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September 28, 2006

TILT: Blasts from the Past!

I always get the mail with a little flutter in my tummy these days. I hope that I get an invite for an awesome arts opp, or a card from one of my bestest friends, a loving pratical something from Mom, or a check in the mail that God just wanted to send us to pay off the debt we're in because of our loved, lived in home. Anywho, today was one of those days that I found something unexpected. It wasn't a check (bummer) but it was something that made me grin real big and it's just for me, not for Joel, not for the kids, just me. Hmmmm. My fourth grade teacher has recently spent alot of time with my parents, maybe in the same small group, I dunno. But every time I'd run into her at my parents church, or most recently at my show at Hollis last year she'd tell me that she still keeps my drawings for examples for her class. She has just recently retired and she sent me two of my drawings from fourth grade!! What the heck! Thanks Mrs. Fitzgerald! One was a cat sitting at a window made out of yarn. I don't remember making that one at all. The second was musical notes composed of my name. I do remember doing that one and with so much precision. With those skinny little Crayola markers that felt almost as cool as pens. Fun mail. I love it. I love sending it to when I have any....spare....time.

I love Thursdays | By | 11:37 PM | TrackBack

September 27, 2006

SPC-with someone

Here I am with my two girls. Eden the painting, and Eden my girl. I have been longing to work on the painting summore, but time has not allowed me. I will need to get hoppin' on it since I want it in the Shorter show in about a month.


More critters to love

I little green bird showed no fear when my Josiah went up to him and started to pet him!! Crazy! Of course I sent him to wash his hands good.


Before I could come out with some birdseed he flew off, leaving my kids to watch the apple tree across the yard.

Self Portrait Tuesday | By | 4:41 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

September 25, 2006

seeing in the dark

These lovely birds were at the North GA State Fair. We had to stroll the stroller past all the rides and huge stoopid stuffed animals to find real living animals to pet and feed and generally be thankful for how creative God is. Camels and emus can't help but make you laugh and think that God must be a pretty funny guy to hang out with.

On Thursday afternoon, after our weekly High we went to Chattanooga because I was going to interview Friday morning for the gallery assistant job at AVA. The interview went well. My strengths were strong and my weaknesses well, they're week. I told them that if they wanted to hire me I would do whatever I could to be at work....tommorow if they need me (gulp). I know that sounds crazy. I mean, Kate are you going to commute to Chattanooga every day? And who will watch your children while you are at your at your part time job? It sounds crazy to me to. But I thought it through and what is faith? Is faith seeing the add for the job and just sitting back and hoping everything lines up for you to even apply for the job? Or is faith applying for the job, getting an interview and then getting the call to come in and then believing that God will guide hearts and circumstances to work it's way out. This job is the one I've been wanting my whole working career. Now I have two beautiful kids an I hate to think of someone else parenting them all day long just so I can have my prance throught the cool working artists realm. How can I ignore it though? For the past 5 years I've become more and more aware of God's purpose for me in the artworld, and if He wants me to have this job I have to take each step across this raging river one stone at a time. If they call and I have no answer for how I will relocate, maybe I will have to turn them down. If they really want me than we will make it work? God has done much bigger things than this. Even though I am full of doubt and (yes I admit it) fear, I have to believe that each step is worth it.

Then Joel read this last night. So Allied Arts is paying artists to move to Chattanooga. They pay relocation costs? They pay you 15K? They're cool with part-time working artists? It just kept sounding better. So will I read through this application and fill it out? Why yes!! Joel's mindset is "Hmmmm, does this program work other places??"

One of my first thoughts is, "I'm not good enough, they'll see through my artwork and decide it's not great enough to give me all these benefits." My second thought is,"This process will take forever and they won't be ready to set me up in the program for 6months or longer." These are the thoughts that address my faith.

We've been going to Trinity Vineyard these past few weeks and feel really good there. Kris McDaniel speaks with great understanding and cultural relevance, relevance to Atlanta! Most importantly he speaks from the Bible and speaks truth. It's challenging. He's been going through Mark and yesterday he spoke on the blind man of Bethsaida. At first Jesus touches his eyes and he doesn't see clearly, then Jesus touches him again an he has 100% of his vision. I want to see clearly who Jesus is in every place in my life whether it's bright or dark. I need to trust Him and try every opportunity. Fear has been rearing it's ugly head, and the way to fight it is to keep working and leaping in faith. I can't say I'm not nervous, stressed and sleepless sometimes. Right now I'm dog-sick. But I have to keep working. I have to speak positivity into my family, especially when talking with Joel. He needs a boost everyday.

