Happy 2013!!!

As the year draws to a close, I'd like to say thank you for all your words of encouragement, enthusiasm and support.  It's been a bang up busy year with many shows, events, a new Happy Camper, and another 100 painting sale. Phew! I'm taking the last days of the year off and then I'll be back at the easel--with lots of plans for new series and events.

Wishing you and yours a happy & productive 2013!

100 Painting wrap up

The 3rd annual 100 Paintings for $100 or Less project was a success. I managed to get to my goal and exceed it this year--I think the final count was 112 paintings.  The toughest challenge was my 12 paintings on 12/12/12 that I set for myself. I seem to like to work under pressure!


The sale continues through the end of the year so if you didn't get a chance to order before Christmas there is still time.


Here's a selection of paintings that are still available.  You can view the paintings on my website HERE.

big sky, oil on canvas, 5x5 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

big sky, oil on canvas, 5x5 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

birches, oil on canvas, 12x6 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

trio of songbirds, oil on canvas, 6x18 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

luna, oil on canvas, 6x6  inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

cupcake trio, oil on canvas, 5x15 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

owl in winter, oil on canvas, 6x6 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

pansies, oil on canvas, 6x6 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

purple field, oil on canvas, 5x15 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

woodland trio, oil on canvas, 5x15 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

26 acts of Kindness

In honor of the 26 victims at the Sandy Hook School, my family is doing 26 acts of kindness.  Starting today, and through the holiday break I, along with my husband and children (ages 10 and 13) will look for small acts of kindness that we can do like writing letters to soldiers and far away friends and family, giving away some of our backyard chicken eggs, shoveling snow for neighbors (if it ever snows) and whatever else that comes along.

Act #2  I will be giving away one of my paintings from the 100 painting collection.  If you would like a painting, please leave a comment with some kindness act ideas of your own.  I will choose a winner at random at the end of the day on Friday, December 21, 2012.

Read more about 26 acts of Kindness.

Follow this on my facebook page.

Twelve Paintings for 12/12/12

Yesterday in honor of the date 12/12/12, in a fit of craziness inspiration, I decided to attempt 12 (yes TWELVE) paintings in one day.  These twelve paintings would wrap up my 100 Paintings for $100 or Less project and it seemed fitting.

your truly in my studio at the beginning of the day

I started at about 8am and was off to a good start, getting all the paintings sketched out on canvas and the underpaintings done by mid morning.  Then I hit a couple of roadblocks--I had to pick up a sick kiddo from school, chase down a runaway chicken, and a couple of other unexpected emergencies.  By about 7pm I was about done in--but I soldiered on and finished by about 9pm. (both kiddo and chicken are reported as fine today)

The end result is a trio of songbirds, a wintery owl, some cupcake confections (very fun!), four forest scenes with lovely violet shadows and my favorite--a landscape with a field of purple lupines.

There is still time to get a painting for Christmas. Go HERE to see what is available.

If you want to see the paintings in person, they are on display in the Happy Camper Mobile Art Gallery in Keene, NH though December 25th.

sketching out compostions

songbirds

underpaintings

my kitty helpers

How to make origami holiday lights

Continuing in my how-to theme of magical holiday decorations: I present origami holiday lights. 

These are so lovely on a tree (or really anywhere for that matter--I had them strung in my studio year round for a long time). They are a huge family favorite at our house.  We even gave them as gifts one year and made them assembly line style with kids and grown ups folding away.  Once you get the hang of the folding process, it will go quickly. We got it down to folding a box in about a minute.

Origami Holiday Lights

You will need:

origami paper- the pastels prints look the best. Here is a good source.

string of mini-white lights - we have a string of 100-lights on our tree. You might want to do less if you are making them as gifts

You will need the pattern for the origami water balloon or water bomb.  This page has very clear directions.


Fold your papers in the water balloon shape--blow them up per instructions and insert each balloon over a white light (there is a small hole that will fit over the light).  You might find it easier to put the white lights on the tree and then put the balloons over the lights. If they get squashed, just blow them up again and smooth out the creases. We've had ours for 6 years or more and they're still going.

What holiday decorations are a favorite at your house?

100 Paintings- a year of Mt Monadnock

I painted this little series- 4 seasons of Mt Monadnock for my 100 painting sale. It sold right away, but I can paint another set if you'd like one. This mountain is beloved by many in our area--it would make a great gift!  Contact me here.

How to make a magical, twiggy ceiling for the holidays

Many of you have asked me over on my facebook page how I created this twiggy ceiling for the holidays--so here goes.  It is not hard, but it would be helpful to have two people, at least on the cross braces. I did the rest by myself.

If you make one, please send me a photo and I will post them! You can email it or post on my facebook page.

