Alfred Conklin’s interest in art began in high school where he studied watercolors, sculpture, metal casting (using the lost wax process), and drafting. After high school, he attended Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport Connecticut, where he received an Associate Degree in Natural Science and Art. He continued his education at Paul Smith's College in the Adirondacks where he obtained a forestry degree. While at Paul Smith’s he took photography and attended art classes at The Center of Music, Drama, and Art in Lake Placid, New York. After graduating from Paul Smith's College in 1975, he became head forester for New England Log Homes. In 1976, after marrying, he and his wife Barbara, sent out their first set of hand painted Christmas cards. Al’s watercolors and notecards have been sold in various NH galleries including Yikes in Moultonborough, NH, Ripple Pottery in Rumney, NH, and Trumpet Gallery in Peterborough, NH. Now retired, he continues to enjoy watercolors, pen and ink, drawings, and sculpture, all of which involve subject matter, light, and composition.

Josh Conklin grew up in northern NH and fell in love with poetry in middle school. He graduated from Hamilton College with a degree in Sociology, earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College, and spent several years as a boarding school coach and teacher. When he and his wife, Sara, started a family in 2007, Josh shifted his focus to become the primary caregiver. He is a co-author of fourteen nonfiction science books for kids published by Enslow. His poetry has placed in numerous national awards and been featured in various publications including Ocean Magazine, Inkwell, The Good Men Poetry Project, and JMWW.

Josh and his family moved to Amherst in 2013 and have loved being a part of this vibrant community. When he is not writing or doing stay-at-home dad things, Josh serves on the Amherst School Board, enjoys various athletic pursuits, fishing, and watching his two daughters in local theatrical productions. The journey of the “Conklin Card Company” began when Al first produced a Holiday card in 1976. For many years Al hand painted individual cards until the volume of cards being sent made that task unreasonable. Al began having the cards printed in black and white or color and often added special touches to individual cards. When Josh developed an interest in poetry in middle school, Al asked him to share a poem as part of the yearly endeavor. Since that time, Josh and Al have produced more than twenty cards together, often commemorating events in their personal lives or the world at large. The system for producing the cards often changes, depending on the creative impulses of the two artists, sometimes Josh writes the poem first and sometimes the poem is inspired by Al’s art. Inevitably Al and Josh are busy each year post Thanksgiving getting cards printed, signed, and mailed to friends and family. While traveling around the library, you may notice an evolution in both the art and the poetry. The work on display spans several decades and the style of the two artists has changed over time. It is always a great feeling to send these cards to friends and family each year, and Al and Josh are so excited to share their work with the Amherst community. They hope the paintings and poems fill you with the joy and inspiration of the holiday season.

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