It's finally happening... Andy's art is on Immaculate Baking products once again!

Scott Blackwell, founder of Immaculate Baking Company, was drawn to the simplicity, creativity, resilience, and resourcefulness of folk artists. He decided to celebrate them by featuring their work on his products' packaging.

If you've been following Andy's career for the past year, you know that his art is already featured on two Immaculate Baking products. In June 2014, the company released Double Chocolate Cookie Mix (featuring Queen of the Jungle) and Organic All-Purpose Flour (featuring Bon Temps Butterfly). These products are distributed nationwide, so you've likely seen them at your local grocery stores and Target. I admit, it still thrills our kids (and me!) to see their dad's artwork and face while walking down the aisle at Publix.

In October 2013, Immaculate Baking bought The City That Never Sleeps. Product development took a bit longer this time, but it's finally official! Andy's artwork, inspired by New York City, is now featured on Immaculate's Oats & Honey Place & Bake Bars. These breakfast bars will have a limited release prior to being launched nationwide. The company will be sampling them at Los Angeles area Costco stores April 27th-28th and May 7th-8th. Sadly, Andy and I won't be able to travel to California for the release, so we will have to keep waiting to try the new product. (Actually, it may be awhile before we get our hands on them, since the closest Costco to us is 2.5 hours away!) If you or someone you know will be in the Los Angeles area on any of those four dates mentioned, and you make a point to stop by Costco, tell us about it! You can post a photo on Andy's Facebook page or tag him on Instagram. I'm sure Immaculate Baking would love your feedback, too (check out their Facebook and Instagram).

Andy's piece entitled The City That Never Sleeps

Also, as a side note to those from Florida's panhandle, did you notice anything about this piece? Although this is a loose interpretation of the NYC skyline, Andy included a bit of home in it... and it made it onto the Oats & Honey packaging! Do you see the Rosemary Beach Town Hall? We love South Walton!

Rosemary Beach Town Hall

As a mixed media artist specializing in assemblage art, Andy has made several face pieces. But about a year ago, he started to expand in an area he hadn't explored since college: figure painting. More specifically, abstract figure paintings. According to Wikipedia: A figure painting is a work of fine art in any of the painting media with the primary subject being the human figure, whether clothed or nude. The human figure has been one of the constant subjects of art since the first stone age cave paintings, and has been reinterpreted in various styles throughout history. Oil paint historically has been the ideal media for depicting the figure.

In Andy's abstract figure paintings, he uses acrylic paint and his subjects are either clothed or appear to be.

Last year, he painted these two pieces:

So far this year, Andy has completed four abstract figure paintings. He seems to be enjoying the creative process of these, and I'm sure many more will be coming soon.

Andy Saczynski Art Gallery (officially known as Andy Saczynski Studio-Gallery) has finally reopened! We closed our Mystic Porte gallery at the end of December, and Andy spent a couple months working from home. Every day felt like a date, which was nice, but can't last forever! We absolutely love the new space... the blue ceiling, shiplap walls, wood floors, wraparound porch... we adore the charming cottage, and can't wait for you all to see it. It's located in Shops of Grayton:

26 Logan Lane, Unit A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

For those of you who aren't from around here, yes, we are still in Grayton Beach. However, your GPS will probably work better if you use Santa Rosa Beach, which is technically our mailing address.

From Scenic Highway 30A, head north on 283, then take a left on Logan Lane. Shops of Grayton will be on your right. We are the blue cottage on the corner. If it looks familiar, it's because it's right across the street from our old gallery.

We plan to be open Monday through Friday (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM) and also add Saturdays during the busy season. If in doubt, you're always welcome to call or text Andy at (850) 502-0072 to confirm gallery hours. We hope to see you soon!

Andy and I traveled to Southern California March 4th-11th. Shockingly, it was our first true vacation without kids since September 1999. I spent several years as a baby-making machine, which explains the ridiculously long gap between trips. I guess you could say this was like a second honeymoon, except we stayed with friends and not in a hotel, which isn't the most romantic accommodations. (Not to say we weren't appreciative, because we TOTALLY appreciate Graeme and Christen letting us crash at their place!) Although Andy spent three days at Expo West, we still had plenty of time to relax and explore. Here are details and photos from our Southern California vacation!

