held before I’d started this blog. When he was the feature interview in the October issue of Art in America, it reminded me to share his work with you. His stuff is incredible and inspiring and thought-provoking.

Ford’s watercolors all feature a closeup view of one main animal in the foreground painted in a breathtaking realistic, almost Audobon style. Low on the canvas, he paints a horizon that identifies a place. The rest of the background is white which makes the animals leap off the surface. You could walk through a show of his work and just see that (almost), or you can take a closer look.

Ford is an intense man and the scenes reflect the deep thought he gives to his subjects. For example, he painted a gorilla holding Carl Akeley’s skull and titled it Sanctuary. Akeley was a taxidermist and one of the first to shoot gorillas for display in the Museum of Natural History. Later in his life, he became a gorilla advocate and frowned upon hunting them, even for study. When he died, he requested that his body be buried in the site where he’d spent so much time with the gorillas. Years later, fellow researchers came upon the site and discovered that Akeley’s bones had been exhumed. In his depiction, Ford shows a large silver-backed gorilla that Akeley had shot holding Akeley’s skull.

Nila is a 12 foot by 19 foot piece comprised of 22 panels (presumably because you can’t buy a single piece of canvas that size). A stunning study of an elephant surrounded by North American birds. I’ve forgotten the story behind it, but notice the pair making love on the end of the elephant’s penis.

My friend Paula, my sister Margaret, Ryley and I went to see the show together. I remember passing by one painting, Chingado (Spanish for fucked), where a bull is screwing a jaguar. It’s an up-close and personal view. No mistaking the action. I was afraid Ryley, then eight years old, would ask for explanation. He studied it, as he’d studied all the others, and moved on.

Walton Ford is represented by Paul Kasmin.

Thanks for Hopping By

2008-10-21T04:22:00.000-07:00

What a weekend. Nadine and I had close to 100 people come through our studio. Many people were interested in the new work I had on display from Truths, Lies and Legends which was invaluable to me. I was nervous about the story component since it’s very untraditional, but people liked the idea a lot. One woman suggested I have a vote after collecting everyone’s stories to decide on the best one. “People love to vote,” she said. A writer told me she’d come up with some story ideas and send them along. Another woman brainstormed ideas with me over how to present the stories for the final show—hand write them? Display on computers? One woman told me that I’d inspired her to get back to photography herself. She bought a cowgirl print from me.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by. Your words of encouragement will keep me going. All the artists on the tour had a great experience, so look for it to become an annual tradition—sharing Fall color and art.

How to Post a Video on YouTube

2008-10-15T03:57:00.000-07:00

1. Export to the QuickTime movie format using the default settings. If you know what you’re doing, you can set different preferences for audio output and video quality. (I used iMovie to create my video.)
2. Create an account at YouTube.
3. Verify your account after they send you an email.
4. Go to YouTube.com and in the upper righthand corner of the window, click on the Upload button.
5. Give your video a title and a bunch of key words that will help people find your video.
6. Click on the Browse button to locate your .mov file.
7. That’s it! Check back in a while to see it by going to My Videos under Account in the top right nav bar. I’d already gotten 5 views a few hours after posting!
8. YouTube will provide you code to embed the video as you see here.
9. Pass this link on to all your friends!

Ryley—The Next Coppola?

2008-10-13T07:37:00.000-07:00

At long last, here is the directorial debut of Ryley Robinson. For the subject of his first film, he chose to document his mom taking her Fried Eggs photo (part of the Truths, Lies and Legends collection). At times serious journalist, at other times comedian, Ryley’s created a gem his children will treasure. My husband, the sound engineer, will no doubt cringe when he hears the audio. But, it would have been cheating to consult a professional.

How Did We Create the QuickTime Movie?
Our dear friends Stephen and Sandy gave us a video camera when Ryley was born. It films onto a tape, but has a cable that you can hook directly to the computer. On a Mac, when you plug up a video camera, iMovie automatically starts up. From there, you simply hit the import video button. iMovie is pretty easy to use. You kind of pick up and drop stuff into a timeline. You can split video into scenes and place transitions between them. The title slides are canned. I wish we could have custom made them, because the one thing we couldn’t include are the stories that actually accompany the Fried Eggs photo. The thing that gave us the most trouble was including the song. You’ve got to be sure to include an aiff file or an mp3 file that isn’t in your iTunes purchased library.

Please let me know if this doesn't play on your computer.

I’m going to figure out how to upload the movie onto YouTube for my next challenge…stay tuned.

