...just finished...A few 6 inch oil on linen panel

A few 6 inch oil paintings on linen mounted on panel... along with some detail photos - click on the photo to enlarge

...we ate the cake, too...

This past Monday there was a reception in Staples for the grantees of 2010. It was a nice event, good conversation, and great cake!

If you are a resident of Minnesota and an artist likely you might be interested in knowing that the Springboard For The Arts offers career counseling services. I have re-posted the original article below and can be viewed at the Five Wings Arts Council website.

I would also like to say that after having a few articles written on my work I can affirm the saying ...'you can't believe everything that you read'... such as a very small example here... 'She knows that sales there as well as via Ugallery have been stimulated by her participation in Artprize.' My attendance at Artprize have resulted in sales both on and off Ugallery, though I can not claim for a fact that sales at the Affordable Art Fair in NY were a direct result of Artprize. A minor 'mistake', but none the less, it is still a very nice and well written article.

Mingling, Munching and Mentoring

Monday evening, June 13, 2011, the Five Wings Arts Council hosted a reception for the Grantees of 2010 exhibit currently on display in the Middle Ground Gallery. Visual and literary artists whose careers have been enhanced by a FWAC Individual Artist Grant in 2010 were invited to display three items each. As a result, the work of seven artists from the five-county region has been on display since the beginning of May and will continue through July. Those artists include: David Rickert, painting; Douglas Wolff, photography; Kayleen Horsma, painting; Candace Simar, writing; Charmaine Donovan, poetry; Kent Scheer, sculpture and digitally manipulated photography. (Visit our gallery page to see the work of these artists.)

The 6:00 p.m. reception, billed as Mingling, Munching and Mentoring was an opportunity for folks from the region to meet the artists and for the artists to get acquainted with each other. Attendees munched on fresh fruit and a one-of-a-kind art cake while viewing the work and voting for their favorite piece. Kent Scheer was chosen to receive the People’s Choice award: a commemorative plaque and a $50 stipend.

Always on the lookout for ways to optimize mentoring, FWAC invited Springboard for the Art’s new regional career counselor Mary Warner to give an overview of her work in a presentation at 7:00 p.m. followed by Kayleen Horsma who discussed her experiences at Artprize and Ugallery.

Warner, a fiber artist and writer from Little Falls, completed Springboard’s Work of Art workshop series last fall and received additional training for her position with them. She’s prepared to assist artists in setting goals, working with time management, budget planning and writing artist statements. She is also an experienced blogger and will offer online tips and tricks. To schedule an appointment

with Mary, go to the Springboard website www.springboardforthearts.org, click on the “for artists” tab, then on “consultations.” The website is being updated and though you might not see Mary’s picture, she’s available for appointments by clicking on the “Sign up for a Consultation” button. The $45 hourly fee is tax deductible. Five Wings may offer a free consultation, one per artist, in the future. Call 877-654-2166 if you’d like to be on the waiting list.

Kayleen Horsma, the FWAC Master Artist of 2011, is constantly on the lookout for ways to increase her visibility as an artist. She credits a recent uptick in the sale of her work to her exposure at Artprize and through her representation by an online art site, Ugallery.

Artprize is an open art competition with what the Grand Rapids, Michigan, organizers claim as the world’s largest top prize at $250,000. Horsma decided that her participation in Artprize 2011, the third year of this event, even without winning the top prize, could be a career altering experience. Her research showed that large scale works gained the most attention and that her choice of a venue was also important. Artists choose from among the galleries, restaurants, and other sites available for display during the three-week spring run of the show. Horsma’s 5 foot by 5 foot oil on canvas titled “The Right Stuff” was seen by an estimated 30,000 over the course of the event. She drove her piece to Grand Rapids, saving a $1000 shipping cost, stayed with a host family and spent most of the days of Artprize with her painting, meeting viewers and talking about her work. She was interviewed for both radio and television programs, gaining the valuable exposure she sought.

Horsma’s online searches also turned up Ugallery, an initiative started by students at the University of Arizona. The founders explained how that happened: “For a class project, we ventured to solve a fundamental problem in the art business - how can promising artists connect with people looking to buy reasonably priced, original artwork? Our solution was Ugallery.com, a virtual gallery that does that and more. Upon graduation in 2006, we decided to take the leap and turn Ugallery into a reality.” Learn more about these young entrepreneurs at www.ugallery.com. (You’ll even see Horsma’s work on the Ugallery website’s “about” page, in a photo of the founders taken while they attended the Affordable Art Fair in New York. Look on the right side of the photo.)

