"We all live in a yellow submarine"

I can't help but sing this song while working on the next install project for the Pannikan. Carol, Francesca and I will be painting large port holes from a submarine on 22x22 inch canvas's.
We went to Rhino Art (which is the BEST art supply shop in town), but they only had 20x20's (too small) and 24x24 (too big). So...... I convinced the girls that we should make out own. We bought the raw materials and stretched our own canvas's which saved a ton of money. It would have cost us $26 each, but making our own only cost about $11.50 per canvas. What a deal.

These pictures show the three canvas's plus a tiny miniature sample painting of what we want them to look like. The idea is to paint a submarine on the wall and then hang our port holes on top.

Today, I came up with a little twist to the whole project but it has yet to be approved so I'll keep it a secret for now. Here's a BIG clue. "The Pannikan is a large yellow building" Let me see if you can guess it. If you come up with something fabulous, I'll offer it as option in class next Monday. Good luck! Karin

ACEO's!

I just finished my first batch of ACEO's and listed them in my shop. For those of you who are unfamiliar with ACEO's, it stands for Art Card Editions and Originals and they are always 2 1/2x 3 1/2 inches. It's a fun way to collect tiny affordable pieces of art from various artists. I've bought a few from some of my favorites and thought I'd give it a try.
These were all done in watercolor and ink. I also have ACEO prints of some of my most popular images listed in the shop as well.

Sunday Show and Tell

This group project is almost done and I'm really impressed with the results. They call it "I Spy" after those treasure hunting books.
Took me a few tries and a taller ladder to get a shot of the whole thing.
This will be on display at the Pannikin Feb. 1st along with Andrew's ocean painting. So excited!

The perfect rainy day project

With all the rain we've had lately, I'm starting to get cabin fever. It really helps to have something to do. These are some rubber stamps I carved and then glued onto lino blocks for extra support. All you need are some carving tools, the staedtler master carve block, and an ink pad. You can find all these supplies at Dick Blick. These carving blocks are actually erasers that "carve like butter" just like the label says.

Hope you all have a great weekend. Karin

Look what the rain brought in

This little cutie stopped by today and was so excited to see a Valentine project ready for her in the studio. We had a good time constructing a garland with fake rose petals and personalized Valentine hearts for her family.
A little bird told me she's been REALLY wanting to take an art class because her dad is now one of my students. Above is a fish drawing he did this week, which by the way is his first drawing ever. Pretty impressive for someone who's never taken an art class. I guess talent runs in the family.

Art Student Spotlight-- Francesca

Miss Francesca is 12 years old and wise way beyond her years. I like to tease her that she's 12 going on sixty. She's the only girl I know that has mastered so many different skills at such a young age. Oh yeah.......and she speaks more than one language!

Here's a little interview I did with her after class today.

Me- What are some of your favorite hobbies?

Francesca- Soccer, painting, hula, playing rock band (with friends), surfing, guitar, crochet, making jewelry, and helping out at the Pannikin. (This is just this years list. When I met her she was also playing the saxophone and ice skating.)

Me- What do you want to be when you grow up?

Francesca- A forensic doctor

Me- huh? gross!...........I guess somebody has to do it.

Me- Tell me which class project has been your favorite?

Francesca- My favorite project so far was the "Bamboo" mural and the one we're doing right now. (Yellow Submarine)

Me- Do you have a boyfriend? (I ask her this all the time and always get the same response plus an eye roll)

Francesca- No!!! .....sadly

Me- Oh........so does that mean you want one now? (total silence fills the room)

Me-Who's your most inspiring teacher? (trick question)

Francesca- You of course.........and my 6th grade teacher Mrs. Campbell.

Favorite music--Lady Gaga, The Police, The Beatles, Tool, and Radio Head

Favorite Books--Ugglies, The Twilight series and Psycho

Sunday Show and Tell

Some pictures from this weekends art classes. They're doing a great job on the tree project and Andrew finished his underwater silhouette painting.
Love how they try to hide from my camera or make stink eyes. I tried to explain that torturing them with my camera is a necessary part of class.

Photo Retouched

Thanks Zuri for sending me this picture. Remember the shot I snapped of Bobby in front of the fish painting when I just started it? He super imposed the final painting in front of him. Very cute.

They're done!

I finished them up with some more shadows and highlights and I'm pretty happy with the results. The very last step was to add a coat of varnish on top which I think really made them come alive. The two smaller ones have been listed in my shop as well as prints of all three paintings. I'm thinking of hanging on to the larger one for now. Not sure where I'll hang it, but not yet ready to let it go. Hope you like them. Karin


***** also listed today******
several more urchin and coral paintings that I got back from a show.

Goldfish paintings--stage 5 and 6

This is where I'm at right now with these paintings. I added the first layer of highlights and shadows today and plan on finishing them tomorrow with more detail and a thick layer of varnish. It's so hard to stay patient and wait for each layer to dry so I can add the next. Come back tomorrow night if you want to see the finished product. Until then, have a great day. Karin

Drawings and some cool stationary.

These are a few pencil drawings I did in yesterdays class. I call them simply .......koi fish and scary fish. (Francesca hid her drawings so I couldn't take a picture of hers. Little stinker!) We haven't decided exactly what the next painting project will be yet. We've been going back and forth whether to do another mural or some individual paintings. Whatever we choose it will have something to do with fish which is perfect since I've been working on my fish paintings lately.

On another note, look at these neat cards and envelopes made by the talented Alexis of Fern and Feather. She also has an Etsy shop right here. I love all the details and she even added my initials to them. There were three different ones, but I already used one. Thank you Alexis, I love them.

Just a quick post!

to annouce my Etsy-versary SALE going on right now in the ole' shop. Spread the word!

Stage Four---moving right along

This stage has taken longer than I thought it would. Believe it or not, there are three coats of white and three coats of orange on these goldfish. I think I need one more coat of orange and then I can start adding more colors and detail.

Today was a very productive class day for my little students. Nothing photo worthy just yet, but I think by next weekend I'll have something to show you. Today they painted the background color onto their canvas and drew.... and drew.... and drew....

Have a great rest of the weekend, Karin

Goldfish paintings in their second and third stage

I've been working on turning some of my sketches into paintings this week and thought I'd share my progress with you. The two square ones are 12x12 and the larger one is 24x30 inches. After painting the background and the glass jars, I drew on the goldfish and one puffer fish in pencil. The next step was to white them out with three coats of acrylic. This keeps the blue tones from messing with the orange color that will be added next. If you don't do this step, you would end up with a very dark muddier pumpkin color rather than the tangerine I'm going for. I hope to have more done as the week progresses.

Bobby is pretty excited about this one and has requested to have it hung over his cat bed.

Class is back in session!

Today was our first day back after a wonderful holiday break. I was surprised to hear that these kids were missing my art class so bad that they were nagging their parents about the start-up date. Maybe I was the only one who enjoyed getting her Saturdays free for awhile?

Anyway, we are working on a very fun painting project. Both classes will be working together to construct a mosaic puzzle piece sort of painting. Above is the chalkboard rough draft of a tree. One student was absent, hence the missing square. Each student is in charge or their 12x12 section which will be on a separate canvas with a different color background. The tree along with several other images will be painted in a black silhouette. (eg. birds, mushrooms, hot air balloons, a kite, a clothesline, a squirrel, a ladder and swing etc....etc...) Eventually there will be so much going on in this painting that you really have to stop and stare at it for awhile to make everything out. They are really excited about this one and I can't wait to display it at the Pannikin on their student wall.