Mural at Phoenix Books in Burlington

2016 was a year of two big "firsts" for me... I illustrated two stories for a friend (see my posts about the Crown of Secrets book) and I also undertook the designing and creation of a huge (for me) indoor mural in Burlington VT. I'll be blogging more about it soon, as we are approaching the completion date!

I've been working on the mural for about two months all told, though it's been just Sundays & Mondays for the most part, with a break in December/January. Whenever I'm there, I post in-progress images on my Instagram. It's been quite a trip! I'm nearing the end of this phase, but now we're talking about doing a second mural in the same store. Check out Phoenix Books if you're in the area. Locally owned, Independent and they are all highly informed booksellers. I love hanging out there as I get to hear about all sorts of good books while I'm painting. If you need help finding a book for someone hard to shop for, they know the questions to ask. 

Some progress shots from this week.

NEW LOCATION!

Find me and all my holiday cheer on the main floor of our Burlington Town Center (aka the mall on Church Street Marketplace) where the Gap stores used to be. There are a whole bunch of new vendors on the list this year, plus so many wonderful returning artisans that I'm looking forward to seeing.

http://www.womensfestivalofcrafts.com/

I'll have fresh new prints, The Crown of Secrets hardcover book, a few originals and other goods. Don't forget I always have special deals on prints at these shows, and this is the last one for 2016.
SEE YOU THERE!

Crows & Ravens - Inktober 2016

I'm drawing ravens and crows through the whole month of October, as part of the official INKTOBER challenge. Follow me over at Instagram where I'm posting at least every-other-day. (Today, for instance, I did two drawings back-to-back to catch up. Wow, my hands are getting tired!)

Each drawing is drawn on very sturdy 5x7" bristol paper, using either Sakura pigma micron, Pentel pocket brush pen, and/or actual an brush or nib with india ink. And occasionally white ink for accents.

During the month, I've been slowly learning more about ravens by reading some of the books written by Bernd Heinrich, a UVM professor emeritus in biology. I've also found great slow-motion videos showing crows landing and taking off, crows eating, and all sorts of other interesting slices-of-life.

Inktober #1. I had a crazy busy schedule on the 1st of October, so this was drawn on the 2nd.

You can also find all the drawings posted on my Sweet Enemy Art facebook page

Haunted Clothing, the red series (a post for Kara)

Weapon gown

Long Gloves

Banner Wrap

Thorn Suit

Ocean Wave Gown

Fur Cloak

Brain Gown

Twin Bird Gown

 

 

Ocean Fin Gown

It's been awhile since I last shared any of the Monster Fashion! This weekend was the annual South End Art Hop, and I was asked about this particular series. Not having it up anywhere else I decided to do a little post here.
All paintings in this group of Haunted Clothing are acrylic on 9"h x 6"w x 1"deep canvas, with accented elements on all four sides of each piece. Trying to find my photos of the sides, has me thinking it might be time for another photo shoot...But for now, enjoy!

Art Hop and other news, August - September 2016

Returning to my Art Hop roots, you'll find me this year at 420 Pine Street otherwise known as the Howard Space building. This is where my father's family had their appliance sales & service shop for years...so it's cool to be back! Look for me and Jess on the second floor in Marie Davis' studio (D-3) which is reachable via front (Howard Street) entrance, or back stairs (parking lot behind Arts Riot.)
Festivities go from 5:30 - 10pm on Friday evening, run most of the day on Saturday, and wind down late afternoon on Sunday.

detail from the final page of The Evening Day and Grey, one of two stories I illustrated in The Crown of Secrets

I'm designing prints from selected illustrations I did for The Crown of Secrets, and there will be lots of new greeting card designs.

Probably no new Advent calendar design this year, though I'll have plenty of the first three designs. Another project has come up which is keeping me very busy! More on that soon...

Follow me on Instagram to see more details of this series as it develops

New drawings...I'm playing around with some fancy Crows when I have time between other projects. There will be prints of these as well as the originals debuting at ART HOP. 

During last year's INKtober I focused on bears. When you're doing one drawing a day, you learn quite a bit about your subject, which is what led me to choose crows for my theme this October. I realized while doing the illustrations for "The Evening Day and Grey" just how little I know of crow anatomy and poses. I'm looking for good reference books if you have any suggestions.

