Paying Attention

...I know I've talked about mindfulness before, in a number of contexts and in a number of places, but it is an ongoing goal, an ongoing discipline for me.  It covers a lot of ground.

Being grateful for what I have.

Knowing what I need.  Really need.

Taking time for spiritual needs.

Listening.

Journaling.

Stopping to think before reacting (yes, that one's a hard one for me.)

Remembering to breathe.

Knowing what's important, and taking time for it--love, nature, creativity, reading, sharing, quiet.

Recognizing what my path is, what my work is--and isn't.

Learning to say no--and learning to say YES, to the Universe.

Realizing that just because something is a good idea doesn't mean I need to be the one to implement it.

So yes, I've kept gratitude lists like this one in my journal for many years, off and on.  Some days there are several columns, if I have time!  And interestingly, the more I am grateful for--small things, everyday things, even challenges--the more I find I HAVE to be grateful for.

I bought the Presence key necklace this winter, to remind me...but by the time summer's heat arrived and I couldn't stand anything around my neck, I was more aware.  (I hope!)

If I walk mindfully, I hurt less.  If I pay attention to what's behind my husband's words, we communicate better.  If I am present to my life, really present--not thinking of yesterday, not worrying about tomorrow--I appreciate it more. 

And life is indeed good.

Life and work and dealing with people....

So not much of a likeness, since Pepi was helping me draw (and like ALL cats, he is such a wondrous help...he jumped on me just as I got to the mouth...)

I was going for the quizzical look I was feeling.  Kind of the "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat the...???" expression was my goal!

And yep, my eyes are red-rimmed from too much computer time and too little sleep.  Last night was a bear.  Maybe 2 hours, and a reasonable amount of pain.  Big fun.

Here's the photo...missed it altogether, but the sketch was fun and calming to do in any case.  Maybe next time I'll take measurements and draw guidelines...NOT.

That quizzical feeling was further reminding me that I need to continue to simplify and breathe...remembering that artists are tender folk.

And that I'm really not cut out to herd cats...

New banner, for now anyway...

So this was up earlier today, but that was a sad sketch of Joseph...

...I do love to tweak these things.

Who knows what I'll settle on?  I wanted cleaner and more of a reflection of our life, now.

And yes, I do keep fiddling...

...but Joseph has a beard, now...

...and I couldn't find my most recent selfie, or the one I wanted of Joseph, so I'll quit playing for tonight...

...and this is a rather old self-portrait, with greenman...

...and of course I had to tweak it a little...

It's been a long, long time!

Hello, all...it's been a long, BUSY time since I've been here. I've done videos for YouTube and for my class for Danny Gregory's Sketchbook Skool, I'm working on a new North Light book on sketching on the spot, there's been a death in the family--my older sister, which threw me for a loop, though it was not unexpected.

There's been growth and change...I'm very active on Facebook, both in our Artist's Journal Workshop group and on my own pages, both personal and professional, as well as in our Urban Sketchers groups, Plein Air Artists, and Nature Artists groups.

I'm still on Flickr, too...crazy, yes?

And I've been trying to focus and simplify.  I realized I wanted to share more of my work and thoughts with you in a calmer, more comtemplative way, and realized I already have THIS blog, ready and waiting.  It was intended to be my gallery, but I'm not so great at keeping up with that.

I've been leaning more in the direction of calm, meditation, focusing, as I've said.  I even offered a video for my latest mini-class, Keeping an Artist's Journal, on Journaling, Contemplation, and Meditation.  That's so important to me that I made it public instead of only for my students.

You'll find more recent videos in my YouTube channel as well--I had a LOT left over from the upcoming class, and I wanted to offer them to you.

Looks like I NEED to focus, doesn't it?  Finishing up some of these projects has felt SO good and SO freeing.  And it reminds me that I need to say no more often--even to myself--for my own sanity.

Breathe, Kate, BREATHE...and as one of my favorite meditation CDs suggests, begin again.  Begin again.  Begin again...

So bear with me, peek over my shoulder, and if you're interested, come along for the ride--or, truthfully, more of a walking meditation.  This may not be regular as clockwork, but it feels right...

Original Watercolors on Etsy!

Adirondack Lake, 9" x 12"

One rainy Adirondack day we left our campground at Fish Creek Pond and headed for Fourth Lake--when we saw this view of islands and distant clouds at Lake Durant. Joseph said "Don't you want to stop and paint??"

And yes, I did! Misty, cool, beautiful, and SO stunningly upper New York.

This painting appeared in Watercolor Artist Magazine a few years ago, and now I'm ready to let it out of my sight--it does bring back so many wonderful memories, but I will have the digital version

The painting is 9" x 12"-- I make every effort to match the color and use archival materials! It will come to you securely wrapped and backed, ready to mat and frame. 

Please click here to buy or see more original art.

