Women, Wine, and Pots

Last night I hosted my second "Ladies Night Out"
Painting Party. To get ready for spring planting, the
women painted terra-cotta pots with pottery glazes.

Since many of us went through high school together,
there was much reminiscing and laughter over teenage
escapades and good times shared.


The ladies busy at work painting...

and concentrating on their pieces...


as the wine and conversation easily flowed.

And a quote from our evening together that is well
worth sharing and remembering...
"Life is too short to worry about staying inside the lines"

Thank you ladies for filling my house and soul with laughter.
The next party is Thursday, March 25 - Garden Art.
Let me know if you are interested.

Summertime Dreaming

With the sunrise coming earlier, and the noise of sweet

birds chirping, and garden centers adding spring flowers;
my thoughts ~ and paintings ~ are turning to the delicious
warm days of summer. My studio is filled with nostalgic images
of bathing beauties captured on canvas.


This painting, based on an old photograph of
my sister, sold within hours of listing to a happy
buyer in Canada. Guess all the snow and ice of
the winter Olympics have her dreaming of summer too!


Perfection
This 8 x 10 " painting was inspired by a vintage
photograph of a woman diver. I kept the composition
simple so the focus remains on the beautiful form
of the woman.


Lady Swimmer
Another 8" x 10" painting inspired by
a vintage photograph of a bathing cap clad beauty.

These paintings are just a few in my "Vintage Pool Series"
which I'll be posting - and listing in my shop - in hopes that -
like the early sunrise and sounds of spring - they'll bring
the warm days of summer that much closer.

Two more paintings....

Fresh off the easel....


Backyard Bathing Beauty ACEO
2.5" x 3.5" Painting on linen canvas
Inspired by an old photograph of my mother.


Ocean Lifeguard
8" x 10" Acrylic Painting on Canvas
Inspired by a photo of my son.

The sun is finally shining, the temperature here is above
45 degrees, and our days are getting longer...sure signs that
Spring will arrive!!!!!

Winter Olympics = Thoughts of Summer and Productivity.

Since I can't watch t.v. without doing something - because if
my mind and hands aren't busy I'm asleep within minutes -
the 2010 Winter Olympics have proved to be a very productive time for me.
I have a bunch of new paintings to show for my "couch potato"
creating time. Here are a few Olympic inspired, summer themed paintings ~ which I have recently listed in my Etsy store ~


Sunrise Surf Session
Acrylic on 11" x 14" Canvas

Spring Break
Hand Painted ACEO - Acrylic on Canvas
2.5" x 3.5"

Beach Babes on Parade
Hand Painted Vintage Photo Collage on Canvas
5" x 7"

Ocean Swimmer
Hand Painted Vintage Photo Collage on Canvas
5" x 7"

Hope you enjoyed a preview of my "Handmade Winter Olympics" ~
thanks to the inspiration of all the real athletes!

My Reason's for Celebrating...

Happy Valentine's Day to my wonderful husband and children.
I Love You Guys with all my Hearts!

Student Spotlight on my newest little artist...

This little artist is home schooled so I have the pleasure
of working with and teaching her art in my home studio.
Since the beginning of January we've been meeting once a
week. Her first project, a self portrait with her cat, encompassed
a couple of different lessons ~


Warm (red, yellow, orange, brown) and
cool ( blue, green, purple, black) colors.

Learning to mix colors together directly on the canvas ~
the artist creates a warm color background.

We talked about shape, she sketched out the shapes of
her portrait and that of her cat, outlined the drawing
with a thick black sharpie and started painting the
background with a cool color.

She continued to add cool colors to the background -
using an "Impressionistic Style" - by dabbing different
shades of the color directly onto the canvas with her
paint brush.

The warm colors of the cat, pillow, her shirt, and face
all stand out against the cooler colors in the bedspread
and wall.

And Lesson Complete as the Little Artist
happily shows off her finished painting.
Her grade -
A plus, happy face, and a huge star.

Corks and Canvas - Ladies Night Out

Last week I was invited to host a traveling pottery
party for a "Corks and Canvas" Ladies Night Out.
The women gathered at one of our local country clubs,
enjoyed a delicious dinner, a few drinks, gabbed a bit,
then got down to some "serious" artistic business.


