Alla Prima Koi Fish Painting

Here is a little something I painted in an Alla Prima class at the Art League. It was a really fun little class and everyone took home a completed or near completed piece. Great fun for the price. $45 gets you supplies, 3 hours of instruction, pizza, wine, and brownies….what more could a person ask for?

Cops & Joggers 5K Ft Myers Florida 10/23/10

Ran the Cops & Joggers 5K in Ft Myers today with my friend T.M. You know who you are! Wasn't sure if she wanted her name plastered across the internet or not. It was an awesome morning, we ran over the Edison Bridge. I had my best 5K time ever 37:11. Slow but still not too shabby. We got the mother load of a goodie bag as you can see in this pic.

Then I proceeded to wolf down a peanut buttered banana and part of a bran muffin before watching the awards. Pics are not up from the race but possibly post some later. Ta Ta and have a great weekend.

One Hour Runner Week 3 Day 3

My heart wasn’t in it but I managed to get out there and do Week 3 Day 3 of OHR. Believe it or not my time was even slower than yesterday. 30 min and only 2.09 miles. I swear I was running! LOL My Endomondo App read 30:34 for time and 14:37 for Average Speed. Could be because I had a high carb diet today. That always puts my mood and my energy level in a serious slump. I’ve already planned to have a more balance diet tomorrow.

Next week, my fourth week of OHR, they are finally mixing things up. Day 1 is 30 min, day 2 is 29 min (odd), and day 3 is 35. That will be my longest time should I happen to make it that far.

My new shoes were once again awesome. No problems with them at all. As I’ve mentioned before I walk before and after my run times so I figure if I was going to have any problems with these shoes it would have shown during these first 2 days so I am very happy with my purchase. Did I mention I got this pair on sale as well? Under 40 bucks!

Only 2 mosquito bites that I’m aware of today, not bad for sunset in swampland. I hate to use bug spray because of how toxic it so I tried rubbing a dryer sheet over my exposed skin and it seemed to help. Who knows, it may have more toxins than deet but at least I smelled a little better.

Running On

I can not believe that I have not blogged since December of ‘09’. I even managed to get my first Follower during that time. Thank you Feather Snail for being the first!

I have so many interests and they tend to vary. For instance I haven’t done much painting or crafting this year so I have not blogged. Well now that just doesn’t seem right. So I’m changing the blog a bit to include some of my other interests as well. Never fear art is a mainstay of my life and there will surely be artistic items to blog about along the way.

The inspiration for today’s blog is my new tennis shoes. You see, back in June I decided that I was going to take my then, 71 pound overweight body, and start the C25K (Couch to 5K) program. 9 weeks of what I though would be pure hell. Turns out only the first 5 weeks were hell, the rest were just really pushin’ it.

I am now officially what they term as a C25K Graduate. However I think the proper name of the program should be Couch to 30 minutes because at the end of the program, depending on many factors (mine being weight) you may not be running a 5K in the allotted 30 minutes.

As of today I am, according to my own standards, 65 pounds overweight and I’m still running my 30 minutes a few times a week. I’ve moved on to a new program called the One Hour Runner or more affectionately know as OHR. Who knows maybe I’ll finally get to that 5K distance because I’m certainly not anywhere near it as of yet. I am on week 3 day 2 of OHR. I’m going to spill it right now and confess that I may not make it to the end. My conviction isn’t as strong as it was for the C25K and I’m not sure if I even want to run for an hour or not.

I usually run on a treadmill at the gym as the dew point and the heat are higher than my body can deal with but today was a bit cooler out so I ran outside. Other than a few mosquitos’s the size of quarters and some misdirected love bugs it wasn’t too bad. I walk for a bit then do my 30 minutes of running and the walk a bit more.

Now don’t make fun of me because I can only run 2.2 miles in 30 minutes. I realize that some people can walk that fast and others wouldn’t even consider that running. Maybe they would call it jogging I say…jogging schmogging. If both feet are off the ground at the same time, I’m running. Besides, it’s all my body can take at this point in time and I’m proud of what I’ve done. I may get faster and I may not but speed is not the issue. That’s a whole other blog.

Back to why I decided to blog today, my shoes. I had a pair of these before but I decided, because they were on clearance, to try the Addidas SuperNova’s. They were also highly recommended for heavier runners but they didn’t work for me. I ended up with blisters from both pairs. Yes I bought two pairs they were ½ price and then another 50% off that so I got them for $20 each. Even though I had planned on running in them…they are still worth it for kickin’ around or working out on days when I do other things besides run. Anyway here are my new awesome shoes! The Adidas Cushion Response 18.

