Seriously, this year I went to New York thinking I'm gonna take so many pictures this year and be on top of all my social media, yo! Annnnnd I think in the end I took only two real pictures. Seriously. Just look at the camera roll on my phone and it's ridiculously bleak. (Luckily, my agent Jennifer Nelson was all over it, so please feel free to check out Jennifer Nelson Artists on Instagram and such and you will see a whole lot more eye candy).

This was my third time at the licensing/surface design convention Surtex as well as my first time at Blueprint. In 2014, I had both Keith and my mom in tow. Last year just my mom...and this year just little ole me (although people were definitely asking about my mom. She apparently reached celebrity status at some point!)

Jennifer Nelson, Jennifer Orkin Lewis, and myself at the JNA booth at Surtex

Standing with the Blueprint Poster I designed!

The biggest change this year was showing in the JNA booth with Jennifer and fellow artists Jill Howarth and Jennifer Orkin Lewis, as well as Antonio (Jill McDonald's husband) who came with a boatload of show experience. The four of us divided and conquered the two simultaneously running shows. With each other (and a hefty coffee intake), we managed.

With each passing year, I find myself focusing less on the details of Surtex and simply discussing the things that left their thumbprints on my brain (which is still there but seriously needs a break after all of May).

So here we go!

Many people want to know the difference between Surtex and Blueprint. Since I was only at BP for one day, it's really hard for me to give a fair assessment. It was done very nicely and I saw good work being shown. Since it is a show that was spear-headed by design studios, it makes sense that many attendees are looking to buy art outright since design studios mostly work that way.

I learned a lot by working at the JNA booths at both shows. Even when a client wasn't interested in my art, I helped them out and became knowledgable about what they were looking for and the products they make. When an art director smiled at an image or made a positive remark, I took notice of what art they were reacting to. Did they like the subject matter? The colors? If they passed, why? It was a wonderful opportunity to learn.

Afterwards, I hopped on a train and went up to my old stomping grounds in Providence, Rhode Island. It's been a good four years since I've stopped by, so I was more than overdue to see old friends and check it out!

I must have really enjoyed myself, because once again I was busy having fun and took NO PICTURES once I arrived. Now I'm back in Nashville. Keith has a show pretty much every weekend and I'm busy getting work done before I leave for ICON in Austin.

Summer's here!