kelcey bates

I should be ashamed of my self!

2010-01-25T13:28:00.000-08:00

My name is Kelcey and it's been almost a year since my last blogging! I have been back to work full time and therefor less time to do many things. Balance my time is always the hardest thing for me to do.

In the last few months I started to paint in oils. And what fun I am having!!!!! I am presently not at a computer that I can up load images but I will do that tomorrow morning so you can see the crazy shit I've been up to.

I am exploring fantasy I guess. I am using my strong drawing skills and then bending reality. Putting people and my dog in places they might not really go and changing shapes and sizes for dramitic effect or to get a point across. The affects have been ...well dare I say a bit strange, but I continue the journey just the same.

More to follow!!!!

bye Mummy

2009-04-20T07:47:00.000-07:00

this is Mummy. my Mummy. odd I know to call your mother Mummy but that's what we did. She passed away on Friday, April 17th about 6:15 am est. there was no fanfare, no flowers or phones ringing from well wishers. just the end. the three of us kids left with an assortment of stories and memories, a few tangible objects to sort through but that's pretty much it.

Mummy had been clinging to life for years and we all anticipated the day she would be gone but you never really know how your going to feel. it's sad, very sad and i'm sad. i hope she knows she was loved and that she is missed.

much love Mummy. sleep well.

2009-04-08T13:36:00.000-07:00

self portraits are one of my very favorite things to do. they are not often pretty but usual telling. funny how you feel, how you see yourself, what kind of mood your in all shows up in a self portrait. this one I did in about 15 minutes during a pastel class I was taking. we were all to be working on an exercise and I was finished and just killing some time. and there you have it.

i work very quickly and have the attention span of a gnat! in the time most other students would be just really starting to block in their colors and starting to get a real feel for where their painting is going... "I'M DONE". it's not necessarily a good thing or even a bad thing, it is just the way I work.

spring is finally starting to sprout and I am looking to lighten my work load through the summer so that I can paint, paint and ride my bike. plant a garden. go swimming. hang out. (might be wishful thinking, but without dreams, hope and wishful thinking where would be?!)

Trip to Portland Art Museum

2009-03-04T07:30:00.000-08:00

The actual exhibit that we went to see was called
" La Volupte du Gout" French paintings in the age of the Pompadour. WOW. can you say, cupid, pink, voluptuous, decadent... as you can see these are not the images I am sharing with you. I do see some influence in some up coming paintings maybe but these paintings I am sharing with you are a few that really caught my attention. I love portraits. I do them regularly of myself. It is the face and emotions I know best. It is also always available. But check these out would you! I found them tucked away, barely getting any attention and they are totally fabulous! don't you think? Crazy but I ddn't even get any pictures of the French pieces.

here is the link to the Portland Art Museum. Check out a sample of the paintings to get an idea what it was about and you can read about the time period. It was an wonderful exhibit with music and low light and really something to experience. It completely immersed you in it. See it if you can... http://portlandartmuseum.org/exhibitions/feature/La-volupt-du-got-French-Painting-in-the-Age-of-Madame-de-Pompadour

and so it goes...time that is

2009-03-02T12:32:00.001-08:00

well...since December I have had a few shows, sold a few pieces, given a few paintings away, created more paintings. I still have so many and yet there is no stopping from creating more. and so it goes...

I submitted three pieces to the "Unclad" show" again this year and I have always done well with this show, but this year I
didn't get in. I wish I knew why. You will need to visit my web site www.kelceybates.com if you want to see the newest nudes that were passed over. This small collection of nudes I call Cherry Pie. (can you hear the bitterness in my voice?) I am a bit disappointed and I was surprised. I really enjoyed this small series of paintings. I think they are fun and a little twisited and cute in an odd sort of way... anyway they were obviously not what jurors were looking for. and so it goes...

most recently I have entered a show for the NW Pastel Society. they are asking the artisits to think outside the box. that could be ground, subject matter... just be experimental. funny, i think everytime I go to paint or draw I am experimenting (so it goes...) but I tried harder and the piece you see here is one of the examples. I REALLY enjoyed doing this. I love the subject matter, I am all about shells and rocks and sticks and... I have many paintings involving shells and rocks and such. I could paint them over and over and over and never tire like I can other subjects. I will let you know if I got in or not and again sorry but if you visit my web site all three paintings entered in this show can be seen.

and this is all for now. come back soon for more. I PROMISE.

new painting. (from our Oregon Coast trip)

2008-12-08T12:20:00.000-08:00

FINALLY I am getting started on some paintings from Rob and my bike ride down the Oregon coast. So far the ideas and approach are completely random and vary with my mood and ability to focus. Focus of course is a HUGE deficit and my biggest challenge every day of my life.

anyway...the paintings that I imagine being born from this journey will come from a combination of things. Photos I took, guide/travel books, memory and my imagination. I have been a bit smitten lately by people using imagery that although based from reality take on a whole new perspective...can you say Chagall? or perhaps Freda Kahlo, Gauguin, Picasso (more commonly known. although I haven't really studied them like the other two). you get the picture. It could be that what I paint needs to be explained? maybe not, I am not totally sure where they are going. I will let it happen as it does in the studio. Just because I have ideas and images in my head doesn't always mean that that is what will happen. (back to that focus thing again) once I can get a solid block of time in the studio it is much easier to turn off the "world" and enter my own place/space/time. we shall see.....

p.s. how did I get a Florida sky?

sorry for the loooonggg delay!

2008-11-11T07:50:00.000-08:00

I know I have shown this piece before, but this piece was the corner stone of my my resent gallery walk on November 7th. Really good turn out and the woman that I was lucky enough to share the show with introduced me to many a local artist artist. well established local artists who are struggling starving artists and have been for years. Impressive and inspiring.

http://www.cascadiaweekly.com/pdfs/issues/200845.pdf. this is a local free paper that EVERYBODY picks up. Check it out please, turn to page 2...tada! yep, that's my painting, front and center!

I had visits from friends, made new connections, sold a painting and well, just had an all around splendid evening. It had been puring for days and blustery. But on the evening, just long enough for us to get set up through taking it all down we had fine fall weather. It's a bit of a majical evening for me. but then art shows for me always are a little bit majic. I wish all of you could have been there!!!!!

PEACE
kelcey

working on it

2008-10-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

well, as you can see I completely went in another direction. this is so not my norm. I am trying to understand how to paint water and this is one of many attempts and so far the closest to really representing water. my project now is to make it "my" water, in my style. this feels a bit contrived to me, but hey I'm learning and working it, trying to figure it out. I am already on to another painting, the new one includes water but I am trying to make it more dream-like, more like a memory and the way the walk on the beach felt...
yeah, well, I will post it soon.

as for life in general, other than watching the world dramatically change right before our eyes, all is well. I am really enjoying my work but still trying to figure out how I can make a living at it. I like the flexibility, the problem solving the caring and sharing it takes now if I could just transpose all of that into $$$. but then our $ isn't worth much or go very far anyway these days. (enough of this depressing stuff!) I have been taking a class required by one of the agencies I am working with. I have learned some interesting things. mostly it has confirmed that I am totally a hands on person. all of the hands on things we have done I am excelling at and the book stuff I let to much heart in and forget the legalities. imagine that!

off to the studio for an hour before work!

ok ok...I am soooo not getting enough time for ART

2008-09-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

well, all I can say is it's a start. and it is. I have changed my mind on this piece so many times I have no idea where it will end up but I can tell you it most likely will not look anything like it does at this point. well, maybe the subject matter will. oh, who knows.

lately, I don't know about you, but the state of the world has me worried, my job (well, one client in particular) has me all discombobulated, people are irritable, the weather is changing and I'm to damn sensitive! What makes me think I need to carry so much?! and then to make excuses for not getting more time in the studio...
ENOUGH!

so, today I will be working with my 96 year old. we're going grocery shopping. this will be a first for us and I think she might be a label reader. this will prove interesting...with not so good eyes and well, comprehending things?... should be fun. Last week she had me join her for lunch down in the lunch room. I got to meet all her pals and comrades. She is very respected and looked after. It's an interesting mix in the community she lives in. It's low income housing that use to be just for the elderly but something changed in the "system" so, so have her neighbors. Younger and more troubled. It is still dominantly elderly but changing. What does all of this have to do with me and my art? well, my life is my art. and it all effects each other.

