The 113th Annual PPANE Conference returns again to Nashua, NH this weekend (Sept 6-8).  If you have already received your glossy program you will know that you can’t miss the experience of learning directly from Barbara Ellison, Madonna Lovett Repeta, David Mayheu, Gary Hughes, Clay Blackmore and  Richard Sturdevant where you can mingle with the presenters in an informal setting.  If you haven’t already booked, you may still be able to reserve a place if you act quickly.  If you are an active member of PPANE your convention cost is covered so all you need to do is invest the time to refresh your skills and reflect on changes in this fast-changing industry.

I am looking forward to viewing the display of winning prints from the Northeast District Print Competition hosted by PPANE back in May.  In an ideal world I would have entered and then attended the judging to understand how to continually improve my craft but I had personal priorities that needed attention back then.  That’s life.  However, I know I will be inspired by seeing the efforts of my 31 New England peers who did compete and earned 76 blues ribbons.  Congratulations to all.

If you haven’t been to PPANE before or have missed a few years, it’s also a good chance to get great gear at the Trade Show, enjoy the hospitality, see friends (old and new), kick up your heels at the Awards Party and try your luck to win a cool high tech prize or perhaps even a scholarship towards NEIPP Mar 29 - Apr 2 2015.  

PPANE offers so much more than this annual conference and NEIPP.  In the past few months there was a 1 day “summer safari” and each state in the PPANE region offered a new series of short “Summer Sizzlers”, in June.  CT’s own Tom Hurlbert ran a wonderful evening on June 10th at his intriguing home and studio while sharing the evolution of his personal fascination long exposure photography since student days to his current work.  While the fresh home made oatmeal cookies were a definite bonus, the chance to experiment with “Painting with Light” techniques was great fun with friends.

So what is the key to PPANE?  Know there is no pain unless you miss it.  Step away from the computer and the in-tray, open your mind, meet new people and learn from practitioners at the leading edge of their chosen specialties.  As my dear old dad says “No knowledge is a loss”.