Fire on the Mountain

Fire on the Mountain

I have long been interested in encaustic art. I even bought all the various supplies…small crock pot, griddle, wax, temperature gauge, all of it! But I was intimidated by the process and worried about the fumes since I have asthma. Then I saw a painting from a fellow artist, asking her if it was encaustic and she replied no, thereby introducing me to the world of Oil & Cold Wax.

Of course it took me a while to actually start experimenting with cold wax…starting with this portrait, since I was primarily focused on faces at the time.

So now here I am in 2020 and there has been a definite shift in my art. I joined Matt Tommey’s online artist mentoring program, that I credit for somehow influencing this shift. I have been participating in Created To Thrive for a few months now, and even though I have been sporadic in participating and taking advantage of all the advice and guidance available, I am glad I joined. It feels good to belong to a group of like-minded creatives.

But that’s not the only influence on my dive into oil and cold wax…I have been watching YouTube videos that have inspired me as well. Gently guiding me through the process and man oh man am I having FUN!

So, anyway…here is my jump back into the medium. I feel a newfound passion for the medium and enjoy experimenting like never before! A sense of freedom and a lessening of the fear of failure or screwing up. SO glad I am on this journey and so glad I live in a time with such a tremendous access to learning on the internet!

Take care,

Kathy Ann

 

In My Dreams

In My DreamsIn My Dreams

2020…time really does fly by! I gave myself a year free of pressure to create art…a year to explore…journaling, trying new mediums, time to just play and explore…and journal I did! Thoroughly immersing myself in it, thanks to Ivy Newport and her StudioWorks online membership. Ivy is very inspiring and an amazing Mentor/Teacher/Guide.

So, this is my first real piece of 2020. Acrylic, watercolor style on cradled wood. I pretty much always struggle with titles for my artwork, but not this time…It just came into my head with a clarity that surprised me – In My Dreams. As in “life is but a dream” from the childhood song Row, Row, Row Your Boat. I love my life here in the mountains, and when I no longer dwell on this earth, I hope I will always remember this wonderful life I have been blessed with…family, love, nature, beauty, and blessed with the gift of creating with the greatest Creator of all!

My First Art Tour…

The world is truly an amazing place. I used to be intimidated to even walk in a gallery…and here I am spending  two days in the beautiful FMAC gallery…sharing my art, my process, and my inspiration…Crazy, Wonderful!

I wasn’t able to participate in the tour from my studio, so I brought collage photos of various works in progress along with pics of my studio.

AND…I sold my first ever print! This one is going home with a gentleman that bought it as a special gift for his daughter. I hope that she likes it, and that it brings her joy.

Never stop believing.

Take care,

Kathy Ann

My First Gallery Show & Tour…Learning the process of an installation.

ART35N’s A New Latitude Exhibition & Tour…My first ever installation! A wonderful learning experience…

The finished installation – Beautiful!

I LOVE it! She calls it “MonkeyMind”(Luann Udell)

I was reading a “new to me” blog this morning by Luann Udell (https://luannudell.wordpress.com/Mind) that describes a particular quality of mine perfectly. Monkey Mind…yes, I have this a lot. But here is my 5 word light at the end of that tunnel…”Indecision is where turmoil lives”. It’s the process of examining every option, every thought, every spoken word, every possibility that drives me crazy. Once the decision is made, or once the action, word, feeling, etc. is contemplated and either accepted or rejected…Then, I can (hopefully/usually), live in Peace & Exultation (!) and move forward.

Thank you, Luann Udell, for sharing the concept of “MonkeyMind”…Now I have a word for it!

The turmoil of indecision…

The exhilaration of decision!

Take care,

Kathy Ann

Summer Art Journal 2016…Just for Fun!

I spent so much of today engaged in art of some sort…a wonderful day!

I am having fun working on an art journal for a class I am taking, Art Journal Summer 2016 thru Bloknote Academy online classes. For those who don’t know…Art Journaling is a fun way to create, practice, try out new techniques, mediums, & styles…just for fun, not for perfection.


