Meet the Boomers!

Name of shop? 
My Etsy shop is called HeronKate, my business name is The Blue Heron Studio.

What kind of items do you sell?
I have an eclectic mix in my shop. I do paintings with a southwest theme, paintings from my garden and have recently started making collages with women as the theme. When I joined Etsy I learned about ACEOs and have been doing some of those. 

I also paint floorcloths, some home decor items [placemats, trays, boxes] and I have a few vintage items for sale too. 

How long have you been engaged in your art/craft?
I’ve been doing artwork since I was a child and I majored in art in college.

Do you consider yourself a hobbyist or a professional craftsperson?
I consider myself a professional artist and have a business doing faux finishing, making floorcloths and painting furniture.  Most of my floorcloths are custom orders.

What inspires you? 
My garden, my travels, materials that I find.

Please share with us what a typical day is like in your workshop or studio.
There is no such thing!  If I’m working at home then I often work all morning and sometimes into the afternoon in my pajamas.  Yes, they have paint on them.  While I'm working, I'm kept company by music, visits from friends, and checking in on the Boomers forum.

What are your most and least favorite tasks related to your art/craft?
My favorite thing is starting a new painting and knowing what I want to say with it.  My least favorite task is sanding an old piece of furniture prior to priming and painting it.

What are some of the venues you use to promote your shop/ware?
My blog is mostly pictures of custom work I have done, such as this custom table.

I am also involved in our county’s annual Studio Tour, where I have several hundred people visit my studio in two weekends in December.  Hopefully they will buy things and/or order custom work. [Editor's note:  this is a really big show in NC.  Below is a portion of the tour map, and a link to the site.]
To which teams do you belong? Do you use other sites? 
I belong to Gallery United, VAST, Interiordesignteam, Studioart team, and of course BBEST.

I also have paintings on Boundless Gallery, another online site, but have had no response from that.

Tell us something about you that we wouldn’t necessarily know about you by talking to you in the forums.
I smoke.

What’s your favorite book and why, favorite movie and why, favorite kind of music?
I love The Little Prince because of what the fox said: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly;  what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
My favorite movie is Casablanca because it reminds me of my first love.
My favorite kind of music is jazz, Miles Davis, Dexter Gordon, and especially Bill Evans because he reminds me of my last love.  I also like Patsy Kline, Bob Dylan, and lots of other music.

Would you care to share any 'words of wisdom' with other aspiring artists or crafters? 
I guess everyone says “Just do what you love,” which is all nice and lovely, but most of us will also have to get a job or marry someone who has one.

Please leave a comment for this wonderful artist. She would love to hear from you!