May 13, 2008

Wow

Thanks for coming by the Clothesline Art Show, dudes. I am winding down from the weekends activities. I am very thankful for the sales, and that I warded off sickness all weekend with a little help from my friend...Subway. Yes I am embracing the joys of a pregnancy with the stereo type, PICKLES!

I finished my last day of class today, doesn't mean I'm done with HHL quite yet, I have projects to grade and a closet to clean. I also have this funny, testy problem of popularity! In the homeschool world, my class is ala carte, and they can take it as many times as they want! I was breathing a sigh of relief that I had a years lesson plans already done for next year, but now I might have several repeaters! I guess that's really cool, but I now hafta come up with new, fresh stuff. Tough to be loved.

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May 04, 2008

Starling Darling

Cooommme, come to the Clothesline Art Show and buuuuyyy me!

I have been feeling a bit better in the mornings. Mostly because I figured out a little bit what I want to eat. I want to eat french fries. Yep, no doubt about it. When I'm feeling gross around lunchtime, all I want is something hot, fatty and salty. Although I also found that Goddess dressing from Trader Joe's has an equal amount of satisfaction but not that immediate nausea turn off.

I'm slowly chipping away at my last Clothesline art pieces. I'd like to do one more plate. We'll see how that goes. I have prints to do and watercolor pods. It's all about balancing my energy.

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April 26, 2008

I gave it the old college try

Make Work Grant Essay: Katie Ward Knutson

Provide a detailed description of the project or purpose for which the funds are being requested:
The project I want to pursue is a new body of work that reflects my illuminated memories and the universally familiar things to which we respond. I would like to complete between twelve and fifteen pieces. I would like to focus on the architecture and urban decay of these historical neighborhoods we are building back up. I would like to show a hope and a brightness as things are restored. I would like to show the beauty of Chattanooga by emphasizing the uniqueness of having wooded areas and city so accessible. While using Chattanooga as a central inspiration, I would like to study and experiment with universal connectedness as far as shapes, lines, and creatures. I would like to reflect on the instinct of all of us to look at the very top of a tall building as we walk past it, to look at the horizon as it stretches out in front of us, and the instinct of looking another creature in the eye and identifying with its presence at that point, at that time.

Explain how this will contribute to your own artistic development (the impact and outcome you hope to achieve).
This new body of work would consist of larger pieces and a greater quantity of pieces than I have been able to produce on my own. I would like to explore watercolors and more works on paper. I have been experimenting with this lately and have enjoyed the result very much. I would like to push myself to do large works on canvas as well.

I hope to achieve a level of symbolism and conceptual communication that I have not explored fully. I hope to challenge myself as far as technical skill, historical accuracy, and unique compositional approaches.

I am a mother of two small children. I love my position in life because I feel more settled and more reflective. This opportunity will give me a big step up to create a complete, mature body of work and give me the freedom to experiment without hurting my family’s resources.

Describe how the project will benefit the greater Chattanooga art community.
There are many obvious ways that I feel my project will benefit Chattanooga. I think it will give a very personal testimony to the history and growth of Chattanooga through me, the artist. I have grown up in and returned to Chattanooga with my family to start a new batch of memories. This body of work will inspire us to feel united as a city, but also to unite us with the power of restoration. The hope for the future, making our city great, each resident’s fingerprints; these things will illuminate the good works here.

I hope the drive for restoration will be universal to anyone who views my work and wishes to see any sort of change happen in their city, community, home and family. I would like to reach toward the future with brightness and celebrate the time that has past in a beautiful way.

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April 24, 2008

Wierd days, Good Neighbors

I've been working on prints for the Clothesline Art Show. It feels a little wierd since we have 3 wonderful printmakers in the show already. I use the Clothesline Show to experiment, try something out and see if it works. Last year I tried my watercolors out and they were very sucessful. This year I have a few paintings on bamboo plates and a couple prints on bamboo plates. But since I did a short printmaking session with my students this semester I've got the itch to try prints of my own compositions. I have the beetle and I did one of Cookie that is unfinished, but I kinda like it the way it is. And I have this Fawning print. It's the best compositionally. All I want to do is print it a million times on every sort of paper and substance. Watch out kids, mama might stamp you with a beetle, bunny or deer if you get too close! I feel I am still procrastinating. I see the deadline but I am in this fog and I can't seem to shake it. I think I've been in it since the car accident.

And then yesterday, some jerk stole Joel's bike. In the middle of the day while I was washing the floors for small group. Broad %$^&ing daylight!! And it was an unusual day since almost all my neighbors were gone. He walked right up to our back porch and walked away with it. On top of that he left his sorry crap of a bike leaning up against our house! I couldn't even touch it, how repulsive. So last night we pulled together our game face and had a nice time at small group, then as I washed dishes later, I cried about many things. Our bikes, our van, our debts, things had to come to a head. Joel and I are taking steps toward taking care of all our previous home debt. But the car and the bike, I mean man! What luxuries must we live without! This morning I noticed that my broken bike was also gone. Someone had eyes for our stuff. I have been trembling with some sort of panicky frustration all day. I want to hang out with my kids and be relaxed but I just can't. I have been snappy and distracted. Forgive me kiddos. So I wrote our buddy Rob Simmons the police officer. Then while I was out at the store with the kids, I got calls telling me the guy had come back for HIS BIKE and walked off with it! Thank God, I didn't want to see that crappy thing. My neighbors called the cops, called me, and one of them hopped in his car and took pictures of the guy! Great job Gabe!

My other neighbor Smitty made this make-shift wanted poster. Talk about an aggressive neighborhood watch! Notice our thief has a dad-gumm BEER KEG in one hand! I would have loved to see him trying to ride with that thing. I knew that living downtown could not leave us with the luxury of stuff not getting taken, but man, we have great neighbors. I can't jump in my car and hunt him down, I have two kids! But thankfully, their is a comradery in Jefferson Heights.