I have been wanting to start an Art Journal, but wasn’t sure where to start…I figured this short, fun, summer long workshop would be just the ticket!

I was right! So much fun and so helpful to have talented guides as a beginner.

Happy Dance!

Take care,

Kathy Ann

Mysterious in Turquoise & Gold

Whew, this was some sort of challenge from beginning to end.

She was inspired by this sketch from late the other night…the one I told you about that seemed to take on a life of her own(nothing new about that!), going thru many different phases and ending up here.

She seemed to have a story to tell, and I hope this is where she ultimately wanted me to go…
Mixed Media, pastel, acrylic, paint pen, stencils, and ribbon on canvas.

I am glad she is finished. I think I will be creating more like her.

Thank you for joining me on her journey.

Take care, 

Kathy Ann

Flagstaff 4th of July

Flagstaff is the epitome of small town, all American, Independence Day celebrations. We do love the 4th of July!

The day starts bright & early with the Infamous 4th of July Parade. And by early…I mean EARLY! The parade may start st 9:00 AM, but if you want a good spot on the curb with room for the entire family (and by ENTIRE family I mean mom & dad, grammy & pa, aunties, uncles, and cousins galore!), and your camp chairs, you need to get there by 7:30 or earlier. Yep, that’s right – my daughter in law & kids got there at 7:30 AM and claimed the only spot left in the shade, facing away from the sun (logistics is very important here!).
Next on the agenda is a walk over to Art in the Park (the local arts & craft festival) to browse the creations of the many talented artists & artisans displaying their wares while enjoying a day surrounded by music, yummy food and art.

Since my husband is a veteran, next on the agenda was a walk across the street from the park, joining some friends at the American Legion for a little craft show they were putting on in the parking lot.
Next is fireworks at the country club…and yes, the whole town shows up for this, too! My husband & I didn’t make it to the fireworks this year 🙁, but the rest of the family enjoyed the festivities…More food, music, fun & games for the kids, fireworks and most importantly, family & friends!

Love this town! Love this family! Love our  community!

Hope your Fourth was as good as ours!

Take care,

Kathy Ann

Doin’ A Little Front Porch Sittin’

I spent several hours working on a painting that started as a sketch late last night (that, I may add, kept being just out of my reach…I just couldn’t seem to capture her essence).

She’s not there yet, but I’ve had enough of her for today.

So, now my reward after watering the front flowers, is a little front porch sittin’!


This is without a doubt, my favorite time of day…

As I was watering, I look out and see our cute, little bunny couple, robins, dove, sparrows hummingbirds and other lovely winged creatures all enjoying the evening together (if only humans could get along so well)…it’s a real live page out of a children’s picture book!

 So there you have it, the peaceful end of a pretty peaceful day.

Take care, 

Kathy Ann

It’s not Summer without a Pretty Wreath on the Door!

Enjoying today’s Flagstaff summer monsoon storm…Perfect weather for finally getting around to creating my summer wreath for the front door. What better way to welcome guests than with pretty flowers on the door!


Too bad these are not quite as popular as they once were…I used to have my own dried floral business back in the day…Always so easy to get lost in the creation of pretty arrangements. Still love it! And it’s second nature to me….I can whip out a wreath in no time at all. 

I could never figure out a good way to ship them…otherwise I could perhaps still sell them in my Etsy shop…I know there are places were they are still popular and people would prefer hand made to Walmart mass-produced versions….

Anyway, Happy Summer!

Take care, Kathy Ann

First Lake Trip of the Season

We are a family of boaters. Mention  a coming lake trip and we are ALL onboard! Chomping at the bit, waiting for the day of departure to arrive. Seriously. Waiting.

Waiting to take that 2 hour drive to Lake Powell. Waiting to drive down that hot, loooong ramp and launch into that gorgeous, cool water.
Waiting for that moment when we find just the right spot. The perfect beach. That beach where the shade comes early after a long hot day of sun & fun.