I explained the process as the women, ever the
delightful students, listened intently to my
directions.

The ladies sketched their ideas out on paper ~

Copied their drawing onto the pottery sushi plate ~

and carefully painted their design with pottery glazes.
I brought the plates home and fired them in my kiln. The
plates were returned this week- just in time for
Valentine's Day gift giving!

It was delightful to see the interests and skill levels of the various
artists come to life ~ as is shown here
in a few of the finished pottery art plates.

~ Thanks to the Cavalier Country Club for the invitation
and enjoyable evening! ~

Valentine's Day Cards for Your Sweeties...

A few ideas - just in case you are still searching for
the perfect Valentine's Day Card...

Click on each image for more information.


Let your special love know they are
"The wind behind your sails" with this vintage
Valentine's Day card and attached 2 1/4 inch round magnet.


Send this Valentine's Day card and
2 1/4" pinback button to your favorite single sister or
girl friend who is fishing to find that someone special.

Send your special loved one a card and matching magnet
to let them know they are in your thoughts.

Toast your gal pals with this whimsical martini card
and matching pinback button. Because what would
life be like without our best friends!

~*~ Each card is packaged with love in a protective
cello sleeve and carefully shipped to your loved one. ~

Commissioned Painting - Family Portrait - Update...

New Commission Piece for this beautiful family.

The original family portrait -
One of a series taken by professional photographer, Sara K. Blanco.

In addition to these portraits, the proud momma contacted me to
see if I could paint this image on a canvas. She decided on a 20" x 24"
canvas, which will look lovely inside the "big, chunky, ornate kind"
of frame that she loves. I started the painting this weekend ~


For my process, I scanned the original portrait, cut out the figures and
collaged them onto the canvas. I figure out my color palette, then start
to paint the figures and background with the first of many layers of
color and texture.

I'll continue to add color value and detail to the figures and
to the background. New images will be added as progress on
the painting continues - so mom and her family - who don't live
nearby - can "watch" their piece of art come to life.

Painting continues into the evening.


A close-up as I start to add detail to the individual portraits
and landscape


And the finished portrait -
approved by the family and ready to be shipped out tomorrow!

Kara ~ I thank you for the opportunity to paint your beautiful family.

Women who Art - Student Spotlight

Virginia Hudgins
Virginia has a an innate sense of color and a delightful painting style. Her latest painting of five plump tomatoes has the warm kiss of summer sunlight and the earthy feel of fruit fresh from the garden. ...

Using a picture of heirloom tomatoes as a guide, Virginia
paints in warm tones of orange and yellow.

And adds a cool blue background to enhance and deepen color
in both the tomatoes and the bowl.



To anchor the still life, Virginia adds shadows of complimentary colors.

Painted highlights add a glow and make the tomatoes
seem ready to burst off the canvas.

Virginia and her heirloom painting.
Absolutely luscious.

Share your talent - Share your love...

This is a wonderful opportunity to open your heart, share
your talent, and bring smiles to those served by the "Citymeals-
on-Wheels" Program. On Valentine's Day volunteers will be
working with Citymeals-on-Wheels to bring nutritious meals,
handmade cards and companionship to the elderly of N.Y.C.
The deadline for volunteers to receive your cards is Tuesday,
February 9. If you would like more information, click here:
SPECIAL DELIVERY: SHARE YOUR LOVE 2010
or here if you would like to find out more about Meals-on-Wheels
in your area:
Meals on Wheels Association of America

A day in the life of an art teacher, mom, artist...

Life is getting back to normal as the schools reopen after
our big weekend snow storm...My ladies group returns to
paint their canvas'...


It's always a special day when the ladies in my
"Women who Art" Group come over to paint. Some
days there tends to be a little more gabbing than painting -
but today the women were all business !


One of my little artists comes over after school to
continue working on his dinosaur painting...

My daughter helps create Valentine's Day Cards for
"Share your Love" ~ Meals on Wheels Program

And I finally have time at the end of the day to work on
my commission painting.

Now off to bed to dream about that long, over-due vacation on
the Islands!