Cyber Friend

2008-10-10T04:29:00.000-07:00

My life has been so crazy recently, I haven't had time till now to share a wonderful experience I had over the summer. As most of you already know, I've dedicated 2008 to trying to figure out how the internet can help me as an artist. One of the first things I did was sign up on an artists' community site called artscuttlebutt which is sponsored by art calendar magazine. For several months, I actively participated by looking at other people's work, starting conversations, and I even organized a photography group. It was a great way to get this internet thing going.

Sometime in July I got a note from Donna Iona Drozda—a fellow artist on the butt—about one of my photographs. We got to talking and sharing work and really hit it off. I added a link to her blog on mine and vice versa. When I saw her profile, I realized she lives in Virginia Beach. As luck would have it, we were headed there on vacation. I suggested we meet up.

Donna greeted us with a warm hug at the front door of our hotel feeling like an old friend, not a new one. She took us to the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia where she is a teacher and active participant. What a great place. My first thought was, we've got to figure out how to follow their model. They have a first-class exhibit space, offer a broad range of classes for kids and adults, have a stage and theater, and own an original Gilhooley! The exhibit we saw—Transformed—featured contemporary artwork that pushes the limits of art. One installation was a grouping of toilet paper rolls that had intricate branch carvings cut out of them (all in one knife stroke!) and then placed to look as if they were growing out of the rolls. The piece was meant to be a commentary on the overuse of trees and paper.

Donna's own work is beautiful—like her spirit—and colorful. Inspired by things in every day life, she interprets them in ways that make you stop and think. Her work can be appreciated by the most ardent art fan as well as a two-year old in a stroller. This piece is called Morning Song. Notice the moons along the edge of the boat. Check out all of Donna's work on her web site, and stop by her blog to read more about what she does.

Slap Yourself in the Face and Go Shopping

2008-10-08T03:49:00.000-07:00

As Cher said when she slapped Nicolas Cage in Moonstruck, “What’s the matter with you?” This financial crisis or Armageddon or whatever you want to call it, has everybody shaking like a bunch of scared mice. Like much of the country, I have little understanding of how this mess was made but I do have a solution for how to get out of it—GO SHOPPING! If people start spending again, jobs will be preserved, spending indicators will go up making everyone on Wall Street happy, PM’s and Presidents won’t come on TV looking ragged and weary every night, and life will return to normal.

So, grab that DSW coupon—those Boho boots look cool—or head over to Sears and treat yourself to that snow blower you should have bought years ago, or go to Staples and buy some office supplies. Help save the world economy, buy something, quick.

Comments I've received so far by email:

1. genius.

2. Nice sentiment. I would add that if you must go shopping, go shopping for
art. Who needs a snow blower when you can buy a great water color or
photograph by a local artist for half the price (and the artwork doesn't
have to be in the garage unused half the year.)

3. You sound like Georgie W!

4. Hi Molly, I was wondering...could you lend me the money for that snow blower I have
wanted for years? Hee hee

5. Be sure to buy it local!

6. hey where do i get that dsw coupon!!!!! horray for shoes

7. Just bought a new Delsey light weight carry on and am going to Tanger Mall tomorrow.

8. Great idea to get everyone to go shopping - but, what if you're one of those that are so hard hit that you can't go shopping just for the fun of it? In fact, I love Sears, but, I'm squeezing pennys to just buy snow tires for this Winter.. enough about me though... although Sears is one of the few big stores I do like to support, did you now that the sales tax we pay at big stores like Walmart, Home Depot and a few others, doesn't go back into the local economies like they promise? Nope, it goes back to the store, (like Walmart), (part of the big corporation tax breaks) - and they put that towards making more big Walmart stores, etc.... ( I heard this from a US, IRS/ financial analysist on VPR,) and I'm sure if we do some homework, we'll find it's true - one reason why Walmart is a muti-million dollar corporation. So, I propose that people shop not only at Sears and Staples, but, think about where they buy - and buy local, support small businesses instead - like that little office/stationary shop in the neighborhood, or family hardware, clothing shop, etc... and don't forget your artists! Instead of buying xmas cards from Walmart- buy them from artists, craftshops, galleries and art shows instead. Have a great week and happy art and photography to all!

9. is this said in jest? are you serious? part of the large-scale problem is that consumers purchased things they coudn't afford, namely mortgages. and there is blame to share all around. banks should have been far more diligent in examining loan applications. financial responsibility makes more sense right now.

Leaf Peeping and Art Studio Hopping

2008-10-06T04:05:00.000-07:00

The Rhinebeck area has a reputation as being a haven for artists but has struggled with keeping an art presence in town. A bunch of us artists got together and are about to change that. October 18 and 19th we’ll open our studios and invite people to come meet us, learn what inspires us, and maybe buy something—ready or not, the holidays are coming! I'll have lots of proof prints and other treats for sale that people normally don't get a chance to see.

