working artists show

This original illustration will be part of an upcoming show:

The WORKING ARTISTS SHOW, organized by the Maine Illustrators' Collective, will be featuring art by many nationally known and internationally published artists at Kennebunk Free Library in Hank's Room, a gallery space, in Kennebunk, ME.

Show runs July 2nd-July 31st.

Artist's Reception is July 8th 4:30-7:30pm. The public is welcome.

This show, featuring professional, commercial artists was created to promote public awareness of an art form usually seen for a few fleeting moments in print or film. Most consumers are unaware of the background behind producing commercial art: the time, thought, and skill. Advertising art, design, and illustration, once considered less than fine art, is now highly collectible in print and original form, with some of the best commercial artists' work, such as Andy Warhol's, Norman Rockwell's, and N. C. Wyeth's, found in art museum collections around the world.

Commercial artists are disciplined and highly skilled artists doing the business of art; producing their contracted art while accommodating their own family's needs, dealing with tight budgets, constantly creating “new” and inspired work, learning new skills as digital demands and software continue to change, negotiating with clients, all the while meeting often impossible deadlines. These " invisible artists" rarely, if ever, show their work in original form to the public. Hidden by the limitations of reproduction the many tiny pen, pencil, and pastel strokes, brushwork, beautiful color blends on acid-free papers and boards are usually “hidden” away in flat files right after being scanned and printed.

I am in the marvelous company of these talented colleagues:

Andy J Smith
Gabe McPhail
Joel Zain Rivers
Nicole Fazio
Nancy Cooper Funk
Jessica Lynn Clark
Judith Hunt
Patricia Sharp SHARP DESIGN’S STUDIO & GALLERY Milbridge, Maine
Pat Wooldridge
Leticia Plate
Christia Siravo
Katie Diamond
Michael Boardman
Roz Davis
Helen Stevens
Wade Zahares

Come see a truly unique art show! Original art and prints will be for sale.
The Maine Illustrators' Collective (MEIC) is an informal collective of illustrators and designers meeting in Portland once a month to brain storm, critique new work, give support, share ideas, and offer advice on promoting each other's work. They also organize events, talks and shows.

Thanks to Judith Hunt for all the organizing!