Casey Marie

"Casey-Marie", 13"x18", pastel

This lovely dog was almost 19 years old when she passed away Dec. 18th.  Her owner had commissioned me to paint her, and sadly I never met Casey.  So I worked from several photographs she sent me over the Internet just days before she said goodbye.

Her owner liked this pose, as she said she was her guardian, and that aspect of her personality is shown here, even though Casey's eyesight was dim and her hearing impaired.

It's an honor and a privilege to be asked to paint memorial portraits - and be involved in a healing process that gives a piece of their pet back to them in a beautiful way.

Thanks for following my work.

Kim



Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Fire and Ice, 19"x 11",pastel

Merry Christmas to all my friends and family out there in cyberspace :)  Hope we all remember to take a moment and celebrate this beautiful holiday...and remember that the greatest gift we have is the love and friendship we extend to each other.  As the days now slowly grow brighter from the winter solstice, may we too grow brighter, more loving and warmer toward each other and hold precious the gift of life we have and share with one another.

God bless you all, stay close and warm this winter and celebrate your life!

May 2012 bring a happy, beautiful, wonderful new year....better than you can imagine!

Warm hugs,

Kim



McSweeney

"McSweeney", pastel, 12"x18"

This black cat has the most luminous, spooky, possessed black-cat eyes!  This was the challenge of this portrait.  He also has two very small white spots - one on his belly and one on his chest.  Velvety thick black as night fur throughout the rest of him.

I went over to the apartment where he "reigns" over his kingdom.  Unlike most cats who like to hide from strangers, he came right up to me to check me out....almost like a dog.  Quite cooperative during his photo shoot, he struck this pose and gazed at me with those x-ray eyes.

His Mom wanted me to paint them green....as his name is Irish :)  They are really a yellow-green glow...so I surrounded him in green for effect.  I shall call them and tell him his royal highness is ready for Christmas...a present for his Dad.

Hope he's well received!

Thanks for reading my blog :)

Kim

Last Day of the Studio Tour

Well the last day of the Studio Tour was wonderful!  Met so many lovely people interested in what I do and fascinated with the pastel painting process!  Met new neighbors and many interested in lessons that I plan to organize next year. 

One of my very first pastel teachers surprised me with a visit - hadn't seen her in years - was soo very happy to see her - Mrs. Linda Passman.  She started me out with my portrait of my cat "Mowie", who was a homework assignment that wound up winning me a 1st place at the NC State Fair.  That piece kick-started my career.  She is my role model for great teaching :)

Here a customer is checking out my giclee prints along my "Wall of Deer" paintings.  "The Lookout", my latest, was by far the favorite.

Cards were a popular item...sold out on some last weekend and had to order more just in time for this weekend.

 Here are a few cows, donkeys and a black lab print on my propanels set up on another side of the living room.....

 My husband Eric was following me and my visitors around like the paparozzi!!  Glad he did cause I got so involved with people I forgot to take photos .

 The "Twins" portrait was graciously loaned to me for the Studio Tour...."Keepsakes" Framing in Pittsboro framed them beautifully... They were a hit!

My little bichon princess "Summer" enjoyed greeting everyone at the front door.....of course she thought everyone was there to see her!

Sooo many visitors - what a great Studio Tour!  I'll sleep well tonight and try to get back into "normal living" again tomorrow...whatever that is!

Thanks for following me on my blog :) Kim

Won an Honorable Mention!

Me & "The Lookout" at the Chatham Arts Studio Tour Show

Here I am at the Chatham Arts Studio Tour Gallery Show at Central Carolina Community College.  My piece "The Lookout" won an Honorable Mention!  More giclee prints had to be ordered for next weekend (Dec 10-11).  Yay!

This is just my second year belonging to Chatham Arts and being on the tour.  I am honored and happy to have won something.  I want to mention Roger Dinger's name here as he custom-made the frame from reclaimed oak barn wood.  See him at #42 on the tour and his website at http://www.reinbarnation.com.

Hope to see you next weekend! Who knows....with a full moon lunar eclipse anything can happen :)!

Thanks for following my blog.

Kim