Award

"Bittersweet"
6" x 6"
(watercolor on aquabord)

Click to purchase.

I was recently made aware that my still life painting "Bittersweet" was given an award at the Randy Higbee Gallery's "6 Inch Squared" show in Costa Mesa, California.  I am very grateful and honored.  You can view the show online here.  Over 600 paintings are in the exhibit . . . perhaps you can get some Christmas shopping done!

Online Shopping

HALLOOO!  It's been a while as I was all bogged down working on a house-project last week.  But more about that later.  

I finally have my online store up and running.  I don't have EVERYTHING I want to put up there, but I have most of the basics -- some notecards, my 2015 calendars, giclees, belts & buckles.  It's a start.  I hope you get the chance to check it out:  http://karakbigda.storenvy.com.  

Now onto my project -- I was busy last week painting our kitchen.  It took about 6 days (with some help from my dad and husband).  We have a galley kitchen (not my favorite), however until we decide to REALLY make it over (with new cabinets, countertops, appliances - maybe even combine it with what's now the dining room), we painted the hideous dark oak cabinets, walls and ceiling.  Unfortunately neither Dan nor I took "before" photos.  Gaaahh! We're such dopes.  But here are a couple images of the new paint job anyway.  At least it's cleaned up and much brighter.  I ordered some wooden knobs that I will paint the same color as the cabinets and plan on painting the door as well.

I hope you all are doing well.  I'm behind the eight-ball as usual.  Ha!  Thanks for popping by.

Getting Close

work in progress
14" x 11"
(watercolor on aquabord)

Everything is getting close . . . Thanksgiving . . . Christmas . . . a completed corn painting.  Ha!  I'm almost done with this one -- some more work is needed on it though.  I'll be in touch.  Thanks for coming on by and good luck on your holiday preparations!

Corn Progress

   

Hey folks!  Here's where I'm at today.  I had a lovely day painting -- I hope whatever you did today brought you joy and some laughter.  

"Holiday Sparkle"

"Holiday Sparkle"
11.25" x 8.75"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.

I'm starting to get in the spirit!! This is an old ornament that used to hang on our family Christmas trees way back in the 1970's.  I just love these retro decorations.  Have a great weekend and thank you for popping by!

(what this painting could look like when framed)

Making Progress

work in progress
14" x 11"
watercolor on aquabord

Although I haven't yet posted this one, I began this painting earlier in the week.  Here's my progress thus far.  Thank you for taking a peek - have a good day!

work in progress - detail

"Winterberries"

"Winterberries"
9.5" x 7"
(watercolor on paper)
starting bid:  $100

Click here to bid.

I had a very productive day and am happy that I finished this today (Wednesday).  I may use it as my Christmas card this year.  I'm off to bed now!  Have a lovely day.

(what this painting could look like when framed)

More Stuff

I've spent some long hours in the studio the past few days and have started a bunch of new paintings.  Now it's time to start finishing them off.  :)

Have a great day!

"Winterberries" - wip 1

"Three Amigos" - wip 1

A Lot Of Stuff Going On

I think I'm finally back into the swing of things and have plenty to keep me busy. The photo above is from my work table Sunday night.  I completed the gourd on Monday (below).  I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do with it though.  I think I'm just going to hang onto it for a little bit.  I worked on my other paintings as well, so stay tuned.

"Gourd"
8" x 8"
watercolor on aquabord

Thank you for stopping by.  Have a good day!

Gourd

Gourd - progress shot #1

I'm working on a new still life -- a gourd painting -- 8" x 8" on aquabord.  Here are my progress shots so far.  I'm starting to feel a little bit back to normal.  Ruts are tough . . . but they always pass.

Gourd - progress shot #2

Pumpkin Pals

"Pumpkin Pals"
8" x 8"
watercolor on aquabord
starting bid:  $100

Click here to bid.

All done and on to the next!  Thank you for popping by.

Working Things Out

"Pumpkin Pals" - wip
8" x 8"
watercolor on aquabord

I made some progress on this painting today.  I'm hoping that I can smooth out the foreground wash and make it a little darker.  I've also started a couple other paintings and took more photos today.  I hope I'm getting back into the swing of things.  Thank you for stopping by.

Pumpkins . . .

"Pumpkin Pals" - wip
8" x 8"
watercolor on aquabord

. . . or Kim Kardashian's arse?  Ugh!  I really didn't mean for this to happen.  As you all know, I've been in a rut here.  I've spent days pouring over uninspiring references, I've been half-heartedly sketching landscapes, practicing trees, studying foliage and for what?  Just colossal fails, that's what.  Not a good idea trying to learn new things when one is feeling rather low about one's skills.  So I decided to go back to which is most familiar:  the still life.  So I bought some old gourds, took all sorts of pictures and started painting.  I'm feeling rather inspired.  Unfortunately, however, the beginning of this painting looks like that horrible photo of Kim Kardashian's bum that's circulating . . . the one we're all trying to get away from!  Seriously . . . forgive me . . . I really didn't do this on purpose.  

