Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Taking A Step Back



   Have you ever taken a step back and really looked at your work?
 I recently had the opportunity to do just that. 

How?

    I was hired to coordinate the first ever Fine Arts Showcase for the RIBA Home Show. This show is HUGE! About  25,000 people streamed through the doors of the Providence Convention Center in just 4 days! I was given 76 booths to fill with artists.  The whole project took 6 months to coordinate. It was a BLAST! ... but time consumming to say the least!

( Me and My Booth at the RIBA Home Show!)


   During this time frame, my painting took a back seat…. Don’t get me wrong, I was still painting, just not on a daily basis! This is how I was able to slow down long enough to take a step back and really get to SEE my work. What a blessing! I am seeing things I like, things I don’t like, and things I want to play with and improve on.

    So I thought I would share my plan of attack and my thoughts  in my blog!  I am hoping that the people who read my blog will send comments, ideas, critiques… whatever! Just join me in the fun of helping me and my artwork grow!

   So, here's the plan!  

   Number one thing I want to work on in my paintings are the backgrounds. I find that I love creating main subjects and having certain elements play off of them, but I am lacking density in the background elements. You know, tones and values, where my light source plays in, … this sort of thing. I am not saying I plan to change the child like way I paint, I am merely saying I want to play with the full use of the canvas and the story it can be telling.

(I like the use of the canvas and its background in this painting)


( I feel like this background could have been pushed more)



   Secondly, I want to create some new ways of painting my birds. I absolutely LOVE birds and trees, and I want to take some time to explore new ways of creating and painting them. For this, I plan to take out my  Ornithology Book.
manual-of-ornithology-avian-structure-and-function-5172594.jpeg



   Lastly, I plan to play with painting with a few different mother colors. Again, this is for fun and to see where play will take me!

   It’s all about having fun… but selling a few paintings along the way will be great! Anyway… I will post on a weekly basis my progress. Hope you enjoy my postings and PLEASE make comments along the way! 

Hugs and Fun!
Kim

11 comments:

  1. Hi Kim!

    Love your post! It is always neat to see how an artist pushes themselves and continues to grow in new and exciting ways! Thanks for sharing your journey with us! Can't wait to see what you come up with! :)

    Take care,
    Jennifer

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  2. My Best to you on your newest road of discovery! I am finding when I hit a roadblock or dead-end, it is not the end as I have always thought it to be, but an opportunity to travel a new direction! (something your grandmother has prob known for a lifetime!) Some of us (speaking of me) just learn later than others! =] Enjoy the ride of your life Kim!!!

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  3. Love your new blog post Kim! So many of us are on a similar journey and it is always exciting to share our passion and our desires for the direction our artistic journeys might go with other like-hearted's :0) I love your birds and trees Kim and I love how you keep them whimsical and so full of color and your wee birds all have such amazing personalities due to how you paint their eyes! I love it! It will be exciting to watch your journey of discovery as you play your way to new and exciting places in your art! Have a fabulous time adventuring! :0) xxx

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  4. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Kim! Your work is awesome!!! It's always good to step back for a period of time, reflect, and see with fresh eyes. It's in those moments that the Spirit infuses us with amazing insight. Greater things are yet to come! :)

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  5. Ok, I love the work you are doing and I think the backgrounds being minimalist allow the subject to really shine...I will look forward to what other say and I will look forward to seeing what comes next. I did not get your message in time to attend the home show, but I still need to pick up my painting. Let's connect.

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  6. Hey Jennifer! How are things going with you??? I'll have to check your blog next to catch up and see what you are doing!!! Wish you lived close so we could paint together!
    Hugs!

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  7. Hey Robin!
    How are you? ... I am actually not on a road block... just a road of discovery! Nice place to be, LOTS OF FUN! Tell me how your art is going?!
    Hugs

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  8. Hi Christine!
    Thank you so much! Your words are so encouraging! I feel so blessed to be an artist! We have so much curiousity and wonder, don't we! I looked forward to see what and where my adventures will be taking me, and I look forward to see what you think!
    Hugs!!

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  9. Hi Sunshine!
    Love your user name! AND YES! It is good to see where the spirit takes us! You seem to know personally the journey I am on... do you have a blog as well???

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  10. Hey Kim!
    I thought maybe you had changed your mind! I would LOVE to connect with you! Tell me where and when, and I'll be there! If you'd like to come by the studio/house... you are always welcome!
    Also, THank You for your words of encouragement! I know you have seen ALOT of art, so I am very honored!
    Big Hugs!

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  11. Enjoyed your reflections. Wish you much success on you new path.

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