My photo
I'm an observer and a maker. I'm interested in human behavior.

Friday, October 16, 2009

I got a Feature...

This issue of The Bicycle Review has me as their featured artist! The Bicycle Review is an online journal of contemporary literature and Art. The writers are really amazing. This is something really worth taking the time to read through! Thanks Bicycle Review!!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

A Little Something for my Little Something.

I have been doing a lot of cooking lately an getting my 15 month old son to eat his veggies has become quite a challenge. Oh...the days when he would just eat anything I put in front of him. Well, those days have past and I am having to become a real magician in the kitchen in order for him to consume foods other than cheese (he sure loves cheese). Here is a little something that I whipped up for him yesterday.



This is a greek yogurt pureed with baby peas and fresh squeezed lemon juice. Ian loves food that he can dip his vegetables or crackers in. I gave him some raw summer squash strips and a whole grain flax-seed cracker to go along with it. This simple puree has high levels of calcium, protein, vitamins K, C, B6 and B12, and magnesium.

Features of the Week!!

I have decided to reconfigure this blog a bit and give back to those who have inspired me in one way or another. I am hoping to do a weekly feature for your reading pleasure. So, I would like to start off today with a few features of people who have been there for me as an artist.

ASTARS
I am going to take a few minutes to direct you towards ASTARS Women Clothing. This line is designed, owned and operated out of Italy by way of Los Angeles and Ecuador by a good friend of mine, Denise Focil. Denise brings a cool new take on sportswear and might be one of hardest working women in fashion! "ASTARS is a t-shirt brand known for unique details such as: sun fading, inside out airbrushing, mineral & hand spray washes and double softener washes to create the look of a favorite t-shirt that's been worn-in perfectly for 20 years." After having my son I really had to cut back on the vintage black silk-crepe dresses and start going for the more "stylish yet comfortable" look in my everyday wardrobe. As a newly converted t-shirt enthusiast I can tell you that these shirts are great and you do not look like a frump in them.

Denise Focil is also one of the few people on planet earth who is the proud owner of a small collection of my original paintings. She is a true patron of the arts and a designing goddess and for this reason (amongst many others) I salute her and ASTARS clothing! Check them out!


Wipster aka Beccy!
Wipster is an amazing blog out of Jolly 'Ol England by a fellow crafter and vintage treasure hunter Beccy. She sure knows her sewing, amongst many other inspirational things. Tutorials abound on Wipster and you even get updates on her pet chickens as well. Wipster gave me my first blog feature in her Etsy Wednesday section. You should check out her Etsy site Magpie to find amazing little treasures. I am particularly partial to this one...



My Dear Friend Ashley McHugh
Now the next person that I would like to highlight is my good buddy Ashley McHugh. Ashley made these amazing pin-felted birds for my son's first birthday.
I have Ian's room decorated in a forest theme (seen here) and these little birdies were the perfect addition. I met Ashley way back in 2004 when we had painting studios next to each other at CCA. We even became neighbors for a bit, living in the 4-plex that was dubbed "Ghetto Melrose Place." After moving out (because of the imminent arrival of Ian) we have continued to remain good friends and her skills continue to ignite my imagination! Not only is Ashley an amazing crafter, but her paintings will blow your mind people! And on top of all of this...Ashley and her soon-to-be husband, Lane, can brew up some pretty mean beer...this woman can do it all!
Painting of Tommy Bush by Ashley McHugh


James Seevers, Renaissance Man
Last, but certainly not least, we come to James Seevers. James is another Bay Area artist that I have the distinct pleasure of knowing. From the early days of college (when I first met him) to the current projects that James takes on, his passion for art and music knows no boundaries...literally...he knows no boundaries. James is a painter, writer, is a classically trained piano player, writes all the music for Jackal Fleece (which I would like to note that my husband, Kevin, plays drums for), draws, sculpts, blogs Strike of the Synapse, is a carpenter, makes amazingly dangerous Halloween costumes, hikes and bikes, and is what I would call a skateboarding enthusiast.

Read his blog, check out his work at his new site (this is a work in progress I am told) James Seevers...because if you are creating, showing, reading, playing music, need a general contractor to come build you some awesome cabinets, or are skateboarding ANYWHERE in the Bay Area...you are bound to meet this mysterious man with a mohawk.

I will now present you with a few works by James Seevers.

Friday, October 2, 2009

It's been a while

So I am a horrible absentee blogger, but here are some developments and some new images of the project that I have been working on.

I have decided to do 7 self portraits a week until the 1st of the year. It is actually kind of cathartic in the sense. So instead of working with someone else as a model, I am working with myself, which I think is actually a lot harder (at least for me). I've never done self portraits before, but so far I am having fun. Here are a couple of line drawings that I did this week.




In keeping with this theme I am also going to be simultaneously working on painting/embroideries of volcanoes. The very first painting that I ever made in preschool was of a volcano, so I think it is a relevant study to undertake.

Life in the house with purple stairs continues to dumbfound and amaze me. I am clearly living in an altered state with the little guy. Oh, they had to cut down our beautiful redwood tree last week. The house is 100 times brighter, but every time I walk out front I get a little sad since it was so beautiful.

Until next time....
Kel~