Artist Blog by Sheep Incognito Artist Conni Togel

Tag Archives: sheep

Sheep In Mount Dora, FL – and What’s Wrong With The Art Market Lately?

A Trip to Florida in February, and Why Some Places Won’t, and Another Place Will Have Sheep This Year

After a short hiatus from the center of Florida last Winter, the Sheep Incognito are heading back to the always fabulous Mount Dora Fine Arts Festival on the first weekend in February!

This will be the kick-off of a year of “sheepishness” near and far – we’ve already booked shows from North Carolina to Colorado, from Florida to New York, and many places in between.

For this year, some of our favorite shows will have a different artist in our spot – some shows like mixing things up every year, so Mount Dora will have us in Booth A-029 this time.

For a few other big shows this year, scheduling conflicts due to some family events that fall on those exact weekends will have me being home with family instead. Not a bad thing at all. It will give all of you a chance to support some of the other fantastic artists there this year – keep art alive, by purchasing directly from the artist!
With the influx of “junk art” – the big, cheap, canvas prints with gel-medium as texture, that you can buy for little money at home furnishing stores, craft stores, and discount clothing stores – many artists have noticed a downturn in sales and interest from the people attending even the juried fine art shows.

Galleries have closed. Art programs in schools have been slashed. More and more of the cheap import art is cropping up everywhere. Shows are being added at a dizzying pace. Existing shows are adding more and more booths (some even adding on booths for “commercial” wares – gutter guards, windows, mass-produced wares, etc.) that increase their income, but also water down the sales for the artists at the same time. Booth fees have gone up, hotels are more expensive, etc…
Very concerning trends, and not easy to cope with as a full-time professional artist.

Nonetheless, I will continue to paint – because, it’s my game, not theirs. And, I love what I do – whether I am traveling or not.

So, to make things a bit easier, I’ve also begun adding painting lessons in my studio – great fun to do, relaxing, no mass-produced wares to compete with, and, best of all, new friends to make.

Come join me there sometime! Or, check my schedule every now and then to see where I will be – if we are close to where you are, we can meet in that area somewhere to do some “paint flinging” together. If you like painting outdoors, we can do something out in the Rocky Mountain National Park this June – we’ll be there, and it would be awesome to paint some beautiful landscapes there together!

Either way – keep checking the schedule – though we might not be at some of the big juried shows this year, we’ve added a few fun Celtic/Irish/Highlands Festivals this year, and as always, our big Sheep & Wool Festivals are always a blast as well!

As always, I LOVE hearing your comments and ideas for new Sheep Incognito paintings – leave a comment, share this post, and thanks for being part of the Sheep Incognito Flockies in the meadow of life!

Also, if you are in connections with a decent children’s book publisher by chance, I would love to have some feedback for the two books I’ve written and am illustrating as well. They do involve sheep in some capacity, but do appeal to the general market more than the sheep arena.

Here is my newest painting:
“The Great Flock Defender” click this link to order prints of it!

The Great Flock Defender Sheep Incognito Art

The Great Flock Defender Sheep Incognito Art

 

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New Christmas Sheep Art: A Baaahrtridge In A Bear Tree

A Baaahrtridge In A Bear Tree

Just in time for Christmas, this cute painting of a “Baaahrtridge In A Bear Tree” has hit the market with prints, giclée art on canvas, mugs, necklaces, and license plate available.

https://www.charisma-art.com/a-baaahrtridge-in-a-bear-tree

A Baaahrtridge In A Bear Tree

A Baaahrtridge in a Bear Tree by Sheep Incognito artist Conni Togel

 

A Baaahrtridge in a Bear Tree Wall Art

A Baaahrtridge in a a Bear Tree Wall Art by Sheep Incognito

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A Messenger of Peace

Anybody on social media, or even just talking politics with friends has noticed: Peace on Earth seems to be “muchly” a thing of the past…

Bring in the sheep!

They have no trigger fingers. They might be colorblind. They can’t use foul language. They don’t care whether their flock members are kneeling, standing or laying down. They also don”t care much, if the lead sheep has a mind of its own. 

