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July/Aug $3.95

The Brainerd Lakes Area

Entertaining at the Lake

Golf Tips with Frank Thomas

Unique Shops

Cover Story

Gull Lake TreasureKurilla Real Estate

1 www.distinctivepropertiesmn.com

Above: Black Walnut flooring

Left: Enjoy a white sandy beach

Below: The gorgeous home overlooksLoon Lake.

Right: A stylish yet practical kitchen

www.distinctivepropertiesmn.com ##

From the exterior to interior, you can’t help but

notice the quality craftsmanship and attention to detail this

home boasts. In is infused with custom handcrafted cabi-

netry, wainscot, millwork, railings and more. The natural

wood products, color scheme and stone features blend the

home nicely with it surroundings and its views of the lake

through the towering pines.

What could be more comforting than having your morning

coffee on the deck, digging your toes into the cool white

sand of the beach, wine on the dock while watching a sunset

or how about warming up around the fire pit with family and

friends.

Imagine the convenience of having a main floor laundry

room as well as a lower level laundry for beach towels, down

stairs linens or for guest to use. Thirsty swimmers or hungry

coach potatoes only have to go as far as the lower level kitchen

to satisfy their needs.

All in all, this home designed and built for what life at the

lake is all about.

Family, friends, fun and freedom.

$1,550,000

Craftmanship, Comfort& Convenience

www.distinctiveproperties.com 1

Bruce Larson/Rob BirkelandMary Nolan/Mike O'ConnellLarson Group Real Estate

Phone: 888.692.6920Web: www.LarsonGroupRealEstate.com

www.distinctivepropertiesmn.com 21 www.distinctivepropertiesmn.com

aged me to enter juried art shows and I

was fortunate to have my work not only

accepted but awarded ribbons as well.

That initial success was a great encour-

agement to continue painting and my

passion deepened.

DPMN: How did you move then from

painting as a hobby to a full time career?

LINDA: I began to paint almost every

day and really became quite prolific –

paintings were piling up everywhere! It

also became difficult to justify that level

of work and support my painting so I

began to enter art fairs and contact

local businesses and galleries to try to

sell my work. My “just for fun” hobby

evolved into a business! Soon I retired

from my job and pursued painting as a

second career.

DPMN: Does living at the lake full-timemake a difference in your art?

Artist’s Portrait : Linda Kieffer.

A wind whispers through the

vintage pines catching a patch of wild

Black-eyed Susans in its gentle dance.

Sunlight glimmers off the lake and

lights up an antique stone edged gar-

den crafted in the 1930’s. In her studio,

Linda Kieffer adjusts an easel, capturing

just the right amount of sunlight flood-

ing through the skylights, moving her

canvas inches for the perfect spot. Sun-

rays highlight dozens of oil paintings

displayed on the wall.

For Linda, painting at the lake is a gift

inspired by the forest and the long

stretch of shoreline her husband’s fam-

ily has owned since 1929. After only ‘dis-

covering’ painting in 2000, Linda soon

retired from her life-long career as a

public health nutritionist to be a full

time artist. She and her husband, Bob,

live year-round at their lake home on

Horseshoe Lake near Backus,Minnesota.

DPMN: When did you first become

interested in painting?

LINDA: Well, as a young child I always

had a love of drawing and school art

projects, but for some reason other in-

terests seemed to take priority.

Throughout my school career I never

pursued art beyond the standard

required classes, althoughmy interest in

sketching and viewing art always re-

mained keen. A degree, career in clinical

and public health nutrition, as well as

marriage and raising two energetic boys

left little time for even a dalliance in art.

DPMN: What prompted you to redis-

cover art in your life?

LINDA: It wasn’t until the kids were

older and more independent that I

began to seriously consider taking

classes at the local community art center

– the Edina Art Center. It was time to

do something just for me! So, I signed

up for a series of drawing classes in the

Atelier style of classical realism in 1998

and soon knew I was hooked! I could

totally lose myself in my drawing, all

other cares and concerns just melted

away in those three-hour sessions.

