Landscape and abstract landscapes from a photo.

These paintings were taken from a photo I took on a farm in Iowa. The photo is on my FaceBook  page, you can view it here. I like the "plain" one, but there is something about bright colors that make me happy and being able to use your imagination to create a different scene than what is before you. That's what it's all about.

Fiery Forest

Mixed media on cotton rag, approx. 16x20. Finding inspiration from all the trees in my backyard and taking advantage of the Spring like day, finally.

Haulover Beach

Haulover Beach, on 22x30 watercolor paper. I fought with her for a long time, just because she didn't know where she wanted to be. At a nude beach turned out to be the perfect spot.

Monoprinting inspired by Chagall

 

A monoprint inspired by Chagall. First try at monoprinting, I think I will do more!

Willie's Wife

Everyone at my house thinks this looks like Willie's wife, hence the title. Of course, this is just a person out of my head but let the crazies think what they want! This is pastel on Fabriano Tiziano.

Sgraffito

Black and white sgraffito on paper. I think it needs color, just waiting for it to dry first.

Pastel and collage

Pastel and collage on watercolor paper. Now I know why my dad loved working in pastels. I love the way the pastels move and blend. It just makes you happy to get this stuff all over your hands.

Trust the Gorton's Fisherman

I love the Gorton's Fisherman. He's strong, sexy and catches all those tasty fish sticks. I mean fish. So here he is in pastel on Fabriano Tiziano.

Healthy Girl

She's "Healthy Girl", saving the world one smoothie at a time! Her hair is full of organic goodness with clipped images from a health magazine.

Tea Bag Art

Drew a couple of faces on tea bags. Kept the whole thing, strings, tags and all and mounted them to mat board. One of the tags says "Art is either plagiarism or revolution", Paul Gauguin, 1848-1903 and the other says "True wealth is the ability to let go of your possessions." And a close up so you can see all of the beautiful tea stains and "crumbly tea texture".

First snow of the year, my evergreen loves it!

My evergreen after the first measurable snow this year. But that's okay cause it's supposed to be 67 degrees today. If you don't like the weather in Kansas City, just stick around till tomorrow, it'll change.

At Hippocrates Health Institute

I love this statue. It's organic and earthy. The weather has only made it better. At Hippocrates Health Institute, West Palm Beach, Florida. Their website is here.

Renaissance Festival in Bonner Springs, Kansas

I love the Renaissance Festival! There is lots to do and see. From the buildings to the costumes, to all the games, shows and activities, it really makes you feel like you stepped back in time. This guy is in the middle of the stage, balancing on the ladder (as in no support) while blowing fire out his mouth. A few minutes before this same guy put his whole body through a tennis racket.

Dick Blick Studio Catalog Winter 2013

My art is in the Blick catalog, yay! I am a huge fan of DickBlick and have been for a long time. I buy almost all of my supplies from them. They closed their Kansas City, MO and Kansas locations years ago so now I buy from them online. Best prices, best quality, name brands and a huge variety. Plus quick shipping and good customer service. Who could ask for more?

The piece featured sold two years ago to collectors in Cornwall, ON, Canada. It started out as a blind contour drawing on a wood panel and developed from there. I used graphite, acrylic, ink, and colored pencil to create this work.

At the home of Thomas Hart Benton

This was my second trip to the home of Thomas Hart Benton. The photo above is a vintage figurine that is in his wife's bedroom. If you are in the Kansas City area or are planning to be, it's a must see. You can learn all about his life and see many original paintings and drawings through out his home. The carriage house was his studio which is where he died in 1975. The parks department left his studio just as he left it. For more info: click here.

Red Geraniums survive Winter

I took this photo of the Red Geraniums in my sunroom. I love to winter all my annuals, they give a much needed burst of color and happiness through the dreary cold days. These Geraniums are on their 2nd Winter and have grown rather large. I shot them in front of the window after the first snowfall, hence the beautiful white background. Okay... so that is the one thing Winter has going for it, all of that beautiful pure white color. Other than that, I'm not a fan of the season. Hurry up Spring!

More 15 minute Nude Figure Sketches

Fun to do, especially within the 15 minute time frame. I love smudging charcoal with my fingers. I love not having to erase anything. I love tearing the sheet off my sketchpad and starting a new drawing. I love working in my sun room where there is infinite light. I could go on...

Nude female figure sketches

I have a big, beautiful sun room, complete with a hot tub, vaulted ceiling and a wrap around deck. There are so many windows in there it takes a good part of the day just to clean them all. It is clearly my favorite room in the house. So why am I not creating in there? Beats me, but I took care of that today. I moved my easel to the sun room along with my big drawing pad and some charcoal, stumps and a kneaded eraser. I was set. I have been wanting to sketch some nude female figures and this was the perfect subject to break in my new art area.

I did four 15 minute quick sketches. Too bad so sad if they are not finished. I find that it is good sometimes to limit myself time wise when learning. That way I don't get caught up in details and perfectionism, but instead I am free, free to learn and grow. Free to just have fun. I think that's when you learn the most.

100 likes for my Face Book page!

Just got 100 likes on my Face Book page! Celebrating all day by wearing a red hat. It just seemed like the right thing to do...
Follow me here.

Cowgirl

Who doesn't love a cowgirl? This one is painted on an 8x8, 1/2" deep wood panel from a sketch that I did a couple of years ago. I outlined the hat with a wood burning tool. I love the effect but the smoke smelled awful. Must have been the acrylic I was burning through. Yee haw!

