I AM Going Somewhere

"Where Ever You Shall Go.." , mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas, 18 x 18"
copyright 2017 kathipeters.com

This past winter I started exploring my abstract creative side. It has proven to be an exciting foray. I’ve kept the initial start of my abstraction, as an intuitive step forward, onto a blank canvas. I'm working with acrylics and casein. Then I go in with my charcoals to draw the main subject, which I approach with more realism. I have always loved drawing….and my work, in the past, has been more impressionistic realism, but I have always been drawn [no pun intended] to abstract work and the use of pure color to drive intent and exploration. I think I will always have to have an element of realism in my work, but will continue dropping my subject into an abstract landscape, as I paint, splatter and drag color intuitively across the canvas. I hope you are enjoying my new work……and seeing where my journey takes me.

“Where Ever You Shall Go...” is done in mixed media [acrylic, casein, oil and ink]. Two draft horses walked away from me….walking into the abstracted landscape ….a path that draws them into a lovely light that hints of sunlight and trees standing tall. A tall Clydesdale follows the shorter more stocky spotted draft horse…where ever it may go……just as I seem to be following my muse, where ever it shall take me.

 

 I am pleased to announce that "Where Ever You Shall Go" as been juried into the "Artist's Choice Exhibit at River Arts Gallery in Damariscotta, Maine , with an opening reception to be held Friday, May 5th at 5 until 7:00 pm. Hope to see you there!

 

 

Spring Has Sprung..... With A New Painting

 

"Chestnuts Two"  , casein ,  12 x 12"  ©2015  www.kathipeters.com

 

 

I have been in the studio a lot of late. I have been drawing and working a lot on tonal sketches. I feel I always need to be learning, and stretching my art.  I have also been stretching my hours in my day, as I work in the studio, the gardens, the barn and the house. And stretching my back , pulling weeds and raking the perennial garden as it awakens from its winter slumber.  I sleep well at night!

 

Spring is finally here in our part of the woods, and I have just finished a spring like painting of two chestnut horses in their field in its light spring colors before the green appears. They are busy horses foraging for any tiny blades of grass that might be poking through the warming ground. "Chestnuts Two " is a 12 x 12" casein on board. I have put it up on my website now.

 

If you haven't gone yet to see the River Art Gallery's latest exhibit I suggest that you head on down/over there and see "The Natural World". The show is wonderful with works from Maine artists from all over the state. I am one of the artists juried into the show. You won't be disappointed.  My painting "Ripe Arbor Grapes " is hanging there for your viewing pleasure. It looks much better in real life than the internet can display!!

 

 

"Ripe Arbor Grapes" . oil on copper panel , 12x12" 

 

In the meantime I will paint!

Heaven Help Me, But It's Winter In Maine

 

10 x 8" pen and ink sketch of myself compromised......may it never happen! 

 

 

It has warmed up to a chilly 12°F outside of our cottage. It was 2 degrees this morning when I got up. I am dressed in an undershirt, a turtleneck, an alpaca sweater and heavy weight jeans.  Then I add a Polartec jacket under my down jacket,with snow pants to cover my jeans, then I go down to the barn to do chores. God help me if I slip and fall. I would never be able to get back up again. I would just lie there until spring came. Or maybe I could take a selfie of myself ( as I always carry my phone) and send it to Facebook and show everyone a picture of me, …the last picture of me before I died of frostbite on my way down to the barn .

 

Like me on Facebook!

 

 

New Mixed Media Figurative Painting While Fall Starts It's Glow Outside

  "Enlightened"  , casein and mixed media      18 x 18"  ©2014 www.kathipeters.com

The days are shorter. The weather has been wonderful with crisp fall mornings that beckon me to start the day full of fall colors and sounds….. Leaves that crunch underfoot, crows cawing from tall spruce. I love it.

The fall weather brought visits from artist friends and my family. The owner of Equis Art Gallery and her husband came to pick up new work from me, and we got to enjoy days of touring Maine. I carried my camera and have reference photos of iconic Maine landscapes to keep me busy all winter as I work on my new body of work.

I feel a need to do more figurative work. I have started using our grandchildren as subjects. I hope they don’t mind!! “Enlightened” is a new mixed media work [casein, gold leaf and languid gold]. It is on canvas and is sized 18 X 18”. It was a fun painting to do and took me quite a while to do between company visits. This painting has been juried into the River Arts art show “Faces & Figures” that opens Oct 10th in Damariscotta, Maine.Hope you can make the show! There is some neat work hanging in this exhibit.

I have 2 paintings in the works now. I can’t wait to show them!

Until then….I will paint!

Our grape arbor is turning color...a fall burnt red.

Maine Landscapes and Seascapes ,My Works In A New Show At River Arts

"Raspberry Island, Port Clyde, Maine" , oil on copper  , 6 x 6"  SOLD     "The Rocks Of Maine's Coast" , oil on copper , 6 x 6"   $325.00       I have had the two oil paintings above, juried into the new River Arts’ show “The Story Of Maine- Land and Sea”. It opened 8/1/2014 and runs through 8/28/2014. The Juror for the exhibition was Susan Groche.  She is professor of Art, Department Chair at the University of Maine, Orono. I hope you can get to see this great show highlighting some of Maine’s new artists and some already established artists of Maine. The works are for sale.

