Tag Archives: lynn whipple

Make artists part of your holiday tradition!

December 5, 2013 by Chris | 1 Comment

Last year between Thanksgiving and Christmas I encouraged you to “Buy Personal” and embarked on introducing you to some of our friends. It was so much fun and a great way to spend some time thinking about and being thankful for all of the amazingly talented friends we have. This year I am no less thankful and it is no less important that you support independent artists of all varieties while making your holiday plans. But I’ve got to tell you, that was a herculean task to take on while still maintaining my studio practice. So this year I have chosen to spend more time working on my new series while reintroducing you to the fantastic artists you met last year. Continue reading »

Favorite Moment

September 27, 2013 by Chris | 0 Comments

Favorite moment of Plaza Art Fair Week

I had an amazing time seeing lots of friends and collectors old and new, and the weather couldn’t have been better. But my favorite moment came early Friday afternoon, walking out of the radio station with my good friend and talented artist Lynn Whipple after being guests on the program Up To Date with Steve Kraske on KCUR. Continue reading »

Deck Your Walls part 2

December 17, 2012 by Chris | 0 Comments

How about commissioning a piece of artwork for the holidays?

 

Chandra Stubb’s Website

 

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 »

Plaza Art Fair #13 – Thank you Kansas City!

September 27, 2012 by Chris | 4 Comments

What a welcome home!

 

After 13 years of doing shows around the country, my hometown show, my 13th Plaza Art Fair, provided the best show of my career! It was great to see familiar faces as well as make new friends at the show, so my special thanks to all that came out and made it a fantastic time! It really is all about the people!

 

Here are some of the awesome things about this week that you didn’t get to see:

 

pleeeeease

  • Our street filling up with large vans signaling the arrival of our people!
  • An impromptu and delicious dinner party with a houseful of my favorite artists: Beth Bojarski, Mark Winter, Lynn and John Whipple, Jim Brown, and Gregory Story. (Ask them about the tamales!)
  • Helping Laura Robson orchestrate a surprise visit from Oregon. And despite the fact she hadn’t done a show with all of us in six years, it felt just like old times.
  • Laughs so hard on our car rides to and from the show that my side still hurt the next day!
  • Hosting a fantastic party for the artists after the show with the AMAZING help of our good friends from Pandolfi’s. I never want to host anything without these guys ever again!
  • Sitting back and thinking about the collected talent at the party, and the interesting lives they are leading traveling from all corners of the country (and Canada). A brain trust assembling in our house, overflowing onto the porch, driveway and yard!
  • Dozens of sleep deprived and staggering artists digging through the River Market Antiques the day after the show, and the show and tell that happens afterwards.
  • Card playing on Monday night that is so exuberant the house vibrates with the excitement. (Who knew that dime ante poker could get successful adults so wound up?)
  • Quiet porch conversations that begin to happen as the crowd starts to thin.
  • The energy created by having so many of our best friends gathered in one place to sustain us through the winter season until we all meet up again in Florida in March.
  • My new piece of artwork from Kina Crow that perfectly expresses how I feel when everyone leaves.

Somebody pleeeease come play with me!

 


 

Whew what a week!

July 13, 2012 by Chris | 1 Comment

Sorry about the lack of blog post last week. I wanted to write to you, but, the thing is, the last couple of weeks have been really, really busy.

I have captured some of the high-lights and low-lights for you in pictures. Each one could be a post by itself, but the clock is ticking and I must go set up my show again in a few minutes. Continue reading »

Move Your Hands

June 7, 2012 by Chris | 1 Comment

One the road

Kyle and I are on the road – heading to one of our favorite shows in one of our favorite neighborhoods, the Old Town Art Fair in Chicago. We are excited to have a full extra day in Chicago to see some galleries and spend some non-work time with our friends (and gracious hosts) Gregory and Clark.

So while my face is planted in the windshield of our van, I thought I would share a piece from our great friend Lynn Whipple. I have a print of it above my desk and I LOVE IT! If you endeavor to make anything, from cupcakes, to artwork, to the next great american novel, this is the guide for you. You should buy one here!

 

The Arc of Making Something – Lynn Whipple

 

The Arc of Making Something by Lynn Whipple

 

From Lynn-

Heres how it goes:

Step 1 MOVE YOUR HANDS!!

Step 2 Happy moving hands will let your instincts take over- follow them

Step 3 WHOOPS! Now, you might have a big ol’ mess- no worries- that is perfectly normal, perfectly healthy

Step 4 Take a break, relax, chill, your brain will continue to solve the problem

Step 5 Return to your work with enthusiasm and feeling refreshed! Keep going

Step 5.5 Positive Feedback

Step 6 Go for the big finish, edit, be clear about your bigger idea and what you want to communicate

Step 7 REPEAT!!

Step 8 This is super important. Keep the cycle going and going…….

MR. DEADLINE!! He is kind of bossy, but he’s a poophead that keeps you in line and causes a FINISH, which is very important! Now you can relax and start again….and again…..and again!!

 

What do you want to get your hands moving on? join the conversation

Kinda like summer camp

March 14, 2012 by Chris | 3 Comments

Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

Lynn and John's back yard!

 

Kyle and I have arrived a few days early for this year’s Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. We are looking forward to the show this weekend, with great hospitality, beautiful weather and the wonderful Park Avenue. But what always makes this trip special is that in addition to visiting with lovely patrons old and new, our days here with our friends feel a lot like summer camp (albeit with more margaritas); there is art, music and lake time, nap time, an off site bowling activity planned, and much, much laughter. As I sit on Lynn and John Whipple’s back porch and watch a boat pass on the lake I just can’t believe how lucky we are.

 

It also makes me realize that with the upcoming work ahead for the show this weekend, I better take advantage of this beautiful day and the fact that it is margarita time! I wish you could be here!

Here is our friend Lynn Whipple with a wish for you!

 

What are you doing to make today spectacular?!?

join the conversation

Bests of 2011 #5 – The Plaza Art Fair you don’t see.

January 5, 2012 by Chris | 5 Comments

I traveled to my first art festival in May of 2000 and on my return home I exclaimed to Kyle, “I have found my people!”

That is as true today as it was in 2000, and continues to be the one of the major highlights of doing shows. And so it is bittersweet in September when we get to the end of our season of travel and spend the last few days with our crazy talented friends that are scattered across the country. Fortunately for us this last hurrah of the season is the Plaza Art Fair in Kansas City, which gives us the opportunity to host our friends. We fill our house and studios (and now our new trailer) to overflowing with the most talented visual artists we know. Then on Sunday night we host a party for all the artists that can make it – the night is filled with many stories, and much laughter and music. It has definitely become one of the highlights of our year, and one we always look forward to. But there is more…

With the fun that everyone is having and the knowledge that it might be half a year before we see one another again, the party has been extending, so much so that now it continues through the week. As we say good-bye to those that have to hit the road, many of the closest stay and indulge in more laughing, junking, music-making, card playing, and world’s problem solving, all at the languid speed of a summer beach vacation.  It’s reminiscent of when I was a teenager on the phone with my boyfriend, not wanting to say goodbye – “You hang up.”  “No, you hang up.”  “No, you hang up.”  “You hang up.”

I have found my people and I love them!

Jim C BrownPaul Andrews Beth Bojarski and Mark WinterDamian VelasquezChris Bruno and Lynn WhippleJohn WhippleGregory Story (we missed you at the party this year!)Audrey HellerDamian Velasquez and Lisa BurgeLisa Burge and Lynn WhippleJim Brown and Beth BojarskiLynn WhippleGregory Story and Jim BrownSo much laughingSoo tired

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