Focus On... AugustEve!

Seth is the incredibly talented artist behind August Eve, which is based in the San Francisco Bay area. This print, called We Hold Hands, is just one of many showcasing his sweet long-necked characters and whimsical details.

I really appreciate his use of bright, colorblocked backgrounds - 4 or 5 of his prints grouped together would be such a lovely look.

And to encourage you to buy 4 or 5 of his prints, he is having a sale right now!

Buy any print, get another of your choice for free! He also offers free shipping within the US.

I asked Seth to answer a few questions about himself and his work and here's what I learned!

Tell me the basics. My name is Seth Ahonen. I am an artist. Probably because I'm not qualified or inclined to do anything else (along with being very dyslexic). It is a hard way to make a living for sure. Especially with a wife and two little girls. Ironically, it's my obsessive personality that keeps us afloat. When I am in a rhythm I will paint for ten or twelve hours a day, and will finish four or five paintings a week. So even if I don't sell them for a lot I still do okay. Painting murals is also great for the bottom line. My mural partner went into tattooing recently, but that means twice the pay for me!

{em and august}

What kind of mediums do you use and why? I have tried just about every medium out there, and will switch between oil and acrylic and watercolor depending on the project and my mood. But the work that makes it's way to my August Eve shop is just about always acrylic on canvas.

{eric the red}

What made you decide to sell on Etsy? A long time ago I read a newspaper article about The Black Apple, another seller here on Etsy (who has made about a billion sales). She was talking about selling art online which I had never really given much thought to. The idea sounded really exciting and I knew that I would end up giving it a try.

{august the mermaid}

Where do you get your inspiration? Absolutely everywhere. Theater and literature are two of the most frequent sources. If you look closely, you will find a lot of subtle references to Walt Whitman in my paintings. If anyone reading this is a poetry fan, read Leaves of Grass!The rest of the paintings are similar to what I used to do when I was nine or ten years old. All the cool stuff that I used to imagine and draw when I was a kid, only now I can draw better.

{eve}

What is your favorite music to craft by? Tom Waits and Soviet marching music always get the job done.

{a strange landing}

If you were an animal, what would you be? I think I'd like to be a flying squirrel.

{young conan o'brien}

What's your favorite piece of your own? The Island of Pirates and Dinosaurs is the culmination a few different childhood fantasies. Also the boy in It's Finally Ready and My Second Attempt. Okay I admit it, he's me. The inspiration for Andrew is a former art student of mine. He was such a cool kid and that painting is special to me.

{time to send for the hare}

*Thanks so much for your time, Seth! I wish you luck and keep an eye out for MY order!*