Wednesday, March 4th - Newport Beach and Costa Mesa

We flew from Panama City Beach to Houston, then to Phoenix, and finally landed in Orange County. We arrived early enough to watch the sunset in Newport Beach, and eat dinner at Sushi Sho in Costa Mesa. Christen and her son Gaige met us there. Of every roll at every sushi restaurant I've ever been to, the sexy mango roll at Sushi Sho wins first place. It's almost worth the plane ticket to California.

Thursday, March 5th - Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach

We spent Thursday morning by the Huntington Beach pier, which is walking distance from Graeme and Christen's home.

Andy + Graeme 

Surfing at Surf City has always been something Andy wanted to do, and he finally got to do it! We were thankful that one of Graeme's friends (a lifeguard) let him borrow a surfboard.

view from Alta Laguna Park in Laguna Beach

Andy and I grabbed lunch at Wahoo's, then drove down to Laguna Beach. Our first stop was Alta Laguna Park, where the views are incredible and photos never look as good as reality.

"secret art of Dr. Seuss" at Fingerhut Gallery in Laguna Beach

America Martin's art at JoAnne Artman Gallery in Laguna Beach

We spent most of the afternoon on foot, walking up and down Coast Highway. We thought 30A had a lot of art galleries until we explored Laguna Beach - they are everywhere! The three that stood out to us were JoAnne Artman Gallery (currently featuring America Martin's exhibit - wow!), Fingerhut Gallery (featuring the secret art of Dr. Suess - amazing!) and Artist Republic 4 Tomorrow (because of owner Torrey Cook's support of artists who are also surfers/skateboarders, which of course Andy identifies with).

view from Las Brisas in Laguna Beach

view from Las Brisas in Laguna Beach

Our friend Angela met us for dinner at Las Brisas. The food was good and the view was unbeatable. It was our most award-winning sunset of the week.

Friday, March 6th - Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, and Balboa Island

Andy spent Friday at Expo West, so our friend Angela was my tour guide.

Balboa Island 

me + Angela 

We started the day with Kean Coffee, a must in Orange County, then grabbed lunch at Dory Deli in Newport Beach. Next we walked down the Balboa Pier, and drove to see The Wedge (no big waves to be seen, sadly).

Saturday, March 7th - Hollywood, Los Angeles, and Huntington Beach

Andy spent all day Saturday at Expo West, so I went sightseeing with our friend Heather.

Heather 

We drove up to Los Angeles and visited the Griffith Observatory to get a good view of the Hollywood sign. It was about as uneventful as when I saw Stonehenge in 8th grade, but at least I can say I went. We also visited Runyon Canyon Park, where we saw a lot of cute dogs and zero celebrities. Ha! Heather used to be our next-door neighbor in Santa Rosa Beach, but now lives in San Diego. It was fun spending the day with her and catching up. After a long drive back to Anaheim, Heather dropped me off at the expo with Andy.

Angela, me, + Andy 

When the expo closed for the day, we took Angela (Immaculate Baking Company's former "queen" - different from yesterday's Angela) over to Huntington Beach with us, where we enjoyed a loud, crowded, and delicious dinner at Sushi on Fire, followed by chocolate malts at Ruby's on the pier. We adore Angela, so it was great hanging out with her.

Sunday, March 8th - Anaheim and Huntington Beach

On Sunday, I joined Andy at Expo West all day.

Immaculate Baking Company at Natural Products Expo West at the Anaheim Convention Center

We were beat by the end, but not quite ready to say bye to Angela, so she joined us for another evening in Huntington Beach. This time, we had a quiet dinner at Wahoo's.

Monday, March 9th - Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach

We spent Monday morning by the Huntington Beach pier...

...so Andy could surf again!

In-N-Out Burger

I'm pretty sure it's illegal to visit California and NOT eat at In-N-Out, so Graeme and Christen joined us there for lunch.

Laguna Beach

Andy and I spent the afternoon in Laguna Beach again, since it's one of our favorite places in California.

Graeme and Christen joined us for dinner at Pizza Lounge in Huntington Beach. I swear, we did more than just eat on this trip!

Tuesday, March 10th - Santa Monica and Malibu

On our last day in California, we decided to head north. Andy and I drove along the coast most of the way, with the goal of seeing Santa Monica and Malibu.