I'm off to the studio for and hour and then off to work. I'm also going to ty to not read any news today (fat chance of that!).

The ride down the Oregon Coast

2008-09-20T07:45:00.000-07:00

home...safe and sound from our two weeks biking the Oregon Coast. It was an amazing trip, life changing actually. The trip was 420 miles total which includes all the side trips to see a lighthouse, a trip to town for a pancake breakfast and to go to a beach where all the surfers go. It's an amazing way to travel. You are under your own power and going at a respectable pace to really see things. Yes even sometimes seeing things you don't really want like... dead animals, beer cans, broken bungee cords and rubber made lids. When it comes to the bungee cords and rubber made lids you have to wonder where the things they were holding are, hmm.

Oh the amazing people we met along the way! An Asian fellow riding from Alaska to Patagonia, two British chaps riding from Vancouver BC to Mexico and one of my favorite meetings a woman walking/hiking the Oregon Coast. Yep! walking it. She writes guide books, has written articles for Sunset magazine and more... and now her first book titled "Strand". Oddly enough and lucky for us we ran into her twice and got to share a meal and a camp sight with her. There I was sitting at the picnic table making notes about the days journey and there she comes walking up off the beach. At this point we had taken a few extra days lay overs so that meant she had at some point passed us and then caught up with us! How wonderful for us.

I can't even begin to describe the beauty of this trip. The gulls, pelicans and crows. The forests and beaches. Wind swept capes of rock and trees clinging/holding with all their might. Skies, clouds and the beauty and power of the surf. Surfers, wind surfers, kite flyer's and oh the happy dogs! It's endless!

Well, home now and headed to the studio to try to re-capture some of feelings and images from this incredible journey. I loko forward to more trip like this and to do this one again. The Oregon Coast is fantastic. Lots to see and experience. So, get out there! Go have an adventure! Adventures really are around every corner. Open your mind, your heart and explore the magic.

working on more time in the studio...

2008-08-06T12:51:00.000-07:00

I am totally obsessed with this building. I have done a few different paintings of it over the last year. This is an old abandoned building right downtown on the water front. They refer to this part of town as Old Town. This building sits right on the road overlooking a closed GP Plant. (THANK GOODNESS!!!) When I first moved to town it was still producing pulp and when they were doing one particular part of their processing it smelled like burnt hot dogs. weird! anyway, there is something about the shape and the odd location of the building that I just keep going back to.

As for my job...loving it. will someone please send money so that I can continue to work for the pennies I make? I emailed a friend the other day. She asked how I was doing, to sum it up: I am poor as a church mouse and happy as a clam!

we are having a summer of all summers here in the north west. and we deserve it after last the summer of no summer. With the weather like this unfortunately I can't make myself stay inside to paint. But I do get some hours in and I will share the new pieces as they are completed (or before maybe?) I went up to the lake today for a long leisure swim and laid in the sun for a little while reading. Love it! I sure do love summer time. Now I am going to have a bowl of coconut sorbet on the porch before I go to work.

what dreams are made of?

2008-08-01T09:20:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how the mind works (and particularly MINE!) but this image, for whatever unknown totally whacked reason, was stuck in my head. So, I figured the only way to exercise this thing was to paint it. Well, here it is. Complete and I'm going to frame it just as I reminder to myself and all of the people who know me that "it's tough to be me!" we all get images stuck in our heads for whatever reasons... movies (Jaws comes to mind) drunken behavior (ouch) family gatherings (which might be part of or recurring behavior to the drunken stoopers) old friends, lovers... you get the idea. But imagine now that you have a way of disposing of them or passing them on and sharing them! Yep! that's part of art. Not always blatantly recognizable but it's in there.

as for this piece? I have no f*@#ing idea what this about. This is just... one of those moments of what it's like too be in my head at any given time.

hope I didn't scare anybody!?

a story...

2008-07-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

one of my clients, lets call her Edith, suffers from dementia. my first few visits with her were difficult for both of us. My approach was fix it and clean it up, lets get down to business... as it turns out we needed some time to get acquainted. Twice she has told me about a picture she use to have of a girl sitting having her morning coffee. She is lonely she said. Well, last week when I got there I made her her cup of coffee just like she likes it (lot's of cream!) and instead of getting down to business I sat and visited with her. She was tickled pink! This week, after weeks of trying to get her in the shower....you guessed it. I got her to shower! We washed her hair and put it up in curlers like she likes and rubbed pretty smelling lotion all over her. And then I fixed her a nice little lunch of scrambled eggs, sliced tomatoes and toast, then put her down for a nap while I frantically ran around getting stupid chores done. My day was a complete success as far as I could tell. I got a BIG hug when I left and she said see you Thursday sweetheart. Now thats the way we should all feel when we leave work. Needed, loved and smiling.

new adventures... journeys into the unknown

2008-07-12T15:03:00.000-07:00

my how time flies, huh?

well, I have started my new career. this is why I have been so delinquent in staying in touch. Sorry about that! Not to mention that I do ALL my commuting by bike now so it does take a little longer to get from here to there and so it takes up some spare time, blahblahblah. Anyway, I am doing home care for the elderly. I am loving it. I can't wait to see how it shows up in my paintings?!(maybe it has?)

has anyone seen the movie Martian Child? the boy (who thinks he's an alien) is doing this dance in the living room to connect with his kind. makes him feel...grounded somehow, well, John Cusack joins in because he wants to be supportive and try to understand. It's kind of like me. I'm the alien , doing my dance it odd, not the normal process but my pals are dancing with me. being supportive. Rob is the most supportive of all and although my dance does not come natural to him or sometimes even easily, he is always there trying to get in step with me. I am truely the luckiest alien I know.

as for the painting attached, it's a work in progress. Unusual, no? YES. I suppose we will just have to see where it goes. This is a piece that was totally born in my mind and I am searching the natural world to help me pull it off. Out side my window is a bank of trees that the sun shines directly on in the morning and completely back lights in the evenings. I love the light it spreads through our home and warm and happy feeling that it gives me. It tells us its summer and the light is not like this any other time of year. I want to try to convey how this makes me feel, what it feels like to me to see it... (see, I'm alien right?)

come back soo, more to follow!

Fairhaven Summer Solstice Art Walk About...

2008-06-23T10:20:00.000-07:00

well, another art walk. two weekends in a row. interesting that a few people even recognized my work from the previous week. that's cool! And to think that there are people that do more than one art walk...that's cool too!

I sold one, and well that's super cool. And it sold to another artist which feels really special.

this is one of the pieces showing at WHIMSEY in Fairhaven for a month or two, along with a broad spectrum of pieces covering sights in Bellingham.

(as for my first week of work? YEAH! I am enjoying it. in the mean time I am off to the studio to finish the piece from my last blog. )

PEACE

the start of a new painting...

2008-06-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

this is the start of a new painting. I love experimenting with under painting and color contrast. The under painting not only is a color background but you might even see some drawing going on under there. All of which becomes part of the work. And I can place words, feelings images under the painting to help me capture my mood. And some will get incorporated right into the painting. I can use a line or a dark or bright spot and work them right into the painting itself.

I am attempting to paint water. I have been trying to figure it out and get brave enough. After days and hours of thinking about it, pondering on it, watching it... I finally felt ready to attempt it. so here we are, at the beginning. Although I am using a collection of photos and quick sketches as guide lines for shapes and sizes I am trying to capture my memories and feelings towards the trip that Rob and I took two summers ago, and my big love of the ocean. I am also "dreaming" of our next trip this summer. We are planning to Bike the Oregon Coast. (we are both very excited!)

regarding my new job... I am loving it! I have the absolute cream of the crop for my first clients. It's unanimous... they are enjoying me as much as I am enjoying them. I know this because they told me so. They wish I was there everyday. It is a HUGE heart tug but I do need try my best to keep a hold of my time and to find other clients. I wish I had started doing this along time ago instead of all those hours in front of a computer screen. Live and learn, such is life... and so it goes.

enjoy...

