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Made on Maryland's Eastern Shore   |   © Erick Sahler Serigraphs Co.

Howard Lapp, the retired commercial airline pilot who has been creating bold graphic paintings and prints of Oxford, Maryland, for more than 20 years. I just love his style — “drawn tight and painted loose,” according to the artist. You can see his work at the Oxford Market, where a huge mural of oyster tongers adorns an outside wall and a smaller piece is featured below the lunch counter inside.

You. Twelve years into Erick Sahler Serigraphs Co., and I still can’t wait to get to work each morning. I owe every success to you, the people who support my dreams. Thank you so much.

Peace+love,

FIRST STATE ICONS FEATURED IN TRIO OF NEW PRINTS

Cape Henlopen, Delaware Bay and a landmark Sussex County dairy farm are celebrated in three new “My Hometown Series” prints by Erick Sahler.

The works depict the Great Dune at Cape Henlopen State Park, surf fishing on Delaware Bay and the Hopkins Farm Creamery near Lewes. All three illustrations were created in early 2023 and are available at The Brush Factory in Lewes and on our website.

“Great Dune” features perhaps the most incredible land form on Delmarva. Rising 80 feet above the Atlantic, the Great Dune was home to the Henlopen Lighthouse, which slid into the sea in 1926, and Fort Miles, constructed during World War II to defend Philadelphia. In a region of flat land and water, the Great Dune is a marvel to behold and I’m always struck by its immensity when visiting Cape Henlopen.

“Hopkins Brothers” celebrates the picturesque dairy that operated on Route 9 outside Lewes for generations. Until recently there were hundreds of black-and-white dairy cows on site, including the one in the print that I photographed among the buttercups in 2014. Homemade ice cream is still available in the Hopkins Farm Creamery beneath the iconic silo. I’ll miss the cows but I look forward to the redevelopment of the farm as a nature preserve.

“Gone Fission” salutes the odd juxtaposition of nature and nuclear on the shores of Delaware Bay. The Salem Power Plant looms in the distance, its cooling tower and plume of white steam visible for miles. The locals — humans and wildlife — seem to have adapted, fishing and recreating along the mostly unspoiled shoreline. To me it seems eerie. This image is a composite of three of my photos and the design parodies the iconic “Endless Summer” surf movie poster.

All three images are offered as Legacy Reproduction prints in both 8x10 and 16x20 sizes. Prices range from $35 to $185.

Andrew Wyeth’s model, muse and friend Helga Testorf and me at the opening reception for “Andrew Wyeth: Home Places” at the Brandywine Museum of Art in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.

GRACIAS, MERCI, DANKE, GRAZI AND THANKS TO …

Brandywine Museum of Art. The Chadds Ford art museum recently committed to stewarding a collection of more than 7,000 never-before-seen works donated by the estate of Andrew and Betsy Wyeth. The first exhibit, “Andrew Wyeth: Home Places,” presented 50 drawings and paintings of the Chadds Ford area.

Salisbury University printmaking students and professor David Bunting for being fully present and engaged for a discussion on creating and selling silkscreen art in the mid-Atlantic region. It was my first time back in Fulton Hall since the pandemic and I instantly felt the energy and creativity that resonates throughout the building. I hope you all were as inspired as I was.

Tidewater Times. Many thanks to publishers John and Anne Farwell for using my Oxford “R2” illustration on the May cover of Tidewater Times. It’s my sixth time being featured and it still excites me as much as the first time did. You can read the Tidewater Times online here.

‘LANDMARK’ BUOY CELEBRATED IN OXFORD PRINT

Red, right, return.

For generations, the Tred Avon’s Red 2 buoy has welcomed sailors to Oxford, Maryland. Now it’s the subject of “R2,” a new print in the “My Hometown Series” collection.

Bobbing 200 yards off the Tred Avon Yacht Club, nautical charts call it Red Buoy No. 2.

To Oxford boaters, it is Red 2 — or R2 for short — and it marks the entry to the oldest port on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Landlubbers can view R2 from the public beach at the end of Lovers Lane, tucked between the yacht club and the Sandaway inn, which are both featured in the print.

Red 2 is as much an Oxford institution as the mustard yellow exterior of the Robert Morris Inn, or the town’s onion dome picket fences, and I believed it deserved a tribute.

It is offered as Legacy Reproduction prints in both 8x10 and 16x20 sizes. Prices range from $35 to $165.

COLLAGE PRINT MARKS 50 YEARS OF ISLAND HISTORY

Chincoteague ponies. Chincoteague oysters. Chincoteague scows. Add a pair of world famous decoy carvers and the cult of Misty. The impact of the island town is unparalleled on the Delmarva Peninsula.

My new print “Shamelessly Chincoteague” celebrates the unique island culture, landmarks, events and businesses that have touched my life over the past five decades. The print features more than 80 icons in bold primary colors.

This is my fourth “community collage” design, following “Simply Salisbury,” “Only Ocean City” and “Obviously Oxford.” Much research goes into building such a complicated design, and I am grateful for the support of Cindy Faith at the Museum of Chincoteague and Jon and Jane Richstein at Sundial Books in sharing ideas and images.

