This week, I thought I would try posting a Video Blog of sorts! It's simply an introduction into my studio! I hope you enjoy it... it's my first attempt at making a video!

I will most likely be back next week with some new paintings!

Enjoy!!

ART AND FEAR

Have you ever had a mental block in your artwork? You know… you think you’re on track, but nothing is coming out of you. … You know the song “Hello It’s Me”, well... Hello, it’s me! Mentally blocked and challenged!

After working six intense months of producing the Fine Arts Showcase for the RIBA Home Show, and making all the artwork to go into my booth … I have crashed! I’m slow to realize this too! The show ended on April 3rd, that was an entire month ago!

I’m normally the kind of artist that produces about 4-6 good paintings in a month. My schedule usually allows me to paint 4-5 days a week.  However, I am constantly thinking about my artwork and where I want to take it next.

So, to have no work and little inspiring thoughts for a month is , well… depressing!

As mentioned in my previous blog, I have sketched out a few birds, and worked on some color studies in colored pencil and watercolors. This was a fun project because I could take my sketch book and small case of pencils or watercolors and work anywhere! No wonder so many people like painting with watercolors!

Then, I painted on a small panel and worked on focusing on my background. Here’s a shot of what I have so far. I must say, I have a difficult time working on small pieces. That means small brushes, and carefully calculated little strokes. It’s a pain in the “bleep” to work like this! I like to be able to play with different mediums and textures, lots of paint, and big brushes!

So, to conclude last weeks “homework” that I gave to myself…
1. It was good to restudy the anatomy of birds and give them a second look.
2. It was fun to do some color studies of birds, but I don’t believe I gained anything to put in my toolbox of knowledge here.
3. Even though the economy is bad, and people are buying mostly artwork that sells for $100 or less… I DO NOT LIKE PAINTING SMALL!
4. I need to lighten up! My number one rule in life /art is simply to “Have Fun”… or why bother!


This weeks “homework” assignment to myself:
ReRead “Art and Fear” by David Bayles and Ted Orland
Make “ME” a priority this week!
Start a series of paintings from “Hurricane Tree”

Hope you enjoyed this weeks blog! See you next week!

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.

   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

Pain and Oppression

“Pain and Oppression”

This piece is a piece of healing.

We all have inner “hauntings” if you will…

I realized that when something triggers one of my haunts , in my mind I curl up into the fetal position and feel like a six year old child again.

Does this ever happen to you?

I painted this as a way of cleansing and healing.

My hopes are that the viewer who relates to this sort of pain, can look upon this and know you are not alone. The things that cause us pain are not easy to look at; but once we face them, we can uncurl ourselves, stand straight up, and face the world with less fear and intimidation!

FAVORITE LINKS!

ME AND BOB BURRIDGE

Today, I was sharing some of my favorite links with a couple of my students and friends... and the thought hit me! I need to share them in my blog!
One of my first workshops I ever took was a Bob Burridge workshop called
Loosen Up Your painting with Loosey Juicy Acrylics ( or something to that effect!)  ... That is how my love affair with Acrylic Paints Started!
Anyhow... I love one of Bob's quotes ( and there are many!!  :)   Bob always says " There's a piece of the Pie for Everyone"  .... In other words - Share in your knowledge and discoveries! There's room for every artist!
   I originally wanted to hoard my discoveries, fearing that if I shared them then I wouldn't have the edge! HAHAHAHA!!!!! I don't have any edge other than the one God gave me! (My desire and passion to paint)
   I can share ALL my favorite materials and teachers/mentors and you know what, EVERY artist in the room will paint differently from the other! I agree with Bob! Let's share in our knowledge and our favorites! Let's feed our young and support them! .... and one more thing.... SHOOT me if I ever become one of those pretentious artists that becomes too big for my own britches!

So, here they are... my favorite links!

  NOVA PAINT:

http://www.novacolorpaint.com/

Great Paint, Great Price. I find it goes great with my Holbein paints!

Holbein Paints:

http://www.holbeinhk.com/

Love the Mat and Acryla Paints!