2008-06-16T12:10:00.000-07:00

Surf Divas. My pal Megan and I went down to California as part of my birthday celebration and took surf lessons. We had a blast! I thought i was drying with the flu but managed to pull it together for some water time. the sun was warm, the water was beautiful and we both even stood up on our boards...a couple of times! There will be more of these to follow but I am currently working on some paintings that at this time I am calling "dreaming of the coast". you just wait and see. I am hoping that these images are a little more abstract and I don't plan on using any local color. I want these images to be filled with emotion. Longing and dreaming of the NW coast. well we will see. stay tuned for more...much more.

I am so excited to be back in my studio!!!!! and grateful for some sunshine. It has been sunny and trying to get warm. so outside to paint. thanks for watching!

PEACE
kelcey

back in the art scene for me

2008-06-11T04:59:00.000-07:00

Downtown Gallery Walk Friday June 13th
Envy Salon: 1300 Commercial (next to the parkade)
7:00 to 10:00

Lois Dahl, an artist friend of mine will be showing with me
at Envy. Although here in Bellingham you would never know it was summer we are giving the viewers the feeling of summer. Lois has some beautiful water colors of boats on the water. She is a magician of shape and color. well worth a view. check out her blog, the link is to your left of this post in "links". Check it out! and hope to see you or hear from you.

whew! out of work for a week, I have had two interviews and I am
participating in two art walks one Friday after the other. It feels good
to be getting back at it. I have completed one new painting in a week and I have lots of ideas brewing again. there are so many things to catch up on
and get involved with. If I start beating down doors now I should have more shows by the end of summer and through the fall... I feel really busy all of a sudden!

mean while I am off to the pool for a swim this morning. did i mention that I am doing a triathlon in August?

2008-06-04T15:37:00.000-07:00

we spent the long Memorial weekend at the doggy camp, ok not really. we went to Orcas Island in the San Juans. Rob and I and Cannon, yep! we biked with Cannon to the ferry and then to the cabin on Orcas. we have a child carrier that we, excuse me, Rob pulls Cannon in. It's a very heavy load with Cannon and some gear, and let us not forget that this is the hilliest island in the San Juans, so Rob let Cannon run up the hills along side. we must have been a sight to see. we had lots of people talking to us on the ferry asking how the travels were going. good times had by all! Cannon and Anika (Cannon's girlfriend in the background of the photo) fetched, swam, retrieved repeat, the entire weekend. As for the rest of us we enjoyed walks on the beach a leisure bike ride around the island, a walk to town... totally relaxing!

i got some amazing sunset photos to work from and I am still considering some dog paintings. I am hoping to have the time again to paint now that I have quit my job! yippee! Last Friday was my last day, I sold 3 paintings that day... think I am making the right move. I also have already gotten another job. Part time, home care for the elderly. It's non-profit, so the pay sucks but the hours are flexible and I think if I wanted I could work as many hours as I wanted. we will see... I am also looking forward to see what things might end up on the canvas from this???!!!! we will see...

sorry it's been so long! It was a long haul the last month at my job. Cool company!!!! the position was just NOT a good fit for me. oh well, here we gooooooo.........

sloooowwwly I go, step by step, inch by inch...

2008-05-01T05:52:00.000-07:00

so , yet another painting at Boulavard Park.

for what ever reason I am TOTALLY smitten with these rocks at a local park called Boulevard Park. It's right on the bay and in the summer they have free concerts, dogs and children play, people have bbq's, throw frisbee's and in the winter the wind blows and the waves smash and roll up into the park. it is part of our running route. As you can tell it is very much a part of my life. From the park you see (to me) the entry way into the San Juan Islands. It's a magical place.

So I have this collection of Bellingham paintings going that is pretty col. I cover lots of weather and all the seasons. It's an on going thing that I seem to continually come back to. I come to explore, exaggerate, honor and feel. I think I would like to get the complete collection together on my web sight and just keep growing it.

My artist pal extraordinare (sp?) and I will be showing together in June for the Downtown gallery walk. We are going with the sailing, boat, summer theme. I think I might dress like a pirate and play sea shanties and wacky stuff like that for the show. Just go for it and have a blast. June the weather should be getting better, warmer. I hear talk of global warming, why then did it snow two weeks ago? and why is it that although I insist on wearing spring clothing I still have to wear my fleece????!!!! The coffee has kicked in and I need to go. have I told you lately that I miss this? and miss my painting? and miss my art classes and friends. well I DO! AND I WANT IT BACK!

new work, some ideas and art speak

2008-04-19T11:39:00.000-07:00

well, here is a little something I've been working on. I am doing some about town images. trying to focus on simple specific shapes but trying to capture the feel of Bellingham. As you may or may not know, Bellingham can be rainy, windy, gray, sunny, the sky is forever changing. the wind can just whip the clouds across the sky, whip the bay into a frenzy or its calm and bright or calm and flat...arghhh the choices are endless and so are my ideas. Some of the images are repeats of other paintings but I am trying to re-feel them, re-see them with different eyes. I want to think that I am always experimenting with what I know and what I don't, with what I think I can do and sometimes I have know idea where I'm going it just feels right.

Many more to come...stay tuned.

Rob and I are planning a two week bike adventure down the Oregon Coast. We can hardly wait!!!! He has done it by himself but looking forward to having me to share it with. we are trying to work out if it is going to work out to bring the dog. We sure would like to. We are taking a smaller bike trip to Orcas island for Memorial weekend. Meeting our friends over there to do the cabin thing again which we all LOVE so much. This short run should give us some idea how trailering the dog will be for Rob, mind you. Poor guy has to do all the work!

I have added a new pal to my interesting Blogs to visit. check her out. her work is beautiful! We are collaborating again on a Downtown Gallery Walk. We will both keep you up to date on that happening. loisdahl.blogspot.com

PEACE

birthday party

2008-04-06T11:15:00.001-07:00

Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful birthday wishes! It couldn't have been a better way to ring a new year, a year older and as far as I am concerned THE landmark birthday. Well...I don't feel any older (yet!) . Rob and Megan thew me a party. They did all the decorating and invites and cooking... It was so sweet. A very big thank you to the love of my life for pulling that off and Megan for all her crazy decorating! It really was a hoot of a party! My sweet pal Megan and I flew down to California to go surfing and we had great time. We both actually got up on the boards and enjoyed some sunshine which we both really really were craving. We both got a little sunburn, ate delicious wonderful food and just overall relaxed and enjoyed our selves. I managed to have the flu the whole time I was there but ignored it as best as possible and still managed to enjoy the trip.

I was totally showered with cards and letters and gifts, which even though I might say "oh you shouldn't have!" I loved each and everyone of them! I even managed to get a day at the spa and couple more days to go! How sweet is that!

I am working on some new paintings which will be posted on the web site in just a few days. Keep your eyes open for the new stuff. I am working on my career change...I have some really positive options and I will keep you posted as things happen. Thanks for listening!

Weekend retreat to Orcas Island

2008-03-25T07:44:00.000-07:00

yet another great weekend with our friends on Orcas. This was the weekend of the 15th. Here we sat for an entire weekend at the waters edge and a blazing camp fire. Wonderful trip as always! This past weekend we were up at the cabin for yet some more R&R and yes-sir-re-bob my pal schmegan and and I are off to California for a long weekend this coming one. Chicks surf weekend you know. Well...at least I hope so. I have managed to come down with a HORRIBLE chest cold and I only have a couple of days to kick it. Today I have a day at the spa planned (one of my birthday presents!) and a hair cut. hmmm...fancy that, an all about ME day. I am hoping that a long hot soak in the steam room will help kick this cold I know that the sauna up at the cabin sure felt good. Rob was helping a neighbor with some electrical work at his cabin so Sunday I slept, read and saunaed. Then of course when Rob got back I had to sauna some more! We have managed to bring the sauna to a whole new level...LOVE that sauna.

yipee!!!!!

2008-03-11T06:12:00.000-07:00

yippee! yahoo! hizzah! spring is in the air. I am painting again and... are you sitting? I just gave notice at work. yep. I want to be a practicing artist and I can't do it working full time, so I gave notice and now I need to start looking for part time work. wanna hire me? my heart aches when I just don;t have the time or the energy to be in my studio. It is as vital as the air I breath. It's like a run in the morning. It is good for my mental health. And all my my efforts at promoting myself last year are still paying off! There is an artical in a local paper about my paintings and I have a local sailing magazine will be using one of my paintings for the cover... all of this just tells me that this is what I should be doing. so I will. With a milestone birthday just a few weeks away, I am more than ready for a life change. A BIG LIFE CHANGE. Bring it on. when life gives you lemons, make lemonade?! well...I LOVE lemonade!

part time menace to society, part time Buddha, part time cloud watcher. Kelcey Bates
(that you tim robbins for letting me borrow this!)

well, I am working in the studio again...

