Thought-Full Art Studio

A conversation...

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New Prints Added

I’ve updated my shop with some additional prints. I’m trying to post all the prints I normally take with me to arts festivals as quickly as possible. If you do not see something, please use the Contact form and describe it as best you can and I will get back to you quickly.

Three of the prints currently listed also have the original artwork still available: The Vegan (black and white version), Catch 22, and Through the Curtain. If you are interested in the originals, please use the Contact form and I will get back with you to discuss the details.

The Randy Brodnax show that I have been blessed to participate in during the Fall had to cancel. But they are trying to put together an online “show”. Once that is set up, I’ll post information here and on Facebook on how to view, share, purchase art, etc.

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Cottonwood Arts Festival News

Update – 7/18/2020 – Cottonwood Arts Festival Fall Show has been cancelled. We hope things will be better in 2021. Be safe and do your best to keep others safe as well.

C.J. Bradford

Festival leaders are trying hard to figure out how to plan in this environment of change. One festival that has been very active in keeping in touch and promoting artists in the DFW area is the Cottonwood Arts Festival team.

I have been blessed to be part of this festival most years since 1985. I am very honored that they are highlighting my work on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CottonwoodArtFestival/videos/197180664714693

There is a special promotion for the month of June so I encourage you to visit their page and come back to shop!

I hope that you remain safe and well. I miss seeing you and interacting with you. I especially miss hearing the stories from young and old about how they are trying to explore art themselves. I look forward to seeing you down the road.

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Documentary Video

I’ve been really blessed in the last few weeks – in many ways. While I miss my art show community and the opportunity to interact with customers, I’ve found some times of real joy and peace working in my garden.

I’ve always planted lots of flowers and have had a vegetable garden since I had my first home. But typically I plant the garden in early spring and then am in a mad dash to shows, with only a couple of weeks of free time here and there. So my garden would start out lovely and by the time the shows settled down, they were overgrown, weary, sun baked.

But this year I’ve had the opportunity to really enjoy Spring for the first time in nearly 40 years. I realize that this time is absolutely horrendous on a national scale, and I would gladly give up my garden time to be back selling art and knowing that those I care about are safe from a pandemic and economic ruin. But we look for small blessings in this midst of these kinds of events and I am truly grateful for the vegetables now coming out in my little “patch”.

Also during this time, a long awaited documentary of my work has now been made available. Ms. Sissel Anderson is a college student who does extraordinary film work. She chose me as a project for a competition. She and her team worked tirelessly over many weeks to put this together. I’m so excited that she won 3rd place in the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association for Excellence in Texas Collegiate Journalism! Below is a link to her YouTube. I have also posted the video on my Facebook Page

A Documentary by Sissel Anderson

I know we are going to see/hear more about Sissel in the years to come. Hope you enjoy the video!

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Stay Safe

All spring shows have been cancelled. While several hope to reschedule in the Fall, we won’t know for some time. My prayer is that each of you remain safe and can avoid this disease.

My wife and I are practicing shelter in place. We are grateful for the world of technology that allows us to stay in contact with friends and family by telephone, email, and virtual meetings. I hope that you are finding ways to stay connected.

To the health professionals, first responders, and the many people who are continuing to work in essential businesses, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Your service is critical for us to get through this. We know that an unprecedented number of people are suffering terrible economic issues and that is heart breaking.

We are going to beat this thing. We must practice social distancing and do our very best when we must get out to protect ourselves – and to protect others – by respecting the laws of science in regard to this virus. The more we do this, the quicker this will be over and the faster we can all get back together and work to rebuild what has been lost and damaged.

God bless you and keep you during this time.

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Corona Virus and Show Impacts

Please visit my Show page for information on Spring 2020 shows. As would be expected, it has become necessary for show officials to postpone and/or cancel large gatherings as everyone works to stop the progress of this virus within communities.

I want to encourage everyone to at least take the minimum precautions when out and about in your communities. Each of us can have a positive impact by simply maintaining responsible behaviors toward ourselves and others.

