Author Archives: Chris

Photographic Mixed Media Artist

Big love for big voices – Nathan Granner

December 16, 2012 by Chris | 0 Comments

Nathan Granner

I was raised as a preacher’s kid, which meant that I spent a lot of time in church. And because I was convinced that I couldn’t sing hymns, when it was time for everyone to sing them, I would stand and noiselessly mouth the interminable words of ALL the verses as instructed in the program, the hymnal would weigh at least 30 pounds as we began verse 3 and be up to 50 by verse 5, and I would be rudely interrupted from solving the math problems that had been written on my bulletin to occupy my time (yes, I was that nerd). Continue reading »

Storytime with Kina

December 15, 2012 by Chris | 1 Comment

We are so lucky!

 

Kina Crow

I’d like to introduce you to another great friend and my favorite story teller, Kina Crow. Her stories take the form of sculptures and paintings that tell volumes with the simplest of gestures and the fewest words. At first glance,  they are witty and funny and we have a chuckle. Then we begin to realize that Kina is very gently poking at a truth much deeper, and in the process giving us all permission to laugh at ourselves.

Continue reading »

Deck your Walls

December 14, 2012 by Chris | Comments Off

How about commissioning a piece of artwork for the holidays?

We all get lots of surprises during the holiday season. How about commissioning a fabulous piece of artwork so you have something to look forward to once the season is over?  I’d love for you to meet some of my friends. Contact any or all of them to see how you can work together. (Meet more next Monday!) Continue reading »

Sharing the love – Barclay Martin

December 13, 2012 by Chris | 0 Comments

Generous, Compassionate, Humble

Barclay Martin

You know those people that you meet that just seem too nice to be for real? Too good to be true? And way too talented to really be so humble. Yep, we were skeptical as we were getting to know our now good friend Barclay Martin. And, I have to admit, I retained a bit of that disbelief until I got to know his parents, and I understood where a person like this might come from. Thank you Barclay for being you, and for always inspiring me to be a better version of myself! (And thank you Jen and Howard for your part in that!) Continue reading »

Too much fun with the Whipples

December 12, 2012 by Chris | 1 Comment

Lynn and John Whipple are some of my favorite people.

 

Award winning Lynn Whipple

And definitely my favorite artists. They live in what I consider my “Florida home” – a lovely bungalow on a lake that I return to as often as I can. They live lives that are drenched in creativity. And there is so much more to say about them, so instead of telling you I’d like to show you. I took a little inspiration from Lynn’s artwork and created a little piece of my own.

But don’t just take my word for it, take a look at their websites (Lynn’s and John’s) and see what inspires you. (also be sure to check out Lynn’s etsy store – I have one of her etsy prints hanging above my desk and it inspires me every day.) Continue reading »

My Better Half – Kyle Dahlquist (or “I just can’t shake him!” )

December 11, 2012 by Chris | 2 Comments

Then (circa 1990)

I’d probably be remiss if I didn’t introduce you to the most talented and influential artist in my life, right?

 

If you know my artwork then you know just how beautifully – perfectly, he frames it. If you have worked with him you know what an elegant problem solver he is. If you have been in our house you know what a masterpiece he created from floor to ceiling (and hidden in the walls). But until you have seen him on stage, or heard the music that he makes, I would say you don’t really know him. Continue reading »

Natural Beauty – Jay McDougall

December 10, 2012 by Chris | 0 Comments

Check all the reasons that you connect with my artwork:

 

  • You find beauty in the simple line.
  • You appreciate the midwest and what it has to offer.
  • You require a respite from the pace that life is moving.
  • You love natural beauty.
  • You respect subtlety.
  • You recognize that the finest craftsmanship becomes invisible.
  • You desire well made things.
  • You understand the power of the whisper. Continue reading »

A Long Letter – Jim Brown

December 9, 2012 by Chris | 1 Comment

“A apologize for the length of this letter, I did not have time to write a short one” – Blaise Pascal

 

You might think it would be easy to write a post introducing you to my dearest friend, Jim Brown. – You would be wrong.

Where would I start? With the weekend I met him on his first trip to Kansas City to do the Brookside Art Fair? Where that same weekend we invited him to a party at our house, he showed up with a box of chicken wings and didn’t leave for a week? Continue reading »

Last Bite – Pete Dulin and Roy Inman

December 8, 2012 by Chris | 2 Comments

Do you plan out the “end game” for your dinner plate?

 

Pete Dulin and Roy Inman

Kyle, my husband, is perfectly willing to share a taste off his dinner plate. However, if he is nearing the end of his meal, you have missed your opportunity, because he has thoughtfully considered the closing strategy and decided upon his last bite, the one he will savor longer than the others, the one worth lingering over.

Food writer and editor, Pete Dulin, has given the same thoughtful consideration to his new cookbook, Last Bite. Continue reading »

Way Back with Cathy Broski

December 7, 2012 by Chris | 7 Comments

Cathy Broski

Cathy and I go way back.

 

Like back to those skinny knit ties and asymmetrical hairstyles that were fashionable so long ago. You know, the ones that have been unpopular for so long that they come around to popular again. Like fake ids and the mornings of bumping into each other in the hall at our boyfriends’ shared house (both of which are now our husbands). All the way back to when Cathy and I took a big road atlas, a borrowed listing of art festivals, and began marking the cities with festivals where we had family or a free place to stay. Continue reading »