Malibu Canyon Road

We turned at Pepperdine University and headed down Malibu Canyon Road. What a gorgeous drive! There are a few spots where I was sure we would fall right off the cliff, but it was worth the mild anxiety attack. Had we not been pressed for time, we would've driven all the way through the canyon.

There are some impressive homes in the hills overlooking the ocean.

Santa Monica pier

view from the Santa Monica pier

We walked along the Santa Monica pier, and I was surprised that the water was so similar in color and clarity to the water along Florida's Emerald Coast. We ate lunch outside at Blue Plate Taco, where we had the most expensive tacos of our lives. It was good, though, and the view was nice.

We headed back to Huntington Beach and spent our last night people-watching on the pier. Our friends Angela and Beth joined us for dinner at Wahoo's.

Wednesday, March 11th - Home Sweet Home

We left Graeme and Christen's home when it was still dark outside, and headed to the Orange County airport. We flew to San Francisco, Saint Louis, and finally landed in Panama City Beach just before sunset. What a fabulous trip to Southern California! We definitely shouldn't wait 15 years to do it again.

Andy and I had the opportunity to attend the Natural Products Expo West at the Anaheim Convention Center March 6th–8th. As you know, Andy has a good relationship with Immaculate Baking Company. (For those of you who are "new" here, his art appears on their packaging and he painted a billboard for them last summer.) When they approached him about accompanying them to Expo West, he jumped at the excuse to visit Southern California. And of course, I insisted on going with him.

According to their web site: "Natural Products Expo West continues to be the leading trade show in the natural, organic and healthy products industry, attracting over 67,000 industry professionals and 3,000 exhibits to the Anaheim Convention Center. Rated as one of the top 200 trade shows in the US by Tradeshow Week, Natural Products Expo West continues to help attendees reach their business goals... Natural Products Expo West showcases the entire value chain of healthy products from start to finish, identifying the bestsellers of today and the trends of tomorrow."

When I read the description, the part about "3,000 exhibits" didn't really sink in.  When we arrived, we realized just how insanely huge this trade show is. You could easily spend a full day walking down every aisle and still not see everything. And almost every vendor was giving away free samples: prepared food, packaged food, beauty products, cleaning products... I even got a free 10-minute massage! In retrospect, we should have brought an extra empty suitcase with us to haul our samples home. I ate enough for 10 people, but it was all natural and organic, so I guess it's okay? {insert nervous laugh}

Immaculate Baking Company's booth

Immaculate Baking Company was located in booth 3864, which was highly visible and right in the middle of everything awesome. Of course, their booth (which was really a cottage) stood out among the rest. We were proud to be with them!

Andy spent all three days at Immaculate's booth painting, posing for photos, and signing autographs. Okay, I'm kidding about the autographs, but he did have the opportunity to meet a lot of people and even saw one of our friends from Destin!

It was such a great experience. If you love natural products, I'd definitely recommend attending Expo West next year. And bring an extra suitcase! Thank you, Immaculate Baking Company, for giving us the opportunity to partner with you at this event.

Last October, we had a special guest at Andy's art gallery. Visit Florida, the state's official tourism marketing corporation, sent their Shopping Insider Ginger Harris to visit us as part of a video segment they were filming. This video highlights 30A shopping, specifically in Grayton Beach. Grayton Beach is home to several fantastic locally-owned art galleries and retail shops, so we were honored to be included.

Filming was a fun adventure, and my only regret is that it was done in our previous gallery location. (Of course, in October we didn't yet know that we would be moving across the street a few months later.) Below are a few behind-the-scenes shots from filming day.

If you recognize Ginger Harris, don't be surprised! Her work as a Miami-based fashion blogger has landed her on the Today show, as well as in the pages of Marie Claire and Self magazines.

If you've been reading this blog for the past couple years, you know that Andy has an ongoing creative relationship with Fudpucker's, which has been a locally owned and operated restaurant since inception in 1982. Father Fud a.k.a. Chester Kroeger is a dear family friend, so Andy is always excited to start new projects with him. (By the way, you can read an interview between Fudpucker's and Andy that was posted on their web site last month.)

