Welcome!

This body of work began sometime in the mid 1990's, as an experiment, seeing if I could adhere a dress to a canvas and create a painting over all the textures. "Dress painting" is a term I came up with to explain these when I simply couldn't think of anything better. Over the years they have evolved, with new elements of collage being added. Dress patterns, photographs, and embroidery all appear from time to time, as well as lino block prints, rubber stamps and gold leaf. I will use this space to explore the beginnings of this series, as well as showing my latest work. If the piece is available for sale you'll find the price at the bottom. Free shipping in the U.S. Contact me at kallencole@aol.com to purchase.

Would you like to see my full website? Head over to KathrineAllenColeman.com

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Leap

So I've had this bathing suit piece sitting in my studio since, oh, July. 

It started ok, but quickly lost momentum, and eventually got bogged down in an ugly spot.  The only thing that looked good were the midnight blue rings.  Raindrops, puddles from a sprinkler perhaps?  So, I put it aside, face against the wall as I worked on other things.  Yesterday, the time had come, I put it on the table, and started painting over the ugly bits.

You hear lots of different advice on getting out of a painting rut, but my preferred tactic is to paint my way out.  I am an intuitive painter.  By that I don't mean, I just "follow my heart, and let paint fly."  It's more of a process of adding and subtracting, working with the limitations set by the piece, the limitations set by the last decision.  And somehow, it just comes together.  Buried in the red background is an octopus.  and the girl doing the cannonball?  After several months of not really painting anything remotely realistic, all I had to go on was, "Gee, I wonder if I can still do this."

Being a full time artist, living this life, travelling across the country in hopes of a good show.  It's always a leap.  Sometimes you just have to tuck your legs up and go.

Oh, and "Leap" finally gave my new direction a title.

Brave Girls, Bad Girls, and Bad Girlfriends.
Coming soon.


Leap
20"x 24"
Vintage bathing suit, acrylic, and linoleum block prints on canvas.
Framed  $895



Thursday, February 6, 2014

Nine newies.










Nine fresh new small pieces.  These are all 8" square, on deep gallery wrapped canvases.  All these and several more will be packed up and on their way to Miami next week for my first show of the year.
See you at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival  on Feb 15, 16, & 17th
You'll find me in booth #244

Are you interested in purchasing one of these little babies before the show?  They are $145 each including shipping in the US.  You can contact me at kallencole@aol.com

Enjoy your day!