2008-02-14T17:39:00.000-08:00

FINALLY! I am figuring out the balance and finding the energy and making the time. I have a few shows on the very close horizon so I need to get working. I like dead lines and I like a plan, project. I love to see it come to be and then watch it develop as it goes. You know I get these ideas in my head and then i will start to paint from these ideas but the truth is you can never be certain where it might take you. Sometimes its good and sometimes its not so good but the process is always interesting to me.

The NOPE Show opens today I think but the big opening is tomorrow night. This is the Nudes On Parade show. When I went to drop my pieces off I got to sneak a peek at many of the works. WONDERFUL stuff. Beautiful and interesting and moving... the human figure is so incredible and fabulous a subject to work with. There are just not many venues for it. but we show where we can and paint and draw when the opportunity is there.

Lots more local shows coming up and spring and summer are just around the corner. YIPPEEE! so that will mean take my pastels outside and and paint what I see. I am looking forward to this. Last summer was the first time I really painted outside. Interesting things happen. You loose some control but gain such amazing spontaneity. Accidents happen, sometimes there good and sometimes there not. I have a small stack of failures that are just itching to be revived/resurrected. I am also looking forward to some warm sunshine. We have been treated to some sunny days lately and you can just feel spring trying to take hold but it is still pretty chilly and the sun doesn't warm your face just yet. But soon.

Making time to draw and paint and a bit of sunshine have certainly lightened my spirits. so...what lightens your spirits these days?

Happy Valentines Day!!!!

another day...

2008-02-05T12:51:00.000-08:00

... struggeling to stay light, find the joy, be positive... all these things and then some. I am in a HUGE slump! I have so much art stuff going on yet I am not in the studio painting. I have been nude drawing on Wednesday evenings, but no painting. I am in this show and that show, showing here and there and yet NO INSPERATION. I am drained and exhausted most of the time. It's work. my new job is extremely right brained so I end up spent and empty, even cranky. I have got to find a balance!!!!! I am near tears these days at work and even when I try to talk about it with friends if I don't well up I am hollaring at them about it. It's crazy I tell you and something has got to give!

AHAHHHHHAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wha.

I'm in! I'm in! I'm in!!!!!!!!!

2008-01-29T08:42:00.000-08:00

Unclad here I come! yippeeeee!!!! last year I didn't get in...this year I'm in. There is absolutely no telling when or what will get in. It is always a crap shoot, a?

this years nudes revolved around a friend of mines equestrian outfit. LOVE the hat! I had a blast with it. I will post the painting that got in another day or please visit my web site to check it out. Nude #16.

Better get back to work. I just was excited and wanted to share!

peace out

cooofffeeeeee

2008-01-24T05:03:00.000-08:00

so, a glimpse of my life now 3 months into my job... 4:30 the alarm goes off to stumble (literally) out of bed to the coffee pot (which preset so there is coffee as soon as I wake up) swill 2 cups while walking from room to room (that's just what I do!?) then proceed to the bathroom, pull on my running clothes. Out the door no later than 5:00 for about a 50 minute run. Back to pack my lunch and drive 20 minutes on the freeway to WORK. No longer do I have the pleasure of a 10 minute bike ride down the trail to work. Don't miss THAT job though! That place put "dysfunctional" on it's own playing field!

BUT...what's this I hear? Wednesday nights I go draw a local gallery that offers figure drawing. 8 bucks for 2 hours of bliss! I LOVE TO DRAW!!!! Also on the art front I have been invited to show again for the spring Downtown Art Walk, I got a show at "La Vie en Rose" , a terrific coffee shop/bakery downtown AND... I am starting a whole new series of paintings. "faces around me" is what I am looking at. If I can't get enough people to sit for me though it will end up to be a collection of self portraits. That won't bother me one bit if that's what happens. It is alot to ask of friends and neighbors to sit for a hour or so.

That should hold you for a few days? I HOPE!!! I will post the progress of the series, so keep an eye ok?

the show is called "Nudes on Parade"

2007-12-30T17:36:00.000-08:00

although she is not totally nude I think it has an attitude and flair that is pretty appealing and seductive and very playful. my interpretation of Nudes on Parade. I have more in the series that are topless but this was the first and to me the most...teasing. I liked that quality about it. now I have entered this piece and one other for this show. the show is juried and i might not even get in, it is always the chance you take. it's just great to paint and put them out there. it has really been a pleasure to do some figure paintings again. i have been so focused on landscape stuff and exploring that side of things it feels really good to get back to what really knocks my socks off. yep! the human figure. i have found a studio that is offering drop in drawing with a live nude model on wednesday nights and this is going to be my new hang out for a while. i am also considering taking another pastel class on thursday. when I am working full time its really hard to make the time for the studio so I am going to start some new good habits the first of the year so that I can continue to paint and draw more regularly. I have really been missing drawing and am very much itching to explore with charcoal.

HEY! happy new year one and all! wishing everyone all the best!

PEACE,
kelcey

I was going to show you a new picture...

2007-12-12T07:48:00.000-08:00

but I decided you were going to have to wait until the entire collection is complete. I have two shows I am entering nudes for and one at a local gallery that is not nude specific. I haven't decided what painting I am going to enter in that show but I am thinking about "Library Hotel, NY" . I don't have the time right now to get into all the specifics about the shows but all are offering a great opportunity to show. The locations are good and draw good crowds. Thats some of the best part you know... just having your work seen.

as for the state of the world?! What the hell? I just got off the phone with my state representitive regarding ... the endless sums of money being poured into the war and no sign of an end to this needless useless war. it appears to me that the US just keeps digging a bigger and bigger hole. I suspect there will be tough tight times ahead for all of us. I look forward to a change in the white house! I only wish the change was NOW! And what ? are the people of the US just putting their heads in the sand and ignoring what is going on? anyway, I need to get to work. sorry for the gloom today. It will be better tomorrow and maybe a picture or two...

I miss my studio, and hanging out ....

2007-11-28T04:53:00.000-08:00

with my dog and when life was such a lovely leisurely pace. don't get me wrong! I love my new job but I want both! And trust me, that is just like me. Hard to believe that I have been working for one month and in one month from now I was laid off from a job I had for 13 years. Life sure does take some interesting turns.

Thanksgiving was great. We spent the evening with some very dear friends and she happens to be a fabulous cook. There are so many things to be thankful for where does one begin!? life, love, friends, family, health, a wonderful talented man and a good dog to name a few.
Studio time is rare these days but I managing to get a little time in. I am presently working in a new painting on the cabin (I will share image soon, I promise!) and I have been sketching. I need to get some images of them to share. I have really been enjoying drawing again! Very fun!!!!

well, we are off for a run! gotta get my outside time even if it is dark!

holiday cards and hurricane winds

2007-11-18T18:08:00.000-08:00

so, this is an idea I am working on for a new holiday card. I haven't done a new holiday card for a year ...maybe two...anyway I am trying. I am looking forward to a long weekend next week. I haven't been able to drag my sorry ass into the studio much. I am still adjusting to the work hours and running and social time. the studio unfortunately is where the time is lost. it is so sad. oh well...what do you do? you work when and where you can. I have been sketching up at the cabin and I am going to invest in another set or two of pastels and paper and such so that I can leave them up there. It's tough to have to tote stuff like that in every weekend. the I will be able to work at what I truely love and dearly miss.

The cabin is where all of weekends seem to be spent. It is so beautiful there. Washington had one of it's hurricane force wind storms a week ago and we were worried about the cabin. as it turned out we went up this weekend and had to turn around and go back for more chain saw blades, fuel...so back down the mountain. by the time we got BACK up there a neighbor from the down the hill aways and a friend were there with their chain saws scoring some fire wood. It was a great relief to have the help. it was three large pines that had been uprooted . the root ball was the size of a small family home! just the right cut and that root ball landed right where it had lifted from....down the road a piece, another one down and another one down...we were definately getting anxious regarding the cabin. After 7 trees were cleared we finally made it to the trail to the cabin and hiked in. ALL IN ONE PIECE! many branches down, lawn furniture scattered about (one broken and unusable) tarps missing (later found wrapped around other trees a ways from the original location) but other than that, no harm done. wish we had pictures!