Three years ago, Andy did a lot of work in the Fudpucker's Down Under Bar. Now, once again, Andy has a project going with the restaurant. He's spending part of this month painting the table tops for them, which you'll soon be able to see scattered throughout the Destin restaurant. While the Down Under Bar primarily features alligators and fish, the newly painted table tops feature a variety of wildlife and even some surfers!

On your next visit to Fudpucker's in Destin, ask to sit at one of "Andy's tables," then show the love by posting photos on Instagram (tag @AndySaczynski and @Fudpuckers so we can see them). While there, why not try their alligator gumbo or fried alligator? You can't get it anywhere else in town! If you're not quite that adventurous, I'd recommend the Fudburger, my personal favorite. If you have kids with you, be sure to visit Gator Beach (it's free!). Our little boys are fascinated with the gators, especially the albino one, although we haven't convinced them to hold a gator yet (and yes, that's really an option)...

World of Beer Destin will open on January 19th at Destin Commons. When you go, you'll surely notice an 8x4-ft piece of art hanging on the wall. Andy was commissioned by the Grayton Beer Company to paint Western Lake, then add their logo and slogan.

And can we talk about how perfect their slogan is? Slow down, you're here. What better words to sum up how one feels as they catch a glimpse of Western Lake while driving down 30A? I love how this piece turned out, and I'm proud that it'll be displayed in the new World of Beer. We think it's pretty awesome that the Grayton Beer Company selected a Grayton Beach artist to represent them. Their company loves this local community as much as we do, so it was great partnering with them on this project.

Andy's Repurposed exhibit at the Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope, Alabama, opened last night and will remain on display until the end of February. His art fills the Whiting Gallery, as well as part of the foyer.

Andy and I drove to Fairhope for last night's opening at the monthly Art Walk, which was held at the ESAC from 6:00-8:00 PM. The next Art Walk is February 6th. I'm not sure if we will be able to attend, but I encourage you to if you're in Fairhope that evening. Otherwise, his exhibit can be seen during the Eastern Shore Art Center's regular business hours and is located at 401 Oak Street, Fairhope. All of Andy's artwork is available to purchase. Call the ESAC at (251) 928-2228 for inquiries.

Before the Art Walk, Andy and I had a couple hours of free time to explore Fairhope. It's a charming town with historical buildings and cool shops. We both really liked the mural by America Jones located at the corner of Church Street and Fairhope Avenue. She originally painted it in 2003, then repainted it in 2014. As you know, Andy painted a billboard in Minneapolis last summer. He would love an opportunity to paint another large-scale project.

We were treated to dinner at R Bistro & Pastry by Fred and Ashley, our sweet friends and patrons of the arts. It was an amazing meal! We shared the Shrimp and Slaw appetizer, then both ordered the Pan Fried Grouper with Sauce Choron and Crawfish Andouille Orzo. Oh my word... it was excellent! I would highly recommend this restaurant, which is located at 334 Fairhope Avenue.

Lucky for us, the Christmas lights were still on display, which made this charming town even more so. What a great time of year to visit!

F

If you're in the Fairhope area this month or next, please visit Andy's exhibit at the Eastern Shore Art Center. Let them know we sent you.

If you drive south on 283, then take a right on Logan Lane, you'll be directly between Mystic Porte and Shops of Grayton. And that's where we were in March 2012, on a quest to find a commercial property to open Andy's art gallery. All eight units at Shops of Grayton were occupied by other businesses, but we noticed a "For Lease" sign at Mystic Porte. We called the leasing agent and, long story short, we were moving into that space about a week later.

our son Josiah checking out our first gallery space

The empty space was intimidating but also thrilling, and our dreams of owning a gallery were finally coming true. A year later, we celebrated the gallery's first anniversary. We stayed busy and time passed quickly. We finally got around to painting the place in October 2013. The gallery was looking better, but it still wasn't quite what we envisioned.

March 2012 vs March 2014

Last month, we found out that a unit in Shops of Grayton would soon be available. This was what we wanted all along, but it hadn't been an option until now. We jumped at the opportunity.

Our Mystic Porte location closed yesterday. Throughout January and February, all of Andy's current work will be on display at the Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope, Alabama. During this time, he will work from home, creating new pieces to fill his new space. His gallery will reopen in Shops of Grayton on March 1st.