If you think of us pray that we will have continued stamina. That God will sell our house in less than a month (we shoot high first!!). That God will provide the perfect job for Joel. That I will be able to breathe and talk soon. It's hard to scold when your voice is gone. There only so much scary glaring you can do. Thank you my friends!!

the spirit within | By | 9:56 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

September 21, 2006

Eden

I've started a portrait of my daughter. As much as I stare at her pretty face every day it's very hard to paint it. I still need to tweek the face a bit. It's a tough angle, it's a little bit of a forshortened figure and her face angles slightly up. But I think I got her features down OK. I miss oils. The colors are so much nicer and more fluid. I am so impatient with them though, it just doesn't work with my painting schedule anymore. Paint and go, paint and go.

I look forward to getting this one just right.

fine art | By | 12:15 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

September 20, 2006

Hummingbird

We had a lovely day on the porch the other day. And to top it off we had a few wonderful visitors! First we found a praying mantis. I seemed to be the only one who was thrilled about him. But the hummingbird that made its way through the porch door and buzzed around and chirped was the tops!! You can see how much the kids loved it. Poor think was stuck all day and evening. I kept thinking he'd find his way out! Finally around 9:30 he looked really pooped and he didn't put up much f a fight as I caught him in my large strainer and put him outside on the grass. I figured he wouldn't starve in my porch seeing as I let tons of little bugs in with the door open. What a sweet little bird. I enjoyed watching it buzz and it's chirp was so tiny. God has a wonderful imagination.

mommy time | By | 10:52 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

September 19, 2006

Upcoming

So I've been talking about my 'shows' coming up but I haven't given any specs. Here's some info. October 1-28 I'll have a bunch of my work at Radial Cafe. The opening is October 7th 7-9pm. If you're around downtown ATL come on and join us!!

Legacy Fest is in Cartersville GA and they are having a Patron Show this year. I have been in the fest the past two years but this year I just didn't have the strength. I mean, two full days at a festival is exhausting not just for me, but for Joel and the kiddies (and Cat since she came faithfully to help). So the Patron Show is a great option. I have my most recent works "Juden" and "Celebrate Beauty" in that show.

November 2-17 I have a show at Shorter College. The opening is the 2nd at 5pm and I'll be speaking (eek). I'll have as many pieces that are still around and maybe a couple new ones!

MOCA GA's Pin-Up Show is this week I don't know if I will make it for that, but it's always fun. I'd hafta get a sitter for the drop-off and the opening.

And I got a call from AVA's Hayley Kyle cuz I applied for the gallery assistant position. I didn't get to talk to her, but I know it's 25 hrs a week. I have no idea how I would pull that off, and beyond that, I have no idea how I will be able to leave my kids 5 days a week for 5 hours straight. That's sounds lame but what else do I know? I've been at home for my kids since Josiah was in utero. Strange feeling, I'm asking God to make stuff a little clearer for me. 25 hrs a week does not sound like much, but it's almost all of their active time and I just can't fathom depending on someone else to enforce the discipline and relatively good eating habits that we try to maintain. And I will miss them terribly! Joel wants me to go for it because it's so key to getting where I need to go for my art. Talk about a foot in the door! But is the pay enough? There are no benefits (and Starbucks would have part-time benefit options). But again, I need to ask God what to do and how much to commit to. I might need to do some serious reflection to overcome my "feelings" and do what God requires of me most.

AVA also has an event called "Eye Candy" the whole month of December and I'll probably put "the Season" and "Lioness" in that show. They are both pretty well liked and I'd love them to be purchased! Gotts to get that app in the mail by next week.

Check out my website for more events and info or if you've never seen my art before.

fine art | By | 12:08 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

September 18, 2006

In the air

Wow, I've started to post like four times this weekend and just haven't finished. Haven't compiled thoughts enough. And something tells me I won't have much energy to post much now, but...

I must say that the air these days is just beautiful. The fall, I love it. It's the time around my birthday, it's when your jackets and hoodies comeout. It's when you want to be outoors again after an August of dog days. I love that it's raining again. I love it because when the weather is cooler I can work on the house and not drown in my own juices. I have done my share of painting, scraping, cleaning, boxing, lugging, you name it. I hope that we can call our real estate agent real soon. There's a cute little St. Elmo house that has a great price!

I'll muster up more to write tommorow. I hope you're weekends were as satisfyingly exhausting as mine and free of e-coli spinach!

mommy time | By | 12:07 AM | TrackBack

September 16, 2006

My Latest Painting

There's my porch door. Very Conceptual brick red.