“Shamelessly Chincoteague” is offered as Legacy Reproduction prints in both 8x10 and 16x20 sizes. Prices range from $35 to $165.

INAUGURAL ‘MY HOMETOWN’ PRINT REVISITED

In 2011, I launched Erick Sahler Serigraphs Co. with “Downtown Salisbury,” a print that celebrated my hometown. It was an intentional move. Despite Salisbury being at a low point, with crime and a warring city government dominating the news, I still believed in its potential.

Now, 12 years later, I celebrate my hometown again with “Salisbury Rising.”

Our downtown is almost unrecognizable from a decade ago, with new construction, new businesses and a renewed sense of civic pride.

“Salisbury Rising” revisits the courthouse steeple, this time in a view from Lemmon Hill, boxed in by The Ross (or “The Hoss,” as I call it), a brand new 14-story condominium towering over Main Street. Salisbury is rising, but with additional projects in the works I still believe the best is yet to come.

The print is offered as Legacy Reproduction prints in both 8x10 and 16x20 sizes. Prices range from $35 to $165.

CAMBRIDGE PRINT SALUTES BOATBUILDER’S LEGACY

On the Eastern Shore, the Richardson name is synonymous with the art of wooden boatbuilding. Jim Richardson, for whom the Richardson Maritime Museum in Cambridge is named, elevated the craft, building and restoring countless Chesapeake Bay vessels during his 50-year career.

I first encountered “Mr. Jim” through an incredible painting by Cambridge artist George Wright when I was in middle school. Wright depicted Richardson in his boatbuilding shop on Lecompte Creek, admiring a young boy’s toy sailboat beneath a giant bugeye stern. It was painted in the style of Norman Rockwell, every detail masterfully rendered to promote a story of tradition and mutual respect. Many years later, I still think of the painting every time I pass by the lane to Richardson’s shop.

Mr. Jim passed in 1991, but his boatbuilding legacy lives on at the museum, where volunteers restore wooden boats and teach children basic boatbuilding skills and time-honored traditions.

My illustration shows the simple yet graceful bow of the skipjack Martha Lewis as it underwent restoration on the grounds of the museum from 2019 to 2023. The scene is familiar to anyone who has traveled into Cambridge in recent years, yet seemingly of another era.

“Richardson’s” is offered as Legacy Production prints in both 8x10 and 16x20 sizes. Prices range from $35 to $165.

Jane Brighton of Lloyds, Maryland, who we happened upon along a country lane while researching the late Chesapeake Bay boatbuilder Jim Richardson. Turns out, she is his daughter and was more than willing to share the family’s history including an impromptu tour of the site where “Mr. Jim” built and restored boats for half a century.

Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art and Pemberton Pharmacy of Salisbury, both of which closed recently, were huge supporters of me and my work. I am grateful for the partnerships and friendships formed over the past decade.

Wildflowers bloom outside the workshop of the late Jim Richardson, who built and restored boats on this site for 50 years.

Howard Lapp’s mural of oyster tongers adorns the side of the Oxford Market.

Keith Whitelock has been my mentor and friend since I was in grade school. His Eastern Shore paintings are on exhibit in Snow Hill, Maryland, through the end of June.

C. Keith Whitelock, whose work is on exhibit at Bishop’s Stock in Snow Hill, Maryland, through the end of June. For 40 years, Keith has been a mentor and a friend. He taught me everything I know about drawing and painting, and introduced me to screen printing. I would not be where I am today without him.

SAHLER PAYS TRIBUTE TO ISLAND CREAMERY FAVORITE

The Sahlers have sampled ice cream around the world, from the historic Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen to the celebrated Bi-Rite Creamery in San Francisco. But our favorite comes from right here on Delmarva.

The Island Creamery was started in Chincoteague, Virginia, in 1975 and regularly appears on lists of the best ice cream in the United States. At the height of the summer tourist season, Island Creamery is one of those places where folks will line up for blocks for a taste of the shop’s delectable homemade confections. It’s that good.

My print “Marsh Mud” features one of the Island Creamery’s not-to-be-missed signature flavors. Legend has it an accidental double dose of chocolate resulted in the thickest, richest, fudgiest ice cream ever created. Rather than toss it, it was offered to customers and it became an instant sensation. We’ve never tasted anything like it.

The name “Marsh Mud” comes from the dark fecund goo — which the ice cream resembles — that separates the grasses and the water in the Eastern Shore’s tidal wetlands.

My illustration brings them together (I hope) for the first time. It’s a cheeky salute to local culture inspired by the recent Wayne Thiebaud exhibit at the Brandywine River Museum of Art in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.

It is offered as Legacy Reproduction prints in both 8x10 and 16x20 sizes. Prices range from $35 to $165.

Maryland State Parks commissioned Erick Sahler to create an illustration for the 50th anniversary of Rocky Gap State Park.

SAHLER HIRED TO CREATE ROCKY GAP ILLUSTRATION

The new year marks the 50th anniversary of Rocky Gap State Park and Erick Sahler has been commissioned to create an illustration celebrating the event.