It would be super keen to get our bikes back, pitch-fork angry mob style, but from now on I'll get big fatty chains for my stuff and call the cops alot. Also, Gabe's wife Noelle offered Joel a Mtn bike that she had sitting around the garage. I was praying alot this morning, and God has given me a peace that is unexpected.

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April 22, 2008

Work Horse

I have been holding off on finishing these, mostly just because I have been crazy busy! These are two pieces from my neighborhood. The church at the end of Read Ave, and the Taco Stand on Main. I hope to continue to study buildings and stuff, my technical skill needs more and more practice. I want to get more challenging colors and concepts to compliment these buildings. I feel these two are good, but they are stepping stones to a new phase.

I also finished a bird called 'Winter's Gone'. I can't get it to upload here, I'll put it in my flickr. I am working on a block print of my Fawning composition and a Lino-cut of Cookie. I got tired of cutting the linoleum so I just printed to today to get an artist proof and I kinda like it unfinished. I will make plenty of prints for the Clothesline Show even though we have some great printmakers in the show already. I'm just doing studies of the animal images I've come to love. Repetition is a soothing and rewarding process.

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April 12, 2008

Taco Stands Shakey

I am doing my taxes and I can't believe how much I made last year selling art! I mean, it's awesome, but right now I'm scared I'll be paying out the nose! My hard earned money doesn't come with a W-2. It's all part of me learning how to budget, pay down debt, and eventually save!

This is in progress. The legs on this stand are a bit off. The are like that though. Joel's not so sure about the plates I'm painting on. So prove him wrong my beloved buyers!

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April 01, 2008

I hope it's worth it

The Make Work Grants were due yesterday. Yesterday at 5pm that is. I leisurely got my copies done, made my CD with images, planned my lesson for art class, and hung out with friends on Saturday. Yesterday I left with 2 hours to spare before class to go to Office Depot and get folders to look professional. I can't believe how un-helpful their staff was. They had no idea where I could find a plain, black, two pocket folder with no brackets that didn't have Five Star or kitties splashed across the front. I searched for 30 minutes, probably neglecting my children a bit too much, for those blasted folders. I found them, no help from the staff.

I taught class with about half a brain, I was thinking I needed to assemble my applications and that would ease my mind. I did it during the high school class all the while sharing with them the process. Shouldn't every artistic venture be a learning experience? I left school around 3:20 with the plan to make a B-line for Create Here's office to get that application dropped off. I was so nervous. I didn't want to be, but I knew I had to get that application out my hands to feel better. I also had too much caffiene yesterday, that doesn't help the old nerves. I parked, left the kids in car right outside. I ran into Laura Murray from AVA and gave her a hug. I was handed a check list, "Do you want to run down this list and make sure you have all of these things?" I looked at it and noticed there were things on that checklist that I didn't make 6 copies of. Some things they had not asked for. I felt my temperature rise. I was pissed. Don't they know I have my KIDS in the car?? I can't just "run to copy place". "Hopefully we'll see you before 5?" "You probably won't" I said. I drove home because I had to make 5 more copies of my CD. It took me all afternoon Saturday to figure out how to make CD's on this new laptop. I grabbed my laptop and my stack of CD's and told the kids, "we're going to Grandma's house". Dad has a printer that copies, and the kids would be happy. They wouldn't nap, but they'd be pleasantly distracted. So for the 3 miles between my house and Mom's I called her and said, "I'm so sorry, I didn't want to do this but I'm desperate." I copied 5 more copies of my signature page, W-9, and letters of Reccomendation. My dad copies CD's of his old music all the time and without his help I would never have had a chance. He made 5 more copies for me without a hitch. I was fussing the whole time how I HATED procrastinating and how I know Create Here is new and is fumbling through this process just like me but ARGH! If I had made my copies Sunday night I would have been able to trouble shoot BEFORE 4pm.

Yesterday was my Mom's birthday and we were going to have dinner with them anyway. Two hours early didn't seem too bad. I just know how Mom works, especially when she's making dinner. But really, it could not have been an easier problem fixer. Mom had dinner ready to pop in the oven, the kids changed into dress-ups and helped put candles in the birthday cake. Monday is Dad's day off so he was spending his afternoon trying to fix the doorbell, he was glad to stop and make copies. I was able to snatch my purse at 4:40 and say, "I'm leaving, I'll be back!" I ran into Mia (a wonderful portrait painter) as I hustled back into Create Here. She said she finished her application ina weekend. It took me 2 weeks. It's a different timeline when you have little kids to care for. I told the receptionist, "Next time, put this checklist in your PDF file". She said she made it up this morning because of the confusion. Ugh. We're all newbies.

I was frazzled beyond belief. I needed a drink. This morning I'm nursing soreness from being so rushed. I don't think I"ve been that nervous in a long time. The thing is, I hope it's worth it. I told myself I wouldn't kill myself over this thing. I hope disappointment isn't around the corner. But I've been praying that this experience helps me try again and again. It would be awesome to get money. We'll have to wait a month and see.

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March 18, 2008

Plates

I have to post my tiniest bit of progress. I can't believe it's been over a week since our jurying critique for Clothesline and I"m finally getting to start some new things. I have a couple sketches for some architechtural "memory" pieces as well. I found these earth-friendly-disposable-bamboo plates at Target on clearance and I almost bought them all up! Perfect for painting on. Cheaper than canvas and paper! This is a WIP so stay tuned to see the fawn emmerge. I do want to keep this very simple with some ancient Asian influence.

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March 06, 2008

The Artwork Cometh

Tommorow I am the joyful recipient of artwork from at least 13 ladies for Clothesline Art Show entries. I am kinda anxious to see how this goes. Put enough women in a room and you get drama. And enough creative women with passions, emotions, and (let's admit it) agendas, you get some unexpected things. I am praying that we can break out of our comfortable places and create new facets of our relationships in order to grow artistically and spiritually. Cat has worked very hard to be the administrator. Not everything is going to be perfect and there are goals that are going to be achieved and some that will not. Each time we have this show we get closer to being a bit more professional, but as Joel told me last night the main goal is to have great art hanging on the walls and to have people show up. The rules for rules sake is not always the goal.