How it works: artists are invited to submit their work for consideration by Ugallery. Upon acceptance, images of the artwork are uploaded to the site. Sales are handled by Ugallery and artists who are located near a UPS store need only take the work to the store along with the shipping label provided by Ugallery. Ugallery gets a 50% cut but also works with artists to set prices that are agreeable to both the artist and Ugallery. Since Horsma doesn’t live near a shipping center, she handles her own packaging but is reimbursed by Ugallery for those expenses. She says Ugallery is a good business and responsive to phone calls.

Horsma’s representation on Ugallery led to an invitation to show her work at the Affordable Art Fair in New York. She sent 14 pieces. She knows that sales there as well as via Ugallery have been stimulated by her participation in Artprize. Her diligent work in “getting out there” is paying off. She proves that the distance from a small town (Menahga, Minnesota, population 1306) to the rest of the world isn’t as far as it used to be.

The last mentoring bit offered at the artists’ reception was about the online funding resource Kickstarter www.kickstarter.com . This pledge system for supporting creative projects is an innovative approach to gathering financial support. Project planners provide a detailed profile of their project, the cost estimate and their reward system for supporters. Pledges are made by visitors to the site. When the total is met, supporters are charged via credit cards, Kickstarter gets a 5% commission and the project is off and running. Brainerd’s Phil Holbrook of Egofest fame, has funded movie projects through Kickstarter and is happy to talk about this experience. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/PhilHolbrook/tilt-an-independent-thriller-from-brainerd-mn

These marketing ideas are only the tip of the iceberg. They reflect the 21^st century philosophy that artists and creative thinkers will be the driving force of economic recovery.

Looking Back........

" Looking Back " headed to Louisville, Kentucky, a 16 inch oil on gallery wrap canvas sold today at Ugallery.

The title, along with the move to the new studio location inspired me to contemplate. Should an artist look back? Does future success ride on looking forward?

One could say that it is good to look back, to remind yourself of where you have been, and what you have succeeded in. However, when I do just that, I am for the most part, reminded only of the frustration.

Yes, there were moments of 'I got it'... but the 'I don't got it''... is what keeps me moving forward.

It isn't about being the best. That isn't a goal that would even be an interest me, let alone the fact that there is a super amount of fabulous artists in this world to add to the ones that have since passed on.

My goal is to keep looking forward, to see what will come next. Though even in that, there could be an element of frustration directed toward the obvious. If one is to keep looking forward, and get only a moments pleasure from the work that was achieved, likely there would never be the 'aha' moment of achieving an 'end all' in which I could say that it is time to look back.

CALL FOR ARTISTS... MINNETONKA, MN AREA...

THOUGHT I WOULD PASS A CALL FOR ARTISTS ON FROM ONE OF MY FAVORITE GALLERIES...

We are super excited to have a reprise of the clean show this year. For those who were unaware, last year we honored National Recovery Awareness month with a show about recovery from 5 artists in recovery (from chemical dependency). The show had such far reaching benefits for many of our community members and we committed to growing upon our experience.

The call for artists has been out since mid April, but we are doing a more concerted networking effort through our current artist connections. Please consider submitting work for this show if you or someone you know has been affected by chemical dependency...or better yet, spread the word with artists you know.

As you can see, we have joined forces with Minnesota Recovery Connection and the Recovery Works! committee to bolster visibility and speak more directly to the recovery community, and we have only great hopes for this year's exhibition.

Thank you for your consideration, and any networking you would be willing to do.

Melissa

Your Art's Desire
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Five Wings Arts Council names first Master Artist

I am honored to have been chosen as this year's master artist. The following is an article posted on the Five Wings Arts Council website.
You can find their You Tube channel here, if you would like to see the nominee interviews.

Five Wings Arts Council names first Master Artist

The Five Wings Arts Council is pleased to announce that Kayleen Horsma has been selected as this year’s Master Artist. Horsma lives with her husband and six children in Menahga. Horsma paints in oil and watercolor. Over the last 20 years, her work has been displayed at local venues, the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center, the Hubbard County Museum, the Vertin Gallery and Artprize (both in Michigan), online at Fine Art America and Ugallery and most recently at the Affordable Art Fair in New York.

