First Friday Shop Hop featuring Jackbear Stamps

Welcome to the December First Friday Shop Hop featuring John from Jackbear Stamps!

During the monthly shop hops, you'll get a blog's eye view into the shop, get to know the artist, and get a chance to win something awesome!
 

A blog's eye view of Jackbear Stamps:

Meet the Artist:

RNEST: Tell us a little about yourself.

John: My name is John Ballou, but I also go by Jack. I hand carve rubber stamps. I have been carving stamps since 2003. I have lost count, but have carved many hundreds of rubber stamps. I specialize in portraits, logos, bookplates, and monograms.

RNEST: What's your favorite part of being an artist?

John: The act of creation. I just love creating something from nothing. Chef's do this with food, Carpenters with wood, but I love to create with rubber. Taking a blank slate, and turning it into a functional item that can print an image. It is amazing to me still, and the process of trying something new each time keeps it interesting for me.

RNEST: You've been at this for a while. Any advise for someone just starting out?

John: Be patient, it takes time. It takes time to set yourself up as a business. It takes time to get good at your craft. Work at it a little each day. Take risks when you can. Find other like minded people to get ideas from.

RNEST: How about shows coming up? Where can we find you locally?

John: I have two more shows before Christmas. The first one a Holiday Shopping Fair at the University of Rochester on Friday, December 7th (THAT'S TODAY!!! from 11am to 4 pm. The second one is the Advent Holiday Arts and Crafts show at the East Rochester High School on Saturday, December 8th, from 9 am to 3 pm.

RNEST: So, tell us about your giveaway item.

John: This item is really special to me. It is an ACEO/ATC (Artist Trading Card) so it is the same size of a poker card. It is a little piece of artwork that is inexpensive and easy to trade/buy/collect. The subject is a Saw Whet Owl that my father-in-law Dick Beery of 3 Oaks Photography took. Our tour guide for the morning we found the owl was Casey Wright of Peach Products. I did two carvings from the photograph, one that creates the brown layer, and one that creates the black layer. I love the three dimensional look it gives the image.

 

The Giveaway - Open worldwide:

Saw Whet ACEO/ATC Card

To enter:

MANDATORY ENTRIES:

1. Follow this blog.

2. Stop by Jackbear Stamps and give it a heart.

If you're already a fan, just say so in the comments.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:

1. Pick a favorite** piece in Jackbear Stamps and:

Tweet it using the Twitter button on the listing. (one entry)

Like it using the Facebook button on the listing. (one entry)

Pin it using the Pinterest button on the listing. (one entry)

**{multiple favorites = multiple entries!!}

2. Tweet the contest using the Twitter button at the bottom of the post.

3. Share this contest on Facebook using the Facebook button on the bottom of the post.

4. Like Jackbear's Facebook page.

5. Like the RNEST Facebook page.

This contest will run until December 13th.

The winner will be selected using a random number generator so anyone can win!

Good Luck!

* Please post all entries below and remember to comment for each entry so that your multiple entries are counted.