I will try to remember my camera for next weekend.

sooo...

2007-11-06T11:57:00.000-08:00

I am week three in my new job. I love the company, great product, awesome people...but I can't lie. I miss my studio! I haven't painted in weeks! I go in to the studio to get something and I am sucked in by the mess, the smells. I want to feel the pastels on the paper. I miss the colors and the simple joy just hanging out in there gives me. I have managed to keep up my running so far now all I have to do is start making the time to hang out in there. At least one night a week but I really want to hang out two nights...

this is a tough to say but, I need to get back to work.

byyyeeeee

guess what?

2007-10-19T10:55:00.000-07:00

I got a real job! It is with a company that manufactures rope. yep, rope. I'm excited. I will be doing customer service which is what I do, so although I will have a tremendous amount to learn the adjustment (I'm hoping) should be relatively painless?! I can't help but have some deep sadness at not being able to spend near the time I have been in the studio. My progress and work will slow. I am trying not to use the word suffer, but it will. I have an incredible body of work from the last months off but it's never enough. must keep going...must keep growing... I have a few shows through the holidays and I have been excepted yet again into another gallery. Crazy! I have had such a wonderful time! I must get back to a conventional job to pile up the funds again so that when the time comes I can again dedicate my time to my art. I can hardly wait! This is where I belong. This is my joy, my passion, my job.

enough of that...

My all about Paris collection will be relocated for the holiday season. And I am happy to say that I am revisiting the subject. I never really felt done with that collection anyway, so I am enjoying it...again. It's very fun and great to touch. I am working on another street scene right now and I am wondering if I want to do any mare famous sights or not. Any feelings or ideas on the subject?

I will put together all my where abouts and list everything on my web site. as for the new pieces I am working on? check back, I will have a piece or two to share shortly.

Peace!

2007-10-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

so here i go on the pumpkin thing. i just happened to have bought a few at the local fruit and vegetable market yesterday so i was all ready to take these on. i love to carve pumpkins too so once completed i will definately share the images.

sometimes to much coffee is fun!

where do the days go???!!!

2007-10-11T09:59:00.001-07:00

Starboard Tack #2
Wind Shift

I have three new completed paintings and one new one in the works. The newest one is very seasonal upon request. I have been asked for some pumpkins so...you can imagine where this going. I will post it shortly. I am thinking I might do a few seasonal paintings, maybe even a few jack-o-lanterns? Oh my gosh...the oportunities are endless and the time flies...and I still haven't found a real job but painting is my job and WHAT"S A GIRL TO DO!!!??? ok, calm down.

I just had 3 more pieces excepted into a show in Everette. It is a food theme. I just happen to have paintings of food, well, food items anyway. So there is yet another one to mat- frame-deliver... more on that shortly. I am over caffeinated and feeling short on time and not to mention supplies. as productive as I have been I keep FLYING through paper and pastels like crazy. I will need to order more very soon. there I go again off on yet another tangent.

I am going to the studio where hopefully my energy will be better spent and tangents can be rewarding.

water color sketching...

2007-10-04T14:14:00.001-07:00

there is something really gratifying about just as quickly as you can capturing a mood, feel, image...I am not sure I am truely successful but it is very fun and I do use them when I go to do use them as a reference for other paintings. anyway, just thought I would share that. Go out and see the world you live in! BREATH DEEP, life is amazing.

another one complete & Orcas Island...

2007-10-04T13:41:00.001-07:00

Big North Wind

just finished this one. We have had some incredibly wet blustery days up here in the NW lately. Welcome to Fall! I had a run today through the woods. The wind blowing, the leaves swirling, it was beautiful! OK my running part was pretty tough. It was a run up to Fragrance Lake. UP being the word to pay attention to here. I think it is about 2 1/2 miles to the lake and then rolling hills around the lake with a nice long down out the backside with views of the San Juan Islands past Chuckanut Bay. Incredible...really. I love this place! OH, I just looked out the window and I see a shadow! It has been pretty gray and flat. no depth perception or shadows. nice surprise. oh-all gone! That was our sunshine for the week!

We had a trip to Orcas Island this past weekend with some friends. Two couples and two dogs. I am very sure that the dogs had a GREAT weekend!!! Got some GREAT photos! I can't wait to share them and hopefully a painting or two will come out of it. I did do some quick water color sketches of the view from sitting on the beach in front of the cabin. That is what we did all weekend. We sat in front of the fire on the beach and watched the clouds roll by and listened to the waves lap on the rocks and shells. pretty damn near perfect!

water color sketch #2

whew...

2007-09-25T10:43:00.000-07:00

so, I have an on going show at Whimsey in Fairhaven that is running through October, I have 10 pieces up at Fairhaven Reality, a show starting at The Bunch (also in Fairhaven) the first of October and November through December...dah dah dah dah my FAVORITE the Harris Street Cafe (next to Tony's Coffee). Yippee! So who says I haven't been busy painting for the last 6 months?!

The collections are just that, in each location I try to have at least a theme. At Whimsey it is a collection, it's the All About Paris. At the Real Estate office I tried to keep it to buildings and local sights. Coming up at The Bunch it will be a bit more eclectic, being that it is a gift shop I will have a mix of smaller pieces including but not just, still life's. The still life's consist of yes, bowls of fruit and some of my sea shells and rocks, that kind of thing.

I also am submitting to the Allied Arts my collect of summer paintings to a juried show opportunity. The Allied Arts are looking to jury in the gallery exhibitions for this coming year. I am optimistic and hopeful about this one!!!??? I have had very good feed back regarding the start of this collection so I continue on with it. Two of the pieces have been excepted into a local show call "Brushes With The Land". It is a NW landscape show.

That's it for the time being. Now it is off to the studio and get painting!

Edmonds Third Thursday Art Walk...& latest painting

2007-09-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

This is the latest in my summer series...which is now going to move into fall and maybe winter. I will go until it doesn't want to go any more I suppose. I am headed out the door here shortly to enjoy this gorgeous fall day. Thought I would get out and do a little painting outside and see what happens. Last week after my fabulous trip up to Vancouver to see the Group of Seven show AGAIN, I am feeling compelled to get out side and paint. If you haven't heard of the Group of Seven check them out. A group of painters from Canada that did amazing and inspiring things. Look into them, it's good stuff!

Last night I participated in another Third Thursday Art Walk in Edmonds WA. Not a great turn out but it was fun. A running partner of mine said to me once after I placed in a race "sometimes you just have to show up!" well, he's right. You can't win if you don't go and you can't get your paintings seen unless you show. You just never know what might happen or who you will meet or what you will learn or... you just gotta do it.

I gotta go. outside is calling me!

multi medium piece completed!

2007-09-16T14:25:00.002-07:00

well here it is. finished. I used water, glue, acrylics, pastels, magazine cut outs...I thinks thats all. I enjoyed the process totally! It just moved at it's own pace and asked for things and I responded. I am excited about it. It is always interesting to me how the work I get the most excited about is not what anyone else is very interested in. so, what that tells me is that I have work that will always just be just mine, my own treasures.

the Edmond's Art walk is this Thursday, September 20th. It should be a fun event. My work will be located at the Re/Max office, 525 5th Ave. S (just off the circle). There will be music and wine tasting... a real hotsy totsy evening. Hope to see you there! This painting will be there along with ME.

"Brushes With The Land" show

2007-09-10T08:02:00.000-07:00

"Up the Mast"

wahooo! I have had two painting excepted into the show "Brushes With The Land". This show is (loosely) based on NW landscapes. The time I spend sailing and out on the water influenced my paintings this summer, in fact the wind and sky were pretty much the focus of my work. I wanted to do water too, maybe once I get all of the sky stuff out of my system. I anticipate some interesting fall foliage attempts from the cabin soon. the weather is turning and so are the colors and light. I have had a wonderful treat this summer. With every show I entered I got in. When I went to pick up my 3 pieces in Everett on Friday I was asked if I would like to show at the Everett Library. OK..here is the catch...not for 9 months! who knows what I could be showing by then!? This gallery owner that I have made contact with has been very generous with me. I appreciate her experience and knowledge that she shares with me. She seems to be very interested in my work, can't say no to that!