Start off the tour in downtown Rhinebeck, at Rhinebeck Savings Bank—our platinum sponsor—and see a show of prints of everyone’s work involved in the tour. Then, cross the street and see Nadine and I; walk in the Starr Place restaurant and go the second floor. We’ll give you a map of all the artists and help you plan your next stop. The artists involved include a huge variety of styles and media.

Barrett Art Center is hosting their annual paint-out in downtown Rhinebeck on Saturday, October 18th. Artists set up along the streets and paint. Later in the evening, Barrett auctions off the work of the day.

The leaves are turning brilliant colors here in the Hudson Valley. Art will be everywhere. Come join us! Saturday and Sunday October 18-19 from 11 to 5. Check our web site for details. Or, click on individual artist links below to get a sneak preview.

Molly Ahearn
William T. Ayton
Arlene Becker
David Borenstein
Richard Chianella
Doris Cultraro
Nayanrekha Das
Barry Entner
Kathleen Gavin
Dan Goldman
Mimi Graminski
Michael Gregorio
Betsy Jacaruso
Clive Jacobson
Joanne Klein
James Ransome
Nadine Robbins
Jeff Romano
Roni Schnadow
James L. Stevenson
Dean Vallas
Elizabeth Watt
Joel Weisbrod
Reese Williams

Polly Picked Molly!

2008-10-05T06:54:00.000-07:00

How exciting. I’m one of Polly’s Picks in this month’s Hudson Valley magazine. Polly Sparling is Senior Editor and highlights what she thinks are the best events going on in the area with a special callout. I’ve followed many of her recommendations over the years and am very proud she felt my cowgirl show at Millbrook Vineyards worthy of her seal. (Plus, there’s an ad insert right at my page, so the magazine falls open to my photo!)

Insider's Look: Aluminum Foiled

2008-09-30T04:00:00.000-07:00

Blog-o-Meter Reading September 27, 2008

2008-09-27T07:04:00.001-07:00

Search results for Molly Ahearn:
• Google: #1
• Yahoo: #1
• MSN: #1

Google Page Rank for my site: 2 (out of 10)

Number of page views to this blog: 3505

Number of page views to my site: 2965

Number of email subscribers: 19

What a Party!

2008-09-27T06:46:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everybody for making the opening of True Cowgirls a magical night! Great job on the photos, Nadine. Thanks for sharing.

Will Babe’s Ghost Move?

2008-09-23T04:02:00.001-07:00

The Yankees played their final game in Yankee stadium Sunday night. A sad day to be sure. I love that place. When I lived in the city I often took the D train uptown. The team was horrendous back then and tickets easy to find. For four bucks I could buy a cheap seat and slip an usher a couple more dollars to sit front row along the field. Dave Winfield (I used to call him Legs) was my favorite player.

To celebrate my brother’s birthday, my parents treated the family to one of the last games played at the stadium. For me, a lot of what makes the place is the characters that fill it. They’ll definitely move next door when the new stadium doors open in April, but will the ghosts of Yankee greats float over? We’ll have to wait and see.

Truth, Lies and Legends

2008-09-19T07:33:00.001-07:00

I’ve had second thoughts about the title of my latest collection. Last week I released, Fried Eggs, the first in that series. The working title I’d been using, Absence or Presence? Just doesn’t describe the project or enhance it in any way. As readers of my blog, you get to witness all my successes—and my missteps. So, I’ve renamed the collection “Truths, Lies and Legends.”

My intention has always been to make the viewer an active part of these images. To get them started, each photograph will be accompanied by a few storylines I invent. Paper and pencils will be available for people to write their own storyline ideas, constantly enhancing the exhibit. Why is a bicycle in the middle of a country road with its wheel spinning under a threatening sky? Little Stevie was riding up and down his driveway one crisp, Autumn Saturday morning, and carelessly abandoned his bike when a huge snapping turtle began crossing the road. Or, 5-year-old Susie was hit by her license-free, 16-year-old neighbor, Cal, who had taken his father’s old truck out for a joy ride. Or, a tornado came through whirling and spinning the little red bike thousands of feet into the air and dropped it harshly onto the pavement five miles away.

Love to hear feedback on this. What do you guys think?

The Fair Isn’t Over

2008-09-15T03:58:00.000-07:00

Join me September 18 for a presentation about the Dutchess County fair. Hosted by the Millbrook Historical Society, I’ll be giving a slideshow and talk on the fair’s history. Tom Odak will then speak to the group about his 29 years as fair manager. A great storyteller, I’m sure his remembrances will be fun and memorable.

