Celebrating Mid-Autumn 2018, Studio Update

How can it be mid-autumn? Try as I might to keep up with the speed of it all, I seem to become exponentially slower.

I announce the culminating event of my 50th Year as an Artist, my 10th Annual Autumn Open Studio on November 3, which will include an architectural feature as well as an array of new products, art and bead necklaces.

Studio Collage Wall image for 10th Annual Open Studio

Studio Collage Wall image for 10th Annual Open Studio

Since the first Open Studio event I have produced a special 4 season card set as a memento. This year I present three new sets that are components of the 4 seasons themed, Atlas of the Year with its eCourse, journals and art exhibitions.

Atlas Card Set1-© Kathleen O'Brien, details from Atlas 1 Aries-Spring, 4 Cancer-Summer, 7 Libra-Autumn, and 10 Capricorn-Winter

Atlas Card Set1-© Kathleen O’Brien, details from Atlas 1 Aries-Spring, 4 Cancer-Summer, 7 Libra-Autumn, and 10 Capricorn-Winter

Studio Annex

Yes, we are in the process of adding a new building to the palatial estate! Designing and planning have been one of the main artistic focus in the recent past. When you come to the Open Studio you will see the bare bonesstatus, so bring your imagination.

Birds eye view of new studio annex at Sunwise Farm and Sanctuary

Birds eye view of new studio annex at Sunwise Farm and Sanctuary

Atlas of the Year

Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning will be sponsoring an exhibit of all the art from Atlas of the Year next March 2019, in perfect timing for the beginning of the eCourse of the same name. I’m so pleased about this opportunity to show the art in their beautiful SkyDome Gallery.

Most of my studio time for the past few months has been devoted to creating content for Atlas of the Year eCourse, which begins March 20, 2019. There are many components from which you will be inspired to create your own maps in words and pictures.

In addition to four 24-page Atlas of the Year Journals (hard copy!), each class email sent on the 20th of the month, will have information about: a meditation, a different cycle, main seasonal shifts, daily events of importance, a suggestion for a relevant activity, cross-cultural movable feasts of the month, extra bonus PDF’s, like the one shown below AND that month’s section from Each Day in the Year of the Firedog, that’s 30 postcards (60 images) with more about each day. This in itself is worth the class!

If you would like to receive updates about registration and progress before then, please sign up on the class page. There is a subpage that shows the updates sent so far.

"Maps" eBook Cover for Atlas of the Year eCourse

“Maps” eBook Cover for one of the extras for Atlas of the Year eCourse

Published Chapter

My chapter, entitled “Art as a Language: An Atlas of Seasons Where Time and Space Intersect,” is published in Handbook of the Changing World Language Map, edited by Stanley D. Brunn and Roland Kehrein  (Springer, 2018).

Adapted from Atlas of the Year content, Art as a Language: An Atlas of Seasons Where Time and Space Intersect is a compilation of twenty-four artworks depicting the cosmic year as a four-season, four-direction, cross-cultural celebration, exploring the ability of art to encompass this global entwining of time and space, which once understood, allows us to energetically be in the right place at the right time.

I appreciate Stan for encouraging me to write this chapter. Dr. Brunn, Professor Emeritus in the Geography Department at University of Kentucky, is one of the most well-respected cultural geographers in North America, is widely published, including serving as editor of the five-volume, 3200+ page The Changing World Religion Map (Springer, 2015).

“Handbook of the Changing Language Map” image

Building a Community of Artist Entrepreneurs

It is an honor to be one of five artists selected by Arts Commission of Danville/Boyle County, for their project, Building a Community of Artist Entrepreneurs. The five teams of mentor artists and apprentices have begun our project, having met twice as a group. I am so pleased to be collaborating with Mayme, a very mature and talented sophomore. She is self motivated towards establishing an art career. It’s going to be intriguing to see how our project developes, towards one goal of participating in the Arts Commission’s June (2019) Gallery Hop, providing real-time experience in marketing and sales, as well as the opportunity to meet and interact with the art buying public. I’m really excited!

Apprentice Mayme

Apprentice Mayme

Celebrating 50th Year as an Artist

Writing this blog series has been both revealing and challenging to keep up with. Searching for the images to represent the eras I realized how much art has served to suit the circumstance of the present moment, always, even when it means changing styles ( a no-no for the art world). As I get closer to reporting on the current era, I’m up to 2009, I’m challenged by the doubts that this is self-indulgent. Henry Miller’s words that I transcribed in my first post dispel this thinking.

Celebrating 50 years as an artist continues

Celebrating 50 years as an artist continues

New Bead Necklaces

Greg gave me so many new beads for my birthday. In addition to the bunch shown here, the focus has been on using some very special antique fancy Venetian beads. Unfortunately, the zinnias will be gone when you come next time, but I’ve saved seeds, ask me for some!

A bunch of bead necklaces and Zinnias

A bunch of bead necklaces and Zinnias

Venetian Autumn antique bead necklace, detail © Kathleen O'Brien

Venetian Autumn antique bead necklace, detail © Kathleen O’Brien

Venetian Autumn antique bead necklace, detail © Kathleen O'Brien

Venetian Autumn antique bead necklace, detail © Kathleen O’Brien

Venetian Autumn antique bead necklace © Kathleen O'Brien

Venetian Autumn antique bead necklace © Kathleen O’Brien