I had a good run this morning. I haven't been out for 3 weeks now. I have been nursing a very sore, out of whack, back! 2 trips to the chiropractor and 1 massage so far and I am almost back to normal. I have 1 more of each scheduled this week. Went sailing yesterday. It was BLOWING! of course not when we first got there. Instead we are sailing along, I am noticing dark water and white caps further out in the bay. Of course you know exactly what that means but...we had all big sail up and had to change the head sail, then reef the main, then drop the main all together. It was windy! we had a blast once we reduced enough sail to relax and enjoy. we pulled out the snacks and beverages and enjoyed the ride. The sun was shinning, wind was blowing, it was a gorgeous day!

Show Prep...

2007-09-06T08:14:00.000-07:00

so, tomorrow I am driving down to Edmond's to set up a "show". I will have 11 paintings up in a Remax real estate office for a month. The actual "show" opening is officially on the Third Thursday Art Walk, that would be September 20th. I enjoy these. I have had the opportunity to show a few times now in Edmond's. They have good turn outs and the people like to ask questions about your art and you...makes it fun. I LOVE to talk about art, my art, anybodies art, and I don't mind talking about me either. Show prep used to really freak me out but now I have grown to enjoy the process, and with that enjoyment comes a relaxed easy prep time. I finally have mat cutting down and I have enough frames to pull from to get everything ready. next step will be to have more suplies so that I can have more than 3 shows going at a time. That would be sweet.

I have entered 4 pieces into a local show called "Brushes With the Land". Should know by Monday what/if any paintings made it in. If so, I will have a few paintings that will not be available for sale at the Edmond's Art Walk. Always an issue. You know you just want to show your work, but when you enter a piece into a competition it HAS to be available for sale. In a "show" it is ok (depending where your showing) that pieces go up marked sold, but that sucks, cause you want to sell them! truth is I probably shouldn't double book a painting like that but the what if's make it hard. If a piece doesn't get into the competition then you have committed it to that show and are unable to show it else where until you hear... sometimes time lines cross over one another. Oh well! The artist's dilemma. The photos are the paintings all lined up on the studio floor. Check the mats, title and price cards, clean the glass...tonight I load the car up so I am ready to hit the dusty trail first thing in the morning. I also have a stop in Everette to pick up a few paintings that were in a show there. Funky little gallery but I really like the owner. www.soloveiartgallery.com check it out!

LOOONNGGGG weekend at the cabin, ahhhh

2007-09-04T08:08:00.001-07:00

first and foremost, my art is filling just about every thought I have these days. I am working an a series of paintings they seem to be revolving around the sky. I am trying to work more abstract but recognizable. This particular sky scape is currently one of my favorites. Not liked much by others but when I look at it I feel the strokes of color it took to create and I am very bonded to this piece. Creating it was one of those other worldly experiences that I long for. It doesn't happen all the time but when it does...sweet! This piece is not accurate or specific, it just is. the colors float and move about the page....

Anyway, long weekend at the cabin. 4 days to be exact. I am in the middle of a mixed medium piece that I started up there his weekend. Talk about abstract! It is very fun and very cool to work completely out of my comfort zone. I will get a picture of it up tomorrow here. but in the mean time, I have a show coming up in Edmond's at the downtown Remax office. I go set it up this Friday. Today, I am seeing the chiropractor and then to Anacortes to pick up a piece that was in a show. Maybe make a new connection to show my work? perhaps.........

Monday morning....

2007-08-27T10:29:00.001-07:00

well, here is my first sky study...I can't wait to do more!!!! With the cooler weather comes a different weather pattern. In the summer here when it gets hot the sky is clear and blue. thats really kind-of unusual for here. We have weather constantly moving in, blowing in or out, high pressure systems and low pressure systems. All adding to the ever changing beautiful place that this is. the sun is lower in the sky now and the shadows getting longer. This will make for some really new and different challenges for painting. I am considering doing some figurative paintings once I get all of this water, sky, sailing out of my system.

well, check out the painting. click on it to enlarge it. there are some interesting patterns, strokes that happened on this piece. It was very fun to do and I am headed off to try it again only different.

Take your camera every where!

2007-08-24T08:05:00.001-07:00

I have started to take my camera with me just about every where. I even take it on my early morning runs sometimes. Dawn is a great time to take pictures. I love the early mornings when everything is just starting to wake. I captured a photo sort-of like this one on an early morning run. It was very unusual to see the Alaska Ferry in so early, but lucky me! Is my painting accurate? or realistic? did I kind of capture a mood of early north west morning? We that live here in the north west are so very lucky to get to enjoy Bellingham Bay. It is beautiful and no two days are ever the same. The sky's over the bay are incredible! I hope to capture that in my next few pieces. OFF TO PAINT!

whew! finished with these two and on to the next!

2007-08-23T13:13:00.001-07:00

Wind Shift Bobbing #2

ok, so two more pieces to add to the summer collection. Pretty soon you will be able to see them all on my web site under collections. But not tell their done! Funny thing is, I am not really sure when to call it quits! I also can't decide if I am going to add all the paintings from up at the cabin?
I am feeling more that this collection will be on and around the water. I have some more boats I want to tackle and maybe a ferry, a bridge...oh who knows. I am on a tangent! I love when my art just takes over. It is all I think about. How do you do this and that and what about trying this. Or what color would make it...it goes on and on and on. I wake up thinking about it go to sleep thinking about it. Sometimes it is scary to drive because I am looking at everything as if I were painting it. things take on a one dimensional quality and loose some depth perception. I like when that happens but I am not sure its normal. Well, its normal for me. After a good stretch of this and many paintings and painting attempts later, it ends and then I take a few days off to regroup/recharge. ahhhh....a day in the life of my head. don't be scared!

two day in Vacouver, BC...

2007-08-23T06:33:00.001-07:00

As I sat drinking my morning tea on Granville Island soaking up what seems to be the last of the warm summer sun, there is a little commotion below me on the docks. There is a Wooden Boat Festival this weekend. I am sorry I am going to miss it but I did manage to strike up a few conversations with some old salts that had arrived early for the festival. I also asked the woman at the coffee shop about vintage/used clothing shopping. She was very excited to share her wealth of knowledge on the subject and we became fast friends. Laughing and sharing our favorite shopping haunts in our towns. She is a HUGE fan of our Value Village. Needless to say she sent me to some interesting shops. My favorite being owned by a Turkish woman with a great fun sense of humor, style and taste in music. She was more than helpful dressing me. I did fall in love with a pair of shoes but they were just to small, unfortunately.

We wondered Stanley Park which suffered tremendous damage from winter wind storms last years. So many trees lost. The clean up and repairs are still on going.

I went to Museum to see the Monet to Dali exhibit and then up stairs to see the Emily Carr and the Group of Seven show. I never get tired of it. I took some photos for some painting ideas so keep an eye out. You just never know what might appear.

figure drawings and a new painting...

2007-08-16T08:02:00.001-07:00

Well, I have been sort of busy... I have gone to the Tuesday figure drawing drop in sessions twice now.The belly Dancer was from this week and our very own Stacy was from last week. There is also a 20 minute pastel sketch of the belly dancer dancer which I thought was rather fun. In the middle of it all is a painting I did yesterday at a painting workshop/open studio. this environment offers you a chance to go paint whatever you want with the added direction of an instructor and other artists. We have critics that help. It is always interesting to have words from a jury of your peers. I felt sooo much like the outsider! Everyone is doing these serious paintings. Copy's of photos, very rendered...and then there is ME. Out there, outside the box, totally on another plane that these ladies. Oh well. I have never fit the mold and I have no intention of trying to now!

have fun!!!!!!!!!

work in progress

2007-08-14T04:52:00.001-07:00

a day at Boulevard Park is always inspirational. It was a bit windy today and I had to practically tie me and everything else to the nearest tree but we managed. This is what I am working on now. With the help of some photos I intend to finish this piece today. The building in the foreground are part of whats left of a manufacturing operation right in downtown. Slowly it is being whittled away (THANK GOODNESS!) and eventually like the rest of town they will build condominiums. Thats a joke...sort of. Anyway I am in no mood for town politics, its way to early. I need more coffee now and I am going for a bike ride. Have a beautiful day. Please don;t forget to listen for the birds singing, look at the sky, feel the breeze and the sun on your face. Check out a tree...closely. You will notice that it is not just brown and green and that the sky has purple and green in it! Live life! Enjoy!

ahhhhh, a summer weekend out in the islands...

