Painting Update

Well it's been nearly impossible to work in my studio lately...Jack has given up his afternoon nap and that means no studio time for me! But I have been thinking a lot about this painting. (I posted the start a couple days ago) I knew I wanted to take it in a more abstract direction, so I started to cover everything in red, emphasizing some lines and covering others. I'm not crazy about the hair right now, but Jack had filled up the little blue pool in the backyard and had proceeded to remove all his clothes and was running around naked. I guess I'll have to finish this later...

It's Pumpkin Time

Every year, I think I get some of my favorite shots of the kids during pumpkin picking! Here's this year's photos (with grandma and grandpa) and some of my favorites from year's past!

New Painting

Had a wonderful time painting from the live model Wednesday night...I brought a 20 x 24 canvas and started with doing all of the gesture drawings in watercolor pencil on the canvas...then I washed it all away and gave myself a very cool backgound to start the long pose on. There's nothing more intimidationg (and exciting I guess) than a plain white canvas waiting for that first mark!

Of course I forgot my camera, so I didn't get any shots of the process...but this is how it looks after about 2 hours of painting with acrylics.

I think I'll end up abstracting it a bit more...I have to play around with it in my studio (it is currently upside-down on my easel!) I will keep you posted if and when I make progress!

A Year in Review

I was gently reminded by a fellow artist today that I should update my list of recent shows! I am actually pretty happy looking at this list of what I have participated in in the last year...

Recent Solo and Group Exhibitions from 2008
"Painting Processes:a comparison of artwork by students and friends of Shane McDonald Studios"
Harris Art Center, Calhoun, GA
April 21 - June 13, 2008
Curated by Shane McDonald
http://www.shanemcdonaldstudios.com/

Solo Exhibit - "Drawn from the Live Model" by Kristina Laurendi Havens
Presensted by Ann Litrell Art
Main Street, Woodstock, GA
June 2008

"Metro Montage"
A Juried Exhibition
Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art, GA
July 12 - September 13, 2008
Juried by Dale Clifford and Susan Gunn

"Art From the Heart"
A Fine Art Portrait Exhibition of Geargia's Fallen Heroes
Presented by the Atlanta Fine Arts League, Inc.
A Traveling Exhibition including
National Museum of Patriotism September 8 - Nov 14 2007
James Floyd State Building & the National Head Quarters for Coca Cola Inc.
GA State Capitol Rotunda
Ceremony with Governor Sonny Perdue and Senator John Douglas
January 24th 2008
ART Station Stone MountainStone Mountain, GA
July 19 2008
http://www.atlantafineartsleague.org/

(shown are pictures from the Floyd State Building and the Capitol Rotunda...my portrait is on the far left in each photo)

"Simply Drawn"
National Juried Exhibition presented by the Altlanta Fine Arts League
Art Station Big Shanty, Kennesaw GA
September 6-25, 2008

"Southern Appalachian Artist Guild's First National Juried Exhibition"
Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association
Juried by Alan FlattmanBlue Ridge, GA
October 17 - November 2008

Buy Handmade

http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/700-billion-bail-out-cramping-your-style-2667/

Bail out bumming you out? Buy handmade this holiday and support REAL people!

Figure Drawing Techniques...Collaborate!

I had SO much fun at the figure drawing session at Shane's studio last night! I have a pile of my son Jack's paintings in my studio - well, let me re-phrase that - JACK'S studio (where he kindly lets me work every now and then) and of course I can't throw any of them away. So when I was packing up supplies for class last night I grabbed two paintings Jack did on mat board and thought they'd make great backgrounds for some figure drawings!

Well - here they are! I love them! Jack - the three year old whirling dervish that he is - has so much fun with chalk and paint. He just creates amazing line and composition - I just sit back and wait for him to say "more paint, please!" These may be some of my favorite pieces of all time.

I can't wait until we collaborate again!

My Next Inspiration

There are stretches of time in every family when the only times you all gather together are for Weddings or Funerals...luckily the last occassion my family got together for was my cousin Dan's wedding in Colorado. My mom brought a bunch of old photo's from her parent's house, and I just fell in love with this handful...I am prepping my studio and a new surface to paint the one in the upper left of my grandmother holding my mother's hand...it's marked "Easter of 1955". I love the clothes, the wind catching her dress...even the look of the tree and the house in the background!

The one of my mom, her brothers, and her dad on the front porch just makes me hear banjos in the background...the pose of my mom on the front porch makes me laugh! (you can click the image to see it larger)

I love seeing old photos...it's too bad we only get to know our parents as adults!