Andy

It's a little sad to say goodbye to our first gallery. We've spent almost three years there, watching both our children and Andy's work grow and change. But at the same time, we are excited about the next chapter and look forward to being part of Shops of Grayton!

While in middle school, Andy found a sailfish photo that he really liked. The photo inspired several pieces of sailfish art over the years. He wanted to create a mixed media assemblage piece, but it took awhile to conceptualize it and collect the parts needed.

About a year ago, Andy began collecting random elements. Gradually, the sailfish started to take form. If you look closely, you might be surprised by what you find. The most obvious element came from the inside of a piano, which my mom found for us. (Don't worry, it was given to us with the intention of being disassembled for art.) You might also notice a crutch, which Andy had used as a child after hurting himself on a skateboard. Also, Andy used an actual swordfish bill that he got from a fisherman friend. Lock parts and an old paintbrush added the final touches.

This sailfish art was one of Andy's most popular pieces. He completed it the day before the Best of the Emerald Coast and showcased it at the event. Although he received several offers, a couple in Fort Lauderdale had already claimed it for their newly renovated home.

The cool thing about assemblage art is that it's always original... and can never be duplicated. I learned my lesson the hard way a few years ago. Andy had made an assemblage sunflower and I fell in love with it. I had claimed it as my own, which is a benefit of being an artist's wife. But when a customer inquired about purchasing it, I crumbled. I thought, "Oh, he can make me another one. No big deal." Wrong. He has made many assemblage flowers since I let that one go, but there hasn't been one that I've loved the same way. My point is this... If you see original artwork that you really love, get it. You may not have another chance.

Andy participated in the 36th Annual Peter Anderson Art Festival in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, November 1st-2nd. The Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival began as a small celebration by a group of Ocean Springs artists and art enthusiasts. Now it has grown to one of the Southeast's premiere arts and crafts festivals. The Peter Anderson Art Festival was named after master potter Peter Anderson, who died of ALS in 1984 (coincidentally, Andy's dad has the same disease). Peter's brother Walter Anderson was also an accomplished artist before his death in the mid-1960s. The Anderson family has left quite an artistic mark on the Ocean Springs community, including the Walter Anderson Museum of Art and the Peter Anderson Art Festival. In fact, Walter's son John Anderson attended this year's festival and admired the wealth of talent on display.

Of the 425 booths showcased at the event, the judges selected Andy as winner of the Award for the Creative Arts, one of only five awards given out. What an honor! We were also delighted to find out that two of our friends were award recipients this year. South Alabama artist Melanie Blackerby won the Award of Excellence and Emerald Coast jewelry designer Mary Kay Samouce won the Booth Award (we do not personally know the other two winners).

Melanie Blackerby

Mary Kay Samouce

It's estimated that between 150,000-180,000 people attended the 36th Annual Peter Anderson Art Festival last weekend. Despite the crowd, we visited with five familiar faces. Our friends, Pastors Bob and Sharon Parkes, just happened to be in town celebrating Bob's birthday. We also met our friend Nate's parents, Jerry and Pam. Lastly, we bumped into a former classmate, Lillian, who we haven't seen since 1995. Small world!

with Bob and Sharon

Jerry + Pam 

with our high school friend Lillian

We made a new "friend" at the festival - a possum, courtesy of Doug from Wild at Heart Rescue. Our youngest two children traveled with us and were pretty impressed when they got to pet Flower. Isn't she cute?

The boys and I also met a really cool dog. Cooler than me, probably.

Also, for those who travel and participate in art festivals, check out our parking spot. We were about three feet from the back of our tent. How awesome is that?! It sure did make breakdown a million times easier. I'd pay extra for convenience like that!

It's the Best of the Emerald Coast 2014! One of the most well respected publications in the Florida panhandle, EC Magazine reaches from Inlet Beach to Pensacola. Each June since 2000, over 20,000 readers are asked to vote in 140+ categories in their Best of the Emerald Coast Readers Choice Poll. The winners are announced in their October issue, followed by a huge celebration party. Best Local Artist was added as a category in 2012, and locals have voted Andy as the winner for three consecutive years! He’s honored to have our community recognize him in this way. (For a complete list of the Best of the Emerald Coast 2014 winners, click here.)

