f i n a l l y !

It doesn't matter what you call it, painter's block, a creative slump, dragging yourself around in that personal pity party, it is an irritating place to be. So I say this, knocking on wood with my fingers crossed and all that, I think I am on the other side of it.

I have been busying myself, getting the odd piece done, preparing for that mental thaw. And finally, it came. It was almost like a damn bursting. Ideas would pop like lightning. One night I just kept scratching them down so they wouldn't evaporate the next day.

What changed? Well, I told myself that the time I spend in the studio is not called "working" anymore. Working is saying "Welcome to Walmart." Working is getting up before dawn, walking to the bus stop, and not getting home until it's dark again. Hanging in a warm studio in a robe, drinking tea, and painting, although not always easy, is what I have always wanted to do. I should be thanking my lucky stars that I can manage to do this. So now, I'll be in the studio painting, not working.

And one more thing, I have convinced myself to trust my hand again. For some reason I was getting tighter and tighter. At one point I looked down and realized I was working on a 2'x3' canvas with a tiny brush that had all of 10 hairs in it. Clinging to a photograph. It was like I had lost my damn mind. The first painting that I worked on after that I had to coach myself through. It was like having a little cheerleader in my head. "You can paint, make a mark, just do it. Loose, Fresh. Rahrahrah! Well it wasn't really like that, but sort of. And amazingly enough it did work.

So just like that, a rush of ideas. Three pieces in various stages of completion, and another on the way. The first one, below will be a new version of Wallflower. Still a long way to go, but she is coming along nicely...



And this one is a close up of a new "Plain Jane" This one is pretty much done, just a little "Assembly Required".


And this is a section of a piece called "Four Eyes" There are three other canvases that hang with it. Perhaps her name will make more sense when you see the whole group. But I love how the dress in this piece pretty much disappears. And it felt so good to paint this.

So now my plan is to finish these up and let you see them all in a few days. My only question to myself is why am I taking cool snowy blue paintings to Florida? Perhaps I have lost my mind! Come back in a few days and see what I'll be taking to Coconut Grove!

A night's work

I've been a little quiet lately. The dessert blog takes more energy than you'd expect, and I have a thousand excuses just like that one if you have time. But the thing is, I've had a lot of time off between shows, and I'm working towards building a new body of work. Nothing like that is simple. I've been sketching, and scribbling, making models. Having brilliant ideas and hating them the next day. And a for few days I've just settled down and done a little work. Tonight I carved a funky damask pattern into linoleum so I can use it stamp-like in an upcoming painting. Assembling the elements, getting ready for a big push. And I don't think I will know I can do it until it's done.

Distracted.

I have never been so distracted by the trees. Red light floods into my studio, burgundy reflecting the morning sun. The sky is so blue that it looks fake. I keep finding myself drawn outdoors, usually taking one more photo. It is supposed to freeze tomorrow night, and whatever chunk of landscape I miss today may be totally different in a few days. The colors of the trees have even found their way into my paintings. I wonder if this will fade in the winter. I hope not. This is probably why I am taking so many photos, trying to hoard the color.

Studio Slice #20

Not everything is pretty around here, some things mean business! Do you see the visitor hiding on the right?

Studio Slice #19

A whirl of color, almost like candy. Happy Halloween!

Studio Slice #18

Expensive sticks. 8 and 10ft lengths of moulding for picture frames propped up in the corners. When not in use, they make good supports for spider webs.

Studio Slice #17

Collaged background on a new piece, I love this part.

Paper Dolls on Sale!

Hi folks! Do you hear that? The subtle growling? That scratching noise? That would be the wolf at our door. He usually hangs out near the end of our driveway, but we'd like to send him off for a little while. So here are our sacrificial lambs (talk about mixing metaphors.)

Five of my favorite Paper Dolls, all on sale at $120 each from the regular price of $145. With free shipping anywhere in the USA or Canada.

See one that would brighten your day? Send me an email at kallencole@aol.com First come first serve of course!

Here is #1, a sweet swinging dress made with an East Coast map, and tiny stitched seed beads.
Sorry this one has **sold**



Paper Doll #2 is a groovy A-line from the '60's with a pouf of fabulous trim and a great vintage button.



#3 is one of the few little girl dresses I've done like this. With a line of "smocking" and the tiniest button I've ever seen. Perfect for a baby shower gift!





#4 is a great dress showing off the NOLA area, with a nautical themed button.
(And it just **sold** yay!)




And dress #5 is all about the glitz, shiny silver, with vintage cut glass buttons. The embroidery thread is a deep plum. Go on, add a little drama to your life, (the good kind!)



All of these pieces are matted in acid free mats, with spacers to accommodate the buttons when they are framed. They are all shrink wrapped. Any questions? Let me know.

Studio Slice #16

A glimpse out the front window. I spend a lot of time looking out windows.

Studio Slice #15

Part of the ongoing process to keep all my bits together.