Ray Mar Art Competition

"Peonies From Mary's Garden"

20x16 oil on linen

I'm excited to announce my painting "Peonies From Mary's Garden" was selected as a finalist by juror Susan Lyon in Ray Mar's Art competition for December!

Happy New Year and Happy Painting!

I've been a bit quiet lately, taking some off for the holidays and be home with my kids. As an artist, I always take this time of year to read and RE read my art books, organize my studio and work on 'art goals' for the year ahead. Kids went back to school after break last week and I was overly eager to get back to painting! I started and almost finished an interesting still life that I'll be sharing in the next week. . . .

December I was scheduled to teach a one day color temperature workshop at Crossings (an excellent and ambitious art center in Southern MN) however, we had the blizzard of the century and the entire state was shut down! The First day in years I did not leave my house for an entire day and a half, AND my 10 year old was snowed in at his friends!! :):) There was just nothin' I could do about it! ;) So, yesterday was the makeup day for that workshop! I had a blast meeting and teaching new and old friends, an excellent group of hard working painters! It was really an inspiring well charged day!

Here are some pictures I took with my iphone of the workshop, they're busy mixing color temps!

I've just posted 2 new workshops on my web site if you're interested check it out!

www.kamipolzin.com

I'm back in the painting saddle again and it feels great!

Happy New Year to you and Happy Painting!

Just Before The Opening 'night' . . . .

Last night was the opening of our 2nd annual holiday show in Marine on The St Croix, my home town where I grew up. Now, do understand that Marine on The St Croix's 'downtown' area is a total of 2 blocks long. . . Marine is a charming little Valley village nestled along the bluffs of the St Croix River (MN, in case you are not aware) Just 10 miles north of Stillwater, where I now live with my 2 children and have my studio and school. The reason I share this is because there was something really sentimental for me to have a large body of my work here so close to home, it's been a while since I've seen all my work in one place like this and most of the pieces for this show have been painted along this this Valley. With all the shows we painters do that require us to ship our paintings out (many shows of which we don't even physically attend because of the inconvenience of distance) this was a real treat. You know that night after an opening and you can't sleep because your buzzing from adrenalin, well, it's 9:30 am and I'm clutching my coffee . . . :) from lack of zzzz's last night but reflecting the evening with gratitude and grateful I am spending my life as a painter.

The show continues this weekend through Sunday noon till 5:00 daily. Hope to see you there!

Fresh From the Easel

"Current Of The 'Croix"

20x30 oil on linen

I just finished this painting in my studio and will be going to my show Dec. 4th in Marine on The St Croix, home. If you've followed my work, you've probably noticed I have a profound love for this river I've grown up near and am constantly curious to paint and try to understand. As I paint the river, I become more and more amazed at it's energy and power - yet peaceful and calming manner. This particular view is from a dear friends house nestled up in the bluffs and pines, this is literally her back yard! Just incredible! I used a small study I did a year ago to work from for this piece. I've painted this view in the past but until this piece, have not yet painted in the one last Great White Pine that does in fact still stand on the WI side of the river, so it's kinda fun to see it there standing so proud above the tree tops. I often times imagine what this valley was like when the White Pines were untouched . . .I'm sure it was an incredible sight!

"Spoon Lake"

16x20 oil on canvas

A sweet little connection of lakes 15 miles from my home is where I painted this charming little pond this October. I used my field study (8x10) to paint this studio piece. It's astounding how much information you can get not only in your painting but in your head from working from life. I had forgotten to take a photo when I was out this day so completely relied on my study to paint this piece. I was too busy visiting my new little friends who were spending the day catching supper for their families. :) 3 young boys hung out with me for a few hours while they pulled in one fish after another. It made me happy to see them doing JUST what kids should be doing on a day like that, enjoying being a kid!

Holiday Exhibition December 2-5, 2010

"Boom Site Winter Light"

16x20 oil on panel

2nd Annual Holiday Exhibition

December 2 - 5 , 2010

Opening Reception: Thursday December 2, 5:00pm - 9:00pm

Location: Marine On The St Croix MN

101 Judd St Marine on St Croix MN 55047

Please join us for a show of paintings by

Kami Polzin and Tom Maakestad

Crimson Dahlias

"Crimson Dahlias"

14x11 oil on linen panel

This painting is a demo I did for my 2 day color temp workshop a couple of weeks ago. I'm just finally getting around to posting it! The dahlias painted here are from my yard since we've had a very warm fall, plants are lasting longer than usual, a treat for us here in Minnesota!

I used quite a bit of palette knife work in the beginning of this painting and ended up using the brush by the end breaking in subtle temperature notes.

Summer Memories. . .from the studio

This week in the studio.

I teach 2 studio classes every Monday. The paintings below are pieces I did as demos for my classes Monday. The top piece I did from an image I took with my son Nick this summer when we were taking a ride on the 4 wheeler, he insisted that "you should paint this Mom". He was right, I should, so I did! Fond memories of moments like this and painting them keeps them very alive. The bottom piece is a piece similar to one I did at the Door County plein Air invitational this summer. The piece I did in the field sold, I always wanted to explore this painting a little further so I used the memory and did it again. A pretty special moment painting in the rain! I'm thinking of doing that one on a large scale. . . we'll see! :)

"A Late Summer Moment"

11x14 oil on linen

"Standing In Queen Anne's Lace"

11x14 oil on linen