Category: Angel Fire Artspace

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Scatchboard Takes Time…but it’s Worth It!


I’ve been working on this one for a while now and progress is steady, but not fast. I did video alot of this and will be putting it on www.katherinesarttv.tv as soon as I get it edited..which is challenging because something is using up my hard drive like mad.

Anyway, I showed you the outline done earlier, and here is a pic of me at it, and what it looks like right now:

As you can see, I’ve “scratched” out just about half of the daisies. I’ll continue down the board with this step, then review it carefully to lift more where I need to. Step three is to paint in the stems and the centers, if i want to. I’ll decide later.

This is a 20 x 16 board, so its taking a good investment of time. It’s soothing for me though, so it’s not like it’s laborious, and given the stress I’m experiencing otherwise, it’s a good thing it’s not finished.
So, back to the studio head I. Watch for more progress, and I’ll let you know when the video is online.

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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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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Painting in Progress

Ok, so I thought since I talked about the piece I’m working on, I would show you the current status. so, here’s a pic. The angle is a little wierd because I took it with my webcam, but you can get the idea. And they are, as a result of the webcam..reversed, so that’s kind of funny! oh well. I’ll show you the finished piece when its done, and you will be able to see the difference.

This has about 5 glazes on it..except for the steeple which only has one..so you can see the difference.
It’s fun, but time consuming. and if you’re not carefuly, the newest layer will lift the layer below it!

So, stay tuned and I’ll put it up when its done!

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

It’s Saturday and lovely, though cool outside. I guess everyone is out on the mountain enjoying the fresh powder, cuz they certainly aren’t here! The up side of that is that I’ve been working hard on my next commissioned piece..and recording it. It will be a long video, so I’ll likely release a small segment on youtube and then refine the rest for a full lesson on katherinesarttv.tv

I got the membership software installed and the initial free videos and posts up already, now comes the hard part of recording all the videos! It takes about 9 hours of video recording to get a full hour of indepth content and lesson. At least I can do what i love while I’m recording…..Paint!

So, despite the fact that it is still January, I’ve broken the block and have been painting most of the last two days. The piece I’m working on is an 18 x 18 watercolor on canvas of a Northern New Mexico church. Painting watercolor on canvas requires many many layers so I’ve been working on it for about 30 hours already, but not altogether of course, as the layers have to dry in between application.

Speaking of which..it’s time to get back to it.

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Thank God 2008 is gone..high hopes for 2009!

In thinking back over the past year, my high point was my low point. The struggle to decide to move my gallery was the 800 pound gorrilla in my life. In the interlude, while we were in Mexico (how gloriously providential that it was provided and paid for well in advance) was also both. Coming to the realization that the continuous struggle to monetize my passion, and promote and make the artists in my gallery successful had so weighted me that I was exhausted even to stand up was an earth-shattering understanding to me. Finding a way back was tenuous and scary for me. I had lost sight of the goal and been overwhelmed by the task of getting there. When? I’m not sure, but sure that I couldn’t see the forest for the trees.

Being away from it all, no phone, often no internet, no gallery, cleared the windsheild of my soul and let me see it. Then the question was, do i let it go and walk away? or do I let it go and hang on for dear life to see where it would take me.

I guess by now you know I chose the latter. I can’t explain the sense of well-being or the upward bend of the corners of my mouth. If I listen to the pundits on TV I’ll be out of business by the end of the first quarter of 09. For some reason, I just don’t believe that.

And so, Happy New Year.

I’m working on a new website, by the way. I’m working on a 26 week (or more ) course in drawing and painting. Video instruction. I’m laying out the curriculum and researching hosts and how to offer it. I’ll start recording as soon as next week. Drawing will come first, since that is really the foundation of every good painting, even the ones that get drawn with a brush. Watch for news of it and I’ll send the links to it from here, so follow this blog with the link on the right.

And for now, the sun is shining and the sky is clear. I’m unabashedly optimistic and moving forward like it matters. My resolution? I don’t really have one, but I am setting new goals and ways to reach them. May you reach yours too.

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Got out, White Out, back in.

Wow. What a nightmare! I loaded up and left here at 1pm. It is now 1:44 and I am back home. I got to the road and by the time I’d gotten past the blue dumpsters I knew it was a mistake. By that time there was nowhere to turn around, the plows having left barely one lane and snow piled 6 feet or more high on either side. I made it to the highway in 1st gear. The highway was blocked, littered with vehicles and backhoes trying to get them out. The county road people gave up and were sitting idle. Visibility was at 20 feet when good. 0 during a blinding gust. I backed into the only clear driveway at the last house there at the highway and waited while the two vehicles behind me pulled forward so I could pull out and they could pull in to turn around. It took me 40 minutes to get down 8/10 of mile to the highway, and back up. It was very tense and now I’m here and poured myself a glass of wine. If I had gotten out, I’m not sure at all that I could get back, given the rate of accumulation and wind.

I guess opening the gallery today just isn’t in the cards for me. It looks like I need a condo in Angel Fire. In this economy…what’s cheaper, a condo nearby the gallery or an employee who lives near the gallery? Ack. I think I’ll ponder cheerier things.

Oh, look….there’s the County dozer. Working at it again. Bless him! Still, I’m staying put. Maybe tomorrow is a brighter day for moving around!

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


Woops. Ok, so yes, it’s been snowing and blowing since yesterday morning. I walked out this morning and saw only 4 or 5 new inches, so I loaded up the car and backed out. Ok so far. I pulled around and headed toward the road, in low gear, all wheel drive and slow. As I neared the road I started sliding. I turned the opposite direction, but to no avail, swish, plunk, my right front end slid into the ditch at the end of my driveway.

Sigh. Apparently there is a good layer of ice beneath the snow. Sigh. The day after Christmas and I can’t get out to open the gallery. Sigh. Well, so here I am posting and waiting. Might as well relax a bit. So…Merry Christmas!

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