Setting up my booth: in pictures

Just got back from my 3rd weekend at Newburyport's Art on Bartlett Mall.   Here are a few pictures from the show.

Unpacking. Minivans are the BEST. We used to have a wagon and would have to strap half the stuff on the roof like the Beverly Hillbillies. 

Misty morning on Frog Pond.  This is my view from my tent...one of the many things I love about this show. On Sunday, the town holds canoe races where two canoe teams try to capsize one another--a raucous good time enjoyed by a huge cheering crowd all along the banks.

My #1 helper (and hubby) schlepping the panels to my booth.

Yes, that is a pool noodle wedged up in the corner of my tent. Can you guess why?  Hint: very useful item to prevent a disaster in heavy rains--and no, it's not a flotation device for a flash flood!

New for this show--I made a large "look book" with lots of interior photos with my artwork.  People seem to really appreciate seeing the art in context. 

 

Also new--a side table for my book and small paintings and a cozy rug--so much better than the lumpy ground.

All set up and ready to go by 10am.

My famous giant poppy---it's always easy to find me at shows!

"This is the happy booth!"  I  must of heard it a dozen times this weekend. I just love it when people share that with me.

Bartlett Mall in late afternoon.  The sun came out late on Sunday and just lit up the pond.


That's it! I'll be doing it all again on August 25th at the Portland Sidewalk Art Show.  Look for me and my giant poppy in front of the Portland Museum or Art.

Pinterest Fridays

Have you discovered Pinterest?

peonies on blue, oil on canvas, 20 x 16 inches. ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

The social media site for us folks who are more visually inclined. A veritable feast for the eyes.

Full disclosure--it can be addicting.  I encouraged my Mom to sign up.  At first, she was resistant-- with lots of "what is this Pinterest thing" and "I won't be able to use it"---well fast forward just a few short hours and she was off and running.  She has created dozens of beautiful boards chock full of inspiration.

Every Friday, I am going to feature something on Pinterest. My art, other artists, flowers, gardening, beautiful landscapes, and just whatever I think will inspire you at the moment.


In the meantime, check out my latest Pinterst board: Art Blog Posts


A selection of the best of my blog posts from over the past year. Enjoy!  If you like what you see, please follow me on Pinterest and share with your friends.

Art on Bartlett Mall, Newburyport

Join me this weekend at the Art on Bartlett Mall Fine Art show in charming Newburyport, Mass.

 

Featuring over 60 talented artists from New England and beyond.  All set on lovely, grassy Bartlett Mall with overlooking views of Frog Pond--you'll see why this is one of my favorite shows!


Sunday is also the kick-off for Yankee Homecoming  and will feature activities for the whole family: from pony and train rides for kids to live music, food, vintage cars and of course, art.

I'll be in my usual spot, just at the top of the stairs down to the pond.  Look for the giant, red poppy to find my booth!

I will be displaying many new paintings including my new "Follow the Sun" series of sunflowers paintings--these are event more vibrant and happy in person. Come see!

Art on Bartlett Mall Fine Art Show

Newburyport MA

July 28th & 29th

10am to 5pm

Come meet Milo, my #1 studio kitty, at this week's Open Studio & Tent Sale!

"The Director"

Milo is the sweetest most gentle soul I've ever met--I can't ever bring myself to chase him out of my director chair (now with furry seat).  Free advice & stress reduction for all visitors--no extra charge.

Open Studio & Tent Sale

July 19th & 20th

Thurs: 5-7pm  Fri: 4-8pm

87 Ashuelot Street

Keene NH

follow the sun

I've added a new series to my popular Modular Art project:

follow the sun, oil on canvas. ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

The happiest of all the flowers--sunflowers! 

Entitled Follow the Sun,  with a vibrant background palette of rose, cream & purples--these sunflower paintings are so cheerful. My studio is ablaze with color (even more than usual! :-)

These paintings are designed to coordinate together and can be hung in horizontal or vertical groupings or as a single painting. 

Go here to read more about Modular Art.



follow the sun, oil on canvas.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

follow the sun, oil on canvas. ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

open studio & clean out my studio Tent Sale!

Many of you probably know that my studio is a converted dining room smack dab in the middle of my hectic household.




yep, that's me with a glass of wine--see advantages?

With two kiddos, a husband, and a full menagerie of critters running through the joint it is sometimes hard to get things done!  Working from home has lots of advantages but having lots of space is definitely NOT one of them!
See where this is going?

To put it simply--I am running out of room. I have been painting up a storm, getting ready for my end of summer and fall show season (my busiest time of the year) so I have lots of new work coming out of my studio.

This could be your lucky day!

To make room for my new work, I am having a "clean out my studio" tent sale.  I'll have lots of older (but still lovely!) paintings at great prices.  I've never done this before so this is a good chance to pick up original artwork at a super affordable price.

You will also be the first to see all my new work before I head off for my late summer show season.

Hope to see you!

Open Studio & Tent Sale

July 19th & 20th

Thurs: 5-7pm  Fri: 4-8pm

87 Ashuelot Street

Keene NH

11 Steps to Building a Chicken Coop -- in pictures

Step 1: grab a cute li'l helper and start on the porch.  Here's the frame & the floor.

 

Step 2: Select your location.  Pay special attention---it matters!

 

Step 3: Install your walls.  Don't rely on the measurements some guy on Ebay puts on the listing for the windows---wait until you get the actual windows before you build your frames.

Step 4: Add siding & rafters

Step 5: Take a break and wonder why you aren't building an art studio for all this effort.

Step 6: Paint, build exterior nestboxes and doors

Step 7: Enlist husband to shingle the roof. Do not attempt to tickle his leg while he's up on the ladder--he won't think it's funny.

still not funny...

Step 8: Add trim & shutters. Frankly, the chickens won't care but you'll get points from the neighbors

Step 9: Add hardware cloth, chicken door & ramp.  Watch the pitch on the ramp--you want the chooks to elegantly saunter out of their house not tumble together in a feathery pile.

Step 10: Paint rooster to watch over the hens.  Only 2-D rooster allowed (see step 8 about keeping neighbors happy)

Step 11: Install chickens and let the happiness begin!

 

We loosely used the "All in One" pattern in the book Building Chicken Coops for Dummies.

My Community Supported ART project - half way through!

Have you heard about Community Supported ART?

CSArts have been popping up all over the country and work in much the same way as CSA's --with customers receiving orginal fine art rather than fruits or veggies.

I am halfway through my first CSArt project: A Year of Flowers, and just finished these lovely peonies in shades of pink and cream.

peonies,  oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

This is how my CSArt works:
Folks purchased a "share of art" back in the spring (at a 50% savings off of retail).  Over the year, they will recieve 6 original oil paintings, each depicting a different seasonal flower.  So far, they've been treated to tulips, iris & peonies. The challenge for me is which flowers to choose, only 3 more to go!

I'll give one hint--I see some sunflowers in their future.

Stay tuned for next year...

I will be offering two CSArts next year. Another Year of Flowers (It will take me a while to get through them all) and Backyard Chickens. 
 
Here's a little look at some of the paintings my CSArt clients have received so far this year...

pink tulips, oil on canvas, 8 x 8 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

tulips in a glass vase, oil on canvas, 10 x 8 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

iris, oil on canvas, 10 x 8 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell

iris, oil on canvas, 12 x 6 inches.  ©2012 Kristina Wentzell