Located off I-68 east of Cumberland, Maryland, Rocky Gap State Park comprises 3,000 acres of trail-filled woodlands surrounding Lake Habeeb. Overlooking the lake is Evitts Mountain. The park opened in 1974 and for five decades visitors have enjoyed camping, fishing, hiking, water sports, swimming and sunbathing on the lake’s white sandy beaches.

For the illustration, I visited Rocky Gap in September and tried to capture the peaceful solitude that I witnessed. The artwork features the mountain, the lake, the beach, flowering purple asters and a vintage lifeguard stand under a sunset sky. Just above the trees, a thin layer of campfire smoke settles over the camping sites. It was a detail suggested by Rocky Gap veteran Ranger Cliff Puffenburger. It’s a subtle but brilliant detail and I think it makes the print.

Thanks to Maryland State Parks Superintendent Angela Crenshaw for the opportunity and to Rocky Gap Western Region Manager Sarah Milbourne and Ranger Cliff for their help and ideas.

The illustration will debut in the new Allegany County tourism guide in December and will be featured by Rocky Gap State Park for its 50th anniversary celebration in July, as well as throughout the year.

While in Ireland and Northern Ireland, I had the pleasure of meeting several artists, clockwise from top left, Emma Cownie, Philip McFadden, Francis Van Maele and Antic-Ham, and Neal McCullough.

IN IRELAND, WE CONNECTED WITH THE ARTISTS

For 30 years, I have dreamed of returning to Ireland and we finally had the opportunity for us four Sahlers to make a family trip in August. While there we rented a car, which gave us the freedom to set our own itinerary as well as stop to visit or photograph whenever the mood struck.

Our journey took us along the Wild Western Way, a spectacular narrow winding route that hugs the coast along the Atlantic Ocean in the Republic of Ireland. In Northern Ireland, we traveled the Causeway Coast before heading south to Belfast. Along the way, we called on the following artists:

Emma Cownie, a former English schoolteacher turned artist. She paints epic landscapes of the Donegal coast. One of her works appeared on the cover of Claire Keegan’s “Foster,” which became the Oscar-nominated film “The Quiet Girl.” Follow her on Instagram @emma_cownie_artist

Red Fox Press is Francis Van Maele of Belgium and Antic-Ham of South Korea. They moved to an Achill Island cliffside studio to create hand-pulled silkscreen prints and books. Their work has appeared at the Tate Gallery in London and the MoMA in New York. Follow them on Instagram @redfoxpress.ireland @antic_ham @polamad.ireland

Neal McCullough left the newspaper business in the late Aughts to become an illustrator, just like me. He has developed a cool retro style that is part 1960s Saturday morning cartoons, part Route 66 road signs. He now has clients all over the world. Follow him on Instagram @handdrawncreative

Philip McFadden is a painter, sculptor and self-proclaimed punk rocker-turned-hippie. Growing up in Derry, he went to school with The Undertones. He received a fellowship to attend PS1 in New York City and has exhibited at the MoMA. Follow him on Instagram @solastobann

Stephen McClean creates loose soppy wet-on-wet paintings of Irish landscapes combining watercolor, acrylic and ink — all in the same painting. He sells his work on weekends at the bustling St. George’s Market in Belfast and is also represented by Top Floor Art. Follow him on Instagram @topfloorart

We returned with pieces by all six artists. They now hang in our hallway “Irish gallery,” not only as souvenirs of an epic journey but as a reminder not to wait 30 years to return.

THE WRITINGS OF ERICK SAHLER SHARED ONLINE

Some of my thoughts and ideas are better shared in words rather than images.

While I tapped out the occasional column during my employ at the local paper, I never really wrote for myself until recently.

Several years ago, I began posting my pieces on social media. Topics ranged from art and music, to experiences that moved me, to observations about life on Delmarva, to the significant people who touched my life.

People read and responded, and regularly commented, “You should publish a book.”

Well I did (kind of) and here it is — “Erick Sahler Paragraphs” — the (almost) complete collection of (mostly) true stories plus some never-before-shared poems and lyrics, all “drawn” from my life. You can read them here.

My postcard brought joy to the daughter of Mandala Pies proprietor Caitlin LaComb.

GRACIAS, MERCI, DANKE, GRAZI AND THANKS TO …

Caitlin LaComb, proprietor of Mandala Pies in Vienna and Berlin, Maryland, who shared an image of her daughter’s delight with my postcard image of the Vienna shop. Seeing it made my day. Mandala’s Key Lime Pie is the best we ever had. You should check it out. Also, ask for a postcard while you’re there.

The Ross investor Tricia Beisler and marketing coordinator Allie Lane, who chose six of my pieces to be reproduced large-scale for public display in Salisbury’s new high-rise condominium. As part of the design project, we took a tour and marveled at the views from the 14th floor, where on a clear day you can see more than 15 miles in every direction.

Classic Custom Framing & Gallery, which celebrated its 30-year anniversary this year. Classic recently added my Legacy Mini 8x10 prints, as well as my full-size prints, and offers top-quality custom framing and matting for all kinds of artwork and collectibles. Custom is who I turn to for framing special works that are beyond my ability.