A book is born!

After two years of hard work, "The Crown of Secrets," a collection of short stories and poems written by Jeremiah Christie (with two stories illustrated by me!) is here at last. A gorgeous full-color, hardcover book with dust jacket, sparkly red end-papers and a ribbon book mark. Hand-signed, of course, by myself and the author! Here's the first chance to see it in person.

Please join us if you're able this Thursday, August 18th, at the Daily Planet in Burlington. From 6:30 to 10pm, Jeremiah and I will be on hand with a big stack of books and the original artwork for my two stories as well.

More copies will be coming to the U.S. once Jeremiah returns to China, so if we sell out this week, don't fret! You can reserve your copy by showing up at the release party or by emailing Jeremiah or myself.

So, that's THIS THURSDAY starting at 6:30 pm, The Daily Planet, 15 Center St. Burlington, VT 05401 (for directions: 802.862.9647)

See you there!
Kristin

Rabbits of many colors

Many thanks to Brian C.,
 who recently gave this bright little Harlequin Rabbit painting a home!

Harlequin Rabbit, acrylic on wood, 8x10" ©2016 Sweet Enemy Art

Now in my Etsy shop: more Ghost Rabbit prints!

Gentle Ghost Rabbit Drifting Past the Moon (11x14 print)
and Rabbit with Fantastic Whiskers (8x10 print)

A little Open Studio Weekend preview...

Want to do the tour? Click here for maps & directions. 

May 28 & 29, 2016 

There's quite a bit of blue in the studio these days, but it's not the blues of sadness, it's the blue of dreams. The more I read about rabbits in mythology, the more excited I'm getting about what I find that connects with this series. (One discovery is the blog Myth & Moor. Here's an excellent post which you might enjoy... I wish I could own every single piece of art that she shared there.)
I'm having a blast painting many different pieces all at once, as usual. My Inktober drawing project from last year is also getting framed, along with some other fun projects.
Can't wait to share them with visitors. You can also follow me on Instagram to see what I'm up to. 

 

Lots of bears AND foxes AND rabbits about the studio these days

details from Harlequin Rabbit (left) and Napping Fox (right)

Nice choice of accent color for the maps this year...and look! I have an ad.

A whole bunch of 8x10" panel paintings, with a little 6x6" up top

Speaking of blues... a little bird series in blue

I just realized I still have a number of these little bird drawings hanging out in the studio. So I'm putting them up on Etsy for just $25 each. There are so many little pieces that I create each year, and I simply don't have the space for them all!

Just four from the series. 

Brown your blues away

Is that a thing? I'm making it a thing. Gearing up to teach another class about one of my favorite art mediums: Walnut Drawing Ink. This morning class is happening on Thursday January 28th at Artists' Mediums in Williston, VT. Click here for details. Or call the shop at 800 255 1290

Here are a few images I painted just a few days ago, when the new year was all fresh.

Bellowing stag with some funky patterns on his coat. #sepia #deer #stag #fauna #paintingsinprogress #walnutdrawingink

A photo posted by Kristin Richland (@sweetenemyart) on Jan 3, 2016 at 2:46pm PST

#walnutink fauna today. #paintingsinprogress

A photo posted by Kristin Richland (@sweetenemyart) on Jan 3, 2016 at 2:04pm PST

I have since taken a break from painting to clear out a bunch of unnecessary clutter from the studio. Many bags of old supplies are headed to other studios and classrooms, and a mountain of cardboard went to be recycled today!
There's a pencil drawing that has been waiting to happen (we'll see if it translates from my head to the page) and then I'm also hoping to try some really BIG pieces using the Walnut Drawing Ink. Big being 18 x 24" rather than 5 x 5" of course. Let's hope this is a productive weekend. Happy New Year to you!

Two shows this month ~ November 2015

Right in the heart of Jericho VT, the Jericho Artisan Market is a sweet and intimate event.
I love that it's back at the Community Center, and all vendors are local to the area.
ADVENT CALENDARS WILL DEBUT IN PERSON HERE!