2007-08-13T05:52:00.001-07:00

so...here you have it. a beautiful weekend in the islands with my love Rob and our dog Cannon. A good book, lots of chips with homemade salsa, napping and sleeping under the stars. There were only three other sail boats in the anchorage so it was peaceful...but then da da da da! a powerboat pulled in very near us, turned on the music and threw the steaks on the BBQ. oh and left the engine on so the kids could play video games. YIKES! Do you think they even saw the serenity and beauty that we did? oh well, their loss. They simmered down pretty early and everyone has their own way of enjoying the beauty a special place like this has. We have a special beauty that surrounds us here in the North West.

This was a perfect end to a wonderful week. Friday night was the show opening for the La Bella Strada so I did go to here the talk the Woman juror gave on her approach to choosing the pieces she did and what she looks for...those sort of things. It was interesting. I spoke with her for a few minutes after words. It appears that she chose my piece because it was a different approach to a vase of flowers. She said anyone and everyone paints flowers but not like these. NICE! So there you have that...And I sold my Mini Cooper and I bought an 03 RED Subaru Forester! I am so excited!!! She's pretty. It will be the perfect vehicle for us to get to the cabin, for art deliveries, pick ups and it will ALWAYS have room for Cannon!

2007-08-06T10:20:00.001-07:00

For Immediate Release

August 3, 2007

_______________________________________________________

Allied Arts of Whatcom County – Empowering Artists, Enriching Community

La Bella Strada Art Competition Winners Announced

Allied Arts of Whatcom County is pleased to announce that Juror Sarah Clark-Langager, PhD., has selected 31 artworks for inclusion in the new fine art exhibit being shown in conjunction with the La Bella Strada Juried Art Festival and Chalk ArtFest through August 12, 2007.

Winner of the Image Award of $500 has been given to Kelcey Bates for her soft pastel “Tulips Live,” 2^nd Award of $200 to Ron Pattern for his watercolor “Kulshan Fields,” and 3^rd Award of $100 to Laurie Potter for her pastel “Over the Iris.” Three Honorable Mentions were also given as follows: Paul Brower & Carol Berry for an untitled photograph and collage work, Tom Callenburg for his mixed media work “Cult of St. Andrew Suite #4” and Theresa Cannon for her untitled oil pastel.

The La Bella Strada Juried Art Competition, Exhibit and Sale can be viewed at the Allied Arts of Whatcom County Gallery at 1418 Cornwall Avenue in downtown Bellingham through August 12, 2007. Gallery hours are 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily through August 9 and during La Bella Strada Juried Art Festival on August 11 and 12. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Visitors are also welcome to view the show during Allied Arts’ regular business hours.

Sarah Clark-Langager, PhD., Director of the Western Gallery and Curator of the renowned Outdoor Sculpture Collection at Western Washington University juried the exhibit. Out of the 124 art works submitted only 31 were accepted. Although six official awards were allocated, Langager stated, “Anyone in the show should be ‘honored’ that they got into the exhibition.” At WWU since 1988, Clark-Langager has been previously involved on two coasts in educational and curatorial roles at such museums as Yale University Art Gallery (New Haven), Albright-Knox Art Gallery (Buffalo), Seattle Art Museum, and Munson-Williams Proctor Institute (Utica). Specializing in 20^th century and contemporary art, Clark-Langager has also acted as an advisor to many institutions initiating public art collections.

Allied Arts of Whatcom County is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to create and foster an environment in which the arts are an integral part of our community by supporting and encouraging the arts and artists of Whatcom County.

For further information contact Christine Scheid-Zurline, Festival Manager for La Bella Strada at (360)739-8263, email events@alliedarts.org or Rebecca Hutchins, Executive Director at (360) 676-8548. Additional information is also available at www.alliedarts.org.

This is the painting that won. It is an honor, a thrill, totally amazing and a complete shock! I am not sure what to say about it...I can tell you that I was squealing like like a little girl inside when I got the news and I am gonna bet that the person on the other end of the phone thought my voice went up a few octaves. I am still reeling a bit from the news. You know as a artist we pay good hard earned cash to enter juried shows in the hopes that a piece will get excepted so that we can show the world what it is we do. To expose as many people as we possibly can to our personal art/journey/quest. I can't speak for all artists but for me personally I just keep sending them out there, sometimes you get a hit most times not...and then if you do get a piece in you kind-of hope it sells. Not that you get greedy but for further confirmation and... so you don't have to make arrangements to pick it up! in the show, don't get in the show, sell or not sell doesn't stop me or encourage me from creating. It is somehow recognition though that someone else is interested in what you do and that, in of itself is a really gratifying feeling. Add a first place win to entering a show? Well, maybe I will be able to tell you how it truely feels once my feet get back on the ground.

ahhh, another summer painting completed

2007-08-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

I love getting up in the morning, fixing a cup of coffee and hitting the studio! I got in there at 7:00 and just now came up for air (it is about 9:45). It is a good feeling. Unfortunately I didn't get a run or bike ride in this morning but I think I will head up to the lake for a swim this afternoon. It is a beautiful day and not to be waisted. I started this painting on Monday and couldn't get back to it until this morning. Yesterday I went to Edmond's to deliver a few new paintings to a shop. They are so encouraging and supportive, that alone made the drive worth it. But on top of that! I also had an opportunity to meet Rick, the dog walker. You can attach to his blog right here ...to the left. Check it out it's really cool. Who knows, maybe he will review my work?! He covers life as he sees it and it is really refreshing. so...back to this painting. I would really appreciate some feed back. How does feel? Technically how is it working for you? Feed back is a necessity. I can't grow without it. This is the second of a series I am working on and have had in my head for some time. I have a third one started and need to get back to it. It will involve water instead of sky. My trip to the lake today will also be a study of the water. The colors that make ripples, the way the light plays and reflects... I can't finish the next one until I study the water a bit more. Then I should be able to approach it with more confidence. I look forward to the feed back.

cheers.

movies...

2007-08-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

so for some reason this summer I have been on a french kick. Movies at the local art film house scratching my itch for french... "Avenue Montaigne", "La vie en rose" just to name a few and this is only the strat of the french films I have seen. And my Paris series which I can't wait to get back to! (but first I need to complete the "summer" series!) OH! check out the film "Perfume". I read the book and wow...loved it. The movie is mysterious and dark and ...Paris! Not a Paris I know but Paris just the same.

I also just saw "Factory Girl". I thought it was good but I am really curious to hear more regardng Andy Warhol. Anyone have an ideas? thoughts? about his work or about him as a person?

Oh back to french, I am reading a book called "The Virgin Blue". It's not great but i am enjoying it and where else is it taking place but yeah, france. Ok the south of france but still, it just keeps showing up.

Today I am off to Edmond's to deliver some art, stop in a few shops and pedal my wears. I am going to meet "the dog walker" Rick. Talk some dog, maybe some art, movies... Cannon and I are looking forward to our adventure. On Friday evening the opening of the NW Pastel Society Members Show is happening. I am dragging Rob, my friend Megan and Cannon down to Anacortes. I bribed them with ice cream! They are so easy!!!!

well, we're off! au revoir.

3 day weekend at the cabin

2007-07-29T22:09:00.000-07:00

ok ok maybe a bit corny but what can I say, this is all about my life my art...so there you have it. Cannon (the dog) was just lazing about on the deck on Saturday afternoon. You have to work fast! he is a little ADD. I did two paintings up there this weekend, obviously this one and another tree painting. that was a kick I was on in the fall last year when we first starting spending time up at the cabin. But I couldn't resist this one.

I have had two paintings excepted into shows in the last two weeks. Nice little boost. Both juried shows and both local. AND...both pieces are two of the more unusual pieces I have painted in some time. This tells me something, I think. The pieces are "Still life with Skull" that one will be in the NW Pastel Society Members Show in Anacortes and "Tulips Live" will be in the La Bella Strada Show here in Bellingham. Fun!

