"Timeless (A Black Lab)," 4" x 6", Golden Open Acrylics on Raymar panel, portrait of a black labrador retriever, $239 (less 10% if you already own an original of mine). Inquiries may always come to me. I painted another version of this handsome guy for a client yesterday - it's a gift, so shh!! - but his face was so wonderful that I had to do a second portrait. One for her and one for.... you? it could be - "Timeless" will go to the first one asking politely! I'm participating in 30 Days of Gratitude during the month of November. Each day I will consciously be thankful for something I might otherwise gloss over or take for granted. A couple of friends started it up on Facebook yesterday and I appreciate their allowing me to blatantly copy their idea. Which dovetails nicely into the studio's new Gratitude Project. It's been a while since I actively profiled shelter animals, but I've been working behind the scenes since this summer to partner with a variety of groups across the country. The first installment will happen later this week - I'll paint a shelter animal, share a bit of his/her story, and when the painting sells, the proceeds go back to the host group/organization. I can't wait to get started!! Thank yous go out to everyone who participated in the conversation on Friday during Artist Q&A Day. There was some nice dialogue about talent, abstract art, valuable feedback, and what kind of tree I'd be, along with other things. I encourage you to take a quick read through the ideas in the comments section of Friday's blog post. We'll do this again at the end of November. Thanks for looking at, and sharing, my artwork with your friends and family - Kim
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The cover of "A Dog Named Blue," now available from Blurb publishers. When I first painted Amelia I never imagined that she would be re-christened "Blue" and inspire a book. In her defense, Amelia had a number of other partners in crime - animals who's portraits seemed to fall into a specific color category and prompt color-centric names. In typical ADD fashion, my brain started spinning 100mph. What if I turned those muses' paintings into a picture book for animal loving kids? I shared my idea with three friends in the industry, and they eagerly offered their expertise. I am truly indebted to them. Illustrator and author Matt Faulkner and children's book author and literacy expert Kristen Remenar edited an early version of the draft. They suggested key plot/conceptual changes that made it oodles better. Designer Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson worked her magic, pairing the images with perfectly color
Kim,
ReplyDeleteI finally presented your portrait of Farley to my husband on Thursday, which was his birthday. It was a big hit! Thank you so much.
:)
Kristy
Kristy - thanks for letting me know! Glad it went over well - Happy Holidays! :) Kim
ReplyDeleteHi Kim. Your paintings are a refreshing change from the usual still-life-painting-a-day's. Very lively and the colors are scrumtuous. I have a question: what do you call your style? Impressionistic? Just curious. I've painted realisticly for 25 years and just began trying a more painterly approach. However, my husband thinks my realistic painting are better. He's typical of so many novices who think photo-realisim is art. How do you go against that opinion and paint more of yourself(as you do) into your work?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Sandy
Sandy, In order to paint loose, an artist HAS to understand how to paint tight. I believe that art should bear the thumbprint of it's maker, and that is far harder to do with photorealism. Not to disrespect the amount of talent and knowledge it takes to be able to work this way or to say that it can't be done - I don't mean that at all! It's just that looser work moves me more so emotionally, whereas the photorealistic stuff raises my respect. They are both very different sorts of end results.
ReplyDeleteThanks for complimenting my style. I really don't know what to call it, other than authentic and true - it matches my joy and optimism. I paint to quell the desire I feel about expressing myself - I don't paint to match anyone else's requirements. Perhaps that is one of the secrets to feeding creativity? (I dont' know myself, but am asking in th einterest of spurring conversation)
Keep painting! And listen to yourself!