Tropical Hearts silkscreened greeting cards

Eastern Sun Printworks presents an entire collection of 'Tropical Hearts' cards, hand silkscreened by master printer and Florida artist, Nancy Hamlin-Vogler. When you choose 8 cards (from the nearly 100 pictured on the website), you will receive one FREE card as a thank you. You will also qualify for free shipping with any order over $15. Send a card that's a gift; an original work of art to frame to keep the memories flowing!

The cards are screen printed on paper that consists of 100% post-consumer material. The matching envelope is size A-7, or about 5" x 7".

Open Air Arts 2010, Melrose, FL

I've been making art outdoors in Melrose, FL for the past few days. It was windy and a little chilly, with lots of sunshine and a magical vibe of the historic locale and 65 other artists.

It's challenging work and difficult for me to convey a sense of place while maintaining my abstract 'roots'...all the while keeping charcoal, pastels, and water mediums (matte & gesso mostly) from not turning muddy.

Saturday and Sunday were 'artist viewing' days, for the public to walk around and watch us work. My photo was taken by a lovely German woman whose conversation in French with her friend caught my ear!

Shown here are "View from Palm Grove" and (below) "Prairie Creek Preserve View". Tomorrow is framing day, then we'll take work back over to Melrose Bay Gallery on Wednesday. Stay tuned for the big opening!!

Alexis Hamlin-Vogler in THE AIRPORT DREAM

I love the sounds of The Airport Dream, a Minneapolis-based post/rock, downtempo band created and produced by Wes Jones. Alexis Hamlin-Vogler's vocal nuances grace many of the tracks.

Give this a listen and support the group by following them on MySpace or Twitter!

Nancy Hamlin-Vogler at OPEN AIR ARTS

The tiny community of Melrose, FL was packed with art lovers on April 11, 2009, as patrons flocked to the 2 galleries co-hosting the gala opening, 'Open Air Arts', which celebrated 300 works of art (paintings, drawings, mixed media, sculpture, photography, & digital art ) by the 65 artists who had participated in this wonderful outdoor art making event. Harriet Huss, Director Par Excellence, was a gracious and welcoming presence, making us all comfortable with excellent maps, snacks, and artist parties galore.

On a windy, cool, and brilliantly sunny day, I drove out to the Florida Buddhist Center land in Earleton. I was inspired to create the 'very' mixed medium painting you see pictured at right, "In a field with the sunshine Buddhas." I cut out a stencil to form the Buddha silhouette, & using soft pastels, managed to color in 4 of the 5 Dhyani Buddhas nestled beneath the majestic live oak tree.

In the photo at left, you can barely see my 3 blue/green works on the back wall. Named "Iris & Beyond", they were awarded 2nd Place in mixed media!
The show runs through April 26, so you have 3 more weekends to view the work. To learn about future shows, and gallery hours, go to the Melrose Bay Gallery website.

SPRING ARTS GAINESVILLE - MARCH 28-29

Nancy Hamlin-Vogler and her daughter, Alexis Hamlin-Vogler, at last year's show.

40th Annual weekend art event in Gainesville, FL. Come visit me at #241, between 6th and 7th Avenues. This is a fun show with lots to do at the Thomas Center park. For tons of info, visit the Spring Arts Fest website.

Meet Florida artist Nancy Hamlin-Vogler

"Heron Moon" copyright 2009 nancy hamlin-vogler all rights reserved!

I work in a backyard studio, surrounded by chirping birds, live oaks and luscious bromeliads, very near the Fountain of Youth Park, in St. Augustine, Florida.

Silkscreen printing (screenprinting or serigraphy) is my primary medium. I make all the screens from hand drawn positives. I also use photography to enhance my 'seeing'. I love to draw and I create mixed medium drawings on paper using various aqueous drawing mediums with chine colle. I do all the other fun art stuff too: win awards, have gallery shows from time to time and exhibit in juried outdoor art shows which abound here in sunny Florida.

Eastern Sun Printworks is my very own card company. I have published/produced a line of screenprinted greeting cards and journal books for 25 years. These cards are sold in indie book stores around the US, as well as in card emporiums, museum shops, and boutiques. The cards are silk screened by hand on 100% recycled paper. Each print is unique due to variations created by the harmonious blend of colors across the screen. This ancient printing process is simple and practical, yet elegant. One can produce the craziest, wildest color blends. When you buy one of these cards, you are purchasing an original, framable work of art!

I find it unbelievably satisfying to make something that I know is going to bring happiness to another being, maybe my neighbor or maybe someone who lives halfway around the world.

Now you must go straight to my store on Etsy, the place to buy and sell all things handmade!

OM MANI PADME HUM Prayer Flags

Today was gorgeous in north Florida: temps in the high 50's with a clear blue sky. I had put the finishing touches on my drawing for a new OM MANI prayer flag design, and was ready to shoot a screen (you can see the screen in the foreground). After everything dried and I had cut the fabric into 10" x 12" pieces, I was ready to go! I listened to Cho (Choying Drolma & Steve Tibbetts) while I printed the flags. I hung them out to dry on the clothesline in my backyard and pretended I was crossing a pass in the high Himalayas!

The new design, composed of Sanskrit seed syllables for the 'Mother of all mantras' Om Mani Padme Hum, is arranged in a decorative circle around the syllable HRI in the center. The design is a variation on the tradition of block printed flags containing prayers for compassion for all beings. These prayers are carried by the wind to all corners of the universe, to grant this ultimate blessing. Similarly, with the proper intention when hanging these flags, we can wish for benefit and happiness for all beings here and beyond!

Please visit my Etsy store for more Tibetan-style prayer flags, cards, and journal books.