tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2690284959902634852024-03-05T16:22:31.932-08:00Andy's Blog
heavyweather1977@gmail.com
Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comBlogger196125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-88814454849410058542023-12-13T08:23:00.000-08:002023-12-13T08:28:13.549-08:00More New Work<p> Trying to live a balanced life, exercise and paint up a storm. Wish me luck. More new available work that is on my available work page. I will be pumping this more now that we are representing ourselves.</p><p>Last week we cleaned out the lower level of our granary, which is now my new favorite place in the world. On schedule for having it open in the spring.</p><p>This painting is from a series I am doin from a recent trip to central Illinois.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVx7MEiyI4NyGUDDJ7bTNJngJLFCTlran2k_O-QYYJBm1Ra7ivpVyC6jDlFSRGN6Bt-KyClnQlvIIMbr1tMd3ShUW4AIiPwcdk6SRQ8nlr_6GfNLbnlJDRJH8Gaf424IE3bP_UsdsmOQPwtsk0IZYlJfySzYAAnmwdrXDtzh-1U03SBdwlZCK-9y6qr0r5/s5175/LittlewhiteIllinoisbarn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3211" data-original-width="5175" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVx7MEiyI4NyGUDDJ7bTNJngJLFCTlran2k_O-QYYJBm1Ra7ivpVyC6jDlFSRGN6Bt-KyClnQlvIIMbr1tMd3ShUW4AIiPwcdk6SRQ8nlr_6GfNLbnlJDRJH8Gaf424IE3bP_UsdsmOQPwtsk0IZYlJfySzYAAnmwdrXDtzh-1U03SBdwlZCK-9y6qr0r5/w400-h249/LittlewhiteIllinoisbarn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-56263286197289791372023-12-06T13:50:00.000-08:002023-12-13T07:50:01.002-08:00Back In Business<p>Professionally I had a wonderful year and am incredibly grateful to all the people that helped my get along, including Theodore Hamm's. That said, I am glad it's coming to an end. I have a frozen shoulder but its getting better. I am painting again at my own pace, and the thing is healing up. On my available works page old and new work is posted and more will be coming soon. We are excited to open up our gallery in the spring after it gets cleaned out. Right now painting is helping me grieve and process. I won't say how many shows I will be doing next year, all I know is I am happy to paint at my own pace without a gallery yelling at me, without a deadline or any commitments. Instead of just getting though something, I feel momentum finally building again. Feels good. I don't feel much pressure to do anything other than be myself and work at my own pace with an acceptance of the consequences of my life decisions. In some weird ways I think I am more dialed in and better than ever. Without knowing what comes next, I certainly am comfortably enthused.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW261-nveLPfrsHTBYEsvusEAfeNqflSIbNYxhmPY5sp0Rv-atnUzpPP-KV8WPj6cjgKIx-35_UKXcOvDnL3rgO0A53KChZhdPpyGDwX-jLyPO3uqwV4f4iK-M__snm2RA4GfqySf960E5ooExZYrMLwkO8lYp0NUal-IFBmJNaK6VG9LRXZ93TUM_Cy7q/s4487/Underpass.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3373" data-original-width="4487" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW261-nveLPfrsHTBYEsvusEAfeNqflSIbNYxhmPY5sp0Rv-atnUzpPP-KV8WPj6cjgKIx-35_UKXcOvDnL3rgO0A53KChZhdPpyGDwX-jLyPO3uqwV4f4iK-M__snm2RA4GfqySf960E5ooExZYrMLwkO8lYp0NUal-IFBmJNaK6VG9LRXZ93TUM_Cy7q/w400-h301/Underpass.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-37388099240573970292023-09-20T15:01:00.002-07:002023-09-20T15:01:29.677-07:00KC<p> Heading to KC tonight. I am fried and have been for months, but the light is at the end of the tunnel.Two shows, Plaza and St James Court and I am done for a while. This has been one of the most challenging years of my life and I need a break. My arm feels like it is going to fall off. Physically my body needs a break. After this I am semi-retired or whatever you want to call it. In the spring we are going to open up our gallery to the public, at least on a limited or by appointment basis. I don't know how many shows I am doing next year, as many as I have work for without sacrificing the balance in my life. I am done with that shit. I will paint over the winter at my own pace and make work at my own pace. Work on other themes and ideas. Edit my book. I don't entirely know and I don't care, it will figure itself out. I am not worried about it.</p><p>That said, I still love what I am doing, and think I am doing it as well as ever. Here are a few heading to KC, including our new yellow barn. Once again thank you to everyone who has supported me through this long year.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8IKTZgfalzQzKqIAcnRZfuJgNCoFnEdXbDfDA5TG5HvyHg0Q3EkkF6piPjTjBvsJGiN08S8Jdzxbw-mT-wXmU4gkCcOMRr6h8CMLfHbl0zyOB7_gjZMaCJMjaxNfqwCRB7SFGdkyHHrz4KahWLpvaepm4_cWzu7WU2cL2PLFYsaCy8lppAcfoYSOozFXr" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2537" data-original-width="4639" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8IKTZgfalzQzKqIAcnRZfuJgNCoFnEdXbDfDA5TG5HvyHg0Q3EkkF6piPjTjBvsJGiN08S8Jdzxbw-mT-wXmU4gkCcOMRr6h8CMLfHbl0zyOB7_gjZMaCJMjaxNfqwCRB7SFGdkyHHrz4KahWLpvaepm4_cWzu7WU2cL2PLFYsaCy8lppAcfoYSOozFXr=w400-h219" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwodaEZGbE0yt09i7NZE_gt8clCRPfKP6eAt2gSx_wZLH0muFLCJGKoyJgh6vjKZ_ijrNnexkM3h84wR6oGjY3Ly5qVQsNWMHEVf6NtXdqTGslxwf-kEXTU3EC3-f_F7SgmiQwhN61zq2uI0xbh6hkeuNzkWmPb1WgSxX2felzgAfm6qQO5iyC9TL9w-m6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3095" data-original-width="5223" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwodaEZGbE0yt09i7NZE_gt8clCRPfKP6eAt2gSx_wZLH0muFLCJGKoyJgh6vjKZ_ijrNnexkM3h84wR6oGjY3Ly5qVQsNWMHEVf6NtXdqTGslxwf-kEXTU3EC3-f_F7SgmiQwhN61zq2uI0xbh6hkeuNzkWmPb1WgSxX2felzgAfm6qQO5iyC9TL9w-m6=w400-h238" width="400" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIN-6Rb-XroGym3kMp2WnNHwnKEfTMaZWr7-HhJnuzxdqmLABEzl5O78LvBzaKp4umlzdL2wayBSoIQiu0uE807jUUXfEPQ9MADOX8HU3n-NiLoXR2QAIg6b54faU_Q9nByHgS0YT3B1gxUe44TZ4j6_hvIDuJxviJDPzdnJnhZRySf58wBGm1JUDNSEqb" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3093" data-original-width="4930" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIN-6Rb-XroGym3kMp2WnNHwnKEfTMaZWr7-HhJnuzxdqmLABEzl5O78LvBzaKp4umlzdL2wayBSoIQiu0uE807jUUXfEPQ9MADOX8HU3n-NiLoXR2QAIg6b54faU_Q9nByHgS0YT3B1gxUe44TZ4j6_hvIDuJxviJDPzdnJnhZRySf58wBGm1JUDNSEqb=w400-h251" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><p></p><p><br /></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-14678438096981895312023-08-01T10:03:00.001-07:002023-08-01T10:03:42.999-07:00Half way home<p> So, we are half way through our show season. I want to say thank you to everyone who has come out to support us. We have never been this exhausted and worn down before. Every good conversation, hello, hug or purchase of a painting has greatly helped us get through this tough stretch. I can honestly say I have given all I can to my family and my career and I am greatly looking forward to some down time. </p><p>I will be in:</p><p>Uptown Art Fair, Minneapolis Aug 4-6</p><p>Charlevoix Waterfront Art Festival Aug 12</p><p>Plaza Art Fair, Kansas City Sept 22-24</p><p>St. James Court Art Festival, Louisville Oct 6-8</p><p>Oddly enough my work feels just as good as ever, whatever that means. I have things I want to do with painting, but it means slowing down. After this stretch of shows I will only be showing when I want and where I want, period. At our own pace. I will not be saying goodbye to shows, but I will never push myself to the point my body is breaking down ever again. That said, I feel so blessed to be an artist, and with the path my life has taken. Doing the shows is very bonding. All the doors that have been opened to me, the friendships created and fullness of life has gotten through this last year. I am very satisfied with how things are going despite some major family losses.</p><p>On the way back from Ann Arbor, Katie was driving and I saw this cloud. So naturally I found a piece of scrap paper in the van and did I sketch of it. The drawing became this painting. This is my process. Olde School. I prefer to feel the image of the cloud rather than scientifically render it. Clearly I am an emotional person, and that is what needs to exit my body through the act of painting. Notice all the license plates we wrote down on the piece of scrap paper. Yes, we are dorks and always play the license plate game when traveling. So many times in painting, it is the abstract idea that creates the painting. A mood. A color. A shape.