I am grateful for the creativity that bubbles up from mystery. This cold snowy season has provided long quiet days to proceed with creative activities. I’d like to share what’s going on. This is another favorite time of year, when we see the first signs of spring ~ Imbolc, Candlemas, Ground Hog Day! This quiet time of Imbolc gives me space to appreciate my creative journey since mid-autumn.
Morning Glories are crowned the “Queen of Autumn”. The photo below of the east porch living screen was taken on November 29, the day before they froze. Usually this happens in October. This year they survived the drought only because we watered them, to provide needed shade. They had a burst of energy when the rains from the hurricanes came in September. We love them so much. Also, for the first time I cut some for indoor bouquets, in case of a freeze. Over a several week period, I drew and painted them in my journal.
Annual Autumn Open Studio was the only exhibition I had of new work for the year. It was empowering to maintain the focus of painting in a spacious container that circumvented promotion. In this space the stories that the hand, paint and brush were expressing resulted in series on the themes of belonging and longing.
I am open to what can be expressed through me in the present. It takes courage when I approach what has not existed before and it is up to me to lay that down on a surface. Especially when it’s about what is experienced and sensed below the surface appearance. How do I transmute a negative impasse? I just keep painting. My mind plays a change the lyrics of Joanie Mitchel’s song, “don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got till its hung?”. When I can look around with a smile at my paintings, ready to open the doors to my beloved friends and collectors, I am whole.

Geography of Time, Place, Movement and Networks, Volumes 1 and 2 on display at the open studio
Soon after the Open Studio I had cataract surgery. Below is the second painting in my journal after the procedures. Colors were dazzling all of a sudden. I needed to study the difference between cobalt blue and ultramarine blue to use the best one for morning glories. I’m still adjusting to the changes.
On the shortest day of the year, we receive the most light into our home. This gives a luxurious feeling inside. Winter can be green. Through the holidays, and still, we are enjoying fresh arugula, spinach, herbs that Greg is tending in the unheated greenhouse. My favorite Christmas gifts were glass watering bulbs and Paperwhite bulbs from friends and a candlelit evergreen centerpiece from my daughter that is still on the table.
For this year’s mandala I wrote my notes, thoughts and prayers from December retreat on a large sheet of Arches Cover with pencil. I made a few marks with my homemade vine charcoal. I tore it in half and used the same colors on each panel. This is a work in progress that I am taking my time with, crafting the way forward.
Honestly, I’m in a battle with representational and abstract art.
Winter is the perfect time to immerse oneself in the color white. I welcome a clean slate. It’s a good time to gesso wood panels to be ready when the time is right. For a different substrate, I brushed a vertical texture. More to be revealed later. The studio is at times too bright!
I summed up the entire year in Year Review. 2024 Year ReView KO’B
We are half way through the dark half of the year. It means very much to me that you read and take what I write to heart. Thank you.
My darling grandson is growing up in a happy way.
Lovely, gentle sharing! I truly understand the need to resolve the difference between representational and abstract art, especially after CVP. And yet nature shows us both all the time! The drawing of your grandson is so alive!! I’ll have cataract surgery this year and as my sister shared, the intensity of colors are incredible. Apparently, you experience that too. Color is art! Another exploration! Thanks, dear.
Rebecca, I am very happy to share with you. I can see myself loosening up with the rendering and letting the form be more abstract. It is a challenge to overcome my tendency to look for real forms in an underpainting. You are right, about nature. I like to take photos and look for areas of interesting contrast and shapes. These things will guide my intention to delve more into color for the next CVP round. Are you joining? Because I see brighter intensity, I want to tone down a bit. Thank you, dear friend.
Kathleen:
As you know, I love your work and the way you are able to reach into my heart and share your process. You are my gold standard of how an artist can showcase their work without making it seem commercial — that is a very difficult thing to do and one I struggle with on an ongoing basis, even though primarily I am promoting other people’s work.
I, too, savor winter for the dream time it allows . . .
Much love to you and your family!
xoxoxo
Karen
Karen, your compliments have sustained me for many a year, thank you so much! You know the admiration is mutual. It is helpful to know that I come across as simply sharing. Of course I delight when someone acquires my art! Maybe our struggle with promotion is because we were once used to gallery curators and publishers being the promoters – long ago! I hope you are getting all the dream time you need to bloom. love, Kathleen
What a lovely vision of colors and photos that bring the coming Spring to life. I plant morning glories and moon flowers every year and love the blue glories. They always make me smile. Thank you.
Kathleen, thank you! With all the rain we just had, I’m thinking we might have a better growing season this year. Greg has already planted spinach and arugula again, after eating the fall plants all winter. Having morning glories is non-negotiable for me!They make me smile also, the joy flower.
I especially love all the blues, Kath. And the grandson drawing 🥰
Kath, I would have to say that blue is my favorite color, I like the sky! It was rewarding to be able to draw him, like my grandfather did for me!