Celebrating Mid-Autumn Studio Update
We appreciate our ancestors and welcome this time to honor them. Whether you celebrate The Night of the Ancestors (Samhuin), Dias de la Muertos, Halloween, All Hallows Eve or all of them, Happy Mid-Autumn Celebrations!
One reason I enjoy writing these mid-season studio updates is having a record to look back on, a memory theater. As I prepare to display art and jewelry, I stumbled on what I wrote about transforming studio into showroom this time last year. It’s like having a check list, for instance, get packing materials ready. The walls and tables will hold the artworks never shown before, while the walls remain the same. Life progresses, our foundations, if well-constructed, sustain.
14th Annual Autumn Open Studio
The 14th Annual Autumn Open Studio is on November 5. I’m super excited about this event. This year’s theme is JOURNEY. 80 new works ranging in size from 22×30″, (with titles like Archipelago, Phi, Ojo de Dios, Journey to Colorado, Variations on Landscape Narratives, Map to Ireland) to 2×3″ (“A Little Cheer wallet art).
16 details of artworks for 14th Annual Autumn Open Studio by Kathleen O’Brien
Also there are several new rare beads necklaces in the jewelry case, new greeting card sets, and new “Alexander’s Library” books. It’s a big reveal of my total art production since the spring! Enjoy a first view of small works to come soon on Small Business Saturday for the Holiday Special.
As my gift to you, find an assortment of free art to accompany your purchase!
14th Open Studio Postcard/Coupon by Kathleen O’Brien
Journeys
Speaking of journeys, we were able to travel to Colorado. It’s a long car trip, made pleasant by the motel overnight in Missouri that has a salt water pool. While visiting family and friends we filled out the Travel Journal, which went with me wherever I went. It’s a treasure to review our fun times like grandson’s fun day at the Carousel of Happiness.
Travel Journal by Kathleen O’Brien, family and friends
Carousel of Happiness, Nederland, Colorado
Budding Plein Air Artist
It was inspiring to see the progress Robert Bellows and veterans assistants have made since our last visit to Warrior StoryField. Our grandson and son-in-law are now part of the team. They are forging ahead.
To Warrior Storyfield by Kathleen O’Brien
New Art
Again, the theme of new work since the spring is journeys, traveling, expanding. I previously wrote about a twelve-part series, Journey to Colorado, Archipelago 1-4 and Ojo de Dios plus new books; Dark Half – Light Half, Treasure Maps and Travel Journal. It was fun to make small two-sided paintings and laminate them into “wallet art”. These will be collector gifts. Not wanting to reveal all, below are some details of the most recent work.
Dragonfly, watercolor, collage by Kathleen O’Brien
“Variations on Landscape Narratives 1” by Kathleen O’Brien
36 Phi for 14th Annual Autumn Open Studio by Kathleen O’Brien
Also, there are even more new items on the jewelry counter like Talisman for Soldiers and Talisman for Mercury. They are on the website jewelry page if you are not able to attend the Open Studio.
9 details of necklaces for 14th Annual Autumn Open Studio by Kathleen O’Brien
For your pleasure
My friend Judy gave me Blackberry Lily seeds a few years ago originally from the Monticello Garden shop. They bloomed and produced seeds. There are plenty to share with you when you visit.
Blackberry Lily pictures and information
Some Music to enjoy for the autumn
Sambolero, performed and written by Luiz Bonfá
Tibetan Gold, performed by Stephen Halpern
Ave Maria, written by Johan S. Bach, performed by Steve Erquiaga
Smile, performed by Eric Clapton, written by Charlie Chaplin
A look ahead
For the fourth year I’ll be celebrating the season of cheer with a small works Holiday Special. All will be revealed before Small Business Saturday. To be honest, you can preview them at the Open Studio!
Alexander’s Library Exhibit at Lexington Public Library
I am pleased to announce an exhibit of Alexander’s Library at the East Branch of the Lexington Public Library in February and March 2023. There are forty books to choose from, which will get sorted out as the time gets closer. The Community Arts Manager, Doug Tattershall and I are researching the best way to exhibit them. Making artist books has something I have done through the years, and has been a focus for about two years, and have been shown only at my studio and in blog posts. If you live nearby, I hope you can check it out, pun intended. You will get the details next year.
New email address
In case you missed the email I sent, it’s [email protected].
New email by Kathleen O’Brien