The newly inaugurated Master Artist Program, made possible with funding from the McKnight Foundation, honors artists who live in the five-county area (Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena) and have shown dedication to and skill in their artistic pursuits, given back to their communities and have defined goals for their future. The Master Artist is chosen from a list of candidates compiled by nomination. The selection is made by the board (representatives from each of the counties) and the staff of the arts council after viewing nominee profiles, work samples and video presentations. In addition to Horsma, nominees for 2011 include: Jim Daly, Royalton; Karen Knierim, Breezy Point; Jeff Kreitz, Breezy Point; Scott Lykins, Lake Shore; Laura Paycer, Nisswa; and Wayne Renn, Staples.

“I choose colors for visual impact,” Horsma says of the play of earth tones against dark values producing chiaroscuro effects on her canvases. The stylized people in her work express emotion and tell a story which is Horsma’s goal with each painting. She is a member of the Menahga Arts Guild and the Menahga Chamber of Commerce. She wants to continue to learn and grow as an artist. “She’s focused, has her own style and is an accomplished painter,” said a member of the review board.

Jim Daly attended the Columbus College of Art and Design. He paints in pastels, watercolors and oils; small portraits to large scale murals. He also carves stool seats and canoe paddles and is a frequent participant in historical reenactment rendezvous along with his wife Catie. They live on what Daly describes as “Old McDonald’s farm” near Royalton with a menagerie of farm stock and pets. His goal, after 40 years of being an artist, is still to make art his life’s work.

Karen Knierim is a designer of clothing made from organic cotton. She creates the patterns, dyes the fabric, and sews the garments, even making the clay button closures. She weaves leftover scraps into handsome rugs. Her minimal contribution to the waste stream through re-use of scraps as well as environmental responsibility in using earth-friendly dyes has earned her recognition and awards from two different Minnesota governors. In 30 years of making a livelihood through her creativity, Knierim has mentored other like-minded women and volunteered

in her community. She and husband Chuck have lived in rural Breezy Point for 36 years.

Jeff Kreitz learned the complexity of metal work as a factory welder but turned to the production of fine art nearly 20 years ago. From small sculptures to large corporate commissions, Kreitz manipulates and combines stainless steel, copper, bronze and other metals to create one of a kind pieces. “I want to keep growing and do the work as long as I can,” says Kreitz. He would also like to do more corporate commissions. Kreitz was influenced by his father’s metal work and his mother’s paintings. He works in his studio workshop near Breezy Point and is pleased that his two children show an interest in becoming artists.

Scott Lykins is undeniably the youngest of the nominees. A graduate of Brainerd High School, he earned his Master’s Degree in cello performance from Eastman School of Music this spring. He was the principal cellist of the Minnesota All-state Orchestra, The Minnesota Youth Symphony, the Classical Symphony of Chicago, the National Orchestral Institute, the National Repertory Orchestra and the Eastman Philharmonia. Lykins is also the founder of the Lakes Area Chamber Music Festival. His dream is to join a professional symphony orchestra. He will continue as a freelance performer and work as the ongoing administrator of the Music Festival.

Laura Paycer has always been fascinated with glass. Ten years ago, she discovered a new passion in working with stained glass and more recently in fusing glass to create her own material. She frequently displays her work in Brainerd area venues and shares her skills by teaching community education classes assisted by her husband Al. She has a fully stocked supply store in her garage and a studio overlooking a Nisswa area lake. She is a member of the Jacques Art Center and the Crossing Arts Alliance. She hopes to always continue to learn and experiment. She is a past recipient of Five Wings grants to produce a large scale public stained glass piece and to purchase a kiln for glass fusing.

Wayne Renn is a country musician and songwriter. His recording studio is in the lower level of the old Lincoln Model School in Staples. The building is a large scale undertaking which Renn is gradually transforming into a facility for artistic pursuits. Renn’s band travels the country though he admits the economic downturn has resulted in less traveling; not all bad since it allows more time for songwriting. Renn’s life has always revolved around music. His long term goal is to use the school building as an arts center which would incorporate songwriting, performing, recording music, televising music, as well as graphics production and community theatre.

As the FWAC Master Artist for 2011, Kayleen Horsma will receive a $5,000 cash honorarium, the Gilded Feather Award, a professional digital portfolio and recognition throughout the year. She will also be the charter member of the FWAC Master Artist Guild.

