Join Us on Facebook!

Yesterday Nature Heart Studio's Facebook page was unveiled. My hope is that this will be one more resource to connect my art with friends and art enthusiasts. Please join as a fan on Facebook & feel free to leave your comments! Your thoughts and support are invaluable to me.

If you know of someone looking for a unique and affordable gift, remind them of the local art option. :)

All the best to you & yours this holiday season,
Karen

My Booth at the Nov 6 ELDOES Bazaar

Elks Lodge Craft Bazaar Saturday Nov 6!

This Saturday, I will be an exhibitor at the Elks Lodge of Burlington's annual Craft Bazaar. Stop by to browse a wonderful array of local arts and crafts. It is a great opportunity to get in some early holiday shopping for unique VT gifts. I will have available my award-winning photography, irresistible magnets and hand-painted ornaments! Please stop by and say hello!

Date: Saturday, November 6

Time: 9am - 4pm

Location: 925 North Avenue, Burlington, VT

Decisions, decisions!

UPDATE 8/26/10:  Photography prints will begin to be on sale at the Block Gallery in September. However, my art reception month is being rescheduled. Stay tuned for upcoming date!

As often happens with summer in Vermont, the end of August always seems to materialize out of the blue. So here it is, the start of September a mere 2 weeks away, and I find myself in the midst of  major decision making. For the month of September, I will be displaying photography at the Block Gallery & Coffeehouse in Winooski, VT.

A monumental month for me, as it will be my first time having an opening art reception of my art work at a gallery. Selecting which pieces to include is somewhat daunting, but nonetheless a very exciting experience.

Ceramic Magnets Now Also Available @ Guy's Farm & Yard in Williston!

Several of my animal designs are now being sold as beautiful ceramic magnets at Guy's Farm & Yard in Williston, VT. They can be found on the right end of the counter, near other horse gift items.

Designs sold at this location include: Man O' War profile (famous racehorse), Fusaichi Pegasus racehorse), Bunny with Daffodils, Geranium Bunny, Liver Chestnut Horsehead, Cantering Unicorn, Butterfly, and Sheltie dog.

As a frequent customer of Guy's Farm & Yard for several years, mainly as an avid Breyer model horse collector, having my artwork available there holds a special meaning for me.

Ceramic Art Magnets are Here!

Now available: Original artwork by Karen J. Lloyd reproduced on beautiful ceramic magnets!

Printed on ceramic square tiles, these durable magnets display high quality images of watercolors, acrylics, and pen & ink art works. The powerful magnets are strong and very capable of being functional in additon to adding beauty to your office or home. A protective gloss completes the look. Each magnet has the artist's signature printed on the front, with "Nature Heart Studio" stamped on the back.

Designs include: Dragonfly, Butterfly, Bunny with Daffodils, Geranium Bunny, Man O' War profile (famous racehorse), Fusaichi Pegasus (racehorse),  Unicorns in pen & ink; ink, Cantering Unicorn, Liver Chestnut Horsehead and several beautiful two-tone Leaf designs.

Each stunning piece is available for only $7. Please call (802) 338-0217 to place your order or for photos. Select designs are also currently for sale at the counter at Winooski's Block Gallery & Coffeehouse.

Karen's magnets make memorable gifts for you or a friend! Start collecting today!

“Cloud Ballet” Fine Art Prints Now Available!

Karen Lloyd’s original acrylic painting “Cloud Ballet” captures the picturesque view of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains when traveling south on Route 7 towards Charlotte, Vermont. The clouds carry a sense of wonder at what is to come: the fine balance between bright blue summer skies and the potential of thunderous afternoon showers. As is so often true in New England’s Nature, the clouds’ dance is ever changing and captivating.

High quality fine art prints of “Cloud Ballet” measure 11 ½” by 16” and are mounted on archival, acid-free foamboard measuring 16” x 20.” “Cloud Ballet” prints are available for $55 plus shipping (if applicable).

To place your order or to learn more, please email natureheartstudio@gmail.com or call Karen at (802) 338-0217.

[Actual Prints do not display the Nature Heart Studio copyright watermark]

Karen J. Lloyd Photography Exhibit at Winooski Memorial Library

During the month of May, stop by the Winooski Memorial Library in downtown Winooski, VT to view a small solo exhibit of my photography.

Photography includes award-winning “Fair Parade Percherons” and “Dargonfly Trio” as well as “Lunch Buddies,” “Irises Gazing at Camel’s Hump,” “Adventures Around the Bend,” and “Birch Romance.”

Each artwork is available for $55 framed. Please email me at natureheartstudio@gmail.com if you are interested in learning more about a particular piece. Except for "Dragonfly Trio," all photography displayed at the Winooski Memorial Library exhibit is also available for sale with acid-free matting and foamboard for $25 each.

People's Choice Award

Sunday, April 25th marked the last day of Everything Equine 2010. Late in the afternoon, the votes for each artwork was tallied.  Excitingly, my photography print "Fair Parade Percherons" was honored with the highest number of votes in the category "Seriously Now." Receiving the "People's Choice Award" is gratifying as it is completely based on public votes. I truly value everyone's support on this journey towards my long-time dream.