But all in all I am excited because this is a new experience for me, being a juror, hostess, and coordinator of sorts. There are lots of things rattling around in my brain about this event and I'm afraid of how ill prepared people will feel I am. I want to have more compassion, more humility, more respect for those women in this group who have encouraged me to be an artist. Those I have watched from afar and been eager to see what they can do. Seems like so many in my 'hood are buzzing about the "ARTS" like its a nation, a political party, a secret club, a golden ticket what-have-you. We women of the Clothesline are working for this buzz, because it's been alive in us for so long. It's not sparked by whatever big-money foundation is handing out grants it's sparked by Jesus, the one who put this desire in all of us. It won't just go away. But without loving, faith-driven, fellow artists we will be alone with our fragile egos. I want to see all of us get better, not just with art production but with a sense of urgency to create for the Kingdom of God. That means we have to know how to market it, we have to know how to price it, we have to know how to make deadlines, we have to have a current blasted artist statement! It's not about being blown back and forth by a creative breeze (although there must be an important time for that), it's about fine tuning ourselves to be useful tools for Jesus.

So I welcome you artist/tools for the Kingdom to my house. They'll be a sign out front, or balloons or something. I'll be waitin'
You can contact us here

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February 27, 2008

The Faces I Know

Yesterday

Today

Detail #1

Detail #2

This piece is again exploring a new theme I want to take on. I have trouble completely defining it. I've talked it through with Joel pretty sucessfully and then fairly clumsily with Cat.
CreateHere has another art show in March that I'm going to try with all my might to be ready for. Between a funeral, memorial service, teaching school, Clothesline show organizing, small group hosting, baby shower planning and general Mom duties I hope I can have a piece finished by March 5. Whew. But this is how I like to be. I've been slowing down a little too much and it makes my artwork suffer. The March show has a literary theme to it. There were not many quotes left to go from, but the one I picked was from A Lesson Before Dying. It's from page 175 and it talks about fiddling with a radio dial to find a good station. I found some good antique radio pics via flickr so I dove into the geometry of drawing radio dials the other night. I hope I can achieve a good illusion. If any of you have some insight on that book that'd be great because I really don't have the time to read it.
Thanks for all your well wishings for our family. We will say farewell officially to Papa Hull this weekend. I look forward to seeing what his military burial will be like.

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February 19, 2008

It needs something

I think it needs a warm bright color somewhere and definately some cropping. And some interference, mmmmm. But I love this bird and the berries and the eggs. It's just part of my new experimenting and pining for BIG surfaces and areas to paint.

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February 16, 2008

New Generation of Insect

I finished this little guy up last night. This is really different but it's what I call a 'happy mistake'. I had kinda ruined the surface of this paper with too much acrylic. Mixing acrylic and watercolor/gouache surfaces pretty much determines that once the acrylic is down there's no other option than acrylic. I like how this one turned out. You kinda hafta like pink, but the red oxide brown makes up for it. This little beetle ends up looking pretty neat with a think line of blue. I wish you could see that the beige color has a little bit of orange interference on top, it's shiny. Interference is my new toy *smile*. I'm trying to figure out if I should put it in my etsy shop now, or wait til after the Clothesline jurying to have something representative of what I want to try for the next year or so.

I'm still thinking of that grant and have received a lot more confidence about the ideas milling around in my head

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February 15, 2008

MMMeh?

Yesterday had the potential of being really nice but it was just ok. Joel and I don't do Valentine's Day. And before you feel really sorry for me I'll say, "As long as he makes some days romantic and sweet I'll forgive him for the faux holiday made up for the end of winter retail slump." Ok, now you can feel sorry for me because I didn't spend any time with my husband on Valentines. I did get to love on my kids alot and have a nice relaxing play day with them yesterday. We walked and had hot chocolate at Niedlov's and fresh peanut butter cookies made there later on.

We played on the St Elmo playground making "family sandwiches" down the slide (me on the bottom, Jos in the middle and Eden on top). I did get to go to one hour of the opening of Heart of the Neighborhood and have a pretty (although not quite stiff enough) drink. Cat joined me since Joel was still at work. I walked home with Cat and met Joel at the door as he went to Nocturne and took tickets. I hung out with my kids and we watched Batman until Grandma and Grandpa showed up. I debated whether I should take my mom up on another hour of babysitting but my weary bones, lack of desire to drink, and the face of Josiah when he said, "Are you going to put us to bed?" They've had too much babysitting this week I think. My neighbor Jan stopped by to tell me my "Bird of Hearts" was the only piece that sold at the Create Here Heart of the Neighborhood Show. Great! Is it God's blessing or the fact that I priced it too low? A little bit of both, that's $65 bucks I didn't have before! Joel called at 9pm from the din of pre party hoopla and asked if I would be staying home. He guessed right. He did however bring the eager Thompson's over to the house (since we are around the corner from the party) to give them some hope of living here? Maybe? Join us will you? The rest of the evening is not worth mentioning. I tried to get work done but was preoccupied with too much dramatic TV and inner spirit churnings of sorts. I do hope your Valentine's day was joyful. It is too much for us to have high romantic expectations, it is, however, fun to cut out big read hearts out of paper and see little children OOo and Ahhh over mylar balloons.

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February 12, 2008

A Good Idea that Pays

I told Cat a while ago that if I didn't want to be a frustrated artist/mama I needed to stop taking showers, never sleep in, never go on walks by myself, etc. Because these activities get me into trouble. I spend that time whether 10 minutes or 2 hours daydreaming, thinking, trying to put together the next good idea. The next inspiration. I love the magazines that are full of great style, wonderful art and fashion, but looking at them too long makes me realize that I am getting frustrated. It's that frustration that there is someone more talented than you are. There are lots of people more talented than me. I know many of them very well. But now my frustration is weighted by a deadline of great worth.

