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!!!