Blues & Greens: Work in Progress . . .

"A work in progress. And the possibilities are endless." 

-- Elizabeth Eulberg

Happy PPF!

I hope this finds you with paint under your fingernails. I've been busy in the studio this week working on a 5 canvas project in the colors of blues & greens. I'm almost finished - well okay, I have 2 more to go - but in the meantime, I thought I'd share some of the work in progress. Ready? Okay, here goes: 

"He Spies" WIP

"He Peeps Out" WIP

"But She's Too Late!" WIP

Fingers crossed, I should have the whole thing done by this time next week. Then, perhaps, it will all makes sense . . . . Until then, I wish you a happy and creative week. And if you've yet to get paint under your fingernails, I hope you'll join me in making pretty messes soon.

Yours,

Kristin xo

Surfaces Reveal So Much . . .

"Surfaces reveal so much. The marks painters make reveal so much about their work and themselves; their sense of proportion, line and rhythm is more telling than their signature. Looking at the surfaces of nature may offer equivalent revelations. What do these shapes and patterns reveal about the world and their creator? Surfaces hide so much. . . ."

-- John Paul Caponigro

I learned a lot this week. Still playing in my journal; still learning through the action of doing. Well, this week's doing did not come easy. I sat with this page for days, adding more each time, but never really coming up with a "finished" result. Every time I started to add a figure or image, I found myself wanting to cover it up. I bet I spent more time on the elements that I eventually hid than on the stuff that stayed. I kept reminding myself that it is a process, and just kept adding more. More texture, more molding paste, more paint. Until I looked up and realized that it is finished as it is. And that all of the "mistakes" served a purpose. Texture, color and um, more texture. I love that.

"Breathe" in the beginning stages.

Washi covered in crayons & Oil Pastels

Look at all that texture the "mistakes" revealed

Oh! And I'm also working on this:

(To be continued)

Thanks for Peeking! Looking forward to seeing your surfaces this week. . . .

PPF

Kristin xo

Spoons full of Sugar. . .

"Some girls are born with glitter in their veins"

- Paris Hilton 

I got out the glitter again. This time, vintage tablespoons and a random serving spoon fell victim to my obsession with the stuff. Oh, and a broken frozen charlotte's head found herself in the mix too. Wanna see the rest?

Vintage tablespoons filled with fine glitter and tied with fabric remnants, sheer ribbons 

and vintage chandelier crystals

The same spoons this time adorned with tiny little painted hearts made from Paperclay

Which do you like the best? I'm curious to know - hearts or no hearts? 

With glittered kisses,

Kristin xo

Confidence: A Resolution in Action . . .

"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy."

-- Norman Vincent Peale

Confidence. 

It's a word that hits hard. On one hand, to have confidence in something means that you have an undeniable trust, faith or conviction in it. To be confident can mean that you are self-assertive, bold and brave. Either way, confidence is a word which, in my opinion, begs for action. You can't be confident and idle at the same time; confidence does not have room for self-doubt or insecurity. And confidence, my friends, is what I aim to possess more of this year. 

For me, part of tapping into that is allowing myself the time I need to create. I will never grow as an artist if I don't give myself the freedom to play. With play comes knowledge. And experience. And, in the long run, more knowledge and experience can only bring about more confidence in myself. This year, I'm gonna try new things. I'm going to expand my horizons. I'm going to be brave. And even if it kills me, I am going to exude confidence. Just watch me.

(The beginnings of a new art journal a la Teesha Moore)

My first action? To allow myself the time to journal on a daily basis. Fact is, I miss creating on the regular. But my life is so full these days, the only way I can get more time is to wake up earlier to do it. So, that's what I've done. I'm getting up an hour earlier every day so that I can spend time getting messy. Here are the results of my first week in the studio. Only one spread complete, but oh what fun I had doing it. . . .

Thank you for taking a peek. And Happy New Year. You confident one, you!

Kristin xo

Cheers to a Fabulous New Year . . .

"Full of Money"

Altered Glass Jars

(Images of Carey Mulligan by Mario Testino for Vogue. May, 2013)

"For last year's words belong to last year's language

And next year's words await another voice."

-- T. S. Eliot

Wishing you Love & Champagne Kisses,

Kristin xo

Decking the Halls . . . .

"Christmas waves it's magic wand over this world and behold, 

everything is softer and more beautiful."

-- Norman Vincent Peale

I hope this finds you happy, well and in the throws of a wonderful Christmas season. 

As with most, we've been filling our days with Christmas parties, play dates with friends, (too much) shopping, gift wrapping and overall merry making. Oh, and along the way, we've managed to deck a hall or two. Wanna see? Well okay, here's a peek into our holiday home. . . .

A huge handmade wreath created from bits & bobs of our favorite ornaments 

from year's past. 

(Bold color & glitter: what's not to love about that?)

Our newest wreath that my Mom made with Kendra this year. 

(It started as a thrift store find that my Mom scored just before the season began)

What more could a future Paleontologist want?

I love this collection that we've been attempting to build (um, buy) over the years.

On our living room shelves: 
Two-year-old Christmas Kendra under glass

A feather tree in our bedroom is accented with simple silver ornaments and white lights

(My favorite Christmas goodie: a tiny silver tree full of crystals & glitter)

And our last Christmas peek: this year's picture with Santa & 8 year-old Kendra

Oh! And one more thing: our little Christmas angels. Well, okay, at least one of them is an angel. Which one depends on the day. . . .

 (Our Christmas card photo)

Here's wishing you the happiest, brightest and merriest holiday. May it be filled with love, laughter and memory-making. After all, it will be over before we know it. . . . 

Christmas Kisses,

Kristin xo

My Girly Guide . . . .

"I think every person has their own identity and beauty. 

Everyone being different is what is really beautiful. If we were all the same, it would be boring."

-- Tila Tequila

If you've seen some of these girls on Instagram, then you know I've been trying my best to keep the creativity flowing by creating quick sofa sketches (new term; I kinda like it ;) whenever I can. Some of them I've completed in 10 minutes and some have taken much longer. But either way, each are in pencil, with my only other tools being an eraser and blending stumps.

Along the way, I have amassed quite a few sketches. I know that there are several that will eventually turn into completed, painted pieces but in the meantime, I wanted a way to store the ones I like to be used for future reference. I decided to take my favorites and turn them into a visual deck of cards (of sorts). I selected 9 sketches that I have deemed, "My Girly Guide" and went to work cutting them out and adding them to pieces of decorative cardboard I cut from a storage box for wine. To keep them together, I punched holes in the corner of each and attached them with a chain. I can now have them all in one place, all at a glance. Wanna see?

Tidy, right? It was fun to make and if I'm lucky, the deck will continue to grow and grow. All I need now is to find a longer chain. . . .

Thanks for taking a peek,
Kristin xo