Fish Creek Pond Afternoon, NY

We camped at Fish Creek Pond in upper New York State with a group of teardrop trailer enthusiasts (Joseph built his own!)--it was a glorious setting,and I was SO glad we had the canoe with us. We paddled out in the middle and floated there peacefully while I painted the distant shoreline...we could hear distant conversations, the slap of the waves against the sides of the canoe, the balsam-scented wind, the cries of gulls, and I could have stayed there till nightfall. I used lake water in my painting; it makes it a real part of the location.

It was a grand, magical time, with wonderful people...

The painting is 5" x 12"--if you're interested, please click HERE.

Roseate Spoonbill, Florida

The Roseate Spoonbill is a fascinating and colorful bird that doesn't get half the press that flamingos do! That's too bad--they're truly beautiful. Mangrove trees and miles of swampland surround their habitat. Lots of crocodiles, too...or is that an alligator?

This painting appeared in Country Living Magazine a few years ago, when I had a regular column for them.  I miss doing those!

SOLD, and thank you!

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As you may know, I've been having a few one-woman shows as well as going through a lifetime's worth of work getting ready for them!  Because I believe original art should be affordable, I am offering these unmatted and unframed.  They will go out carefully packed, Priority Mail, and insured if they are over $100.

Do please check back!  I'll be adding more small works, sketches and ACEOs as I continue to simplify my studio space.

Original Art from my show at the Artisan Gallery!

If you're interested in anything you see here, just let me know.  Much of it is still available.

And NO idea why I never published this post, I just found it in the draft folder!  Oh well...for the most part, it still applies...

The original of this one found a good home in California, but I DO have prints!

Many of these originals, as well as prints of several of these paintings (and more) are in my Etsy store...it's here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CathyJohnsonArt

Hard at Work on My Newest Mini-class, Ink & Wash!

Here's a sneak preview...it should be up sometime this week!

This will be the sign-up button on my web page...

There's a video demonstrating this one...

You can get by with only a few colors...

We look at various ways to pre-tint pages...

A beautiful fall day at Powell Gardens prompted this demo...

Another demo video...

From my older public Strathmore video, showing colored ink...

A freebie ballpoint pen works just fine...

 

Water-soluble ink can be FUN and exciting!

Toned paper can give you some interesting effects and even set the mood!

Here's the syllabus!

INTRODUCTION

SUPPLY LIST

LESSON 1

▸    Why Ink & Wash?
▸    Get the Lead Out?
▸    Working with Ink and Watercolor–approaches
▸    Fountain Pens
▸    Disposables–Fiber Tipped
▸    Ballpoints and Gel Pens
▸    Water-soluble or Waterproof?
▸    Exercises
▸    Tips
▸    Demos
▸    Videos
▸    Links

LESSON 2

▸    Planning and Intent
▸    Colors
▸    Exploring Dip Pens
▸    Brush Pens
▸    Bottle Inks
▸    Before or After?
▸    Textures
▸    Waterbrushes
▸    Paper Matters
▸    Exercises
▸    Tips
▸    Demos
▸    Videos
▸    Links

LESSON 3

▸    Travel Sketching and Working On the Spot
▸    Colored Ink
▸    Finding a Point of View
▸    Keep it Simple, Keep it Light
▸    Be Prepared!
▸    Elements of Landscape
▸    Distance, Depth & Aerial Perspective
▸    Sketching from the Plane Window
▸    Focal Point
▸    Gridding
▸    People and Places
▸    Travel Notes Today
▸    Exercises
▸    Tips
▸    Demos
▸    Videos
▸    Links

LESSON 4

▸    Out & About
▸    Time is of the Essence
▸    How to Simplify?
▸    Watercolor First
▸    Ink First
▸    Try a New Perspective
▸    Out & About–Aerial Perspective
▸    Try Toned Paper
▸    Ink, Coffee, Tea, Wine
▸    Buildings in Landscape
▸    Urban Sketching
▸    Reportage Drawing
▸    Safety Tips for Urban and Travel Sketching
▸    Exercises
▸    Tips
▸    Demos
▸    Videos
▸    Links

'Tis the Season!

LOTS OF GIFTS AND GOODIES

If you're looking for a gift for that special someone--or for yourself! (and you like the idea of supporting an individual artist/craftsman rather than a huge business that may get most of their inventory from China) please stop by and browse!

The original of this was bought by a dear artist friend, Brenda Swenson...so I made prints available on Etsy!

This plein air sketch of the ivy-covered gate at the old high school in Excelsior Springs was lots of fun...the original is in a show at The Artisan right now, but prints are available HERE

One of my favorite places for plein air painting is Tryst Falls, in Excelsior Springs, MO.  The print has proven quite popular.

Of course if you prefer original art, ready to mat and frame to suit YOUR taste, we have that too...

This is another plein air piece--I raced to capture the changing clouds and the sun sank lower in the west; see details HERE. 

There are even small, affordable goodies like ACEOs and hand-painted bookmarks.  You're sure to find something to fit the occasion--eve if that occasion is just, oh, Thursday!

Click on any of the links, above, and look around.  If you have any questions please just ask!