The 14th Annual Best of the Emerald Coast event was hosted by EC Magazine to benefit the Junior League of the Emerald Coast. Held at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin on the evening of October 25th, this popular and well attended celebration party showcased this year’s winners, including Andy. It was an evening of food, fun, fashion, and entertainment. Guests sampled from the best restaurants, shopping, and businesses on the Emerald Coast.

Andy used his booth to showcase a few of his favorite pieces of art.

me + Heather

Chris and Heather Thomas own Destin Vacation Boat Rentals. Heather and I have been friends since 8th grade, so it's both fun and sentimental doing these events with her.

Dan + Cayce 

We were excited that Dan won Best Radio Personality. I've been friends with his wife Cayce even longer than I've been friends with Heather. Living in a small community has its perks.

In this piece of Christian art inspired by the Bible, Andy painted his interpretation of Jonah and the whale. Specifically, he focused on Jonah's prayer in chapter 2. If you've forgotten the story of Jonah and the whale, here's a summary of what happened...

In Jonah Chapter 1, God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach to the people there. But instead, Jonah went to the port of Joppa and found a ship headed for Tarshish. So, God sent a huge storm at sea. The sailors were terrified and, after talking with Jonah, realized the storm was his fault because he hadn't obeyed God. Jonah told the sailors that if they threw him overboard, the storm would stop. At first they didn't listen and the storm continued. So, they prayed to God and then threw Jonah overboard. The storm immediately stopped, and they thanked God. Then God assigned a whale to swallow Jonah. Jonah was in the whale’s belly three days and nights.

In Jonah Chapter 2, Jonah prayed to God from inside the belly of the whale. The entire prayer is handwritten on this piece of art.

Verses 2 and 9 stand out to me the most: “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me! ... For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.” These are great verses to meditate on and speak over your situation when you find yourself feeling despair and hopelessness.

Jonah

On a lighter note, I have a story to share. In May 2009, I was eight months pregnant with our fourth child. We were out and bumped into our friend Hunter. He asked us what we were going to name the baby, and we told him Jonah. He started laughing and I asked what was so funny. He said, "Jonah... in the belly of the whale!" Oh, good one, Hunter. You are hilarious. Really. Just what every pregnant chick wants, to be compared to a whale!

If you're interested in purchasing this piece of Christian art or a similar one, contact Andy.

In this piece of Christian art inspired by the Bible, Andy painted his interpretation of Revelation 4:8. Revelation 4 is full of color and vivid descriptions.

To highlight a few things that stand out to us:

• a door standing open in heaven
• a voice like a trumpet blast
• a throne in heaven
• the one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper (red) and carnelian (bright orange)
• the glow of an emerald circling the throne like a rainbow
• twenty-four thrones surrounding the main throne, with twenty-four elders sitting on them
• the elders clothed in white with gold crowns on their heads
• flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder coming from the main throne
• seven torches with burning flames in front of the throne
• a shiny sea of glass (sparkling like crystal) in front of the throne

Okay, so this sets the stage. It's beautiful, colorful, bright, and sparkling. As you continue reading through Chapter 4, you are introduced to the four living beings that are in the center and around the throne. Each of the four beings is covered with eyes, front and back:

1. the first like a lion
2. the second like an ox
3. the third has a human face
4. the fourth like an eagle in flight

Each of these living beings has six wings, and their wings are covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

Although these beings have always interested Andy, he chose not to include them on these particular pieces. Instead, he shifted his focus to all the angels singing the same words. These pieces are also inspired by the Revelation Song lyrics:

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty

Who was and is and is to come

With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings

You are my everything and I will adore You

If you're curious about the fire hydrant with wings, I'm not surprised. This was a commission piece. The fire hydrant represented a son and a brother lost too soon at the age of 28. His family understands the significance, and that's what matters.

If you're interested in getting a custom piece of Christian art similar to these, contact Andy.

In preparation for Art City Austin last April, Andy made a few Texas-inspired pieces, which included both cow skull and longhorn art. Although this was our first trip to Austin, Andy has been lucky enough to travel to Texas with me on more than one occasion to visit my extended family.

Like me, Andy isn't a fan of long road trips. To convince him to join me on the 10-hour drive to Carthage, I had to promise him my Granddaddy's gumbo and my Grandmother's pecan pie, both of which are world famous (to me, anyway).

