HONEYBEAR
PRINTS: A BEAR'S EYE VIEW
|
|
 |
|
To order please
email
| Honeybear Prints Newsletter Where the Money Goes.... The sales of the New Orleans work were good, and I wanted to share with you that I donated $250 to two New Orleans charities in 2006. One, the NHP Foundation (www.nhpfoundation.org is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to provide quality housing units to low to moderate income families displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Building is happening now, and some units will be available to move in by May 2007. They have been a presence in this area and are spending $300 million to make this happen. The second organization is the New Orleans Food and Farm Network (http://www.noffn.org/) , whose goal is to create “sustainable growing practices and ensure equal access to safe, nutritious and enjoyable food. The NOLA food map project was created to help show residents in the devastated areas where to find food: from grocery stores, and farmer’s markets, to restaurants and emergency kitchens. The maps are created, updated and distributed/posted free of charge in hopes of rebuilding the local food system neighborhood by neighborhood. New, New, New & Exciting for 2007 Hands down…Italy! I admit I have gone a little crazy(ier?) because I could not narrow down a lifetime of memories (ok- two very good weeks) into a handful of shots. This has spawned a plethora of ideas and opportunities that will be phased in during 2007. First, there will be three, count ‘em, three different “Doors of Italy” Collections! And, thanks to your persistent demands, they will be BIGGER. There are two different doorway collections of nine available matted or framed in an 18x24 format. (For now, the other collections will remain available in 16x20 format) And the really big news is REALLY BIG – 30x40 to be exact. It is the “Mother of all Italian doors” - a collection of 25 amazing doorways shot throughout Italy, from San Quirico to Florence, from Colle de Val d’Elsa to Venice, to Burano, Siena…a gorgeous gaggle of doors. Come and get ‘em! Plus, my first collection of windows – yes, nine “Windows of Italy” also in 18x24 format for your hanging pleasure. And, the spectacular assortment of Italian imagery you don’t want to miss from the Tuscan hill towns, Venice, Murano, Burano, and of course, Florence, a Honeybear favorite. Other ideas I hope to unveil soon include a collage of Italy 2006, and stone tiles with images from the trip. You have been wanting, needing more of Italy, and it is HERE! I expect to have a sneak peek at the new Italian Collection in late March, early April. Stay tuned. The necessary time and energy that has gone into Italy has slowed down the addition of work from Taos, Mexico, etc. I will phase new work in throughout the year, which gives you a really good excuse to keep coming back! I also hope to add a new collection of chairs at some point. It promises to be an amazing array of new photos for you to see in 2007. It is an exciting time to be a Honeybear, with so many sweet offerings! Honeybear Prints News Youse Can Use As many of you may know, 2006 was a year of elbow pain for me. Fortunately, I am now pain free, and really hope to stay that way. My quest for other ways to earn a living with my art, and to move away from doing so many street shows is a priority. My work continues to sell well @ Taliesin in Scottsdale, and I would love to have more opportunities to sell my work in venues that do not require me to be there. If you have any thoughts or ideas along those lines, I am so ready to hear them! Perhaps you can recommend a local establishment, a card/gift shop, restaurant, cafe, or office that has room to display my photography? Realtors, interior decorators, empty storefronts? As my inventory grows, my booth space does not; creating an abundance of work that no longer fits in the booth and needs to be out in the world, or in a new home. I would love to do house parties – wanna host me? I would be happy to be part of a group show, or do an individual showing of my photography and spice up your workday. If you are interested in these opportunities, drop me an email or give a call. Thanks! To that end, I will periodically show my work with a group of artists in a random series of Friday night soirees called “Art Tastings”. The evening will include a featured artist sharing a bit about her work and her creative process, as well as some yummy food to please your every palette! These events will surface spontaneously, maybe in your neighborhood (in your house, if you want to host an “Art Tasting”) and will be by invitation only. We hope to appeal to everyone who really loves art in its many creative expressions, and to bring new people who may not go to the street shows out to a classy event to see our work. Look for your invitation, and do invite a friend for a fusion of art and ideas to spice up your life! If you want to be a part of these evenings, just let me know and I