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_LLzhmezIGxV7X3s8oQxjw6AK-39PpfIwRNIOGCl6mvR1Zkepi5oNDUt0FngsHfozsSpnyZ4zHLh2vw6z_fCufLyTZzYx4KgfWBKMHs6vgxBrzhWIAamcT_vqSLDSo-1YgpNrEToMskeah55CHRDN35Ds9TpcRRkOqPIpcYkLcetymYnLCRBo4crTEt8/s4631/KM23Mullberry_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3447" data-original-width="4631" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_LLzhmezIGxV7X3s8oQxjw6AK-39PpfIwRNIOGCl6mvR1Zkepi5oNDUt0FngsHfozsSpnyZ4zHLh2vw6z_fCufLyTZzYx4KgfWBKMHs6vgxBrzhWIAamcT_vqSLDSo-1YgpNrEToMskeah55CHRDN35Ds9TpcRRkOqPIpcYkLcetymYnLCRBo4crTEt8/s320/KM23Mullberry_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtL67B3X0U56o8TIW3KYrCKO8i6nWsVockytD8wJYxRXp6F4UE_Vgx2mxTch63JDBVBLT3Nltm1bJOvc4qmB4LqggVwat6bHhcSdCRaeUl5OpsQOV_mD4FtqYVAzgnmG48GxNo5RrpKTPE5lmK-9GlYLKWT5HuQ8biNJsGwLcTdK14Tbsnhc6qTIn4Rov/s5361/KM23Mullberry_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3623" data-original-width="5361" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtL67B3X0U56o8TIW3KYrCKO8i6nWsVockytD8wJYxRXp6F4UE_Vgx2mxTch63JDBVBLT3Nltm1bJOvc4qmB4LqggVwat6bHhcSdCRaeUl5OpsQOV_mD4FtqYVAzgnmG48GxNo5RrpKTPE5lmK-9GlYLKWT5HuQ8biNJsGwLcTdK14Tbsnhc6qTIn4Rov/s320/KM23Mullberry_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-57286751768740764652023-06-29T13:37:00.000-07:002023-06-29T13:37:13.774-07:00Follow me on...<p> I loathe this, but I am now on instagram. Not me personally but our gallery. So you can follow us at OUR gallery now, which is exciting for us. The name of the gallery is Painting Is Dead Gallery. If you are art educated I hope you laughed at that. We still have a sense of humor...</p><p>Once we get some more time and we will be posting more work available on our websites and doing that in concert with instagram. But considering all that has happened to us, we feel lucky just to have done some shows and gotten to this point. We have had no time to update or post work online, but we will once things settle down some. Our next show is Ann Arbor The Original July 20-22.</p><p>For anyone wanting to follow us on social media it is #Paintingisdeadgallery on Instagram.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMR3WIis-NMxkE38JdYzX-znolrl5cwgvmP_w-odBP8OTh_s1WAL44dbVtNK8CZvj84bOQyVZ2mE0mXdQ6jwrtbitWhYtipfPlhqFq3gfMDBALNeF68YoeubcQuZ6623PSvhexBodzF9nAOAHh0Vf_yDNoyxPpqxd5_djib7OBioipcrAnx4Vew2KuyIO/s3078/DSC00841.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1911" data-original-width="3078" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMR3WIis-NMxkE38JdYzX-znolrl5cwgvmP_w-odBP8OTh_s1WAL44dbVtNK8CZvj84bOQyVZ2mE0mXdQ6jwrtbitWhYtipfPlhqFq3gfMDBALNeF68YoeubcQuZ6623PSvhexBodzF9nAOAHh0Vf_yDNoyxPpqxd5_djib7OBioipcrAnx4Vew2KuyIO/w400-h249/DSC00841.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-24627796376240271322023-06-29T13:22:00.004-07:002023-06-29T13:42:00.149-07:00Trying to make it to safety<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span>This week I found myself in a church in Milwaukee for a mass celebrating the life of Father Mike Hammer. Father Mike bought a painting from me, conducted the funeral for Katies dad, married Katie's mom and dad, remained lifelong friends with the Musolff family, oh and by the way, founded the Catholic AIDS Outreach Ministry. He was a legend, and the capacity crowd at St. John The Evangelist Church in Milwaukee testified to that. Words like compassion, love, empathy, mercy were not merely lip service, they were lived. I liked hearing those words, I miss my family's matriarchs.<br /> <div> My life has been abundant, and after the last few months I feel haggard. I was too busy to update my website, weed whack, fix my van, exercise, floss, or stop drinking. And yet life went on, big changes sprang forth and we are almost over the hump. We got half our land planted in prairie(some rain would help), and the grainery is being turned into a gallery. So as of now we are NOT represented by a gallery. We feel free. Being represented by a gallery so near the farm ended up being more and more of a conflict. We want to do work that is at times more difficult to sell, and we don't need the added stress of dealing with a gallery. So we are representing ourselves. The gallery itself will not be ready until probably next spring, but it is lookin' awesome. If you have ever bought work from us, this is where the money has gone. The circa 1900 grainery and other outbuildings all are resided and reroofed and good for the next generation or two. The foundations all got fixed too. This place has felt like a construction site. Whenever we get time to clean it all up this place will be looking sharp and I am very proud of that. This has been a lifelong dream of mine, and it feels damn good to live the dream.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJR_WzQC4Jq0qSoZg5XpQn8YzssWxiMFfuMMveNEGMqVpegZP32N_ZHTeAIuBm5wlnbJsCzjPd7y7KmdLPD8AiwYvmdpi1YneqRCYZzyqLk0R10K3KaOB_WOF_5DlxhptF71Yx045IxUZ5_i-tYV38fA0wUfLOTyvt20vK6oJ3neDI8mTqj1MPyZ-2wY7_" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3563" data-original-width="5414" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJR_WzQC4Jq0qSoZg5XpQn8YzssWxiMFfuMMveNEGMqVpegZP32N_ZHTeAIuBm5wlnbJsCzjPd7y7KmdLPD8AiwYvmdpi1YneqRCYZzyqLk0R10K3KaOB_WOF_5DlxhptF71Yx045IxUZ5_i-tYV38fA0wUfLOTyvt20vK6oJ3neDI8mTqj1MPyZ-2wY7_=w400-h264" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8XV0jIDvn3dzC8T4EBmTQcCGlnodpc2G8e00nWDgjsYUYwCVj54nY7MRHSj9YLjGX-8vkhI6ATvlotEOJE3PJ3QzJMGrD4g9D4YEb94q2IkX94fWWCPzQ-Z9NJkwCbpySX-MnT2aOqq4FQS72pcUAAQN5CyiQ6zgVCqw5ioI6f73qXwPmY_Cdjir2U1yx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3608" data-original-width="5413" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8XV0jIDvn3dzC8T4EBmTQcCGlnodpc2G8e00nWDgjsYUYwCVj54nY7MRHSj9YLjGX-8vkhI6ATvlotEOJE3PJ3QzJMGrD4g9D4YEb94q2IkX94fWWCPzQ-Z9NJkwCbpySX-MnT2aOqq4FQS72pcUAAQN5CyiQ6zgVCqw5ioI6f73qXwPmY_Cdjir2U1yx=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /> <br /><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><p></p></blockquote></blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p></div></div>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-69552620053591450572023-05-14T18:11:00.000-07:002023-05-14T18:11:09.003-07:00Mothers Day<p> Today, 20 years ago I had my first art fair, which I did for a few years basically just to spend time with my Grandfather on Mothers Day. At the time I skipped out of my graduation for my MFA(which I don't regret missing for a heartbeat), and exhibited in the Marshfield High School gym, which is where the Marshfield Art Festival was held. I made $800, and my career officially started. Not everyone gets to be in the arts for 20 years, I realize I am lucky.</p><p>Shortly after the passing of my Mom, a member of our family fell victim to suicide. Its been tough. The paintings I wanted to be about healing went in a different direction. Its anger, raw emotion and whatever needs to get out of me, sometimes that is about healing. There are no answers, this is not intellectual. Its from the gut. Today was my first Mothers Day without the two matriarchs of our family, I painted. Its what I do.</p><p>I will be making my shows, I am getting through this. Thank you to all the people that reached out to me during this time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SAjWJUPyvdz4GZzW-a7o7ZQk1qozOcUcckJj3wKL5EH62r1J1M9uotAKPeDKxpxrhxJrgUFId61-KddiDqwXsHAbQefOtoo9iKrs4WteXg9K2oZ5_GIPquqzmM7Kt0h6jpMNjBHaaDttJnXxuyZ6ZhM_WEVAx0Ys4UXI9_6oOH0Tsjia8rWg9l_42A/s3055/DSC00829.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2171" data-original-width="3055" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SAjWJUPyvdz4GZzW-a7o7ZQk1qozOcUcckJj3wKL5EH62r1J1M9uotAKPeDKxpxrhxJrgUFId61-KddiDqwXsHAbQefOtoo9iKrs4WteXg9K2oZ5_GIPquqzmM7Kt0h6jpMNjBHaaDttJnXxuyZ6ZhM_WEVAx0Ys4UXI9_6oOH0Tsjia8rWg9l_42A/s320/DSC00829.