Category: painting

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Happy Thanksgiving!

The house smells like cinnamon and nutmeg, the turkey is in the smoker outside and I happily had time to finish (I think) the painting I’ve been working on for two months. It was quite a journey. 48 x 24 gallery wrap canvas. And acrylic. When staring for the first time at that big white expanse I quivered. Today, I quivered again when I cleaned the brushes and closed the paint.

Here is the result:

I’ll look at it for a while before I touch it again. I’m calling it “Angel Fire High”

And I’ll start planning the next one…but that will have to wait till Monday. Tomorrow night is a 4th Friday Holiday Kickoff reception and Saturday is live theatre, and so is Sunday afternoon. So begins the next season. Cheers! and Happy Thanksgiving!

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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Starting at ….hmmm, where?

I’m tired, but my brain is spinning so I guess I should post. Maybe it will give me some clarity.

J and I went to Albuquerque yesterday, so he could fly away this morning, and so he did. I then went about my list, and number one was a visit to his mom. She’s great by the way. She lured me to see her newly installed, less than new, computer, and sat down. Uh oh. I leaned over her till she was afraid that I would end up looking “like an apostrophe”, and then took her seat. For starters, starting is sooo slow, one could nap while waiting for it to load. (Wow, am I spoiled or what? with my (not new anymore) Core(TM)2 Duo processor and 2GB RAM..I’ve no patience anymore for a 1200Mhz Celeron with 256mgs RAM) Guess I better go digging in my closet…….

She’s learning to go online, and use email. The whole business of doing that is perplexing to her and I’d been home for an hour and half (it’s a three hour drive) when the phone rang. I took care to put everything she regularly needs, on her desktop, and showed her how to open, minimize and close them. Oh dear. I have a new empathy for those tech support dudes who have to try to diagnose what’s happening when we say things like, “well, when I click on the blue thingy with the rainbow colors, nothing happens!”

Oh no…don’t get me wrong, my mother-in-law, miss Jane, is a delight. The sheer fact that she’s really trying to give it a go with the computer, is almost miraculous, and I REALLY don’t want to discourage that!

I did notice that her arthritis twisted hand was really having a hard time with the mouse. hmm. is there a better tool? She does ok with the touch pad on a laptop, but right now, has a desktop and a typical ms mouse and keyboard. I have a spare track ball, but I’m not sure that would be any better for her. I’ll have to take it down there and see. Any ideas? Please comment and let me know. The answer to “nothing happens when I click here” is that the curser wasn’t really there when she clicked, and then when it was, she couldn’t really (double) click fast enough (my, the things we take for granted!)

I put solitaire on her desktop and told her to play, hoping that the practice would help her with the mouse. It was ok till she inadvertently closed it. oops. Can you hear the phone ringing?

Too bad mouse pads aren’t “touch pads”! hmmm…interesting idea…anybody make one?

I bet there are a whole lot of finger-mobility challenged people who could use something like that!

As for me, I need a massage and good night’s sleep. At the hotel last night I woke up every time the heater (two feet from my side of the bed) came on (at about every half hour). Then there was the smoke detector in some room other than ours that kept going off. Not the beep beep beep of a low battery. But the Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…….(ad inifinitum) of one that’s been triggered. I pulled a spare pillow from the floor and covered my head. ack. No wonder I left Jane with questions about how to open a new game of solitaire!

So, I’m hoping it will dump snow tonight so that i can’t get out. I know, I know. Not what I usually say. But I have long list of things that need to be done here at home…and J is gone…and it’s the perfect time to get busy. Maybe I’ll just play hooky anyway…..Wait…I’m the owner…if I’m not there, the gallery is not open. Sigh. Guess not. The list will have to wait a bit longer. I have paintings to paint and videos to record and edit. Oh, and grant proposals to finish and ………
good grief. I better stop now or I’ll overwhelm myself! Good night, friends. Let me know if you know of a way to help Ms. Jane. Thanks.

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

I have my bail out blinders on. Can’t stand to listen to the news anymore. Spend, spend, spend and benefit a few, but not any of us who do the right thing, fight like hell to pay the mortgage on time, borrow from peter to pay paul every day of the month, struggling to keep that credit score well above 7. There will be nothing for us. Once again penalized by the politicians for being a stand up person and doing the right thing. It makes me sick.

I called the mortgage company, to see if they’d work out a lower rate. Nothing doing. Know why? because I’m not behind. I can’t refinance because I’d never qualify in the current credit debacle, so, because I’ve done the right thing, I’m screwed. How upside down is that!?!