Members of the historical society are preparing visual displays and fair memorabilia. I’m bringing my research notebook which is full of articles from the Agricultural Society’s 168 years including agricultural census information dating back to the 1840s and a copy of IBM’s Thomas Watson’s original speech—cross outs and all—to international representatives after the end of WWII.

WHERE: Lyall Federated Church, 30 Maple Avenue in downtown Millbrook, New York
WHEN: 7p.m. Thursday, September 18

It’s All About Merritt

2008-09-11T03:44:00.000-07:00

Merritt Bookstore in Millbrook, NY is the coziest bookstore I’ve ever been in. Comfy couches and chairs are scattered throughout for a quick, or lengthy (they don’t mind), perusal. The kids section is stuffed with great books you don’t see anywhere else. The people who work there love books and love to share what they know.

Owners Scott and Alison Meyer are committed to supporting the arts and the community. They host music and art shows as well as author readings, and were the masterminds behind last spring’s popular book festival. The upstairs area of the store is a big, open gallery space where we (thanks again Bill!) just installed a show of my Dutchess County Fair photos. Go on down to the store, enjoy the art and buy a book!

Cowgirls in a Winery

2008-09-07T04:09:00.000-07:00

The big day is approaching fast. Bill (thanks honey!) and I set up the show last week and it looks great. Come drink some wine, taste some yummy treats (Smitty’s cooking) and see photos from my cowgirl collection as well as the intense colors of Jose Acosta’s allegorical oil paintings. If you can’t make the opening reception, the show is up through November 16 and the winery is open daily from 11 to 6. If you’d like to buy a program, shoot me an email.

Opening Reception: Saturday, September 13, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Millbrook Vineyards, 26 Wing Road, Millbrook, NY

Wicked Surf and Dolphin Smiles

2008-09-05T06:11:00.000-07:00

Spent last week chilling and having fun in Virginia Beach. Our hotel was right on the beach so we woke to the sound of crashing waves and vivid sunrises. It’s an ideal vacation spot for families. Bikes and surreys are easy to rent and cruise up and down the boardwalk. The beach is full of kids. The city offers free entertainment every night on the streets near the beach and in several bandshells. You can see all kinds of musical performances—classical to rock—watch fire-eaters, have your face painted, see a magic show. One day, we went on a dolphin-watching cruise. They swim along the beach and are easy to find. No animal gives me as much delight.

Insider's Look: Fried Eggs

2008-09-01T04:50:00.000-07:00

Readers of my blog get the first look at my new home page photo every month. This is the first photo to be released from my Truths, Lies and Legends Collection. II begin with a spectacular natural setting. Then, I interfere. I place something in the frame giving the impression that a person has been there recently. My interfering in this way transforms a photographic landscape into the set of an unfolding story. My intention is to involve the viewer as storyteller. To get ideas flowing, I offer a few storylines of my own.

Tom lived a decidedly 18th century kind of life inside a one-room cabin in the woods venturing out only to satisfy his bizarre mind’s affliction to slay eggs.

Or…

Sweat dripped from her forehead onto the spreading yokes as she dropped the eggs onto the
asphalt in an attempt to test the theory of whether blacktop gets hot enough to fry eggs.

Or…

Anna forgot to latch the door to the chicken coop.

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

Blog-o-Meter Reading August 27, 2008

2008-09-01T04:44:00.001-07:00

Search results for Molly Ahearn:
• Google: #1
• Yahoo: #1
• MSN: #1

Google Page Rank for my site: 2 (out of 10)

Number of page views to this blog: 2840

Number of page views to my site: 2589

Number of email subscribers: 18

New Rhythm and Blues

2008-08-24T03:56:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-22T06:17:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-18T04:22:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-08-12T06:11:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-06T04:34:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-01T06:13:00.000-07:00

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.

Is Selling Art for $20 a Good Idea?

2008-07-30T03:36:00.000-07:00

Times are tough for everyone, but artists get hit first. I’ve been hearing from many that nothing is selling in the Hudson Valley area. What do you do to compensate?

One idea might be to try selling online. I don’t know anyone who’s doing this successfully, but did come across one online gallery that is selling like gangbusters: Jen Bekman’s 20x200.com. They release a limited edition print every Tuesday and Wednesday. Buyers have a choice of buying one of 200 small prints for $20, one of 20 medium-sized prints for $200 or one of two large prints for $2000. Many times all prints are sold within a day, one sold out in a matter of minutes. When you add all that up, the numbers get interesting.

Jen Bekman started out with a gallery on the lower east side of New York City a few years ago. Her mission to introduce emerging artists to (new) collectors exploded with the 20x200 web site. Let me know if you sign on. I want a full report.