diversifying the portfolio

Sons, oh Sons. I have been a thinking' of late and have thunk great thoughts. Or at least thats how it seems to me. A new business venture beckons. Another string to my bow. Another thing for me to do that might not make me any money. But its something I want to try.

What? I hear you cry.

What?

This.

I am going to have those lovely sketchbooks that I use made with my company name embossed on the back, and start selling them all over these here United States. I believe in them, I've used them almost exclusively for 20 years and I've never found anything better.....and you can't get them in the States. I've been talking to the UK suppliers and they are going to produce the books with my name on....which they also do for the Tate Gallery in London.

Kings of London.

Thats my company name. Sounds Royal. Sounds Old. Sounds expensive.

So here's what I am asking of you guys. I want to put together a website for Kings of London to showcase the books. On the webpage I want to feature testimonials and images of work done in the books.

You'll click on the testimonials tab and up will come all these gorgeous thumbnails of watercolours and collages and writing and pen and ink drawings and pencil work, each with a short one or two sentence testimonial saying how great the paper is or how nicely made they are, that there is nothing else as good on the market in the usa etc etc. Don't mention Seawhite of Brighton (the manufacturer, and you don't even need to mention Kings of London. Just "this sketchbook" or "these sketchbooks" or whatever. Doesn't need to be an essay. Just a sentence or two that I can quote. And a 72dpi image that I can post, something that you love that you did in a sketchbook that you got from me.

Then, when its all set up and running.....I'm going to ask you to tell everyone you know to use Kings of London sketchbooks. They will only be available from me, not in stores so I'll need to advertise and rely on word of mouth recommendations.

OR.....if you think I'm headed down a blind alley with this or you think the sketchbooks aren't as good as I think they are, I would value your opinion. 

Boldly going where no man has gone before, MBK

The Sons of Turtle

Greetings from Saugatuk!

summary thoughts, after the Maine trip

The website is coming offline in a few days due to Apple restructuring (canceling) some of its programs, so I wanted to pull this off the SOT website and save it to our blog. Note that science writing this I now HAVE an iPad, courtesy of the Sons of Turner. Looking forward to Saugatuck. MBK

No one died except:A lot of lobstersand Petey the Oven bird

2 Cups broken

There was banditry on the second trip. The Moustache brothers struck hard and struck often

Gabs painted more than any human has ever painted before

None of us was any good at the standup bass

8 is the perfect number for a trip like this

Its not necessarily WHAT you paint but THAT you do work and move forwards. I painted seascapes and guns but I feel that I have moved forwards as an artist

I want an iPad

Tattoos were had.

Sherry likes the idea of developing an icon for each trip.

Maine would be a moustacheSavannah would be Jessie’s crabSanta fe maybe the little turtle that we made sculptures with at the kitchen table?

Rum seems to be the beverage of the sons of Turner and of pirates

Being on a boat

Talking in a foppish southern accent

Johnny depp, giant squid etc

On the plane on the way home I was able to reflect on the week and the three years and I have to say, I believe there’s some momentum now. We are truly becoming something more than just people who go on a trip together.

Todos los coches, todos las dias!

OK peepsicles,  Here is the car lineup.

In the Bob-mobile is: Jerry no. 3, Andrew Day-man, and THE MBK.

As I understand it, Matt, Kerny, Sarah and Cindy-kins are riding together and Dani is taking Liz and Emily.

Does everyone have their buddies?  Full head count?  Any problems, concerns?

Everyone is to meet at MBK's Gallery at 9am.  

Huzzah!

The saugatuck trip lineup

The lineup 2012
Kernats, Liz

Cindy, Sarah

Emily and Dani

Matt , Andrew

Bob, Jerry


That's it for this trip. My apologies to those of you who didn't get on this one, but I can only lead one trip this summer. But the sons of turner are more than just trips. Let's get our focus on the sparrow project later in June too.

So I'm a bit thin on details right now but the big decision is....who's driving. We'll need three cars to transport the 11 of us, and my wife isn't going to give me our car so.......? I know dani just had hers tuned to racing specifications, so that's one car. And emily is going in that one. Who else fancies the drive? I'm buying the gas, but this will be my first sot trip not behind the wheel.

Check in isn't till 4 on Monday 4 th but we should set off early, grab breakfast at a pancake house and stop off in union pier and spend some time exploring the southern lake Michigan coast. We could even spend some time at Indiana dunes. Some of you have paid in full and some have paid the deposit.

It would be great if the balances are paid by PayPal by the 1st June or please bring it in cash on the 4th.

As usual we will need art stuff of course and iPods. One thing I've learned is that sunblock seems to be a necessity! There's fabulous beaches to walk along, and I don't want a repeat of the savannah experience!

Cooking. As you know the evening meal is a huge part of the experience but we only have Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights to worry about. So you don't all have to cook but presumably some of you would like to? I know I don't. So I want to get a feel for who will cook, and definitely will sleep better when I know we have three drivers with cars big enough for 4 people. Post comments below if you fit either or both of those needs. Towels provided. Sunhats a necessity.

