"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