100 Paintings- pansies & peonies

92,93,94...I'm creeping up on my goal of 100 paintings for the 3rd annual 100 Paintings for $100 or Less project.

100 Paintings - birches

The 100 painting project gives me a good excuse to revisit some of my favorite motifs and paintings--in wee form.  I've been working on a series of large scale birch landscapes this year and I thought I'd try a few small scale versions.

The original painting, home field, is a favorite view from our family home in Maine. 

home field, oil on canvas, 40 x 30 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

100 Paintings - little big skies

3rd Annual 100 Paintings for $100 or Less Sale

We're at the midway point for the 3rd annual 100 painting sale. I've been adding paintings throughout November (still more to come!) like this little trio of big sky landscapes.  The paintings are available online until the end of December and in the Happy Camper at my home studio in Keene, New Hampshire.

A portion of sales from the month of November will be donated to the Lung Cancer Alliance.  Read more here.

"big sky", oil on canvas,  5 x 5 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

available here

"big sky", oil on canvas,  5 x 5 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

 

 

 

 

 

available here

"big sky", oil on canvas,  5 x 5 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

available here

Mixed media demo: acrylic, handmade paper & gold leaf paintings

My annual 100 painting project gives me a good excuse to try something new and break out of the box a little bit and having the kiddos home from school for two days for Sandy was a good excuse for having them join in on the fun.

painting in the backgrounds with acrylic paint with my little helper

gift certificates for fine art!

Give the gift that will be cherished for a lifetime. 

Gift certificates can be purchased in any amount and can be redeemed toward any original painting or print. Contact me for more information. 

100 Painting Sale has officially launched!

My 100 painting sale has officially launched!  Go here to see the available paintings.  Be sure to check back-- I will be adding new painting daily through the month of November.

I will be donating a portion of the sales in the month of November to the Lung Cancer Alliance.

ranunculus, mixed media, 8 x 8 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

3rd annual

100 Paintings for $100 or Less

November 3rd - December 31st

Keene Art Tour is this weekend!

C'mon out to Keene's very first art tour!

Keene Art Tour (the KAT)

Saturday & Sunday

November 3rd & 4th, 2012

10am to 4pm

Go here to get a printable map of the tour.

100 Paintings for Lung Cancer

It's that time of year again for my 100 painting project.  Last November, in honor of my dad, a portion of my sales was donated to the Lung Cancer Alliance

Kristina and her dad, Errol

I wrote how lung cancer has touched my life here.  In just 8 months, I lost both my mother-in-law and father to this terrible disease.  Lung cancer kills more people than breast, colon & prostate cancers combined.  Yet it has no early detection screening.  Yet it only receives a fraction of the research dollars as other cancers.  Yet it still has a terrible stigma because of its association with smoking.  Yet almost half of those newly diagnosed have never smoked or have been non-smokers for decades.  Read this powerful letter about the stigma of lung cancer.

November is lung cancer awareness month.  Once again, in honor of my dad, I will donate a portion of my sales to the Lung Cancer Alliance, a support and advocacy organization for those living with lung cancer.

The 3rd annual 100 Paintings for $100 or Less  sale is available online and in the Happy Camper Mobile Art Gallery through December 31, 2012.  Check back during the month of November as I will be adding more paintings daily until I reach my goal of 100.

If you're in the Keene area, please join me November 6th, 2012 for the Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Vigil on Central Square at 6pm.

Keene Art Tour ~ join the magic!

Come visit me this weekend at Keene's very first Art Studio Tour! The Happy Camper and my home/studio will be open. I'll also be kicking off my 100 paintings for $100 or Less Sale.

SEE THE MAGIC IN KEENE THIS YEAR!
reposted from the Keene Art Tour blog, written by Luann Udell, (stop #7 on the tour)


Keene’s very first open studio tour debuts in November, 2012.

“We are the people who ran away to join the circus.”
(Bruce Baker, jeweler and public speaker on arts and crafts)

Remember the kid in first grade who drew horses for you? Ever wonder what happened to her? Ever cherished a beautiful handmade vase and wondered how it was made? Want to see someone who draws a bowl of fruit so life-like, you’ll swear you can smell the apples?


Well, now you can.


Keene, New Hampshire, is rich in artistic talent, and home to many artists and craftspeople. Yet there’s never been a local open studio tour, devoted exclusively to artists living and working in Keene–until now!


One day, Terri Lipman (studio #4 on the tour) invited a group of artists to her home. The agenda? “Let’s put on a show!” (Shades of Andy Hardy!) We’re using the entire city of Keene for our “show”, rather than just a big red barn, but the excitement and the enthusiasm is the same.