Deep sigh. Ok, I’m done with the rant. I’ll turn my thoughts back to the task at hand which is the development of www.katherinesarttv.tv and www.myarttv.tv (not up yet). I’m recording everything I do every time I pick up a pencil or a brush. My camera’s hard drive is almost full, so probably this week I’ll start editing video. While it is time consuming work, I’m excited when I’m at that because I’m excited about these sites and getting them fully operational. From the 10 or 12 hours I have recorded right now, I’ll probably get 3 or 4 videos, all on watercolor. In the next set I’ll focus on fun techniques but that’s probably at least a week off.

It’s way more soothing to ponder watercolor, and better yet to pick up that brush. Unfortunately my home studio is still a disaster zone and my brushes and paints are at the gallery. I guess that’s ok, because the dryer is beconning. Back to domestic duty. Important stuff, you know, laundry. So off I go.

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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What is it about January?

Hmmm. I’m stuck. Advice please. Most of the time, I’m an endless stream of passion to paint, dreaming of the next painting, and the next and the next. Moved to moodiness and, my husband would say, grumpiness, if i can’t pick up the brush.

Then comes January. Stymied, but not sullen. Optimistic in the midst of debilitating economic forcasts. But finding a million things to do….BUT paint. Are there weird ions in the air in January? Is it the snow flying out my window? All this indoor time, shouldn’t I be running to the canvas/paper/scratchboard?

I’m supposed to be recording all those strokes I make. The camera is poised on the tripod. The light focused on the canvas on the table below, but off; the brushes at the ready, even the water containers are full. But the palette is closed. And I am typing on the laptop. Good grief, what is wrong with this picture?

I have a growing stack of commission to do. This is a good thing. So, what’s quashing my passion? Any ideas? I’d love to whack it out of the way…..

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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Nothing Else to Do but Ponder and Post

I know, it’s a record. I’ve never posted this much in one day, let alone one week! I can’t help it. Look: Remember, there is a lake and mountains normally in this view from my living room window. What else am I gonna do, but post…..laundry? uh-huh. no energy for THAT! Cleaning? Not likely. I did a good once over before our guest(s) arrived yesterday. Actually, only one made it. The other two got stuck and gave up, headed home like wise ducks. The one that came had a delightful dinner, and then got stuck. You’d think I would’ve seen the trend and got the message, right? Not so much.

I have a huge amount of energy and no where for it to go. I know, I know, I could clean and reorganize. It’s not that kind of energy..and don’t mock me for saying so…..i need to create to explode in color and prose and so, since my studio is an utter disaster, I’m writing.

My studio recently became the repository for all things in the “what do we do with this?” category as we work through the house to clear the clutter and make room for freshness and cleanliness. Not funny, just worked out that way. I suppose on some level I loathed it anyway and so it was the natural choice for the chaos it has become. Why did I loathe it? That is the deeper question and I’m sure I’ll come face to face with it soon.

For starters, it’s cold. It’s the room furthest away from the heat sources, on the North side of the house.

It has a great view of Wheeler Peak, and good light. I think part of it is that there is just entirely too much stuff in it. So, see that desk and hutch and chair? I think I’ll sell it. I know, it’s hard to see for all the extraneous stuff. and my painting cart is parked in the middle of the room…I moved it because it has various flammable substances on it and there is now a heater parked in the doorway to, theoretically, warm the room so I can venture in to it to begin the clean up. Of course, the scenario will likely be, that the room won’t warm enough today to begin, so I’ll close the door and it will cool down and tomorrow I’ll (hopefully) be back at the gallery. Ah, the saga continues.

oops, time to go. The stomach is rumbling. Anybody need a desk?

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

Well, I finally got it done. Those layers and layers I wrote about a few days ago. I lost count of how many hours I worked on it, and to be honest there is a little bit left to do, but I will likely not get it done before we head home. Since it needs time to dry, I’ll probably wait. In the meantime, what I have to do will be almost imperceptible to most, so here it is. “Wrapped in Gold”. I still don’t know exactly how big it is, but I cropped the photo where the canvas will wrap around the edges of the wood.

That done (or done enough for now) I whipped out another sheet of YUPO paper and let the brush fly. I was having so much fun, I couldn’t stop, so John went to bed without me and I painted well into the wee hours of the morning. Then I fell into a peaceful sleep. When I woke up, the painting had changed so much in it’s drying (apparently the counter it was on is not perfectly flat!) that I ended up with a whole new course to take! Anyway, this is what came out of it. “Waving Goodbye” is 20 x 14 (I think) and is, of course, Watercolor on Yupo. I’d love to do another, but there just isn’t enough time for drying left before we have to leave. Sigh. It’s kind of wierd. We have been for a week longer than we normally are, but I managed to finish only 7 pieces…exactly half as many as I usually do. I honestly think that’s because I spent the first two weeks essentially brain dead. At any rate, I’m thrilled to be painting again, and resolutely refusing to think about what awaits me on my return!