The Ross rises 14 stories over downtown Salisbury.

Pocomoke River State Park, near Snow Hill, which now offers my “Pocomoke River” design on postcards and magnets.

Allen Lions Club, which accepted me as a returning member after I took a 10-year hiatus to launch Erick Sahler Serigraphs Co. The Lions not only serve the rural village of Allen, but in doing so help foster a sense of community through numerous outreach projects like the annual Beef Dinner, now in its 63rd year. Plus they are good people and lots of fun. I’m honored to rejoin them.

The former presidential yacht Sequoia recently arrived in Cambridge for restorations.

Richardson Maritime Museum of Cambridge, which recently shocked the Eastern Shore with the arrival of the former presidential yacht USS Sequoia. The 104-foot wooden boat, used by nine U.S. presidents, is scheduled for restoration at the Cambridge yard. Richardson’s was the subject of an Erick Sahler print earlier this year featuring the restoration of the skipjack Martha Lewis.

You. New customers and long-time supporters, I am grateful for you. Thank you so much.

Peace+love,

News from 2023

NYC CONSERVANCY OFFERS SAHLER PRINTS, TOTES

Many thanks and much gratitude to the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy for continuing to feature my work in promoting the natural areas around New York City.

The Conservancy is offering large canvas tote bags featuring my 2019 “Rockaway” illustration as a premium to anyone who donates $50 or more to the organization. It’s made of 100 percent post-consumer recycled brushed cotton with my illustration on the front and the JBRPC logo on the back.

And for the many folks who have asked: Yes, all three of my illustrations commissioned by the Conservancy — Jamaica Bay, Rockaway and the Gateway National Recreation Area — are also available as prints. The size is 8.5 x 11 inches and the cost is $40 each, or all three prints for $75.

The tote and the prints can be ordered at https://www.jbrpc.org/donate.

SAHLER CELEBRATES THE MANY CHARMS OF MILTON

“Off-Centered,” my first print of 2024, celebrates Milton, Delaware, a small but charming rural town just minutes from the bustling seaside resorts of Lewes and Rehoboth Beach.

Milton is known historically as the birthplace of five state governors, a vast 18th-century shipbuilding industry and (surprisingly) the one-time holly capital of the United States. In recent years, it has gained fame as the home of Dogfish Head, one of the most innovative and respected independent breweries in the world.

“ ‘Off-Centered’ is a tribute to both Milton’s Federal and Victorian homes as well as its most famous modern day resident,” Sahler said. “I re-imagined the early days of Dogfish Head, when Sam was crafting micro batches of highly innovative ales for eager customers across Delmarva. I typically take an unbalanced approach to composition, but in this Milton illustration I pushed it to the extreme to capture the ‘off-centered’ ethos celebrated by Dogfish Head and its rabid fans. The old Dodge truck remains on display at the brewery. The holly decorating its bed recalls Milton’s past, when it was the leading holly producer in the nation.”

“Off-Centered” is offered as Legacy Reproduction prints in both 8x10 and 16x20 sizes. Prices range from $35 to $165.

Victoria Wyeth, the only grandchild of Andrew Wyeth, hosted a day-long meet-and-greet for longtime attendees of her online talks.

MY WYETH JOURNEY CONTINUES: A DAY WITH VIC

A million thanks to Andrew Wyeth’s granddaughter, Victoria Wyeth, who devoted an entire day to connect with the folks who have attended her monthly online talks in recent years.

In 2019, I began a deep dive into all things Wyeth.

I have visited the studios of N.C. Wyeth and Andrew Wyeth, the Kuerner Farm where Andrew Wyeth painted for seven decades, the family retreat “Eight Bells” in Port Clyde, the Olson House featured in “Christina’s World,” and Andrew Wyeth’s grave.

In addition, I’ve explored Wyeth exhibits at the Brandywine Museum of Art in Pennsylvania, the Farnsworth Art Museum in Maine, the Greenville Museum of Art in South Carolina and the Biggs Museum of American Art in Delaware. I even met Helga, Andrew Wyeth’s longtime model and friend, at an opening reception at the Brandywine.

So I was gleeful when Vic offered a meet-and-greet in Chadds Ford, including a private gallery tour and dinner with “the Wyeth party” at a nearby restaurant, where Vic circulated, making us all feel like family. She even joined me for a private chat as I sat outside our hotel, smoking my pipe.

Vic brought along her dad, art dealer Nicky Wyeth, who shared stories about the Wyeths’ life in Chadds Ford.

The entire day was a dream come true and I’m so grateful for the opportunity. It made me love the Wyeths even more.

Vic brought along her dad, art dealer Nicky Wyeth, as part of a private tour of the Andrew Wyeth galleries at the Brandywine Museum of Art in Chadds Ford.

NEW PRINTS SALUTE ISLANDERS’ SPECIAL WAY OF LIFE

Two new Erick Sahler prints celebrate the unique way of life on Tilghman Island, a small but thriving watering community on Chesapeake Bay.