To see videos of the Master Artist nominees, go to www.youtube.com and type “Five Wings Arts Council.” To learn more about nominating an artist for the program, go to www.fwac.org. and click on “grants.”

A Fair Review

Totally frustrated. Similar to how I would feel, had I been on a much needed, have to drop 5 sizes- diet, half way there I wander into the bakery and eat 10 deep fried doughnuts with every imaginable calorie oozing out of them.

Only in this case, I am not talking about a diet that I have been on for a short amount of time..., but half of my life. Half of my life I have been working for this day. Granted, half of my life, I have also been raising 6 children, so not every waking moment, but I have thought about this day ALOT.

It has been roughly 20 years that I have been studying, first watercolor, and a few other medias in between, and then not quite 4 years ago I found a deep connection to exploring with oil.

Then the day finally came. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to send my paintings with Ugallery to the AAF 2011 spring show in NYC. I was only able to 'see' the show from photos online.

A few of my paintings were sold . I am always happy to have the opportunity to try something new... and if it goes well, then great.. but if it could be better, the shame would be in not taking the opportunity to learn and grow.

The director, Alex Farkas, and I had a review after the show to help me understand the reaction of the Manhattan crowd towards my work. One repeated comment is the source of this frustration. 'Her work reminds me of Malcolm Liepke, and/or Milt Kobayashi.'

Now, don't get me wrong. I am honored. A few years back I would have been like, YES!! Arms pumping, likely not in the coolest of fashionable ways. Both are widely studied and their work can unzip some hefty sized wallets.

It wasn't exactly news to me, I have heard it before.... 'have you studied with Milt...or Malcolm?".... no, I found Malcolm's work and instantaneously fell in love. There are many reasons why I fell so hard. Some reasons I likely didn't understand, though one thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to create as well as him. At one time I had received a grant for a mentorship with him, the timing didn't work out. I have yet to see either of their original works in person. Advantageously, I have a mentour relationship with Ray Wattenhofer, an artist whom I confidently say is a master and a dear friend of mine.

Malcolm and Milt are masters of their own kind, I am not the first to say it, nor will I be the last.

I want now only to be an artist who has mastered my own signature style. That alone, to me, would feel like a prize worthy of being mentioned in comparable conversation toward masters. An equivalent of finding the treasure chest on a great hunt. The only clues I have right now are...likely buried under a very large rock, and it's not in a doughnut bag.

ANY help is greatly appreciated.

Affordable Art Fair ...NYC...2011 and my OOBE

Tried, I really did ;) , to have an OOBE (out of body experience). I was hoping that I could just hop over to the AAF in New York, NY... right over by the Empire St. Bldng...., yah, didn't get too far with that... I get to have my preview party right here... Thanks to technology!

Thought I would share a bit of what my laptop is doing for me, and how I am making the most of it here with out packing any bags or wondering what I should wear....

I have enjoyed 'meeting' a few of the great artists that also work with Ugallery... each of them deserving and worth taking a look!

Rebecca Rousseau (North Carolina) and I chatted a bit on Facebook on the opening night, fun lady! She sold 3 paintings on the preview night!

Duane Romanell and his wife Christine Soccio (New Jersey) attended the preview night and kindly sent me some photos of the opening. That was so thoughtful of them... I was feeling so bummed about not going!

Duane left the nicest comment for me on my Ugallery blog...
"Kayleen - Just wanted to comment on how beautiful your work looks up close and in person. I stopped by the AAF show in Manhattan last night with my wife (and fellow UGallery artist) Christine Soccio to check out the booth, and so your work hanging there. Very stunning, very bright and colorful, and very well done. Completely impressed with your art. I wish you much good success with all of it."

It almost feels like I am at the fair... well, not really.... I think it would be so great if I could have my spirit travel to great museums and places I have never been! Bringing home trinkets wouldn't be so easy, but I am not so sure that one would need them if a person could visit them when we have the whim.

***click on the images to expand*****

To see more photos and get a better feel for the AAF... click here ...
To see or purchase the art work at Ugallery's booth at the AAF....click here ...

For the second season, AAF NYC also will offer Free Admission for all visitors on Thursday, May 5 from 6:00-8:00PM, making art accessible for all. In celebration of Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8, Moms accompanied by a child will be welcomed to AAF with free admission and a special Mother’s Day gift bag. As always, all children under 12 can attend the fair no admission charge during all public hours.