They are giving out money. Up to 20K for one person. Money can grow on trees but you need a kick ass idea to get a basket for that tree. I got my home from the same pot of money and now I have the opportunity to write a grant and get more money for an idea. A great big fat honkin' awesome idea. An idea that I don't have. Man, that makes me want to cry a little. So many of you, my blogland friends, are overflowing with great ideas. This is not how God built me. I am not really a brainstormer. I impliment, I baby step, I learn from mistakes. So far I am growing and changing my style. It's working, I make money making art. But as I said, there are many people more talented than me. This opportunity came about the same time Lent has so I spend time that I am quiet with just God and the dark praying about the future. Can I tell them,"Look, I am talented, I am a mom, I need a financial boost to get that next big project started. Here's what I want to paint."

Cat got to go to the meeting yesterday for the grant and filled me in. They are looking for something really unique. That makes me want to cry a little too. See, I really am not feeling unique. I know many of you readers are huffing that I'm down on my self right now, but this is a cut-throat business. I want to represent something amazing, powerful, techinically wonderful and current. Yet I am flawed and although I am made in God's image I am fighting my way out of a sack of inadequacy.

When I complete a portrait, for example, I am not patting myself on the back normally. One of the first things I do is thank Jesus. Because I don't do this by myself. I do it because God gave me the gift and I am giving it back. Doing a portrait is scary. I'm always terrified of failing.

So what makes me worthy of money that another mother-of-two artist in the Chattanooga area is not? What can I offer that is special, unique, altering to the everyday? I don't know, that's why I keep praying. I tell myself that if I "just didn't have to do _____" I would have great ideas. But that's not how God made me either. He gave me a gift, and he gave me a family. Neither one of those things should fight each other. The approval of man is not what I live for, neither is the accumulation of money, but I do want to have an opportunity to give God glory with a new large body of work. Could that be enough?

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February 11, 2008

What to do on Valentine's Day

I pulled my act together just a smidge in order to get one piece in this show. I hope it's worthy. If you love it come and buy it!

Heart of the Neighborhood 5:00 – 8:00 PM
CreateHere @ 55 East Main St.
Come out for a RedHot cocktail party/art opening/live DJ. Eat your heart out at this show by Southside artists with multi-media, cupid-inspired pieces. Free. Questions? Call CreateHere at 648-2195.

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February 08, 2008

Bunny Money

Another commission! This one is just like Finn, and I love this one. I hope to get some better pictures of it in the daylight today. This ones off to my former Starbucks barista who I got to know and we were totally unaware that we both went to Covenant. And she happened to play soccer with my super SIL. Small world over black and white mocha's.



I am also incredibly thankful today because after having a depressing bill paying moment yesterday, God has blessed us and I sold a Metro painting last night on Etsy! God is good, and He pays attention to all our worries and requests. Hallelujah!

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January 29, 2008

Beautiful Buns

Mary, your bunny's ready!

Here's a finished commission, sorry for the cruddy picture. Ugh, I need Photoshop soooo bad. I like what the salt did in this one. It added some nice texture. This is 11"x8", watercolor on 120lb cold press paper. Go check out my etsy shop. I have lots in there now!

Hello to all those who are visiting from the SewMamaSew blog! I was asked if my Valentine Chain could get included in their post on easy crafts for the lovely holiday. Since then I've been getting quite a number of hits off the good ole sitemeter from seamstresses. I'm sorry I don't sew more, but I paint! Check it!

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January 24, 2008

Updated, now I'm late

I spent most of this morning updating my web shop because I've had some requests for art. So now, my loyal readers, you can view and buy Metro pieces that were at the gallery from my etsy shop. Check the sidebar for my etsy mini for a quick link to the bestest of goods. Remember, I can make giclee prints of this Yellow Umbrella piece, it can printed in any size you want! Have fun shopping!!

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January 23, 2008

"Heart of the Matter" show

My neighbor is putting together an art show at the Create Here office during the month of February. It has a heart theme, and rather than come up with something witty, or a twist on some heart phrase, I thought I'd twist the actual heart shape.
I've felt out of practice. Blocked, if you will. And so although I do like this piece, I feel it reflects some clumsiness. The delicate clumsiness of trying something new. Of using new materials. Of a new season.


This doodle came out kinda pretty. I wanted it to look like a back lot. Somwhere urban but overgrown. Like much of my surroundings these days. The watercolors lead the lines. Defining with ink is so satisfying. Ok, I must go to bed.

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January 11, 2008

Digital Business

I've been putzing around with what to do for our next Clothesline Show's card. The biggest challenge was that the other super ladies involved thought it would be cool (and it is) to have a full oversized postcard that would fold to be a sealable envelope sorta thing. It would still only cost a postcard price which is now, what 29 cents? So the green rectangle will be the front with address and the picture will join on the back side sealed with a sticker. I am no amazing digital media goddess. I fumble and cuss my way through learning this stuff. But once I figure out a couple things I am totally satisfied with the result. After I scrounged for photos I liked. Which this one was taken by Mark Cooley and I snagged it off flickr. I know, Mark can I use your photo? Anyway, this is a draft. I have to run it by the womanly powers that be and see if it's worthy. Another cool thing I like about this is that the decorative flourish on the green rectangle front is a simplified and filtered picture of a light fixture/chandelier at Laura Pettit's (the Sessions) house! It's so cool! It worked great to modify. Her home is such a jewel for this show. It makes people want to hang around and talk and feel all cozy. She has lovely appropriate pieces in her turn of the century home. I have finished the inside too, but since it involves names of artists that need to be invited, judged and approved I won't post that quite yet. So I am laying my skill on the table once again, and yes I put butterflies on it. But it's a spring show and my new version of Photoshop has this cool butterfly brush tool. I really tried to hold back.

Also there's a neat little project that good ole Skip Gienapp is doing for his family. If you feel like contributing and getting his fam their big dream let Skip know what you have to trade.

