Lady Dynamite on Netfix

Netflix New Series: Lady Dynamite

I'm so excited!!!!! About a year ago, I received an email from a woman decorating the set of a new TV show. She wanted a piece of pug art. The show stars Maria Bamford. I have a friend who has kids in the business and know from her how hard it is to get a pilot to air much less get it to TV, I'm thinking it's about a 1% chance.  I called her just to check in and she asked me the name of the series and I told her, and she called me back, and said, Kristin, it's a 13 episode series on Netflix, they don't do pilots and 13 episodes is a really big deal. Now I'm super excited! I recently emailed the woman I had worked with in LA, she sent me these pictures of the set. The show is rumored to air May 20th. 

These are photos she sent me while filming the show,

and on the set.

 Originally she wanted to buy a small painting of a pug in a beret, I had just sold that particular painting, so I asked her, to send me actual photos of Maria's dogs, and I would paint them. She just wanted the beret painting, then at the last minute she added the pug in the field of pink flowers. She told me the artwork is in very prominent places on the show and practically in every scene. Wow!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/281077372/pug-in-a-beret?ref=listing-shop-header-1

https://www.etsy.com/listing/294591713/pug-in-pink-flowers

I will have these as prints on my etsy site, Camp Studios

the prints will be available towards the end of May.

Day 105. Heart.

My little niece declared herself a donutarian when she was three, same time as her mother declared herself a vegetarian. She has held steadfast to her belief and passion. She has spirit and heart. So this little painting is in honor of her and all donut lovers everywhere!

Day 104. Lock and Key

The challenge is a word or phrase everyday, and I paint it. Today I didn't feel like painting a lock and key. I didn't want to use brown. Mostly because I didn't think I could do it. But because I've been painting everyday for the last 103 days I did it anyway. Surprise! Afterwards I felt like I had unlocked a little part of me. 

Happy Camper Art Exhibition

Show March 2nd - May 31st, 2016

Edina Senior Center

Artist Reception March 4th, 5-7pm

My first official show. I'm nervous and excited and looking forward to the experience. I've been on the waiting list for over 2 years (wow that went fast) and knew it was coming but I didn't really do anything about it. I paint everyday, but what about marketing? Letting people know? So the day has arrived and now, just like many 4th graders, I have just a few hours to get my homework done. 

2016 Art Calendar

Welcome 2016 Merry and Bright!

I like to imagine a world of joy and happiness. I've heard myself saying, "I'm not a fine painter, I'm a fun painter." And as I've been thinking about that statement, I've realized that I focus on the beauty and joy in the world, and thru painting I try to add more of that into our environment.

I discovered Susan Wallace Barnes is no longer doing her calendar this year, and if you are one of her fans, you might want to take a look at my calendar on my CampStudios etsy site. I have 2 sizes, 11 x 14 and desk size 5 x 7 just click on etsy button at the top of this blogpost. 

These are a few pictures from the 2016 calendar.  If you are interested, click on the orange ETSY button at the top of the blog which will take you directly to my etsy site. Keep Merry and Bright all year long!

Happy New Year! 

The Edina Art Fair

CAMP StUDiOS

Full of color and lots of fun!

Stephanie, my sister drove up from Iowa to help me, along with my friend, 

Aysel and Jenny.

The People and Their Pets

The people we meet were fabulous. I bet we saw 200+ photos of dogs, cats and gerbils. It was great! The stories we heard, the parts of lives people so generously shared with us was wonderful. I was moved and humbled at the beauty and kindness of humanity.

The weather was gorgeous and people and dogs were happy to be out walking and looking at art, meeting new people and buying paintings.

The Paintings People Ordered

Here are a few of the paintings people ordered of their beloved pets, this is Charlie the Coonhound and his owner, Megan. They are an adorable pair.

I love this photo of Izzie, I call it the Shabby Chic look. The lady who ordered the painting wanted her dog to be wearing a tiara. She sent me this picture, then she sent a groomed photo. I chose this one. 