This is my screen porch, it's a gaudy blue color, I thought I'd get good shock value. Repulsion from the more artistically inclined.

And this is my bathroom, kinda a work in progress still. The paint isn't covering as well as I like. It's pretty dern hot in that bathroom because of the light fixture I chose, whew!

And let me introduce you to my new camera! The Nikon CoolPix L2 was a mistake. All the indoor pics, no matter how I messed with the settings, always were orange! Not acceptable. It hadn't been 30 days yet and the lens jammed! So bye-bye! The Office Depot that offered assistance with my last Powershot was not very helpful and had very little selection. So since I had the receipt for the new camera's exchange etc. I went to a different Office Dept and they had the Powershot I wanted. I can't figure out how to get the pictures a little smaller though. My memory card gets used up quick! But this $280 camera cost me half as much because of Office Depot's screwing protection plan, whatever. I finally have an upgrade!

house | By | 8:51 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

September 12, 2006

SPC-with someone else

Now this truly is what "self-portrait" means right? You pick up a brush, you paint yourself! None of this confounded photography junk. Whatever, my camera broke (I knew it was crap) and I will be harrassing Office Depot yet again. It is hurricane season...bring it on!

This painting was done in 2001, it's of Joel and I in the Rogers home in Chattanooga Valley. These days Joel and I lay in bed and dream of being back amoung the tall grasses, red clay and corn mazes of Flintstone GA. After 5 years of being away and one weekend of pleasentries I'm more than ready. I feel like I need an upper or two to get all the stuff done I need to and still have an ounce for the kidlets. But I will be patient with God's timing and with my children and live.

We visited with the Englishs on Sunday afternoon and man, does it take your sense of time and space and pop-culture and traffic and fast food right out the window. In fact its a regular oasis of simple life. I mean you can read Real Simple and then you can live real simple. We sat with their family of eight and had venison with homemade from the garden tomato sauce, and homemade bread. Brownies from scratch with Breyers natural icecream. We saw the baby squirrel they were nursing back to health in the shed. We saw the brick oven they are building around back to bake bread Honduras style (they spent last year in Honduras). We saw the cabin that there oldest son is building with the boards from grandpa's saw-mill. We saw the pond they are creating with a dam that grandpa's buldozer helped make. And I gasped in awe as not only the kids but Tim himself (of course) swung over the great depths of the pond's banks on a rope swing, caught a young bendable tree, and let go of the swing, sat in the tree like a north GA monkey. He took Josiah for a ride and at the climax of the swings path I saw Josiah's little hands grip Tims shoulders with cat claws. I was burning inside that my crap camera decided to die just as we took the tour around the grounds. We have been to this house before and we have seen these children grow into independant thoughtful peaceful young people. I love seeing the dolls that the girls made out of flowers, pinecones, grasses and berries. It makes me ache to be so far from any experience like this. I never think I could live so far away, but just to be closer than an hour and a half would give me a center. The Englishs also reached out into our lives here in Atlanta and I felt myself wince at how little I feel I've grown. The community that I had when I painted Joel and I in this painting has been so quickly forgotten and replaced with nothing of better value. With Tim, Jennie and fam I can be simple. We can talk about impossibilities with little to no stress. Coffee and wine are richer there. And watching the years go by is not so hard. My 30th birthday is coming quickly. So is Jennie's 40th. I hope that I can find that flame that spurs one forward to the unknown and start up a fire of peace and satisfaction. Where my faith is like a warm jacket I wear to curb off the coldness.

I feel that community will take work, it will not just happen. I feel my rabid desire to attack the art world this fall will be hard and joyful. God is in these changes, my body groans. I feel my person needs to go into detox from all the stuff Atlanta has provided me. I am not from the big city, nor do I really live in it, but I cannot live in-between. Give me the smallness, the simple. I must find more of who God is in a place where I can see the stars and there are no smog alerts.

| By | 9:31 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

September 11, 2006

catch

I need to play catch up, but I really don't feel like typing much now. Nice weekend, great friends, another broken camera, absorbing things that God is showing me. More later.

the spirit within | By | 11:00 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

September 8, 2006

Complete

Well, I think it's finished. I might do a little masking here an there. The word "trust" is a tad too dark for me, so we'll see. One week man, that's fast. Thats the perk (one of the only perks) of acrylics. I still don't have a title. I will have to go and read the Bible verses that I read for the stencils and think of one. "Juden" is good enough if nothing strikes me, I mean, it is him!

