"Sunseekers of Torch Lake" Installed
I love to see my work in installed. It's not always possible, but it certainly closes a visual loop for me. What a great spot for this piece. As you can see, even on a cold winter's day, the Torch Lake blue is amazing here.

"Sunseekers of Torch Lake" 2' x 6' on Panel - Finished Piece







This piece was a great way to end my painting year! I love the composition, the scale and the feeling of painting on the specially prepped surface (Gesso on recycled panel). All made it fun to paint. Monday it is heading "Up North" as we say in Michigan. There, it will have it's very own view of Torch Lake at the home of a good friend and collector! I have a few smaller pieces in process now, but look to work on this wide horizontal format again.

Sunseekers of Torch Lake 12-14-09








Here is the painting as it has progressed from my 12-6-09 post. This is after 3 - 4 layers of paint. I am really liking the monumental scale of this piece at 6 feet wide and 2 feet tall. These next few layers are where all of the sparkle and fun are added as I play with the surfaces adding more light and shadow.

Sunflowers for Torch Lake - 2' x 6'

Here is a picture after the first wash-in which is where I cover all of the white with an "underpainting" of pigment. To enhance the depth and luminosity of an oil painting, the old masters worked in layers from dark to light. Light tones and bright highlights being added in the final stages. The one exception that I have found is yellow. Most of the yellows are extremely transparent. So the yellows in the petals are more in the mid-range with shadows and highlights both being added in subsequent layers. This piece will be painted entirely with brushes. I am using M. Grahams oil paint and Walnut oil medium to move the paint. If you are a painter, Graham's products are solvent free and non-toxic as long as you do not eat them ;) It usually takes 3 - 6 layers in various parts of the subject to get the final expression that suits me. Any suggestions for names out there? "Sunseekers of Torch Lake" is rolling around in my head.

This past couple of weeks, I have been busy painting my studio and contiguous living spaces in our home. This piece has been on my mind all the while. It is 2' tall by 6' wide and is destined to be hung with a view of Torch Lake. I couldn’t wish a better place for it!

Seekers of the Sun, 3' x 4'

This piece was recently installed in the sun room of a home that is filled with wonderful original art. The couple found me at the Great Lakes Art Fair in Novi where I had just begun to my layout and had gotten as far as an initial wash of color.

After visiting their home, I was able to really make this painting work for them. I used a palette knife to apply the paint so that all of the little facets of the paint surface catch your eye as you walk by the sun room which is seen from a good portion of their home. You can even see it from the front entry. My photo doesn't do it justice as their home and the piece are much more stunning in person!

Five Grandchildren, finished piece is 5' x 4' oil on canvas














The sketch on the left is the one that was selected. Next, we are comparing two different sized supports. A white 5' x 4' canvas is being held to the wall and I have superimposed an orange square to represent a 4' x 3' piece. Since the piece was not going to require framing, we felt the wall called for the bigger piece. I am glad my friend Wendy had the courage to go big, because look at what she ended up with:



















This is a special piece created to represent each of five grandchildren. People have often said that my years of life drawing has influenced the way I portray flowers, especially sunflowers. This was a nice challenge in that I wanted the flowers to have symbolic representation of the children as well as a subtle physical depiction without making the piece corny. I think we were successful in that pursuit. This grandma has quite an heirloom to cherish!

Group Show - Pierre Paul Art Gallery
















After a crazy month, it was nice to watch this show open and to see my finished work framed so beautifully! There will be a reception this coming weekend for Art Walk . Pierre Paul is one of the sites with a "neighborhood party" on Friday. So stop by and see me as I will be there from 5pm - 10pm. Also, if you would like to see me actually painting, you can stop visit the gallery from 12n - 5pm on Saturday and I will be performing the "Artist at Work- Demo". The two pieces above are brand new works that debuted at Pierre Paul. The top piece is painted entirely with a knife and very lush. It is called "Daughters of the Sun" and the piece just beneath it is titled "Sunflowers Series IV".

After a challenging day of balancing the "creative/production" side of being an artist with the "business side" of being an artist all while tending to my mom duties, my six year-old daughter Jillian must have sensed that I needed a little something. She fashioned this brush holder for my tiny paint brushes. It's made from a recycled t-shirt and button. Basically, I needed to refocus from my painting to something inherently more beautiful, my two daughters. They help keep me in the moment and I love them dearly!

Good times in Levis Commons this past weekend!



















Here's a photo of Mary(left) behind her new poppy painting! This piece was a surprise for her husband. She knew he would love it because he had been eyeing another large work of mine that hangs in the home of Salvi & Andrew(shown on Mary's right). Salvi & Andrew are avid collectors that live in Levis Commons and I look forward to visiting with them each year at this show! I love getting to know the people that follow my work; it's often as rewarding as making the art!!
Thank you all for a great show this weekend!
Sincerely,
Kim

Heading to Perrysburg, OH for the Levis Commons Fine Art Fair this weekend!

If you get a chance, stop on by. My booth is #97 and will be located just in front of Arhaus furniture. The show itself is nestled in a wonderful town square with upscale shops and dining all around. There are 125 artists so it's big enough to see great stuff but not daunting to cover. Here are the last of what is going with me...

Poppies 11" x 14"












Karl's Garden III - 18" x 24"

Poppies for Renee, 4' x 3'



















This was painted with a knife and is the largest work that I have painted in this manor in some time. Look at the detail below where you can get a better idea of the richness of the surface and color. Renee owns Mod Squad Salon in Saline, MI. This piece will be installed in the salon later this week. Stop by and take a look!

