This week Co-op member Ben Gilbert of Crayons and Cardboard takes us into his creative mind, sharing his current artistic thoughts and musings.

Stop by Artistic Portland to see and purchase Ben's art in person.

    Brooke Hoyer is one of our newest members to join Artistic Portland and one of several photographers in our Co-op. His interest in photography started at an early age when he tried to use his father’s Kodak Instamatic camera to photograph his toy dinosaurs. Unfortunately, there was no film in the camera.  In his teens, he obtained a single lens reflex camera and his interest in photography blossomed.  He took a few photography related courses in high school and enrolled as an art major in college. However, the concerns of earning a living led him to pursue more conventional employment. As an avid outdoors person, he engaged in rock climbing and bike racing until medical problems forced him to curtail those activities. He never lost his interest in photography and turned very heavily into that activity.

He works in both color and black and white photography. The palette of his color photos are very subtle and enhances the story his images tell. He explained to me that he prefers to look for less conventional scenes when he shoots and avoids stock pictures of familiar landmarks and popular points of interests. He has photographed many landscapes which relate to his own outdoor history. His approach is to take unusual perspectives and angles - perhaps because of his rock climbing experiences.

Much of his work on display in the Co-op store is about people: in parks, on the riverfront, or in their haunts and workplaces. I particularly like the image of an old auto mechanic in his shop. Brooke likes to work spontaneously and always carries a camera, often using an iPhone which he finds very helpful. He likens the shots taken on his walks or trips to the raw material for his art which he then adjusts in a rigorous process of selecting and fine tuning, using software on the computer.

Brooke pursues his art with few preconceptions but knows when he sees a subject with a story worth telling. Thus he is always “on the lookout” for these situations when he on his daily rounds. I suspect these scenes reflect his own unique history and makeup as well as his artistic tastes. His art takes a deeper look at everyday people and situations which the average person may overlook. His hope is that his art will enable a meaningful connection with the subject and viewer, even if it is for an instant.

You may meet Brooke when you visit the Artistic Portland Co-op Store and discover more about this interesting artist. Our store is staffed only by artists whose work is shown in the store. So each person you meet in the store has some work on hand and has some knowledge about the other works on display. What a concept!

-John Stephenson

This week, co-op member Marianne of Gifts from the Earth gives us some natural, do-it-yourself remedies for summer-time burns and bites.

In the midst of summer fun, hazards such as bug bites, stings, and sunburns give a rude awakening.  All of our favorite activities seem to be marred by itches and pain.  Luckily, we have the cures and are more than happy to share with you, our favorite follower.  

Dealing with Bug Bites
Spiders, mosquitos and bees, oh my!   These pesky insects are just a few of the many who crawl out of their nooks for summer adventures.  As we all know, itching only prompts more itching.  Here are some great home remedies for relieving the itches and burns of a bug bite!

• Baking soda and water – It cleans, deodorizes, sets off the mini-volcanoes of childhood, and is especially wonderful for treating mosquito bites. Mix baking soda and water until it is the consistency of a paste, and then apply directly to the bite.  This simple remedy shows very quick results.
• Aloe Vera – Using a type of aloe vera juice or keeping an aloe plant in your home is a simple and natural remedy.  Once again, just apply to the affected area.  
• Apple cider vinegar – Apple cider vinegar draws out itches almost immediately.  Just find a bite and marinate.
  

Bees are a keystone species, it is true, but that doesn’t mean anyone enjoys getting stung by one.  Unfortunately for my bee-allergic friends, the next portion of today’s blog will not be helpful to you.  For those who aren’t allergic, here’s what to do.

• Tea tree oil is a potent burn and itch relief associated with bee stings.
• Aspirin crushed and mixed with water will also draw out the pain of a bee sting. It may sound cliché, but it still works great. Taking an antihistamine may also help, but check with your doctor before taking any.
  

Treatment for Sunburn
Here is the down-low on what to do to protect against sunburns and remedies for the sunburns that still make their way through.

• In two words, wear sunscreen.  It should have at least SPF 15.   

• Baking soda wins again, and is an excellent way to ease the burn and irritation of sunburn.

• Tea tree oil also soothes and moisturizes the skin at the same time and is another great remedy for sunburns.

What is the point of looking good if it does not make you feel even better?  Be your beautiful self.

Marianne Wilson Stein is the Creator of Luscious Beauty for Gifts From the Earth, a hand-crafted line of all natural skin care products from face to feet!

Where does your average artist sell their work, other than placing it in a wonderful place like the Co-op called Artistic Portland? Many of us do craft shows, from small street fairs to large multi-day juried events. You've come to some of them, I'm sure! Here's what it looks like from the artist's side of the tent, in reality show format (thanks to Bill Fantini at House of 6 Cats for the concept).

Today on Buy Our Stuff, watch as our contestants compete in a show where at least 75% of the products are in direct competition! But first they'll have to actually make it to the right event, on time, with all of tables, tents, draping, signage and merchandise they'll need - with only one email from the organizer and their own Google skills!

Once there, they'll compete head-on with people vending similar items made in China, and have to justify the price of their own handmade goods to shoppers. Can they do it? In the related math challenge, see if our artists are actually charging enough for their product after expenses, shows and overhead. You'll be SHOCKED at our results.

We'll also answer the questions everyone wants to know: how quickly can our contestants chew and swallow a cheese stick before someone asks a question? Who makes a cup of coffee that tastes just as good lukewarm or cold as when it was hot? And just how long *can* a solo vendor hold it before leaving their booth alone to make a lightning run to the portapotties (extra points for vendors who do this in Renaissance Faire Garb).

In the weather category, we'll recreate the 100+ degree dustbowl on rocky ground event, where the challenge is not breaking an ankle getting set up; the 40 degrees and all-day rain event, where the challenge is keeping your merchandise dry; and every vendor's favorite, the windy event. Extra points to vendors with tent-weights over 50 lbs per leg, points definitely docked if a tent blows away.

The best thing about this reality show? We're *all* winners, every single artist who does this because they love the work, and more importantly, the people that we meet at these shows. Fans who follow us from event to event, who come looking specifically for us saying "I am so glad you're here, I can't wait to see what work you have that's new!" Doing the craft show circuit isn't always easy, but it's always, always fun! 

-Deb Counts-Tabor of Sage and Sea Farms