Tis the Season...for Shopping Local!

Where has the time gone?! If you're like me and running behind on preparing for the holidays, I have some tips on where to shop for those extra special gifts *hint hint*. :)

This holiday season my artwork is featured for sale at several wonderful Vermont small businesses.

• Block Gallery & Coffeehouse, Winooski - beautiful art magnets, tiles, coaster sets AND matted photography prints! Lots of great gift choices here for animal and nature lovers.

• Holiday Art Market @ Winooski Welcome Center - framed photography (many thanks to Leaf for the installation of my pieces!)

• Guy's Farm & Yard, Williston location - animal and garden themed magnets - these make great stocking stuffers!

• Artists' Mediums, Williston - magnets and beautiful, OOAK glass ornaments to brighten your tree elegantly

As always, if you don't live in Vermont, no prob! Purchase art online @ http://www.etsy.com/shop/NatureHeartStudio

Lastly, as someone with chronic Lyme, I want to mention that the film "Under Our Skin" was very helpful to me in many ways and I strongly encourage others to view it. Right now is a perfect time to buy it for yourself, loved ones or even your doctor as they are having a 2 for 1 Holiday Special.

Reception on Lucky Friday the 13th!

Come enjoy 23 beautiful digital photographs of nature landscapes & animals!

VSA Engage Exhibit: Vermont Artists with Disabilities

My digital photograph "Dragonfly Trio," captured at Little Otter Creek Marsh in 2007, is in a special exhibit for Vermont artists with assorted disabilities. Unaltered, "Dragonfly Trio" immortalizes a real, magical moment shared with 3 small red dragonflies as I silently asked them not to move so I could snap their photo.

 

(Copied from the VSA website)  

VSA Vermont presents Engage, a juried exhibition featuring Vermont artists with disabilities. February 26 – April 29, 2012 at the Amy E. Tarrant Gallery of the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts

Opening Reception: February 26, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Admission: Free

February: The Art of Love

Having just gotten engaged at the end of January (woo hoo!!!!!!!!! :) ), I'll be the first to admit that this romantic is even more into the lovey-dovey this February. Fitting then, when a friend passed on info to me on a local art show where the theme of the month IS Love! Perfect!

"Occupy Love" Opening Reception:

Friday, February 3, 2012  5 - 8PM (live music after 8)

Located @ Firefly Collective, 200 Main St, Burlington, VT

My featured art in Occupy Love:

1) "Spuds Declare Love" Photography depicting 2 real potatoes with their first cuts being heart shaped (gotta love spontaneous art!) For Sale

2) "Reaching for the Stars" 2010 acrylic painting of 2 bunnies in loooove under the stars. (NFS - this one is owned by my fiance :) )

This community art show runs through the entire month of February. Come and experience a myriad of facets of Love! 

Raising Lyme Awareness Through My Artwork

The holiday season is all about giving and also reflecting on what is most important in our lives. In my case, I have been on treatment for chronic Lyme for a year now. I find I don't take things for granted like I used to and although there's still a lot of things I haven't yet been able to do again I am determined to try to focus more on what I CAN do, like inspiring others through my artwork. 

Lyme disease currently doesn't have the public spotlight as much as other illnesses, such as cancer or AIDS, and so for this holiday season I have endeavored to help raise awareness of chronic Lyme.  

5% of all my November and December art sales will be donated to the all volunteer, national non-profit Lyme Disease Association (LDA). Its not going to change the world, but I hope it will contribute to more (healthy) people learning about the severity of tick-borne illness in the US. 

Shop locally in VT at: The Block Gallery & Coffeehouse (Winooski), Artists' Mediums (Williston) and Guy's Farm & Yard (Williston). Shop online at Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/NatureHeartStudio With your support, I do believe we can make a difference.

Many Thanks & Happy Holidays!

Art for a Cause

"Irises Gazing at Camel's Hump"

Until 8pm on Friday. November 4, is the Community Health Centers of Burlington's Celebrate Vermont Online Auction. CHCB provides access to medical care for thousands of Vermonters each year, including over 3,000 low income, uninsured residents. Please help support this good cause while bidding on everything from local art to fine dining.

I donated two framed photography pieces, "Irises Gazing at Camel's Hump" and award-winning "Dragonfly Trio." Bidding is online at: http://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/Browse.action?categoryId=141787498&auctionId=139642618

"Dragonfly Trio"

Your Vote is Needed!

"Antithesis" - Karen J. Lloyd

Vermont newspaper Burlington Free Press is holding a photography contest that will result in a published book of Vermont photos - "Capture My Vermont."

I have entered several of my photos taken over the past few years, including a handful from the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.

Please go and vote (and love ) my photos! I would love to be a part of this publication but I can't do it alone. Please take 5 minutes and view them now > > >  http://www.capturemyvermont.com/users/karenjlloyd

Tell your friends too...let's get the voting rolling...I might not be a famous artist yet...but how wonderful it would be to be a part of this Vermont history in photos!

thank you :)

Success at Champlain Valley Fair 2011

With my health up and down, I hemmed and hawed about entering this year's Champlain Valley Fair, but with the encouragement of friends I am glad I pushed through and mailed in my entry form. Last Saturday I got the call: my photo "Drafts & Ferris Wheel" won 2nd place in the Fair Theme category and my photo "Downtown Winooski in Snow" garnered a 3rd place in the Store Fronts category! Read more at my website


"Downtown Winooski in Snow" is a shot I took back in 2007, the day after the historic Valentine's Day Blizzard. Very few cars ventured out that morning, most businesses were closed, and the sheer amount of white piles created a special photographic moment. I lived in easy walking distance from downtown, so donning my gaiters and crampons I trudged to Main St feeling exhilarated. It was great to have this photo finally see the light of day.

Last Week of Winooski Pop-Up Gallery

Blame it on the Lyme brain, but I'm just realizing I completely forgot to keep this Blog updated with my participation in the amazing art event "Winooski Pop-up Gallery." Our Grand Opening was on June 24 with an impressive strong turn-out and several prominent members of the community represented, such as Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin and Winooski Mayor Mike O'Brien. I hope to post more about the Opening in a future Blog posting.

Sadly all good things must come to an end. Only 3 open gallery days remain for this project. Come stop by and view art by nearly 50 talented Vermonters in 5 pop-up galleries located in the vacant retail spaces along Winooski's rotary area in the downtown. Free parking is available in the parking garage.

Open Gallery:
Thursday July 28 - Saturday July 30: 12 Noon - 6 PM

My photography and art reproductions on ceramic tiles are featured in the Stoplight Gallery, located 1st up the hill from Asian Bistro, near the traffic light. The Stoplight Gallery also features these talented artists: Jessica Beaudoin, Cody Brgant, Robert Waldo Brunelle Jr, Jean Cannon, Heather Fromkin, Kate Longmaid, Jayne Shoup, and Francesca Werenko.

Framed Nature Photography, K. Lloyd

Art Reproduction on Ceramic Tiles, K. Lloyd