 WYANNE :

http://www.wyanne.com/

SUGGESTED ONLINE CLASS:

"PAINT FREE" BY WYANNE

Wyanne is an amazing teacher who is great for my busy schedule! You communicate with Wyanne via internet. She sets you up with a lesson or two, and you send her images in this funky online class! I LOVE IT! It makes it so that in between going to large events that last a couple days and I travel for, I have my Wyanne! She has really helped me to take my art to the next level! I really didn't know what to make of the whole online thing, but for $65 I thought it was worth a shot! I'm definitely hooked!!

BOB BURRIDGE

http://www.robertburridge.com/

BOB'S FREE NEWS LETTER..... A MUST!!!

http://www.robertburridge.com/newsletter/artsyfartsy_jan11/index.html

I don't paint without one of Bob's color wheels across from me!

http://www.robertburridge.com/Products/travel_color_wheel.html

Linda's work is beautiful! Definite difference from Bobs! Both are AMAZING teachers, and BOTH will be at the Holbein Event I'm going to in vermont in July (link below)!! Linda is sweet, and gentle, and soothing to the soul! I LOVE her!!! Bob, is wacky and crazy ( nothing soothing about Bob!) ... if you want to be set free and loosen up, Bob's crazy jokes, colors and fast pace is the way to go! I personally need a Bob and Linda fix when I go!

Linda Kemp:

http://www.lindakemp.com/

AN EVENT NOT TO BE MISSED! I'M GOING... ANYONE WANT TO COME????

JJJULy 26-30, 2011
Vermont Art Event - Holbein HK Trade Show (Tuesday-Saturday)
Williston, Vermont. For more information and a schedule, contact HK Holbein, (800) 682-6686.

CANVAS 

http://www.canvasblowout.com/index.html

Good canvas for a Great Price

BRUSHES:

http://www.rosemaryandco.com/index.php?osCsid=l63gsk29r443bgo40ki07vvoa1

Great Brushes for a great price!

Looking Up

“LOOKING UP”

Trees have always been an important part of my life…
I know this sounds funny, right!
However, they truly have been embedded in my heart since childhood!

As a child, I would play in the woods all the time!
We had a creek that we would trudge in with muck boots,
we’d look under rocks for salamanders …
it was our enchanted playground!

When my heart was troubled,
I would venture out into what I considered my own personal living room. 
It was a clearing where a tree had fallen down.
The tree became my “couch”. 
I would lay on it looking up through the trees to the sky.
 It was here I would come to know God.
I spoke with Him often in my living room…

It was years later, when I was away on a retreat. I found my heart troubled.
So, I ventured off by myself and found myself in a patch of woods.
A tree had fallen down, so I had a seat.
I looked up, and there was His face.
It was then that I realized the message God was sending me;
No matter where you are,
no matter where you go,
There He is… just waiting for you to open your eyes and see His face!

ON ANOTHER NOTE....
This past friday I had an Opening Exhibit at
Voila Gallery.
The night was magical!
Anyway,

I just wanted to share this picture with you...

These women are the sisters of my heart and soul...

gifts from God!

Thank you my friends for always being there

 to support me and my art! 

"She Sings in Riddles"

"She Sings in Riddles"

This painting was inspired by a song I listen to by my favorite band "Third Day".  The lyrics of the song are coming from the birds mouth.

"She sings in riddles, she sings in rhymes, saying everything and nothing, at the same time. Still there's something, that blows my mind... she sings in riddles, she sings in rhymes"

This song speaks to my soul! We all come from such diverse backgrounds. Different cultures, religions, skin color, different languages...
We can choose to look at the differences between us and allow them to divide us.
OR...
We can choose to see the beauty in one another! We sometimes don't understand one another, and sometimes don't even agree with each other. However, we were all created by the same creator, created with love and careful planning.
So, when I painted this painting... I painted it in the hopes that when the viewer looked at it, it would create a feeling of Joy, Peace, and wonder. You have to step into the painting to see what is coming from her mouth. Then, the beautiful lyrics... and then finally the journey begins for the viewer... left to wonder what the lyrics mean to you!
To listen to "She Sings in Riddles"
click here:
http://www.thirdday.com/songs/she-sings-riddles