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bucktown arts fest recap
It sure was a hot one in Chicago this weekend! Thanks to everyone who came by the Bucktown Arts Fest and to all of you that made a purchase at my booth.
For the first time I made a plan for the booth set up – in the past we would have an idea of how it should be and how long it would take but then it wouldn’t go as planned and we would end up rushing. At Wells Street I had new sides so it took longer to figure out how to hang the paintings and we had to hurry and then some of them were crooked. My friends said it looked fine but I didn’t agree and I went early the second day to fix them. It took a little more time to come up with a plan but it was well worth the effort and we had plenty of time to get settled before the fest began.
It was great to see the Love You So paintings go so quickly on Saturday – I had to make more for Sunday. The other item that was a big hit was Adventure Begins. I am also happy to report that two of my favorite paintings Home and Happy Hour sold. Now it’s time to prep and paint for the next fair – Lakeview East Festival of the Arts is in three weeks!
I hope you enjoyed the fest just as much as we did. There were some long, hot, hard working days, but it really was worth it. Thanks again to everyone who stopped by and for all the kind words about my art!
I’ve got a lot to do now. I’ve been busy this week getting organized and running errands before we head to the lake for the long weekend!
The photo above is a peek behind the scenes on Sunday morning. Marc was prepping canvases for me so I could paint more Love You So paintings. He’s the best!
photo credit kate zitzer
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If you live near Chicago, come down to Senior Citizens Memorial Park (2300 N Oakley/2300 W Lyndale) for the Bucktown Arts Fest this weekend. I’ll be there Saturday and Sunday, from 11-7 each day, at booth 24 selling all sorts of original artwork, a limited number of high quality prints plus a few one of a kind paintings!
I’m really excited about this one! Celebrating its 28th year, the Bucktown Arts Fest has grown to become a neighborhood tradition and one of Chicago’s premier arts festivals showcasing close to 200 participating artists, plus countless musicians, dancers, poets and performers.
We’ve been busy with show prep which means lots of painting, printing and packaging over here. The rest of the week I will be taking stock/organizing my artwork and Marc will be working on my booth setup.
Here’s a full list of all the artists who will be setting up shop at the fest this weekend. I’m looking forward to seeing illustrations by Laura George, Emmy Star Brown’s window art, Tracey Capone’s photography, Brittany Cortina’s artwork, Susan Littman’s photography, Kristen Neveu’s abstract paintings and Paper Parasol’s letterpress goods. Come pay us a visit if you can!
photo credit kate zitzer
let’s eat and drink | chicago
We’ve been soaking up summer in the city these past few weeks – riding bikes, shopping and trying new restaurants. It’s been really fun and it makes me feel like a tourist in my own town. So here’s a few notable Chicago spots – some new to us and some old favorites –
Antique Taco – this place is happening! I went with one of my girlfriends a few weeks ago for lunch and this place fills up quick. It has rustic decor, mismatched tables and chairs and a pretty hip vibe. There’s a lot of unique flavors so you won’t be disappointed with the taco selection and order the guac and chips to share.
The Bongo Room – people really rave about this place! We rode our bikes here two weeks ago. I got the croissant sandwich with melted muenster, crisp bacon and an over easy egg and house potatoes. If you have a sweet tooth, I recommend the white chocolate and caramel pretzel pancakes. There will probably be a long line but it’s well worth the wait.
Xoco – a Rick Bayless restaurant with delicious Mexican food and quick service. We got the Baja chicken tortas – garlic chicken, homemade chipotle mayo, radish slaw and black beans on top of warm crusty bread. We also had some of the best guacamole I’ve ever tasted!
Yolk – it’s a great place for brunch and they have a few locations in the city. I always order the bacon quesadilla wrap – smoked bacon, scrambled eggs and green onions rolled in white flatbread with cheddar and jack cheeses served with salsa, sour cream and red diced potatoes. I’ve also had my eye on the banana blue crunch cakes with granola and fresh blueberries topped with bananas and drizzled with honey.
Black Bull – a tapas bar and a great place to go with friends. There’s a little outdoor patio too and they sure don’t slack on presentation – the food is served on wood boards. There are dozens of options but we loved the croquetas and grilled prawns and the sangria!
Farmhouse – it’s a relatively new spot in our neighborhood. It has a great natural interior design and these pretty cool sunflower mobiles hanging over the bar. The food blew our minds. Marc had the half roasted amish chicken with fresh apricots, roasted onions and sweet pepper sauce and I had the fish and chips and as an appetizer we had the warm pretzel with spicy brown sugar mustard. Next time I am going to have to try the maple brined pork chop with collard greens and ham glaze.
Let me know if you try out any of these spots and fill me in on any of your favorite Chicago restaurants!
photo credit kate zitzer
a fourth celebration
…a few snaps from our July 4th holiday weekend. We ended up spending most of it with family outdoors under the hot summer sun, taking dips in the cool lake water and exploring the city. These summer days have been treating us just right.
The studio is in full swing. I’ve been busy packing up and sending out orders and building up inventory for upcoming shows. I hope to have new things to show you very soon.
photo credit kate zitzer
wells street art festival recap
A big THANK YOU to everyone who visited my booth at the Wells Street Art Festival. The fest was a huge success and seeing all your enthusiasm and appreciation for my art meant the world to me!
I did over 45 transactions on Saturday. I Love My City 11×14 paper prints sold out and over half of my paintings were purchased. By the end of the day I was absolutely exhausted but I was thrilled with the positive response my art received and how many people took a piece of it home with them. The next day was a bit calmer, but I was still overwhelmed with the turnout and all the friends and family who stopped by to support me.
From the beginning, Marc has always been the biggest supporter of my art. His help, positive attitude and hard work during the fest did not go unnoticed. I am so grateful for him! I’m also so thankful for my friends Frank and Cassi, my cousins Chris and Michelle and my parents who all spent time helping us set up or take down my booth. These fairs are definitely a team effort!
During the fest, I felt really tied to my booth. And although I didn’t have a chance to network with the other artists, it’s always great meeting new people, selling my paintings and getting my name out there! Just being accepted into this festival was a success for me.
On Sunday night, we took down the booth in record time and headed straight home to bed. The next day we went to Yolk for a celebratory brunch. There were a lot of late nights leading up to the fest and long days during so it was such a relief it was over!
This week and last have been catch up weeks with emails and online orders and slowly building back up my inventory of paintings for the next fair – August 24th and 25th I’m participating in the Bucktown Arts Fest in Chicago. Bucktown is an excellent arts fair that has been going on for years. I attended this fest last year and it’s a great showcase of all the local Chicago artists. So mark it on your calendars! Then three weeks after the Bucktown Arts Fest I’m heading over to Lakeview for the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts. That’s on September 14th and 15th on Chicago’s north side. Check out their website for more information! I’ve participated in this fair for the past two years and it is awesome!
