work in progress...

Working on paintings for my senior show, as I have mentioned quite a few times before! Here is my latest painting. I am working on this now and hope to finish it tomorrow. It is acrylic on board, 18 x 24.

I will post it again when I finish :)
artfully yours,
kristen

work in progress...

finished...18 x 24 acrylic on board.

pieces of me

I have decided on a theme for my show.  Patchwork.  This word, this concept,  has a lot of meaning for me. It goes back to the 1970's, my mom and dad had a band - a rock/top 40 musical group. They played the Northern California nightclubs and were somewhat of a local hit. My mom managed the group and my dad was the guitar player. She named them Patchwork Music Company.  I was just a little kid but I remember them rehearsing and jamming in our living room and my mom pouring her blood, sweat and tears into that band. Many years later, she wrote a poem for me that my dad read at my wedding. I don't have a copy of it here now, but it was about how life is a patchwork and we are pieces that come together to make a whole, how sometimes we are torn and mended again, and how the patterns of our lives our intertwined to make something comforting and beautiful. The idea of the patchwork, not only, suits my artwork and style, it honors my mom and her memory. I know she has been with me all through this journey, helping me to piece it all together....

first painting for my senior show

greetings from paris

Greetings from Paris...That is what i am calling this little trio of girls. They are new images in my Etsy shop...just in time to send love to your special Valentine :)
x's & o's
kristen

new digi stamps

going to post these in my Etsy shop today...I like them and hope you do too.

 

artfully yours,
kristen

I love cupcakes

I really do love cupcakes. A cupcake is the perfect cake. You can put just the right amount of frosting on your own tiny cake and you do not have to cut it or share it. This little painting came about because I was "frosting" the canvas. I had a canvas that I had started to collage and I did not like the way it was turning out so I texture pasted over the whole thing. As I was spreading the paste, I thought it reminded me of frosting a cake and I thought, "I should paint a cupcake on here". So that is what I did.
This will be my last random piece of artwork for a while....it is time I get serious with work for my show! I have finally decided on a theme for the show. :) I will share it with you soon!
x's & o's
kristen

I wonder

This is a close up of the painting I have been working on. When i finish I will post it. I am calling it, 'i wonder'... I worked on this painting most of the day, only to gesso over most of it and begin again! Her face is the only thing left. sigh. I feel I have just been spinning my wheels. I, seriously, need to be more productive and figure out what I am doing for my senior show- it is just 3 1/2 months away and I have to have a cohesive body of work. When I start back to classes on the 18th, I really should have a title and at least one piece of artwork completed. Aaahhh the pressure! I keep making lists and notes but nothing seems to click. In the meantime I just continue telling myself, "Paint, draw and make stuff". If I don't, I am afraid I will become immobilized with anxiety....wish me luck :)

State of Grace

My love for imagery of Mary came from my mom. She had many statues and pictures of her, even though we were not Catholic. I don't think you have to be of any religious affiliation to love and appreciate her beauty. I now have many of the pieces that belonged to my mom. I love and cherish each one and find comfort in having them in my home and especially in my work space. I decided I would paint Mary in my own way. My first attempt was okay but it was not really what I was after. So, I re-worked it until I was satisfied. Here is both versions...

1st version 

I am happier with my re-worked version. I feel it is more "me" and is also closer to what I imagined in my mind as I began. It is 6 x 12 mixed media collage and acrylic on canvas.

Happy New Year. I hope that it is filled with Grace.
artfully yours,
kristen