AnnieBanannie's

I was finally able to get some lighthouse images up from the Newport trip.

I still have to go through more of the Yaquina Bay images and there is still a lot to do on the Yaquina Head images, too. I still have nine more to shoot along the Oregon coast. So this is just the beginning.

Ciao,
Kymmie

I am taking a much needed break from Facebook for awhile. It seems that I wind up not getting to things that I really need to – like my artwork – and I wind up having other things land on my plate – which are creating distractions from where I need to be with my projects time-wise. So I’m going to be spending more time here and getting back to my artwork and working on my upcoming online classes – and much less time on Facebook.

I am having such a hard time believing that it’s already July!!! We are finally getting nicer weather – but sadly, most of the summer is over. So the amazingly loooong winter will be returning shortly and the darkness and cold will return. I am one of those people that does not like being cold – I can handle the heat, but the cold – no thanks. I am learning more and more from “The Artist’s Way” that I really, really need to clear things out or I am never going to get my artwork back on track. I just seem to be one of those people that everyone gravitates to when they need something – and then never hear from them again…that is until the next time they need something. I am really done with that. I don’t mind helping people, but when it’s such a one-sided relationship – forget it. Don’t need it and don’t want it. Julia Cameron calls them “Crazy-Makers” – these are people who continually keep you down and fill your life up with an amazing amount of drama and distractions – so that you never have anything left for you. This is what I am currently sorting out of my life – all of my Crazy-Makers…and unfortunately for me, I have quite a lot of them.

I did actually manage to get to Salem last week – the trip was too short and there was way too much driving involved for me. But I did manage to start my quest to photograph all of the lighthouses in Oregon. My first two were Yaquina Bay and Yaquina Head in Newport, OR. I am just now getting my images uploaded – I should have gotten that done last week when we got back, but as I wrote above – too many distractions. Here is a image I took of Yaquina Head – it’s the tallest lighthouse in Oregon – and it was not a fun journey to locate it, but that is a whole other story.

I am not too thrilled with how the text flows on my blog – so I will be working on a new layout for this site soon. I’ve been trying to get to PHP, but my distractions have prevented me from doing that so I can build this site from the ground up. Hopefully, I can get things moving before I journey to Washington week after next. If not, it’ll just have to wait until I get back. Unfortunately, by then, summer will be almost over. Too many things going on….and not enough time!!!

Ciao,
Kymmie

Yea!!!  I have finally worked out the problems with the glaze and the glass tiles.  That was a chore. I walked away from it for a few weeks and then decided to check on the coating for the photographic papers that I was using.  Sure enough that was the root cause with a reaction to the glaze that created a lot of the bubbling.  I am so happy!!!  These pendants will be featured in our AnnieBanannie’s store and we will have customizable options available.

This one is a customize painting that I did with a gunmetal finished backing and chain.  I really love the look of the gunmetal finish.  However, I find that my preference is for the antiqued brass finish on this pendant that I did using a vintage rose image.

I love antiqued things and the image and the backing pair very nicely here.  I will be adding two additional backing options and also bail options when we launch our web store.  I am hoping to have the store up and running this fall.

I am off to work on some screen printing this morning – I was going to cut some stencils for airbrushing onto a few shirts, but the weather is a bit gloomy today – so I think I’ll just work on some screen designs and pull ink onto some shirts instead.

Cio,

Kymmie

Well today on my agenda is getting my site forum up and running.  I finally got our contact form up and need to get that tested too.  We should hopefully be fully operational by August!!!  I am hoping that the weather will improve here so I can get out and gets some shots this summer.  I am heading out to Salem in late June and then will take a few trips to the coast hopefully in July and August.

I am hoping to have some new work posted at the end of June or early July.   It’s been difficult to find the time lately to work.  I am still planning to build an educational feature into the site – I haven’t quite mapped that out yet – but hopefully that portion of the site will be operational by sometime in early to late fall.

Ciao for now,

Kymmie

Well, I am in the beginning phase of building the web store for AnnieBanannie’s. This is really exciting for me – after a lot of years of hard work and finally things are starting to come together. I think that I have come to realize that I have a “Saka-like” (see Avatar: The Last Airbender) approach to everything that I do – I don’t follow a conventional path and in the end things somehow wind up where they should be. LOL!!! So hopefully that pattern will follow with the opening of our web store this fall!!!

Ciao,
Kymmie

I am currently in the process of adding a social network component to the site. Hopefully I can get all of the bugs worked out and be up and running by the end of the week. I will be building the workshop and class area – which due to the nature of online learning – will need to have interactive features. My goal is to have everything operational by the end of June and then get busy working on a couple of class offerings for the fall. Along with that I hope to get some fresh work posted this summer. I have a couple of adventures lined up – so hopefully, I’ll have some good subject matter.

Here’s is hoping for a smooth process as this site build gets underway!!!

TTFN,
Kymmie

…of art workshops and drawing projects.  Really enjoying “The Artist’s Way” – very insightful and really helpful in regards to dealing with blocking.  I am on week two and cannot believe the difference in such a short period of time.  I absolutely love…love the morning pages – except for the three full page requirement…a little heavy on the writing – but still well worth the hand cramping.  Once I finish this workshop up – I will be starting up the compressor and getting busy with some airbrushing.  It’s finally warming up enough to work in my studio!!!  I treated myself to a wonderful set of watercolor pencils yesterday – so I can’t wait to take them for a run.  And I also figured out a way to comply with my weekly Artist Date by watching Art:21 via Netflix – which I absolutely love.  I may hit a couple of Art Walks, too – but if I do that I am heading to Bend – the local art leaves a bit to be desired IMO.  Way too much repetition of style – like every one went to the same art class – no originality or personality.  It’s really pathetic when you have a world filled with unique individuals and all of the art coming out of them is the same.

Very tired today – I think tomorrow I’ll switch gears and work in Painter…I love being able to do so many different things…breaks up the monotony and keeps stagnation from creeping in.

Cio,

Kymmie

Photography has to be my most favorite medium.  Where I am located currently in Central Oregon provides a double-edged sword of sorts.  On one hand I have some of the most beautiful scenery available in a complete 360 radius within 3 1/2 hours drive max…on the other hand – winters are so long here – we actually have only two seasons – winter and springfall.  I, unfortunately, do not thrive in the cold.

My mom used to have this spectacular garden when she lived in California.  I loved taking macro shots of the amazing array of flowers there.  This is one shot that I converted to black and white, then I went back and hand tinted it in PhotoShop.

I just wanted to let you all know that our new site is a work-in-progress and I am busy working on tweaking it as we speak. So things like the uber-small font, which is not working for me, will be changing shortly. Please bear with me!!!

Hugs and Toodles,
K

I plan on putting together some online design workshops this fall – which will not only be taught online, but will also be available for purchase in DVD format for those of you who are unable to participate due to scheduling/time conflicts. I will create virtual classrooms so that participants can communicate with one another and share their works. I will offer my comments, if asked, but will let you all know upfront that I will only offer constructive comments – not criticisms – I DO NOT give negative feedback. I am here to encourage you and nurture you on your artistic journey. Negative comments only fuel creative blocks, which is what we want to avoid. I will be sharing my philosophy on what I believe constitutes art in another posting. Until then, just be aware that this is a place to fuel creativity in a safe and nurturing environment.

If there is a particular workshop that you might be interested in, please let me know – if there is enough interest, I may put one together at a future date.

I hope you all are having a lovely day!!!

Toodles,
Kymmie