My second year doing this awesome show! Come see over 80 vendors (all women-owned businesses!)

Early sketches from my 2015 Advent Calendar

Taking these in-progress shots with my phone

On the left is what I had last week. Below is a little sneak-peek of what I started with this morning.
Between getting the design nailed down, correcting the perspective and tweaking the drawing style of the reindeer to match the rabbits, this has been a loooooong slow process. Spent most of the day designing the border and background, and then painting it all in. Whew! Last week I got all of the inside images drawn and colored.

Next up: scanning it all and making it work with Photoshop, Then printing, cutting all the doors (24x3 per calendar!), carefully gluing together and packing them up. And posting them on Etsy! That's how we do it, kids. 

 

Phew! Can't believe I made it this far in one day!

ART HOP SPECIALS

Happy Friday, friends!

I'm wrapping up a few things before I head to my sweet little studio at S.P.A.C.E. in Burlington. Site 41-C in the Soda Plant building and we'll be there Friday, Saturday and even Sunday. Check here for more art listings. It's the biggest art party in the state. Join us!

Society6 Free shipping good thru 9/13/15!

So before I go, here's item number 1: 
Society6 just offered a free shipping promotion for most of my items, it's good through Sunday September 13th at midnight. Click the link to get the promotion!
https://society6.com/kristinrichland?promo=VG3GX4X7MQYG   

Cards and prints!

Secondly, I'm offering 20% off in my ETSYshop to celebrate Art Hop and all of you who support me in this endeavor. Use the code ARTHOP202015 when you make a purchase in my Etsy shop. Lots of cards and prints available right now, and I'll add more listings in the next week or so. Wondering if a painting is available as a print? Contact me and I might be able to make a special listing just for you.
(ARTHOP202015 coupon: min. purchase $25, expires September 30th 2015.)

Hanging the show...many, many ghost rabbits

Thank you so much for all the orders and support, my cat Bernie (almost as talkative as our favorite Senator) is grateful whenever I spend time in the (home) studio. Here I am setting up the studio in Burlington. Bernie is putting up with a short absence if it means I'll be back later to paint!

Bernie and friends.

Art Hop 2015

Polanshek of the Hills (left) and Sweet Enemy Art (right) Art Hop 2014

Wow...look at that, another year has zipped by and it's time for the Art Hop once again!
Jess and myself are teaming up for our third year in our usual spot, right in the heart of Burlington's Arts district.

A roving photographer took this shot right over our shoulders last year, during one of the quieter moments. Expect our walls to be just as full this year, both of us have new things to show. I'm working on several larger pieces, some of which are continuing the Ghost Rabbits series! You'll also get to see original art from the two stories I've been illustrating (an interesting stretch for me.)

If you visited me during Open Studio, you may have seen my (lovely) new printer. It's helping me get stocked up for the Art Hop crowd so I'll have lots of great price points. Many new designs will make an appearance, ranging in size from 5x7 to 11x14 inches.
There will be other fun things, but you'll just have to wait and see!

Three of the "smaller" Ghost Rabbit
painting series I'm currently working on

ART HOP -- SEPTEMBER 2015

WHEN:
September 11 (5:00-10:00)

September 12 (10:00-10:00)

September 13 (10:00-3:00)

WHERE:

The S.P.A.C.E. Gallery (Soda Plant Building)

266 Pine St, Suite 105, Burlington, VT 05401

Entrance is located on the corner of Kilburne and Pine (look for the Spaceman mural by the door.)

Here's how the Poppies looked in May.
There have been some changes since!

Sweet Enemy Art is here and there, or: Here are some new venues

There are now THREE VT venues where you'll find my work. All three are women-run, awesome places. Alright, I work for the last one but still, it's a valid comment.

The Miller's Thumb
Greensboro, VT

I just took my first trek up to Greensboro today, and oh what a gorgeous area it is. Definitely worth a drive, especially for those who might want to do some brewery touring (Hill Farm Stead and Lost Nation just to name a few.)
My stepbrother Tyson McGinty has some of his reclaimed barn wood creations there, and Polanshek of the Hills is also well-represented.  Many thanks to Tyson for getting me introduced at this venue!

