Author: Katherine

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My List: 5 TV Women I Want on My Side!

Ok, it’s time for some fun. Spring has sprung and I hear a distant giggle. In spite of that, the usual small town murmuring catches my ear and I think I need a burst of strength. In considering that, some TV women came to mind, and why I’d like to have them on my side. So, here goes:

1. Megyn Kelly (Fox News morning Co-Anchor with Bill Hemmer) Why? When the news breaks she’ll give me my 15 minutes of Fame! (hee hee)
2. Mary Shannon (Mary McCormack, In Plain Sight, USA Network) Why? She’ll hide me when my 15 minutes have passed.
3. Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney, The Mentalist, ABC) Why? Because Patrick Jane (Simon
Baker) is hot, and will figure out the truth.

4. Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette, NCIS, ABC) Why? because she’ll get to the bottom of any mystery, with pigtails and a cafpow!

and

5. Zeva David (Cote de Pablo, NCIS, ABC) Because she’ll take out all the bad guys and then I’ll be

SAFE! Go ladies! (I just couldn’t resist! Gotta have some fun some time!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Ahhh…Spahhhhh

I didn’t think it would happen. Our Angel Fire Divas group has been planning for a couple of months for this event, and I didn’t even pay attention because I didn’t think I could go. A day at the spa and overnight in the lap of luxury at El Monte Sagrado, here in Taos. Here in Taos? Yes, here I sit in the gorgeously appointed room that I am sharing with my sweet friend, Natasha. (not her real name, as we have all adopted seudonyms for the day. I, am now, Olivia)

This, all due to the gift which I bear with great tenderness….to paint. Natasha wanted a new painting, and I wanted to cherish the quiet and relish a hydrating facial! All I can say is, WAHOO!

So, while the rest of the group are being pedicured, manicured, massaged and facialed, I’m in a giant overstuffed leather chair with laptop on my lap, posting! My turn will come next. I’m already relaxed, just with the anticipation!

This is an extraordinarily rare treat for me, and not one that I will likely have again very soon…but who knows. Perhaps my art will fly off the walls and my name will be heard on the lips of famous collectors. I’m given to dreaming and visions.

I could get used to this!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Beautiful Sunday Morning

Wow. I can’t believe it’s been a month since I last posted! My how time flies…regardless of whether or not you’re having fun!

Of course, there’s not really a good excuse. Part of it is a result of messing up my back/ribs again, yes again. Guess it hadn’t really healed before I forgot I wasn’t supergirl and set about to tear the hot tub apart. I was determined to find the leak(s). Well, I actually succeeded, but not without injury. Sigh. It’s been more than a week, and it still sucks the air out of me if I move wrong.

Won’t let it slow me down to much. I can’t, there’s just too much to do! I’m “off” today, so I’m going to head to the studio and paint. Wahoo! I’m working on a large watercolor on canvas, and if you get my newsletter it’s in the header of this month’s edition, even though its not quite done.

Of course, as Mr. Murphy would have it, the newsletter directs people to my site, which of course is down this morning.

Add that the fact that my house is under attack by those infuriating flickers. When I go outside to yell at them to get off my house, they mock me, laughing and come flying just past my reach.

However…

I’m determined to have a fabulous day! And I hope you will too….

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Back in the Studio

It’s been months…maybe even more than a year. It took me about two weeks to finish up the reorganization of the home studio. I still need to paint walls, but they’ll do for now. And I’ve been painting like my life depended on it. My feet hurt, my back hurts…but my soul is happy.

I had to do this because I don’t really have much room to paint at the new gallery. I do have a table, but can’t work on anything larger than about 16 x 20 because the palette and water have to be on the same table with the canvas. Here, I have room for a 48″ wide canvas, and I’m lovin’ it.

I showed you pics of the previous disaster, so here is what it looks like now, and the work I have finished in the past couple of days.

