Karen Dittman’s American Folk Art

Excellent Highlands NC Fine Art & Craft Show

Here’s the wonderful show I’ll be doing over Memorial Day weekend -
thanks - karen ditman

Spring is in the Air and I’m getting Ready for Shows!

I thought it would be fun to show you what it’s starting to look like in here - Painted bowls in process of being sealed or drying or being worked on - It’s getting crazy in here! Oh, the vintage picnic baskets are adorable too - great for storage in your cabin or home.

Here you can see a wall-hanging, assorted bowls - My goodness it’s going to be a bright springy day at the first show Memorial Day Weekend up in the Highlands, NC.

Blackbirds, birds nests, Monarch Butterflies - I’m really having a good time with these - I’ve even done a very large copper “bird’s nest” - It can hang on a wall - though it’s mighty heavy - but quite honestly, I think it would exquisite in the yard somewhere - with vines or flowers coming up through all the copper - It’s done in free weave and very hard to do -

“Bear” with me - I couldn’t get a good shot of this with all the rain and lack of pretty light today in the “treehouse” studio I work in - but I think you get a pretty good idea of the rampant fun going on in this room. It’s a joy! And keep in mind, this is just one of the bear paintings hanging out with me as I work.

Well let’s see what else I can show you –

Little paintings and bowls and boxes oh my!

- Come see me in the Highlands over Memorial Day Weekend - Saturday and Sunday - May 23 and May 24. I’ve not done this show before because of prior scheduling conflicts - so am excited that this year I’ve been accepted in the show and am looking forward to it -

Okay
Time to Start
Making Plans
To Come to the Highlands over Memorial Day Weekend! And remember, you can always find my work at Gravy on Main Street in Downtown Brevard, NC

If you have any questions - please feel free to email me at folkartist@gmail.com
Thanks!

Karen Dittman

As Requested - A New Tree House Painting for your Perusal

Spring is Working it’s Way Back - With the Bird’s Nest Bowls

A Beautiful Bird's Nest Bowl

The other day we talked about the ever popular Bird’s Nest Bowls I paint and here they are - one up above and two views of the other bowl below. So here you can see the finished bowls - very nice size and perfect for many rooms in any home  - Enjoy and feel free to ask questions!

Taking time to paint -

I want to paint and from what I hear, you want to paint.  So how to begin again after the Holiday is over and time’s wasting away.  For me, I’m always set-up - paints waiting for me, blank canvases stare at me, asking me what I’m going to do with them - what about you?  Most important, find a small place like a TV tray and leave your paints out.  Yesterday, I started two bird nest bowls.  Last week I prepped bowls and they are in the drying mode, waiting a week or two more and I can prime them.  Yep, we’ve talked about that, prepping is the most important step.  Doesn’t take long.  Just need to begin.  I’m still in the nature mode for bowls.  My clients love them as do I. Will post them when I finish.

I’m also going to plan out a painting like this one. 

What about you?  Have you tried doing a folk art painting? From what you all tell me - you want to. Just begin.  It doesn’t hurt, there’s no one standing over you telling you what to do, what you are doing wrong - it’s easy because you are absolutely free to experiment any way you wish.

Sure, it takes time to work out the design details but don’t be afraid to try something new.  Start with the shapes, sketch them on to you canvas and go from there.

You don’t have to spend hours each day, just work a little at a time and think about the little things that might make your painting interesting.  Perhaps a dog you like - or a few birds or kids - have at it and keep me posted on how you’re coming along - I’m here.

Almost Time for Apple Annie’s in Marietta - St. Ann’s!

Well, every room in my home as well as my sunny studio, has something wonderful drying, sealing, waiting to be painted for the Apple Annie Show coming up very soon - It’s a wonderful show and those of you in the Atlanta area should come on over and see all the amazing arts, crafts and works of so many artisans - including me. If you have any questions - please ask.  I’m looking forward to seeing you all again this year and those of you that I just saw at Marist Holiday Traditions - you’ll enjoy this one just as much.