They do, however, care very much for the good things in life.

Bouncing when happy. Eating corn until they are almost sick. Finding a good place to just sit and enjoy life and good memories. Hanging out with their flock. Being at peace.

We definitely should acquire some of their notions – I do think the world would be a much better place for it.

Ewe’s The Missing Peace

Original oils painting on canvas, 16 inches x 20 inches, $895 (frame not included)

https://www.charisma-art.com/ewe’s-the-missing-peace-original-oil-painting


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NEW! Fellowsheep Of The Ring Mugs!

 The Wanderers Of Maaahem On A Cute Coffee/Tea Mug of “Fellowsheep Of The Ring”

Just added the “Fellowsheep of the Ring” mugs to my website today – many of “ewe” have been asking about these, so here ya go!

These mugs are a great way to get your smile on with your first #cupofjoe in the morning.
They also make fantastic gifts for the nerdy one in your life, or for your own Lord Of the Rings collection – just a little sheepishness for your life!

https://charisma-art.com/nurse-curse-mug

 

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New Sheep Painting!

There’s a new Sheep Incognito Hanging Out! (and he has pie!)

It’s Sprintime! And it means the trees have spring into bloom – and apparently, my sheep have decided to make a leap to the trees as well….wait! …this one has apple pie!

Title:” APPLE PIE IN THE SKY

Size: 12″ x 16″

Media: acrylics on canvas

Price: $450

contact my studio to purchase the original painting, or to order a custom sized, hand-embellished giclée reproduction on canvas of this one.

©conni tögel/ www.charisma-art.com

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STASHED AWAY by Sheep Incognito

STASHED AWAY by Sheep Incognito

For your favorite fiber hoarder and stashoholic

Stashed Away is a good piece of wall art for your favorite knitting nook, fiber studio, or even just a place that needs some happiness when you walk by it.

I painted this using Winsor & Newton, Lukas, and Old Holland Oil Paints – I just love the heavy pigment saturation of them. Once you use good oils, you will never go back to student grade paints.

We create giclée reproductions on canvas of this on in various sizes – all available on the website by clicking here.

2166_Stashed_Away

 

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DRY WHITE WHINE

DRY WHITE WHINE

For the whino in ewe…

You know those days – when things definitely would improve with a glass of dry white wine…and then the bottle is empty much too soon.
Buy the stuff by the box – and avoid these kind of melt-downs for yourself. And then, smile at the sheep. It will make him happy, too!

 

via Dry White Whine PRINT

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CREATURE COMFORT SHEEP INCOGNITO MUG now available

CREATURE COMFORT SHEEP INCOGNITO MUG

Make your morning coffee smile at ewe – add some “Creature Comfort” to your day.
Wrap your fluffy self into a quilt of warm fuzzy feelings with a cup of coffee or tea…such a cute addition to your mug collection!

11 oz., white ceramic mug with Conni Togel’s quilting related fun Sheep Incognito art “Creature Comfort” printed on both sides, so it can be used left handed or right handed.

The perfect gift for anybody you know that needs a smile to go with their favorite beverage in a mug…

Each individual mug is safely packaged in it’s own styrofoam container, then boxed for it’s journey to your home – multiple items are boxed together.

©conni togel/sheep incognito/charisma art gallery llc
Creature Comfort Sheep Incognito Mug

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A New Sleeping Beauty in the Studio

Sleeping Booty

A new sheep happening in my studio this week

This is a new, rather large painting I am working on – something that made me smile…I do hope the title is not viewed as offensive, or vulgar, as my flock definitely does not want to be viewed like that.

Me, trying to work on any project after 7pm at night…not even awake enough to put the nightcap on the right end…yup.

Title: “SLEEPING BOOTY
Size: 48″ x 24″
Media: Oils on canvas

Price: tbd…if you already own some of my original paintings, I do offer a discount for being a “Good Sheep Hoarder”, so just let me know if you would like to offer this Sleeping Beauty a comfy home.

#knitting #yarn #beauty #sleeping #sheep #night #title

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