Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Project Nesting

With winter fast approaching and the colors of the garden all fading into one another, I am finding myself more and more drawn to a tiny nook in my house. You see, my Grandmother recently gave me her fancy red chair that I have drooled over for years. It is so rich in color, and incredibly comfortable, with a matching foot rest - it is perfectly filled with memories of my family gathered together for holidays.

Then, my Sweetie found me a flat file (Yay!) that I washed and sanded, administered navel jelly to, then spray painted, and spray painted, and sanded where I screwed up, and spray painted some more, and finally clear coated. It was quite the process, indeed.

I decided it should compliment the chair. This is where the color nook obsession began - a combination of a much needed flat file and a fancy vintage chair.


The addition of a baby blue vintage fan, a yellow lamp, and a freshly spray painted red new pot for my tree to thrive in, brought the space together.





Not sure if it is a good idea to spray paint the lamp shade too... So I added one of Grandma's old costume necklaces and a hair piece by Danielle Demaray. Much Better.


It wasn't hard to collect things already in my house that are pastel primaries. I chose a few special mementos to adorn the space. A thirty two foot yacht that was my Grandpa's, a tiny teapot from a friend, marbles, a toy car, a top, my whisker collection, a pocket knife from my father, and a very old necklace from when I was a kid. A tiny little place,  a teeny little altar, a miniature color corner of my own.


All I need now is for my very skilled mother to crochet me a blue and yellow throw blanket. (Christmas hit Ma)

And my sister to sew me some complimentary curtains. (Christmas hint Sis)

And a new runner.

I know spreading this color scheme to fill the entire living room would probably drive the Mister nuts, so I will try to minimize it to this one space. He doesn't think it's a good idea for me paint the bird cage anyway...




And on top of it's visual appeal to me, it also helps to organize my trinkets of the trade in a very reasonable manner. MUCH Better than the paint dappled plastic rolly bins I've been rockin' for years. Though I do thank them for their years of dedicated service...

Roosting on my perch

Color is assured in my home for winter, and all seasons for that matter. I encourage everyone to make their very own nook. Even if it is just a corner of your desk. We share our lives with so many distractions. Make a cave. Create a time out corner, an area for reflection, a shelf for clarity, a blanket fort, a tree house... Whatever is most appealing or available to you, but most importantly, create for yourself a grounding space, and go there often.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

It's been a while....

And I can't remember half of it. I know there was A LOT of painting in there, and preparation for Art in the Park and Boise Open Studios weekend.
because I have a camera, I know these things happened as well:

©2014 Lauren T Kistner, Bolete, All rights reserved.
King Bolete is yummy to eat, with eggs and bacon is quite a treat. 

©2014 Lauren T Kistner, Oh, Dear, www.laurentkistner.com
Oh, dear

©2014 Lauren T Kistner, Willy, all rights reserved.
Flight Show at Birds of Prey

©2014 Lauren T Kistner, It was foggy, www.laurentkistner.com
It was foggy
© 2014 Lauren t Kistner, Balloon classic, all rights reserved.
Balloon Classic

©2014 Lauren T Kistner, Prisma, www.laurentkistner.com
Prisma Completed and Installed in her lovely new home

©2014 Lauren T Kistner, Bird Bath High Five, all rights reserved.
Bird Bath High Five





©2014 Lauren T Kistner, Squinty Eyed Frye, all rights reserved.
Squinty Eyed Frye, in a cone of shame. He hated it. Over now; gorgeous as ever. 
© 2014 Lauren T Kistner, Art in the Park, Boise, ID
My booth for Art in the Park! It was quite the adventure! 

Boise Open Studios Weekend

©2014 Lauren T Kistner, Surel's Place, Garden City, ID, BOSCO Open Studios
I had the grand opportunity to display my work at Surel's Place in Garden City for Boise Open Studios Weekend this year. Not only was the space beautiful, calming, and inviting, a few of my larger works got a chance to come out and see the world, something that would not have been an option in the confines of my tiny studio. It was a great pleasure to meet friends of Surel Mitchell (1944 - 2011) and introduce new guests to her place. She was an amazing woman. This website will give you more information on the house and the programs it hosts -

Surel's Place

All are invited to the afterparty! If you turned in a passport for the weekend, your chance to win art from BOSCO Artists is coming right up.

BOSCO Reception and Passport Art Drawing
First Thursday, November 6th
Fire Fusion Studio
1124 W. Front St
Boise, ID
5:30 - 9 p.m.
Drawing Starts at 7:30


Now that things are calm for a minute, I am tackling some home projects that I have wanted to complete before the weather turns frosty. There are a few new large paintings in the works, and I will be working on some new illustrations and experimenting with Encaustic again in the near future. Stay tuned :)

Thank you for all your support :)