Kristin Kjorlaug

Category: Uncategorized

  • Kosekvelden

    Painting bigger was a goal I had for 2026; bigger brushes, bigger canvases, bigger strokes. The reason was simple, I wanted to get closer to what it felt like to be an original Rosemaling painter standing at a farmer’s wall deciding how to fill it with colorful strokes of paint. In the 1750’s itinerant painters got their food and board for a few months while they painted the gathering room of a proud agrarian family in Norway. The variation in the repeating stroke patterns gave a humanness to the whole room. I love that it wasn’t a perfect symmetry but ever so close that the eye forgave, allowing “kosekvelden” to command the room. Rosemaling was the backdrop of a warm, relaxed environment filled with friends and family.

    [Kosekvelden: warm, relaxed, and happy times spent at home, often with good food, blankets, and close friends or family]

    I will have large 6 foot wood board painted in Rosemaling at Scanfest in NJ, Sept 6th, as well as a dozen other board sizes. It was really enjoyable to be back in acrylic and I couldn’t stop painting boards. I hope you’ll come and see all the barn chunks. Yes, watercolor and ink originals will also be present with a few modern rosemaling birds as a total experiment connecting Pennsylvania Dutch Fraktur to my beloved Norwegian Rosemaling. 

    If you are looking for more info on how to get to the Scanfest, look up Scanfest, Budd Lake NJ on any of the social media platforms as well as any internet search. I believe there are discounted tickets through Sunday, Aug 23rd. 

    -Kristin

  • Why paint old folk art?

    The greats of the greats of the greats have repeated the refrain in our ears — art doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It stands on the art of those that went before us.

    I’m fascinated by The Reading-Berks Guild and resonating with the people I’ve met so far. The common thread—artists at work preserving the old ways of doing their craft and educating others so the methods can be passed on. I recommend this group and the shows they host as an invitation to learn from art and craft history. We would be wise not to forget.

    This doesn’t mean that we, as artists, don’t lean into modern iterations of our craft, but I guarantee that time was spent in its history first. I copied much Norwegian Rosemaling over the decades before ever attempting my own version and designs.

    If you come to this Holiday show, stop in and say hi. There’s a history to why I paint an old Norwegian folk art. I’d love to tell you about it.

  • My city’s Art

    This is my city! And West Park is our favorite park here. For 14 years we’ve raised our kids here, given our lives to the city’s social work, justice causes, and spiritual awareness. So it is appropriate and thrilling to have a place in this city’s art scene as well. I may be the only Scandinavian represented at the event, but this is my city! I would love it if you came to see why I keep painting this rhythmic Norwegian folk art in my urban context.

    I hear there will be music and food all day, and 100+ artists set up! Yes, it’s street parking… you’ll be ok.

  • Scandinavian Festival

    Aug. 31st my booth will get set up and I’ll put on my Norwegian costume. I invite you to come too, and enjoy my Norwegian Rosemaling in a very Scandinavian inspired setting. I’ll post pictures of the day on my social media!

  • To er Bedre [SOLD]

    ”Two is Better” in Norwegian

    5×7 inch. Watercolor & Ink

    I took one of the writhing animals from a carved Viking era wall and turned it into two intertwined sea dragons, tipping my hat to rosemaling’s origins and naming the work “To er Bedre” because it’s still true today, “two is better” as Ecclesiastes wisely encouraged in its proverb on humans.

    If the title does not say [SOLD] then this piece is still available. I am willing to do prints of [SOLD] artwork only. Contact me if interested in To er Bedre.

  • Myk Vind 3 [SOLD]

    ”Soft Wind” in Norwegian

    5.5×4 inches Watercolor

    Rosemaling is the folk art that moves like the wind, unbound, flowing as it wills. Every Rosemaling piece I paint is shifting as I create, then landing in a different place than I expect.

    If the title does not say [SOLD] then this piece is still available. I am willing to do prints of [SOLD] artwork only. Contact me if interested in Myk Vind 3.

  • Myk Vind 1 [SOLD]

    4×6 Watercolor and Ink

    Means “Soft Wind” in Norwegian.

    Rosemaling is the folk art that moves like the wind, unbound, flowing as it wills. Every Rosemaling piece I paint is shifting as I create, then landing in a different place than I expect.

    Myk Vind 1

    If the title does not say [SOLD] then this piece is still available. I am willing to do prints of [SOLD] artwork only. Contact me if interested in Myk Vind 1.