I ran in them today and they wore like an old friend.

Here is the link for C25K: http://c25k.com/

Here is the link for OHR: http://mindplunge.com/c25k/one-hour-runner.html

Playing

I've beed doing a little playing today when I should be studying. I made these for my Etsy site jibblesandbits. Travel Tissue Covers. They are a deal (hint hint). Here is the link. Wink wink. jibblesandbits ha ha I'm such a poet.

Duck Chase

This was taken out back yesterday. Too funny, mama duck just wasn't havin' it.

How to Paint on Porcelain or Glazed Ceramics

I thought I would show how I do or layer a one fire china piece. Most fine art china or porcelain pieces are done in 3-7 layers. Each layer is fired separately. On occasion a piece might be fired more than 7 times as in working with fine details like a portrait or if you are adding gold and/or enamels.

This happens to be a quickie that I do for a local shop. An experienced painter can do this in an hour or less. This also happens to be a ceramic piece instead of porcelain. The technique can be done on either as long as it has a smooth high fired glaze.

This will be sold (Here’s your plug Pat) at Naples Scent Chips located in Tin City in downtown Naples. This candle burner is being painted for her shop so if you are in the area please stop in.

Okay first the water and mountains go in.

Then I place the beach area in.

Then a palm tree or two.

Lastly I put in the location, this one if for the Naples Florida shop. I also drop in a few birds to give it some life and I sign them.

4 - 5x7 Tropical Acrylics

Today's pics are 4 tropicals inspired by the lovely surroundings in which I live.

My Little China Bird 5x7 Acrylic

Oh oh oh ohhhhhh my little chiiiiina bird

Daydreamer 8x10 Acrylic

This little bird looks as if he's just hangin' out daydreaming. I'm really having fun with the bright colors and straying away from my norm and into a cartoon like world.

It's tough being cool

This 8x10 acrylic was not my idea however sometimes you have to use someone elses idea while you are learning the technique so this is my version of someone elses idea. I think he's cool.

Here is another one in the same style of an African Grey Parrot. This one of course is all mine. Maybe it's missing something because it's not as bright but I like it just the same.

Green Is My Sky 5x7

Here is todays painting. It is a 5x7 acrylic painting. This painting is very bright and cheerful, would make a great gift.

Email me for purchase information at kjsartist@gmail.com

Thanks for looking.

Gentle Resting Place ACEO

Todays painting is an ACEO or artist trading card that is for sale. It is a watercolor that is 2.5" x 3.5" and is matted in a 5x7" neutral colored mat. It is ready to drop into any store bought 5x7 ready made picture frame.

This little treasure sells for $10.00 plus S&H.

Please email me at kjsartist@gmail.com for more purchase information.

5x7 Acrylic Cherries

I've been a slacker. Too busy job hunting to paint but finally....here is a new one. I really like this one. I hope you do too.

Please e-mail me for purchase information. kjsartist@gmail.com

Black Sand Beach 5x7 Original Acrylic Painting

Here is today’s painting. Black Sand Beach, looks like a great place to vacation. I wish I could drop my kayak right there in the sand and take off for an afternoon.

This is a 5x7 acrylic it is an original work of art. The panel is signed by the artist. It is initialed on the front and full signature on the back.

Artwork is painted on an archival quality canvas panel and sealed with a satin varnish.

Panel is made of reclaimed material from renewable resources.

Painted in a pet free smoke free home.

Please email me for purchase information.

Mountain Cove 5x7 Original Acrylic Seascape

Here is today’s painting. Mountain Cove, it makes me want to wiggle my toes in the loose sand just beneath the waters edge.

This is a 5x7 acrylic it is an original work of art. The panel is signed by the artist. It is initialed on the front and full signature on the back.

Artwork is painted on an archival quality canvas panel and sealed with a satin varnish.

Panel is made of reclaimed material from renewable resources.

Painted in a pet free smoke free home.

Please email me at kjsartist@gmail.com for more purchase information.

Florida Mailbox with Agave Plant 5x7 Original

Here is today’s painting, another Florida mailbox. This one has an Agave plant growing beneath it. Reminds me of Arizona…and that’s a good thing. Of course as with all of my Florida mailboxes there is a bit of a palm frond peeking into the painting.

