Art in Action|Artists Watch|Ala o Pele

Art in Action|Artists Watch|Ala o Pele

Above in a work in progress.


I am making a lot of progress with my 10 paintings done all at once. Yay!

To see photos of my progress check out the blog OK?

http://artistwatch.blogspot.com/

This is a Hawaiiana Series in honor of Merry Monarch Fest.

This is my latest blurb from that blog:

This is ... I 'think' going to be my favorite when done.(image on my blog) It is so far a toss up between this one and one other. I tend to like more edgy paintings rather than things that include landscapes so that is partly why. This is a 30x40 canvas. I LOVE doing giant faces for impact. This is just the first session of face tones, I will probably have at least couple more. The orchids will be done once I am pretty sure of the face.

Laying down really dark colors on a face like this is VERY uncomfortable at first. I fight myself over it. I know it is the right thing to do so I just say to myself... 'do it or you are going to be sorry because it will just have to be repainted to achieve what could have been done in the first place.

I lay down the colors from dark to light. I look for colors. I search out greens, especially. If you look long enough you will see them in the face tones.

Each one of the paintings I will be posting now will be of their first facial tone session. I do not walk away from it or let it dry, I want to be able to blend the colors. I am VERY careful not to muddy the work. This is another good reason for painting so many works at the same time. I can acknowledge that something is finished easier, not overwork. I do not think I will ever paint less than 10 at a time because of this. I also have less nightmares. Painting one at a time keeps me up at night. I can't think of anything else. With 10 going at once small errors are not such a big deal. I know I will get back to them and things will be fine.

I want to add something about studio space. I have been thinking about that. I have done full series in a 500 sq.-ft. duplex before. I painted my Victorian Series in that kitchen. You can imagine how small the kitchen was if the whole place was 500 sq. ft. I will do just about anything to stay by the beach!
I have had large spaces and small spaces... NO EXCUSES not to paint...EVER!


ART IN ACTION BLOG for my new series and "One Woman Show':



"Ala o Pele"



April 2,2007

Wailoa Center

State Building

Hilo, Hawaii





The blog I have created showing the progress of this series is at:





Artist Watch "Ala o Pele"


http://artistwatch.blogspot.com/



I think it would be great if more artists shared art in action... yeah?



Blessings and Aloha to you all!



Kathy


Kathy Ostman-Magnusen

Free Art Gifts:

http://www.kathysart.com/

Please Remove Your Shoes in Hawaii

In Hawaii it is standard practice to remove your shoes before going into anyones home. If you ever visit Hawaii it is a dead give away that you are a tourist if you wear shoes that are not easy to remove.

So come to Hawaii wearing what is commonly called "slippas" (slang for slippers). We do not call them flip flops, no, they are called "slippas"

Hawaiian Art Prints Photos Posters

Hawaiian art prints, taken from historical photos. Posters, greeting cards, giclee fine art prints. Hawaiian dancer posters are available also. Check out all the gifts available with my Hawaiian art. There is a wonderful assortment of art on t-shirts, journals, mugs, posters.

Check it out:

http://www.cafepress.com/kathysart

"I thought I Killed Tony. WAAA! A Gecko Story"

"The Chant" oil on canvas/ gifts available with this image on my website www.kathysart.com in the gallery, entrance to the Hawaiian Legacy Gallery at the bottom of the page.

Story:
I want to start this out by saying that I have never had bugs or lizards of snakes or anything like that in my house. I am indeed one of those women who screams if I see a spider. I have never liked little crawly things and have always considered the best place for them is outside.

" Well of course!" ... I can HEAR you thinking!

OK... but with all of that said, I live in Hawaii now and the rules have changed considerably.

If you visit Hawaii and stay in a hotel it is not likely that you will come across a gecko in your room. Hotels take special care (like poison) so you will not come across these little critters with suction cups on their widespread toes. Your loss unless you visit someone's home like mine.

I have lived in Hawaii for about nine years now and I have adjusted my thinking more than I would ever have imagined possible. Spiders that I once feared like the common Wolfie Spider is minor to me now. The Wolfie is dwarfed by the Cane Spider and might I just add a scream and an, "EWWW!" here because they are indeed that huge and that awful. Let's not even mention centipedes because I have this theory that whenever I talk about them much, they show up to remind me how horrible they are. I will tell you though, that I have seen them just about 10 inches long. OK, lets not go there. You see what I mean though about the Wolfie being a minor threat in comparison?

I don't spray for geckos like the hotels do nor do I put out those cruel sticky things, that people use for rats and mice, like some of my friends, to protect their computers and stuff. I think those sticky things are inhumane and should be banned. I don't do anything at all about the some 15-20 geckos and I am just guessing here, that live inside my house. YES! I said it and admit to it, they live INSIDE my house. They chirp at night and even sometimes poop on my paintings. After nine years I am indeed used to it and that is my only excuse.

So what about Tony? Who the heck is Tony, are you wondering? You have probably figured out by now that Tony is a gecko that I have chosen to name. I not only named him but allowed him to lick my cup after my nightly hot chocolate treat. This is a terrible habit I have gotten into, that really must go. as I can feel a few extra pounds because of it. Tony loved it though and I must say that I really thought is was the cutest thing ever to see him over the edge of my cup licking away. He had the cutest little tongue.

One night I was out of things to make hot chocolate. Tony sat... humm.. or stood? Well, whatever geckos do, he was there on my bed stand waiting for his nightly treat. I felt bad for his sugar addiction and related so well. I got myself a small handful of chocolate chips and gave Tony his own. He didn't seem to like it as much as the hot chocolate but his tiny tongue did lick it for quite awhile and then off he went.

The next night I made my regular hot chocolate. No Tony. No Tony last night either. WAAA! I told my husband that maybe I killed Tony with chocolate. You aren't supposed to give it to dogs and cats but Tony was already a seasoned addict. Yet, I felt bad. Why did I give Tony that chocolate chip!? It was too concentrated I worried.

We bought a fixer upper and all the electrical sockets are off. My husband discovered poor little Tony just about an hour ago... electrocuted? I kind of hope so. I so hope it wasn't the chocolate chip. WAAA!

Bless little Tony's heart! So funny isn't it how one little creature takes on a personality like none other because we give it special care. If I ever have another gecko come to my bedside for hot chocolate I will name him Tony Two and I will never give him a chocolate chip... just in case.

Epilogue: I saw a little gecko about 3/4 inch long in the bathroom this morning. "Tony Two!" I exclaimed.

Monkdogz Urban Art

NEWS:

I have a show in New York

Monkdogz Urban Art
547 West 27th Street
Chelsea, New York

http://www.monkdogz.com

May 18 - June 10

If you would like me to send you an invitation please contact me via email through my website http://www.kathysart.com

subject: Monkdogz Urban Art

Yay!

"Wedding Song"

"Wedding Song" 24x18 oil on canvas

"The Chant"

"The Chant" 24x18 oil on canvas.

The original of this image is sold but available in giclees for $435. or $650. enhanced plus shipping.

Giclees of "The Chant" are now on display at:



Aloha Outpost
Pahoa, Hawaii
(808) 965-8333
www.alohaoutpost.com