a work in progress

Took a break from painting and working on the studio clearance sale to check in with 43Things and ponder all I have to be grateful for when I stumbled across this cute little quiz. I don’t usually do posts like this, but this had something to say about why I have become an artist.  “…You are a demanding egocentric…do not like the feeling of loneliness and whatever it is that seems to separate you from others… know that life can be wonderful and you are anxious to experience life in all its aspects… resent any restriction or limitations that are being imposed on you and you insist on going it alone…You are your own person and you intend to stay that way and to get on in the world simply by your hard work and determination.” It was a short little quiz of picking little blocks of color and took maybe two minutes. You can take it also at www.paulgoldinresearch.com/cg/index.htm

Super busy lately, what with the commissioned painting, gallery stocking, and adding lots of items to my etsy shop, peepeyes.etsy.com. Today I added a lot more sale items,including hand painted tees and clothing, home decor and gift sets, cards and prints of my paintings, and even some supplies for creating your own art. Of course, I had to include a few of my paintings to show folks there the work I have been doing for the last year. You can buy the paintings there or simply email me if you prefer. Check out my shop by clicking on the images above, all of which you’ll find under their respective categories. And that rabbit girl is a painted kids’ tee.

I’ve been placing a lot of items in my shop at etsy, things I have made in the last year or two. There are categories for jewelry, home decor items, paintings, prints and cards, and peepeyes and li’l critters with items available. I am working on adding items to the shop. Look for handpainted tee shirts and jeans, more art, some raw materials, and eventually craft kits. The little Peepeyes shop has turned into my open studio sale! Click on the screenshot above to visit my shop.

I have been making more origami earrings for EurekanArt Gallery. I fold fans and cranes. This photo shows several steps along the way. The cranes are weighted with a little Swarovski crystal. The papers are coated with a thick glossy finish to protect them from dust and moisture. It makes them super pretty, too. Today, I’ll make display cards and take them to the gallery.

Phirebrush is a monthly online art magazine that has won many awards including coolstop.com’s Best of the Cool. I think it’s cool and I’m excited that my happiness painting made the cut! Check out the December Issue and view and comment on the works displayed by clicking on the screenshot above.

Since I cannot post any photos of the commission I have been working on, I thought I’d share this letter to my client with you all. I think it gives a pretty good picture of my painting process as well as a glimpse into what it’s like to work on commission.

Dear ______,
The work is going well here and I think the colors will be very pleasing to you as I am using the sort of buttery yellow you showed me as well as the pink you liked in happiness. (Crazy artist note: Alizarin crimson may be the best color in the world!) Once the sketch was completed Robin came in the studio and said hey, that really does look like ______ and ___. I am balancing between capturing your likeness and reflecting the childlike sense of wonder of the happiness piece. It is cartoon-y, to borrow a term from you, but also seeks to be quite recognizable.
So far, the background is painted and I am in the process of underpainting the facial features. I expect to move from there to the hand and then paint the clothing, which will be as in the photos you provided. I’m not sure how much detail to go into with you, so I will strive to give you a sense of the work I am doing while being careful not to get so specific that you are forming visual expectations of the piece completed. Of course, you are always welcome to ask questions or come take a peek, but we are a long way from finished.
I suspect that I will be working on this painting quite a bit now that it is well underway. I typically take my time with the design and sketching, moving away from the piece long enough to approach it with a fresh perspective. Then I begin the background and layer my colors there until it is close to complete, when I move into a value study of the central elements, in this case the figures. I then complete the background. This brings me to the most intensive painting time, when I tend to work late into the night or wee hours of the morning, as I work to create the main message of the piece. Toward the end of the painting, I take some time away from it, so that I can approach it with fresh eyes as I make any adjustments. It is always amazing to me how much one tiny line or dot can affect an entire piece.
That’s enough writing about my process for now, I hope you enjoyed it. Please feel free to ask questions along the way. I should mention that I appreciate having the photos I took of you to look at. I was particularly interested in the shape of your eyes when I took them, but have found them to be very communicative of your joy and thirst for life. I look at them every now and again, but not when I am working on the piece, and they always make me smile with recognition. I think that’s a great indicator of your connection with the happiness painting and the work I am doing for you now. Back to the studio for me. Warm wishes, Kathryn

Feel free to ask any questions and I’ll be happy to answer them. I would like to improve my ability to talk about my art and work and any dialogue is very useful to me right now.