I believe I’m in the beautiful church hall this year - toward the back of the room - Come say hi –

28th ANNUAL
APPLE ANNIE CRAFTS AND ARTS SHOW
Over 130 of the Southeast’s Finest Artisans and Crafters 

December 5th - 9am to 7pm
December 6th- 9am to 2pm

Admission: $3 (Under age 12 free)
NO STROLLERS, PLEASE!

Catholic Church of St. Ann
4905 Roswell Road
Marietta, Georgia 30062

The Treehouse Paintings - New Works by Karen Dittman

Sometimes a “grown-up” just wants to remember being a kid. Perhaps it’s because of the days we have been living in - I’m not sure, but like you, I find my mind wandering back to “the good old days.”  And that’s where these ideas came from - kids playing, a treehouse - every kid must have dreamt about or actually did have one to play in.

I’ve spent the last several days lost in the treehouse mode and will be taking these two to The Highland’s Show on Saturday, October llth and/or Marist Holiday Traditions on November 1. You’ll also find one of this style at Gravy - Downtown Brevard, NC, Transylvania County. Karen Dittman American Folk Art.

Come see me at one of these places and see what else I came up with to brighten up your home - these days have made many of us feel the urge to feather our nest and hunker down surrounded by the things we love most and the things that make us feel secure again.

There’s no place like home.  And home is where we retreat from the world outside.

New Karen Dittman Folk Art Painting - Kids Just Want to Have Fun

Many of you familiar with the work I do, know how much I enjoy doing these busy paintings - kids playing, dogs watching - this one has a black dog, Old English Sheepdog and of course a Dachshund, wonderful houses to live in, jumping rope, playing on the river, flag flying - these things invoke memories of many of the things we did as kids.

Size of this wonderfully large, very busy painting is 30 inches tall x 24 inches wide and the canvas is 1.5 inches thick - no need to frame this one! This one is here at the studio but I may take it to Gravy in Brevard, or perhaps The Highlands Women’s Club Show on Oct. 11 or even Marist Holiday Traditions in Atlanta on Nov. 1.

Karen Dittman “Busy” Folk Art Paintings —

I have been asked about my “busy” paintings - I seldom have any more than one or two available at any time because of the incredible amounts of time it takes to create them. And while I am working on some right now, I thought you’d enjoy viewing two of the many that are now scattered throughout the Country.

Here’s two for your perusal -

So Much To Do - So Little Time - A Time-Tested Method That Works For Me

We all seem to have the same problem.Too much to do and never enough time to do it all.

A method that seems to work for me is to segment my day into portions of time – I’ll do some prepping, or begin work that is already for me to paint – I find that having an assortment of things prepped and ready to paint with the final idea is easier for me. I do such a large variety of items and if I just did one at-a-time, I don’t think I’d ever get anything done by my self-set deadlines. It’s mentally easier for me to prep several different things and then get to the “fun” work. This method allows me to do what we all need to do: Vacuum the floors, throw in a load of wash, bake some breads (even that is segmented – i.e. get the dough rising than go paint for an hour)

I generally have a good idea what each prepped item will be when it’s time to paint. I plan ahead, so I know all these first coats in the prepping stages will become exactly what I want to be. I don’t paint by someone else’s pattern. I create my own ideas in my own brain and will sometimes cut out a form to use for that item – whether it be the shape of the Court House in Brevard or churches that I like to paint. They are always mine.

Last time I mentioned gourd prepping in my post, well here’s a Santa that I have done recently that will show you here are an assortment of things I’ve done recently, many are sold but you get the idea.

Segmenting my time throughout the day allows me the flexibility to accomplish many things each day as well as make each day count for me – there are always interruptions – but leave an area that is always set-up to paint or work and you’ll find much more success when you can steal 20 minutes here or there to do a coat of something on any project you’re working on.

Here’s a Sampling of some of the types of things you might find at one of my shows. I hope you enjoy my style. And please take the time to develop yours!

Please feel free to ask any questions. Nothing is too silly.