  1. Wash your hands longer and more frequently.
  2. Keep hands away from your face and the faces of others.
  3. For now, a shoulder bump is better than a handshake.
  4. Stay informed and stay calm.
  5. Respect those who are in high risk categories (elderly and/or those with preexisting health conditions) by following the previous suggestions.
  6. And stop hoarding toilet paper. Really. Stop.

Be safe and be kind and I look forward to when this is behind us and we can once again have a fun time at some of the great festivals around the country.

And a reminder – you can order from me on this website! Thanks!

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Spring Shows Now Listed

Hop on over and visit my “Shows” page for the full lineup. I’m excited about the schedule and looking forward to a busy spring. Winter has seemed particularly odd this year – too much rain, lots of cloudy days. Ready for some sunshine! Mark your calendars and I look forward to seeing you at one of the shows coming up!

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Brodnax and Friends Show

While Thanksgiving is probably on most people’s minds right now – I’m focusing on two things – clearing out the leaves that are drowning my yard and getting ready for the Brodnax and Friends Christmas Art Show.

If you have never attended this show, I hope you will mark your calendars and come by (December 6th, 7th, and 8th). It is an excellent show – and a terrific way to finish up your gift-giving list (or to treat yourself for being so good this year!).

Randy and Friends have been hosting this show for 40+ years. It is held in the Sons of Hermann Hall building – which is a treat to visit by itself. The hall is in Deep Ellum and may be familiar to many as a music venue.

Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving – lots of good food, friends, family, and football! God bless.

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Bayou Downtown and Greeting Cards!

Headed to the Houston Bayou Downtown Festival this weekend. Show opens Saturday and runs through Sunday. If you are in the area, hope you will come by. It should be really nice weather for walking about and enjoying the fine arts and crafts of this fun show.

I have a new offering for the show – greeting cards with my “The Three Truths” image. I do not often create greeting cards but several folks at recent shows had asked about this image in particular so I decided to give it a try.

Depending on how they do at this show, I’ll make them available on the website and at other shows. These are on heavy-duty card stock and sized for regular mail postage. If someone is interested in a bulk order, we can discuss options.

Hope to see you at the show!

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Bayou Festival Coming Up!

The Fall Art Season is in full swing! I just finished up a great time at the Cottonwood Arts Festival in Richardson, Texas. It was unusually hot for this time of year, but people came out and it was a great show.

My most popular piece was the “Three Truths”. Someone suggested I make this one into a Christmas Card and we are going to see if we can make that happen. I haven’t made cards in many years as it seemed that people had slowed down sending them. But it will be fun to see if this one can be adapted and how people will use it.

My next stop is coming up this weekend: Houston, Texas for the Bayou City Art Festival (Saturday and Sunday, October 12th and 13th). This is a well-attended show with a great lineup and I hope, if you are in the area, you will take time to attend.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Houston show. After that, I have just one more show for the Fall season – the Randy Brodnax and Friends Show. I really look forward to this one each year. It is a smaller venue and most of the artists and artisan crafters are long-time friends. Always some new faces as well and I look forward to the show and getting to know people. Plus – it is indoors! Always a blessing in the Fall/Winter!

Stay cool and see you in Houston or in Deep Elum at the Brodnax and Friends Show!

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Cottonwood Art Festival

The Cottonwood Art Festival begins tomorrow! The hours are Saturday, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm, and Sunday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. I am in a new location this year. As you come into the park gates off Belt Line, I am in the area on your right – 2nd row back. This is a nice shady area so I’m looking forward to people feeling more comfortable and spend longer looking at my work.

I have a number of originals that have not been shown previously at Cottonwood and am excited to see how folks respond.

This is a terrific event with a huge number of excellent artists and artisan crafters. I hope you will be able to make it out. I would enjoy hearing from you on my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ThoughtFullArt/ While there, a “Like” would be greatly appreciated! Catch you this weekend!