I Need Your Help with an Idea!

I Need Your Help with an Idea…

So I woke up at 5am thinking about painting… Not unusual for me as of late! 

I am just in the beginning stages of this painting. I saw the tree yesterday and outlined it in white, but the rest of the story has to evolve. This is how I paint, intuitively! Then I started to think how cool it would be to have a bunch of people’s input in the story!

My goal in painting is always to make the viewer feel Joy, Peace, Love,…. Basically great positive emotions! I personally love trees and birds ( no secret there!). Trees for me represent God and his love and provisions for us. Birds represent us, the viewers of the painting, God’s Children.

So here’s my idea!...

I thought how cool would it be to try to have an interactive painting in progress! I always paint my paintings so that the viewer has a huge desire to touch and feel the painting, and I encourage this! I want my paintings to be interactive! This is what brought me to this idea…. 

What if I had a bunch of people make suggestions about what brings them Love, Peace, Joy…, and then somehow incorporate the suggestions into the painting to make one big beautiful story!

So, if you want to help me out with my new challenge to myself, here’s what I need you to do:

Simply send me a message ( www.facebook.com/kim.elleryartist ) or email ( you’ll find my address on my website www.kimelleryart.com) 

and tell me what makes your heart sing? 

What would you like to see in this painting? 

I am SOOOO hoping to get a bunch of suggestions and have this painting be a community of Love and Happiness painting!

So how about it? Want to help a girl out?! PLEASE?!

Joyfully Waiting in Anticipation!

Hugs,

Kim

Eternally Loved

Eternally Loved

A Journey in Painting Dedicated to

My Grandma

Sadie “Tex” Fein

   I don’t know where to begin in this blog. It is such an emotional journey…

   My Grandma was one of my best friends and greatest influences in my life.  At 99 years of age, she was still telling dirty jokes and her brain was as active and clearer than mine on my best days!

   We spent the last twenty-five years or so having lunch and shopping at the Dollar Store or Job Lot on a weekly bases.  We had more laughs and fun….

   My Grandma was so proud of me being an artist. She would carry around a magazine where one of my paintings had made it’s way to the cover and show everyone! She would ask all about my exhibits, how many paintings sold, what I was painting now…

"Looking Back"

   Anyway... Grandma did everything on her own terms. It was time to let her old body rest, so my very large family gathered around for the last three days of her life.  I didn’t leave Epoch ( the assisted living facility) during that time. Actually, many of my family members slept with me on the hard floors of Epoch just so we could be near Grandma in case she called for us or needed anything.

"Conversations"

   Two days prior to my Grandma’s passing, I received an email from Gallery Z inviting me to exhibit in their small picture show. Now… Grandma knew that Gallery Z was my next  “goal” I set my sights on.  So when I received the email, I ran upstairs to her to read her the email. I could see the email gave her joy! What a gift! My Grandma would know I had obtained my next goal!

"Swooning"

   It wasn’t until after she had passed that I thought through what I would paint for the small picture show at Gallery Z. I decided to paint a new series in her honor. I would call it “Eternally Loved”.  Each painting would show the many different ways we loved each other. I would tie them all together physically with an old doily that was hers. I would use the doily as a stencil to bring texture into each painting.

"Beautiful Branch"

   Each of the paintings displayed in this blog were painted on small canvases 12x12 or smaller for the Gallery Z exhibit. I plan on continuing this series on larger canvas’ until I can no longer think of ways Grandma and I shared our love for each other. I guess it is my way of both holding on to my Grandma, and trying to have Grandma’s love live on forever at the same time.

   When I paint these paintings; it brings me great joy thinking about the person who might view them, and see their own love story in the painting. My hopes is to spread Joy and Love through this series!

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my blog and viewing some of the paintings! Please continue checking my website for new paintings I will be adding to this series!

www.kimelleryart.com

Hugs and Happiness,

Kim Ellery

MY WEEK IN RESIDENCY @ JERRY'S ARTARAMA PROVIDENCE!

MY WEEK IN RESIDENCY @

JERRY’S ARTARAMA PROVIDENCE!

I had such a great time in my week of Artist in Residency, I hardly know where to begin!

…. When Jonathan Florez,, the manager at the Jerry’s in Providence Rhode Island, first approached me with the idea of having an Artist in Residency program I really didn’t know what to think...

All I knew was that Jonathan has been doing so much for our artist community here in our little state of RI, that I thought I probably should help him out with his idea…

 So, I made a few suggestions, and informed Jonathan I would be happy to be an Artist In Residence.

http://providence.jerrysartaramastores.com/index.php

Turns out, I was the first ever ARTIST IN RESIDENCE in all of the SIXTEEN Jerry’s Artarama Retail Stores throughout our nation!                                       WOW! What an honor!!

There were so many exciting and FUN things I experienced in that one week, I thought it would be easiest to list them!

* I met a lot of really awesome people!

* I was able to experiment and learn about some new art materials!

       * I was given a wonderful space to create in, as well as exhibit my work!

* I went to work everyday and got to see my friends! ( Jerry’s staff in Providence are AWESOME people to hang with!)

* I was approached by two different people with new opportunities to exhibit my work! 

