In Reality, It Is ALL Abstract!

And the scale!  Take this warm/cool study I just finished...

Here is the whole image, and it is fairly realistic by my standards of viewing and style of painting...

24"x18"

And now at super hyper close-up....

...these images are standing on their own...

                                                              ...but give a totally different feel

                                    ...even if you can tell which part of the big picture it is.

Try this the next time you see realistic large scale paintings, try to get as close as possible to see the abstractions...a wild way to interact with art!

Just Off the Easel...

Essential Tool for Political Discourse

22”x30"

Acrylic and graphite on paper

 not sure if this guy is political or not...

But I just had to comment on the political discourse I have heard in the last 16 months or so...

Not the content of it (that is much needed), but the style and method of it (which I feel is detrimental to achievement).

Busy Hands

I just kept thinking, what if all these debaters, FB posters, marchers, legislators and demonstrators had to do something constructively expressive with their hands while stating and debating their points? (and no typing does not count as constructive...think talk-to-text) Something that was NOT related to what was coming out of their mouths?

But what would those hands be busy doing?

Maybe using one of these things in my painting above...a mini zen garden.

We have a small one on the desk in my sun room at my house.  I also gave one to a high school counselor years and years ago.  And while many of us are probably think, “whoa Kathy, how is this constructive?  Playing with a zen garden is just frivolous fun or energy burn off.”  To which I say maybe, or maybe not.  Depends on the result of the conversation. 

High School Non-Drama

And back to that high school counselor, she told me that she put the zen garden on her desk at work thinking it would just look cool and that was about it. 

 But then something wonderful happened...

When her students came into see her, instead of only mumbled mono syllable responses...(well she still got those in the first few minutes)  while raking the mini zen garden for a while, these students starting talking.  Really talking. Telling her the below-the-surface stuff that was weighing on their young souls.  She said that cheap little novelty desk top toy made her job much easier because when they opened up like that, she knew how to help these students better.  

And a lot of time the deeper talk was the only thing these students needed.  

Political Therapy

I like to think of this zen garden as constructive mini art therapy in the moment.  Would love to send out about 1000 of these little guys to all the knee-jerk posters, marchers and politicians out there...

Whoever thought a plastic container with some sand and rocks  could make such a big positive difference?

Bucket List Goal Check-off!

This is a teaching opportunity I have been wanting to try for years!

Teaching a weekend workshop in one of the funnest most beautiful places on earth!

Nimrod Hall, Bath County Virginia I first wrote about it here...here

2017 Weekend Artist Workshop Schedule

June 23-25, 2017 -  Artist Kathleen Calhoun

Writer Carol Obrochta & Dudley Olsson

Weekend workshops start after 4pm on Friday and end at 10 am on Sunday. It is a brief and fun immersion on Saturdays with a chance to discover Nimrod Hall!

Kathleen Calhoun

 "Setting the Tone While Pushing Your Limits"

In this well paced workshop, learn what it takes to have your work noticed from across the room and compel the viewer to come in for a closer look.  Using techniques from the 17th to 21st centuries in a short sequential series of enjoyable exercises, students will begin with a simple still life then advance to the subject matter of choice. While not in the typical plein air setup of Nimrod Hall workshops, the strategies taught here will create a stronger sense of presence, eye travel and illusionary space in your work- beneficial for any style from realism to non-representational.  Instead of focusing on one or two finished pieces, several short studies will be created.

Since this is a technique driven workshop, it is not media sensitive.  Drawing, watercolor, acrylic and oils are all welcome.  While a digital/phone camera would be helpful, it is not essential.

Please feel free to email the instructor, Kathy Calhoun at KathleenCalhounStudio@gmail.com with any questions.  

Limit 8 participants.

Back in the Saddle Again...

Cotillion Jitters

Acrylic 

6”x6”

All the holiday decorations have been packed away, the kids are in school, now it is back to my favorite spot...my studio!

Finally been able to get back to this little guy...my son at cotillion many moons ago.  Judging my the boutinere he is wearing, it must have been Holly Ball for those RVA Cotillion circuit people out there.

Been sticking to an "old master's" palette or sorts, but I think to make the girl the focal point, I may use a more modern color selection with her...

Just adore being able to work again and stay in one place thanks to this studio set-up...

My studio!