Festival Of Trees

This year for Festival Of Trees, Montana artists were asked to create a bird house that will be auctioned off to raise funds for Intermountain Children's Home. When creating mine, I just thought, "If I were a bird, what kind of house would I want to live in?" I think it turned out looking like a little gypsy wagon. Can't wait to see what the other artist created.

"Come stroll through the Festival of Trees, which includes decorated trees, wreaths, dolls, and an assortment of children's activities. Enjoy continuous live entertainment for people of all ages.

This extraordinary event has become a tradition of Helena's holiday season while raising much needed funding for quality children's programs at Intermountain. Be sure to mark your calendars for this spectacular event. You will not want to miss it!"

November 30th - December 4th

Helena Civic Center

406.457.4760

Helena Independent Record, Your Time Article

‘Make Believe’

Reconnect with your childhood spirit and world of play at the Holter Museum of Art and celebrate those memories through Kris Snider’s new figurative work, “Make Believe.” Snider’s portraits explore the wonderful world of creativity and make believe that thrives in the imagination of children.

The Holter holds an opening reception 5:30-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9.

“Growing up, in order to understand the world around me, I studied life by pretending and playing. I still do this even today,” says Snider about her inspiration. Her imagery was sparked from friends and family, a nostalgic childhood and her present life as a new mother. Her paintings encourage playfulness and challenge your imagination throughout life.

Snider, a Helena resident, received her B.F.A. from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif. Her artwork has been displayed locally and internationally. Her dedication to Helena and the artistic community is strong and is shown through efforts of volunteering at various organizations, such as, the Holter Museum’s 3rd Thursday committee, Turman Larison Contemporary, The Lewis & Clark Humane Society, Spirit of Service, The Gravity Guild, Pennies for Progress, The Prickly Pear Land Trust and Head Start.

“Make Believe” is being shown Aug. 30-Oct. 2. The Holter is located at 12 E. Lawrence. For more information, call 442-6400 or visit www.holtermuseum.org.

In The Studio

I've been busy in the studio lately and wanted to show you a sneak peak at my process for one of my new paintings. The new paintings will be exhibited at my upcoming solo show this September at the Holter Museum of Art in Helena, MT. I'm very excited.

Turman Larison Contemporary: The Mom Show

Please join me at the opening of The Mom Show. I will be showing new work along side 14 other women and mothers at the beautiful Turman Larison Contemporary Gallery on November 5th, 2010.

Also, I will be one of the artist at the artist talk the following afternoon.

Hope to see you there!

2010 Helena Trail Fest Poster

Just finished the Trail Fest Poster for the Great Divide Cyclery. It's a two day annual mountain bike event that samples some of Helena's best trails. Learn more at the Great Divide Cyclery website.

Thanks Steve and Eric for the fun job!

Birthday Party Invitation

Good friends of mine asked me to do a birthday party invitation for them. They are avid cyclists and wanted a fun way to illustrate that they are soon to be over the hill. Inspired by woodblock and hand lettering - this project was a lot of fun.

Holter Museum of Art's 3rd Thursday Poster

Just started working with the folks at Holter Museum of Art to create a monthly poster for the 3rd Thursday event that they host each month. It's a great event that encourages people to experience art. At each even there is live music, a featured artist, food and drink, and an opportunity to create artwork of your own.

Please join us at the next event May 20th from 5-8pm!

2010 Helena Spring Artwalk

Ice Cream, Art and Libations...need I say more.

Elephant Kisses: New Paintings on Paper

Big Dipper Ice Cream

Friday April 30th from 4-9pm

58 N. Last Chance Gulch

Helena, MT 59601

406.513.1051

See you there!

Oh Baby

We welcomed our baby girl Hazel Mae Snider on Oct. 17th 2009 at 11:33 pm. 7 lbs 6 oz and 20.5 inches long. She is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen.

At 8 days old Skye Hatten came over to the house to photograph her. These are the amazing images she captured. She is a very talented and wonderful woman.

Hazel has changed our lives. She is all consuming. Every day is a new adventure with her and we are so lucky to have her in our life.

Helenduro Race Flyer

Gravity Guild is sponsoring it's first race event, an Enduro mountain bike race on September 27th. Registration is $25 at Great Divide Cyclery from 9 -10 am on the day of the event.

This will be Helena's first and Montana's only Enduro Race.

I was lucky to be asked to help design the flyer - thanks Steve.

Baby Snider's Room

Just finished remodeling our baby's room. It was awesome creating little paintings for the baby. I painted stuff that I think is wonderful about life. The whole project took about a month and I am super happy with it. It's a great, happy space for a child (and me).

I wanted to have an exhibition before the baby came so I guess this is it. Opening reception is October 14th (the due date).

Wish us luck.

Harvest Moon Banquet & Auction

Here are the two paintings that I'm donating to the Harvest Moon Auction this year. The event supports the work of the Prickly Pear Land Trust and I'm very happy to have been asked to participate again this year.

The auction is Saturday, September 26, 2009 at the Helena Civic Center. Hope you can come support a great cause!

2009 Strutt Your Mutt T-Shirt

The nice folks at the Lewis and Clark Humane Society asked me once again to design their Strutt Your Mutt t-shirt. Strutt Your Mutt is an annual 5k run/walk event that benefits the LCHS and their animals. 

As always, it was great working with Tyler Kechely and Bev Rankin on the project. I even got a chance to watch the silk screening process with Mike Lightbody at his shop, Light's Custom Screening.  Fun stuff - I miss printmaking.

Helena Spring Art Walk

Friday Art Walk was awesome. It was a beautiful night with great art and a great turnout. 

Ceramic artist, Jess Kane exhibited her recycled boutique baby clothes with much success. Her hand made ceramic buttons and eye for color and pattern make me want to be a kid again.

For more info about Jess contact her email: jessort@gmail.com

Cleaning Out The Cobwebs

20 Minute Paintings #15 - 2009

I'm gearing up for my next set of paintings. Lots of research and fun play time composing future painting in the old sketchbook. I will be constructing wood panels to paint on in the next couple of weeks. With the new studio space, I'm thinking BIG!

Sketchbook Saturday #2

About a month ago Shannon Hughes and I started Sketchbook Saturday. It's a awesome excuse to be creative and hang out with great friends. We pick a creative topic, execute it, and show it off at the next meeting.

Today was our second Sketchbook Saturday and a tasty one at that. Shannon's topic was to create a food item or a floral arrangement with an emphasis on esthetic and taste. Crafty Shannon made a fantastic spring roll bouquet and I baked some sweet and savory, red grape and rosemary tapas. We drank mint and lemon balm ice tea under the spring sun in Shannon's back yard and for a moment, just a moment, we may have forgotten we were in Helena.

Thanks Shannon!

Birds, for the fun of it.

While remodeling our house I kept busy by drawing "Birds, for the fun of it." 

Without a studio to work in, it helped a ton to draw these little critters to keep my painting brain alive. Besides, can anyone have a bad time drawing birds?

I hope to have a slew of them at my next show.

Gabriel Kulka at the Turman Larison

Just got back from Helena's Turman Larison Contemporary and am excited about Gabriel Kulka's work. It makes me smile and I want to sit and play and imagine.

See more of his work here: http://www.gabrielkulka.com. The exhibit comes down soon so check it out or visit http://www.turmanlarison.com to find out more info.

Thanks Mary Lee and Doug for bringing such great art to Helena.