Paintings With Soul

Last week I was able to gift a scholarship to one lucky creator for this year's  Make Create Express  year long class. The winner was drawn at random, and I was so thrilled to get to reacho out and offer that space to Amanda Krause. Amanda is a mixed media artist who explores materials and techniques as she observes birds. She is looking to build a routine that supports regular creation and provides incentive to explore new subjects. She hopes to learn new skills and techniques as she arts her way through the months. What a perfect match for this experience - I am certain that she will have a marvelous time! You can see more of Amanda's work on   Facebook   and   Instagram . Thank you   Galia and Art is Magic   for giving me the change to give away a seat in this class. And thank you Amanda for being a part of my creative circle and helping spread word about the experience.  If you've not yet signed up for the lead-in event, which is free, please do.   The Creative Retreat

I am so excited to share with you the lessons I've created exclusively for this year's Make Create Express event. The first one features butterflies and will be part of the free Creative Retreat Weekend July 11-12th. The butterfly lesson will only be available, entirely for free, during this weekend event. However BOTH lessons, the butterfly and a wonderful rabbit painting workshop, are part of the year long Make Create Express. And I'm just one of 25 other artists who have made extraordinary content. Want in? Of course you do! We are less than 3 weeks out from the Creative Retreat Weekend , and to celebrate we are having a Blog Hop Giveaway. I get to give away 1 place in the Make Create Express year long workshop. This is a $120 value - think of the art supplies you can buy with that sort of savings!! To enter just share this particular blog post on Facebook and be sure to tell me that you have done so (shared this) by commenting here on the blog by 8pm on June 25th.  I

"Goldfish,"11" x 14", acrylics and graphite on Stonehenge (cotton rag) paper, $399 plus s&h to the first asking nicely. I accept paypal, venmo, personal checks and payment plans. Inquiries may always come   to me . Took a break from pet portraits and homework. Yes, I am always a student, learning and trying new things - right now I'm working one on one with   Anne Siems  and she is turning my brain inside out in the best sort of way. But today after some work on   the puppy with pearls   and a couple Anne studies, I needed to do a painting that was a little less serious. And what do you know? my heart is lighter.  It could have also been the dance music I had blasting. Tomorrow's #journalthroughit lesson will be light hearted too. I'm going to channel Dr. Seuss and make a joyful and imaginative page. Come join me at 11:30am eastern time on   my studio facebook pag e. Thanks for following along with my painting journey, Kim

"Jager & Boh," a commissioned portrait, 18" x 24", acrylics on museum quality panel, private collection (thank you so very much to my new collectors). I can't WAIT to see this portrait installed in my collector's home. Meanwhile, did you see this?   Paul Anka inspecting his portrait. Reach out   if you are curious about the pet portrait process. Thanks for following along with my painting journey, Kim

Today's #journalthroughit lesson is a direct response to today's world. I'll provide a simple step by step approach to fingerpainting a diverse range of figures, figures which will gather into a gentle crowd on our journal page. A rainbow hued peaceful gathering of humanity in celebration of all ethnicities and walks of life. Come join me via a live feed on   my Facebook studio page   at 11:30am eastern. Afterwards,   the lesson will be archived and viewable for a year   - you can watch it, and fingerpaint, on your own time. (Alternative materials will be discussed for those without access to paint) Thanks for following along with my painting journey, Kim

My demos for the two online classes available through   Make Create Express 2020   - one will be part of the free   Creative Retreat Weekend,   the other is included in the   year long instruction . More details are   here   and below. Studio News from May 2020 May was just one big long day, wasn't it? It's always hard for me to keep track of the days, since My Better Half doesn't work a traditional work week and there were no longer school aged kids at home. But now it seems even worse. There isn't anything to mark the passage of time, not even my weekly trip to the grocery (In March I was banned from doing pretty much anything out in the world). I've been filling my days with studio work and hanging with the kids. Long walks with the dogs, now that the weather has turned, and a bit of yard work too. Home cooked dinners on the patio and bonfires in the back yard. A lively game of croquet occasionally, with the added challenge of Sal, who relocates the balls mid-pla

At left, "Rosa Multiflora 1," at right, "Rosa Multiflora 2," each 6" x 6" x nearly 1", acrylics on cradled wood panel, image painted around edges, $174 each plus s&h. $100 from the purchase of each painting will be donated to #BlackLivesMatter. I accept paypal, venmo, personal checks and payment plans. Inquiries may always come   to me . I have been at a loss this last week, struggling to comprehend the divide that's growing in my country, and what I see Americans doing to each other. I created #journalthroughit lessons directed specifically to   mindfulness   and   creating space to usher in and express our emotions . I'm also planning to attend a peaceful BLM rally, but keeping an eye on threats of armed gunman attending in opposition. And, of course, listening and learning. It just doesn't feel like enough, though. Last night, on a rare late evening alone in the studio, I set my commission aside, as my heart wasn't in it. I need

"Paul Anka," 8"x10"x1", acrylics on cradled wood panel, private collection (thank you very much!!). Inquiries can always come   to me . It's been 19 years since I hung out my shingle and officially began a new career as a pet portrait artist. With 3 children aged 6 and under, I started painting at the dining room table while they napped, moving into my own studio two years later. My daily painting commitment,   www.PaintingaDogaDay.com , started 4 years afterwards. There have been well over 1000 faces gracing my easel in this time, and I fall in love with each and every one of them. Here's an added bonus for you - I started Paul Anka's portrait   via a live feed on Facebook . You can   watch it   on the studio Facebook page, or if you are boycotting social media like so many others, it is currently uploading to   YouTub e (and taking forever, I might add, so  message me and I'll send you a head's up when it's ready!). It would be remiss

I am so excited to finally be able to share I am one of the 26 instructors in this year's   Make Create Express 2020 . Make Create Express is an online journey of creativity, a collection of 26 artists, each having created 2 exclusive lessons outlining their unique approach for this adventure. The video lessons and other content are delivered weekly via email right to your inbox, so there is no need to scroll through feeds or remember to retrieve/download a thing. And wait - it gets better. Because there's FREE stuff!!  The kickoff to the Make Create Express year is a   FREE Creative Retreat Weekend . During this weekend, which falls on July 11 and 12, a free lesson from each instructor is unlocked. So clear your calendar for two intense days of artmaking! The Creative Retreat Weekend is a great way to check out new-to-you instructors and processes, f ind inspiration in the workshops and the community, and d etermine if the yearlong Make Create Express workshop is a good fit fo