* I met some wonderful women who are working on the  DAY OF PEACE  here in Rhode Island ( which is really a month long!)  I am honored to be included in an exhibit for Peace AND...                                                                  I will also be working with them on the Peace Flag Project! 

                                                                               http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org/

http://www.thepeaceflagproject.org/

* I had the opportunity to show many artists how I create my work, what makes my passion stay exciting and FUN...

...AND I got to hear their stories as well!

* I participated in Opening Night/ Gallery Night…

*AND…. I finished one, almost two paintings!

I’m sure there are things I forgot, but you get the idea!

To wrap things up...if you receive an opportunity to either participate as an Artist In Residence, OR get an opportunity to visit and Artist In Residence at any of your local Jerry’s Artarama’s… I suggest you go! It’s mad FUN and you just might learn something or make a new friend along the way!

Happy Creating!!

Hugs,

Kim Ellery

www.kimelleryart.com

www.facebook.com/kim.elleryartist

kimellery.blogspot.com

"Finding A Home" The Story

“FINDING A HOME”

The Story

    “FINDING A HOME”

 Recently I received the most wonderful email from a woman who had seen my work in a gallery!

Hi Kim,

I was walking by 5 Main in Wickford today and I must say your painting sung to my spirit from the window, I didn't go in... Then when I got home, I was still thinking of it. I found out that you were the artist from their Facebook page 

( http://www.facebook.com/fivemain ) 

which led me to your website ( www.kimelleryart.com )...

When I found out the paintings name, I felt an even greater connection to it. I wanted you to know your work touched me....thank you. 

Jess

   As you can imagine, MY heart began to sing at the thought that one of my paintings touched someone so deeply! What a blessing! I wrote Jess back immediately thanking her for writing. I told her that the main reason I paint (besides keeping myself sane) is to spread peace, love and joy!

   The next email I received is the reason for this blog:

Hi Kim,

I just wanted to let you know that the painting found it’s a home with me... I am actually giving it as a holiday present. I was wondering if you would write a short note about the painting...  I don't know if this is something you would do but I feel very connected to the piece and would love more insight behind it, especially its name.

Let me know your thoughts and thanks again for being so responsive to my earlier emails!

Jess

   So Jess, here’s the story of “FINDING A HOME”

 You’ve probably noticed by now that I pretty much paint Trees and Birds. Sure there are the other occasional things that inspire me… But Trees and Birds are what bring me peace and joy.

   As a child, when life got tumultuous, I would run into the woods. There was a special place in the woods for me. It was a clearing… and in that clearing a tree had fallen down, making a perfect “couch” for me to sit on. It was there that I came to know God. I spent hours on my “couch” looking up at the trees talking to God. … It wouldn’t be until my early 40’s that I would come to realize something very special.

   I was away at a retreat. I began to feel overwhelmed, and decided to go for a walk. I crossed the field and found myself heading into the woods. Wouldn’t you know, I found a clearing where a tree had fallen down… I took a seat. Looking up at such a familiar site, I realized something that would change my life. Looking up at those trees represented to me the face of God! I was completely humbled and overcome with joy. I realized that no matter where I was, in life or on this planet, God was always there with me, never changing, consistently there and always loving me!

   It would take me years before I had the courage to paint a tree.

                                             “LOOKING UP”

   After painting “Looking Up”, I haven’t stopped painting trees. Trees for me represent home… safety, love, nurturing, protection, a place to find peace.

   So now you understand why I paint trees! SOOOO…. Where do the birds come in?!

                                 “FREE BIRD”

   For whatever reason, I have always loved and admired birds. Their freedom to float about and be singing at all times! The way they nurture and care for their young! The simplicity of love and life!

                                           “HUNGRY”

   When I started painting, I painted nothing but birds! My Grandmother (who is one of my best friends) would say “What’s with the birds?” LOL!  I just couldn’t help myself! I connected to their pure beauty, I longed for it! I began to think of birds as people as I painted them. Some of the birds were selfportraits, but most were just my way of telling a story!

                                                     “CHAINED TO THE WORLD”

So, now you understand the depth of the trees and the birds!

So what’s the story behind “FINDING A HOME”?

This canvas started at a class I took up in Boston. I went to the class because some friends invited me. The class really wasn’t my cup of tea, but my theory is that the more I can learn from other artists, the better my art will be! At any rate, this painting on this canvas was atrocious! I don’t throw anything out, so I threw some newspaper on the wet paint so I wouldn’t get paint in the car. I planned to take the paper off as soon as I got home, but of course I forgot… I forgot about this canvas for months! When I finally found it, I tried to peel the paper off. There were some places the paper was NOT going to come off! Being an experimental/ mixed media painter… I thought… FUN! What can I make this into! So, I gazed upon it for a while and began to see the tree! It would be a tree of people! The newspaper photo was a crowd of people that looked just like the trunk of a tree! So I began to do some negative painting and this is the painting that came to life! The group of birds are looking for a safe home where they can all live and do life together. They would recognize this tree as being just like them! Seeing this, they knew this was where God intended them to call home! …….AND… THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER! J

So Jess… there’s your story! Hope it wasn’t too long for you!

Hugs and Happiness!

Kim

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