I can't sleep! I slept so well at the cabin and as soon as I got back to civilization I started stressing out! I can't seem to relax. I feel like I have so much to do....what the hell is up with this??????????????? I feel like painting but if I get started now I won't get to bed at all and then I will feel like crap tomorrow, so here I sit typing away. If you haven't been to the web site for a while check it out! New paintings and things going on there. I am going to go read now, may =be that will work?! Goodnight.

water color sketches...

2007-07-26T07:47:00.000-07:00

So, the other day I had gone to the park to complete a painting I had started. I was bored with the piece I was working on and pretty sure I didn't even want to mess with it any further (yes the impatience rears its ugly head yet again!)so I pulled out my little tin of water colors and PLAYED. Doodling in color! Very fun. Very spontaneous and absolutely no fear of what it will look like. No preconceived conceptions here! Color and light and play...it made my day.

Ran into a friend yesterday...she was out painting. It was very magical to see her out in this amazing landscape of water, sky and a FLAMING RED SOFA! so her, so right...she rocks! Her work is so alive. Totally charged and packed with emotion and always bigger than life. I love her work and love to watch the growth and change and challenges she takes on. very cool

I had a painting excepted in the NW Pastel Society Members Show. It is an unusual piece, which I am very attached to and totally thrilled that this is the piece chosen. check out www.nwps.org,(sorry, you will have to copy and paste this) they will have a link to all of the paintings and besides it is just a cool sight to look at. Check it out if you get a chance.

Off to the studio!!!

Summer paintings ...

2007-07-24T11:49:00.001-07:00

Summer paintings... so I started off with a painting of the cabin and well I have turned a corner and now I am on this idea of sailing and water and sky. I have high hopes and big dreams for these. I am having a problem focusing on one idea so I think I am just going to let it do what it wants to do, whatever happens happens. I hope to get outside to paint many of these. The weather has not been cooperating the last week but wouldn't you know the sun is out this afternoon! I am in the studio today prepping surfaces to paint on. I finished the one to the right this morning ( it's called "up the mast") and I really want to start the next but drying time...I am not a patient person so here I am talking to who will ever listen.

I have 4 paintings completed regarding sailing, 1 cabin and one from Boulevard Park (a piece I did en plein aire) . I had 2 from the park but one got painted over. I have a few water color sketches I need to get out there too, they are really fun to me. VERY spontaneous. I love that!

AND...I still want to do a few more Paris pieces. What did we use to say..."so little time so many brain cells?" oh wait...that was another time and place All together.

FREE TIBET

first painting of the cabin...

2007-07-18T07:14:00.000-07:00

this has been a long awaited piece. I can be soooo very slow to move on certain subject matters. the Paris paintings , a perfect example. I wonder what it is that makes me wait so long to take something on like that?

Anyway I am excited about starting my summer paintings. I have been outside painting some. That is always a challenge and proves to be a fun and eye opening experience all at once. Sometimes things go well...and sometimes they don't. I find that I can't carry enough colors! (at least thats my excuse when things don't go great). The other day I took my water colors as well as my pastels just because I wanted to. TRUTH...I had more fun doing really fast pen and ink sketches and then water coloring them in. I loved them! The colors bright and bold, the subjects a bit abstract...it was really fun and really loose. It was fun to work so quickly and without any preconception. This is something I plan on doing more of more often, so keep your eyes open!

read any good books lately?

The long awaited weekend

2007-07-15T20:49:00.000-07:00

The weekend arrived! Cannon couldn't be happier. He is totally gaga over Annika. As for the humans over the weekend ...Saturday was a lovely day to sail. I would venture to say that the day lazing about on the water was exactly what the doctor ordered for Annika's folks. The food was great, the conversation lively (when we weren't napping) , the ice cream from Mallards was superb as always but...the movie SUCKED! Title not even worthy of mentioning. just consider yourself warned when in comes to black & white french films from the 60's) .

ok about art things going on...

1. I had a painting excepted in the North West Pastel Society Members Show. It's called still life with skull. I need to get that one up on the web. Keep an eye to the web site for the images I mention.

2. I am submitting 3 pieces to a local show called "La Bella Strada" ( I will keep you posted on that one) . again..keep an eye to the web site. They aren't posted yet.)

3. my All About Paris series will be moving to a local jewelry store. You can see those on the web site!

All good news. Wish I had more going on... I guess I need to start pounding pavement and knocking on doors some more. I don't care for that part. It's like a job interview. It's not that I can't pull it off, I just don't like it. Speaking of job interviews, can you get any? I need a job!

2007-07-10T19:38:00.001-07:00

poor poor Cannon. We just had to mention that Annika was visiting this weekend and so, this is what he does. He waits. It's only Tuesday! When not outside he sits at the window, longing, waiting.

So yesterday I finally did a painting of the cabin for Rob. It turned out pretty good. I will take a picture of it and post it soon. Didn't even get to the studio today but I had an order for THREE paintings so I got those shipped off ASAP. Very nice order. I threw in some charcoal drawings too.

It's summer and hot! I'm going to grab Rob and the dog and go for a Popsicle! Want one?

July Gallery Walk

2007-07-09T06:57:00.000-07:00

July 6th Friday night Gallery Walk in downtown Bellingham! Lots of good traffic and happy folks. I roped two other artist friends into showing with me, so not only did that bring more people but the camaraderie was the best. One of the artists Lois Dahl (works in watercolors and oil stick - very cool stuff!) I met about 6 years ago when I started to take figure drawing classes at the community college. we become pals. the other, my bestest pal Megan. This was her first show. She loved it and had a great time.

It is interesting peoples perspectives on these walks. Often asked..."how was the show?" "Was it a good show"? Good?! Did I sell anything? no, but I heard wonderful comments. I met people who wanted to talk about art, who wanted to ask me questions about my art and life as an artist. I had a few people that remembered my name and my work and came back to see ME. I had friends stop by and people I haven't seen for a while stopped by. One woman brought her Mom to see my work. Her Mom had been an art professor, curator for years. I hung on ever word she said! Artists do that.

Over all it was good show. Fun evening. Hopefully someone will contact me and want to buy something, maybe not. Of well, I'm off to the studio! You know artists do art because they have to. Money would be great but it is not the driving force. Doing is the force.

and may the force be with you.

summer! yippee

2007-07-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

well, what a day we had. Rob and I went sailing with our friends Megan and Dave and of course our very own salty dog Cannon. (he's napping on my feet as we speak. we just got back from a run.) Back to sailing...it was a beautiful day! we sailed down to Chuckanut Bay, about two hours away, and dropped the hook for about 4 hours. we swam and ate and napped and ate some more. We had nice light wind for the sail down and a little lively sail home. Rob and I have this thing about sailing our boat into the slip, NO ENGINE! We love it. We do it as often as we can. Yesterday was perfect wind for it and so voila! sailed right into the slip like butter. SWEET. Rob is the best. he is so patient and kind and gentle and fun. we sure do have a wonderful life.

summer= friends, sailing, cabin time, WATERMELON, swimming in the lake in the morning with my pal Kathy, free concerts in boulevard park, bike rides with Rob and Cannon to the dog park...

4th of July Eve

2007-07-03T08:43:00.000-07:00

With 8 paintings finished, and I mean finished! They are signed, matted, framed and tagged. SWEET! The more I do the more efficient I get at the preparing for a show. Lets not forget all the hours put into the paintings and the costs of all the supplies. YIKES! Anyway it is on to the next set/group of paintings. I am working on an idea... it will be summer related. And I am thinking at this time they will be a bit abstract. Views from the sailboat, mostly sky-ward. So bits of sail, mast, line and lots of sky. I don't know its all just in my head at this point. Until I start to draw and paint I am never really sure what will come of it. Maybe nothing or maybe it will take on a life all its own. Thats ALWAYS fun! I also want to do some paintings of the cabin but I haven't been able to formulate an idea that works for me yet. I think I just need to spend more time there.

Do you ever get that panicky feeling like summer is here but all most over and I haven't got a suntan, read some trashy novels, taken a trip, eaten enough watermelon... ARGH! I gotta go!

peace.

blog, blogging, to blog...

2007-06-29T13:34:00.000-07:00

I have had a few requests to create one these. So to those of you who asked...Voila! I hope to create a place that is interesting to visit and keeps you posted on my goings on. My guess is this will be a space mostly about my creative process and painting ideas and well anything art, which is life.

so here you have it.

more soon.