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-2125319044772201772023-04-19T07:03:00.001-07:002023-04-19T07:36:48.678-07:00My Mom<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcv1--JZECWJFeKIpK1DwsN9u3cdiglxRMhAO0nKJuqs6y1fUfus0K69vizNj_T9CRHEfYhmYye2jqCImst9VjZ8GIj9hAzR_KAqhu8GQR-mHPqCIN7FQxdfe7t8OM4B5n2ZjUKEMTphYhLYOb-df1sb6n9gfm0eImO2jRT6dJ18RrEaFCIstRZq1njQ/s3264/DSC00012.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcv1--JZECWJFeKIpK1DwsN9u3cdiglxRMhAO0nKJuqs6y1fUfus0K69vizNj_T9CRHEfYhmYye2jqCImst9VjZ8GIj9hAzR_KAqhu8GQR-mHPqCIN7FQxdfe7t8OM4B5n2ZjUKEMTphYhLYOb-df1sb6n9gfm0eImO2jRT6dJ18RrEaFCIstRZq1njQ/s320/DSC00012.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> My Mom passed on Easter. This was the eulogy I gave 6 days later on April 15th. I will try my best to get through my shows, get through the summer. I may not have as much work as usual, but for my own sanity I will be there. At the end I gave my Mom all I had, and I would have had it no other way. That's just what you do. I have been run through the ringer lately, loosing two of my favorite people, but I am not alone. We as a country have survived a rough patch. My work for the rest of this year will be dedicated to those who have lost people, those care givers, those that need to heal. For peace and tranquility. And for my Mom.<p></p><p><br /></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, I am not dressed in black today. Today I want to make it clear we are celebrating my Mom.</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a nurse for 40 years my Mom dealt too often with end of life situations, and she always said, "funerals are for the living". So we hope to grant her dying wishes in good spirit, or later with spirits, or in her words: "a brewski". My goal is that this talk reflects my Mom's personality or as we would say in my field- oeuvre. Some of this may not be appropriate, but I would think my Mom would want laughs at her funeral.</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Mom had fun. She was fun. Not in a loose woman, barfly sense, no, she was good fun. Kind, gentle and known for her good disposition. It was difficult to watch cancer take away some of her good nature. While going through countless family photos, it was hard to find a photo of my Mom not smiling, not looking beautiful. Personally I was relieved to even find a couple decent ones of me, with way too many looking awkward or just immature. It took awhile for me, I guess, to grow into myself, not my Mom. She pretty much looked like herself in every picture. She looked good.</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Mom went through a lot of tough circumstances and did it bravely and with dignity. With her parents both sickly, my Mom took over some of the head of house responsibilities at age 12. I asked my wife Katie if it was okay to say her brothers were difficult, she said "that would be putting it mildly." My Mom laughed at life and laughed at its cruelties. Sometimes Mom had bad luck. She told of walking into a Kmart and falling in someone else's puke. Grandpa once spit out the front window of the family car, and hit Mom in the backseat. Her cousins infamously once said "hide the pies, here come the Schmollers" upon her non monied family entering that relatives home. Mom laughed at it all. Just last week I stuck my tongue out at her and despite being on her death bed, she made a silly face back at me. I won't ever forget that moment. She good naturedly laughed at you when you had an "owwie". She smiled when she cooked for you. She smiled at life and life shined down upon her.</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Mom was not worldly. Her Grandpa Gottfried lost all his money in the Depression. Her Dad, Herb, had to drop out of school to support the family. They lived in an average house in a blue collar neighborhood. My Mom was salt of the earth and never really strayed from that. Every year since 1959 she went up north to Lake Namekagon to fish, other than that she never lived further than a mile from the family home she grew up in, the blessed 1084 Whiterock, the house Herb was born in. My Mom was loyal to her family and to her hometown. She was a lifelong member of this church, got baptized here, got married here, and is today fondly celebrated here.</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, my Mom was not a doctor. No. She was a nurse, it was her calling: caregiver. She was born to care for the needs of others and she was damn good at it. It depends on my mood I guess, when I am feeling good, I think we are all talented in different ways. In a bad mood I think too many people are just duds. Anyways... some people are good with words, or money or numbers. An athlete is intelligent kinetically. An artist with emotion, color or line. My Mom was good at serving others. She took care of her aging parents, even bought a house for all of us to live in together. She took care of her kids, her pets, her husband, her marriage, her patients. While some people remove flaws in a design, my Mom removed your splinters. Some people have pop in their bat, my Mom popped your blackheads on your back, and with joy. She would wash your feet, do your laundry, AND make you feel special at the same time. Love was my Mom's vehicle and she drove it with ease, whether repositioning your pillow or administering an enema. She joked of her fingernail not growing any longer after years of removing bowel obstructions. She was called Goldfinger, she would sing the song and giggle. She even had a pin on her lapel she wore with pride. She sheltered her children from the grim realities of a nursing home. She didn't bring her job home with her too often, and usually it was the frustration with dumb doctors and over administrating.</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At home some people work with wood or glass as a hobby, carefully perfecting their craft. My Mom's medium was hospitality, and mainly in the form of food for others. Grandpa said "we aren't the richest family, but we are going to eat the best on the block". Grandma and Grandpa both loved food too. Fresh caught fish, Cornish hens, homemade donuts. I have fond memories of Grandpa sopping up a sultry gravy with a piece of white bread. I am so blessed Mom took care of my Grandparents-for they helped take care of me. I truly believe being raised by four adults had a profound impact on my life-especailly two of them that had their formative years come during the Great Depression. Mom carried on the tradition. She could whip up a perfect egg sandwhich as quickly as she could hook up a catheter, and both with a smile. Mom had a bottomless pot of coffee, and offered everyone a little "schmeck" to eat. Crullers, pies, sandbakkles, pecan fingers, a ham sandwich. "Can I get you something to eat?" "How 'bout a piece of toast?" My Mom really enjoyed making people happy.</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first time Katie went up to Lake Namekagon on the traditional "up north" family vacation with us, I believe she was appalled by the family dynamic. The men would fish, clean fish, eat and fish again. The women played kings on the corners and went to town. My Mom cooked. This was my Mom's "vacation"? Cooking and cleaning up after people. She went fishing a few times during the week and would get to town too, but the bulk of her days were spent serving up to a dozen people. Egg after egg. Precariously piled high pancakes served copiously with Aunt Jamima, stacks of bacon, Canadian bacon. The rented cabin was saturated with a heavenly smell I have burned into my being. Bakery. Fish fries. Gluttony. I am sure it violated one of the seven sins, and it lasted all week. All this cooking and cleaning and all on vacation?-this was strange to Katie. Perhaps Katie thought it was a setback for women's lib. Oh no. My Mom got herself a trade. My Mom made good money. My Mom was independent and strong. She worked hard and was in control of her life. Taking care of people made my Mom happy. If we were happy she was happy.