FOUR

This past weekend I participated in my first art show of the year. I absolutely love this show with all of my heart because I get to be part of an “Art Family.” The show is Free Range Art Show in Grafton, WI and is situatued on the charming and lovely farm of jeweler, Nancy Going. I was lucky enough to be invited to participate a few year ago by a dear artist pal, Megan Woodward-Johnson and for that, I am so grateful.

We had the BEST weather and a wonderful turn out. The show, for me, always serves as reminder of why I like showing my work at shows and fairs. Art fairs can be difficult and exhausting (load-in wind, rain, long hours, load-out.) But every art fair ALWAYS gives the opportunity to meet VERY interesting people. Free Range (whish has a very gentle load-in, set-up, load-up procedure) was no exception.

Here are some highlights:

A woman who said, “These paintings are Memories.” not they “look like memories.”

A woman who goes to Paris every year and speak French fluently. She tried to help me with the gutteral pronunciation of the word “smile” - “sourire” - I am still working on it.

A gentleman from the Isle of Guernsey ( who did not enjoy the book, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: A Novel but recommmended, The Book of Ebenezer Le Page instead.

A young lady who purchased prints for all of her family just becasue she liked the positive sayings.

A lovely couple who purchased one of my paintings and with whom I chatted about Paris. Every time a person points to one of my paintings and says they would like to buy it, I am filled with awe, joy, surprise and gratitude. Every time.

A fellow painter who offered to take me on a tour of her studio in Marsall building.

And of course dear friends and family who are islands of calm and familiarity

I am looking forward to the next fair on the grounds of the Milwaukee Art Museum - Lakefront Fetsival of Art (June 14-16th.) I am an LFOA artist advisor so I get to help with the load-in procedure. I am going to make sure my “Sourire” is nice and big and welcoming to my fellow artists.

THREE

Yesterday I received a present.

Self tanner from my BFF. Monica caught me, as she dropped it off, with my noise cancelling headphones on as I was “watching” a TERRIBLE movie called Cooties as I framed my paintings. I imagine I looked a like a deer in headlights when I saw her through the door. I LOVE that she saw me in my working state worst. Having a bad movie in the background keeps me motivated- a sad indication of my gray matter, I am sure. I occasionally try an audio book or a podcast- sometimes “News in Slow French,” but what I really love it having Jurassic Park or Back to The Future on. I know all the words and because the distractable part of my brain is distracted- I keep working. The noise cancelling headphones is a new addition to the routine. I feel like I am in a cocoon. I cannot stress how much this has helped as I work from my home studio. It is true- Mabel the Frenchie, does, from time to time, have to tap me on the shoulder to remind me she needs my undivided attention. I am OK with that.

TWO

I am very much like the mom in Goonies who says a word completely inappropriate for the moment and then says when corrected, “That is what I said. That is EXACTLY what I said.” Case in point - my next show is in the FUTURE- this weekend in MAY. Not in the past - MARCH. Proofreading my newsletters is not one of my skills. Thank you to Margaret, for letting me know. I truly appreciate it.

Now a positive observation. One of the best things about getting older is this. This mistake would have sent me face down in an X on the floor for an hour. I would have been mortified. Today - I am annoyed with myself, unsurprised and hopeful that people will understand that I am not a time traveler and neither are they.

I hope to see you THIS weekend. Not two months ago.

one

Hello fellow Earth travelers!

A little update from the studio. I am working on some new pieces that have filled me with glee. As I finish them, I upload them to my website in batches. You can see these paintings in person at one of two art shows this summer. It is a light show summer for me because our youngest kid is heading to college in the fall and I don’t want to miss too much. So….I hope I see you at either Free Range Art Fair on May 4th and 5th or Lakefront Festival of Art June 14th, 15th, or 16th.

One of the new pieces- “Ooh Ooh, Pick Me” is headed to Rhinelander to Nicolet College Art Gallery for the 37th Annual Northern National Art Competition Exhibtion - the show open on June 13th and closes July 26th. I am honored to have been selected to participate. This particular piece was one of the first painting of my new series, so I am extra excited that it was well received.

That is all for now. I hope to see you soon in person. OH! Speaking of that, I hope to host studio visits in the near future. It is always fun to share my workspace with friends.

See you later alligators,

Krista