Our first trip to Texas together was in 1994, before the murder. What's that, you say? A murder? Yes, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

First, let me show you Andy's bull head, cow skull, and longhorn art, all inspired by The Great State of Texas.

Fisheyed Bull Head | 25x27 inches

Cow Skull | 30x35 inches 

Cow Skull Too | 23x38 inches 

Longhorn | 58x31 inches 

Longhorn 2 | 67x26 inches

As mentioned, Andy and I took our first trip to Texas together in 1994. We were juniors in high school and he was my super hot boyfriend.

Andy + my brother Ben 

My great-grandparents lived right across the street from Hawthorn Funeral Home. In fact, bless their souls, their services were held there in March 1994 and August 2000. What does this have to do with the murder? Well, I'll tell you.

For most of my life, I thought only my family and a handful of other people knew of Carthage, a tiny town in northeast Texas. That all changed in November 1996, when Bernie Tiede murdered Marjorie Nugent. The story made national news, putting Carthage on the map. Bernie had been the assistant funeral director at Hawthorn Funeral Home from 1985-1993. I can't recall ever meeting him, but my family knew him and he worked across the street from my great-grandparents for eight years. Bernie, a movie starring Jack Black, was filmed in Carthage September through October 2010, just a couple months after we last visited. Crazy, right?

Anyway, I'd hate to end on that note, so here's a happy photo of Andy with a horse:

Andy spent August 5th-8th in Minneapolis painting a 40x18-ft billboard. If you read the articles in the StarTribune or on the General Mills blog, you would have seen the word walldog mentioned.

Walldogs were artists who painted external signs and murals used as advertisements throughout the United States in the 1890s through the mid-1900s. These artists were known for working like "dogs" through the heat of the summer, sometimes in very dangerous conditions. Although the term walldog was originally considered derogatory, that's no longer the case. These days, the term has been openly adopted by wall sign and mural painters who are embracing this old tradition.

Some old hand painted advertisements still exist today. These "ghost signs" have been preserved on buildings for an extended period of time, some of them over 100 years. The signage may be kept for its nostalgic appeal, or simply indifference by the owner.

Hand painted murals are making a big comeback, as advertisers look for something that draws more attention than the typical digitally-produced billboard. Going back to these roots is what inspired Immaculate Baking to commission Andy to paint a billboard in downtown Minneapolis, at 930 Hennepin Avenue. The idea of a "made from scratch" billboard went along perfectly with their "made from scratch" products. For four days, Andy was suspended 60 feet above the street. Pedestrians and commuters could watch the creative process as the billboard came alive.

Andy

Andy 

Back in the old days, walldogs would be chained to the exterior of a building or suspended from a rooftop to paint their signs by hand. The Immaculate Baking project felt considerably safer. A professional crew brought a lift and harnessed Andy to it, as to prevent him from falling to his death. I genuinely appreciated their concern and care.

Andy during his CBS interview

As mentioned, Andy was interviewed by CBS Minnesota. Watch the video below to hear more about this project.

Andy's completed billboard

Some photos used in this post are from Immaculate Baking and were used with permission.

Andy and I traveled to Norcross for the 21st Annual Slotin Folk Fest August 15th-17th. This was Andy's second year to have a booth. The Slotin Folk Fest is one of the biggest and most enjoyable events we have done. Here are some highlights from this year's show.

Our relationship with Immaculate Baking started at last year's Folk Fest. Andy got to hang out with Angela last week in Minneapolis, so it was fun catching up with her again. Here they are posing with Andy's rough sketch that led to the billboard.

Art festivals generate a significant portion of our annual income, which is nice. But my other favorite aspect of shows is that they're always a reunion with other artists. These familiar faces start to feel like a family. For example...

This is Melanie Blackerby and her husband Jeb. We were instantly great friends after meeting at the Harding Art Show earlier this year.

It was great seeing Bebo. His art is also on Immaculate Baking products.

We had a special treat Sunday morning. We arrived to hear Bebo, his dad, and a friend singing old hymns. What a joyful way to start the day!

I like the direction Chris Cumbie is going with the robots.

Hallie Edwards (Big Gully Folk Art) lights up a room!

This year our booth was right across from Athlone Clarke. It was a good opportunity to get to know him better. He's a fascinating artist with great insight.

