Author: Kelly

New catagory in the Store.

March 1, 2017

Magnificent EgoAfter the last post, where I mentioned I would be revealing a picture of the ram that I painted last weekend, I realized that I did not have a category for subjects that were not landscapes, for example.
So I launched a new category in the store that covers animals and flowers and still life and some of those other things that I will be painting that don’t fit in the other pages. The first painting housed there is, of course, the ram shown here. Enjoy.

Great weekend of painting and sharing.

February 27, 2017
My display from this last weekend at the Echoes of the Past Trade Fair at Oshkosh.
My display from this last weekend at the Echoes of the Past Trade Fair at Oshkosh.

I had a great time painting and talking about art this weekend. It is always gratifying to hear what people have to say about my work – it’s uplifting and informative.
There were 6 paintings at the show this weekend that were painted in the last two months and in the newer style. Having them all in the show made it especially useful to get reactions. 
Even more helpful was the ongoing feedback as I worked on a painting on site. The ram in the foreground was the painting that I did on Saturday and it turned out to be a perfect demonstration and conversation piece. You can find a larger image of the completed work in the new gallery, Flora, fauna and extras.

It's almost time for my next public showing.

February 17, 2017

It is almost time for the second public event on my calendar this year and I wanted to let you know, as promised. It is called the Echoes of the Past Trade Show. As you recall, my scheduled events tend to be mostly Historical Trade Fairs (indoors) in this first quarter of the year. 

My space at Oshkosh Trade Fair in 2016
My space at Oshkosh Trade Fair in 2016

This next event is one week from now in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. If you are free and in the area, I encourage you to come see another fine aggregate of artisans and craftsmen sharing their fine wares and sharing historical knowledge. 
I will have my art on display and plan to have all of the new works that I have been showcasing here on my website mingled with the pieces you might be more familiar with. 

Event Name: Echoes of the Past Trade Show
Dates: Feb. 25 & 26, 2017
Hours: Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-3
Place: Sunnyview Expo Center, 500 E County Road Y, Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901
The event is open to the public, admission $5.00 for adults, children under 10 free.
Food available on site.

Come out and join us for for some February fun. I will be delighted to see you!

Capturing Winter's cold colors

February 12, 2017
Trying to capture the sun on morning frost.
Trying to capture the sun on morning frost.

Sometimes I find myself afraid of trying a radically different color pallet for fear of failure. When I realize I am avoiding something because I am afraid, I make myself face that fear.

Sometimes the resulting paintings work out and sometimes they don’t. This one was fun to do although it posed the challenge of using intensely raw blue and white as a reverse to catch the look of late morning frost. The look shouts cold.

I used the browns as the only warmth and the essential contrasting color for line. All in all, I think it was a successful learning experience and with that, a good painting. 

Back to work.

Off to a great start.

February 4, 2017

The show in Saint Charles was a huge success and I saw so many people that it felt like it was a well established event already. I am happy for the folks who launched this new show. I know how hard this is to do.

New 16" x 20" called St. Croix sunset.
New 16″ x 20″ called St. Croix sunset.

My new works were well received and I painted quite a bit, although there are those who say I do more talking about art than putting brush to canvas. All in all I am happy to have a venue close to home for folks who aren’t in a position to travel to see my recent work. Now I am looking forward to my next show, the Echoes of the Past Trade Show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

With that in mind, I put a new canvas up on the easel when I got home and started a painting of a sunset I enjoyed with my husband this past summer in St. Croix, Wisconsin. I loved the soft, rhythmic sound of the waves as the wind calmed, and the way the light played off of the water. This piece has been fun to paint and I am feeling more confident with my style all the time. Let me know what you think. 

 

Events on the calendar!

January 10, 2017

I am lining up events at various venues that I thought I would share with you. My scheduled events tend to be mostly Historical Trade Fairs (indoors) in this first quarter of the year.postcard The first event is in two weeks in Saint Charles, Illinois.
If you are free and in the area, I encourage you to come see a fine aggregate of artisans and craftsmen sharing both product and historical knowledge. I will have my art on display and because it is a first annual and in a new area for me, I plan to bring some older work and some newer pieces. Come out and join us for for some January fun.

New year's work – #3

January 7, 2017

quiet-mill-pondThis third painting was still on the easel when I had to go back to work so it was finished in bits after I get home each day from working in the library. The combination of building, water, and trees make for another kind of challenge.
These 3 new paintings are a forecast of what I should be able to accomplish with the new style changes. I am having fun again and I am relatively satisfied with the outcome.
Oddly, when I first began to digest the wisdom shared with me last March I felt I needed to completely revamp who I was and what I did and embrace every bit I was told. What has happened was what should always happen during the learning experience. I synthesized what was given. Some of the advice was valid for me and some was not. I incorporated some of the bits and some I rejected. I am my own person. My filter is my own. My vision is my own.
I thank the artist for taking his time to lend gentle voice for my sake and I have become better for the advice. 

New year's work – #2

January 6, 2017

[singlepic id=148 w= h= float=right]Here is the second painting. It is a completely new subject for me but I thought that as long as I was trying new things I would try some architectural subjects like boats and buildings. It also forced me to do water – always a bit of a challenge for me. Still a small canvas at 11 x 14, it was also great fun to do. Laid out quickly and loosely with all of the large brush blocking again, it made progress fast and gestural and pleasurable. Again, by the time I shifted to a smaller brush to work on the detail and edges I was having serious fun and spending barely half the time I used to spend belaboring the same size canvas.

I will post the final painting when I get done this weekend. 

New year's work – #1

January 5, 2017

[singlepic id=149 w= h= float=right]As I said yesterday, I created several new works that reflect the next phase of my development and will roll them out here over several days. 
The first one, shown here, is a small, 11 x 14 landscape that was great fun to do. It was laid out quickly and loosely with all of the large brush blocking of my plein aire studies over the summer. That made its progress fast and gestural, and quite fun. By the time I shifted to a smaller brush to work on the detail and edges I was ready for the pleasure that painting detail brings me. There-in lies my meditative concentration that I was missing when I tried to stay true to the fully plein aire impressionistic style. Yes, it still looks like I have spent a crazy amount of time on the piece but, in fact, I have cut my time substantially.  So sufficiently that I am able to complete more work, more quickly.
I think I am finding that balance of the good marriage.