Natures Walk Studio

We're set up for the opening of the Holiday Festival of the Arts tomorrow, and I'm pooped. The show runs from November 14th through December 24th.
It's interesting how the set up works one way  at home in the "trial run" and another when actually setting up on location. :)

Here's a shot of the booth, which will morph after the show next weekend when more goodies will be moved over. Unless of course, I sell out next weekend. Ha!
And since I've been so busy getting ready for the two shows, I haven't done any regular artwork. Well, I guess I've worked on some ornaments, but it's too dark to get a photo now. I'll try to remember to do it tomorrow for posterity.

Happy Friday!

The Holiday Festival of the Arts opens this coming Friday, November 14th and runs through December 24th!
We set up on Wednesday... and I'm nearly ready, but it's interesting the little things you realize aren't quite ready as you do the final set up run through. :)

If you're in the area, do stop by! You'll find a variety of art, both original and prints, greeting cards and ornaments in our booth and many lovely local artisans work to browse.

Happy Monday!

I've been quiet on the blog front. It's been a busy week of doing too many things at once. One month away from the Holiday shows!

We've been working on the set up for the vintage booth at Home for the Holidays, and pricing and putting in boxes in an "orderly fashion" so set up is easier, we hope. This is the first time we've done a vintage booth, and it will be great fun!
Tweaking the booth for Holiday Festival of the Arts, although that set up will be easy. It's always easier when you've done it before... have you noticed?

 This cool church is by another friend, Vonnie, who took second place. Yay for their creativity!

I'm still working on some ornaments, and pins and tiny canvases. My final Holiday show of the season (thank goodness) is this Friday in Fairhaven, from 4:30 - 9:00. So I'm getting a few more goodies ready.

Finally, I wanted to show you my recent painting on display at the Allied Arts Gallery. The open house last Friday was wonderful and I made a couple of new friends while I was there. All the art in this exhibit is under 6 x 6 inches, and in a variety of mediums. Glass work, sculpture, photography, ceramics, mosaics, and paintings.... I worked a shift in the gallery Saturday, so had the opportunity to get a closer look at all the wonderful art.

Low Tide and Autumn Mountain III by Helen Campbell

What's in my studio this week? A messy work area! Oh my! I got started tidying this weekend, but started a few more projects so the mess continues. Ah well!

The Holiday Festival of the Arts booth did get set up, although I'll be rearranging slightly tomorrow. This post shows the initial set up.

I couldn't bring myself to take a picture of the messy work area, so what I'll show you today is the sort of tidy table where I'm finishing up some more matting of prints for the Holiday Festival. I'm also participating in a Handmade Holiday Market with other local Etsy sellers on Dec 13th, so making sure I have enough to tempt buyers.
You can see my trusty ATG gun. I just changed the tape, and need to put a backup refill on my shopping list. Also have some framed ACEO prints showing.

And lest you think I'm not getting any art done, I started these wood watercolor gesso abstract paintings. I'm at the stage where I'm trying to figure out what will appear in the random patterns the watercolor and gesso mix created. These wood pieces were leftover bits from other projects.

4 1/4 x 3 3/4 wood abstract WIP

8 1/2 x 5 1/2 wood abstract WIP

Have a wonderful week!

A quick hi to all the WOYWW folks! I'll be by to see what you're doing late tomorrow or Thursday... I'm still mid-set up of the Holiday Festival booth and busy busy for the next several hours!

This stuff is all priced and ready to go to the Holiday Festival. The booth is all set up, and tomorrow morning I'll go fill it with my wares. If I'd been more organized, I'd have finished pricing before today so I could be done now... but I was not and did not, so that's what I'm doing right now.

Boxes of ornaments and cards

Framed art for the walls

Prints in the process of being framed

On a side note, this little fella hit the kitchen window rather hard a few days ago. Once I figured out what had made the noise, I was quite concerned. He just lay on his side for a long time and I was afraid he was not going to make it. After awhile he sat himself up and sat here for about an hour. When I went to check on him he startled when I opened the door and flew into a tree in the back yard. Sat there for another hour before he finally flew away. I hope he made it okay.
He's a Northern Pigmy owl, by the way. Only about 6 inches long. Cute as could be.

Northern Pigmy Owl

Wishing you all a Happy Halloween, All Hallows Eve, Samhain! Whichever you observe. 

And here I am on Halloween with the December Holidays on my brain!

I've been busy finishing up things for the Holiday Festival of the Arts, and don't have photos of paintings in progress.  However I am able to share a couple of the not-quite-finished canvas ornaments awaiting their hanging bits...

2x2 Canvas Map Bird Ornament

3x3 Canvas Hope Heart Ornament

3x3 Canvas Peace Star Ornament

From my archives... an Artist Trading Card watercolor painting I created of a Mama Duck and her baby. I came across it while cleaning up and storing digital files and it made me smile. An aside... I really really really wanna take a water color class. Perhaps in the spring.

Still working like a crazy thing on filling my booth at the Allied Arts Holiday Festival of the Arts. We start set up in less than a month... EEK! :)

I don't seem to get as much done early on as I wish. I've done a lot of planning and getting materials and getting started, but getting to the finalizing of all the "inventory" so it's ready to price is another thing. I have so many things nearly finished....
Add into that keeping my two Etsy shops stocked for the holidays, and sheesh! Anyone have advice on setting a yearly work schedule for the holiday season, and how to stick to it? LOL!

On another note, I'm gathering with out of town artist friends for the weekend starting Friday afternoon, and am SO EXCITED! They always inspire me and get my creative juices flowing.

Hope your weekend goes well!

©2012 Helen Campbell

3 1/2 x 2 1/2 Canvas - Old Time Santa Beeswax collage

3 x 3 Canvas - Red Breast beeswax collage

Mixed media swallow ornaments

We found these louvered doors in a free pile last summer, the same day I saw the idea on Pinterest. My husband painted them, and made the shelf and I really like how it turned out.