HI all.. please let me share a GUEST POST from my young pal and oh so talented artist, Colton Ackerman....here's Colton below with his Grandma Joanne and Earth Angels artist, Jody Battaglia....
HERE IS COLTON's POST....
Greetings everyone! It's been some time since I did my last blog
post, but after attending the Country Living Fair in Columbus Ohio, Jen
encouraged me to do another. I was more than happy to oblige, and I
figured it would be a great chance to re-expose my work to the fantastic
Earth Angels community and it's fan base.
For those of you who may not have seen my last post, my name is Colton Ackerman, and I'm a senior in the illustration department at the Columbus College of Art and Design.
I look forward to attending the Country Living fair every year, it's the highlight of the fall season for me! My family have been long time subscribers to the magazine, and once I heard the event was coming to Ohio, I couldn't have been more excited! I love that this event is a culmination of all things I enjoy, fall and Halloween, antiques, fair food, and arts and crafts!
The air is always abuzz with creative energy and the thrill of the hunt, and sights and interactions with all sorts of interesting individuals is what truly make this event special. I have seen this event expand rapidly in popularity over the years, and it is really wonderful to see attendees from all over the U.S. come out to support these spectacular artisans and curators of beautiful things. This show is not one to be missed, and I would certainly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and fun experience.
The Earth Angels showcase has always been my most favorite part of the Country Living Fair! Definitely the most unique tent of all, patrons will walk away with one of a kind purchases that will become treasured conversation pieces. I can say from personal experience that once you start collecting artwork from this group, it's impossible to accumulating new pieces!
One of the best things about this group is the variety of objects you can find under one roof, everything from handmade clothing, and jewelry, to paintings and sculptures. Although there is a wide selection of different things, they all share a similar and strong vibe, and have a effortlessly collected feel. I personally enjoy that customers can interact directly with many of the artists, who discuss their creative visions and processes with those who are buying their pieces. The forming of these relationships is specific to this group, and it is one of the most enjoyable aspects as well. I can never resist slipping into the tent multiple times during the fair, simply because you can't see all of the splendors in one visit. The title of this group will become evident with just one visit, as the work, and most importantly, the creators, are otherworldly in the most wonderful way.
I met the Earth Angels group by chance about 4 years ago, while I was actually looking for another group of artists that had already left the show. Attracted by the goodies under the Earth Angels tent, I came inside and met the wonderful Jen O' Connor, who wasted no time, and took me under her wing. She introduced me to all of the fantastic talent involved in the group, and I fell in love instantly.
I began to collect works that I found inspiring, and in addition, I've since been able to form strong bonds with some of the artists. Jody Battaglia, Debbee Thibault, and many others gave me lots of inspiration and hope through their encouragements and advice.
I was very grateful to hear that paths such as theirs started somewhat unexpectedly and perhaps on whim, yet in the end, had worked out so well for them. I feel similarly that I am unsure what the future holds for my work, and therefore, hearing of their successes are very assuring to a senior heading out into the "real world".
I would say that this group has also strongly influenced my recent move into the world of sculpting and dimensional works, and I couldn't be more thankful for this transition. I'm very happy to have met such a fantastic group of people who do truly beautiful things, and who impart their knowledge on students and young artists like me. I really couldn't thank them enough for being so receptive and supportive, but I'll say so anyway! Thank you Earth Angels!
I am currently in the process of establishing multiple internet presences, and networking myself to the fullest extent possible. I know some folks were asking with the first post if I had any blogs and such, and now I'm proud to say I do, and plenty of them! Please feel free to check out some of my work (still under progress), and contact me with any questions or comments. Thank you again!
THANKS COLTON and all the best in your final year at Columbus College of Art and Design.
You can find Colton here....
http://coltackerman.tumblr.com
http://cackerman.deviantart.com
http://www.behance.net/cackerman
http://www.facebook.com/colton.ackerman
https://ccad.digication.com/cack/Welcome/published
xxoo Jen
