Still Paintin'...

Like most weeks, I have been faced with a number of distractions 
(some good, some not-so-good).
And, like most weeks, I have continued to make art every day
(some good, some not-so-good)!

Here are just a couple of the things I've been working on this week...

A personal project.

A professional project (continued from last week).

In the interest of sharing (and of holding myself accountable, preventing distractions from getting the best of me & keeping myself on track), I am letting you know that I will share the finished painting next week!

Hooray!

It's Art Every Day Month!
(And, I've decided to play along.)

Here is a new project that I've just started this week...

The first sketches in my notebook.

A larger sketch that I transferred to 140lb watercolor paper.

Please check back next Friday for more of this project, and more of the art that I create every day!

Have You Got A Minute?

Frosty Window Art

Then you have time to make some art!

This time of year always seems to get craaazy busy, but I still think it's important to squeeze some art making into a hectic schedule.

Toaster Strudel Art

One of the easiest ways to cram some creativity in, is to think outside the canvas and get a bit inventive with materials!

Steamy Mirror Art

I truly believe that making time for art every day (even if it is just a minute or two), can ignite the imagination and keep the creative spark alive (so that you're fired up and ready for when you have more time)!

Do you have any tips or tricks for fitting art into a busy schedule?

It's Art Every Day Month (AEDM).  

In honor of that, each Friday in November I will be sharing a round-up of my artistic endeavors for the week.

If you're interested in more regular updates, please visit me on 

instagram or facebook.

This Week...

...I continued to work on my home painting projects.  (Yep, kj... Those are actually stairs in my house.  Thank you so much for your kind words about them!)  

I also started a new drawing/painting (above)... Since I am still in the process of unpacking and setting up my new studio, I am limited with the supplies I'm using right now.  I'm thinking about adding something else to this, but I'm not sure... I've set it aside for now.  (I might have to follow the advice I usually give to others, and print out a copy and try what I'm thinking on that one...)

Although I have created art every day, it is not as much as I'd like...  In addition to a very hectic schedule right now, I have spent a lot of time on the not-so-glamorous (but-very-much-necessary) chore of backing up files.

I hope that you've had a good week, and have found some time for art and other fun stuff!  I'd love to know what you've been up to... Please feel free to let me know in the comments, or even share a link!

It's Art Every Day Month (AEDM).  

In honor of that, each Friday in November I will be sharing a round-up of my artistic endeavors for the week.

If you're interested in more regular updates, please visit me on 

instagram or facebook.

This Week Has Been All About...

Color!

Color on the stairs,

Color on the walls,

And, color on my desk!

As the weather outside turns gray and dreary, I find myself craving color... I have found that the best way to fight a seasonal slump is to surround myself with 

bright, vibrant, gloriously happy hues!

How do the changing seasons affect your art?

It's Art Every Day Month (AEDM).  

In honor of that, each Friday in November I will be sharing a round-up of my artistic endeavors for the week.

If you're interested in more regular updates, please visit me on 

instagram or facebook.

Makin' Art Everyday

I believe the road to inspiration begins with creating some type (any type) of art every day.  It doesn't matter if you dash off a doodle or pour yourself into a painting... A little bit of art each day is good for the imagination.  (Even 15 minutes a day can make a difference!)

Today marks the beginning of Art Every Day Month (AEDM).  In honor of that, each Friday in November I will be sharing a round-up of my artistic endeavors for the week.

If you're interested in more regular updates, please visit me on instagram (my latest addiction!  Oh, how I love instagram!) or facebook.

What Happened?!?

You may have noticed that my AEDM posts came to an abrupt halt last week.  The reason?  Effie (my grandmother) went into the hospital.  She is home now (and doing well), so I am back.  

Because of lots of follow-up doctors' appointments and other "life stuff" I won't be posting every day, but I look forward to sharing my latest doodles with you...  I have managed to squeeze in a bit of sketchbook time and I'm hoping to get back to a much more normal schedule soon!

AEDM: Day 8 (Creative Tuesday)

The theme at over at the Creative Tuesdays blog this week is "Thank You".  I thought it was the perfect opportunity to share a fun project I'm currently working on!

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you probably already know that snails make an appearance in my art from time to time.  (If you're new here - Welcome!  I hope you take a look around and come back to visit often!)

In addition to my "thank you" snail at the top of this post, there is even more "snail mail" in the works...   

These guys are heading to my shop... They'll be there soon!

AEDM: Day 5

Seize the fish... er, um... Day!

Image created on top of one of my free - no strings attached - downloadable collage papers.

(Get it here.)

AEDM: Day 4

"Disco Chicken" (in color!)