Ahhhhhh….That’s it. That’s what it is all about. The Lake Trip.From the youngest…

To the oldest…
To the furriest …
We love the lake!

Wishing everyone a lovely, wonderful, super-duper Summer filled with love, family, friends…

And good food!

Take care, 

Kathy Ann

Something New…#2

Still working on teeth…

This one of my daughter, Teresa, who recently received her Masters Degree-while taking care of her new little baby girl, and taking care of the rest of her family…she is truly amazing!…was coming along nicely until…

I kept working and reworking those darn teeth…and yep…it ended wadded up in the trash…sigh

 I need to learn when to stop messing with it…it was all downhill from here…😳<<<<<<<<
.another day…

I can and I will…I just don’t know exactly when… 😜

Take care,

Kathy Ann

Ahhhh, Summer…How I’ve Missed You!

Ahhhh…Summer! How I’ve missed you!

So good to have warmer weather and flowers blooming!

Back on my porch swing, listening to bluegrass music, the honeysuckle is coming back, the birds have returned to their houses & nests…..life is good!

Went into Flag for the new Urban Flea & Artisan Market this morning. Talked with some lovely, friendly vendors…weather was impeccable…Love this town!

The roses are going bonkers !   Love it!🌺💗🌺

Spent these last weekdays weeding, planting and tending to the front flower garden…ah yes, this makes me happy…The front is basically a shade garden… which is such a beautiful wonder when you step under the canopy of  aspen leaves…damp, wet, smelling of fertile soil…it’s like a different world from the hot, dry weather of June! It’s heaven!

Here is my latest( and current favorite) inspired by the springtime winds…acrylic, watercolor and Stabilo.

I joined a relatively new local art cooperative a while back…Art35N…as a supporting member, hopefully one day to become an exhibiting member…and also started volunteering with the Flagstaff Arts Council.

These two entities converged this past Thursday at Coconono Center for the Arts for the first ever Art35N Gallery opening titled The New Latitude(referencing  Flagstaff’s location on the map).

I found myself manning (or as someone pointed out to me…”womaning” the bar with another volunteer. Great fun!

It seemed to me the event was a great success and enjoyable for all who attended. We have some phenomenol artists in the group and I am honored to be a part of it.


So, here I am enjoying the promise of summer…sitting on my swing, burgers on the grill, and these two…

…playing in the sunshine by the vegetable garden.

Life really  is a Wonderous Adventure❤️

Take care, 

Kathy

Oh My Gosh…

“…the curious jumping around of a creative mind”

Oh my gosh…Once again I have been neglecting my little blog. No excuses, other than the fact that apparently I am consistently inconsistent. Not a quality that I am particularly proud of, but I am hoping goes along with the curious jumping around of a creative mind! That and a supreme lack of creative discipline!

I tend to follow my crazy thoughts and ideas here there and everywhere…picking up something new, following that around, while forgetting (not really forgetting…more like ignoring) those other things that caught my fancy.

And then there’s real life in there too…family & friends, busy days, lazy days & days in between, days spent traveling, days spent celebrating family milestones…

Oh my gosh…days spent Living!

There’s ups & downs…insecurities, doubt and wondering why I am writing a blog at all…Is it my own personal online journal? Well that’s pretty self-involved isn’t it?!

Okaaaaaayyyyyy…Well here’s what I know.

I am not writing to pour my heart out or make a big, beautiful statement about life.

I am not writing to impress anyone.

I am not writing to purge my soul.

I am certainly not looking for fame or fortune (I am sure there are better ways to go about that!).

I am writing just because I want to.

I like to.

I enjoy sharing my little piece of the world, as sporadic as it may be.

It is not my main objective.

It is not my job. It is not my end all, be all.

I do not need it to feel complete.

I just like doing it…

That’s  it… pure & simple.

Take care,

Kathy Ann

Can you believe this sunset?!

If I had painted it, no one would believe that straight line between dark & light really existed. Makes you wonder…perhaps that line in real life is more obvious than some in this world would have us believe…
Beautiful, at any rate.

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