</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Mom was largely a happy person, especially pre-cancer. She supposedly had many dates and many suitors. She bought herself a yellow '68 Mustang and I am sure she was a hot chick bumming around town. Truly she was a beautiful woman, how my dad got her I have no clue. She picked the right guy though, because I don't know of anyone who could have loved my Mom and been more supportive of her than my Dad. My Mom kept up lifelong friendships, not everyone does that. Kept up with family. Kept up with the Grandkids. Kept our ancestors alive in our house with stories and photos prominently displayed. My Mom was dedicated to her loved ones, and I was lucky to be one of them.</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't find out my Mom had stage 4 lung cancer until after her seizure on March 5th. She shielded us from that as long as she could. I wish she hadn't, but she was selfless and would have it no other way. I want to tell you two fond memories from the last months. One was at Katie and I's art opening on March 4th. Ironically today is the last day the show is up at Tory Folliard Gallery. It is for most people very prestigious, in the art world, it's a big deal to have a show there. I am thankful for my success as an artist and proud but mostly I could take it our leave it. I enjoy doing good work most of all. The two people I really enjoyed sharing my success with were my Grandma Fletcher and my Mom. To tell your Mom you made it, never got old. To see your Mom proud of you, never got old either. I thought of all the hardships she endured and persevered over and it felt damn good to make her happy. So our big opening was on March 4th, and because of covid we hadn't had a show in Milwaukee since February 2020. We weren't sure if my Mom was up for going but she was. We thought she would only want to stay 20 minutes but she stayed hours. She had a great day. We had a great day. She met our clients, old friends and new. Star and Paul were there. Judy and Jessica. Her kids and grandkids. Bethanne and Mark. The place was packed. Her last good day we were all together as a family. She saw me as Mr. Andy Fletcher one last time. It was a fantastic day. The next morning she had a seizure, was put on a ventilator, and was never the same. She came home on March 30th. We all worked very hard as a family to get the house ready for her return. We know this is what she had wanted.</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Wednesday before she passed I played guitar for her and sang. At that point she was not very responsive and clearly towards the end.The care giver, Lori, was with her and everyone else had gone into the kitchen to eat. I didn't want Mom to be alone with a stranger so I started to sing. She became more cognizant and full of life as I sang. I played songs I thought she'd like. That's All Right Mama, Do You Wanna Dance, Money, Sea of Love, Stand By Me. Everyone came back to her. She became alert, and moving. Moving to the music. Moving in a way she hadn't done for a while. She tried to sing. She was moved and so were we. It was a profould moment. Mom loved music. Loved her family's history in music. The Schmoller Orchestra, Uncle Art on piano.After a long while she just smiled. Smiled a big long smile that she hadn't smiled for a some time and held it for 5 or 10 minutes. Try and smile for that long, it's tiring. It's effort. It was an astounding smile for someone dying of cancer. She ate her last meal and a few days later peacefully passed away. That Wednesday night I went home and cried hard. My Mom had given me one last grand moment. She had passed her love of music down to me. The depth of this bond is hard to explain, either you get it or you don't. Mom did. She felt it.</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In closing let me say again, this is a celebration. My Mom's gift was love and compassion, and what a wonderful gift to have been given. It's okay to cry, I am not embarrassed. Seriously what difference does it make, I already chose to look like this. Mainly though, have fun. Share stories, and don't be too ashamed to tell poop stories, my Mom loved those the best. Eat drink and be merry. The last thing I said to my Mom was- thank you, and I do believe this is what she would want from us today. God Bless you Mom.</div>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-3555647433455994572023-03-10T05:13:00.000-08:002023-03-10T05:13:16.547-08:00Mom<p> My show at the Tory Folliard Gallery is up and the opening last Saturday went really well. All the support of clients, friends, and family was and is completely wonderful. I know that I am blessed. The show is up until mid April.</p><p>The next morning my Mom took a bad turn. All my energy is going towards my Mom. I pray she gets to come back home, and I will be doing everything I can to help her. When you see your mama in a position like this all you can do is think about everything she did for you. It's all love, and I need to be there for my family.</p><p>I will be trying to do a few shows in June and Katie is the poster artist in Ann Arbor. There are no guarantees at this point. I will not be selling anything from my website, I will try my best to keep working and try my best to get to the shows I have. Its all up in the air. I just love my mama.</p><p>Its funny, all I wanted to do was a show that showed I am more than someone who paints pretty pictures, and now all I think I will be capable of is painting pretty pictures.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5962QqHu9Go8zv7AzP-iT3LFfyDwvNUX0OTa3M-DFZEcP_24QpDNkWkdqjBd_2VJ1OmT_gEhxmiNioqCN1PB5q_NcHWwniQbUes79_cnXNjUCNHxmvQK8Vih50IcqUL5jnNvXkS0XwcifFof6JrMTsrJ1hA0PEJCT2GTCzOS9K7PAb-bTUGx0e-11Mg/s899/0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="674" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5962QqHu9Go8zv7AzP-iT3LFfyDwvNUX0OTa3M-DFZEcP_24QpDNkWkdqjBd_2VJ1OmT_gEhxmiNioqCN1PB5q_NcHWwniQbUes79_cnXNjUCNHxmvQK8Vih50IcqUL5jnNvXkS0XwcifFof6JrMTsrJ1hA0PEJCT2GTCzOS9K7PAb-bTUGx0e-11Mg/s320/0.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-28016942138601790552023-02-25T08:35:00.000-08:002023-02-25T08:35:18.797-08:00Hamm's Beer Show<p> My painting will be displayed at the Hamm's Beer Club Fest in Medina Minnesota tomorrow Feb 26th from 9 to 3. Katie and I will be there, drinking Hamm's and geeking out!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHm_mZphMpuA2gyLZKwBNo7HB_XLsvNoHTEMP9ILGmW_DmFT4DSMZUiMmw1TzApL1ftFscRz4YeziZtl7dTBH5SL2bdgPoVL4sOn9TIxSsI3c3Qa7t8VQFnR_g_B2memrpadMlj47wOCW5spM1LAkYTfuRD4JsB22VlTxjPIjOIqda_AM-TZXOy8KxgA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1420" data-original-width="3132" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHm_mZphMpuA2gyLZKwBNo7HB_XLsvNoHTEMP9ILGmW_DmFT4DSMZUiMmw1TzApL1ftFscRz4YeziZtl7dTBH5SL2bdgPoVL4sOn9TIxSsI3c3Qa7t8VQFnR_g_B2memrpadMlj47wOCW5spM1LAkYTfuRD4JsB22VlTxjPIjOIqda_AM-TZXOy8KxgA=w486-h220" width="486" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-66362282755566026812023-02-25T08:30:00.002-08:002023-02-25T08:30:35.476-08:00Updates, updates, updates...<p> Sorry, I have not been updating this, but as a general rule, we have been stupid busy.</p><p>First off we have a show at Tory Folliard Gallery in Milwaukee with the opening on March 4 1-4PM. The work is somewhat of a departure, and it feels great. I will write more about this next week.