Have a great day.

Auction

"Window Shadows"
10.25" x 5"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.  Starting bid:  $75

What is it about my love for windows and doors?  :)  Even though this is more of a study, I thought it could stand on its own as a real live painting!  So I've decided to auction it off over at Daily Paintworks.  Below is an example of what this painting could look like framed.  Have a great day and thank you for stopping by!

what this painting could look like framed

Window Shadows

"Window Shadows"
10.25" x 5"
watercolor on paper

I did some more sketching yesterday.  I'm letting this one set for a day just to make sure it's done.  Below are some sketches.  I'm still working things out . . . but I think I'm slowly getting back into the groove.  Have a great day!

A Little Bit Of A Rut

sketchbook scenes

I'm feeling a little bit like I'm in a creative rut here, so I've opened up my sketchbooks again to hopefully get back into it and work on some things. At the very least, it's been very relaxing.  :)

How do you handle blocks?

Little Bit O' News

"Annie's Oil Lamp"
6" x 6"
watercolor on aquabord

Click here to purchase.  Starting bid:  $80

I finally finished a couple paintings I've been working on:  "Annie's Oil Lamp" and "Sugar Pumpkin."  I'm auctioning off "Annie's Oil Lamp" on DPW and am happy to announce that "Sugar Pumpkin" is on its way to the Randy Higbee Gallery's "6 Inch Squared Show" in California along with "Bittersweet."  I hope while there, they will find their "forever homes!"  :)

Thank you for viewing my work.

"Bittersweet"
6" x 6"
watercolor on aquabord

"Sugar Pumpkin"
6" x 6"
watercolor on aquabord

(what "Annie's Oil Lamp" could look like framed)

Jumping Around

I haven't finished anything yet, but I AM working.  :)  As you can see, I'm still in the 6"x 6" aquabord groove.

Sugar Pumpkin
watercolor on aquabord

I've painted a couple versions of this, although a slightly different composition and never on aquabord before.  My "painting ladies" wanted to try a pumpkin on aquabord.  I'm going at it a little more meticulously than usual.  It's fun, but time-consuming.  I'm really concentrating on the realism -- I was inspired by a gallery on Nantucket.  I need to find my style and stick with it though.  That's one of the hardest things about painting I think.

Daisy Closeup
watercolor on aquabord

Another one that I began a long time ago.  I'm just now getting around to working on it again. Have a lovely day and thank you for stopping by.

Annie's Oil Lamp

 "Annie's Oil Lamp" - wip
6" x 6"
(watercolor on aquabord)

Almost done!  :)  Have a lovely day.

One Week, Two Week

Carol Marine's new book

I had decided to take a week off after my Backroads Tour, but that week sort of turned into two! (Although technically, I did do a lot of work on my online store, I just didn't paint or blog, so I guess I was working some.)  Anyway --  now I have a few different things to report on.

Oh boy!  Those shoes look very familiar!

Carol Marine (of www.dailypaintworks.com fame) recently wrote a book and was kind enough to include a little blurb about me and my work in it.  My copy arrived in the mail on Monday and I've been devouring it ever since.  It's a great resource and story; very inspiring. Carol is a fantastic writer so I encourage you to head on over to Amazon and order a copy today.  (It also makes a great Christmas gift!)

"Late Afternoon"

On Monday, my friend June and I took a ride to the Cape to pick up my painting "Late Afternoon" that had been juried into the Cape Cod Art Association's "All New England" show.  The Association is located in Barnstable and is a lovely facility. You can access their website here.

Being the crazy, spontaneous chicks that we are, June suggested we take a ferry ride over to Nantucket!  What!?  So we did!  I have never been, but I assure you, I will be going back. It was a beautiful day and personally, I loved that it was off-season: easier to maneuver without crowds and shoot reference photos.  Even though not all the stores were open - plenty were and it was just magical. We also checked out some galleries which got me all juiced to paint. And this all counts as research for work -- I have a great job don't I?  Thank you for a perfect day, Junie!  :)

leaving Hyannis

two crazy chicks

beautiful street shot - is it really Autumn?

So today I am back painting and like the Pointer Sisters sing:  "I'm so excited!"  I have so many things to think about and do.  Nantucket was incredibly inspiring.  Have a great day.

Studio Shots

Aaaahhhh . . . back to normal.  After my Open Studio it's always nice to get things back to a very clean normal.  It won't look like this for long, but I thought I'd share some art studio photos.  Have a lovely day!

Adventures In Sewing

a quilted table-topper and infinity scarf
(and yes . . . a couple Autumn lilacs from my garden - how delightful is that?!)

I've been taking a break this past week and so I pulled out my mom's old sewing machine, dusted it off, watched some youTube videos and gave a couple projects a try with the blueberry fabric I designed.  Sew much fun!  (So bad . . . excuse the pun, I couldn't resist).  To purchase the blueberry fabric for your own projects, visit my Spoonflower shop.