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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! 

why do artists need a support system?! my husband feels that artists, especially women artists need a support system more than most (if all) professions. Who are your greatest supporters? Why do you need them? How can you be a better supporter to your friends? come join us in the candy colored club (a artist biz membership) where you'll find ways to improve your art biz each month and a community of amazing lady artists to help you along your journey.

episode #4: what i give up to paint

episode #6: my studio assistants

business of art

5 easy tips for artists and creatives to up their game at shows and markets. Frequently asked questions...those i have prepared for myself, and those I hear often...also things I share with my favorite creative friends getting ready.

1. sizes and prices? - bring a variety
2. business card - make sure there is an image of your work
3. take home - send something home with your info on every painting or product
4. signage - clearly and creatively display signs with website/instagram info
5. email list - make it easy for collectors to give you their emails 

Listen below or watch the video above.  Our art biz membership: the candy colored club, enrollment closes soon, sign up here. Enjoy and send your artist questions to k@katrinaberg.com

How to commission an original piece of artwork? It's no longer as hard as you think! What fun it was to share commission stories, ideas and suggestions for your first (or next) commission experience on Studio 5 in Salt Lake City! Thank you Brooke Walker and Stephanie Bryson for helping me "pull back the curtain" on obtaining a custom original painting! (Listen to episode 28 of my candy colored studio podcast to hear what my daughter thought about her backstage experience)

So what is a commission?! Anything specifically created with you in mind? Do all artists do commissions? No, but feel free to ask your favorite artists if they are interested and learn about their process. 

Do I like doing commissions?! YES! Sometimes they get complicated of course, but it's always a valuable learning experience for me to figure out how to serve you better and make your visions become a reality! Some of my favorite painting series (bees, birds, etc.) have come from doing commmissions! 

Email me at k@katrinaberg.com or visit my commission page to start one of your own!

How to build a fairy garden? What is the best way to navigate depression? Can friends, family and your business help you through the darkest of times? Meet Cindy Eggertz, Fairy Lady, creater, owner, and author. Cindy shares the light and dark realities of life...the magic of fairyland, how it can inspire creativity, uplift your spirit and make memories to share with those you love. She also reveals her greatest helps when struggling with depression. Check out the show notes for all things mentioned in this episode and come meet Cindy the Fairy Lady at Swiss Days Labor Day weekend!

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.

what's it like to be on a tv segment? what does it look like behind the scenes? katrina's daughter discusses her experience as a first time visitor to Studio 5 in downtown slc and how it empowered her to pursue her dreams as a future creative entrepreneur.

i had the best time taking the dancer to studio 5 and seeing the experience through her eyes. when's the last time you've had a "pulling the curtain back" moment? what's something you've seen through fresh eyes?

how should i frame, mount, & wire my original painting? where do i put the wire? do museums and galleries have a standard distance and length to attach hardware & wire?

in my experience, galleries and museums i've worked with prefer 2-D artwork to be wired securely, prerably using D-rings (not sawtooth claws). for my artwork, i prefer to have the hardware and wire as close to the top of the frame or cradle as possible to avoid the top of the artwork hanging away from the wall. 

this is my first "crossover" podcast episode/youtube video! keep an eye out for future tips and FAQs asked by artists. email me your queries to k@katrinaberg.com or leave a comment below. 

for an epic journey, join my candy colored membership for artists! i know life is crazy! being a mother of 5 has taught me to make changes to my art biz, one at a time. i will teach you my process and gradually teach you all that i've learned. you'll find that small changes will produce great results! come join us! (enrollment ends in august)

subscribe to my youtube channel and/or to my candy colored podcast and never miss a quick tip or answered question. even better, get on my email list for all updates in my candy colored studio. 

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)