About the Dragon: August 12, 2022: The dragon was delivered to my house and placed in the living room. My goodness, she doesn't look like a dragon... more like a sweet baby dragon.

September 24, 2022: I started painting a rope around her neck because Valdres style rosemaling is either hung, potted or looks like it is growing from the ground. As I'm sitting on a footstool in front of the dragon, my arm is getting tied and I thought, " Why did I sign up for this...?"

September 27, 2022: Os style on a wing

September 30, 2022: Telemark and Hallingdahl styles

October 24, 2022: more Telemark in monochromatic style

October 26, 2022: Rogaland style....has to be symmetric

November 17, 2022: Trondelag style behind one wing...love this free style of blue and red painting

November 18, 2022: Vest Agder style...lots of tear drops. We lifted the dragon and put her on a table between the two celing fans. I painted a Viking ship on one side. I also painted Rocco blue scrolls along the four base pieces. Also, on the side with the ship, I painted a troll scene. A child troll eating fish, with Grandpa Troll frying fish over a fire.

One the other side of the dragon, I painted a Stave Church. Heldalen Stav Church had been abandoned because of the Black Death in the mid-14th Century. It was founded in 1558, nearly 200 years after the Black Death, by a huntsman, who shot an arrow at a grouse but instead hit a church bell that produced a weak echo. The church was restored and has services every second Sunday throughout the year. It is also used for weddings and funerals near Valdres.

The 3 large, yellow flowers blue scrolls on her nose symbolize the Ukraine.

The Red hearts on her lips and in hear ear is "Speak no evil, Hear no evil:.

Gudbrandsdal style is used on her black fin, along with gnomes crawling up her back.

A few lupines (flowers) are very prevalent in Norway.

February 2, 2023: I finished painting her. She has so many flowers on her. I think she needs to be named "Kari" in remembrance of my sweet mother-in-law. I've enjoyed the challenge and loved sharing 9 different styles of Rosemaling.

February 22, 2023: It's cold with a few snowflakes. Kari was put on a pickup truck to go to another building. I almost cried because it was so cold, and I will miss her.

Host: Norske Nook

Location: 100 E. Holum St

About the Artist: I grew on a farm south of Hillsboro, WI. I went to a 1-room schoolhouse for 8 years, then Hillosboro High School (class of 1956). I worked in the hospital for one summer and then traveled by train to Chicago to attend Lutheran Deaconess School of Nursing for 3 years. It cost $11 for a roundtrip ticket from New Lisbon to Chicago. I traveled to Long Beach, CA and worked at Saint Mary's Nursery. I cam back to Madison and worked at Madison General Hospital (now Meriter) for several years, then Central Colony for 2 years; then Columbus Hospital - the last 13 years in the E.R. I retired at the age of 66.

I started learning Rosemaling in 1969 at the Monona Community Center with Vi Thode as my teacher. I've studied under several other teachers through Vesterheim in Decorah, IA and six teachers through three trips to Norway. My favorites are Sigmund Aarseth, Nils Ellingsgard, Turid Fatland and Bjorg Kleivi.

I have taught Rosemaling through MATC, starting in the 1980's, at Sun Prairie, DeForest, Westminister Presbyterian Church and the Monona Community Center. COVID closed down the Monona Community Center, where for the last 10 years we were just a painting group, but I gave instructions each morning from 9am to 12pm, with coffee and snacks provided by participants.

I have painted trunks, chairs, wedding and baby plates, fourteen panels between beams for a house in Door County, etc.

Rosemaling relaxed me after a shift working in the E.R. I also enjoy sharing my knowledge with others to keep this style going. Keep painting! Lorre