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9427SYkQ-jiiysbsL039e60My2gCT7-uYugMie0vwGl1d0cpMmJC13KfpyBy2rk59hgRey5X0-rg5Fzbya206lsCrNbuzgg0x2bghz3G_EP3b-WeTXTx8pdkALo9UPpj6-jmoN8D3GJFOyjIlvRfaDPbS-bZi-P_24o0tRvDRtLQiTL-4D07lL8yCAA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="2516" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9427SYkQ-jiiysbsL039e60My2gCT7-uYugMie0vwGl1d0cpMmJC13KfpyBy2rk59hgRey5X0-rg5Fzbya206lsCrNbuzgg0x2bghz3G_EP3b-WeTXTx8pdkALo9UPpj6-jmoN8D3GJFOyjIlvRfaDPbS-bZi-P_24o0tRvDRtLQiTL-4D07lL8yCAA" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt1Yk4MUvD80e1NmtmsPRE9-dJYOvUiVh-skE72UO55Dz8N8I0Q-tNHYRObK3bWJ4RxjDc2-4IlIZk1Ajz2VamGNHmKoYUCFR8mJ8Zfo_p5uVvGuIyu0gp7w-7-qs5qSDZUx6pzgWWYoMbCya00Ku19-6JT7q7x_nVvAWQCO_XB1cUF6fZ6tadPLq-7A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3034" data-original-width="2247" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt1Yk4MUvD80e1NmtmsPRE9-dJYOvUiVh-skE72UO55Dz8N8I0Q-tNHYRObK3bWJ4RxjDc2-4IlIZk1Ajz2VamGNHmKoYUCFR8mJ8Zfo_p5uVvGuIyu0gp7w-7-qs5qSDZUx6pzgWWYoMbCya00Ku19-6JT7q7x_nVvAWQCO_XB1cUF6fZ6tadPLq-7A" width="178" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga5cTlfLceI299gWDQLlLuNxk6dFj0i-NrhFLmgGRS4jXGFrd4Y7TcnXnRYmeUa1PE1ILZfUv1cK8oxtEo21B-4cr-lKNubg9a2S-l-VxtwGFzajWGGP5mI20zphUPjraNihU716NKa0E0HoxrBWWAVuUJrjW8pqwuJ6hQnVpTAaIH2yTJQKTOrQQoIA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2218" data-original-width="2931" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga5cTlfLceI299gWDQLlLuNxk6dFj0i-NrhFLmgGRS4jXGFrd4Y7TcnXnRYmeUa1PE1ILZfUv1cK8oxtEo21B-4cr-lKNubg9a2S-l-VxtwGFzajWGGP5mI20zphUPjraNihU716NKa0E0HoxrBWWAVuUJrjW8pqwuJ6hQnVpTAaIH2yTJQKTOrQQoIA" width="317" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-77236438863573135452022-11-24T07:54:00.001-08:002022-11-24T07:54:23.602-08:00The new Oldsmobiles are in early this year<p> Yeah winter showed up like a tax form from the government. We are having a "white Thanksgiving" here at the farm this year. The good news is I was out on the ice, 4", and did this painting on the 21st. If anybody did an earlier painting on the ice this winter in the lower 48 states, I want to know who that bastard is! </p><p>Being on the river a few times lately, is like going home to me. A place to escape politics, capitalism, idiots(mainly), the news, everyone and everything. No music, no advertising, no farms, no nothing except the wildlife refuge. I owe it to myself to do a series of just the river before I die. The river has been a gift.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZJhIWnaKqysTaEeAKtzOkxoitSeb3acrF-nV4kXT4lZRVWrFSsqpbiR3iGrh09lTwwgIx8Yqi_8PeUF9GmmR2hEiG11euatCElc5QU8DOSCr4NtgVG6vC4hZm8m_2a-v2MgQlKpcnQkP-TS7K65se3k3dMOL5JeEppAHNENL6tkbqYuyMjJmvEpjfA/s2881/DSC00461.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1783" data-original-width="2881" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZJhIWnaKqysTaEeAKtzOkxoitSeb3acrF-nV4kXT4lZRVWrFSsqpbiR3iGrh09lTwwgIx8Yqi_8PeUF9GmmR2hEiG11euatCElc5QU8DOSCr4NtgVG6vC4hZm8m_2a-v2MgQlKpcnQkP-TS7K65se3k3dMOL5JeEppAHNENL6tkbqYuyMjJmvEpjfA/s320/DSC00461.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-91241443685721692582022-11-12T14:05:00.000-08:002022-11-12T14:05:02.187-08:00Catching up<p> So I got a little busy. We made it through our schedule and at the end, out of sheer madness I guess, I added Memphis. I worked 6 months straight with no days off and got COVID 19 as my beer chaser reward. </p><p> In the meantime The Leigh Yawkey Museum bought my painting for it's permanent collection which made me extremely happy, for not only are Katie and I in their permanent collection, I know my Grandma would have been beaming with pride. Katie and I were the first married couple from Wisconsin to ever be in the Birds In Art Show at the same time. I don't do museum shows. I don't apply to things other than art fairs, and clearly I can't keep up with that anymore, so this was special for me.</p><p><span> All I know is next year I am doing 4 maybe 5 art festivals tops. Never again do I want to work a schedule like this past year. Now I have all these loose ends to deal with and it feels dysfunctional. Doing shows are a blast and I can not say enough how much fun I have meeting people. My paintings open a lot of doors for me, of which I am very grateful for. That said I can't go on like this anymore. At every show people tell me, "No you have to come back, we love your work." Well, it is like that at the following show and people don't travel with us and see what it is like. It is like being on tour but in between gigs you are writing new songs and at the next show you are relying on the new shit to make your living. It is fucking exhausting. </span>Only reluctantly am I an Art Star. Without a doubt I can say I have given it everything I could and that feels damn good. Seriously how many people give everything they have to give to something they love? I know I am truly blessed.</p><p><span><span> We are both writing a book, and have written everyday this year recording all the madness. We are going to keep restoring our farm. We got the land put into the Pollinator Program with the USDA and are very excited to see the land be transformed.We are going to slow down. We are going to do work that is more ambitious and we don't have to care if it sells or not moving forward. We have about 8 more months to bust our asses, and then we are making a change. Maybe it will be a sabbatical. Maybe semi-retirement. I don't know and I don't have to know. Clearly I am never going to stop being an artist, it is who I am to my core. </span></span></p><p>I will post a few paintings in my available works page soon in case anyone wants anything for Christmas. </p><p>Katie and I have a gallery show at the Tory Folliard Gallery in Milwaukee in March.</p><p>Thank you all for helping me get through the loss of my Grandma, she is so strong in my memory it is like she is still here with me everyday.</p><p><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Q5J135N7WnPik-E-xGaekpJ6oABgaPBxZXOTZLPFZuPu9U9rsSXf4_OHMwnshJzld9rKJVzP0Q8j9vczXn2o0ZeZksN9NfXLZns4H-QrQjd3GlsLqZbQ0MH_Q_M1-KBiPaq6q27tLMASsmg9Q5IgvzzT-iRn6T3By4j27u5nO4odcXCwAKw0ht2n-Q/s2870/DSC00344.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2150" data-original-width="2870" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Q5J135N7WnPik-E-xGaekpJ6oABgaPBxZXOTZLPFZuPu9U9rsSXf4_OHMwnshJzld9rKJVzP0Q8j9vczXn2o0ZeZksN9NfXLZns4H-QrQjd3GlsLqZbQ0MH_Q_M1-KBiPaq6q27tLMASsmg9Q5IgvzzT-iRn6T3By4j27u5nO4odcXCwAKw0ht2n-Q/w400-h300/DSC00344.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span><br /></span><p></p><p><span><span><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span><br /></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span><span><span> </span><br /></span></span></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-16985891925153849982022-08-03T18:18:00.001-07:002022-08-03T18:18:49.256-07:00Lenora Fletcher<p> My Hero, one of my best friends, my Grandma died today. Til the end she inspired me with her dignity, grace, character and intelligence. She was a one room school house teacher and inspired this painting. I talked with her pretty much everyday for the last decade. She made me feel completely loved, encouraged my artistic streak, and in many ways was my mother, role model, and part of my soul. She unquestionably is very responsible for who I am today.</p><p>So I am not sure what the rest of my year will look like. All my shows this year have been ridiculously good. Before today I was unsure if I would be able to complete my schedule. For my sanity I will do my next two shows and go from there. There hasn't been an off day since Easter and excluding the upcoming funeral I do not anticipate another until October. </p><p>Thank you all for your support, you made my Grandma very proud of me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFK-fYItdg4k47TmlJX3K0tLzvTqXFsoedlp1eCD1yTjRFBueS_hx7j_AtxtBWHNJ0B0dl-GAmhAptgf01q3wNDzVXGVr4lI7lPO41DwETiZHhBy-VP9c70pPGO1SHz4Lub_0b9Bt0nGT8WpUsLb-QNPWJ1cXE0Nu1M2DtqZQ1yKfbtjx81vBcmQoRg/s2854/DSC01496.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2143" data-original-width="2854" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFK-fYItdg4k47TmlJX3K0tLzvTqXFsoedlp1eCD1yTjRFBueS_hx7j_AtxtBWHNJ0B0dl-GAmhAptgf01q3wNDzVXGVr4lI7lPO41DwETiZHhBy-VP9c70pPGO1SHz4Lub_0b9Bt0nGT8WpUsLb-QNPWJ1cXE0Nu1M2DtqZQ1yKfbtjx81vBcmQoRg/s320/DSC01496.