Patina of time.

"Monuments are anchors in time, Epochs pass, weather erodes, people lose interest. This cannot be helped. But Patina itself is worth appreciating. Patina is the value that age puts on an object. It's what makes an antique... antique. It is experience, maturity, the soft sheen of time. Patina wasn't present at the beginning of a new creation....It comes from a life lived."- John Yemma.

"Patina" Acrylic on 11x14 canvas.

Many years ago I picked up this lone chair at a flea market...It's patina screamed at me...It's sturdy legs and back holding up a variety of people over the years. Everyone that sees it thinks it is ugly, but to me it spoke of a life lived. I tried to imagine the many people that sat upon it, the lives that were lived around it...who was the first person to own it, and who was the first person to paint it white. Age has made it quite beautiful to me...It has it's place in my home and will probably be thrown out as junk when I die. Sadly we live in a throw away society....instead of honoring and preserving our past, we tear it down, shove it aside and just go on our merry way.

But ahh...my little chair holds my cat while I am on the computer, holds my grandaughter when we are drawing, holds books that I am reading...and occasionally holds me...It still speaks of a life lived...

Peace and Blessings....Kat.

Leaving your comfort zone.

"By leaving your comfort zone behind and taking a leap of faith into something new, you find out who you are truly capable of becoming."-Unknown.

Happy Sunday! It has been a reflective day for me...I started my day off with breakfast at my Son's House...He is such a great cook! Then I got into a great conversation with my Daughter-in-law which left me thinking about comfort zones.

w.i.p.

I try to go outside of my comfort zone as much as I can ( you know old Boho gals like me are set in our ways) Who ever said You can't teach an old dog new tricks apparently never left their comfort zone! Whew!

Close up of w.i.p.

Any way this brings me around to my Art...I always start my work by sketching or drawing my subject lightly in pencil then painting it. With this painting I decided I would try something different, get out of my comfort zone and sketch with the paint brush. It felt unnatural at first, but then I started getting into the groove of it! Practice makes perfect...huh? Well I guess I had better get to practicing!

Peace and Blessings...Kat.

"we keep moving forward opening new doors, and doing new things  because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."-Walt Disney.

Beautiful boy.

Close your eyes..have no fear..the monster is gone..he's on the run..and your daddy's here..

Beautiful beautiful beautiful...beautiful boy..

Before you go to sleep...say a little prayer...everyday in every way it's getting better and better..John Lennon.

"Falling in love" Acrylic on canvas.

I painted this picture of my daughter-in-law and grandson, and gifted it to her for Christmas this year..he is now 6 months old and what a sweetie pie! I got to spend some time with him this week-end and loved every minute of it. I have never seen such a pleasant child...he smiles at everything...the kind of smile that warms you deep in your heart. What a beautiful baby boy...we are so blessed to have him in our lives!

"In the sheltered simplicity of the first days after a baby is born, one see's again the magical closed circle, the miraculous sense of two people existing only for each other."-Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

Count your Blessings.

"When I am worried and I can't sleep...I count my Blessings instead of sheep."-Irving Berlin

one of my Blessings...a yard and garden that I am able to tend to and enjoy!

I started my day off as usual this morning. (I support myself and my Art, doing hair in a nice upscale salon.)The salon was full of clients with the usual chatter.Sometimes I worry about making ends meet and sometimes it's my faith that carries me through, and sometimes I complain if my week isn't as prosperous as I think it should be....but today I really had to stop in my tracks and Count My Blessings!  I happened to look away from my client to the big window in the front of the building...This small frail woman in the parking lot caught my attention...but what really caught my eye was the beautiful baby boy asleep on her shoulder. Then I saw the sign she was holding...penciled in on a piece of cardboard...it read..Please help me..I am a single mother of 3..and have lost my job. My gut started doing flip flops, and my inner voice prompted me to excuse myself from my client and walk out to the parking lot and give this woman what I could. As did two other people. The woman (baby still asleep on her shoulder) was so grateful and with tears rolling down her cheeks...looked me straight in the eye and said "God bless you." The proprietor of another buisiness close by ran out spewing harsh words and told the poor soul to get away, then she called the police on her.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE???

What about compassion,love, and kindness.

I had people telling me after I came back into the salon that she probably made more money than me doing this and the baby was probably a prop! I wasn't born yesterday...I know about panhandlers and people scamming other people. But in my heart of hearts when I looked into this woman's eyes...I could feel her pain, her desperation,her fear!  She disappeared after her run in with the rude store owner. I came home worrying about what would happen to her and wishing I could have done more for her. Anyone of us at one point or another could be in her place. We are such a throw away society and take so much for granted...If we could just stop the hate... and love and help one another this world would be such a better place...

Peace and Blessings...kat.

"In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love."-Mother Teresa..

Hey Sista...Soul Sista..

Accompanying us on our journey 'Soul Friends' are there to help us stay focused on what really matters...

I spend the better part of my Sunday afternoon with like minded friends...who both happen to live on two separate, beautiful properties in rural Ray County Missouri. Both are also Artists! It was such an enjoyable afternoon...Having the woods as a backdrop and listening to the little creek nearby as it traveled across the rocks...was all but heaven. We drank iced mochas and talked about our passions, dreams, and goals. what a wonderful thing to bounce ideas around with other artists! Both of them recently returned from a Michelle Dunaway workshop in Vermont..I was so excited to hear about their experience. They learned so much from this workshop...I will be taking it next year...Katie bar the door Kat will be taking a workshop!

