Progress

Do you remember this painting in the top left corner? I've made some progress since my last post. Though I've been busy planning my art show, I actually remembered to take progress photos! Yeah, I know - I never remember to do that. If you've been following me on Instagram, you know this. But if not, here's a little update on that painting:

At this point (above), I still had no idea what was going on...

I started to see it here.

And now, I'm refining the details as you can see above.

If you read my last post, it might give you more of a wordy description into what my process is. But I hoped you enjoyed a visual look at my start to almost finish of a painting. I will post the final piece when it's complete! 

Other than this, I have been working on two other paintings, as I said in my last post, and preparing the final details for my show. Food, getting work together, getting supplies together, handing out postcards and flyers... It's so exciting!

♥ K

Painting / Making a Mess

If you've seen my instagram lately, you know that I've been hermiting away in my studio painting. It's a mess in here people. But that's how I work - with bits of tissue paper, pieces of photos and bottles of matte medium spread out around me as I stare at a canvas on the floor and music blasts through my huge headphones. 

I'm still figuring out my process, honestly, but I try not to analyze it too much. After I took a painting and collage class at RISD, it all just started happening. It was a nice discovery to have it just come out of your hands with no struggle. I know they say that the best things are those we have to work hard for but this was a really great thing that came easy. Maybe I *had* worked hard before and I just wasn't using the right medium? 

Anyhoo, I'm so glad to be back into the process and just enjoying it with no pressure. I just got totally lost in my own world the other day. So much that I worked from about 10 am to 8 pm. (I did take breaks.) That's why I wear my headphones - to drown everything out and be in my own head and in the moment. That way, I dont think about every little thing too much. I just do it. (Like Nike right?) 

When I would work like this in school, it was the same way. I would get lost. Once, I was painting in my apartment - I started at about 9 pm - and I got so lost in the process and the joy of it, that the next time I looked at the clock, it was 5 am. Whoops. 

Because of the drying time on each piece, I usually work on 3 - 4 pieces at a time. I use a lot of paint mediums and layers of materials. Sometimes a layer can take an hour to dry depending on what I'm using. I don't want to sit and literally watch paint dry! I move onto the next painting and just keep going.

Usually, I'm not looking at any specific landscape or image when I'm working either. I tend to start layering material until I see something and then go from there. This stuff can start out really ugly people. I'm talking bad ugly - a few random shapes or images on a page that have nothing to do with each other and probably a 1st grader could have painted them. (see: painting in top left corner) But the best thing about layers is that you can layer over them! The ugly turns pretty with more shiz on top! 

I will delve into some techniques that I use a little later, but I thought you might like a peek into my process. 

Do you paint? Is your process similar or way different? Would this giant mess drive you nuts??

♥ K

And the winner is....

Hey folks - We have a winner from the giveaway! 

But first, I want to thank you all for your support and for participating in the giveaway! It's been so exciting!

The lucky number was 21 and that was...

Dawn - please contact me via email (strokesofserendipity@yahoo.com) or facebook to receive your prize! 

If you are not Dawn and are still yearning for a print, please visit my etsy shop here. Again - Thank you all!

♥ K

***Drumroll Please***

*Cuts pretty orange grand opening ribbon*

And we're open! 

I wish I had a real grand opening ribbon that I could cut, but a virtual one is going to have to do for now! Check out the new Etsy shop here.

In honor of Grand Opening Day (which is what today will be officially known as), I propose that we have a ***giveaway*** Woot woot! 

I will giveaway one print - your choice - from the shop. 

---------- Andddd *game show voice* here are the rules: -----------

The giveaway will last for one week, ending midnight on April 15th (EST). The winner will be announced on my blog on April 16th. He/she should contact me for which print they'd like and shipping information. 

To enter the contest, you must comment on this post with your name and the name of your favorite print.

To get extra names in the giveaway, you can do the following:

- share this giveaway on your blog

- like my facebook page here

- follow me on twitter here

In your comment, please write what you have done. If you have previously liked my facebook page or followed me on twitter, it counts too - just make sure you write it in your comment! 

Good luck! 

♥ K

Etsy Shop Grand Opening

It's almost time for the Grand Opening of my Etsy shop! Check out my Facebook page tomorrow for the details and some other surprises! www.facebook.com/strokesofserendipity

♥ K