Browne's Irish Market and Deli

What an amazing place! I feel as though I have stepped back in time. And who knew this treasure was right under my nose? Browne's was established in 1887 and is the oldest Irish business in all of North America. They serve delicious Irish food (the potato soup is a must eat) and have an awesome market where you can browse through all kinds of Irish imports and handmade goods.

I was so impressed by the friendliness of the owners (still a family owned business) and staff (Hi Wendy!) that I created this piece using their brown paper gift sack... the same sack I had filled with items I had to have from their market. So if you are visiting the Kansas City area, or if you are a native, you must visit here... you will be welcomed!

For more info on Browne's go here.

Birth Art Work

Last month I was a vendor at the CAPPA conference in Kansas City. What a wild, wonderful bunch of women. These birth professionals take their work seriously. So I created some unique art to grace the walls of their homes and offices. A total of 8 new pieces, I will post one here and you can view the rest in my etsy shop. Originals and prints are available.

I am loving Stillman & Birn! I received a sample pack of their paper and put it to the test. It stood up to erasings, acrylic and watercolor washes and collage with nary a paper curl. I used the backside of the paper so I could make use of their paper information. Now I want a tank top that says this on it. Oh, and kudos to Stillman and Birn for the whitest paper I have ever seen. Seriously white. It is truly beautiful... clean.... fresh... and beckons you to paint on it.

And here it is...

 My work was published in Somerset Studios Gallery Magazine, Summer 2012, in an article that Misty Mawn wrote. I just got my copy in the mail but it won't hit newsstands till June 1st. Doing a happy dance!

Time Triptych

I've been consumed with time lately. It's the one thing you can never have enough of and once it's gone, you can never get back. My huge 32x48 year-at-a-glance wall calendar is mocking me at this very moment, knowing that June is a milestone birthday for me. Ugh.

A visit to the new art supply store in Kansas City, Artist and Craftsman Supply, was just what I needed to get me out of my funk. I bought all kinds of art goodness. And then there it was, sitting by the cash register were  bags and bags of watch parts. I knew I had to have them even though I had no idea what I was going to do with them. It was that time thing again.

And so my "Time" triptych was born. This is the first piece in the triptych and I used up a half a bag of watch parts on it. I also deviated from my usual palette of bright vivid colors. I like the muted neutral tones, it kinda matched my muted mood. So I'm off now to work on the remaining two.

Walk in the Woods

Title: Walk in the Woods, 12" x 9", on 100% cotton rag paper.
 I have fond memories of many walks in the woods behind my house when I was a kid. We would catch crawdads, pick up earthworms after a good rain and mushroom hunt. Those were good times!

A New Year filled to the brim with possibilities.

Sometimes you can just feel it coming. I know 2012 will be filled with good things and I thank God in advance for that. I bought a huge dry erasable year at a glance calendar. It fills most of my wall. I almost didn't buy it because it somehow scared me to look at a whole year at once. Daunting yes, but I don't want this year to get away from me like last year did. I will plan ahead, fill up my calendar and be happy. So I wish you, my dear blogger friends, a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. May your cup overflow.

Never Fear

 

Yeah, she's looking fear right in the eye, determined not to live her life in fear any longer. Of course, the only way to deal with fear is by the Word of God.  Isaiah 43:1 says- Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour

And that people, is beautiful!

New series - "FacePage"

This is a series I am currently working on with mixed media on book pages. These pages are taken from "The Passing Bells" by Phillip Rock, circa 1978. For this series, I plan on working through the whole book, 433 pages in all.

The title of each piece will be taken from words already on the page and still visible through the paint.

Also, each piece has it's own story line. The story will be what was running through my head before, during or after I painted it. Because there has to be a story.

And here are the first nine pages:

 Title: "Coming on Like the Wind"
The story: She could feel it in every breath she took. She was about to be set free from her past and all that entangled her. A change was coming on, coming on like the wind.

 Title: "Summer 1914"
The story: Best of friends, the girls would always spend their summers together.

Title: "Feminine Glow"
The story: She reached for the stars...and got one.

 Title: "Mr. Blythe"
The story: His daily commute included Starbucks. That's when he did his best thinking.

 Title: "Full of Mustard"
The story: Being high-spirited and a bit edgy, Grandpa George said she was full of mustard.

 Title: "Foxe"
The story: She painted her lips Botox Red, just to show them off.

 Title: "A Very Pretty Girl"
The story: She still loved her kiki, even after all these years.

 Title: "Burgate Hill"
The story: As she peered out over the wall, she was surprised to find the grass really was greener on the other side.

 Title: "Sacrifice"
The story: Her deepest desire was to help others. She made the sacrifice. She became a nurse.

Change is good

Meet Mr. Blythe. 

His daily commute included Starbucks. That's when he did his best thinking.

Mr. Blythe is the first in my new series "Face Page". I will be painting on pages from "The Passing Bells" by Phillip Rock, circa 1978. I plan to go through the whole book with this series, 433 pages in all. I will make the title of each piece from the words already on the page- however weird that might turn out to be. That's how Mr. Blythe got his name.

New changes on my blog- a new banner and a new name. I bought the domain name "karenkay.me" and wanted to change everything to match. I am working on a website that I hope to have going by the end of this year. Writing your own html code is no picnic.

Also new for me is an etsy shop I just opened, you can visit my new shop here. I will have at least 7 pieces listed by the end of the day. Right now Mr. Blythe is all by himself in there.