Always feels good to finish a piece

The finished commistioned piece - good to have this done and framed up!



A little snippet from the painting






The studio has become pile of messiness in this busy time - rug twisted up, shelf pulled away from the wall because of the leak in the bathroom, cats running through papers on the floor - ahh the peaceful artist's space (although I must say that it doesn't look that bad in black and white!!). But you really don't want to see the rest of our house!

Hey all - whoever is interested - This is an amazing artist's site that I just found. I found Penelope Illustration through Illustration Friday and I think it's just increadible! There is soooooooo much there - this girl is awesome! I think she also created Illustration Friday too - which in itself is a huge thing! This website is really inspiring to me and is kind of where I see my site going - or kind of how I see myself working. Wow - I have a ton to do and even more to learn! Check it out:
http://www.penelopeillustration.com/

Creating

Hi All - I thought I would share my process of creating a piece for all of you! I've taken a series of photos along the stages of the delevopement of this commissioned piece. I've really enjoyed working on it and now it's fun to see the whole process all over again! First I start with a pencil sketch, then add pen over top and lastly add the watercolor - a long, yet delightful process - but also a little trying when you have a deadline! Anyway, enjoy!

A new sign!

Good morning!

It's a little rainy and grey here in Vermont. I woke up quite sore from a hard, but wonderful, night of teaching ballet and lyrical last evening! But today is my off day for dance - no planning, no listening to class music, no rolling around on the floor! - it's only time for art! Right now I'm working on a commissioned piece for a man and his family up in Canada. The piece is of their beautiful homestead, dogs, a cat and apple trees under a starry sky. I think it's going well so far, but it's always a little hard having a time limit - need to deliver it next weekend - yikes!
Another thing I want to add for those folks in the area, is that I'm getting a new sign out front for the gallery! My sign is being made by Third Generation Design out of Winsor Vermont and I can't wait to see it hanging out front! Look back later to pictures!
And now, on to a visual of my artist's morning:



Most morning I eat breakfast right here at the computer, contemplating spending the whole day right here - blogging, emailing, pretty much wasting a lot of time! :) But I've got a deadline in front of me, and this is what it looks like!.....


This is Simone - the always loving little cat, who is dreaming of her art expo at the Art Hop


This is the more time consuming Stirling (A.K.A Little Buddy). I spend a lot of time that I could be painting watching him out the back window in the fenced in yard - just waiting for that moment when I'm not looking so he can escape!


And here is a little quick sketch that one of my customers did that I will soon be making into a large scale watercolor - imagination is a big perk here! Stay tuned.


My messy art table - exactly how it looks this morning! Not terribly inspiring - but that's where it somehow happens! :)


And in just a moment, as I wait for the water to boil, this will be my saving grace!

The Rest of My Life

Just wanted to share a bit of the rest of my life when I'm not painting or going to art shows.
I love to take pictures of flowers and beautiful colorful things. I really like how the Monarch and Echinacea (pictured below)turned out and am constantly inspired by the colors and brilliant shades of nature. Those colors are a big influence in my work.

Last week I canned seven jars of peaches and really enjoyed their color floating in the cooling water. Their shape is just amazing to me and the way they melt from yellow to orange to a dusting of red as you turn them in your hand is just so cool!

I also sold a little original piece out of my gallery this week and it's always a bit of an emotional time for me to see a piece leave. I put so much of my heart, soul and imagination into them - they are like my little children in a way. They come with me in the car to art shows, they hang in my home, they have an ever lasting presence in my life. It's hard to let them go. But I'm also glad to be able to create things that other people love as much as I do. It's quite an amazing experience.

Love my work -

Katie

Art Hop

So I've just gotten home from the 2006 Art Hop in Burlington. I'm really quite wiped, so I won't write much - but just to say that it's really amazing to see artists displaying their souls work, see all the people flocking to check it all out and see how amazing a community can be when there is support for art! I am completely inspired and so glad I had a small part in it!
- Katie

Sister Show!

Hello Everyone!
It's been too long since I updated this space! Last you heard from me was in July! Oh well, life is just that fast! Lots of wonderful things are happening in my world as an artist and with my little Moon House Art Gallery and Studio I call home.

First off I had a wonderful time in Stowe at "For Art's Sake Show and Sale"! Met many admiral people (one of which Being Jess Graham who is now in FART night - but more about that later!) and came away with a littel extra to go in the bank too.

I've also been getting back into the season of dance - I'm also a dance teacher! Which keeps me quite busy when I'm not painting!

This evening I'm headed out to the Art Hop in Burlinton, VT where I am exhipiting my works at the Jordan Silverman Studio on Pine St. The Art Hop is a great event put on by SEABA (South End Art Business Association). Thousands of people stroll the streets of Burlington looking at (and hopefully purchasing!) hundreds of artists works! Really quite an amazing feat! I'm thrilled to be part of it! Check it out at: www.seaba.com

Also I'd like to share an article that Theresa Stclair did about my art and gallery in the Vermont Journal - it will really give you a nice taste of what my art is all about: http://www.vermontjournal.com/topnews.htm#fifthstory

Lastly, the most exciting thing for me right now is that my sister Betony Coons and I are doing a Sister Show together on October 21st from 5pm-10pm, here at Moon House Art, simutanously along with my one year gallery anniversary! I'm completely excited and hope to see lots of you there!!

Until next post - thank you friends and family for all your wonderful love and support!

Fall is on the way here in Vermont! Love - Katie

PS: FART night is a womans art group (ie: Female Art) that I am part of here in central Vermont. We bring food, music, and do an art project together once a month. It's a great time and I'm so lucky to have the other amazing women artists in my life!