General Admission: May 5th – 8th, 2011
Thursday, May 5: 11:00AM-8:00 PM
6:00 – 8:00 PM Free Admission
Friday, May 6th: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday, May 7th: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday, May 8th: 11:00 AM-5:00 PM Mother’s Day: Mothers attending the fair with a child will receive free admission and a AAF Mother’s Day gift bag (while supplies last).

Tickets: General admission tickets $20
Students and Seniors: $15
Group discounts (10+): $10
Children under 12: FREE during public fair hours

Happy Mother’s Day: Sunday, May 8: Mothers attending the fair with a child will receive free admission and a AAF Mother’s Day gift bag (while supplies last).

To purchase tickets, please visit www.aafnyc.com.

The Affordable Art Fair.... NEW YORK is here!

The AAF Fair web site can be found by clicking this highlighted link......

WHEN: May 5 - 8, 2011
WHERE: 7W 34th Street (7 West 34th Street)

PRIVATE PREVIEW
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 6PM - 9PM

FREE ADMISSION
WHEN: THURSDAY, MAY 5, 6PM - 8PM

AAF in NYC is the place to discover and buy works of art from today's hottest young talent and well-known names, with all works priced from just $100 up to $10,000. AAF is for everyone, including the art savvy collector and the first time buyer.

Ugallery has 14 of my artworks at the show... you can view them by clicking this highlighted link, .....

Thanks again to all the wonderful customers and supporters :) Hope you can make it!

AAFin NY, NY and Pizza Luce, St. Paul, MN

....Well, this week is going to be a big one for me...
14 of my paintings are going to be in the Affordable Art Fair in New York, NY, or in short, the AAF.
The AAF is basically a juried art fair with about 85 galleries from around the world in attendance.
Ugallery will be bringing my work as well as several artists to the show. The pieces are on my artist page, which you can view here. I am really not sure what to expect. It could really go either way. The economy certainly doesn't favor artists, though it is generally a great form of investing for those who are looking to take the gamble and enjoy some work in the meantime.

I do have a new piece to share... a kind of 'punkish' looking oil painting on a 24 inch gallery wrap canvas... this one is not listed on Ugallery, but will be going to Pizza Luce in St. Paul MN. The paintings will be up thru the month of May. The images that I have listed with this posting are some of the paintings that will be hung. JUST A REMINDER- CLIK ON THE IMAGES TO ENLARGE

One more heading to the fair... AAF in New York...

24 inch square original oil painting on gallery wrap canvas..1 and 1/2" deep sides painted umber.... click on a picture to expand to full page....

Some more florals........

Red Poppies /greenish background...16 x 20 inches.. gallery wrap..3/4 inch deep

Purple Poppies.....12 x 16 inch gallery wrap..3/4" deep, sides painted......
tall rectangle.....12 x 6 inch gallery wrap...1 1/2" deep
remaining 2 are 12 inch square gallery wrap..1 1/2" deep .....all sides are painted ... ready to hang... no frame needed.....click on picture to expand....

Floral......

....a few florals.. still wet... the square is a 12 inch gallery wrap... the 4 rectangles are 6 by 12 inch....gallery wrap... each 1 and 1/2 inch deep..sides painted umber...... the larger (red poppies/ blue background) is a 24 inch square gallery wrap/ still in progress..
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE...

Review Messenger article..

(click the title bar to link to the Review Messenger) Menahga artist gaining recognition

