Maryanna Hoggatt of Little Wolf blog

A week ago, I wrote a post about making your artwork collectible and posed 13 questions a buyer might ask in deciding to purchase your work.

My premise was, if you are an artist who is blogging, you can use your blog posts as a way to convey the answers to the things buyers are concerned about.  For instance, question no. 10: Is this work collectible?

Perhaps my thoughts were inspired by my recent interactions with the Portland artist Maryanna Hoggatt, who writes the Little Wolf blog.

Maryanna draws… all of the time.  She is an illustrator.  She posts… a lot.  As she says, “This blog is to provide a closer look at my process, including sketches, final works, and inspirations.”

The funny part is, I’ve never seen Maryanna in person.  In fact, I discovered Maryanna and her work when I was working on a quilt of my own, and I needed some inspiration.  I wanted to see how artists interpreted peonies into drawings or paintings.

<<<<I did a google image search and found this image.

It was dark and broody and full of mood.  Totally NOT what I was looking for, but it captured me.  I followed it to its blog – Maryanna’s Little Wolf blog – and have been a faithful follower ever since.

In January 2011, Maryanna had a show of her work at the Eastbank Commerce Center in Portland, OR.

In February 2011, she posted on her blog that she would be giving away one of her illustrations from the show.  BINGO – the light went on for me.  She was making her work collectible.  She was working in a series.  She was creating desire.  She was making a commitment to her fanbase.  Way cool!  Of course, I commented on her blog in hopes of winning and getting to see her work close-up.

And I won!

Righ away, Maryanna sent me a nice note to let me know the package was on its way.  Everything about her delivery reinforced her commitment to her craft.  Look at the careful wrapping.  Even my lady at my mailbox commented, “Oh, yes, look, it’s as if it was delivered to you personally by the pony express!”

The care in the packaging… The attention to detail in the addressing.

The protective packaging materials…

The letter/invoice that provides provenance… the wish/suggestion to have the illustration professionally framed.

I’m thrilled to add this to my growing collection of work from up and coming artists.  Maryanna, I’m so glad I virtually met you!

The illustration is lovely and will be framed and cherished!