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January 09, 2008

Mmoooooo

Ever since we moved from Marietta I have not quite known where these guys went. Over Christmas I took a whole month off of making art (sorta) and I organized like three whole sections of my house. I think my back is still recovering. I hope it's recovering. But last week I went through one last box for the office and found my Brown Cows. I'm putting them in my etsy shop. I also have an invite to another art show at the Create Here office in February. It has a heart them, so I'm not really sure what to do for that, but I need to warm up and start fine tuning some new ideas working for Clothesline in May. If you have a nice crisp Benjamin, go buy some cows.

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December 19, 2007

Were you smart enough to buy art for Christmas?

Now I will not devulge who is getting these pieces, but the giver's are such clever and thoughtful people. Art is a wonderful gift to give. Even Joel is effected by the love that is going in to these purchases. Of course, we are thankful, it's a gift to us too, to be able to sell a little extra over the holidays. Can you believe this giclee is the original size? It looks bigger don't it?

I'd like to thank all of my faithful readers for commenting, it's great to see some of you come out of the cracks to reflect on these things. I really felt heavy that day. Yesterday me and the kids did a few Christmasy errands that involved walking downtown. We got cinnamon rolls at Nielov's, and we took the Electric Shuttle to the Bijou. We spent some quality time in Rock Point Books. I love that store, it's wide open so I can let the kids play (the truck bed is the cest!!) and look at my own stuff on the other side. Of course, I love the kids books the best anyway. Loading the bike trailer-stroller into the Electric Shuttle is quite a task, especially with the lunch crowd from all the insurance companies, so we just walked all the way home! At first I thought I would regret it, that the kids would be mad that they weren't riding the bus, but they were great! I think the sunshine made all the difference. The sun on our faces, the exersize, the funny windows at the EPB. I knew I needed to get out of the house and move, ALOT. The blisters on my little toes are payment for my ambition. It makes me wish I had the necessity to walk more. That's why I long for a grocery store (or ANY practical store) downtown. I'd love to drive less and less.

And on a kinda humorous note, one of my art students tags buildings. Yeah, he defaces property. Hehe. If only he worked as hard on his assignments. He was working on his "logo" in class and I was asking him about it. I asked what it said and he told me "dank". As I was walking down an alley way on the way home I saw "dank" 3 seperate times! Thank goodness I had a camera to record my students "homework".

Again, thanks for all of you that decided to get art for Christmas. I'd say that it isn't too late to order some, but it kinda is. You can call Sandy at the Hollis Gallery at 423-265-4444 and get the thing you desire.

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December 11, 2007

Waiting to stand still

MAINx24 was wonderful. The Coptix party was a blast. And I am so glad to be part of it. Thanks everyone, now I'm waiting for those last few things to be wrapped up, a.k.a. grades for school, and then I'll be full of Christmas cheer. And that's mostly due to all the tacky presents I got from my students and the Christmas CD Bob made for me.

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December 07, 2007

I think I'm finally going to quit

I finished the final piece of art for the Metro Show at Hollis tommorow. If you're not planning on coming than you better change your mind! The last piece has a kinda inside joke, if you come to the show I'll fill you in.

I am so pooped and the action doesn't stop. Tommorow we'll do the family fun MAINx24 and do free carriage rides, the Christmas Parade, the Main Street Mural unveiling and then a good long stretch at Hollis to sip wine, eat brie and chocolate truffles and my Mom's St. Nicholas Cookies. The Southside tree lighting is at 5pm and I would love to swing by there and see the first ever Southside tree lit up. I need to find a handmade ornament to do my part. Then hopefully I can crash until the Coptix Party.

Sunday we have to do the Tykes class at church, so instead of sitting on my butt working on Christmas projects that have been left unfinished for the past 2 years, I"ll be planning an advent lesson for 11 3 to 5 year olds. And wrapping up plans for my last class before Christmas. We'll be doing handmade wrapping paper and some simple origami after the students talk about their self portraits. Monday NRV has a Ladies Night Out Christmas get together at Rachel's House, and Tuesday I have to hang my students artshow and find some prizes.

Maybe by Wednesday the 12th we can get our tree! Oh, that makes me so happy to think about that! Rum and eggnog and schmaltzy Christmas music! It makes exhaling feel so good. I also can't wait to score one (or two) of Amber's handmade owl ornaments for our tree.

I made a modern funky wreath out of mailing tubes. The idea is from the latest Readymade mag. It came out really neat! I don't have any flattering paint for it as of yet, but a piece of masonite to work on and a big jar of elmer's glue connected them just fine. I used my bread knife to chop the tubes apart. I could sand the little tidbits off. I got some of those battery powered tealights at Walgreens and they look kinda neat hiding inside the tubes. I probably won't leave them in there. My house is all about throwing things together these days. And when I slow down a smidge maybe my posts here will be less of a to-do list and more thoughtful.

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November 29, 2007

Can I just say...

I just got off the phone with Ann Nichols from the Times Free Press! I know I'm a nerd, but getting in the paper feels pretty cool. eep!
Also, in other exciting Knuts' news. Remember that Josiah pretty much knocked his tooth out, well it was a bit anti-climactic because he, well, he pretty much knocked it out. I wasn't looking forward to how long it would take for his new tooth to grow in, and if his other teeth would go all wonky waiting for new tooth to grow in. Happiness, Josiah's tooth is growing in! I can't believe it, he's not even 5! But I'm glad, now I feel like celebrating his new tooth.

After going to IKEA and steering clear of lots of their Christmas stuff I went ahead and decided to get these cute Christmas dishes at Target. So much for self control. And yes, I'm going to type this out because it's TRUE! The latest Martha Stewart Living.....rocks. And Papersource has Taxi Christmas paper and Robot Christmas paper! Oh dear.

I must finish my Rotterdam painting. It needs some varnish and some venner sides! eep!