First, the new studio:
This is looking in from the door. Gone is the cumbersome (but nice) big desk left over from days when this room served as office and studio (before the gallery). This one (below) is looking to the right of the desk as you face it. Here I have an easel, and pastel station 1.
And this is looking back the other way and pastel station 2. So, there you have it….and now for the new work. Some of this is commissioned and pres-sold, some if it is not. Ready? Set? Here we go:
this is a two piece vertical diptich…One composition, two canvases. Each one is 24 high and 18 wide, Watercolor on Canvas. I thought I’d never finish this, and truth be told a few edges still need some work. Next we have two commissioned pieces:

this is 12 x 18 pastel “watered garden”. This one is 24 x 18, watercolor on canvas.

I’ve had a stack of unfinished pieces sitting around, and am now finishing them. Here’s one. It started out as a demonstration for a class…of painting watercolor on hot press paper, which is a whole different experience than painting on cold press paper..or canvas..or yupo. Typically, if I’m not working on canvas or yupo, it’s 140 lb cold press paper (Arches) Arches papers are hand pressed and made in France. I think it’s the best watercolor paper you can buy, and I’m working “traditionally” it’s Arches paper. The hot press paper tears much more easily so you have to work “fresh” without too many layers (just the opposite of the many layered approach I tend to use on canvas.) Anyway.. here it is:
I haven’t measured it, but I think it’s probably 12 x 16. And there is one more ( I told you I’d been painting like mad!) This one is watercolor on canvas, without too many layers. It is 16 x 12. It’s a traditional depth canvas so it’ll go it in a canvas frame…the edges too narrow to paint.
And there you have it, ladies and gents!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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My 20th Wedding Anniversary!

Wow. Some would call it a miracle. In this age of living fast and moving on when things get hard, it really is, I suppose. 20 years ago, on this day, I was donning the white gown, trembling all over, excited, terrified and happy. Happy still? Yes. Has it been easy? No. Would I do it all again? There’s no doubt in my mind. So, to the Big Silly, Happy Anniversary! And here’s to 20 more!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Changing Seasons and Gallery Tour

The wind is howling today…is it blowing in Spring…or bringing much needed snow? With Spring Break looming…we’re all praying for snow, though personally, I’m ready for summer. I’d just as soon skip the spring winds and warm today-cold tomorrow cycle we often get. I guess we’ll see.

In the meantime, I told you I’d post a video gallery tour….so here it is. It’s in two parts because YouTube has a limit of 10 minutes per video…and it came in at 12, so I had to split it into two. So, if you haven’t seen the new space…or haven’t seen it in a while, take a peek now.

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Getting Ready for 4th Friday

Well, it’s here. After a 4 month hiatus, Fourth Fridays at Angel Fire ArtSpace are returning! Bigger and better, as Carol Rupp of the Rupp Gallery partners with me for a great evening! I’m taking a break from the current commissions I’m working on to get ready and the gallery is looking spic and span and lovely!

Got the new lights installed in the jewelry room (yay) and it’s all dazzling, even though I haven’t painted that room yet. I’m hoping to do that next week…we’ll see. See…at least one can do that now in there! Made a BIG difference. Bob walked in to make sure they had finished with the installation and as he was asking if they finished he stopped mid-sentence and said, “Wow…I see they did!”

So here’s a few shots of the gallery (as far as my web cam can see). This is the entrance. I guess I should really do a video tour…hmmm. I’ll do that. In the meantime, here’s what I see when I’m sitting at my desk:
Nice, huh?

Well, I think so, anyway. So, if you’re in town, or headed this way, stop in and say “hi”!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Finished the Painting

I’m breathing again, thanks to Norma and ibuprofen!

Anyway, I did finish the church I showed you a few posts back. Just so you don’t have to scroll, here’s how it looked in progress:

And, now, it’s done. Notice the deeper, bolder color, shadows and detail. The rock facade by far, took the most time, but the result is worth it. The video will be online soon at www.katherinesarttv.tv

The trick is many
glazes of transparent color, with increasing amounts of pigment as you go. I often alternate colors too, to get a rich appearance in the end.

In the mean time I’m working hard on the development of katherinesarttv.tv Watch soon for a link here to a survey that I’ll use to help me make the site and the videos what you want.