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-21796184231630597962022-06-16T15:00:00.001-07:002022-06-16T15:07:03.383-07:00Summer Schedule<p> People have asked me for years about posting a show schedule.So here it is. This will mark our last full tour and so Katie and I are both each writing a book about our lives as artists, and this is the true experience of the art fair circuit. Unless somehow I need the money or I stockpile a bunch of work, the next few years I am cutting this list in half. Period.</p><p>Our first show at Old Town in Chicago was very successful, so I am short on work already. I have very little work to give Tory Folliard Gallery at the moment. As of now I am going through with this schedule until I run out of paintings. I will not be posting anything for sale until the holidays. No days off until October and I will do my best I promise.</p><p>I am doing Uptown in Minneapolis this year as a show of support for Minneapolis after everything it went through.The Twin Cities have been especially supportive of me over the years.Thank you everyone. I will try my best to be here for all these shows.</p><p>June 24-26 Des Moines Art Festival, Des Moines IA</p><p>July 21-23 Ann Arbor Art Fair, Ann Arbor MI</p><p>August 5-7 Uptown Art Fair, Minneapolis MN</p><p>August 13 Charlevoix Art Festival, Charlevoix MI</p><p>September 9-11 St Louis Art Fair, Clayton MO</p><p>September 23-25 Plaza Art Fair, Kansas City MO</p><p>Sept 30, Oct 1,2 St James Court Art Festival Louisville KY</p><p>Also this piece got excepted into the Birds in Art at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau WI. The show opens in September and Katie has a piece in it too.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68Do05ZWUad48Y9IVqVtljwrqfLf9YIFuLcUJ3OH2SObK7wSni9U1qxiblZHBkWA3M92zOxZMbG60dBJQLDZ9DE2wIctlgfTp5OLuer673OrXGKg8syvPxdQtY4NRdMkQlF9AJe1hAv_Vwc781t-CMkrC8eJpxGetlWDI-4GucrvfJbFZEo4jftUqag/s3050/DSC01334.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1937" data-original-width="3050" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68Do05ZWUad48Y9IVqVtljwrqfLf9YIFuLcUJ3OH2SObK7wSni9U1qxiblZHBkWA3M92zOxZMbG60dBJQLDZ9DE2wIctlgfTp5OLuer673OrXGKg8syvPxdQtY4NRdMkQlF9AJe1hAv_Vwc781t-CMkrC8eJpxGetlWDI-4GucrvfJbFZEo4jftUqag/w400-h254/DSC01334.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-45516331554380876782022-05-26T19:06:00.003-07:002022-05-26T19:12:59.373-07:00From The Land Of Sky Blue Waters<p> Back in fall 2020 my High School Art Teacher(yes of course I keep in touch with my old art teachers) visited the farm here and was excited by the old Hamm's beer signs I have. "My brother has the Hamm's account," he happily exclaimed, "I need to text him a picture of this". So I said only to someone you've known for thirty years, "tell your brother not to fuck it up." I drink Hamm's and am a fan of Hamm's. The next day I got an enthusiastic call, "my brother wants you to paint something for Hamm's." So... I got the call and an email with a vintage Hamm's landscape painting with the instructions to paint something similar even telling me to let your inner Hamm's come out. Holy Shit! "I was born to do this," I said. One of the first things I did was inform my friend Mike, Mr. Minnesota and fellow Hamm's drinker. Wild disbelief was his reaction, like most people's. </p><p>Luckily it was covid and I had no art shows and time for this because it was a short deadline, so everything had to be dropped and this became my only focus. Next thing you know I am scrolling through images of old Hamm's beer signs. Picking three vintage Hamm's signs including one of my own, I combined them into one panoramic painting that the format required. As a fan of the old Hamm's northwoods designs, I wanted to connect the history of cool advertising that is associated with Hamm's. Most people I know love the old Hamm's beer signs. Why they ever stopped that marketing campaign back in the 1970's I will never know. The old Hamm's crown logo has to be one of the best Mid Century Modern designs of anything, period. Living in the midwest, one goes up north in the summer to escape the warm weather. To escape civilization in all seasons. You dream of stealing away to be on the water. That was basically my whole childhood. My family has vacationed up north at Lake Namakagon since the 1950's. My first memories of being up north involve staying at Richard's Resort. Riding in a 1973 Dodge Dart through the dense woods of Bayfield County Road M, I couldn't wait to get to the lake and get out of the car. As we got closer I was ready to explode when from out of the woods the Richard's Resort Hamm's Beer Sign appeared at the driveway's edge. How many people had an experience like this? I try to go up north once a year to paint, and plan on more up north paintings in the future. Its part of my story.</p><p> On warm days I LOVE drinking Hamm's. Putting one in the freezer first to get extra cold, I dream about being up north, being a kid, being with my family. Nothing tastes as good as an ice cold Hamm's on a hot day. Few things in life are better.</p><p>There were five designs and they picked mine. We tweaked the painting a few times, making it more blue and vibrant. A section was added to it to make the painting wrap around, meaning the right side lines up with the left side. That was interesting to do but not that difficult, just tedious. We talked back and forth a few times about the idea for the carton, it was to be called the Throwback Pack. This was all very exciting to me. The painting is flipped backwards on the beer carton, and I had to sign my name in reverse.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNk5TqudVpxZlZeMAFJwp8wYWrq9gI2t7V5Pw52K_LI9sf2B1NK6ImII1Pss4i_XM9-roiri3wXKGcWIE_g0StnggxOc-eTF0q8iQ0IWSGb3OPoGiuz_nS8qkcYaAiWeI6QusNNlPMNky3GS5pNZDuOa6nbJFwLwLGxHKESjHRStt1y9PsEdRP_WZmA/s3132/DSC00021.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1420" data-original-width="3132" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNk5TqudVpxZlZeMAFJwp8wYWrq9gI2t7V5Pw52K_LI9sf2B1NK6ImII1Pss4i_XM9-roiri3wXKGcWIE_g0StnggxOc-eTF0q8iQ0IWSGb3OPoGiuz_nS8qkcYaAiWeI6QusNNlPMNky3GS5pNZDuOa6nbJFwLwLGxHKESjHRStt1y9PsEdRP_WZmA/s320/DSC00021.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br />Time went by. Covid created labor shortages. There was/is an aluminum shortage and the new design was pushed ahead a year. My life rolled on and I forgot about it. I'll believe it when I see it I thought.This is too to good to be true. These things don't happen to me.</p><p>And then, I got word that it was coming out this spring. Things got more thrilling when people started texting me images of it. Bizarre when a friend bought me a 12 pack of it. Surreal when I saw it and my name of it. </p><p>I am very honored by this, but it in no way compares to all the experiences I have had with my usual body of work. People tell me all the time how much my paintings mean to them emotionally. Nothing can compete with that. This is just a really really cool side project that somehow happened, and nationwide at that. It is unbelievable really. I am extremely proud to be apart of the Hamm's story and tradition. If you see it, have a cold one for me!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiWzzT_mkCiBo1OBsq5yAXad-c5_wW6euN9N2bchuIid87n7OoJktdvXMheHo7-4_TR6QipgSu6gkGdrrguaNmdk_I_kvlwHufJi_UvmuU1ITfMe-9ctwRRl61fVhdyXrcTgpjtGuOpFXVTZp37S05-ri_XVLZZF-JJMjFLbA2x4xzjfV5-oMJU90yw/s3264/DSC01443.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiWzzT_mkCiBo1OBsq5yAXad-c5_wW6euN9N2bchuIid87n7OoJktdvXMheHo7-4_TR6QipgSu6gkGdrrguaNmdk_I_kvlwHufJi_UvmuU1ITfMe-9ctwRRl61fVhdyXrcTgpjtGuOpFXVTZp37S05-ri_XVLZZF-JJMjFLbA2x4xzjfV5-oMJU90yw/s320/DSC01443.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8XGd5d5-SPxmD9T4REn-kcff-9xuEPgTE2qsZ4Fet0DmV6tTO5KohrNxLCKwM8EyWSexod7Ie5JGXXvth1oAz84Yhu3QBN8Pm-3X79hpLxlUHr3Gt4Tw9OHyNEptw1f6BPjtKzPzWh8mZFIgMwAwDCYogKJNp32LSs70uLSLGmIzU7F3Eg8kOO0lSw/s1274/IMG_20220430_134934210-2048x922.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1274" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8XGd5d5-SPxmD9T4REn-kcff-9xuEPgTE2qsZ4Fet0DmV6tTO5KohrNxLCKwM8EyWSexod7Ie5JGXXvth1oAz84Yhu3QBN8Pm-3X79hpLxlUHr3Gt4Tw9OHyNEptw1f6BPjtKzPzWh8mZFIgMwAwDCYogKJNp32LSs70uLSLGmIzU7F3Eg8kOO0lSw/s320/IMG_20220430_134934210-2048x922.