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Written by MATTHEW JOHNSON

Friday, 08 April 2011 13:07

Kayleen Horsma at ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, Michigan last fall with her painting, The Right Stuff. Blossoming, self-taught Menahga artist Kayleen (Ylitalo) Horsma has a gift for capturing on canvas the expressions of ordinary folks engaged in some of life's most recognizable moments. In a fashion similar to Norman Rockwell, this wife and mother of six, without fleshing out every detail, portrays everyday postures and expressions of people with the strokes of a paint brush. Her artistic horizons have broadened considerably, due in part to her participation last fall in the second annual ArtPrize contest held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The international contest, which had 1,713 artists participating from 44 states and 21 countries, was held Wednesday, September 22, through Sunday, October 10, 2010. Kayleen was one of four Minnesota artists who participated in this one-of-a-kind contest, which was started in 2009 as a social/art experiment by Amway heir Rick DeVos. Her featured work – a 5-foot-square oil painting titled "The Right Stuff," on stretched Belgian linen – was one of 1,500 works displayed in 193 venues throughout the Grand Rapids area during the two-and-a-half-week contest. "It was a really good experience, and I would encourage anybody who is interested to check it out," said Kayleen. The only requirement for artists to participate in the contest is for them to make a connection with the owner of a Grand Rapids property who agrees to allow the artist’s work to be displayed on their property during the contest. All of the artists in the contest benefit from having their art viewed by a substantial audience; winners are judged "American Idol-style" by the voting public, which is a unique aspect of the contest. The first-place participant is awarded $250,000; second place wins $100,000; third place wins $50,000; and fourth through 10th place participants win $7,000 apiece, for a grand total of $449,000 in cash prizes. Kayleen, who had never been away from her family for that length of time before, explained her reasons for participating in 2010 before the contest took place. "I am going there for the experience, education, and to gain connections in the hope of winning a larger following for sales of my artworks," she said. She is pleased to report that those objectives have been met, and she is now reaping benefits from the experience. Her blog (khorsma.blogspot.com) has received more hits since her artwork was shown at ArtPrize, which in turn has led to more sales with Ugallery, as well as on Facebook. "It's good for the artist, but really, it's a boon for Grand Rapids ..." because of what it does for their economy. Over the course of the contest, attendees not only view lots of great art at all the different venues, they stay in the area and go to concerts and patronize local businesses, including restaurants and hotels. Kayleen's work, "The Right Stuff," was accepted and displayed by the Grand Valley Artists at Altens Place, a gallery in downtown Grand Rapids. "I did two shows out there," she said. "I met a lot of artists who I stay in touch with now. The networking has been very good." The Michigan event gained much more exposure for Horsma’s art; an estimated 32,000 people attended at her exhibit during the two-and-a-half week contest. “It was kind of scary at first," she said, but the locals helped to put her at ease. "You knew you were in a large city, but it felt like a small town." Grand Rapids has a population of over 190,000. Kayleen spent a considerable amount of time volunteering at the gallery where her art was displayed. Some viewers prefer to talk to the artist, while others prefer to view the work in silence. "It was interesting to find out what types of people were drawn to my work," she said. She has become more optimistic that her art has a future market, because a large number of viewers who expressed interest in her work are in the 20- to 40-year-old age range. Art professors and connoisseurs gave her positive reviews, too. Kayleen has also gained the experience of being interviewed by radio and TV reporters. Her featured piece at the contest, "The Right Stuff," honors the style and flair of artist Malcom Liepke. It depicts a gallery setting with two men and a woman in the foreground, with Norman Rockwell paintings on the gallery walls in the background, as well as other "browsers." The four Norman Rockwell paintings in the background of Kayleen's painting are, from left to right, "No Swimming," "Strictly A Sharpshooter," "100th Yr of Baseball" and "The Flirts." After returning from Grand Rapids, Kayleen was doing an Internet search for Artprize articles and found a blog written by writer and illustrator A.E. Kieren of New York, New York, titled "More Artprize Highlights" in which he posted a picture of her painting and commented, "I saw this and thought 'Malcolm Liepke entered ArtPrize!' But nay, this painter is just an acolyte of Liepke's. She admits it in her statement. That's okay though, since I myself have been known to be a great admirer of Mr. Liepke." She said she may consider returning to ArtPrize, this time with a goal of connecting with a larger venue in Grand Rapids, perhaps a museum. The museums had larger attendance numbers (estimated at about 80,000). Her next oil painting for the show would be about eight feet by 20 feet and she does have a composition in mind. Kayleen did not see many familiar faces at ArtPrize, but was happy to see a few. Those who visited her in Michigan during the contest included two sisters (Donelle Aho of Marquette, Michigan, and Audrey Miller from Buffalo, Minnesota); high school classmate Rachael (Siltala) Wattenhofer, a