Chincoteague ponies featured in limited-edition print

Nov. 30, 2011 - PRLog -- CHINCOTEAGUE — The world-famous ponies of Assateague Island are the subject of a limited-edition serigraph print by Erick Sahler of Salisbury, Md. The nine-color screen-printed image features a tri-color paint and a chestnut pony eating grass along the dune line under the words “Discover Assateague” in a bright blue sky.

“Erick’s ‘Discover Assateague’ print is very eye catching,” said Jonathan Richstein, owner of Sundial Books in Chincoteague. “The serigraph process brings a crispness and a richness of color to the image of the ponies. It is a familiar scene with a modern twist.” Sundial Books is the exclusive dealer of the “Discover Assateague” print on the island.

“Chincoteague ponies” have lived on Assateague Island for centuries, and popular legend states a herd swam ashore from a wrecked Spanish galleon. They were popularized by Marguerite Henry’s 1947 book “Misty of Chincoteague,” which was made into a film in 1961. Assateague Island National Seashore was established on Jan. 1, 1965, to preserve the natural landscape of the barrier island.

“So many of us have a connection with Assateague,” Sahler said. “Of course, the ponies are its trademark, but who hasn’t idled away a day getting lost in its scenic natural beauty? This print is a reminder of those times, and all the discoveries that Assateague still holds for us.”

The image was created by Sahler using a photograph he shot in early November. Color separations for the print were hand-drawn, and each color was hand-printed in Sahler’s Salisbury studio using archival Nazdar 5500 inks on acid-free Rising Stonehenge paper. The type used is a hand-drawn recreation of type found in Works Progress Administration travel posters from the 1930s and ’40s.

“In the day of desktop publishing, my methods are distinctly old school,” Sahler said. “But they are the best way to impart the vintage, yet contemporary vibe of the great poster artists of the 20th century.”

Sahler, 44, is a Salisbury native who graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County with a bachelor’s degree in visual and performing arts. As a teenager, he studied with maritime artist C. Keith Whitelock. He has created commercial artwork for clients across the Eastern Shore since 1983, and his illustrations and cartoons appeared for more than 20 years in The (Salisbury, Md.) Daily Times.

There are 115 signed-and-numbered prints available, and prices range from $65 to $135 depending on matting and framing options. Sundial Books is located at 4065 Main St. in Chincoteague.

Prints may also be purchased at the artist’s studio in Salisbury by calling 410-845-3774 or online at www.ErickSahler.com.