Karen Dittman’s American Folk Art

Highlands, NC October 10th - Holiday Traditions-Marist November 7th

As you all know by now, our home is currently being run by two toddlers and their two Westies to add to our two Doxies.

And while, my painting time has greatly diminished - Sadly, I’ve had to cancel my showing at Apple Annie’s at the Church of St. Ann - Marietta, Georgia - please do go to the show - it’s wonderful and I will really hate to miss it - Anyway, I digress - I still have two shows left for the season and Gravy in Brevard, NC to keep stocked - so I do continue to sneak in painting time whenever possible -
thanks!
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Well that should give you a little bit of idea of things to come at the shows and Gravy! Marist Holiday Traditions is in Atlanta on November 7th and Highlands Women’s Club Show, North Carolina, is October 10 - they are wonderful shows.

The Deployment Business is Starting to Sink In.

This deployment business leaves one feeling quite sick to the stomach; their dogs are acting peculiar-like “what’s happening” and the little ones - when I pick them up from school, alone today, Joe’s first question will be “w…here’s Mommy?” I dread picking them up this first day without her - with them hardly used to Daddy being gone. This is very sucky. I hope it will get better…

Right now, the idea of painting seems very foreign. I’ll get back to work tomorrow, a show in Cashiers over Labor Day Weekend, but I’ve got to tell you, it’s very difficult to think about painting while experiencing this other world of kid’s without their parents -

Reception - TC Arts July 24th - Scenic 276 Artists & Studios

TC Arts Council Presents

Artists & Studios of

Scenic 276 South

On Display at TC Arts Gallery

from July 20- August 21

Gallery Reception: Friday - July 24

Brevard, NC 4th Friday Gallery Walk

5 - 9 pm

TC Arts Council

349 S. Caldwell Street

Brevard, NC 28712

828-884-2787

I’m going to make a point of getting to the reception on Friday - from what I saw when I dropped off my work for the show - it looks like it will be well worth a viewing and some great pieces of work available for you to purchase and enhance your world.

Thanks so much!

What a Summer it’s Already Been - Show Listings for Karen Dittman

I’ve had a few shows this year and am only doing seven this season - only four more to go in 2009 - here they are and see a brief description following:

Labor Day Weekend Show - Cashiers, NC  September 5-6

Highlands Women’s Club - Highlands, NC October 10

Marist Holiday Traditions, Atlanta, GA

November 7-9am to 4pm

St. Ann’s Apple Annie Show - Marietta, GA

December 4th - 9am to 7pm
December 5th - 9am to 2pm

I can tell you that each of these four shows will offer you an incredible variety of fine arts and crafts:

Cashier’s Labor Day Weekend Show (Sept. 5-6) has been one of my favorite shows to do these last four or five years - the work presented at this show is always at the top level and there’s food and a great park right there to give the kids a break after walking them through these fine artists booths.  It’s a very nice show.

Highland’s Women’s Club Show (Oct. 10) - this one is a delight to do.  Many of the crafter’s here at this show only do this show, so it’s your once-a-year chance to get some very special stuff.  There’s also great foods available here for holiday giving.  It’s just a fun, festive show that I hope to keep doing as long as they have me.  There’s raffles for quilts and other things like that - I can’t say enough about how enjoyable this show is.

Marist Holiday Traditions Nov. 7 - if you live in the Atlanta area and have only one show you can fit in this autumn, don’t miss Marist Holiday Traditions. This is a must, If I’m going to leave my comfort zone and travel by myself to do a show, you’ve got to realize that this show is an amazing show.  I find the most beautiful work, the best food and a nice little getaway weekend just for me (smile) at this show. I would not pass this up EVER - so Keep Nov. 7 noted in your calendar for this year - you’ll be glad you did.

Then then my final show of the year … drum roll please …

Apple Annie - Catholic Church of St. Ann
on Dec. 4th and 5th - Again, much of what I said about Marist Holiday Traditions applies to this show as well. I know people who take vacation days from work just to make sure they get to this show. People are lined up outside waiting to get in before the show begins in the morning so that should tell you something about this lovely Dec. show that really kicks off that Christmas spirit - and again, the food these ladies prepare is beyond good. Soups to die for. Crafts to fight for - you really ought to come in for this one in Marietta, GA.

Again, I don’t do that many shows each year, however, those I do are chosen because of the absolute quality of each show, so please come on down and you’ll enjoy the artists and craftsmen at each of these shows.

Thanks so much!
Karen Dittman

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

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.