I'm not quite sure what was going on with Athlone, his sons, and Michael Banks, but it was funny!

I really like Marian Baker of Blockhead Arts. One of these days I will get my act together and commission her to paint our two cats.

Steve and Amy Slotin put on a great event! Can you believe this is the Folk Fest's 21st year?

I don't personally know the following artists, but I wanted to bring attention to them because I like their work.

I am borderline obsessed with Larry Smith's birdhouses. His pieces are replicas of historical buildings. They are all beautiful, with no detail overlooked.

Check out these creative faces by S. D. Meadows. Aren't they great?

Cassandra Harrison makes beautiful dolls, some inspired by movies. I liked this one the most, probably because I've been pregnant five times.

I didn't get to meet Della Wells, but I adore her mixed media pieces. Her work reminded me of paper dolls (in a good way).

How precious are Sandy Erickson Wright's cows? Absolutely darling.

I still haven't met Dorethey Gorham, although Andy had a chance to. I like that her pieces tell a story.

If Kathleen Taylor illustrated a children's book, I'd buy it. I love her work!

This was the first time I've met Lurena Sheary-Williamson of Tattered Moon. Her dolls are precious.

I've been wanting to share details regarding the Immaculate Baking billboard project in Minneapolis since the company first contacted Andy about it in early May. The vision is finally a reality!

Real. Simple. Made from the heart. That's what folk art's all about. And that's what Immaculate Baking's all about, too! Our relationship with Immaculate Baking started in August of last year. We met one of their marketing people, Angela, at the Slotin Folk Fest in Atlanta. On behalf of the company, she purchased two pieces of Andy's art to appear on their packaging. It took several months to develop the new products that would feature Andy's art, and they finally hit stores in June. If you're familiar with Immaculate Baking, you've surely noticed that their packaging always includes original art from various artists, as well as each artist's bio. What a fun and exciting way to introduce Andy and his work to families across the country!

Of all the artists the company could have selected, we were honored that Andy was chosen to paint the Immaculate Baking billboard in Minneapolis, where their headquarters is located. The 40x18 billboard is above the former National Camera Exchange building, at the intersection of Hennepin Avenue and South 10th Street. So, how did Andy do it? Glad you asked.

In June, Andy painted a rough sketch of his concept, added a bit of color, and wrote out the wording the company wanted. He sent digital images to their graphic designer, who checked with the billboard company on how big the lettering and products needed to be in order for them to be visible from the street. Andy's color was removed and converted into a light sketch, and the logos and products were added so that they would be 100% accurate (branding and whatnot).

Andy flew to Minneapolis on Monday, August 4th. Angela picked him up from the airport, and their first stop was the billboard. They had a safety run-through and took a trip up onto the window washing platform.

Andy started painting bright and early on Tuesday. Spray paint was used for the background color. By the end of the day, most of the background was done on the left "day" side.

Wednesday started before the sun came up, when CBS Minnesota met Andy at the billboard for a video interview. By the end of the day, he had completed the detail work on the left side.

CBS Minnesota interview

On Thursday, Andy moved to the right "night" side of the billboard. Thanks to great weather and RedBull, Andy worked quickly. By the end of the day, the background on the right side was complete.

By early afternoon on Friday, August 8th, Andy completed the detail work on the right side. He then spent the rest of the afternoon adding the final touches. If you look closely, you'll notice a few unexpected additions. First, he included stick figures to represent me and the kids. Next, he hid artist tributes in the bridge (Justin Gaffrey, Woodie Long, Bebo, Moore Family Folk Art, Francisco Adaro, Chris Cumbie, and Justin Lyons). He also included a tiger and some guitars, because he couldn't resist! The very last step was including his signature and #EPICfolkart (the hashtag Immaculate Baking had been using all week).

This was such an amazing project for Andy, and he truly enjoyed being given the opportunity. If you followed his progress on social media, thank you so much for sharing this experience with us! We hope you enjoyed it, too.

The story doesn't end there! Immaculate Baking had a film crew capture the entire process, and Andy was wearing GoPro cameras while working. Watch the behind the scenes mini-documentary...

...and the time lapse video...

Also, you can check out more photos on Facebook.

Some photos used in this post are from Immaculate Baking and were used with permission.

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