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More Reasons to Show

Here's the three pieces I've finished the past couple days. I've been working like a busy bee! The first piece is of Jefferson Heights, the next one is an approved borrowed flickr photo of Ft. Wayne TX, the last one is Rotterdam. I am glowing with pleasure from the IKEA frames that make my watercolors look professional, and the wood veneer strips I found to iron onto the sides of my larger panel (door) pieces to give it a framed, whole look. It looks soooo great! I'm not stressed completely, but I'll be glad to have this all over with. There are interviews (yes interviews), and inventory lists, reception drinks, and other events to plan for. I'm so thankful, but very tired!

I want to shout out to my friend Lynn, Happy Birthday! And to my other friend Jen, congrats on another healthy baby girl!

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November 21, 2007

The Advertising

I hope to have these cards on Tuesday after Thanksgiving. But I was glad I didn't have to do it myself. Even though I like making my cards. I need to make the art! I was less concerned about the advertizing since I'll get myself on the MAINx24 marketing flier. But please, come everyone!

The Metro Series: Katie Ward Knutson
Hollis Gallery (Southside)1401 Williams Street, next to Niko's
423-265-4444
Saturday December 8th 1pm-5pm

Come after the Main Street Christmas Parade and party with us! Surround yourself with urban beauty in this lovely collection highlighting the Metropolitan in Paris and other public transit shots from Europe. These pieces are sure to send you on journey. We'll be joining the whole Southside of Chattanooga during the MAINx24 event, so drop by for an eggnog latte, hot chocolate and other festive treats!

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November 16, 2007

Metropolitan

Wow, it's done. I thought I never would. I thought I shot myself in the foot as far as getting the proportions right. I need to varnish it after I do some small touch ups. I can't say I'm in love with it, it's worn out it's welcome on my easel, but it's a techinical exploration, and I'm pleased with it. As I did this one I just realized that in the hot spot centers of NYC and LA my artwork would not have an impact. It takes some real innovation to get noticed. But I am not looking to be in a hot spot. I've been watching Project Runway Season 3 (oh my gosh I love this show!!) and I relate it to the fine arts world. Am I an innovator? Could I be the one who makes attractive things that are also challenging? This is what I want to work toward. The Metros are pleasing, their effect and perspective is wonderful and they send people on journeys to places they've never been. But I'm looking to do something else for a while. Something that's innovative, challenging, and makes the viewing public see the growth. I have a goal to do two more acrylic Metro pieces and then work on watercolors over Thanksgiving.

The Metro Series by Katie Ward Knutson at the Hollis Gallery 1401 Williams Street Suite E-10. The capture of urban beauty featuring the Metropolitan in Paris and other reflections of Europe. Show starts December 1st, join us for an After Parade Party and Opening on December 8th during MAINx24!

If you, my readers can think of a better name for the 'after parade party and opening' than please let me know!! We hope to get someone their to make eggnog latte's!!

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November 14, 2007

I got free stuff!

Remember I told you about the oodles of art supplies I got from my neighbor Rachel? We'll I have some better photos of it all. I went through a bit of it to determine if I needed to throw anything away, so far, very little has been tossed. She had back inventory from her ex's art supply store and it was just too much to hold onto it all. So she called me and asked if I wanted to go through it and see if there was anything I thought I could use. I was tired, I didn't feel like it at all, but I'm so glad I went. Brand, new brushes, boxes of acrylic paint, a gold leaf set, brayers for printing, brand new carving tools, tons of palette knives, itty-bitty tipped illustration pens, silver and gold paint pens (just in time for Xmas), templates for tracing shapes (Cat uses these all the time), molding clay, rapidiograph pen sets, varnishes and mediums for acrylic, did I mention free brushes? Dozens of them?

I'm overwhelmed because I was really worried about next semester and what I would do with my students. Now I think I need to teach a painting class. I didn't even ask and God dropped this in my lap. I'll never have to buy brushes again!

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November 02, 2007

Gouache

I yanked myself out of an exhausting vacation state while we were in Helen and started playing with the set of gouache paints I got. It started out as just playing and then the design started to emerge. I really like the opaque quality of gouache. I'm hoping to try some Metro pieces with this and see how it goes.

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October 19, 2007

Metro Tutorial

Here's the first session of tutorials for my metro style paintings. This piece is a triptych. I ordered this long and skinny canvases by accident, but as alot of my artwork process goes, mistakes are sometimes the best things to happen. I hope that this piece turns out sucessful in pieces and together. Of course I think it should be together, that's how I planned the composition. I've also finished the 2 Lanes piece, and started gessoing a large panel. I would appreciate your prayers as both Joel and Eden have been a little sick this week. Well, Eden's been barfing and sleeping alot, so I guess thats a lot sick. Joel has lost his voice and that's not good when you have to answer phones all day, other than that he feels fine. I have to stay on track with these paintings, and being able to finish them in 3 to 4 days is really good. I hope to open this art show on Dec 1, with the reception being on Dec 8. Create Here is having an event on the 8th called "24 hours on the Southside". We're not quite sure what it is, we just know we want to be featured. I say 'we' because it's Joel's idea. And a good one at that. I hope it works out, and I pray that I will get as much finished for Dec 1st as possible.

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October 17, 2007

2 lanes progress

This composition is so incredibly pyschologically satisfying. It really scratches some kind of perceptual itch in my brain.---Greg Baus
Thanks Greg for my first wordy review

Ugh. Okay, I've been working with these pictures to make them look accurate and I just can't get it just right. But I wanted to show you what 3 hours looks like on this painting. Doesn't look like much does it? So next time your like, "whoa $400 for that!" Remember what 3 hours looks like on this little one. But of course all of my readers are such art enthusiasts that they don't question that. I'm almost done with this one, I have to go over it with puff paint and create some good lines. Then on to the triptych. And I think I might do a tutorial on the steps I take to do make these paintings and put it on my website. Lynn convinced me to do it. I mean if all these crafty moms can do tutorials for knitted felted appliqued mushroom and squirrel jumpers with matching socks, bonnets and a plushie to go with it, why can't I do one for a painting that only requires a few materials and no machines of any kind! Well, I take that back: a camera and a computer are good to show off your progress and to find and capture images. Personally I don't know what I'd do without either.

