It's the second, and unfortunately last, day of the show! I had the privilege of working the morning shift as a rover. In the process, I got to chat with a few artists and their spouses. Let me tell you, it was so wonderful to hear how well the first day went. Not only is it always great to know that Art in the Wilds is doing what we set out to do, but we especially love to know that the artists are doing well and are taken care of here in Kane.

I didn't only hear about the show. There were rave reviews about places the artists were staying in town, the food they got to eat, and the general welcoming and relaxing vibe of Kane, Pennsylvania. Everyone that contributed to that, huge double thumbs up!

Like yesterday, I had to show off my final collection of treasures of 2021. I didn't get to photograph everything since I also picked up some gifts for others but the above picture covers the majority. Everything I fell in love with right away. Dawn Johnson's ink art, which is Milky Way inspired, has a special place on the wall right above my desk where I do most of my writing.

Now I have the blue heron from Kim Keller. It was one of her favorite pieces and I almost felt bad for buying it. Almost! This beauty was love at first sight, I already had a place for it and it's now looming over my shoulder where I can gaze at it for inspiration daily. I have to thank her yet again for gracing me with this piece. It will be loved!

To everyone that snatched up the Sasquatch & Yeti prints from yesterday, there's more! Ellen Paquette had to replenish her supplies, and I certainly wasn't surprised. Everyone loves the Squatch around here!

I had a little interaction with Dan Sullivan showing off my photo of Debbie Penley's piece from yesterday and he thought it was real for a moment! That seemed like high praise right there. Speaking of, I couldn't add the necklace I bought from him because a certain someone who shall not be named is strutting about wearing it. Also high praise! That gorgeous tornado teardrop pendant barely got cold before it was put right back on again.

An extra special shameless thank you to everyone sweeping through Gregg Kristophel's Treenware tent for leaving the Orc Spoon for me to nab this morning. I can't wait to use it and happily put a couple holes in the wall to hang it in pride-of-place above my prep area in the kitchen. It's my new favorite tool!

The notebook I grabbed up from Wendy Mosbacher was numero uno on my list and I found the perfect one. Typically I make one round of the park then go back to buy but this was a one stop, no hesitation, got-to-have-treasure buy. I'm already using it and I love tracing all the various elements that stand out in the piece. It's very soothing and stimulating at the same time!

There is plenty of time to get in today before 4PM and get your own collection. Hurry in, say hello, find something to fall in love with. Watch for anyone in the Art in the Wilds shirt and lanyard if you need assistance with anything. Be sure to pop into the hospitality tent near the pavilion, as well!

Woo! Just dropping in to share my excitement and gratitude for the Art in the Wilds artists, volunteers, and the committee members that all worked tirelessly to get the show up and running. I just got back with a few new treasures (not all pictured) which I, naturally, had to show off. That cute little guy is from Debbie Penley's collection which plenty of people were openly admiring, crowding into the tent. I'll have to go back tomorrow to see if anyone bought the wall carrot!

Dan Sullivan, with his booth set up as a piece of woven art itself, was a delight to shop with. He took care of my mother's treasure like the treasure she is. Want your necklace resized, he'll take care of it on the spot and give the piece a quick clean, as well! He has some really unique designs this year that would look great on absolutely anyone.

I also got a really gorgeous ink piece from Dawn Johnson who has a few pieces from a collection she told me about. As a child she witnessed the flooding of the Kinzua Dam when it was installed. From that memory, she created several pieces in which she imagined what the view from homes would look like beneath the reservoir. If you sneak a close look at one of them, there's a cheeky fish giving you a glance amongst the vibrant colors!

I stopped by almost every tent, and intend to cover the rest tomorrow when I'll be working in the AM. Stop and say hi, collect your treasures before they're gone! Oh, and maybe you'll catch Gregg Kristophel doing his Treenware. I only caught a few seconds because his tent was BIZ-EE.

Thank you a thousand times to everyone involved in Art in the Wilds, including all the visitors that had the park packed in less than a half hour. You art lovers are the best!

Also, feel free to leave a comment here on what you loved most about the show. I'd love to hear from you all!

Al Dornisch is another master of acrylics that has paired this talent with a long ago acquired love for the outdoors. He has traveled across the globe photographing and sketching to collect subjects for his paintings. They are gloriously detailed. So much so, that you could mistake each canvas as a window to the world. You'll be tempted to reach out and touch the flora and fauna across the landscape.

Denise Drummond, sketch and watercolor artist, brings the outdoors indoors with each piece she makes. They all seem to have a story, or perhaps a song, lingering within the frame waiting to be heard. The attention and love that goes into her work makes her art all the more special. You'll be transported to a different place and time while gazing at they paintings!

2019's Best of Show 2D award winner Jack Paluh has been an oil painter for 40 years. Experience like that, particularly with oil paints, brings out the very best visuals and textures any artist strives to accomplish with seeming ease. With that deft hand, he manages to make every subject in his art look life-like. You'll want one of these masterpieces in your home; a symphony to the humblest creatures in the natural world!

Ellen Paquette's paintings are 1 part classical, 2 parts whimsy, and 100% treasure worthy. They inspire full histories for each subject, as you will plainly see this weekend. I can easily imagine quite a few prancing to Monteverdi! Painted with high detail and a fantastic eye towards 15th and 16th century style, you'll fall in love with these noble animal portraits.

Finally, we come to the self-taught painter Larry Schneider. He turned a hobby into a passion bringing his art to countless shows and festivals over the years. He takes nature as a canvas in order to showcase his natural subjects. Birds are a specialty of his and you'll find them captured in moments upon hardboard, wood cuts, rocks and the like to bring a rustic feel to such a wonderful talent. These are treasure pieces perfect for bringing character to any space in your life!

And with the final artist accounted for, we can spend these last few hours before the show opens waiting with baited breath, clothes laid out, sneakers at the ready, sunscreen, water bottle, and empty goodie bag at the ready. Imagine Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto; the tension before the show, building to a jaunty stroll through the park lit by bouts of excitement as new treasure is spotted all to end in glorious triumph when you ultimately leave with far more than you entered with, and a full heart to get you home.

We'll see you at Art in the Wilds!