Birdfolk Collective
Winooski, VT

Nicole Carey has opened this sweet little gift & clothing shop right in the heart of downtown Winooski. I think shopping is best in person (she has amazing soaps & such), but she is building a great web store too. I can't wait to check it out again soon, since I went before the grand opening.

Artists' Mediums
Williston, VT

Hand-picked fine art supplies and custom picture framing since 1987. I've been here since 2000, imagine that.
Come see me with your picture framing needs! And FYI: if you've bought something of mine in a frame that just isn't working for you, I'm promise not to be offended if you want to change it!

Art in the house today: Spring Open Studio tour

A beautiful start to the weekend with sunshine & chickens in the yard, even if it was brutally CHILLY for those of us wearing summer things. Jess Polanshek (Polanshek of the Hills) and I had a nice number of visitors today and are looking forward to even more Sunday. And Rick will be here Sunday to hawk his own art! If you ask nice, he'll brew you some of his super-strong coffee.
Before I go further, a HUGE thank you to Rick for all the help cleaning and especially all the mental support. This guy has to constantly remind me that things will always work out, etc. It's a full time job whenever deadlines loom.

Also, big thanks to the folks over at PopColor in Williston who printed my greeting cards on a tight deadline; my good friend and fellow artist Gwendolyn Evans who gave me a wonderful Reiki session in the midst of my hectic preparations; and of course to Jess for taking part in all of this despite being allergic to my cat. Whoops...

Jess took this great shot of my newest eggs

A piece I haven't worked on in years is back on the easel
and brand new cards are in the rack

From my imaginary waterscape series

My photo doesn't do justice to how good Jess' set up is

Here's her painting nook by the window

And two little paintings she did as part of
our mutual art challenge back in March

Rick's coloring books!

I managed to get a few of Rick's pieces on the display panel too.
Sunday he actually gets to take part in all of this.

Do you like books?

I am illustrating two stories!  This is all happening thanks to Jeremiah Christie, a writer who approached me several years ago to do some brainstorming. Here we are now with the results. Jeremiah has come up with a dozen stories and poems and in collaboration with myself and seven other artists, we are trying to make an actual book come of it.  
Please check out this video:

We are getting down to the wire. One generous donor has just pledged enough to earn themselves a guided tour of Shijiazhuang, which brings us to 19% of our funding goal! But we only have until May 2nd (2015) to fund the rest of it.  ALL OR NOTHING. If enough of you out there are interested, this book could become a reality. If you've been saying I should illustrate a children's book, well, this is my chance. Please make a pledge!
Read more about some of the other people behind this project here at Jeremiah's website.  He wrote a really flattering post about me and my art, too!  You can find that right here.

A Show of Hands! Fundraiser project

Here's a step-by-step of a project I recently completed for "A Show of Hands" fundraiser to help feed Vermont seniors. If the rabbits you see here look at all familiar, perhaps you saw them in this earlier post!

I've been using that same Acryla Gouache paint again recently for a small series on wood panels, so when this wooden hand project came up, it made sense to keep on going with the same medium.  My completed hand has been delivered to Penny Cluse Cafe in Burlington, VT where it will be on display through the month of March.  They're having a silent auction on Thursday April 2nd (2015) from 5:30 to 7:30.  The funds support their amazing program which helps feed Vermont seniors throughout the state. There are wonderful images from previous auctions on the website, I hope you get to attend and see this all in person!

Here is how my piece progressed:

It all started with these faces...

Testing a wash of blue on the surface.  Didn't raise the woodgrain, so I can proceed.

Roughing in the background.

Trying not to lose sight of my lines!

Rabbits taking form.

I like how the warm color of the wood comes through here.

Getting the details figured out.

Maybe it's a little too blue...needs some warmth. 

Just about there...tweaking colors

There is an actual rabbit constellation! I was happy to find that out.

I like making sure each part is looking good.

A few light layers of Golden's Satin MSA varnish later and its done!

Well, I hope everyone reading this considers checking out the auction and making a bid.  The starting bid on mine is $50.  Contact info for the organizers can be found on their site:  http://handsvt.org/a-show-of-hands

Thanks for looking!