Equally as thrilling, the weekend at Eveything Equine proved to be a monumental resource of networking. A special thanks to my new connections, which includes Sally (Designs by Dannie), Dianne Dakowicz(Equixotics and Custom Design Art) and Rick Brown ("Schoolhouse Designs" - who I will likely form a partnership with very soon to produce my artwork on magnets and tiles!). All of you shared valuable insights, suggestions, and experiences and I want you to know how much I appreciate your candor. Perhaps this weekend even marked the beginning of new friendships!

Another inspiration was meeting Eliza Lockhart, a young artist advocate for Spanish Colonial horses. Through her equine photography (Spririt Pony Photography) on bookmarks she illustrates the beautiful power of art, reminding me of Winooski’s Year of Art initiatives for positive community development through artistic expression. Much like the phrase “Knowledge is Power,” I believe that art is a powerful asset to humanity: dynamic, expressive and empowering. Art invokes the beauty of our world. My hope is that my art serves as a meaningful ambassador for the beauty of the natural world, including animals. With Vermont’s annual Green Up Day just around the bend, I urge humanity to remember the intrinsic value of each plant and creature on earth and act accordingly to preserve it. I hope Nature is ultimately awarded the “People’s Choice.”

As always, “Art” is in the “Heart,”

- Karen

Exhibiting Art at Everything Equine April 24 & 25!

This weekend marks the debut of a new exhibit at Everything Equine, an annual expo full of seminars, demonstrations, vendors and everything related to horses, held at the fairgrounds in Essex. The Everything Equine Art Extravaganza showcases horses in photography, posters and mixed media (paintings, drawings, etc).

I submitted two photography prints, "Lunch Buddies" and "Fair Parade Percherons" as well as two acrylic paintings "Thoroughbred Champion Fusaichi Pegasus" and "Stallion at the Sea."

The exhibit is open for viewing on Saturday from 8:30 - 5:00pm and Sunday from 8:30 - 4:30pm. People's Choice Awards will be given in each category based on public vote.

Everything Equine is one of the largest horse events in New England, so it is very exciting to participate in one of their exhibits. I will also be volunteering a couple hours for the art event so hope to see you there!

Thank You with a Smile

Thank you to everyone at VSAC who stopped by my booth at the employee Spring Craft Show this past Friday. Your support and feedback is incredibly helpful and I really enjoyed hearing why you liked certain art pieces.

Considering it was only a 2 hour show, I think it was quite successful, with more than a dozen magnet sales, a pre-order of my art print "Cloud Ballet," and sales of a matted photo print and a framed photo print. The latter has Japan as its final destination! A possible commission opportunity of a custom painting also surfaced, which would be an exciting new challenge.

Many thanks! I look forward to dazzling all of you with more art in the coming months.

As always, thank you, with a smile :)

- Karen

Magnet Art Sneak Peek!

Starting tomorrow, Friday April 16th, these original, hand painted magnets will be available for sale. Each one was meticulously painted by me using fine art acrylics to create miniature paintings on magnets. They are all painted freehand - no pencil drawing and certainly no stencils!

Although the craft show at VSAC is only open to employees, if anyone is interested in purchasing magnets, please contact me at (802) 338-0217 or at natureheartstudio@gmail.com. I am accepting custom magnet orders ($7 - 10 based on design).

A Name Begins a New Chapter

Welcome Friends,

Here it is - my first blog posting for my new art "business." After intense brainstorming and inner battling of words and phrases, I sought the advice of my friends on Facebook to jumpstart my confidence on a NAME. Who would have thought the decision of a company name could be so emotionally grueling? Yet it feels very permanent, much like naming a baby or a new pet. My original favorite was "Heart of Nature," but it turns out that there are already (at least) two art-related businesses in the online universe utilizing that title. Then my friend Jon Pringle, also a photography enthusiast, suggested "Nature Heart."

And so here I am, in the local coffee shop (Block Gallery) preparing for the "beginning." Creating art has been at the heart of my being since my earliest years. In the summer of 2009 I entered my first art contest - the Champlain Valley Fair's exhibition - and brought home a 3rd place for my photo "Fair Parade Percherons" and Honorable Mention for "Dragonfly Trio." This provided the needed catalyst for me to stop and say, I can try this. I will do this. A few months later, I heard that my workplace was holding a Holiday Craft Show for employees. Excitingly, several hand painted ornaments and photography prints were sold to friends and co-workers.

More and more people ask me "can you do this for me?" and I realize now that why not pursue a dream? Art is who I am, it is fundamental to my self happiness. As an outlet in a daily cubicle setting, I tend to doodle on post-its or create mini "paintings" on white boards around my department. I long to do more. Much more.

Hence, now "Nature Heart Studio" is born. I hope it will have your blessings...it is truly my infant child... :)

I hope you will follow me as I continue down the journey of artist, love and the heart of nature...

...truly..."art" is in the "heart"...
Karen Lloyd