will make sure you receive the invites. Shifting gears, the HBP frequent buyer cards continue to be popular. It feels good to be rewarded for buying something you love and I love being able to tell someone they have earned a free gift and let them pick out some cards or mats that make them smile. It is my way of saying “thank you” to all the wonderful people that love and support my photography and enable me to continue to express my passion. I will be taking a look at the structure of the rewards and update you in a future newsletter of any changes. Last, but not least, I want to tell you that I will be raising my prices this year. For seven years I have kept my pricing the same even as the cost for materials, developing, printing and especially, show costs, have gone upupup. Many of you may be surprised to know that it costs me a minimum of $5000, and sometimes close to $6000 a year to apply to and pay for the booth space at shows. I kid you not! Thus, it is a necessary step I must take for Honeybear Prints to remain viable. Thanks in advance for your understanding and continued support of my photography. On A Personal Note One of the questions I get asked the most is, “are you shooting digital?” Sigh. I have been thinking about that a lot, as digital becomes more pervasive. Don’t get me wrong. I think a little digital camera is fine to hang out with friends and family and take snapshots. But what I would have to pay to get the same photos I get now with my trusty Nikon is waaaay up there. And I like my Nikon! The other point that I want to emphasize is that when you talk digital you really mean digitally enhanced, photoshopped or your software of choice. And you can do some amazing things to images these days. Heck, it may not even resemble what you were looking at when you took the shot. And, while I would agree that it is art, and it is creative expression, I just don’t think it is photography anymore. Every image I shoot that makes it into the booth for sale is real. What I saw is what you see, and what you take home when you buy a print from me. I often say it is “the right place, the right time and a little luck.” I guess that could translate digitally to “got camera, got photoshop, good luck to you!” Ok, so I am a bit of a purist, but I believe there is not only a real value, but also a real yearning for what is real these days. So, I am not so high tech, and I rely on the unbelievable, wonderful, funny, quaint, gorgeous, and colorful world that I see thru that lens. And you can call me a dinosaur, Honeybearus Rex, perhaps, but I firmly believe there is beauty EVERYWHERE, if we are open to seeing it. I call what I do finding the ordinary and making it EXTRA-ordinary just by seeing it and creating that photograph. Judging by your response to my images, you agree with me! ******************************** Every day I wake up and give thanks for the many many blessings in my life and send a prayer of healing energy out into the world. I continue to grow and explore on this path I wander. The beauty I see all around me on an every day basis sustains me and inspires me to capture it to share with all of you. It is my way of reminding and being reminded that we have to have, hold and nurture that place for ourselves where we can create a peaceful oasis, a reprieve from the everyday, if you will. Thanks to one and all for your support of my journey and my art. I could not do this without you. I especially want to acknowledge my sweet Honeybear, Kraig, who makes my life a wonder and a joy, my parents who are always close in my heart altho we live far apart, and the best friends in the world. Blessings and Peace to all, Beth P.S. I want to share with you some beautiful words penned by Jimmy Buffett in “A Salty Piece of Land” that really resonated with me. “I think what connects some people to the art they like is not wishing they could paint it but rather wanting to be in the scene the artist has painted…There is no beauty like that which overtakes us by accident. This picture was the accident that diverted me from the well-traveled path and onto a bumpier, but more interesting route. Maybe…there is another who feels the urge to fly like I did, who sees life not as a flickering candle but as a torch that can illuminate an undiscovered world. Then take this gift…Hand it up and dream of what it is or use it as a map to take you there. And if you do decide to wander, please leave a tiny bit of room in your heart for me.” I feel you are all sharing my journey with me, for which I am grateful. And sometimes, when I really get it right, you really do get to be in the picture, as I hope I get to be in your heart. Note: If you are not receiving this and all your HBP news via email, please send me your email address and I will add you to the list. Your info will never be sold and will be kept private. I will do very little snail mail due to the cost involved and the legions of folks that move around here! Thanks.
Beth
Mostovoy
|
