2022 so far...

Greetings to whomever may unexpectedly find a 'new' post on this fallow blog!

Thought I'd pop in and say that the past 2.5 years have been a couple of the most challenging of my life.  I know, however, that I am not alone in that.  The world is in a time of upheaval in many ways. 

Nevertheless, (is that all one word?) I am here.  Still attempting to play with art whenever possible.  

Here are some recent sketches, nothing special, just a chance to indulge in art therapy, stretch my creative muscles and escape into the beauty of creating.  Perhaps (no promises, life is still plenty challenging) I will post more often now that I'm reminded of this space.  The Lord be with you. 

A Phainopepla painted this week using a reference from my own photography. 

A couple of bookmarks gifted to a very kind friend... 

In June I participated in a card gifting campaign for the families in Uvalde TX that have experienced the loss of a child or other family member in the mass shooting there.  

I painted 21 of these cards, each unique and hand made then wrote a message of sympathy and a prayer on the reverse side.  It was a somber but beautiful time to enter into the deep grief and lament with these families. Their lives will never be the same.  Here's a sample of a few of them. 

Until next time, I pray these words from Psalm 136 encourage you.  

He remembered us when we were humiliated—
because his mercy endures forever.
He snatched us from the grasp of our enemies—
because his mercy endures forever.
He gives food to every living creature—
because his mercy endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven
because his mercy endures forever.

from God's Word Translation

P.S. I'm much more active in posting things on Instagram.  If at all interested you can find my page here;  azkatiebee
 

Some recent work and just for fun art from the past year.

 The beginning of 2019 found me still hard at work trying to make the deadlines for illustration work which was to be published as part of a new homeschool curriculum.  Some of that work is included below along with some of my nature journal pages and other crafty art work done throughout 2019.  Hoping 2020 will be full of more art fun! 

My timeline figure of 'Moses'.  My husband served as the model! 

Another timeline Bible character, 'Jonah'...who again was drawn from photos I took of dear hubby! 
I did many other Bible and historic figures for this project. (more coming up)   A lot of work, but so fun. 

A watercolor doodle turned into a bookmark, or two... 

A kind friend served as my model of 'Esther', again for the curriculum project. 

All these colored versions were for the history timeline project in this lovely curriculum.  

I found time to add a few pages in my nature journal of this years amazing wildflower show. 

Here's a watercolor page I did from my photo of a curve-billed thrasher nest found on South Mountain.

I have loved rabbits since a girl, this watercolor sketch was from a photo I took of a black-tailed jack rabbit. 

I have been working on a grey squirrel off and on all year for a friend.  This was my first attempt, and I have yet to finish the one I will finally give her.  

Some table place-cards done for the rehearsal dinner of a dear friend's son. 

A pencil sketch in another of my nature journals. 

I sketched the bouquet carried by our son's bride as an Anniversary card. 

Gift cards I made for our grand-darlings Halloween treat bags. 

Another sketch in my nature journal of a favorite spot I often hike. 

A Christmas bookmark in the making.

A watercolor Christmas ornament gifted to local relatives. 

Well Hello There!

How about a little update to this page!  Ha!

In fall of 2018 through February 2019  I took some work creating art for a wonderful homeschool curriculum called 'Go Global' which is put out by Cultivated Learning.  Here's a link;   Go Global

I did a lot of ink sketches for the main textbook, and then some printable timeline figures for the website, which needed to be 'colored'.  So those are ink and watercolor.  I have yet to see the finished product, though it's been available since spring.

Here's a sampling of some of the ink artwork I did for this (quite big for me) project.  Perhaps you have a project for which you are seeking some ink work?  Let me know if you like my work and maybe I can help you bring your project to life!  I discovered I quite enjoyed the process and the payoff (both the satisfaction and the chance to get paid for my art) of this kind of project.

Of course I can make art in other media too... in fact, I don't often do such detailed ink only artwork, but it was lovely and fun.  I hope to post more of my art to the blog from here on out!  Thanks for following along, and being so patient with this art-blog.  :)  Please get in touch if you'd like to talk about having me do some art for you.

Note Cards from My Original Watercolors!

 Here are some cards I created for the recent gallery show I participated in.  They are hand made by me, from my original watercolor paintings.

The painting was photographed, then printed on high quality card stock and attached to high quality blank cards with matching envelopes and autographed.  

