Monday, November 24, 2014

Winter, and Windows...


So, yeah, we got this big blizzard thing the likes that Boise hasn't seen in ages. I finally got a chance to build a snowman, who quite surprised me in it's quest. Hence, I have prepared for you now -  The Progression of the Snowman...
 


As if to say, "I'm a Dancer!"

 And then... 

HOW is this even possible?!

Next I painted some Christmas lights on Global Travel: 



Also some Playful little Penguins on Banner Bank for the Downtown Boise Association's Winter Window Gallery. 


Snowball Fight! 

Catchin' Thanksgiving Dinner, are we? 

Tubing accident just waiting to happen... 

Roasting Marshmellows is quite the Penguin Treat! 

Love comes in all shapes and sizes, and temperatures - Meeeeowww! 
In other News, I have been accepted into Art Source Gallery! You will be able to find me and my paintings there as early as December's First Thursday! Will I see you there? I do hope so! 

Happy Holidays to you, keep warm and eat much excellent food.  I will now leave you with this adorable image. 
Snow Cat

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 :)






Friday, July 4, 2014

Idaho Statesman's 4th Annual Chalk Art Festival


©2014 Lauren T Kistner

Excitement sparked and I was able to wake before my alarm clock this day.  I drew on the sidewalk, in a rather big way. 6'x6' and a tad more, hey hey.

©2014 Lauren T Kistner

It's the Chalk Art Festival at Ann Morrison Park; art born and thrives for just until dark. Everyone's big chance to chalk it up and make a good mark!

©2014 Lauren T Kistner, Chalk Art

Henrietta, pulled out of the concrete with pastels and chalk, stood independant and sang forth, bock, bock, bawk, bawk, balk.

My partners of featured artists all pulled out their best stuff,

Melissa Chambers
Karen Bubb 

Chi E Shenam Westin

Geoff Everts


The competitors out there made the competition tough!







After 5 hours of work I was finally done

©2014 Lauren T Kistner

Happy 4th of July to each and everyone!

Be safe tonight friends, and thank you for your support!





Friday, June 27, 2014

Adventures!


'Sara and I go on Adventures.

©2014 Lauren T Kistner, All rights reserved.

©2014 Lauren T Kistner, All rights reserved.

This round we did not make it out to the high desert of Denio of Nevada. (As per usual... It calls us, even begs us to come out star gazing, visit the old haunts, soak in it's beautiful hot springs, dig in the dirt for shiny rocks, and explore it's endless acreages) With Mercury being all up in retrograde, plans were transitioned, deep freezer took a dirt nap, tires were popped, chickens were... complicated, and we even received some signs from above.... This year's adventures would be different; same two spirited girls, different destination(s).

©2014 Lauren T Kistner, All rights reserved.

©2014 Lauren T Kistner, All rights reserved.


We tried Silver City, with it's old timey charm & grace. The weather was not very pleasant. This one's too cold.


©2014 Lauren T Kistner, All rights reserved.

We tried Cascade, after the second attempt with a brand new set of tires, brought us home with delightfully unexpected oyster mushrooms in tow. This one's too dry, a dollar shy and buck short.

©2014 Lauren T Kistner, All rights reserved.

©2014 Lauren T Kistner, All rights reserved.


But this one - This one is just right! The Rock Hounding bug hit, and hit us hard. We decided to play a little closer to home and try our hand at finding some Plume Agate. Exhausted, and yet uber excited from our hunting trip, we went back a second and third time.  We were poking along this little hill when a car stops and asks us how we are doing. I reply "finding agates and lizards" with a smile. The gentlemen in the car tell us the hunting is better around the corner. We go a little ways around the corner and are finding bigger better pieces. We see our new friends again. "Well, you're getting closer" they say. So we follow their directions to a better spot. SO MUCH better! "Are your bags getting heavy yet?" I grunt and attempt to lift my bag high. After working the rest of the day on the hill, one of the men comes up to us and says "If you've got some time left, I've got a unique opportunity for you...." Our new pals Gene, owner of The Gem Shop in Cedarburg Wisconsin, and his friend Gary were just closing down their claim for the season, and invited us to be the first people to poke around the filled dig site. They were kind enough to give us a few beautiful specimens they collected, which really piqued our interest.

©2014 Lauren T Kistner, All rights reserved.
Even the Clouds were singing the praises of Plume Agate
May I introduce you to the rock that almost knocked me to my feet.
Angel Wing Agate

Photo ©2014 Lauren T Kistner, All rights reserved.
This baby gives me the butterflies. 
Photo ©2014 Lauren T Kistner, All rights reserved.
I really want to eat it, I'm just sure it tastes like cotton candy and won't shred my insides.... 
Photo ©2014 Lauren T Kistner, All rights reserved.
Some of our booty from the weekend. I am 96% certain the one in the middle is called "Tube Agate"
(and I want to eat it too. )
My inspiration is at it's peak; the geology of the high mountain desert, epic views, time well spent with a few good buddies and a few bags of lovely specimens of various colorful agates have me dreaming of paintings on the horizon. Color combinations, smooth, speckled and dendrite, ripples and bubbles, flecks of white opal.........

Did I mention I like Rocks? Rocks Rock.                                

Photo ©2014 Lauren T Kistner, All rights reserved.
Leading us to treasure speckled friend? 

Photo ©2014 Lauren T Kistner, All rights reserved. Photo ©2014 Lauren T Kistner, All rights reserved.
The sky in high desert is always impressive
Photo ©2014 Lauren T Kistner, All rights reserved.
Endless Views of some gorgeous countryside! 
Photo ©2014 Lauren T Kistner, All rights reserved.
Beautiful end to the day's work
(Insert joke about Papa and baby tomato at your leisure, friends.)  Now it's Time for me to ketchup :)  Until Next Time......