art is life

This is a first for me.

I’ve recently been chosen out of hundreds of talented artists and photographers for a juried show this Friday.

I have entered juried shows before, not many, but a few, and I’ve never got into them and since those “failed” attempts I have learned how to grow.

But I’m happy to report that “Gummy Bonding” will grace the walls of Kettle Art Gallery in Deep Ellum as part of this Portfolio Review. I am really honored because I’ve always wanted to show there. And I’m also thrilled that professionals thought my gummies were worth choosing! It’s not that I don’t think the gummies are great, I just wasn’t sure a panel of tough pros would think so too. And to be quite honest, my body of work has really started to take on a new face — literally — so it was exciting to have a platform to test the waters on whether or not I was crazy…Well, I am still crazy, but you know what I mean.

I just want to continue growing and learning from my experiences. And I really want my love of these little sugary, gummy, cuddly things to one day take off in a crazy direction that I would not even have imagined. Look for Christmas cards soon. And here’s to whatever life will (hopefully) bring.

:: CHICKTALKDALLAS – Real Women. Real Discussion. (click this)

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Gummy World has made another blog debut. This time by a very cool online local mag called Chick Talk Dallas.

Everyone has a dream. I guess I didn’t really think mine would involve candy. Not only that, I know that this is a very popular “art form.” What I hope to accomplish one day is more than just making a business for myself…I just like seeing people’s faces light up.

Just this weekend at Arts Goggle hosted by ArtLoveMagic in Fort Worth, a man snuck by our table, bought “Gummy Daydream” and stuffed it in his shirt to surprise his girlfriend later. That is what I love about this. The fun, playfulness that comes out of all of us when we look at those funny little, cuddly, gummy faces.

I just would like to take this moment to say I think I prefer it over Google. The gummies prefer it too. That is all.

I’ve got some fun things you can purchase through my Web site, http://www.artsbyjphotography.com.

Tote bags
Magnets
A 20-sheet sticker page…

You name it, I’ve got it. And in your favorite gummy bears. Just take a look around.

http://tinyurl.com/gummybearphotog

When you visit the site and see a photo you want to purchase, just click buy and then the link for merchandise. That’s where you can find all kinds of cool stuff like playing cards and coasters.

Even though this is rubbery candy, it is also fine art. Please remember that as you browse. If you see anything you JUST HAVE TO HAVE but find your pockets on the light side, just email me at artsbyjphotography at gmail dot com. I may can work with you…

Hope you enjoy!

Growing a business is not easy. Let alone when you are the only partner!

Nor is it profitable in the beginning — especially when you are working a full time job and a possible part time one. But I’m  keeping the faith while making efforts to gain exposure. I haven’t checked on our gummies at the Paperie & Co. in a little while but the owner still seems confident they will do well in her shop. And many wonderful friends have purchased them.

In the last few weeks good things have been evident.

One: I will be the strolling photographer at Arts Goggle next month, an art and music event my cousin Riki Johnson, who is an artist, is producing. The gummies will be there too, up for sale in all their glory.

Two: The wonderful Laura Heymann has given my Web site a face lift! Check it out. I’m still working on minor things I amlooking to add but I could have NEVER done any of this without her. I loved my father’s hands but it was time to rework the site to show more of the things I do. I don’t ALWAYS stick gummies on things…or people! I happen to shoot portraits, weddings and events too.

Three: I love these people. Just read it and find out why.

Four: I’m hoping as well as praying big things will continue to come. And I will keep on peddling  Gummy World to gift shops around the area. At the moment I’m helping put to gether a benefit called Barn Aid which kicks off tomorrow.

It’s been a very busy month. Here’s to a little down time to get things gearing upwards and onwards! But who am I kidding. I never slow down…

I am not the first, nor the last, to shoot a gummy bear.

And the concept really came out of stress relief at work. I have to say that when I started doing it, I didn’t think I would have greeting cards in a shop or anything. But I want to keep pushing onward. That said, I know there is a guy who is currently on Facebook promoting his work and wrote on his Web site that a fellow photog considers him The World’s Leading Gummi Bear Photographer. The Facebook page was created not too long after mine was which I’m sure was a result of my getting the word out about my art.

I will give credit where it’s due, they are awesome shots. And he’s super talented. I’m surely not competing and I didn’t discover him until I recently googled “gummy bear photography” and found one of my posts on the first page under him. He was shooting them before me, but not that long ago. It is uncanny really. Maybe there were gummy bear cosmic forces at work or something.

I’ve been noshing on gummies since Amazin’ Fruit. He’s 10 years younger than me. Go figure. I’m slow!

Gummy Crying

Though I love his work, I think we are in different playing fields. His stuff is crisp and shot in a studio-like setting. I like to think of the gummies as folks like you and me, in an environment that coexists with humans. So they are bears among us and not separate. Silly as that sounds. That’s how I see it.

And in my Gummy World, it’s not clean. You might see people in them. Or more recently, a duck.

I hope the two of us can coexist. Maybe even meet each other one day. All in all, I’m just having fun. And I know he is too. Besides, he lives in the Czech Republic. I don’t mind being the World’s Leading Gummy (no “i”) Bear Photographer for the US.

I’ve been told for months that I needed to make greeting cards of my gummy bear friends. I did quite a few for the ArtLoveMagic girlShow event last month. They did fairly well along with a few calendars but now I’m trying to get them seen in a place of business setting.

During some recent time off, I ventured out to The Paperie & Co. at Mockingbird Station here in Dallas. It was really the first place I tried and the owner took me on. I am very green at this. So my start up cost really is more than it should be to do regularly. My hope is to find a printing company I can buy in bulk at a lower rate. But this is a month-long trial. I am just going to wait it out.

Mobile photo of Gummy Jacuzzi now at Paperie & Co.

That said, I’m really excited. I gain knowledge everyday and doing research as we speak. I truly hope this will work out. And yes, I have the pipe dream to be on Oprah or Ellen to talk about taking snapshots of gummy bears. What can I say, the kid in me who loves gummy bears is dreaming.

But I guess you never know…

Gummy Daydream

there is just something about fall air.

something about the colors.

something about the possibility of gummy bears pouncing into piles of fall leaves…

I’ve met so many people now who are either on or shop Etsy.

If you don’t know what it is, think Ebay for artsy types who want to buy handmade goods and cool creations.

I became a seller yesterday and hope it brings some good fortune. I’m still learning my way around but so far the response is good. Just waiting to see if the dollars will be as well!

I just posted some 8 x 10 images and a few greeting cards. I hope you like it. I’m not uploading a whole lot yet until I can see how things go.

Take a moment to browse: artsbyjphotography.etsy.com.