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October 12, 2007

Continuing the Series

Today's my 31st birthday. I'll celebrate with Joel tonight, somehow, gotta find a sitter. I wanted to have a party but with my grandfather's passing the memorial service and the hub-bub surrounding it takes top priority. And that's Ok. I can't say I"m not bummed just a little, but good grief, how can you really be selfish about this. I'm a big girl, I"m a 31 year old girl. Sheesh. Looking back at last year, I found out that I was accepted for Arts Move, that has been a killer present that gives over and over again.

I finished the "Oslo" Metro painting last night and after looking through my sources discovered it's actually Paris too. Oops. I mean it's Paris, it's beautiful and terribly photogenic. I do have a couple shots of Chattanooga and Oslo and another couple fun ones from NYC, Fort Worth TX, and Kansas City. I started another paris last night, and a triptych (!!!) of Oslo. I'm really excited about working on three small panels. Here's a picture of the two finished Paris pieces: Yellow Umbrella and Another Paris.

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October 08, 2007

Work in Progress: Oslo

This one is far from done, but sometimes I fall in love with in-between stages.

I'm so pooped from a busy (but happy) weekend, and I would love to get out my tub of acrylics and finish this one RIGHT NOW, but alas, I need to rest from art for a little while. That's silly, because I hardly ever do. Today at school I had to go over new concepts and that is never fun. I had to chew out "the tough kid" today. I am so close to sending her home. That's the nice thing about homeschoolers. There's no principal, just HOME. But it was a good day, no lulls of unplanning. I didn't have quite enough colored pencils though. I think we sharpened down half of the pencils just today. I am in full realization that we will not have enough money for this school year. I will have to get creative toward the end of the year. Damn, I hate that. Art is expensive, even for the thrifty. I have faith that God will make it work out.
It was wonderful seeing my highschoolers turn in lovely charcoal drawings. I also realize that I am not getting my point across to some students who do not do their homework, ever. I mean, if they do they always "leave it at home" Ummmm, that's not cool. I would love to be like, "Well, I was going to give you guys really awesome stuff to draw with today but I left it at home." No I don't do that, I overcome obstacles to get 15lb art history books, posters, piles of xeroxes, 500 pages of paper that I ordered from Dick Blick and two kids with all their stuff to school an hour early so I can make my students day good. Please, do your work, your old enough to read the assignment, good grief! You're old enough to drive. I don't believe your ADHD kept you from forgetting your homework 3 weeks in a row. I don't want to be mean. I want the parents to understand that I am a serious instructor. Science is important, so is math, so is ART! Grrrrrrrrrrr.
I'm done, I promise.
So this piece is the second one in my newest Metro series. It's of Oslo. It's not finished. I hope to finish it tonight, maybe. Then hopefully I'll get to make a panel one of these Thursdays and do a huge Paris Metro. Yummy, I can't wait.


This is why this weekend was fun. My dad had a concert at Covenant this Saturday night. It's always good to hear him play. I can't help but sing along. I try to stop myself but I just can't. The other great thing was that Kirk got to play with him. I was just struck with the wonder and pride of my family. We're small but we're a force. We're all so creative. How did this happen? And we all work so hard. I realize that I had a very different childhood. And when I hear my dad sing everything from the 70's on, I feel I am listening to an artist statement. One that I grew up living. And when I experience folks that have different view of the arts I feel stunned, and I have to control my urge to call them wierd. As a working creative adult I feel I've carried a legacy of faith in Jesus Christ, a strong work ethic, and a desire to make skillful beautiful things. That's probably why my students tick me off when they don't do the work, and why I can't help but sing at the top of my lungs. I think Josiah and Eden will carry this too. They already show the signs.

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October 05, 2007

Yellow Umbrella

Here's the first of the next series. I think it's done. I need to do some texture improvement, that's hard to do at midnight. It was cool to watch V for Vendetta and finish this piece. I love that movie. More to come!!

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October 04, 2007

The Metros are Back

I'm painting Metros again. They are for a show in December. I hope to have one humungoid Metro on a panel I make with my neighbor. But until that panel is created, I'll be working on these sellable sizes. This first one is in Paris where the art deco Metro gates reside. They are lovely, I hope to see them in person someday. Ok I will paint now and not stare at this decrepid screen any longer.

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September 25, 2007

Luke's portrait

This is finally done!!! I put it to the side when Clothesline started becoming prominent. Jennifer, Luke's mom, is probably one of my first patrons that actually started out as a patron! I really appreciate her admiration. This is now painting #4 she has requested! I also went in today (while the kids were eating Cheerios) and put a small puff painted beetle hidden in the background. I got out my lovely heavy gel medium and put some of my better stencils in the background too, so they're clear, but if you look closely you'll see the letters raised along the surface. It has "my child" and "family" and "yet not one of them is forgotten by God" stenciled around the sides. I must wrap up a few comissions before I get started on Metro's for my show in December. ACK! December! I am already procrastinating! Also I must send off 3 of my watercolor studies to a etsy-er in TX. Amen for cleaning house and selling off what you find!