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-329744594351767992022-01-05T13:28:00.002-08:002022-01-05T13:28:55.274-08:00Same old same old<p> Yeah, so much for retirement. I wish.</p><p>All I do is paint to keep up with an even more limited schedule for next year. Its like nothing has changed except I feel I am under more pressure to get together some inventory. I am basically trying to get my head above water. </p><p>That is pretty much my life. So if this is what it is, then I am going to go through with my smaller schedule for this year and then in '23 really cut back to just a couple shows. Period. It is so much fun to do the shows, but it consumes your life. My life needs to be about staying in rhythm and doin good work. I am in good rhythm now, and that is all that matters.</p><p>Katie and I are writing a book about our lives being artists. We are writing everyday and seeing where that takes us. Writing about your life seems to be an ego thing, which we do not want at all, in any way shape our form. People have asked us to write a book for years and so we hope to. Hopefully our lives can inspire somebody to quit their job and follow their dreams, or at least be comfortable not going along with the hot mess that is our culture. If I know one thing, it is what it is to be an artist. Wish us luck.</p><p>Feel free to ask about work or whatever as usual, I am resigned to this for 10 more months. Thanks again to everyone who helped us have such a wonderful 2021. I know that I am truly blessed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPBTjPo9OsiwgsfsdzjeTQjxaj_murDGgfJkCwNf2GAL8P8W4ZPCadcY_h-YRKOk1V4YEVBRbkfq2hoTKwV3kREiQSfR97iKW0tLipt7MS7P0yaqn4hxai5uaSZkFMVngKV9eGqznk5WHcYNbRNjIwAFRcPJKYNi6BqTIeDNMeg73EKwyW8xw-dICGMA=s2966" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1983" data-original-width="2966" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPBTjPo9OsiwgsfsdzjeTQjxaj_murDGgfJkCwNf2GAL8P8W4ZPCadcY_h-YRKOk1V4YEVBRbkfq2hoTKwV3kREiQSfR97iKW0tLipt7MS7P0yaqn4hxai5uaSZkFMVngKV9eGqznk5WHcYNbRNjIwAFRcPJKYNi6BqTIeDNMeg73EKwyW8xw-dICGMA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqJohZR-eUSsWy5gcN5L46VbkIJqUkLdHmU5-OsIUv2X9SWbfaBTjVLErMIOlv0q537MF7p2reRMWlJ3R72IUIZhF5TeklVfjZLNhO7PONT6KkHdsQ1iL2ZdnmUgZfkTf31mBDMrHH57XAlF8-UbSQgt9CN0m9oNbJxV-1FcSZk9xNC3yiNoKYrCFTeg=s2735" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2293" data-original-width="2735" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqJohZR-eUSsWy5gcN5L46VbkIJqUkLdHmU5-OsIUv2X9SWbfaBTjVLErMIOlv0q537MF7p2reRMWlJ3R72IUIZhF5TeklVfjZLNhO7PONT6KkHdsQ1iL2ZdnmUgZfkTf31mBDMrHH57XAlF8-UbSQgt9CN0m9oNbJxV-1FcSZk9xNC3yiNoKYrCFTeg=w400-h335" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-5178066563169474202021-10-05T06:48:00.001-07:002022-01-05T13:03:38.251-08:00Keeping this one for myself<p> I have zero large paintings left!!! Not on me to sell, and not at the gallery either. Amazingly people have been telling me they follow my blog, and yes I want to retire. I just had the best month of my life professionally, I am going out on top. It feels really good to have worked so hard and had things go so well, and for Katie too. I am incredibly honored by all the people that support me. I truly enjoy the great vast majority of people that I meet, I am so lucky to have such real and honest conversations with people. Art has opened so many doors for me. Thank you.</p><p>This feels like a time to reevaluate what my goals are and what I want to do. Since I have no more large paintings to sell, it is a great time to start over or move on. Experiment. Play. Who knows maybe I end up doing the same old thing anyways, just less of it. I don't know yet. The only thing I seem to be capable of is just being myself, which, is oddly very difficult for most people. I will be doing the shows I won awards at next year to fulfill my professional obligations. But I think that is it for me next year.</p><p>I do know that I DON'T want to jack up the price of my large paintings. I want people like me or my friends to be able to afford my work. It doesn't matter to me about the money, the work already seems to be ridiculously expensive. I know I want to work on restoring my house and farm, and I know Katie and I will enjoy doing that.</p><p>My Grandma, who is my hero, turns 97 this week. She is still sharp as a tack and lives at home. It is imperative for me to spend more time with her. She is one of my best friends and I call her every night. I owe her more time and I will deeply regret it if I don't do that.</p><p>I have one commission I agreed to do months ago and then that is it. I will not sell anybody any large paintings the rest of this year. Period. Hopefully I get back to work and will sell again next year. I have a couple small paintings left, and I am sure I will paint a few more of those this year( I can't help myself).</p><p>No matter what happened this year, I was not going to sell this one. I have been so busy I haven't framed it. My wife and I need to hang some of artwork up in our own house for once!</p><p>I will keep painting, just at my own pace. </p><p>Thanks again to everyone who supported me, despite COVID 19 this year.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZM5ItLym881C1h50eZLdiv3Yllfp9JoEkK8HxnS63cV9_oHJ_waSVGNVhXbsZdR2j31PieE068cB_ChHRTeZ6bpKpH1yX9G4z39JsArrOa03Nce0HJSLmpsL65Ky4w-QL9AFUuiLb6Yiw/s2048/DSC00097.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1511" data-original-width="2048" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZM5ItLym881C1h50eZLdiv3Yllfp9JoEkK8HxnS63cV9_oHJ_waSVGNVhXbsZdR2j31PieE068cB_ChHRTeZ6bpKpH1yX9G4z39JsArrOa03Nce0HJSLmpsL65Ky4w-QL9AFUuiLb6Yiw/w400-h295/DSC00097.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-44703714358669316962021-09-29T06:23:00.004-07:002021-09-29T06:23:57.799-07:00Last show of the year<p> By some miracle I found this in the attic, and forgot to bring it to my last show. So I am bringing it to Louisville tomorrow... my last show of the year!!!</p><p>It was spring up on the ridge. That seems so long ago.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uvpoUr5kPjrAsI9sgE7LcxwSi2JwpyAQx_-i0WsgTz-OM7CcnciK0b9aoLG0UCYVBLHtZekR3ybScDkBMiUYTVRWbqKs4a4PuV9RF2SEiwWpJTsACLa_NobO1aeVCeil0B-U6f_lFy8w/s2048/DSC00957.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="2048" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uvpoUr5kPjrAsI9sgE7LcxwSi2JwpyAQx_-i0WsgTz-OM7CcnciK0b9aoLG0UCYVBLHtZekR3ybScDkBMiUYTVRWbqKs4a4PuV9RF2SEiwWpJTsACLa_NobO1aeVCeil0B-U6f_lFy8w/w400-h250/DSC00957.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-37030692153063931762021-08-31T11:01:00.001-07:002021-08-31T11:01:53.921-07:00Very very very busy<p> I have never worked so hard before. I think I have had like 2 days off this summer! The other side of it is that I get to do something I love. All day. Everyday. A little more balance would be welcome...</p><p>So I am telling people I am retiring after this show season. I refuse to live my life like a merry-go-round any longer. I love a lot of things in my life, so after this year I am only going to do a couple shows and not travel as far. Period. </p><p>Anyways my painting here is in the current issue of Plein Air magazine!!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2Oh8DXrJxOOH2TU_teXLt6Uz_u0unNuYcNxn6MpZMSTN4OUkWRwpaY6l3IZNMWLzPYlI86QDai9KG2umglDjZZHTemDfj-T219SO5y22ThTKX63jTnlTUScrzZXEGfltlL9iEm2YgNIK/s2048/DSC00555.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1626" data-original-width="2048" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2Oh8DXrJxOOH2TU_teXLt6Uz_u0unNuYcNxn6MpZMSTN4OUkWRwpaY6l3IZNMWLzPYlI86QDai9KG2umglDjZZHTemDfj-T219SO5y22ThTKX63jTnlTUScrzZXEGfltlL9iEm2YgNIK/w400-h318/DSC00555.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><p></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-10597456120162749352021-07-21T20:05:00.000-07:002021-07-21T20:05:16.486-07:00Champions of the World<p> I did this painting yesterday to say I painted this on the day the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Championship. This is the first championship for the city in my lifetime. my head is spinning.