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From unexpected fantastic weather to lots of beautiful artwork, days enjoying the people, culture, food, history, and it’s gorgeous land...my recent painting trip to Scotland was filled with treasured memories as well as so much learned. So many new connections and things to inspire new work.

Preorder framed print of “welcome children to the garden” for the next week

Do you love learning? Colorado-based artist Crystal Despain sure does, in fact she's all about continued education, getting uncomfortable to reach new heights in her profession, practice and technique. Hear what she's learned, what she recommends to all creative people and hear about her biggest supporters. It's a beautiful peek into a beautiful artist. Enjoy!

Connect with Crystal: 

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reflections on 9-11 and my desire to teach my children to love our neighbors, enjoy and celebrate diversity, to love all and ultimately, making room for everyone. even in the small rural town of midway, utah, we have our challenges...seeing eachother with open eyes and hearts. can we learn from our mistakes and make our hometowns -- wherever they may be...a better place for all? can we use these experiences to become our best selves? sending love to all!

the painting is called "splendor in the grass" named after the song sung by pink martini (who are my favorite singers sharing world culture and diversity through song). the painting is 30x36" oil on wood and a view from down our street...up top of memorial hill (where you can see a bird's eye view of our sweet valley). the circles in the fields are a tradition but won't be there much longer, i'll be painting to record this place and memory of the shapes in the fields.

music at the end by the band war: "why can't we be friends?!"

Come join us on Midway Town Square Friday August 30th and Saturday August 31st from 8 am to 8 pm!

You'll find me in the same spot as last year B47 (just North of the pavillion)...I'll be wearing a dirndl and one of my artful skirts...oh & braids...can't forget the swiss braids! 

I'll have candy colored originals huge to tiny, clothing, purses, scarves, tablecloths, cloth napkins and tea towells (brand new!), prints, notecards, and huge hugs for all!

Looking forward to it! Much love to all!

FAQ:

1. Where to park? - Park at one of the lots and take the shuttle into the square.

2. When to come? - To avoid the majority of the crowds, heat, and strollers lol, come late afternoon or early evening.

3. What to expect? - All sorts of local handmade good and crafts. It's the biggest etsy-like fair in Utah. Local music & entertainment all weekend long (Swiss Miss Royalty performances too). Food! Oh the food! Come prepared for the biggest scones ever, swiss bratzeli cookies, sauerkraut & brats, ice cream & pie, all kinds of baked goods, etc. There is a funhouse area for the kids, and on Saturday morning: a 10K run and parade on Main Street.

4. Participate!? - If you're local, our familiy's favorite thing about Swiss Days is volunteering in the food booths (and our teens/tweens also get to help with garbage duty this year...sounds dirty but it's the coveted volunteer job in their mind!). If you and/or your kids are interested, look for the volunteer tent by the Northeast corner of the Townhall and come join in the fun! 

Every 3 years, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints invites artists to submit artwork for a competition. It's a beautiful show and it was a treat to go with my parents, brother, and our lil' family to visit the exhibit and see my painting that was juried into the show. "Welcome Children to the Garden" is 30x30" oil on wood, and has a beautiful custom frame created by craftsman and artist Dave Brown (Springville & Orem...let me know if you'd like his number). The exhibit is open and free to the public until October 7th.

After his father Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life, Nephi felt a great desire to better understand the symbolism for himself. The angel showed Nephi the Virgin Mother Mary, “the mother of the Son of God”, and his understanding of the Tree of Life and it’s representation became clear. Throughout time, his musings & yearnings have inspired many to search and receive personal revelation.

As I ponder the culmination of the Garden of Eden...before Adam and Eve were placed there to learn, grow, and tend to it’s creations...I wonder what may have occurred in that sacred space. Before each of our sacred temples are dedicated, Open Houses welcome all to visit within. There they receive a glimpse into our Heavenly Parents’ plan for us, our potential, and the great love they have for each of their children. Cultural Celebrations are organized over months of planning, testimonies are planted & cultivated, and a night of festivities & worship culminates the event.  

Similarly, I imagine the possibility of the animals joining our Parents in welcoming each of their children to the Garden. I can see our Mother with Her arms outstretched like the many golden branches of the tree. There, might we have partaken and witnessed the great love of God: our parents & our Savior Jesus Christ, as we celebrated, sang hosannas, made covenants, and wished our earthly parents, Adam and Eve, all of our confidence, gratitude, and love. What a joyous and epic beginning to this great early journey we may have enjoyed.

each summer our lil' mountain town of midway, utah hosts a plein air event. it draws over 100 local utah artists (and neighboring states) to paint all over our valley for 2 weeks. 

painting en plein air or in the open air, has its own challenges: the wind, the sun & light changing rapidly, the bugs...oh the bugs! i love shadows...i have to commit quickly, or i get distracted & confused. honestly, all the shadows & colors changing with the light are so fun to paint! sometimes the wind gets super strong and your painting goes right with it! mostly though, the seeds and pieces of nature that tend to fly into the paint at the most inoportune times lol. this year we even had some sleet/hail/snow the first day...so you have to be prepared. you'll find me positioning my car so i can hide from the wind and sun. sunstroke can hit too quickly as i was reminded last month lol.

it's fun to live so close and be able to run home and take breaks, but i do need to make sure i have enough energy to jump back into family life as soon as i return. 

so many of the same artists return year after year and that is also so fun. i make new artist friends each year & discover new favorite paintings. it is a huge event with 2 weeks of painting & 7 ways to participate. 

a big shoutout to the midway art association team. they are simply a dream team with president jerry, his secretary norma, larry, cindy, bill, and so many more delightful supporters of the arts. special thanks to everyone who helped make this year and years past such a sucess! click on any of the photos to see more details and the framing for each piece.

hoping your 4th was fantastic. i'm excited to get back to the normal workings in the studio lol. text or email me if you'd like to come for a studio visit and see these in person. xo, katrina (435.709.2780 || k@katrinaberg.com)

episode #22, the 22nd of may: our 15th anniversary...details of how we met and a peek into our journey with secondary infertility: the darkness, how we survived, and later learned to thrive while experiencing hard things...together.

marriage/relationships/partnership, it's never easy. it entails so much hard work and sacrifice. soo much unselfishness, trust, and a great deal of listening...we're still figuring it out, lol!

a couple years ago, one of my favorite collectors and designers, amy ashworth of perfect paisley design, suggested we do an art show in her home. amy has quite the eye for design and is always finding divine solutions for her clients and ways to bring original art into their homes. 

what a fun day! we are doing a repeat of that wonderful event this next thursday, may 2nd at 10:30 in amy's spanish fork home. come meet amy, get plenty of flawless advice and ideas for your home, and enjoy with all of us! to rsvp for this event and receive the address, email me k@katrinaberg.com