Regarding the samples I chose to represent the years 2011 – 2013, I love the flow between each artwork. It validates that my instinct and intuition for creativity have common ground in shape, symbol, theme and asymmetry. That connectedness suggests that I write first, then you can scroll through and have the experience perhaps similar to the surprise I had in choosing.
There was so much to choose from, it took hours. Total artworks for that period is 249. It seems like a pinnacle time: along with productivity, there were solo exhibits, Gardenshapes, Realms of Wonder and Light as a Feather. UK HealthCare commissioned me to create Garden of Healing, Garden of Hope for their first collaborative Teresa Garbulinska Annual Premier Concert Series.
I received the Al Smith Fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council. The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce purchased three artworks. KET was here for two days filming a feature video for Kentucky Life Series (click here to watch it). It was ARTTOUR’s first year and I gave artist talks. I became a consultant with the Kentucky Peer Advisory Network.
This post is a bit different because there are many images and links in case you want to follow the stories further.
![© Kathleen O'Brien, "Queen Anne's Lace Garden", watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2011, private collection](https://i0.wp.com/kathleen-obrien.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2011QueenAnnesLaceGarden-op.jpg?resize=600%2C803&ssl=1)
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Queen Anne’s Lace Garden”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2011, private collection
![© Kathleen O'Brien, "Garden of Healing, Garden of Hope", watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2011, Commissed by UK HealthCare](https://i0.wp.com/kathleen-obrien.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2011GoH_op.jpg?resize=600%2C399&ssl=1)
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Garden of Healing, Garden of Hope”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2011, Commissioned by UK HealthCare
![© Kathleen O'Brien, " Above Beyond", watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2011, in the Winter Salon,purchase by Kentucky Chamber of Commerce](https://i0.wp.com/kathleen-obrien.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2011AboveBeyondWinterSalon-op.jpg?resize=600%2C449&ssl=1)
© Kathleen O’Brien, ” Above Beyond”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2011, in the Winter Salon, purchase by Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
![© Kathleen O'Brien, "12 Flowers, 3 Shapes", watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2011, private collection](https://i0.wp.com/kathleen-obrien.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2011_12Flowers3Shapes-op.jpg?resize=600%2C819&ssl=1)
© Kathleen O’Brien, “12 Flowers, 3 Shapes”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2011, private collection
![© Kathleen O'Brien, "1 Light of the Earth, Primary Arithmatic", watercolor, drawing, petals, mica, collage, 2012, private collection](https://i0.wp.com/kathleen-obrien.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2012-01LightOfTheEarthPrimaryArithmatic-op.jpg?resize=600%2C549&ssl=1)
© Kathleen O’Brien, “1 Light of the Earth, Primary Arithmetic”, watercolor, drawing, petals, mica, collage, 2012, private collection
![© Kathleen O'Brien, "Song for Rainbow Parrot", watercolor, drawing, petals, mica, collage, 2012](https://i0.wp.com/kathleen-obrien.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2012SongRainbowParrot_op.jpg?resize=600%2C743&ssl=1)
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Song for Rainbow Parrot”, watercolor, drawing, petals, mica, collage, 2012, featured in the Uncommonwealth exhibit
![© Kathleen O'Brien, "Garden for Oriole", watercolor, drawing, petals, mica, collage, 2012, private collection](https://i0.wp.com/kathleen-obrien.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2012GardenForOriole-op.jpg?resize=600%2C609&ssl=1)
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Garden for Oriole”, watercolor, drawing, petals, mica, collage, 2012, private collection
![© Kathleen O'Brien, "By the Beautiful Sea, Greece", watercolor, drawing, petals, mica, collage, 2012](https://i0.wp.com/kathleen-obrien.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2012ByTheBeautifulSeaGreece-op.jpg?resize=600%2C805&ssl=1)
© Kathleen O’Brien, “By the Beautiful Sea, Greece”, watercolor, drawing, petals, mica, collage, 2012
![© Kathleen O'Brien, "Realm of Water", watercolor, drawing, petals, mica, collage, 2012, private collection](https://i0.wp.com/kathleen-obrien.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2012-RoWater_op.jpg?resize=600%2C862&ssl=1)
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Realm of Water”, watercolor, drawing, petals, mica, collage, 2012, private collection
![© Kathleen O'Brien, "As Above, So Below", watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2013](https://i0.wp.com/kathleen-obrien.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2013AsAboveSoBelow-op.jpg?resize=600%2C779&ssl=1)
© Kathleen O’Brien, “As Above, So Below“, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2013, this was published in Lithuanian Knitting: Continuing Traditions by Donna Druchunas
![© Kathleen O'Brien, "Traveling Shrine Fire", oil, drawing, objects, mirrors, 2013](https://i0.wp.com/kathleen-obrien.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2013TravelingShrineFire-op.jpg?resize=600%2C449&ssl=1)
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Traveling Shrine for World Appreciation “, oil, drawing, objects, mirrors, 2013, featured in Realms of Wonder exhibit
![© Kathleen O'Brien, "Floral-Freeway-Nest", oil, drawing, objects, beads, 2013, private collection](https://i0.wp.com/kathleen-obrien.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2013Floral-Freeway-Nest-op.jpg?resize=600%2C777&ssl=1)
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Floral-Freeway-Nest“, oil, drawing, objects, beads, 2013, private collection, this was a Give into the Groove project at tribeca trunk
![Kentucky Educational TV film crew, Valerie Trimble, producer, July 2012](https://i0.wp.com/kathleen-obrien.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2012KET_film_crew-op.jpg?resize=600%2C449&ssl=1)
Kentucky Educational TV film crew, Prentice Walker, videographer, Valerie Trimble, producer & Roger Tremaine, audio, producer, July 2012
looking back on this twenty fifth day of February, 2022, I am humbled to observe my little self noticing how empowering it is that now after 10 years I can again apply to be a Al Smith Fellow for the second and last time. At my age I can only comment, that it would be a nice feather in my cap, for my children and grandchildren