Studio News, August 2019

Finnigan, 12" x 12" x 1", acrylics on cradeled birch panel, not for sale.

Studio Newsletter, August 2019

Finnigan's health had been steadily declining, and a few weeks ago he let us know he was ready to leave. Our family surrounded him with love well beyond his last moments, something we had been dreading doing, but it was the greatest gift that we could ever have given, other than our home and companionship during his lifetime. It seems strange without him here. Thank you to all who reached out with their stories and support during this time - we felt part of a greater, gentler community.

I am continuing to paint the Daydreams - that magical space where lucidity fades and our imagination begins to bloom. I'm putting them on my website as fast as they come. Some of the paintings are smaller and on paper, so there's a variety of price points. And I am already seeing that I may choose to go back into one or two and repaint some areas. That's always a risk when I have paintings lying about and a brain spinning with possibilities.

I'm also gearing up for a few fall juried exhibitions. Or rather, readying myself for more rejections. Because if I don't apply, I'll never get in. (For those reading this who are unfamiliar with the juried exhibition processes, an artist submits - and pays an entry fee - for their work to be considered. A juror/team of jurors review all the applicants, selecting those who's work they feel best fits the space/theme/particular concept. Only art passing the jurors' muster makes it to the exhibition walls, where it is then again juried for prizes.) I'm reaching for some bigger events with bigger pools of applicants, which means my work has to measure up to stricter standards. We shall see what happens.

In this same vein, I entered the Pixels Billboard Contest. This is an online event for original artwork to be featured in a national billboard campaign. I don't typically do events that involve a popular vote, as it seems to not always reflect the merit of the work itself. I made an exception this time around because the popular vote was merely the limiting factor in identifying the artwork making it into the juried pool. SO PLEASE VOTE FOR MY PAINTINGS!! I need 250 votes on a piece (I have three of them) in order for it to be considered. Inclusion in this national campaign would be a wonderful boost for my business. Feel free to vote and share these links through August 15th.

https://fineartamerica.com/contests/billboard-contest.html?tab=vote&artworkid=27711235&fbclid=IwAR34Dz1xCk6gHip3imYxoCTq-YHx9vdrzFf0vJmK89Oa-vYSvdnr6_1m280

Bins are piling up in the garage - The Princess is purging and packing - and when the September Newsletter goes out, she'll be off, too. I know I'm not alone in sending my kiddo off into the world, and offering a giant virtual hug to all of us who will be doing this same sort of thing when school/job/life commences shortly. We got this. They got this.

And if you want to go back to school or focus a little on your own creative growth, why not consider joining my online classroom? Video, text and other materials are all available online for students' perusal at their convenience. $5/month grants access to this exclusive content, which this month focused on work space setup and nurturing ideas. The classroom community is growing, and I'd love to see you join us and contribute to the conversations happening.

And let me know what you think. I'm always listening. Feel free to respond to this newsletter, shoot me an email, comment on the blog (I've been actively blogging since 2007, and it's all there!), or interact via Facebook or Instagram. Locals can join my journaling group that meets monthly. I'll be teaching in Saginaw Michigan this fall, and also offer online one on one mentoring and critiques via Facetime. There's all sorts of ways for us to connect!

Thanks, as always, for following along with my art and musings,
Warmly, Kim

Join My Virtual Classroom

Picture Book "A Dog Named Blue" - now available!!

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...

Tabby Kit

"Tabby Kit," 5" x 7", acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting a tiny little orange striped guy from Morgue File . This painting can be yours for $289, which includes s&h inside the US. And in case you didn't see it, a little doodle of him is also available for sale here . Inquires may come directly to me . Although it certainly doesn't FEEL like spring here (snow and ice and wind chills, brr!), I can tell that spring is coming. The mercury is rising a wee bit each day and the days are getting longer and brighter. Over the weekend we drove with the moonroof open just to feel the sun's meager and oh-so-very-welcome warmth (although the heat in the car was cranked, too, in the interest of full disclosure!). I wanted to work with spring-like colors today, and this little guy was still on my mind , so I grabbed a small panel and got to work. Of course, I also have Poppy to finish and some changes to make to another po...

Dear Copyright Thieves

Dear Copyright Thieves, Just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's free for the taking. So let's just stop pretending the internet is a free-for-all. Don't play the card that you didn't know - that's insulting. And don't also tell me that you meant to follow up and get permission but never got a chance to. That's insulting too. And by the way, don't you have a copyright protection notice on your own site? And don't even try and point the finger at a third party who commissioned you to make a copy of my painting - again, an insult - you and I both know the difference between a reference photo and a painting. And don't tell me that I asked for it because I share my artwork on the internet. I share my paintings and ideas and the stories behind them so as to encourage others to pursue their own passions . I do not share so that those lacking integrity and morals can copy and market the images as their own...

Paintings With Soul

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