The painting is called, Bad Hair Day, A crown fixes everything

This is is Teddy. His master is having surgery and her friend ordered a little painting to go by her bed in recovery. That face, those eyes, what kindness. 

Onyx

Koty

Smoochie

Bear

Lucy

Here's Jack and Diane (I know, I love it) and Kelley with Jack's painting. 

Not only did I meet people at the Art Fair, I get to meet them again when they pick up their art at my studio. And they usually bring their dog. It was a wonderful experience. I can't wait to do it again.

Jack wanted to be done super bright and he is also getting his own personalized set of greeting cards made, just for him! Whatta guy!

Westie Mermaid

Under the Sea

Westie Mermaid

A rare sight awaits in this sea. 

A Westie Mermaid swimming along with an octopus, 

this painting is full of enchantment and fun.

I've been painting mostly on wood panels that stand alone, or can be hung a on wall. Sometimes I paint on wrap around canvas. I love frames but the cost can be more than the actual artwork, I try to do "wall friendly" art. It saves money and time on deciding what kind of frame to purchase. With that said, I am going to introduce a line of framable original prints to purchase this spring. 

This enchanting little 12" x 12" Mermaid can be purchased on my 

Camp Studios etsy site. 

Click the orange button below and you will be magically transported.

Also if you want to sign up for your daily dose of cuteness, head over to my facebook page and "like" Camp Studios. Click the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/CampStudios?ref=hl

Happy Place Art

"Happy Place Art"

Golden Retriever

This cute Golden definitely qualifies to go in your "happy place," where those soulful eyes meet up with the ever warm and loving heart of your faithful friend.

You have a great new painting but what do you do with it?

I think a lot of people struggle with hanging artwork. I do.

 Is it right, does it look okay there? I always ask myself, "does it make me happy?" I like to have a collection of art and objects

 that make me smile when I look at them. 

I found a helpful article from Better Homes & Gardens that offered

 helpful tips and tricks to make displaying art less stressful.
http://www.bhg.com/decorating/home-accessories/wall-art/how-to-arrange-art/

Yep! That's a Happy Place!

This painting is available on my Camp Studios etsy site. 

Click the orange button below to magically be transported.

And if you want your daily dose of cuteness,
check and "like" my facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/CampStudios?ref=hl

Mermaid

A Trip to Florida

How can one go to the sea and not envision life underwater?

The sea is so full of life, color and mystery. One can make up all kinds of stories and wonderful adventures. But I didn't. I just asked my mom, as we were walking along the beach on Sanibel, for a mermaid scene and and she suggested adding a seahorse, which sparked this idea. Voila! No mystery, no adventure, just lots of color and imagination. 

Edina Art Crawl

Happy Spring!

Jump for Joy

Westie Mermaid

Edina Art Fair Window for Bone Adventure

The project is for the artist to design a visual display with their art. I was paired with the upscale dog store Bone Adventure, so why not a doghouse out of dog paintings, add a tree and a couple of clouds and boom!

At the last minute I decided to add the little leaping frog painting, Jump for Joy, since the opening of the show is on the first day of spring.

The project was very fun and challenging. I have no real tools, but a friend called and invited me over to use her power tools, she and I worked together to get the roof made, and to put some sides on the frame I had built with my little hacksaw and hammer.

Big Dogs

Reggie the Pitbull

Colorpop Pups

Rottweiler

Husky

Doberman

Hello Sunshine! Hello Happiness!

February in Minnesota

One of the most dreary dreaded months of the year. Period.

It is cold. It is gray. It is miserable. 

Hello Sunshine! Hello Happiness! 

Hello Life! Hello Love!

Hello big, juicy, lively lemons in full wonderful color!

Well I finally did it. The Big Giant Lemon painting. I love it! It is the definition of Happy.

It makes me happy.

Happy is good.

I have decided to put it on etsy, and sell it and make someone else happy. I am going to paint another one and get happy all over again. I have painted this painting at least 5 times, this is by far the largest, why stop now?

So if you are interested, just tap on the orange etsy button and you will magically be transported to Camp Studios etsy site where you can get all the details. 

LOVING THE LEMONS!