The Best Artists In Bend, Oregon

Image of a pop up art gallery I hosted at Love Bird Yoga

I bet you thought I would write down a list of my favorites and hand them off to you. Unfortunately, It's not gonna happen. Writing down a list of the "best" takes away from the process of discovery and trust in the viewer (you!).

Art is subjective, and so trying to pin down the "best artist of Bend" isn't necessarily possible. Not only are there an abundant number of wonderful creatives in this community, I want to also empower you to take the wheel and decide on who your favorite artists are. So here's what I am going to share instead: HOW TO FIND THE BEST ARTISTS IN BEND.

Are we dwelling in the brewery late at night or are you going to find us at the local ramen joint? I will spell out below where you can spot us and our works in the wild so you can discover your favorite art in this community!

1. Go to coffee shops. I frequently show my work at coffee shops & most of my favorite artists in town also do. Most cafes do month long rotations which mean every month there's a new feature! Some great spots to view art are: Fix & Repeat, The Commons, Thump Coffee, and Velvet.

2. Attend First Friday in Downtown, Bend or Redmond, Oregon. Great opportunities to meet artists, see the work and browse local. If you prefer no crowds, just go to Downtown Bend in the middle of the week and peruse local cafes and stores. There are lots of local art prints, and local art available. Check out Layor Art store downtown for a great selection!

3. Hit the local Farmers Markets. I frequently show at Northwest Crossing Farmers Market & I have seen so many of my other creative friends do the same. This is a great way to see a lot of art in one stop.

4. Bend Summer Fest & Fall Fest. These act as a community hub happening annually, and SUPER kid friendly in case you have a stroller of little munchkins towing along. They happen in Downtown Bend, with the streets closed off for booths. This is an all day event, and worth the adventure!

   
   

   

   A Close Up Image of The Painting "Boundless" By Kristine Cooper

   
   

Keep an open mind get out into the community! You never know when you'll stumble upon an artwork or artist that speaks to you, so just keep your eyes open for the wonder of discovery.

Are there places I forgot to mention that you think are worth heading to discover art? List them below in the comments, I'd love to hear about how you discovered Best Artists Of Bend, Oregon!

Cheers, Kristine Cooper

Kristine holding her new artwork "Boundless"

What my booth looks like at a farmers market or Bend Summerfest

Pregnant & Living as a Creative Entrepreneur

Art I've made while pregnant

I've questioned whether I should write about this because it feels incredibly vulnerable to share. Did you know I have been afraid of becoming a mom and what it would do to my career. Would people still want to support my art and creativity, or would they see it as a hobby? I realized that I have been living under a lie that I hadn't faced until this new phase. I haven't been able to do the same amount of things as I did earlier in my career having this baby, but you know what? I am healthier, happier and not burnt out. I am taking care of myself in a way that I lacked before. My self talk has shifted from "I should do this" to "let's just try and see how far we can go". I am stopping when my body is calling me to rest, and working when I have the energy, enthusiasm, and life force to create. Truly I feel like I am understanding what it means to go with the flow in a whole new way.

Work In Progress While Pregnant

In August 2023 I had hit a rock bottom place. I wasn't holding strong boundaries, and I had overworked using caffeine as a crutch to give me false energy. I had a large commission that was asked of me to be completed in an unrealistic timeline. I did it to make the client happy and in return I was burnt out. I had been giving and giving and giving without stopping for myself, and that project was the last straw. At a massage late last summer I noticed that I couldn't breathe out very well, and I knew something was wrong. I had to take a large break from painting and work. I stopped drinking coffee (something I had done for 11 years), and slowed down as much as I could. The guilt would creep in every time I rested. A nagging feeling that I wasn't enough unless I finished something. Maybe you can relate? After-all, we live in a hustle culture that rewards working yourself into exhaustion as normal.

I don't think I took a full break from business until I went on my honeymoon to Disney World in Fall 2023. That break shifted my mindset, and I came back recharged for the first time in months. Getting pregnant was a miracle. I didn't plan on this event happening, and I thought due to my crash of energy earlier in the year that it would have been nearly impossible. I have had some tremendous challenges to face while I've been pregnant, but I still feel better than I did last year.