An artist open studio tour is magic! It’s magic for our visitors–a chance to see the spaces where creative people do their thing. Whether it’s a light-filled airy studio loft, a room above a Main Street storefront, a hide-away closet or a converted warehouse, every artist studio is a work of art in itself. We even have an actual ‘big red barn’ on our show…er, tour….a la Micky Rooney and Judy Garland.

Luann Udell's studio, an actual big red barn!

Come meet our artists, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 3 & 4 from 10-5. Meet the artists, and see their working studios. Enjoy the diversity of talent and creativity that’s right here in your backyard.


Most of all, you’ll see what it’s really like to run away and join the circus.


From nationally- exhibited artists to fresh work from emerging artists, traditional fine art media to outsider art, art inspired by prehistory and modern abstracts, and everything in between. Works in wood, fiber, glass and clay. Photography and fine art furniture, fiber, jewelry, landscapes and folk art.

You name it, it’s here.

Enjoy lunch at our eclectic restaurants and coffee shops downtown. Or make a weekend of it! Try our local bed-and-breakfasts or downtown hotels and take up where you left off the second day.
In short, something for everyone. All within Keene’s city limits, and most within walking distance.


Welcome to the magic show!

Halloween costume- how to make "A Girl with a Pearl Earring"

It's Halloween time again! 

Every year, I love coming up with fun costume ideas to make with my kids. They don't always like my suggestions--this year my son turned down my idea of a cool owl costume and insisted on going as a character from one his favorite cartoons. No worries--green ninja it was. (I'll post photos of that and some past costumes later)  In the meantime, my daughter liked the idea of going as the painting Girl with a Pearl Earring.  It was fun to do and didn't cost a dime!

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer

To start, find a extra large frame and cut a sturdy piece of cardboard to fit. Paint one side white with acrylic paint or gesso. Let dry.  Using the painting as reference, sketch in the basic shapes.

Using acrylic paint, sketch in the face (life size) and folds of the fabric and paint in the shadows.

Finishing the shadows.

Paint in the clothing and scarf. Add highlights on the folds of fabric.

Using an x-acto knife, carefully cut out face shape.

We found a silk scarf in the perfect shade of blue to wrap around my daughters hair. I also scrounged up a large pearl earring (not exactly the right shape but it still gave a good effect). 

Fit cardboard into frame and Voila!

Happy Camper on facebook

Happy Camper Mobile Art Gallery: Happy Camper on facebook: The Happy Camper now has a facebook page. Stop by for updates on events, photos, and special offers. https://www.facebook.com/pag...

Guest Blogger: artist Frances Clements Fawcett: Loons! Maine “Memory Mailbox” Continues to Deliver Delight

I'm pleased to welcome guest blogger Frances Clements Fawcett. Welcome, Frances!





Hooray it’s autumn! Brilliant reds, rich oranges and yellows, and sizzling gold are staging their annual fashion show on the trees here at Yes and Yay HQ.  Predictably, when I spot a particularly dazzling tree, I’ll smile and declare, “Oh my, this reminds me of Maine!”

I’ve blurted this phrase umpteen times to my patient husband and friends, when some image, scent or sound sparks a childhood memory. You see, I grew up spending my summers on Barker Pond, which is about an hour inland from Portland. Embraced by the forest, water and lots of family and kids, this magical time is lovingly stamped into my heart.

 
And these cherished memories continue to delight and inspire me. When they pop up into my head (or “FCF’s Memory Mailbox”, as I like to call my brain), it’s like receiving a surprise postcard from the past!

One of my all-time favorites was paddling our family’s blue canoe on the pond, hoping to spot a loon. Ah those enchanting loons!  As a kid I’d hear their haunting laughs and cries between claps of thunder on a muggy summer night, or in the early morning before other sounds competed with their songs.

Loons have popped into my art in colorful ways.  I never tire of interpreting their bold markings in my whimsical paintings and hand carved prints.

 Jeff and I even designed our wedding bands with entwining loons!

Today as I tap out these words, I’m spying on a petite and feisty Douglas squirrel that is dropping fir cones from the towering tree outside my studio window. After he collects a pile, he gathers them into golden pyramid-like mounds. I imagine that he’ll save the extra-special, plump cones to unpack and savor later this winter.


And like the squirrel, my treasured cache of Maine memories continues to delight and inspire my art-filled life. (Thanks Mom and Dad!)


What cherished childhood memories are squirreled away in your heart?


When they arrive in your Memory Mailbox how do you translate them into fresh stories and art?

Why not hit that reply button and share your favorite memory sparks with us?!



In Delight and Loon-Lovin’ Gratitude,

PS  - thanks Kristina for letting me share this post on your blog!