</p><p>Milwaukee has meant a lot to me throughout me life. I have lived, worked, went to school or kept an apartment in Milwaukee for almost all my entire adult life. Having grown up in a town that called Milwaukee a place for f@ggots and n*ggers (something I heard in high school and more than once), I have come to realize I have more in common with Milwaukee than where I grew up. Even though we have this wonderful farm 40 miles from downtown Milwaukee, we feel still our hometown is Milwaukee. Living in a rural area that is, at times, anti-Milwaukee, anti-liberal arts culture, anti-brown people has been sometimes exasperating, and makes me question why I live here. I wish we as a country could better appreciate the positive things in both rural and urban areas. Most rural people have much more in common with city folk than they realize. And vice-versa. All I can do is try my hardest to be positive and do good work. I am proud of this painting, this barn which we preserved and the land we didn't allow to get built up. I am also very proud of Milwaukee and enjoyed the hell out of them winning it all last night. Perhaps partying like it was 1971 wasn't the smartest thing... Queen's We Are The Champions has never sounded so good to me.</p><p>Bucks in 6!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6uytc6gvJI9YXdCMNlcM3uzgtAYOm6hVcvfYHld8UY_zcD3vSb451eP4E2FsOERb70OzUum9jkc-LFmgy_IHUbJRBGzVvomzIOHJ-gZ0ThA_qRV9-91ba9DN-XzO5IuUGX7w5Dn6y2Nx/s2048/DSC00682.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="2048" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6uytc6gvJI9YXdCMNlcM3uzgtAYOm6hVcvfYHld8UY_zcD3vSb451eP4E2FsOERb70OzUum9jkc-LFmgy_IHUbJRBGzVvomzIOHJ-gZ0ThA_qRV9-91ba9DN-XzO5IuUGX7w5Dn6y2Nx/w384-h238/DSC00682.jpeg" width="384" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-17986408560983220732021-06-14T08:19:00.001-07:002021-06-14T10:05:45.516-07:00Good News... mercifully<p> So good news. Yesterday we had our first art festival again since 2019. Chicago opened up the day we were setting up and we were the first festival in the city of Chicago since covid shut things down. Seeing old friends and familiar faces was better than I imagined. Seeing people out and happy was good for all I think. People seemed really engaged and celebratory. It truly was a great moment. I am glad I got vaccinated, glad I never got covid, and glad to have been part of the group that was there in Chicago and I am glad to see "the common good" is alive and well!</p><p>The rainy landscape is a recent painting from Vernon County. It sold at the show in Chicago, I was sad to see it leave. That was a good Andy Fletcher, for whatever that is worth or means.</p><p>The sunrise painting is of our farm. I had to get up at 4AM for a few days to paint. Lets just say usually I hit my stride around 10PM, 4AM is just not who I am, but it felt good. </p><p>*Bonus good news. The sunrise painting won first prize at the Cedarburg Plein Air Event/Contest. The painting was purchased by the Cedarburg Art Museum. Quite a few couple of days indeed.</p><p>Back to work...</p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBig9Xt7MuZ4FqFZxO15n9QYVw7TOFH1pi0bI0jSFl_V7LSnRGNJ9h3Tj3O0rjuAuxu1GBWmBKQBC45nsiUSMFYH-kDbBHrM1K6pMF5fnkmlmyL2_D6Lytbnr6Qs48aY-gKh8-hocymvV/s2048/DSC00567.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="2048" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBig9Xt7MuZ4FqFZxO15n9QYVw7TOFH1pi0bI0jSFl_V7LSnRGNJ9h3Tj3O0rjuAuxu1GBWmBKQBC45nsiUSMFYH-kDbBHrM1K6pMF5fnkmlmyL2_D6Lytbnr6Qs48aY-gKh8-hocymvV/w400-h250/DSC00567.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7a8HKTjsrQQ2GFJnhIWWm_iR7QPp2C4QTc8_vfjFKiuNYZcEy-9a3_BUqvLYneYeS-sS86d14yyaPFuagsbkYUhp618gruNELGeJyf_rJWrfsqoIwV1cg3cvZUB0ghTjnBBi0zNb4Nbw/s2048/DSC00555.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1626" data-original-width="2048" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7a8HKTjsrQQ2GFJnhIWWm_iR7QPp2C4QTc8_vfjFKiuNYZcEy-9a3_BUqvLYneYeS-sS86d14yyaPFuagsbkYUhp618gruNELGeJyf_rJWrfsqoIwV1cg3cvZUB0ghTjnBBi0zNb4Nbw/w400-h318/DSC00555.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-87138465126917684512021-05-03T08:07:00.005-07:002021-05-03T08:30:20.673-07:00April 21 2021<p> Soooo... we had a crazy weather day and I was able to paint for most of the day.</p><p>I have only seen this a couple other times in late spring. The day is just a sequence of snow squalls and sunshine in between. Truly fascinating. If I was younger I would not have been patient or experienced enough to pull this off. It would go from white-out to sunny seemingly within an hour and then back again.The first 12 paintings are from 4/21. I got up the next morning, 4/22 and painted one more before the snow melted. That better be the last of the snow scenes! That was a fun day.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTR9Fh1KtIaF3FAi-otKgbenB2kAMAcOlzgaJ3_JDMBwv8znsp6YWhNvRtZ6uE5ndn-ExSI2_QPVniF-dcMsahlDpZ_MPzGWxk4lViu69BiK9SC52T6AkQDUAMUYeh0ry5I32q9Q0tZ1Pd/s2048/DSC00497.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1393" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTR9Fh1KtIaF3FAi-otKgbenB2kAMAcOlzgaJ3_JDMBwv8znsp6YWhNvRtZ6uE5ndn-ExSI2_QPVniF-dcMsahlDpZ_MPzGWxk4lViu69BiK9SC52T6AkQDUAMUYeh0ry5I32q9Q0tZ1Pd/s320/DSC00497.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESILcuKvFoDaQ36PIE2pyy_SMoNh2Y2cDT0h6DKw8rn_xeIni6quJ38UX4OOD91_Fx3RalCfB0MmKNW7evgrVfMS4l4Bb5gqrc2hUpB2sPw5gs63hQpiGRi-mQZX5oztRCQJ0KzcWHPf2/s2048/DSC00485.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1258" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfz1y1eg8lkQG-0fI0X9YXrb4kK2zZbAJ1Mf9KwxyfcDjrvCS5JYJUypSWBkHRoGuYvYCBJlbF8eLUeTNw4JeNzkv_aaTSkYcznHnOunMrqMIjXyLGiS0AiDo4FGVeOrYftbO5vFAgvK0Y/s320/DSC00494.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-84448156906720923282021-02-22T10:36:00.003-08:002021-02-22T10:44:09.927-08:00 WINTER SURE ISN'T SUGARCOATING IT<p>It truly has been beautiful the last couple months.It truly has been miserable the last couple of months.I hope that everyone is remaining positive and hanging in there. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0QaSH_E_YmhnJsW5062MjYYIGplMGDVdXgatTVb_LwSE5soR7-DkwF6KIHa6GlgJgNxhS4-ytKPh1EB7iU7_KyWRcfOVzRrP0QF7e9gAmZDA1naqNxPvuSAxifbfcx0q7b2xuGEnMxIG/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1131" data-original-width="2048" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0QaSH_E_YmhnJsW5062MjYYIGplMGDVdXgatTVb_LwSE5soR7-DkwF6KIHa6GlgJgNxhS4-ytKPh1EB7iU7_KyWRcfOVzRrP0QF7e9gAmZDA1naqNxPvuSAxifbfcx0q7b2xuGEnMxIG/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxECRXeBhiwZBM8M_hvwiJaLBt3CwPvnlWizjoEyvPpHBMKo4Y0IWBaS7ZeNbjh5wMOHsbuLLmsMGKMwmq3Di5xysyUbpLZ0hO5zObdnIOlCB6ijFm2Yfr-bNrId5EKs2mai7Rwwf7ywS/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1556" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxECRXeBhiwZBM8M_hvwiJaLBt3CwPvnlWizjoEyvPpHBMKo4Y0IWBaS7ZeNbjh5wMOHsbuLLmsMGKMwmq3Di5xysyUbpLZ0hO5zObdnIOlCB6ijFm2Yfr-bNrId5EKs2mai7Rwwf7ywS/" width="316" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269028495990263485.post-81309433180127137052020-12-29T19:58:00.000-08:002020-12-29T19:58:51.950-08:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ew2LgTA1bMYLC1-8gVMUUgWPyFvYWUSNCR76jURferbCkG-EUti3FX5LeEikVyZOY63Hg_KnH3gpwS3m64f-QgYI6w2QnfyB0F1YG-cTcY9BD5RBemTiwB_YHtPSg675sNuKwEZt3ffm/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1498" data-original-width="2048" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ew2LgTA1bMYLC1-8gVMUUgWPyFvYWUSNCR76jURferbCkG-EUti3FX5LeEikVyZOY63Hg_KnH3gpwS3m64f-QgYI6w2QnfyB0F1YG-cTcY9BD5RBemTiwB_YHtPSg675sNuKwEZt3ffm/" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just wanted to say thank you to everybody for supporting me through this challenging year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Heres to better tomorrows.</div><br /><p></p>Andrew Clair Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02884185154048339651noreply@blogger.com