This is what I painted today...

I call her "flora"...

xo
kp

a few paintings and some babbling...

I painted these girls today. Inspiration just came over me as I was looking at some old clippings from fashion magazines. I am not sure why I saved these particular images, they were just ads from a year old Glamour that I have saved for quite some time...I am still not exactly sure why I decide to paint what I paint. Even after four years of 'art school' and many years before that of 'life school', I still am searching for my 'niche'. I am not complaining. I like what I do, most of the time and even when I feel my muse is not at my side, I never lack ideas or drive to make with my heart and my hands. I do wish, however, that I could focus a bit more and be more decisive about what I want to say and how to go about saying it with my art. Does that make sense or am I just babbling? LOL
Anyway, for now I will quit going on and on and just share these! I intend on making them into little prints.What do you think?

 thank you from the bottom of my art. xo kp

courage

I love the word courage. It has a lot of meaning to me in regard to my life. For anyone who really knows me, knows I am a big scaredy-cat and that I have to MAKE myself do many of the things I am afraid of.
In fact, this is one of my favorite quotes, "I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do." (-Georgia O'Keeffe).

I think painting  and art making takes courage. Those first marks onto your pristine, clean surface takes a bit of bravery. Then as you progress through it all and your marks begin to take shape, it takes all you can muster sometimes to not give up, to work through all the parts that are unknown or that you may not like very much. And, finally, to show your work to the world. Well that can be really intimidating. I am not saying that being an artist is the scariest thing in the world...only that it takes courage to be true to yourself, to reveal yourself and to do it everyday again and again. Lots of things in life take a brave heart...I hope you find the strength and courage within you to do what you love and, not follow, but CHASE your dreams! xokp

in my dreams...

 In my dreams , I have rainbow hair...

x's & o's kp

The end and new beginnings...

Okay, so I finished school and now what? A lot of people ask, "What are you going to do now?" Well, I am pretty much going to be doing what I have been doing all along, minus the going to classes part! I am so very excited about all the things I finally hope to put all together! I have wanted to focus on my blog and on-line business and start to do some shows and teach workshops again and I finally feel that I am going to be able to start tackling some of those projects! My head is just full of ideas and i have made about 100 lists!! All of these things take time so I hope you will check in every now and then to see my progress and give me your input. As always, I thank you form the bottom of my art!

*i leave you with this watercolor illustration i did....now available as a print on Etsy!

xokp

Monna Vanna Arta a Beautiful Muse

As you all probably know (since I have been mostly neglectful of my blogging and when I am not it is all I have talked about)- I am finished with school ! I am in the process of trying to regroup and figure out how I want to proceed. Of course, I want to make a living with my artwork, but that is such a broad definition. I mean, there are so many roads leading from the sign that says, "art". Right now I want to focus on my on-line stuff and getting classes formed so I can begin to teach classes and workshops. All of this is a bit overwhelming since it involves so much time and time is always the one thing I am short on! A lot of people have said, "Oh you will have so much more time now that you are done with school." That would seem true but amazingly has not been the case so far! I think once the kids get out of school it will free me up a bit more to concentrate my efforts on the projects I really want to tackle. In the meantime I continue to paint what inspires me and my online shop looks a little crazy with its mish mosh of items and artwork. Soon it will all have a cohesive and consistent look...I am getting there a tiny, baby step at a time! I leave you today with Monna Vanna Arta-a Beautiful Muse, I painted her when challenged to take Rossetti's Monna Vanna and paint my own interpretation (thank you for the challenge Gritty Jane).

Rossetti's Monna Vanna 1866

My Monna Vanna Arta- A Beautiful Muse 2011

thank you from the bottom of my art!
kp

I did it!!

I finally made it. After four long, challenging years, I finally made it! I graduated yesterday from Maryville University with my Bachelors of Fine Arts in Studio Art. I went back to school when I was 41 and my three children were 19, 6 and 5. My 19 year old was away at college herself and my husband had just started back to get his Masters Degree.  I really don't know what I was thinking LOL! All I know is that I felt I needed to do something in my life that was ONLY for me and all about me. Something that made me feel like I was accomplishing a goal of my own. Something not for my husband or kids or anyone else. Not in a selfish way though, because in another way it was FOR my kids. I wanted to be smarter and set a good example for them too. I am so glad that I did. There were tough times, times I felt like giving up or at least taking a break...but I didn't. I kept going. One foot in front of the other, one paper, one project, one day at a time. And ultimately, the time just flew by! I am very happy this Mother' s Day, I know my mom and pop are smiling down on me and their lessons and love and memory have helped me and inspired me to achieve this wonderful dream. I am grateful for my mom and grateful to BE a mom...and now a mom with a college degree!!
*thank you from the bottom of my art
kp