DPMN: So you actually didn’t begin to

paint until just recently?

LINDA: Yes, not until 2000. Other

students in the drawing class were more

advanced and had already moved on to

oil painting, but the thought of working

with color, not to mention a paint

brush, scared me to death! Fortunately,

I had a very nurturing instructor and I

was gently pushed into the realm of a

brush and palette. I found it even more

exhilarating than charcoal drawing!

Color and the wonderful malleability

and luminescence of oil paint opened

up a whole new realm.

DPMN: That’s remarkable! Your paint-ings have such depth. One would

assume they come from someone who

has been painting for a lifetime.

LINDA: Thank you. I was surprised, too.Painting seemed so “right” and natural

that sometimes it felt like I painted in a

former life. With the sheer joy of paint-

ing, my hobby began to occupy more

and more time. My instructor encour-

LINDA: Definitely. People often ask me

where I get my inspiration to paint. Liv-

ing in the Northwoods, I never lack for

extraordinary subjectmatter – the dense

forests, sparkling lakes, abundant wildlife

– it nurturesmy soul and creative process.

Plus I find great joy in celebrating the

beauty around us with a two dimensional

creation that invites the viewer to journey

in and make an emotional connection.

DPMN: Do you have a favorite subject

to paint?

LINDA: I love painting all subjects, butmy favorite is probably portraiture. The

challenge of capturing the complex

essence and spirit of a person with only

paint and canvas is truly exhilarating.

DPMN: You’ve won several awards for

your paintings. Where can people go to

see or buy your work?

By Britta Reque-Dragicevic

LINDA: Yes, I’ve been fortunate to win

various awards for portraiture and

landscapes. My work is displayed at sev-

eral Minneapolis locations including

Nielsen’s Gallery and Framing Studio at

44th and France; the Brooklyn Park,

Maple Grove, and Penn Lake Libraries;

the Edina Senior Center, the Edina Art

Center and the Sherburne County

Government Center in Elk River. It’s

available for sale at Detour North in

Hackensack; the Walker Art Gallery in

Walker; the Paper BirchGallery inNisswa

and theMary Tuomi Gallery in Brainerd.

I’m in the midst of setting up a website

where people will be able to purchase

paintings online, too. And of course, I

always welcome commissioned work.

For more information please contact

at: [email protected] or on the web at

www.paintings-in-oil.com.

“Painting seemed so ‘right’ and natural that sometimesit felt like I painted in a former life.” - Linda Kieffer

Photos Left to Right:Captions go here.

Photos Left to Right:Caption goes here.

www.distinctivepropertiesmn.com 21 www.distinctivepropertiesmn.com

This Cross Lake estate will leave you speechless with its unique design and amazing

location. The four bedroom, six plus bath home combines the elegance of a contemporary

home with the simplicity and comfort of an Up North lakehome.

A large second floor guest house includes two bedrooms, kitchen, living room and bath.

You will also find plenty of room for cars and toys in the attached and detached garages, both

of which have four plus stalls.

Outside, enjoy picture perfect landscaping with granite walkways to the lake, a waterfall,

stainless steel bar and a firepit overlooking the lake. Electricity and hot water run out to the

extensive dock, which is included with the property. Call Larson Group Real Estate for a per-

sonal tour of this incredible property. $3,200,000

Modern Living

“A beach that rivals any on Cross Lake”

Above: A master bedroom fireplace

Right:Warm wood finish

Left: A spacious kitchen

Below: An evening view

www.distinctivepropertiesmn.com ##

Bruce Larson/Rob BirkelandMary Nolan/Mike O'ConnellLarson Group Real Estate

Phone: 888.692.6920Web: www.LarsonGroupRealEstate.com

KUEPERS INC., Architects & Builders | 888-829-0707 | www.kuepers.com

National Award-Winning BuilderBrainerd Lakes Area / 218-829-0707 / www.kuepers.com

MN LIC 0002599