I have decided, though, to NOT make a mad dash to put the gallery together. I will take my time and do it right. I need to walk through the newly renovated space (assuming it will be done!) and get the ‘feel’ of the space. Observe the energy and discern if I need to paint, and if so what color, and where to put what and so on. At the same time, I have a grant to finish for the Arts Council and paperwork to file for the Art Trail (Northeastern New Mexico Arts Alliance) and I’m sure, mountains and mountains of mail. While it did manage to wake me up in the middle of the night last night I’m keeping my eyes on the goal and soul in the free place that painting brings. Stay tuned.

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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El Tuito postponed, Painting, Painting Painting!

Well, I know I said to check today for the El Tuito video…but we ended up postponing till Friday due to a National Holiday. No sense going when every thing is closed! So, in the end it was ok, cuz I painted ALL DAY! Yeeeeeehaaa!

Still more to go there…still working on that hibiscus. It’s beginning to take shape but all the definition in the petals remains undone. Today was shopping, and helping Patricia (she owns the apartment we’re in) with her computer. Tomorrow, I’ll paint again. Maybe by the end of the day I’ll be able to post a photo of it.

Anyhoo…just wanted to let you know why there’s no new video here…..more later!

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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What have I begun?!

I told you I’d keep you posted here. I started a new piece today.. a large one than I typically do. I’m not even sure how big it is, since i just unrolled the canvas and started painting. I think it’s probably about 16 inches wide and maybe 24 or even 30 high. I’m very excited about it because it’s a complex compound hibiscus and I resolved not to use a pencil. WaHOO! Color is liberating! So is freehanding with a brush loaded with color!

I can’t show it to you yet…It’s too wet to have John hold it up so I can photo it. Don’t want it to run where I don’t intend!

In the mean time, picture layers and layers of delicate petals, in bright yellow that turns to red as it nears the center of the flower. Oh yeah!

Ooops, better watch out, can it be…is it true? I slept all night last night, for the third night in a row. Even dreamt, though I don’t recall the dream, it’s encouraging to me that I did. I use to dream alot, very vivid, easily recalled scenes, but it’s literally been years. Hope is rising and optimism is looking cautiously up.

Tomorrow we’re going to catch the bus to El Tuito, a tiny village tucked away into the Sierra Madre, the mountains that rise from the waves lapping at their feet. I hear it’s about an hours drive. I’m taking the video camera to check back on Wednesday to see what we found along the way.

Angel Fire ArtSpace,
3469 Mountain View Blvd, Suites B2-4 Angel Fire NM
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painting in paradise!

ok, so it took me two weeks and the stress is finally beginning to melt a way. A painting (commissioned one) that I started the day after I arrived is finally ready to go (no pic here as I need to add more once it’s stretched) , a second done, (Here, “Field of Dreams”, w/c on canvas, commissioned) with some labor of love and one more awaiting a canvas at home (because I made a mess of the canvas I brought to do the painting on, and now have to re-gesso it to start over.) While I was bemoaning the fact that I’d made a mess of a canvas specially cut for this painting, I whipped out a sheet of Yupo and pulled up a Vallarta sunset from seasons past. Wham, wisp, this is what came out of it( “Nature Framed It” Watercolor on Yupo (Available) :

So now, creative juices are really beginning to flow. I slept last night (and Thank you D&J) and even though the neglected dog across the street is crying and the 2 year old in the throws of the terrible twos is screaming, the rooster is still convinced it’s 6 am when in reality is 2:30 pm and the rumble of the gas truck outside is deafening……I’m typing blissfully as my newest painting dries.

I wasn’t sure I could do it. A jumble of color and line, really almost abstract, really just a jumble of poppies. I wanted to do it without a pencil altogether and on Yupo paper.

I wanted to do it with negative painting technique, basically, which I didn’t know if I could do on Yupo. I painted in the background and then painted in all the color of the composition, then I found the flowers. It was exhilarating. Yes, it took me three days, but wow, I haven’t felt this good in months! The photo isn’t great cuz I didn’t wait till it was dry after all! but you’ll get the idea! (sorry the wet paint on YUPO paper is highly reflective!)


“It’s a Jungle Out There” still VERY wet. In this climate it will take 12-24 hours to dry. And it is BRIGHT! It overwhelms the camera, especially when it is wet (the watercolor, not the camera)!

Tonight we’ll head down to CyC and hopefully meet up with some friends. In the meantime, my outlook is looking up…where it should have been all along.

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