Thanks again for all your support on this piece. I look forward to dialogueing with some of you about this piece. I had a good talk with Cat last night about it, but I'm always interested in why people like it. Cat's take was that it reflects so much relevence to the viewers life and much new art these days is doing the same thing. Elevating the everyday, the urban, etc.

I will have this piece in two shows before Christmas, after that it will probably be sold as a few people have asked me about it. If that's you please continue to contact me. I have the option of getting a giclee (fine art print) that would be more affordable, but it takes time. It's a pretty cool process, its on canvas and everything. I put texture back into it and it's gorgeous! Check my flickr for more detailed pics of this piece.

I'll be up in Chattanooga this weekend to hop with all the galleries. Have a great weekend!

fine art | By | 9:28 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

September 6, 2006

SPC-with someone, and much gratitude

This weeks SPC is pretty simple. Self Portrait with someone. And I must say that getting a picture with my son Josiah is easier than getting one by myself! He's always around me and snuggles with me more than Eden (Eden is Joel's snuggle bug). I love pictures with my son because even though everyone says he's a min-Joel, which I am not denying, I look into his eyes and I see mine. In these pictures our eyes look the same. It's wierd. Having little people that once were in you, are from you, contain parts of your make-up, yet they are totally independant people, crazy. My boy drives me crazy alot these days, but he also gives me great comfort. I find his letting go and desire to be with friends and start school (sniff) gives me a strange sense of freedom yet I ache for my first little one. The one who broke me big-time. He tested my faith over and over with his skinniness as a baby. He will continue to be the first to change me in many other areas. I am glad that my second child is a daughter because Josiah seems to be best boy experience I could ask for.

I also want to take a moment to quickly thank you all for all your comments and thoughts on my latest painting. I have not named it yet, and I have not finished it. I want to work on it like I'm jonesin' for a hit, but I must prioritize. Tonight I will work again. I wanted to tell those of you that do not now how much emotion goes into this piece for all of us. I'm speaking of us young moms. This is a portrait of Juden who is 2 1/2 now and this past Easter fell from a 2nd story window. He had no major injuries. His mom, Linda, is a much more private person than I so I will not go into whatever I've heard etc. I know when I heard the follow up tale of her seeing a sparrow/swallow outside that same window in the spot that Juden landed and how it gave Linda such peace to know that God sent that little bird to remind her of His watchful eye; it touched a part of me that we all know. That sense that we are out of control and the One who created our children will watch over them and over US every day. Guilt, fear, beating youself up for choices you made. All these things are futile. God loves us as parents as much as he loves those little children. We are all important. As an artist who is also a full-time mom, I was determined to portray this. I have come to terms with the fact that my most powerul works involve things that are very close to home, like little kids. I think as women we still battle our choice to become a mother and how debasing it is on an everyday level, to have that choice elevated in fine art in something that I hope I can achieve over and over. Lord knows I run into moms that are embarassing 'the Cause' and also others who snubb their noses at me and my choice. I hope that reflection on parenthood will help vindicate not just my decision but the whole world of mommy-hood. We are weak and strong at the same time, and we are thankful all the time too. I am so grateful for all of you for looking and admiring. Please remember how special you are to God for parenting these little children and remember your Heavenly Father is perfectly parenting us all.

This is a better outdoor pic, not so orange.

Self Portrait Tuesday | By | 4:17 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

September 4, 2006

New Work

Just like you want a new piece of clothing when you have an important event to go to, I want a new painting for my two fall shows. Of course, it seems ridiculous to be doing this when there are other things to paint. Actually, I have been painting non-stop whether it be my porch or a new work. My kitchen ceiling is stain free and my cement slab screen porch has a newly painted grey floor. Ahhhh, it's cleansing to see smooth painted surfaces. So here is a few shots of my latest.

I'm really excited about this piece. My most favorite part is the stencils I pain-stakingly cut out by hand. I have this photo quality ink jet paper I bought by mistake thinking it was actual photo paper. Not having much decent to do with it, I thought it would be perfect to cut into. Printed my text, watched the Constant Gardener, and cut out stencils. The paper worked great.

I also was a little excited and nervous about doing a bird. I need it to be more subtle than it is now, I will probably mask it because the detail is too nice to rub out. This little sparrow was harder than I thought. But when I stick to my methods of bright color underneath, bright outline and layers then it works out. That and the fact I got new little brushes which makes those little lines quite a bit easier. And for your amusement, here's some of the magic happening. hehehe.
Ta Da!

Love to talk about this more but I'm pooped. Happy Labor Day dudes, I'll think of your parties while I paint more of my screened porch.

fine art | By | 12:54 AM | Comments (12) | TrackBack