The day on Tilghman begins long before the sun rises. That’s when the “early birds” get the best crabs and oysters. The Tilghman Island Country Store, built in 1895, opens its door at 5 a.m. to feed and provision watermen, hunters, anglers and other early risers. At the end of each week, store owner Patricia McGlannan and friends host “Friday at Five,” an online wine tasting that has made them internet celebrities.

My print “Early Birds” salutes the store, its facade lit from above by a street lamp. An “Open” sign in the window greets the first customers of the day, who are watched over by other “early birds” perched on the roof. In the distance, the glow of a single window reveals the only other sign of life at this early hour.

“Knapp’s Narrows” pays tribute to the narrow channel that separates the island from the mainland, and serves as “Main Street” for watermen, anglers and recreational boaters. The Washington Post called the Tilghman Island drawbridge the busiest in the nation, with more than 10,000 openings a year.

My print shows the drawbridge from the arriving boater’s perspective, with a long view depicting two buyboats under repair and a full marina of deadrise workboats and sailboat masts in the distance. Small details include the No. 6 day marker and several martin houses, welcoming the birds that keep flying insects at bay.

Both are offered as Legacy Reproduction prints in both 8x10 and 16x20 sizes. Prices range from $35 to $165.

BISHOP’S STOCK EXHIBITS 22 NEW SAHLER PRINTS

Rarely are all my works exhibited together in one gallery. Usually Delaware pieces go to one shop, Maryland pieces to others and Virginia pieces to yet another.

“Discover Delmarva,” on display at Bishop’s Stock in Snow Hill during March, comprised all my new work —  22 new prints created since the pandemic — featuring icons and institutions from across the Peninsula.  

“I’m so excited for this opportunity,” Sahler said. “This is the first time I myself will see all these pieces collected together in one setting. It will be quite a show.”

An opening reception was held March 1 and the show continued through the end of the month.

Bishop’s Stock is located at 202 W. Green St. in Snow Hill and is open Wednesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 410-726-0601.

“Discover Delmarva” was the first major gallery exhibit of Erick Sahler prints since the pandemic.

Doug Leen graciously shared his stories of bringing the WPA’s National Park Service prints back to life during our recent visit to Tucson.

MEET DOUG LEEN, THE ‘RANGER OF THE LOST ART’

If you’ve ever marveled at the gorgeous silkscreen posters of America’s Nation Parks, you’ve got Doug Leen to thank.

Leen was a park ranger at Grand Teton National Park in the early 1970s when he stumbled upon a poster featuring Jenny Lake Museum stashed away in a barn. At that time, the prints created by WPA artists between 1938 and 1941 were largely forgotten but the Jenny Lake print spurred Leen to a 30-year quest to locate all the WPA park prints and return them to the public.

Leen’s research took him all over the United States and unbelievably, no archival copies existed. He eventually located images — mostly in black-and-white photos — of 14 parks that were printed in editions of 100 or so each. Many had been posted in public spaces and eventually discarded. Of the 1,400 original prints, only 40 prints exist today, and originals of two of the 14 designs have never been found.

In 1992, Leen, in agreement with the National Parks, began reproducing the silkscreen prints and those are the ones that have become known and celebrated around the world.

The park prints were certainly in my head when I launched Erick Sahler Serigraphs Co. in 2011 and I excitedly attended Leen’s exhibit, “POSTERity: WPA’s Art Legacy & America’s Public Lands” at the Department of the Interior in Washington in 2015. So I was shocked and delighted to learn Leen would be hosting an open house in Tucson to celebrate the launch of his new book while we were visiting in February.

However, unbeknownst to us, Leen canceled the event the day before we arrived when he learned it coincided with the Super Bowl. None the less, he graciously invited us into his home and spent the next two hours showing us prints and photos, and sharing stories of his past and ongoing projects.

For me it was absolute privilege to have a private audience with the man whose dedication and hard work has had such an influence on my career.

Thank you, Doug. I am grateful for all that you’ve done.

You can purchase the National Park prints, as well as Doug’s book “Ranger of the Lost Art” that chronicles his quest, at rangerdoug.com.

The “POSTERity” exhibit at the Department of the Interior in Washington examined Doug Leen’s 30-year quest to return the lost WPA National Parks prints to the American people.

Bishop’s Stock was packed for the opening night reception. I was honored to share the walls with Pennsylvania artist Louise Dusinberre and delighted so many of my family and friends made it out for the opening.

NEW PRINT SALUTES DELAWARE ROCK CLUB ICON

Dewey Beach is rowdy and rebellious compared to Delaware’s “quiet resorts,” and its heart and soul is the Bottle & Cork, the self-proclaimed “Greatest Rock ’n’ Roll Bar in the World.”

“Loud, crazy and well-liquored, the Bottle & Cork embodies the Dewey reputation,” says The Baltimore Sun. And what a reputation it is.

The Cork, now in its ninth decade, still has no chairs or a roof. But most of the rock greats have played there, including Blondie and Cheap Trick. So did the Dave Matthews Band and Hootie and the Blowfish. And Little Feat, Los Lobos, Psychedelic Furs and Violent Femmes. And Warren Zevon. The list goes on and on.