Completed work while pregnant

So truly... what has it been like to be pregnant and running a business like this?

I am honestly so happy that I got to work from my home studio the past 9 months. I've felt that some people want to pause on getting art, or they don't want to burden me while I'm pregnant. The truth is, my art career is the soul, passion and life I CHOSE to live. I am working at a pace that is sustainable today and feels good for me. It's enriched and even better than before I was pregnant. Now I am discovering a new beautiful way to running this business that is life giving and brings me authentic joy.

Thank you for reading along this wild journey and being a part of my life!

Cheers, Kristine Cooper

Pregnant & Living as a Creative Entrepreneur

My top 5 tips for picking out art

Are you in love with the idea of adding art to your home, but completely overwhelmed on what it would feel like to add art to that blank wall? I’ve got some tips for you to make it easier:

1. How does it make you feel?

Does the work leave you with any of these feelings?

• More Alive

• Inspired

• Joy

• A memory

• At peace

• Tears

If a piece has left you with any of these feelings or more, I've got news for you! The artwork is speaking to you. When something speaks to you; it pulls you in and leaves you with more than you arrived with. You cannot go wrong with picking out an artwork if the colors, and presence of the piece speak to who you are.

Art is created from a soul place, which means that I'm not making it from the logical side of the brain. I abandon the thinking brain for a couple of hours, and just create from my truest self. Not only is it powerful to experience as the creator, I often find those same emotions strike the people who bring this art into their home.

2. Painters Tape

Use painters tape and measure to mark out where the corners of a piece may go. For instance, take painters tape to mark out 30” height x 40” width to see how it would feel in the space.

Oftentimes we go on the smaller scale because we’re nervous, BUT I’m telling you a piece that becomes a focal point can become truly so stunning! Don’t be bashful to go big when it’s the right piece.

An example of painters tape in action!

3. Mockup Images

This is a simple way to test out and see how art will look on a wall of your home.

Here are the steps:

1. Place painters tape on the dimensions of the pieces you're considering so I can make the mockups to scale

2. Snap a photo of the wall or walls you're considering

3. Let me know which paintings or prints you want to see on the wall & send your wall images to info@cooperartandabode.com

4. I will send back your images and a few recommendations if you would like!

This process is SO SIMPLE and honestly really fun to try out how things will look. Reach out if you need some help getting started, I'm happy to direct you on what I think may look best.

4. Get art that complements the space

You may be wondering, how can I get art that complements my space. I get this question a LOT, and for good reason! You don't want to invest in a beautiful piece of art only to feel like you have to redo your entire home. I have some good news for you though, art isn't meant to match everything perfectly. From a design perspective you don't want everything in the living room to feel matchy matchy. Doing that will make it feel like a staged home rather than a real home.

The key to getting a complementary piece is:

• Get a frame that matches other work in the space. This simple step really elevates and makes the piece coordinate with other work.

• Make sure at least 1 color is repeated elsewhere in the room. Say the painting you like has turquoise water, if you have couple of turquoise items in the room (a pillow or a throw blanket) it can really pull the space together.

• If you have a more neutrals palette home, the beauty of bringing in a bold statement piece of art is that this becomes the show stopper. It doesn't need to match anything and should exist as a foundational part of the home.

5. Go with your gut

3 years ago I was traveling through Flagstaff, AZ when I stumbled upon this print by an artist. It was more than I was expecting to spend, but I really LOVED the design, colors and the way it spoke to me. Do I have remorse over that print today? You bet your bottom I don't! That is one of my FAVORITE pieces in the home, and it makes me so happy every time I pass by it. We have moved it from the bedroom, bathroom, to living room. Every place I've moved it to, not only does it look good, it truly makes me feel joy and reminds me of that Arizona trip.

I know it sounds cliche to go with your gut. But when something makes you stop in your tracks or it sits in your mind for days that is because it connected with you on a visceral gut level. Trusting your gut will make your home vibe feel amazing because you're choosing things that are meaningful to YOU.

I hope these tips helped bring some insight to how I select work. Art is meant to be a fun purchase, loosen those shoulders and remember to not take it so seriously. What is meant to be your piece, will be the work that speaks to you.

Wishing you luck on your art discovery! Kristine Cooper

My top 5 tips for picking out art