"Art and Music" is the theme over at The Butterfly Effect this week.  So naturally "Disco Chicken" is the first thing that popped into my head!  Ha!

Well actually, I've had "Disco Chicken" swirling around in my head for over a year just waiting until the right time to present himself...

I've been thinking about "Disco Chicken" ever since I created my very first worksheet for Carla Sonheim's Silly 2 Class.  I guess some ideas just take a while to marinate!  (Pun intended, of course!)

Wishing you a far out, fab, and funky weekend...

Check ya later!

AEDM: Day 3

"Amy Cat"

(a tribute to our teacher)

acrylics on a dryer sheet attached to cardstock

Today I had the pleasure of painting along with Amy as she taught another free live workshop... It was like a live virtual paint party!  These workshops are a lot of fun and it is great to be painting and chatting with so many people I've met through blogging!  

In addition to painting, today's workshop started with sewing. (Can you believe it Jenny?!?  I actually sewed something!  Sure it was just a little bit of a border, but it won't be long until I'm giving your fun elephant pattern a try!)  I sewed a dryer sheet onto a piece of cardstock, then painted on that.  I was originally going to sew a piece of fabric to the cardstock, but someone mentioned dryer sheets and I remembered that Becca uses dryer sheets in her art, so I thought I'd give it a try.  (I discovered that dryer sheets take paint pretty well, but the constant perfumey smell made me a bit queasy and gave me a headache... Lesson learned.)

The topic of conversation over at the Paint Party Friday blog this week is about why we buy the art that we buy...  I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share some of the art that I have bought, been gifted, and won in giveaways.  I have created a board on pinterest with some of the art that I have in my house.  (If you'd like to see, click here.)

Are you on pinterest?  My friend Robin invited me to join a awhile ago and I fiddled around a bit, but over the past couple of weeks I have become a bit of a pinterest addict!  If you 're on pinterest let me know - I'd love to see what you're pinning!

AEDM: Day 2

"Scary"

(mixed media on cardstock and matboard)

It's Day 2 of AEDM.  Yesterday I shared the beginning of a honey badger collage... Today I finished it. 

The original inspiration for this painting was Illustration Friday's "Scary" theme.  On the outside, honey badgers are cute and innocent (even their name is sweet), but looks can be deceiving.  According to The Guinness Book of World Records they are "the world's most fearless creatures"... They are ferocious!

What scares me?  Things that aren't as they seem...  Nastiness with an adorable exterior terrifies me.

I started this painting by using a collage technique Amy shared in her free workshop on Saturday.  She is having another free live workshop tomorrow at 2pm CST and you're invited!

(Click here for more details!)

AEDM: Day 1

Since today marks the beginning of Art Every Day Month, I thought I would share some beginnings from my day today...

A disco chicken, and...

A honey badger!

Stay tuned to see where these beginnings lead...

Day 30!!! (30 in 30 for 30)

"Margarita"  8x10  acrylic on canvas

available here

After a month of finished paintings every day, I need a drink!  Just kidding... for today's painting I am toasting all of my fellow AEDM creatives (and all of the people who have supported and encouraged us) as we celebrate day 30!  Congratulations - this one's for you!

Since I am going to "savour" this feeling of accomplishment, this painting also serves as my entry for this week's Illustration Friday challenge.

A lot of people have been asking me if I will continue in December.  Well as the expression goes, "No rest for the wicked."  I will be taking tomorrow to recover from my painting hangover, then it's right back to creating for me...

December will be my Sketchbook Project month (since it is still in pieces from changing the paper I have my work cut out for me).  It's okay though - as much as I love to paint, I really miss drawing.  Not quick, put your ideas to paper sketches (I've been doing that all along), but take your time, finish, shade, and possibly even color drawings.

Stay tuned...  December is going to be busy!

Day 29 (30 in 30 for 30)

"Snow Owl"  8x10  mixed media on canvas

available here

Last week my friend Nelly had an interesting post about a workshop she took with Flora Bowley.  Her post reminded me of this very cool video of Jesse Reno painting.

Today's painting is inspired by (and very loosely based on) their techniques.  I played with paint to create a background, then started covering up sections of it leaving my owl image behind.  I continued to work with more paint, prismacolor pencils, and a white gel pen.

It's hard to believe, but there is only one day left of AEDM... be sure to stop by the Creative Every Day blog to see what else was created for day 29!

Day 28 (30 in 30 for 30) and Sunday Sketches

"Cubed Owl"  8x10  acrylic on canvas

Today's painting was inspired by a couple of my fellow "Sunday Sketchers".  Last week Katerina created a cubist inspired painting and ever since then I've been itching to cut up one of my sketches and randomly rearrange the pieces...