Maybe you’ve been one of the lucky ones to get in the doors. You probably had an awesome night. You may even remember bits of it.

My illustration “Dewey Rocks” depicts the Cork in the bright daylight, as a band has just arrived in a VW Microbus to “load in” its gear. A crosswalk post is plastered in stickers from previous shows. In the foreground, the Jimmy’s Grille marquee promotes two local favorites. It’s the start of another summer night in Dewey. Let’s party.

“Dewey Rocks” is offered as Legacy Reproduction prints in both 8x10 and 16x20 sizes. Prices range from $35 to $165.

‘C-STREET’ PAYS TRIBUTE TO ST. MICHAELS LANDMARK

There’s been a lot of change in St. Michaels in recent years, but two things remain constant: the Carpenter Street Saloon and the steady stream of seafood truck traffic.

The tavern — affectionately known as “C-Street” — has been the heart of the community for decades and was made famous in Randall Peffer’s 1979 classic “Watermen.”

C-Street could also be short for “Crab Street” given the high volume of seafood that passes through St. Michaels each day headed big-city markets. The refrigerated boxes mounted to pickup trucks often feature hand-painted Chesapeake scenes and are so ubiquitous they have become an Eastern Shore icon.

My illustration shows the intersection of Talbot and Carpenter streets, with the brightly colored C-Street Saloon and Diana’s Tilton Hilton in the background as a vintage Chevrolet C-10 seafood truck heads to market from Tilghman Island in the foreground.

“C-Street” is offered as Legacy Reproduction prints in both 8x10 and 16x20 sizes. Prices range from $35 to $165.

SAHLER PRINT CELEBRATES HISTORIC NYC AIRPORT

Big thanks to the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy for trusting me to create the 50th anniversary poster for Gateway National Recreation Area’s Floyd Bennett Field, the site of New York City’s first commercial airport.

On April 19, the Floyd Bennett Field print was presented to Jen Nersesian, superintendent of Gateway National Recreation Area, who said it would join my other Gateway prints at the National Park Service Headquarters on Staten Island.

The following day, I signed prints for the JBRPC at the first-ever Floyd Bennett Field Public Arts Festival. I met so many friendly folks who are fiercely proud residents of the Rockaways. Like where I come from, it’s a special place and it’s been a privilege to get to know it.

This is my fourth commissioned piece for the JBRPC. When we met in December, the list of items to feature in the poster included open space (FBF is larger than Central Park and Prospect Park combined!), the historic tower, hangar and runways, hiking trails, camping sites, canoeing and kayaking, bicycling, the East Coast’s largest community garden, JBRPC’s dune grass restoration program, the Historic Aircraft Restoration Project at Hangar B, Wiley Post’s “Winnie Mae” (the pilot and aircraft that made the first solo flight around the world), Jamaica Bay and the Manhattan skyline.

The composition takes a bird’s-eye view to include all the desired elements. The color palette and the “winged shield” logo are replicated from the Art Deco lobby of the Ryan Visitor Center located in the base of the tower, and the typography is based on the signage atop the historic hangars.

It was a fun and challenging project that went through multiple revisions to nail down all the details. I’m so grateful for the opportunity, as well as the patience and guidance of the JBRPC staff in seeing this project through. All four of my commissioned posters for the JBRPC are available at www.jbrpc.org.

Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy commissioned me to create an illustration celebrating historic Floyd Bennett Field.

Gateway National Recreation Area Superintendent Jen Nersesian was presented a framed print to hang in the National Park Service Headquarters in Staten Island. In additon, everyone who attended the Floyd Bennett Field Public Arts Festival opening night reception received a small Floyd Bennett Field print.

News from 2024

I was thrilled to have my “Dewey Rocks” print among the 80 works featured in the ICON12 Gallery Show at the Chambers Gallery in Minneapolis.

ICON12 ‘DRAWS’ ILLUSTRATORS TO THE TWIN CITIES

Hats off to the board of directors who organized and presented ICON12, the biennial conference for illustrators, designers, art directors, and students from the world of visual culture. It was an absolute blast to attend.

While in the Twin Cities, I saw the Keith Haring retrospective at the Walker Art Center and Garrision Keillor’s return to the Fitzgerald Theater.

Held in July at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, ICON12 offered four days of inspiring workshops and presentations, providing attendees with valuable insights and opportunities to connect with creatives from all over the globe. Highlights included talks by renowned artists including Tim O’Brien, whose work I had previously admired on the covers of Time and Rolling Stone, and Rudy Gutierrez, the designer behind the iconic Jimi Hendrix postage stamp.

Beyond the enriching content, I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the vibrant Twin Cities. I visited the Walker Art Center, where I was captivated by a Keith Haring retrospective. Additionally, I lucked into a third-row seat for Garrison Keillor’s highly anticipated return to the Fitzgerald Theater after a six-year hiatus. The experience was truly unforgettable.

The next ICON will take place in July 2026 at a site to be determined, and I can’t wait. To learn more, click here.

No trip to Minneapolis is complete without a stop at the legendary First Avenue, made famous in Prince’s film “Purple Rain.”