You can get individual cards of any of my designs, or purchase a set.  Sets result in a lower price per card than buying individual cards.  

The 'Farm Girls' chicken sets are multiples of the same design.

Individual cards from the Sonoran desert bird series are available on a white or natural card base and come in two sizes.   The small note cards are 5.5" x 4", and the larger cards are 5" x 7". Here is my Cactus Wren from the painting 'Throne of Thorns'...

The 5 card set of the Sonoran desert birds contains 1 of each design; Quail, Shrike, Cactus Wren, Canyon Wren and Flycatcher.  (more birds coming soon!)

If you are interested in getting some of these before they are all gone please let me know by emailing me with your order at katiekcreates@gmail.com.  Local friends can just get them from me, but if I need to ship the cards to you (USA only), I will mail them First Class at no extra charge upon receipt of payment.  If you want them faster you'll need to pay me via paypal and there will be an additional fee to cover the increased postage required.  Hope to hear from you soon!  

P.S. I plan on adding an individual photo of each Sonoran Desert bird card to this post in the next day or two, so you can see all 5 designs up close.  ;)   

So, this happened.

Earlier this year I reconnected with a dear friend I hadn't seen in over 20 years.  She just happens to be a wonderful artist.  And she teaches pottery classes at a gallery in California.  She noticed some of my art and photography on my facebook page and invited me to show some work in an upcoming show at her gallery.  I worked at getting some more paintings completed over the summer in anticipation.  

The show took place last weekend, but happened to coincide with a deep loss in my family where my help was needed, so I wasn't sure I could pull it off.  I managed to get my watercolors framed and delivered to be hung, and my sweet husband and mom helped me to get the prints of my art turned into cards to sell.  It was a special evening participating in the first ever showing of my artwork.  It was a like an oasis amid days of stress and grief with the additional blessing that several more girlfriends from long ago came or participated in the show allowing us to have a sweet reunion.  

Here are my Sonoran desert inspired mixed media artwork (mostly watercolor with a bit of acrylic) all framed up strewn across a bedspread!
 

Here's the card making in process...

The cards when done, all organized in a box to be displayed.  Even more exciting... I sold a fair amount of them!  :)  I even had an inquiry about buying an original piece, but I am not quite ready to do that yet.  I do hope to get some nice high quality prints made soon, which will be available.  I plan on adding a few more Sonoran desert birds to this set, and also more blooming cactus as well.  

Keep an eye out next week for a post displaying the cards (individual and in sets) I am offering with prices and ordering information.

My paintings will remain on display at the Fontana Art Association's Koehler gallery through the month of October.   

I can hardly believe I have been blessed with this sweet beginning, especially for the hope it represented to me in the midst of dark and sad days.  Well, I guess life, like good art, involves light and dark, hard and soft... contrast is one of the key elements in beauty.  

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  Ecclesiastes 3:11 

Opportunity Knocks

Recently I was reconnected to a dear friend I had not seen in over 20 years.  She has become a master potter and teaches at a small gallery in southern California.  She's invited me to show some of my paintings and photography in a small show this fall.  So I am looking over my paintings and trying to decide which are formal and finished enough for such an exhibit.  Much of my watercolor sketching is done in journals or bound sketchbooks and are not really meant to be hung on display.  However, I've been working (slowly!) on a series of southwestern birds and a few of these will work.  Here is my painting of a Canyon Wren, which  I'm considering.  Since it's been off my painting table for some time, I now wonder if I need to punch up the contrast in the background by adding some darks into the blurred foliage.  I might even need to extend the painting on the left side to make the format more rectangular, than square.  Thoughts?  ;)

Canyon Wren at Sunrise

Once And For All

Greetings nonexistent reader!  ;)  

Here in the Sonoran Desert many a cactus blooms from March through May (and beyond).  The echinopsis variety sport many different color and sized blooms, but here is the grandest of them all.  Echinopsis candicans, hails from Argentina, I believe.  Except for hybrid varieties, the echinopsis bloom opens at night and wilts by noon or shortly thereafter the following day.  Thus this spectacular blossom lives less than a single day.

I photographed this specimen at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden this morning.  I have many more photos to share, but thought I'd go ahead and get something here on my 'waiting' blog.  

Welcome to my Sonoran desert world!