This is a 5x7 acrylic it is an original work of art. The panel is signed by the artist. It is initialed on the front and full signature on the back.

Artwork is painted on an archival quality canvas panel and sealed with a satin varnish.

Panel is made of reclaimed material from renewable resources.

Painted in a pet free smoke free home.
Please email me at kjsartist@gmail.com for more purchase information.

Patina Florida Home Mailbox

Here is today’s painting. Another Florida mailbox, at least this time this one has a box! LOL This one is nice with its patina box and various flowers growing wild, and of course a snippet of a palm frond. I’m not sure how much the mailman likes all the flowers but I like them a lot.

This is a 5x7 acrylic it is an original work of art. The panel is signed by the artist. It is initialed on the front and full signature on the back.

Artwork is painted on an archival quality canvas panel and sealed with a satin varnish.

Panel is made of reclaimed material from renewable resources.

Painted in a pet free smoke free home.

Please email me at kjsartist@gmail.com for more purchase information.

Vineyards Urn with Geraniums

Here is today’s painting. It’s an urn that was sitting in the sun by the pool at the Vineyards Country Club. I loved the geraniums and wanted to capture them in paint. This is a 5x7 acrylic painting done on a canvas panel.
Please email me at kjsartist@gmail.com for more purchase information.

Florida Lamppost 5x7 Acrylic Painting

Todays painting.

I was driving around the neighborhood the other day and started snapping pictures of mailboxes. This is the first one I chose to paint....and there is no mailbox! LOL I'm still trying to find my style with acrylics. It gets closer every day. It's hard to be objective and critique your own paintings. It's very easy to pick out the flaws in your own work and sometimes it's hard to see the good. I'm hoping to find time to do a small series of these lamppost and mailboxes all with a touch of Florida in them. See the palm frond in the top left corner?

Please email me at kjsartist@gmail.com for more purchase information.

House Finch Small Bird Original Acrylic Painting 5x7

Here is today's "Daily Painting". It's the second little finch painting. This one I did "my way" and I'm really happy with it. If I could paint like this everyday I'd be a happy camper. The biggest difference between this one and yesterdays is that this one is wet in wet acrylic where the other has an under painting and is dry brushed. You really have to work quick to do wet in wet with acrylics. Luckily this is a small painting so it wasn't so difficult. Now I just need to get to Carnegie Hall and practice practice practice!

Small House Finch 5x7 Acrylic on Canvas Board

This little red and brown house finch painting is a test. I'm doing 2 paintings. Once "my way" and one following recommended instructions. This one is the one I did using the recommended instructions. I think he is just darling.
Please email me at kjsartist@gmail.com for more purchase information.

Quiet Stream Original Acrylic on Canvas Panel 5x7

Here is one where I tried to loosen up a bit and just do my own thing. It seems like when I follow the directions of someone else, as in a tutorial, I mess things up terribly. So this was fun and a learning experience too.

I'd like to paint more "brush strokey" or impressionistic or "painterly". This was an attempt. The main struggle is that I want an oil painting look with acrylics. I don't have the room to do oils and anyone that does oils knows it's a wonderfully messy medium.

Please email me at kjsartist@gmail.com for more purchase information.

Pink Roses in Vase Acrylic Painting 5x7

I'm trying to learn to use acrylics and use underpaintings. I still have lots to understand as this painting shows.

Please email me at kjsartist@gmail.com for more purchase information.

White Orchid Acrylic Painting 5x7

For some time I have been in awe of the Daily Painters. Making the commitment to paint everyday is something that I should do. I was thinking that by joining the Daily Painters web site it would motivate me to do just that. However what I didn’t know is that they have rules. Can you imagine? Go figure. So here is what they say I must do to be considered as a “Daily Painter”: I’ll “need to have several months' worth of daily paintings on your blog, with a unique, consistent personal style, high quality photos, clearly posted prices and contact information.”

Well I don’t have a unique personal style. I once had an art teacher that said if I’d start using a bigger brush I’d get one. I guess I’m just too wishy washy to chose “one” style. I know what I like when I see it but I surely don’t know how to paint that way. So for now the best that I can do is to just paint and post and hopefully one will develop.

So this White Orchid is today’s painting. I’m learning how to use under painting in this one. We don’t use under painting in China Painting, which is what I’m best at. Or at least that’s what I get the most oooohs and awweees from.

Please email me at kjsartist@gmail.com for more purchase information.