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September 21, 2007

Cleaning House

I realized yesterday that 3 to 4 days a week I do not see my boy all morning! That's really wierd to realize, but in a way it's great because his independance is more and more evident. My mom takes my kids on Thursday mornings to the CDM and I usually use the time to do some deep organization. There's only so much I can do with the kids in the house. Especially since our largest storage space is the closet in their room. I went to work on our office/guest room which is in a constant state of chaos. There have been boxes labeled "art papers" and I've wondered what was in them. So with my kids gone til almost 3 (wow was it worth it) I got my office back! Boxes were unpacked and broken down, things were moved other places and things were boxed for yard sale and the trash. I now have only 1 large Rubbermaid of fabric stuff, and 2 small Rubbermaids with photos in one and glues and chemicals in the other. Of course I still have my hutch that we've had since apartment one. I got 6 red dishpans to cover the clutter. I have one bin with watercolor stuff, another with acrylic stuff. I have a large green bin with frames and canvas boards, another bin with different papers for the computer. I have a Rubbermaid drawer with all the stencils I've used, and images I've used. It's come in handy since I am now painting the Be Still image for the third time! I still would like my birthday present to be a large cabinet from IKEA so my supplies are behind doors. I'd like this room to hold a bed, sometime.

In those "art papers" boxes I found a slew of watercolors from my watercolor class. This is not one of them. I painted this after. This is a father daughter that we knew in Atlanta. I loved how this part of the painting came out, but the other members of the family didn't work out so well. I"m thinking of cropping it and putting it on etsy. I have a lot of atmospheric studies that I did while we vacationed with the Perkins in Helen GA.


I might get these up on etsy too. There's a part of me that loves doing these studies because the illusion is so satisfying.I put a set of them up on my flickr. Check it out to see whole pieces, these are just details.

In other news I have been cramming to get a portrait done and I just cannot finish it. While looking at the portraits of Josiah and Eden I know why I'm not satisfied with it, I just dread attacking it one again. I just want it to be done! I need the cash-o-la! It'll come together, I just went to bed feeling sick about it.

But here's something I'm very giddy about! My friend Michelle who went to KSU with me has sent me her promo packet to show the Hollis Gallery. I hope that I can get her a show because this new work is soooo cool! Joel bought me one of her faces for Christmas last year, and I love having a piece of hers. Pray that we can get her up here!

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September 12, 2007

Planning the Projects

Now that one of the most exhausting art shows of my life is over it's time to get back to it and start planning. Today Josiah went to school and I covered some bases. I went to Niedlov's and got paid for a commission. Thank you Dottie! Another fan of Be Still! Then Eden and I walked down to Hollis and filled out some simple paperwork. It was cool talking to Sandi and getting a feel for what needs to be created for my December show. She left the opportunity for an opening reception totally open to me, so of course I'll sick Joel on that for a great idea. Hollis also has November open for a show and Joel and I are trying to think what we can do to help Sandi fill that gap. Hmmmm, any ideas? My Metro I piece sold at Hollis during the Gallery Hop, and that rocks. The Metros seem to be the pieces that I will shoot for for December. So plan to see some more mini metros and at least one large Metro to go in the front window. Mmmmm, nice.

Jan and Roger my next door neighbors have a wonderful space in the same building as Foodworks in North Chatt. They are some of the nest neighbors we could have asked for. They are grandparents themselves and very easy going about the kids. We're pretty close to feeling like we could leave the kids with them for short periods. Anyway, we went over to their space where they offered us beers and gave us a tour. They have a loading dock, a place to pour cement, and a mini kitchen. Jan showed us her beloved mitre saw and offered it whenever we might need it. She offered me space to paint if I needed to do something large (say a really large Metro painting). She offered space if my paintings are in the way. She offered to help me patch canvases that have been punctured. She offered to teach Joel and I how to make panels. Like I said, these great neighbors to have.

I plan to continue to make watercolors and have them ready for the Chattanooga Market, and if nothing else they will definately be on Etsy. Whatever is left from Clothesline is now on Etsy. Including the Mini Metro: Bus Stop, Fawning, and 5 watercolor and ink studies. I will be making more beetles, more watercolor pods and maybe summore bunnies.

And then of course, I have to think of what I'm going to teach all these students I have. That's for another time.

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September 10, 2007

Post Show Lull

The balloons have deflated, show cards flop off the wall, empty lemonade cups litter Laura's house and Cat and Suzanne work into thr night balancing the books. Thanks to all of you that come out and showed us love at Our Clothesline Show. I still am in AWE of how much we sold. It brings tears to my eyes knowing that God showered our art show with so much love and blessing. I am truly overwhelmed. *sniff*. God is Sooooo GOOD!! I have been praying for a miracle for our finances as we trudge through our debt due to the Marietta house we worked on and finally sold this spring. We are taking the sacrificing steps in order to throw money at our debt. One of those steps was honored by those of you that bought my work personally. But I also am thankful for all my talented friends like Jen, Cat, Amber, Kelly (to name just a few) who needed this financial blessing as well. We all worked so hard and overcame great obstacles to make brand new work. We had so many other women who were interested in this effort because it's very inspiring and motivating to have so many other women of the same lifestyle and life purpose challenging you to produce. I didn't come home with that much! Art, that is. I came home with 6 pieces out of 23? I think? Pretty hot!

I also had a few pieces at the Hollis Gallery for the Gallery Hop here in Chattanooga. I sold one, possibly two pieces! The killer of the gallery is that you give 50% to the gallery. I do like Hollis, and I look forward to December when I will have a larger show there. After this wonderful event this past weekend, I have a better feel for what I need to produce for my December show.

Joel is already planning the next "quick show", he calls it. Funny to me after he spent practically 3 days with the kids without me around. And that's no small feat. It was exhilerating and exhausting doing Clothesline, and I didn't do the dirty work!

"Figure with Cup" by Trish Rhudy
Teaching today was another act of God's grace. My class of 15 was quieter, worked harder, and produced beautiful drawings. They make me nervous, mostly because of the size of the class. I have such a strong desire to teach them all the in's and out's about art, sometimes I feel like I'm speaking a foreign language. But all in all I"m glad that the business is over and I can sit and watch Battlestar Galatica on my new $40 DVD player, man it's skinny!

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September 09, 2007

Job well done

We're having a really great time and we're selling alot. And when I say we, I mean ME TOO! We're so blessed, so very very blessed. God has anointed this art show and made it a sweet gift to everyone involved. I can't thank people enough. More fun to come...

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