New Painting Of Old Times

 

"Farm Chores"    casein on  birch board   14 x 11"  ©2014 www.kathipeters.com

 

 

Well, it seems like I have been busier than a bee lately. Seems appropriate considering the season. On the one hand the gardens are begging to be watered, weeded and fed. On the other hand, barn chores are calling......Never mind the fact that I need to paint. Horses need to be driven.... Dog walked. All in good time I guess. 
"Farm Chores" is the latest work to come off the easel. It was prompted by a foray into an old chest that I have full of family photos. One photo of my mother and her cousin feeding chickens seemed to need to be painting. So I took an old black and white photo, edited it and added my own color palette to make the scene my own. It was a stretch, and it is one that I would like to do again. The good old days renewed.
 
I have new work going down to River Arts Gallery in Damariscotta, Maine…..headed there tomorrow. Taking my camera….one never knows what one might see!!
Until then……….I am painting.

 

A Radio Interview?? AND A New Show Opening!

Our crab apple tree   Lately there seems to be a slow rhythm to my days on our farm. Horses fed. Horses put out. Stalls done. Dog walked. Gardening attempted. Afternoons in the studio until evening ...when it's horses in. Horses fed. Dog walked. Evening time to relax. But then, into the mix comes art shows to attend, galleries to deliver art work to, and now even a radio interview. RADIO INTERVIEW??!!  This is a first for me……so I hope someone will be listening….And if you are, I would love to hear your comments!!  The interview is  Monday June 2nd!! It is at 1:30 pm and I guess lasts about 20 minutes. I hope I can last 20 minutes.  The show is called Art of the Red River.  It is a once a month show, live and taped.  Here is a link to the radio blog.   http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2014/04/28/art-of-the-red-river-1               They have a Facebook page too.. http://www.facebook.com/ArtOfTheRedRiver .  I am hoping that I make sense and that my words don’t come out jumbled. I still have problems with aphasia since my stroke in 2006. I will try to rest before the interview. If I am tired, words just do not come. I am left with jumbled speech, a brain that can’t find words and I find answering questions most mind boggling. So tune in!! You might have a pleasant surprise or at least witness a very entertaining comedy show??!! "Respite" Casein on paper, 9 x 12" ©2013 My other news: I had 2 casein paintings juried into the River Arts Gallery’s new exhibit “Down On The Farm”. The show opens May 30 and runs until June 19th in, Damariscotta, Maine. See my Events page to see where I am showing next!!  I am so pleased to be showing in Maine and being able to physically be there to see my work hung, and see the works of other Maine artists. This state is full of so many talented artists. I have new works “in the works”…..so I better get painting.

"My Community", I'm Juried into A New Maine Show!

              "Bushy Tailed" Casein    12 x 12"  And   "Bright Eyed"   Casein    12 x 12"

Event Dates: 4/25/2014  - 5/22/2014 

Reception: 4/25/2014 5:00 - 7:00 pm

Location: River Arts Gallery

(207) 563-1507

241 US Route 1 (North)

Damariscotta Maine 04543

http://riverartsme.org/

This exhibition has work in many mediums that address the theme of “ My Community ”.  Artists were encouraged to take the theme of  “My Community”  broadly – family, friends, activities; neighborhoods, gatherings, things that bring us together,  community of present, past or imagined. I had 3 works juried into this exhibit.

Hope to see you there!!

Working The Farm and Painting -That Is My Day

The garden's early blooming daffodils,so sweet.

My goodness, how times flies.  I have been busy…and a bit distracted. Spring has found its way into our neighborhood and our gardens still need tended…horses beg for attention. Some of my days, though, have found me in the studio. I have painted a few new works, shipped some of my work out to new collectors and to galleries and shows. I have delivered some art work River Arts Gallery in Damariscotta,Maine.  With spring comes walks with Nell, time to breath in the smell of our woods wet with melting snow, cedar, pine and spruce perfume the air, and birds are singing the age old 'rites of spring' songs. Life is good and sweet on the farm. I am starting to pack my pochade with the idea of getting out side and doing some painting of beautiful Maine……but for the most part, now my time is spent doing studio work.

 

 'Barn With The Yellow Door"  , Casein on paper,  8.5 x 13"

 "Barn With The Yellow Door" is a scene depicting our barn and my old  Tennessee Walker Duster, who I sadly lost last year... just about this time of year too. I miss the old boy, and as he was always my muse....when I went to paint our barn, my old Duster had to be in the painting too.

Our two Morgan boys, my 'Ginger Boys' , are now my muses....and this next work is of Devon. He prompted a mixed media piece in graphite and gold leaf. His face, chiseled and handsome, his large soft eye always gives my heart joy. Hopefully " Sweet Man' will touch someone else's heart too. I love the way the small gold leaf parts of the drawing highlight his face.

"Sweet Man" , Mixed media on claybord, 12 x 12"

 I am ready to start a new work now...in watercolor. So it is time to paint!!