Super busy week....

I can't believe this week is almost over! I'm still adjusting to school (I know I'm not the only one), so time is flying by. Plus my daughter is getting married in a couple of months and it seems like every weekend I've got a class, or a shower, or a ton of homework! Crazy! But...life is good. I hope all of you have had a great week!

For this or other paintings I have up for auction at ebay, just click on the link at the above right.

Cleaning brushes....

Being excited about getting paint out of brushes may be boring to most, but when they are such an integral part of your work, it's important. I just learned a new way to get dried paint out of my bristle brushes. If you put them in rubbing alcohol for a bit, it seems to break the dried paint up and then you can clean them like normal. I did not know this until this past week. I currently use Masters brush cleaner, or some sort of liquid soap to clean my brushes, then hair conditioner (usually the kind that comes free with my hair color!!) to keep them soft. That has always worked, but I still would get a build up of dried paint up by the metal part of my brush. This method seems to break it down and my brushes don't appear to be damaged. I learned this in school this week.

This little ATC size plein air oil painting will be available for sale on ebay after 9/10/2011 by clicking the link at the above right.

Back in the swing....

Well...the new semester has started for me and I'm back in the swing of things. (Or at least I'm fooling myself into thinking I am!!) I've just started my first painting for still life, and so far so good in my design class with my homework there too. This little Hull Vase painting is from some homework from last year. I don't know why I like putting antiques in still lifes, but I do. This vase isn't worth a tremendous amount of money, but I like it because it's old. I always wonder what the previous owners did with it. Was it for flowers, for sitting on a shelf, or maybe a gift? There's something cool about finding these little treasures with a bit of history in them. I expect to have a lot of my favorite antiques in my studio work this year.

The little plein air landscape from Bracken County Ky is currently available (along with others) for sale on ebay by clicking the link at the above right.

Cleaning up...

I love using oil paints, but they are such a pain to clean up. I guess I'm just griping because I've been condensing thinner and filling up old containers with cat litter for disposal today. That was after I did some TLC to some of my brushes, scraped off palettes, and gave permanent "burials" to the bowls that I use for my mediums. (Sigh) I know I shouldn't complain, but sometimes I miss acrylics. I'll be using gouache for the first time this semester in school and I'm looking forward to trying this new medium. I'm still not sure why its called "Designers" Gouache. Anyone know why "designers" is in the name? Just wondering.

This little painting is currently up for auction on ebay by clicking the link at the above right.

Writing...

I love to read. But...I hate to write. Sounds a bit odd, since I write several days a week here at the blog. I guess what I should really say is I hate to take "writing classes". I'm on my last one this semester (as per my degree requirement). I love posting here at the blog though. No grammar corrections. No defined subject. I can even use "Kimmy" words like "thingy", "oxymoronish", and "funkadelic".

(Sigh.) I'd write more, but I have to go post something that's NOT oxymoronish, or funkadelic for my class on that thingy where you discuss stuff online.

For this or other paintings I have available for sale on ebay, click on the link at the above right.
Red Tree At The Park
5 x 7 inches, Oil on board
Available for sale after 2/10/2011

Working alone...

I don't know how many of you feel about this, but I prefer to work/create when I'm alone. I seem to get so much more accomplished that way. Now it could be that because I'm a bit of a "talker" (those of you who know me personally probably think that's an understatement!!), I don't get as much done because I'm chatting too much. I think that's part of it, but I also think that I don't like for people to see my "process". I prefer to only show my completed work. I used to hate in college when we had to work in class and I constantly had someone looking over my shoulder. I got around that by working very slow, then finishing up at home. I'm sure I didn't fool my professors, but no one called me out on it!

For this or other paintings I have for sale on Ebay, click on the link at the above right.

Dramatic Sky

5 x 6 inches, Oil on board

Available for sale on Ebay after 1/30/2011

Where has the time gone??

Well...this photo is where. No, that's not me and my twin sister. I don't have any sisters. That's one of my media class assignments for my classes this semester. The assignment was to "clone" yourself using photoshop. I spent hours and couldn't get it to work. I had visions of failing a class that the only reason I'm taking is because it was required as a fine art major. Finally after trying, and reading and downloading, one of my fellow students gave me a quick tip...one that wasn't in the required reading...and it worked like a charm. It was almost as simple as "cut & paste".

I'm not computer savvy. In fact, if you're working at an online helpdesk...you probably hate getting people like me to call. This computer stuff is like learning a new language to me. One that I don't care if I ever have to use again. That being said, I know this will help me. I'll probably appreciate it more once I'm not so stressed with the deadlines.

(Chuckle) If there were two of me...I would hope my other half would be a little more "electronically savvy".

Back to School Time!

Well, it's that time of year...back to school. Believe it or not, that includes me too! I'm finishing my degree with the Academy of Art in San Francisco and I'm signed up for 2 classes this semester. I'm already swamped! (And Broke!) I still have more software to buy & forms for the drawing part of one of my classes. The drawing forms were $268 !!!! No kidding! Who would have known that cones & spheres were so expensive! (Ha!) Anyway, I know I'm not alone. Since I've spent all of my money, I'll spend some of my free time exploring the farm...which will no doubt inspire more paintings.

Rainy Morning
Oil on stretched canvas
6 x 6 inches
Sold

Summer's coming to an end

I can't believe that it's almost September! Where has the summer gone? I'm registered in school this fall and my classes start in 2 days! Two days! I totally lost track of time and now I'm rushing around the local art supply stores to get my supplies, trying to buy a laptop, and spending way more time on the computer to iron out all of the details. Details that I could have handled weeks ago. Why do I do this? Hmm...maybe I just like the excitement of a little stress. Ironically, most of my paintings are of peaceful places. Perhaps that's why I enjoy painting them so much. It's a way to sort of "get away" from the craziness of life.

Chilly Morning

5 x 7 inches

Oil on canvas board

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