My Rocky Gap illustration was transformed into a colossal three-dimensional structure, inviting visitors to take selfies.

SAHLER ART AT THE HEART OF PARK CELEBRATION

Rocky Gap State Park, nestled along the majestic Allegheny Mountains near Cumberland, Maryland, celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. My artwork played a central role in the festivities, serving as the centerpiece of the celebration.

Many thanks to Director Angela Crenshaw and Western Region Manager Sarah Milbourne of the Maryland Park Service for entrusting me with the commission.

My Rocky Gap illustration was transformed into a colossal three-dimensional structure, inviting visitors to take selfies. It also graced the official 50th birthday cake of Rocky Gap and adorned invitations sent across the state, inviting people to the event.

In 2018, Director Crenshaw and I met when she was a ranger at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center near Cambridge, and I had just completed a limited edition of Harriet Tubman silkscreen prints. I am grateful for her support of my work and eagerly anticipate collaborating on more projects in the future.

My art graced the official 50th birthday cake of Rocky Gap State Park.

The Brick Room in Salisbury incorporated my “Salisbury Metro” illustration into its subway-themed renovations.

GRACIAS, MERCI, DANKE, GRAZI AND THANKS TO …

The Brick Room in downtown Salisbury, which has included a giant version of my “Salisbury Metro” parody print in its subway-themed expansion and renovations.

TidalHealth, which featured 30 of my framed prints in the renovations of the lobby and patient areas of the Richard Henson Cancer Institute in Salisbury.

Four businesses at the beach that now showcase my work: The Buzzed Word, a bookstore, natural wine shop, and bar located at 118th Street in Ocean City; Eclectic, a gift shop situated at 1200 Coastal Highway in Fenwick Island; Fenwick Furnishings, a furniture store and interior design business at 37074 Coastal Highway in Fenwick Island; and O.C. Organics, a natural foods market at 11944 Ocean Gateway in Ocean City. I am grateful for their support.

BEACH CONGESTION ‘SOLVED’ IN PARODY METRO MAP

Make small talk at the Delaware beaches, and inevitably, the topic of traffic in eastern Sussex County comes up. It’s dreadful, especially during the summer months.

POP ART ICON GETS AN EASTERN SHORE MAKEOVER

Andy Warhol was born in Pittsburgh, moved to New York, and became famous for creating a series of paintings and prints featuring Campbell’s Soup cans, which became a Pop Art icon of the 1960s.

Warhol never strayed from Campbell’s traditional flavors, like Chicken Noodle, Tomato, and Vegetable. Perhaps if Warhol was an Eastern Shoreman, he would have added Chincoteague Oyster Stew, Cream of Muskrat, Horseshoe Crab and Scrapple Bisque. He wasn’t, but I am, so I did it instead.

My illustration depicts a Campbell’s Soup can in the same format as Warhol’s original artwork. In addition to the typography, I updated the label to include the current Campbell’s medallion.

“Delmarva-Style” (Scrapple Bisque) is offered as Legacy Reproduction prints in both 8x10 and 16x20 sizes. Prices range from $35 to $165.

The print is also available in “Delaware-Style” (Horseshoe Crab), “Maryland Style” (Cream of Muskrat) and “Virginia Style” (Chincoteague Oyster Stew), as well as two samplers in traditional and pop colors.

A few years ago, inspired by an exhibit of transit posters, I created a parody Metro map for my hometown of Salisbury, and later, Chincoteague. The maps were fun and even drew the attention of Paul Wiedefeld, Maryland Secretary of Transportation, and the former head of the Washington Metro.

So after hearing persistent moaning about the congestion around Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, I went back to the drawing board. Even if a “Rehoboth-Lewes Metro” will never happen, it’s still fun to dream — especially when you get stuck in gridlock on Route 1.

My illustration shows the Delaware seashore from Milton to Dewey Beach, and inland west to Harbeson and Oak Orchard. It follows the original style of the

Secretary Paul Wiedefeld and me

Washington Metro map that I’ve loved ever since I was a teenager.

“Rehoboth Metro” is offered as Legacy Reproduction prints in both 8x10 and 16x20 sizes. Prices range from $35 to $165.

The University of Delaware Library acquired 31 of my prints — my entire Delaware catalog — for its Special Collections & Museum.

UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ACQUIRES DELAWARE COLLECTION

The University of Delaware has added 31 of my illustrations — all of my Delaware-related work — to its permanent collection.

Housed in Morris Library on the campus in Newark, my work will be archived in the University’s Special Collections & Museum, alongside Delaware-related rare books,  manuscripts, maps, photographs and other graphic works, according to curator Rebecca Johnson Melvin.

The 31 works include limited-edition silkscreen prints and Artist Proofs I created from 2012 to 2021, as well as my more recent Legacy Reproduction digital illustrations. The subject matter covers a range of Delaware-related topics, from dirt track races in Delmar to beach landmarks in Bethany, Rehoboth and Lewes, to venerable institutions in Wilmington, including the Charcoal Pit restaurant and Memorial Hall, the original library on the University of Delaware campus.

