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Holiday Art on Display in Jacksonport

Stop in at the Jacksonport Craft Cottage for holiday gifts hand crafted by local artists. Special features this month include pieces by Ken and Pat Klitzman.

Pat began carving years go after receiving a “beginners set” of carving tolls, a block of wood and a book from husband, Ken, for Christmas. She immediately fell in love with the medium. Pat has taken a few carving classes but is primarily self taught. She specializes in old world Santa Clauses and some non-traditional figures in an assortment of sizes which demonstrate the diversity and detail in the subjects that she can carve. Basswood and cypress are her favorite carving woods for creating these unique collector pieces.

The basswood is grown and milled locally in Door County. Knives, chisels and gouges are her tools of choice for this wood. Pat carves beautiful Santas from these wood pieces with the bark still intact. The creatures will highlight any space year round and are unique in size, shape and hand painted highlights.

The cypress knee comes from the swamps of the deep south and are the root tips that aerate the cypress trees. The roots must be boiled to remove the bark prior to carving. Carving is done using power tools as the traditional hand tools are no match for this tough wood. Pat has created many traditional old world Santa’s from cypress knees.

Each of Pat’s carved piece are then finished with a blend of linseed oil and oil paint, followed by a clear protective sealer. The piece is then hand rubbed to bring out the beauty of the wood.

A beautiful selection of pen and ink on tile, wood and stone, in addition to sand art by Ken Klitzman is also on display for patrons this holiday season.

The Jacksonport Craft Cottage, located on Highway 57 in downtown Jacksonport, is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am – 5 pm for your winter shopping or call 920.823.2288 for requested hours.