Well I have 3 dogs sitting at my feet  giving me the look that i have been gone too long today, and didn't spend my usual Sunday time with them. Those big brown eyes get me every time!

Peace and Blessings...

One day at a time.

"Each day means a new twenty-four hours, each day means everything is possible again. You live in the moment, you die in the moment. You live in the light, you die in the light. You take it all one day at a time." Unknown author.

I am so intoxicated with ideas floating around in my head...daydreams... dreams...goals...letting myself wander a bit. Trying to do away with all the what ifs, the when's the why's and the but's. Trying not to get ahead of myself...but you know the story...It is hard to not think about the things for next week, next month, or next year!

When I was sweet sixteen, my Mother(God love her) gave me this piece of advice along with a key ring engraved with the same words...

One day at a time!

After all of these years I still have my keys on that key ring, and every time I look at it or pick it up it reminds me of her and that great advice. Live for today.

yesterday is gone...tomorrow has not arrived...Yes I have today!

I had better get busy...

Ahhh Springtime...

"Can words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring?"....Neltje Blanchan..

There are a hundred different things I should be doing today...BUT...I decided to quiet myself and just be for awhile. I have found a lovely place to perch beside the pool. The sun on my skin feels delicious!

It seemed as though winter was never going to leave us, but here it is springtime at last!

Everything is awakening with the promise of a new beginning...Everything being renewed..

I love hearing the birds chatter...and a chorus of tree frogs(which I have many)...even the distant sound of a lawn mower droning on is music to my ears....making me feel...at last...spring is here and very thankful and blessed!

My little strawberry patch made it thru the winter...

Blessings and peace....Kat.

I come from strong women

"I believe in strong women. I believe in the woman who is able to stand up for herself. I believe in the woman who doesn't have to hide behind someones back. I believe that if you have problems, as a woman you deal with them, you don't play victim, you don't make yourself look pitiful, you don't point fingers...you stand and you deal. You face the world with a head held high and you carry the universe in your heart."  C.Joybell C.

I was doing a series of paintings called 'I come from strong women' and this is one of the paintings. Acrylic on 16x20 canvas.

This theme brought to mind my two best friends...both Artists and both strong women. I had the pleasure of spending last Saturday evening with them....We shared a wonderful meal...we talked...we laughed...we cried...and then we painted! Was so good for the soul! What a great evening just...being who we are...Strong Women...

Throw yourself

"The only way we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow, is if we change.The only way we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed, is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it throw yourself...-C. Joybell C.

"As the crow flies....so will I." (self portrait)

(sorry about the glare..paint is still wet.)

This quote hits home with me...For so long I have been afraid to really throw myself out in the open. Am I the only one that feels that way? I started out painting on rocks! The more I paint...the more I want to paint. I love this art journey and learning experience, art is teaching me more about myself than I ever realized was possible.

Make Art...

Blessings and Peace

Free on the Inside

I started this picture of my Brother, who at present is serving time in prison for drinking and driving. I sketched from a photo that he sent me. This first pic, I kept having to redo his mouth and nose (in pencil) having to rework it about 5 times, so I got frustrated...then drew it in pastel pencil....making his lips red...and looking like the joker!...Whew! 

Starting to do some underpainting..

Starting to put in some tattoos. He has many and they are too complex to add....so I just placed color in the general vicinity.

This is what I have so far...Still have to add more color and do more blending. One of my good friends and artist says.."you just got to know when your licked and walk away from the painting." I've got a hard head though...LOL!

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned in life: It goes on."-Robert Frost.

Playing with oil

I decided to paint this little girl, looking around a tree in amazement, and I have played around with the oils and the canvas not knowing where it would lead me.

Then I added this...It is so much fun to create! 

I decided to stop with this layer, and I am calling it...ooh I do believe.

Got to head off to bed now, work tomorrow!

No Child but must remember laying his head in the grass, staring into the infintesimal forest and seeing it grow  populous with fairy armies....Robert Louis Stevenson.

A day well spent....

Another snow day from work! Ugg!! But I got to share it with my youngest grandaughter...We had a very Artful day....She loves art and at 7 is showing lots of promise! I know when she gets older she will lovingly reflect on the snow day of her seventh year spent with her "G".

I Love this piece I am working on....it is based on my niece....but it is giving me fits!

close up of her face

I may just have to work on something else then go back to her.

"I am not a teacher, but an awakener"

Robert Frost

Dream Waking

Dream Waking!

Imagine..waking from a dream...sitting on the edge of your bed and thinking about what your dream was about or trying to remember.

I call this "Dream waking."

This painting was inspired by just that very thing!

Dream Waking

16x20

Oil on archival canvas paper

Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities.

Dreaming after all is a form of planning.....Gloria Steinem

Snow day...

Well, today was the worst snow storm we have had in about  two

years! So what better way to spend it than paint.

I started this painting about a month ago and decided I had better finish 

her. "Sunday at Gram's" Oil on 12x16 archival canvas paper...

Since I am stuck in my house....Yahoo!!! I am going to paint some more!

"Nothing can dim the light that shines from within"

Maya Angelou

Live a life you love...

I don't need ruby slippers, I already have the brains,courage,and heart. The only thing I need to remember is.....It was inside of me all along!

When I was a child I didn't need a reason to be happy....I just was.

Happiness supports my dreams...

I asked myself...What have I been paying attention to? What I focus my thoughts and feelings on is what I have been creating in my life....So me and my inner child had a talk and I am blazing a new trail....I am focusing on my dreams.

They really do come true you know....