I visited the university in 2013 to shoot

reference photos for my “Memorial Hall”

silkscreen edition. It’s incredible to think that I’d return a decade later to deliver all my Delaware-themed work to be archived in the library on campus.

My prints will join a vast collection that aims not only to preserve history but also to educate students and the public, Johnson Melvin said.

Morris Library is located at 181 S. College Ave. in Newark and is open daily except Saturdays. For more information, call 302-831-2965.

Curator Rebecca Johnson Melvin offered a tour of University of Delaware’s Special Collections, which includes everything from Mathew Brady’s photographs of Abraham Lincoln to psychedelic rock posters of the 1960s.

HISTORIC MARKET FEATURED IN CAMBRIDGE PRINT

The Delmarva Peninsula is fortunate to still have a handful of old-fashioned family-owned grocery stores, and Simmon’s Center Market in downtown Cambridge is one of my favorites.

Outside, the vibrant seasonal displays bring a splash of color to welcome shoppers. Inside, among everyday staples and some gourmet delights, is a trove of treasures from the store’s eight decades of business. Center Market is the heart and soul of Cambridge, and visiting it is like going back to a simpler time.

I shot reference photos of Center Market for several years, and this illustration compiles some of my favorite elements: the hand-lettered signage, a rack of flowers offered ahead of Mothers Day, shoppers and browsers going about their business, and a customer’s old-timey cruiser bicycle parked (but not locked up) on the sidewalk.

“Center Market” is offered as Legacy Reproduction prints in both 8x10 and 16x20 sizes. Prices range from $35 to $165.

SAHLER PRINT CELEBRATES 100TH PONY PENNING

Chincoteague and Pony Penning are synonymous around the globe, and the summer of 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the island’s storied event.

To celebrate, I have created a new illustration featuring two Assateague ponies – mother and child – as a group of Saltwater Cowboys begins the roundup that leads to the annual pony swim and auction. The composition is an expansion of the image from my 2020 and 2021 “Pony Boy” prints, when the COVID pandemic canceled Pony Penning, leaving the horses isolated on a sunset beach.

Pony Penning began in 1924 as a way to thin the herd of wild ponies on Assateague Island. It is a fundraiser for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company and draws 40,000 to 50,000 visitors to the island each July. This year, the roundup will take place on July 28, with the swim on July 30 and the auction on July 31.

“Roundup” is offered as Legacy Reproduction prints in both 8x10 and 16x20 sizes. Prices range from $35 to $165. It is also available on postcards at Sundial Books in Chincoteague.

The Maryland Park Service commissioned me to create a print celebrating the 100th anniversary of Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland.

COMMISSION MARKS DEEP CREEK LAKE ANNIVERSARY

Thanks to the Maryland Park Service, who trusted me with a commission to create an illustration honoring  Deep Creek Lake’s 100th anniversary. It is my second Park Service commission and my fifth illustration celebrating Maryland State Parks.

“This artwork showcases the natural charm of Maryland’s largest freshwater lake, featuring the tranquil shoreline at Deep Creek Lake State Park, with boats adding life to the scene— a fisherman’s boat anchored in place, while a pontoon boat glides past leisurely in the distance,” according to the Deep Creek Times. “The Glendale Bridge rises in the background, adding a sense of place, while delicate swamp milkweed blooms in the foreground, symbolizing the thriving natural ecosystem. At its heart, the lake itself serves as the true focal point, embodying the inviting atmosphere that draws people to its shores year after year.

“Sahler drew inspiration from a visit to the lake, working closely with park staff whose passion and love for the area deeply informed his creative process. The goal was to reflect on the experience of being at Deep Creek Lake. It’s not just about the view—it’s about the feeling of being connected to the water, the land, and the people who make it special,” the Times said.

This commemorative artwork will be featured in advertisements throughout the centennial celebrations and will soon be available for purchase at the Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center.

The uber creative Oxford, Maryland, artist Galen Marquess for inviting us to Pratt Institute’s Senior Printmaking Thesis Show, and for turning us on to the inaugural Brooklyn Printmakers Fair. Both were outstanding.

The Oxford Garden Club, which incorporated my images on the Christmas tree it decorated at the Maryland Statehouse in Annapolis.

Bishop’s Stock in Snow Hill, which has been showcasing my large prints since 2011, has now expanded its inventory to include my 8x10 Legacy Mini prints.

Galen Marquess and I talk shop at the Pratt Institute Senior Printmaking Thesis Show in Brooklyn. At right, the Oxford Garden Club tree at the Maryland Statehouse in Annapolis.

The Bayshore community near Millsboro, Delaware, which used 10 of my prints in its newly renovated recreation center.

Salisbury University’s Museum of Eastern Shore Culture, newly opened on the Salisbury Downtown Plaza, which in addition to highlighting the folk art of the region, exhibits eight of my works in its lobby.

You. Thanks for continuing to pay attention. I couldn’t do what I do without your support.

Peace+love,

Ten of my Delaware seashore prints are featured in the newly renovated recreation center in the Bayshore community near Millsboro, Delaware.