I thought I knew me. Turns out I didn't.

On another note...Look what's up! The big, bold, big cypress painting.

Officially titled: " l'ordre du chaos" , unofficially : "more order, less chaos"
6 feet tall, 10 feet wide.

Now installed at I. Wolk gallery in St. Helena, CA

Loving it's grandness in the gallery and I'm so happy it's getting "hang time" on the wall in this public space. Art should be seen.

Make more art

No apologies for my lack of posts in the last six or so weeks. I've been busy. There. I enjoy posting on the blog, but when I feel like I'm not coming up with anything of particular interest to anyone but myself, I tend to stay away.

That is not to say that I am not frequently writing things down in my mind of subjects to post: "Change is good" morphed into "Change addiction". "Art as a business" morphed into "Shit, I'm busy !"

You might sense now where I'm getting stalled out.

But, shit, I am busy and that is grand. I love to be busy doing what I love.

The big 6'x10' painting is finished. Painting and leafing this bad boy was good fun. I will miss it in all it's largeness, but shall be happy knowing that it will be going to a good home.




That's what this is about:

art out-money in-make more art.

Not a very romantic or eloquent way of stating it, but I'm fairly pragmatic by nature.

This week at the studio

Still at work on my large canvas and having good fun whilst I've been at it. Luckily, there are friends and colleagues at the studio often enough that I can cajole them into taking pictures.





Not long ago, I saw a video of my dear friend and studio mate Reuben, who passed a little over a year ago. The video was so poignant as he worked, making art, doing what he loved best. Since then, I've been trying to make a point of having myself on film whilst working or having stills taken. Not an announcement of my future demise but rather for someone that generally doesn't get pictures taken of herself, I value the images I've witnessed and hope I can leave behind something small.

thinking about today....

image from art and lair

my big fat primed canvas

Continuing on my theme this week, let me introduce you to my new best friend: Six by ten feet of cotton, gesso and wood with a healthy dose of wire for the stability every artist seeks in a new relationship.

These two images show me, first stretching the canvas onto the stretcher bars and the second image after priming the canvas with an undercoat painting.

The second image is likely a bit shocking as a contemporary painting is not my goal, but this base coat serves a purpose in the finished painting.





















Of course I am not going to tell anything about what I have planned of the painting itself. You'll just have to follow it's progress.

Like me.

this week at the studio

Much happening at the studio these days, mainly in the form of Napa Valley Open Studio preparation. Scheduled for the last two weekends of September, artists at G studio are hard at work applying themselves, getting inspired, rethinking and just plain making art.

This years challenge for myself is that I am now gallery represented and so will be respecting that relationship by taking on a slightly different identity. Not an outrageous statement wherein I will be using my name with which I came into this world: Paulson.

Specifically, Kate Paulson. The name of my father and my father's father and his father before him.

I've always kept my last name, married or not as it is who I am and helps me identify myself. I appreciate my family and who I am, thank you very much and don't feel the need to put aside my original last name for another.

The other challenge that this dual identity poses is to make two sets of art: My paintings that are specifically painted for the gallery and paintings that are specifically intended for sale at open studios.

Ahhhh, a challenge. Problem solving is a sport that I enjoy immensely.







kate working in studio

Of note: see that fabulous leather tote, right between the two green lockers, resting on the filing cabinet?? Coach Bag + Goodwill score = happiness. (double click on image to see larger)

How does she know?

She seems to know exactly how I am feeling...Not a chicken with her head cut off, as the common expression goes, but rather
a woman with a chicken on her head, albeit confused. "How is it that I have a chicken on my head?" , she seems to be saying.

I've oft felt these exact feelings, especially of late. My one true calm amidst the head chicken is making art. In the studio I find that it not only calms me (and the chicken?) but also takes my mind off of the constant round and round of worries and concerns, running lists and issues.

"How is it that I have a chicken on my head?" I say to myself over and over through out the day, but cannot find the answer to this question.

Some sage might suggest that instead of asking why said chicken is on head, suggest to oneself to remove the chicken.

Sometimes it's the simple answer that is so obvious.