I am DESPERATE to paint outdoors again. And to see you all and be encouraged by your passion and your energy. Bring those too. Yours, mbk

its time to commit

OK , sorry about the delay but we had something of an episode at home with Sam and his health. But all is well. And I'm back in the saddle.
The house is booked. The deposit is paid. The game is on.
June 4th to June 7th  2012. Saugatuck. Michigan.

There are ten slots available for this trip and I know that there were more than 10 of you who wanted to go so some of you may have to sit this one out.
I have already received money from a couple of you, thank you.
Now its time for others of you to poney up.
Please send me either $100 as a deposit or the full $225 if you can, via Paypal to my email address which is of course mbk@matbarberkenedy.com.
I will need to make sure that we have the right mix of men and women for the bedrooms to work (5 and 5 wont work) but beyond that I will have to give spaces on the trip to the ones who send me their money first. Its not ideal but I think it will work out. and for those of you who wanted to go but didnt get a slot, I apologise but thats the way that it is.
OK.
Thats it.
I think.

sons of Turner 2012

OK sons. So school is out for another year and I would love to gather with the Sons and its time for me to paint. And for me, painting means living. And living means looking and seeing and thinking. And I need to go somewhere to do that.
.

Saugatuck Michigan.

Its closeby. Its a three hour drive from Chicago. There's loads of galleries. There's beaches and dunes and boats and forests and farmland and coffeeshops and midwesterners eating icecream.

We don't have to fly.
We don't have to rent cars assuming enough of us have cars.
My plan.
4 days, 3 nights June 3-6 or 4-7, not sure.
Cost $225 includes accommodations, 3 breakfasts and 3 big evening meals, state park entrance fees and parking costs.
Extras will be total gas, beverages and lunches.
I havent booked the house, but I've found one that I think will be perfect. I need to know who is in. Reply yes or no on this blog. Lets make this post the central place for all questions and reservations. MBK

Who will be with us as we strike out for the north west

 Over the last four years the Sons have crossed deserts, waded though waist high, icy waters, endured sunstroke, climbed sheer rockfaces, peered through mist at the crashing waves, visited graves and hunted ghosts, walked in the dark woods, sheltered from the sun in rock caves, danced all night, ridden bikes, painted trains and drunk a lot of rum. Now its time to head out to the northwest and see what its all about up there in Portland, with the coffee and whatnot.

 Caleb has been. He says its nice. Very very nice indeed. Frankly the man scares me a bit and I want my hat back. So I'm going

 Dont leave me alone with this man.

 I cant promise that we'll kill lobsters this year. But Kernats is coming so there's sure to be Clown Barf cake. As usual, everything that happens in the kitchen is directed by you guys and its always been a highlight of every day. Tons of food, a glass of something, a ton of computers, ipods, watercolours, sketchbooks and fancytalk around the dinner table. It really is potentially lifechanging what happens around the table when the right mix of people share a week. Who's in?

 

Petey's Out.

Sons of Turner.....

Like watercolour Pirates looking for treasure

I need to buy the plane tickets but I need names and money asap. Call, email, blog, facebook Caleb, Kristen or me asap to save your place.

SoT 2012: Portland, OR - DETAILS!

Hey Sons,

MBK has asked me to handle collecting the deposits for the trip, so - here's the skinny:

1. Each trip is able to accommodate 7 sons + MBK. That said, there is only space available for 14 sons between the two trips.

2. As the official announcement states, the trip should cost $950 each. $300 secures you a spot on the trip. You can send me payment a few different ways: Check or Paypal. Please contact me when you are ready to send the deposit and I will give you the specifics on how to get it to me.

3. Please contact me directly with any questions, comments or concerns. MBK is swamped and thus has been delegating these responsibilities to a few of us.

Thanks Everyone - so looking forward to Portland with you all!
Caleb

The Dream of the 90s is Alive.

"Portland, Oregon is a city like no other. A place where hippies and hipsters coexist alongside business men and housewives. Portland is a town of independence like no other. It heavily favors locally made food and beer to mass produced alternatives, promotes the voice of the individual, and has scenery and architecture that comedian Fred Armisen likens to, 'Legoland.'

Portland is nestled in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Though Portland itself is an urban environment, it is the neighborhoods that give it it's real charm and personality. The Pearl District is the downtown area that is similar to most cities, but with it's own personal flair. Hawthorne is home to farmer's markets and independent clothing stores (think etsy come to life...). Portland features an inactive Volcano at the top of Tabor Park, which also features one of the best views of the sunset in the city. 

If you venture outside of Portland you'll see a side of the country that you get nowhere else. Multnomah Falls is a short drive outside of the city and features a 650+ foot waterfall. Mount Hood is also a short drive outside of the city and in addition to it's breathtaking beauty, nestled atop the mountain is the Timberline Lodge, the place where they filmed the exterior shots of the Overloook Hotel in the film The Shining. Visiting this place is worth the trip up the mountain alone.

Another great drive is to head out to the coastal areas to see towns like Astoria, OR, where they filmed The Goonies. Atop the highest hill of Astoria is a 200ft. tower that offers one of the best views you will ever see. If you leave Astoria and keep heading west you will drive along the pacific coast of Oregon which offers a secluded beach accessible only to those who know the trail..."