Detail of Poppies for Renee

Poppies 12" x 24"










Sunflowers with Red Underpainting 16" x 20"















Both pieces were painted "thickly" with a palette knife. The sunflower was painted over a red under-painting which is one of my favorite ways to paint. Especially for things that I want to give the illusion of being bathed in sunlight. Reason being is that cool light creates warm shadows and vice-a-versa. So the red lends to the shadow areas and the small bits of red left in the would-be sky are just for fun!

Poppies in the Sun, 20" x 16"



















This is the first "finished" of a series of several small paintings(all under 2 feet square or less) that I am creating using a palette knife to apply the paint. It's not that I prefer painting with the knife or the brush, but I do enjoy being able to take a break from one to work with the other. The knife leaves an interesting surface and the thickness of the paint makes for intensely rich color. I am quite pleased with this one!

Tiny Lilies in the Sun - 12" x 24"










Japanese Iris - 12" x 16"



















Here are a couple of pieces I just finished today! Both were inspired by flowers from my garden; though these were started when the real flowers bloomed back in June!

Sunflower Triptyk







This triptyk is composed of three 12" square canvases all painted with a knife. This fun and juicy piece traveled with me to the Ann Arbor Art fair where it went home with a local collector; one who always picks my favorites!

Thank you to those who stopped by my new location in the South U fair. It was a great week with steady crowds and great weather; which is always a good thing for the artists! My next show is in Perrysburg, OH which is an affluent suburb of Toledo. This show is awesome in that it has great jurying, it's only 120 artists booths with lots of parking, dining and shopping all around it in Levis Commons outdoor/lifestyle mall. Hope to see you there August 22 and 23. I have a great spot right in front of the Arhaus Furniture store.

Just finished setting up at the Ann Arbor South University Art Fair!! Come and see me at booth E106. I am on E. University just 2 booths south of S. University. I will have lots of new work, which I don't have time to post it all today. Here a couple of new items with more to come later!

Lily of the Valley, 14" x 11"





















South Haven Memory 4' x 2'

Hollyhocks, 36" x 24" original oil painting



















I have spent a lot of time outside this spring working on my gardens. Hoping to grow lots different things to paint as well as eat! My hollyhocks are not up yet, but the subject seemed fitting for spring. This piece is traveling with me to ArtBirmingham this weekend. Those of you in southeastern Michigan, stop on by and say hello. You can get more information at: http://festival.bbartcenter.org My booth is A11 and I am setting up right next to my dear friend Sarah Stanton and her cool jewelry. Cross your fingers for pleasant weather!!!

This piece has been donated to a Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley
for their annual charity auction this Friday, 4-24-09. Details are posted on their website.

About the painting:
An original oil on gallery wrapped(frame is not required) canvas.
Size is 4' x 5'. This image was was inspired from two sunflowers that actually grew in this manner in my garden. Sunflowers in particular are a common subject
as I am drawn to imagery that renews hope, our connection to the earth and
each other.

What makes this a cool piece for Habitat for Humanity is that the sunflower represents community and it's iconic use has been documented back to the earliest centuries. Here are a few tidbits about the sunflower that give it a great connection to Habitat's cause:

"The sunflower always seeks the light and will turn towards it no matter where it is planted. The sunflower always reaches upward toward the sun. The sunflower itself is an image of radiance and light. Its circular shape connotes eternity, community and unity. The seeds of the sunflower are different shapes and sizes. The seeds are also highly visible and open to the scrutiny of the world; and yet they spread themselves all over this world (like the spreading of the good news). The sunflower rises tall above all the other plants but never looks down on them. It doesn't cast much of a shadow so other plants can grow along side it."

Tulips II - 2' x 4' original oil painting











This is what they looked like a few days after the last painting I posted. It's a fun composition and the tulips were a little challenging to paint in that they moved all day long as the blooms continued to open. The piece is painted on panel mounted on a 2" wood cradle. The panel was specially prepared with acrylic Gesso and a drywall knife which makes a cool surface to paint on. Also, I have been using walnut oil as a medium for my oil paints which is non-toxic and literally edible; until I mix it with cadmium!

Happy Easter!















A little piece for the holiday. 16 x 20 inches on 3/4" canvas. I painted this from life; a little pot of spring tulips I picked up at Kroger.

Sunflower a la Char



















36x24 inch oil painting of a sunflower that is "of my mother's world" for anyone that knows her. This one is actually a color study of sorts for an even larger piece and will likely go to the ArtBirmingham show in May.

My Favorite Fryes













24 x 36 inch oil painting of my all time favorite boots. You may see them around again as they were kind of fun to paint!

Thinking spring in the studio today; working on a little group of peonies with the help of my apprentices...

First image is at 2pm and then tonight at 9pm...Yes, I am slow. However, you need to check out my help below as they are much more prolific!

Poppies, single and double
































Oil paintings of poppies on 11" x 14" panels that have a 3/4" cradle. The edges are painted such that they could be hung without a frame. Contact Pierre Paul Gallery for purchase.

Poppy Triptyk





































These 3 pieces were designed to be hung together vertically. They are each 12" x 12" oil paint on canvas. The paint was mostly applied with a knife providing for a heavy texture. These pieces may be purchased through Pierre Paul Gallery.