The progression:  From sketch to finished painting

I was also inspired by Eva who has been creating a series of variations of a tree (she also draws a series of "girls with funny hats" that I absolutely adore).  Since Eva has done so well with her variations on a theme, I thought it might be fun to create another owl painting...  I am lovin' me some owls!

Be sure to stop by Sophia's blog to see more Sunday Sketches...

And check out the Creative Every Day blog to see more day 29 art!

Day 27 (30 in 30 for 30)

"Colorful Sisters"  8x10  acrylic on canvas

Today's painting was inspired by my sisters.  I have previously mentioned my very artistic sister Stevie... Today I would like to 'introduce' the youngest in my family, my sister Casey.  Casey is in high school - since I am the oldest and she is the youngest (of five) there is a big age difference!  When Casey sings it is like listening to an angel (and she also has the heart of an angel)!   I am truly blessed with two very unique, talented, fun, and silly sisters...

Three Silly Sisters  2000  (We've gotten bigger, but haven't necessarily "grown up"!)

One thing the three of us like to do together is go thrift store shopping - we love funky finds!  On our very first trip to the thrift store together we discovered three different owl necklaces sitting together in the jewelry case... One for each of us!  Now it has sort of become "our thing" and it is why owls have such a special meaning to me.

There are only a few days left of AEDM, so don't miss day 27 at the Creative Every Day blog!

Day 26 (30 in 30 for 30)

"Macrame Memories"  8x10  Mixed Media on Wood

Today's painting was inspired by... yesterday's painting!  I couldn't get the owl image that I "found" in yesterday's painting out of my head, so I decided to do a wood burning using it.

 

While creating today's painting, distant memories of macrame, latch hook kits, and avocado colored appliances came flooding back... Those memories had a definite influence on my color choices!

As I write this post there are currently 57,975 owl listings on etsy.  They are in paintings and prints, jewelry, clothing, journals, pillows, toys and more - I seem to be seeing owls everywhere!  The other day I saw the following button on my friend Jenny Blair's fabulous blog:

My Owl Barn is the go-to place for owl lovers and they are sharing the owl love by offering a free customizable and downloadable calendar filled with fantastic owl art created by some seriously talented artists!

I can see why owls are so popular right now... there is something very comforting about their familiar wide-eyed expressions.  I have a feeling today's owl isn't my last...

(Don't forget to stop by the Creative Every Day blog to see more day 26 art!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Thankful Owl"  8x10  mixed media on canvas

I have to be honest, for today's painting I had no plan...  I knew I wanted to use (what I consider to be) Thanksgiving colors, but other than that I decided to just let the art take me where it wanted to go.  I started by creating a warm layered background and eventually an owl emerged.  I decided to keep the owl fairly translucent because I liked how it was all blending together.

Tonight as I write this I feel full... Not just because I indulged in pumpkin and pecan pie, but because I feel so blessed.  I am filled with gratitude for my friends and family here at home and also for the new community of friends I have found online that feel like an extended family.

For my friends that are celebrating today, I hope you and yours are enjoying a wonderful holiday filled with lots of reasons to be thankful!

xo

Kristin

p.s.  Make sure to stop by the Creative Every Day blog between bites!

Day 24 (30 in 30 for 30)

"Sneaky"  8x10  acrylic on canvas

Today's painting was inspired by Illustration Friday's "Sneaky" theme.  It is also my contribution to this week's Whimsical Wednesday.

It has been quite a day!  Early this morning I went into my studio to prime my canvas for today's painting.  The lid was stuck so I did what I always do - I started banging it against the side of my art table.  Unfortunately, the lid wasn't as stuck as I originally thought... it went flying and my jug of gesso spilled and sprayed all over my art table and the surrounding area.  I should also explain that since I do a lot of painting I don't buy the small bottles of gesso, I buy economy sized jugs!  Oh what a mess!

As I cleaned it up I remembered the children's book by James Stevenson - "Could be Worse!".   It's all over the wood floor I lovingly refinished 2 years ago ("could be worse" - it could be carpet).  It's all over my pajama pants and in between my toes ("could be worse" - I could have been wearing a favorite pair of pants or my sock monkey slippers).  It's on my shelves and my blank sketchbook project pages ("could be worse" - it could have gotten on the cover that I already finished)... I'm sure you get the idea.  Even though it was reminiscent of a crime scene, remembering that it "could be worse" helped me get through the hour of clean-up!

Be sure to stop by the Creative Every Day blog to see more day 24 art!