Menahga native living near Grand Rapids who is the daughter-in-law of Kayleen's Dorset art mentor Raymond Wattenhofer (www.raymondwattenhofer.com); and a couple of friends also native to the Menahga area, SaYon Komulainen who lives near Minneapolis, and Pete Odland, who lives near Grand Rapids. Kayleen visited Pete and his family at his home. She said the beautiful landscape where they live reminds her of the Smoky Hills near Wolf Lake. During the ArtPrize contest, when Kayleen was not volunteering at the gallery or visiting with friends, she enjoyed venturing out to view the works of other artists that were on display throughout Grand Rapids. Her work is currently for sale on Ugallery, which is an online art gallery that sells the work of emerging artists. Some of her pieces have been included, at various times, among Ugallery's top 50 pieces of art, which are distinguished as the most popular, eye-catching works on the site. There are now about 4,000 pieces of artwork listed on Ugallery. To view some of Kayleen's art online, visit the site at www.ugallery.com/kayleen-horsma, or to read more about her experience with Ugallery visit the local arts guild blog http://menahgaartsguild.blogspot.com/2011/02/ugallery-opportunity-for-artists-and.html. Kayleen said she has reevaluated her previous prices and dropped them in order to break into a soft art market due to the overall economy. So far, this strategy has been working in her favor. She said she hopes that prices will surpass the previous purchase tag prices, making the investment financially worthwhile. In addition to its online viewing, Ugallery hosts prestigious shows throughout the year. Kayleen recently announced that she is among 10 artists chosen (from the roughly 400 artists represented by Ugallery) to show her work at The Spring Affordable Art Fair in New York City, May 5-8. The Affordable Art Fair is similar to an art fair that we may think of, but on a much grander scale, with the exhibitors being noted galleries and not individual artists. On the web site for this event (www.aafnyc. com), it says, "AAF in NYC is a place to discover and buy works of art from today's hottest young talent and well-known names ..." Ugallery is the only "online" gallery that attends the AAF. Needless to say, Kayleen is excited about having her work chosen for display at the event. "This is a HUGE deal for me,” she said. “Galleries exhibiting at this show are from Canada, Australia, London, Spain, UK, England, Argentina, Vietnam, Netherlands, Paris, as well as many states here in the U.S." The show also exhibits on different dates around the world, including in Amsterdam, Bristol, Brussels, London, Melbourne, Milan, Paris, Singapore and Sydney. One of Kayleen's latest works on Ugallery is a piece titled, "Not on the Lips," which is a classic portrayal of a man making a move to kiss a woman on the lips, and as he does, she turns her head at that moment so the kiss lands on her cheek instead of her lips. This is but one of many examples of a Kayleen Horsma painting of an experience that many people can relate to in their own lives. She focuses in on the mood and expressing individual personalities. "I love painting people, trying to capture the different moods," Kayleen said. One customer commented after purchasing her work online, "Just received 'Chosen to Love.' While I knew I'd like the painting, I didn't expect it to take my breath away. Thank you!" When painting, Kayleen says she focuses on three main things: Mood, contrast between light and dark, and keeping it simple. "Often I don't refer to any model or picture, and with no under drawing, I just begin to paint. I like the magic of seeing what will be the end result, without knowing before hand. I think it's that simplicity of technique and the mood that's captured which people are drawn to." Recently, Kayleen was contacted by Artifacts Gallery in Cambria, California, which is near the Hearst Castle. The current plan is to test market her work at the gallery. If that goes well, the company will eventually publish her work. Their 5,000-square-foot gallery features the works of about 85 of the top artists in the country, including Bev Doolittle, Steve Hanks and Charles Wysocki. If it all works in her favor, the price of a print of her paintings could run upward of $1,200 dollars, making the present potentially an ideal time to purchase a Horsma original. She is also considering a contract with an agency which assists in commercial sales and show bookings. Kayleen's artwork was shown at a variety of places during 2010, including the Artfair at Devos Center in Grand Rapids, New York Mills Regional Cultural Center, Vertin Gallery in Calumet, Michigan, the APW Gallery in New York, New York, and Your Art's Desire in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Locally, she is one of a handful of people involved in the Menahga Arts Guild, a new organization started last summer to promote the arts in the community and to help artists connect. Kayleen was recently nominated for "The Gilded Feather Award" as a potential Master Artist, a program which recognizes outstanding regional artists who have made a significant contribution to the arts in Central Minnesota. She said she would like to thank Executive Director Mark Turner of the McKnight Foundation and Grants Coordinator Nancy Leasman of the Five Wings Arts Council for their assistance over the years, as well as a special mention of thanks to her supporters for the generous spirit and contributions that they have shown. Kayleen and her husband, Jay, live with their six children near Menahga and operate Chet's Pumping Service.

More paintings in progress.....

The top 2 paintings are 24 " square... bottom 3 are 16 " square.... each gallery wrap/ 1 and 1/2inch deep..... (sorry ..photos are a little foggy)