Painting is perhaps the most soothing activity I can engage in. My own version of meditation. When I’m painting, my brain feels dis-engaged. I’m not thinking about the outcome, the bills, the laundry or anything else temporal. I don’t suppose you can understand it, until you experience it. Part of the focus of the new site is just that. Learning how painting can ease your stress, all while creating something beautiful. It’s not about pure realism…that’s what camera’s are for, with no disrespect to the painters of photo realistic works. It’s about interpretation, the emotional connection to the work, whether you are the painter, the viewer or the collector. People buy art, because they make a connection to it. It’s completely subjective. Not everyone will like what I paint, and that’s ok. I mean, it would be great, but it’s completely unrealistic. I don’t like everything I see either!

I can look at piece, like this one that I just finished, and walk right back into the same state of mind, walking in through that opening in the gate to all the places I was when I painted it. That’s the best part for me…and why I paint. Yes, I love selling them. But sometimes I miss a piece after its gone. I’ll be looking for something in my Art Archives folder, and see an image…and say, “where is that? did I sell it? Who?….” then I’ll open the image, look at it, and walk right back into it. I dunno. Maybe it’s weird…but it’s true.

Learn to paint. And may you find that bliss too…….

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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OUUUUUUUWWWWCH!

Just what I didn’t need. I woke up in the middle of the night with a sharp pain in my right side. It radiated down my leg and I couldn’t take a deep breath. I got up and stumbled to the bathroom only to remember that I’d put all of the ibuprofen in John’s bag. I filled a glass of water, drank it and went back to bed.

My brain entered panic zone. Oh God, what if it is my appendix? My insurance has a $5000 deductible. I don’t have time for this. Please.

I tossed and turned and turned and tossed. The pain like a bullet lodged in my right side. I finally turned on my stomach and immediately discovered that the source of the pain was actually my back, or my side, or my ribcage. I made fist and applied deep pressure to the spot on my lower back that screamed the loudest…slowly, slowly the pain in my right side eased to dull throb. Whew. Relief. Not my appendix. What did I do!?!

My brained rolled past the events of the past few days. Oh yeah. I was clearing out the desk I sold. I crawled underneath to disconnect everything, unscrew it and get it ready to clear out. As I lay on the floor underneath it, twisting to find that screw, I was taken back to August, when I was lying on the floor of the garage, in a similar position, screwing in the flashing at the bottom of the wall. My back went in to spasm, then, and I couldn’t move. I was on the floor in the garage, twisted like a french creweler (no idea how to spell that) and unable to move. I couldn’t get up. I laid there till the spasm seemed to pause, rolled over, crawled closer to the rail that the door runs in, grabbed it and pulled myself up like it was rope I was climbing a mountain. Then I headed for the hot tub. I’d forgotten the weeks of slowly rehabilitating those muscles. The heating pads, the tiger balm, the ibuprofen.

It was all coming back to me, as lay there, suddenly recalling lying on the floor of the studio, twisted once again, once again holding the cordless drill, applying pressure and then the awful spasm that followed. OOOOOOOW.

So, I did it again. Thank God I had a massage scheduled for this morning. But, in fact, I barely got there. Once upright, I was dizzy. Couldn’t take a deep breath. And wow, some definite pain encompassing my middle and dominant on the right side. It feels like an overly tight girdle with pins sprinkled through out.

Poor Norma. She worked like a warm blanket for an hour and a half. Well, at least I can sit up, and walk. I hurt. Alot. I apparently made all those muscles that wrap around your ribcage and then run sort of sideways around you and connect to the ones that go up and down your spine…..Very Unhappy. I can almost turn my head side to side. I can’t slouch…my mom would say that’s a good thing, but it’s not very much fun. My arms are resting on the laptop, and every now and then my sleeve brushes the touch pad, which sends the scroll bar wild. Deep sigh. At least I can breathe again. I am, however, grateful. Norma confirmed it. Not the appendix. Whew. Thank God. Just my own stupidity at my own denial that I am not 25, and not, despite some popular opinion, superwoman. I’ll head home tonight and hope i can get that lid open on the hot tub. Norma said, “how old are you, my dear? 92? ” “No”, I said. “192”. Or so that’s how it feels. Sigh again. This too shall pass…but it will be a while.

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM