January 2022 Newsletter

January 25, 2022

The past couple of months have been a whirlwind! I feel like I’ve been to the moon and back…but I’ve landed safely in Tucson and am excited to sink my teeth into some new art projects here in my desert studio.

We are gearing up to host some classes at our Tucson home starting on February 1st. Josh Goldberg will be teaching 4 weeks of Master Critique Classes, followed by 4 weeks of Master Painting Studio Classes. There are still openings in the Studio classes. If interested, please contact me or Josh. Really looking forward these in-depth learning experiences!

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of hosting artist/ teacher/ friend Jane Davies. We filled our time with lots of hiking, outdoor dining and plenty of art talk!

Jane was visiting prior to a workshop called “The Visual Sentence” that she taught last week at Tanque Verde Ranch for Madeline Art School. While I was unable to attend the class due to some back issues and tennis elbow, Jane invited me over to the ranch on their last day to admire the work her students turned out during their week of gel printing and collage. The results (below) were a feast of color, texture and composition!

While I have been a bit limited by my back issues lately, I was able to spend some time in my studio exploring mark making which I love to incorporate into my paintings. Rather than focus on completing a finished piece, I allowed myself to play using simple exercises with brushes and pens. It was invigorating!

I began making bold marks with India ink on paper… then mixing various line widths and ink washes.

After making copies of a few of the black and white exercises, I played with color.

Laying down fine lines of asemic writing (abstract calligraphy with no specific semantic content), I layered squares of brushstrokes while the ink was still wet, creating an interesting pattern.

This led me to a 22” x 30” piece where I applied blocks of watercolor washes in warm hues…

…and followed up with collaged papers. I’m excited to see where this exploration will take me next!

Sneak Peek

I was pleased to be one of 35 contemporary abstract artists invited to submit an original piece of 12” x 12” art for a Flash Sale sponsored by Smythe-McKee and @abstractduke’s Sam Duplessis.

It’s an honor to have my sunny yellow mixed media piece “Diner Chic” included among this wide variety of curated paintings for sale.

While the flash sale goes public on February 2nd, participating artists have the green light to extend a private preview to our friends and collectors!

Please see this pdf to view this Private Sale before it is announced on social media!

Thanks always for your kind interest in my work.

May 2022 hold good things for us all!

MY STRUGGLE WITH CONSISTENCY

October 16, 2021

With the fall season well upon us, I’m reminded of the cyclical nature of my own inner calendar. As I watch the earth go through her changes, I am fiercely aware of my struggle to remain consistent with my painting schedule and other healthy habits (like exercise!).

Shorter days with less light challenge my productivity into shorter spans of time. And while there is an abundance of beauty in autumn, for me it is a bittersweet season. For I am a spring-summer soul, loving the generous daylight hours, lazy beach days, lush green landscape and blooming flower gardens. Fall’s cooler air has me bundled in sweaters and the darker evenings cause me to crave earlier bedtimes.

Being consistent has its rewards, whether we are talking exercise, healthy eating or positive work habits.

As a professional artist, all too often I cringe a little when I hear the advice “as a serious artist, you should paint every day, even if it’s for a short period of time.”

Well, I’m worn out from beating myself up over my failure to make this happen on a regular basis. Don’t get me wrong, I wholeheartedly agree that a daily momentum builds skills, helps sustain enthusiasm and keeps those fears of “beginning again” at bay.

But I’m realizing that I need to make peace with the fact that my lifestyle and obligations make a daily painting practice next to impossible. I need to find a way of working that works FOR me. Meditation teacher Jeff Warren says, “What works is what works for YOU.”

I’ve discovered that my art practice varies with the seasons. Like a squirrel gathering nuts, fall finds me busy in my studio with maintenance projects, like varnishing paintings, updating spreadsheets and keeping my website current. I may take a class and work on a few paintings. Winters find me at our home in Tucson, and this has become my most productive season of the year. With fewer interruptions and less social and family obligations, I spend a good part of most days busy in my desert studio, often playing music and podcasts to keep me company. In these winter months I tend to make up at least in part for lost time in other seasons. Yay!

Coming back east in the springtime always means a big transition for me. Spending time with family after missing them like crazy comes first and foremost, and getting our home back in shape for the spring and summer months takes a lot of energy. I usually need a couple of weeks to get settled in and back to my art. Summer usually means some travel and spending time at the beach where I have a small studio. This space is perfect for watercolor painting and small mixed media collages, but not so perfect for large acrylic canvases.

During the 30 years while I had my design business, my time and energy was spread pretty thin.

Since selling my company in 2019, I’ve been fortunate to have not only creative freedom, but the freedom of how I choose to spend my time. As a new grandmother, I’m enjoying one day each week with my grandsons. Can’t ignore self-care, which for me means going for walks on most mornings, and I am finally able to tend a small flower garden! Simple pleasures.

Being an artist is not a choice for me. It’s a way of life. I am always working on my art, whether I’m painting in my studio every day or not. My art practice may be far from consistent, but it IS consistent with my values, and that works perfectly for me.

On a daily basis, my life may look out of balance, but from a bird’s eye view, I’m creating a life I love.

September 2021 Newsletter

September 17, 2021

Hello friends,

It has been quite a month here, between growing concerns over the Covid variant (after we were SO excited about life starting to return to normal) and Hurricane Ida with her accompanying tornado that paid an unwelcome visit to our area! We aren’t used to storms like these and certainly hope it is not a global warming trend for the northeast. We experienced flooding and some damage to trees and bridges on our property, but the devastating path of the tornado’s fury very narrowly missed us. It is heartbreaking to see the devastation to those in our community and nearby.

I’m standing with a pile of trees from our local park that were downed by the recent storm.

As for complications due to Covid concerns, I have had one cancelled trip, one cancelled workshop, and sadly, we also cancelled my solo art exhibit that was scheduled for October at Horsham Library. Indoor gatherings continue to make many people apprehensive, so we are postponing until spring of 2022. You will be the first to be informed of any upcoming dates!

In spite these challenges, I have been steadily working on some various artistic paths, not the least of which has been keeping spreadsheets and website up to date, varnishing completed canvases and framing works on paper!

During these summer months I’ve enjoyed some time at my beach getaway in New Jersey where I have a tiny work area in my condo.

Several years ago I decided to convert the kitchen’s breakfast area into a studio of sorts, so out went the table and chairs and in came the drawing table and watercolor supplies. I just love sitting there!

While I’m unable to work on large acrylic paintings in this space, I shift my attention to watercolor and mixed media pieces that I can complete easily on my table while looking out at the ocean.

I recently completed 3 different series, pictured below, all within an 8” x 8” border.

”Carousel Series”
I started this series with playful and energetic exercises, working on half sheets of large watercolor paper divided into 6 segments

In each segment, I painted a large gestural brushstroke, followed by marks made with pencil, various pens and eyedroppers.

After selecting my favorites from the bunch, I added some touches of collage to complete each individual design.

After cutting bits and pieces out of old watercolor paintings in my reject pile, I began sorting the various shapes into colorways that appealed to me.

Arranging them, I felt like I was stacking building blocks and the glue became my mortar.

As I worked with my watercolor scraps, I kept seeing horizon lines and suggestions of earth, sea and sky, so I pieced them together as mini landscapes, adding a sun or moon icon just for fun.

A final border ruled in thin graphite lines serves to frame the layouts. I got a bit lost in the fantasy of this series!

Sneak Peek…

I’m looking forward to investing more time in my large acrylic paintings in coming months. Two very different approaches have captured my interest as seen in these details of works in progress.

…and the other features bold, bright colors on black.

One of these directions may win out over the other, but as is often the case, I find contrasting approaches stimulating to my work process.

I can’t help but feel a bit melancholy as the daylight grows shorter and my favorite season is about to hand her reign over to fall. But I intend to embrace the many beauties that autumn offers and trust that you will do the same.

Take care, and as always, thanks for reading!

P.S. Please note that my October Exhibit at the Horsham Library has been postponed until spring of 2022. Please stay tuned!

August 2021 Newsletter

August 16, 2021

Hello Friends,

In some ways I am still transitioning back from my recent trip to Provence!

It was a doozy…full of beauty and colorful inspiration from lavender fields, open air markets and ancient hilltop villages…and yet not the easiest trip in terms of international travel. Airports seem to be struggling in keeping up with Covid restrictions and labor shortages.

Challenges aside, the trip was definitely worthwhile.

I loved my time among the lavender! Inspired by the beauty in the area, I did some watercolor sketches to document my visit. I’m certain some future paintings will reflect the color and pattern inspiration I brought home with me.

The Summer Juried Show at Abington Art Center which concluded in July boasted an impressive assortment of art in a variety of media. I attended during an opening reception and captured this shot of my painting “On the Other Side of Midnight” being viewed by an anonymous couple. It felt great to give my 48” x 48” mixed media painting an opportunity to have an outing outside of my studio!

Currently plans are underway for a solo exhibit called “Passages” featuring my new work. The show will be held at the Horsham Library during the month of October. If you are local, I invite you to stop by for a “Meet and Greet” reception on Wednesday, October 6th between 4:30 and 6:30p. I have missed seeing my friends over the past year and a half, so I’ll be delighted if you can stop by.

“Passages” will offer our local community a chance to see the transition underway from my greeting card career over the past 30 years to a new abstract fine art direction.

Some of my larger acrylic paintings will be exhibited along with watercolors and smaller mixed media pieces.

If you are not able to join us on October 6th, please feel free to visit at another time to view the exhibit during library hours. “Passages” runs from October 1st through noon on October 30th.

https://www.horshamlibrary.org/hours-holidays

Sneak Peak…

For the first time, I am making available three of my abstract watercolors on paper as signed, limited edition archival prints. The prints will make their debut at the October 6th reception of the “Passages” exhibit.

Shown below are cropped versions of the full size 22” x 15” prints. More info to come on these!

You may have noticed that I recently added a blog to my website. It currently has two posts and I plan to keep adding topics that pique my interest, so I hope you will stay tuned.

Thanks, as always, for following my creative journey with me!

Best,

Provence Daydreams

June 30, 2021

Provence Daydreams

Oh, my…this time of year has me yearning to go back to the French countryside and the charming cottage in Provence that I’ve come to love.

And, the good news is that I have only a few hours left to daydream! By the time you are reading this, my husband and I will be well on our way back to Provence.

I know that the lavender is reaching its purple peak and summer’s delights are in abundance. In the outskirts of the small hillside town of Saignon, I will again revel in the cherry and apricot orchards, yellow fields billowing with wheat, green vineyards of ripening grapes, hollyhocks blooming from every nook and cranny, sunflowers which are only beginning to open to the sun’s warmth, and, of course, the countless rows of lavender, studded with occasional poppies and abuzz with the hum of bees!

Since my first trip to Provence in 2012, I have missed only one or two summers for my annual mecca. Our trip last year was postponed due to covid, and this year’s plan was a nail-biter until France opened its borders on June 9th to US citizens. In fact, our worries will not be over until we land in Marseilles. Our flights have been cancelled twice in the past month or two and the costs have doubled. Nonetheless, we remain excited to spend two weeks in such a beautiful and unspoiled part of the world!

This year is extra special since my son Ben and daughter-in-law Leah will be joining us for our second week when we move to a larger accommodation in the quaint town of Lourmarin. We can’t wait to do some exploring with them of the hilltop villages, roman ruins and favorite hiking trails.

I will be packing just a few art supplies, but a sufficient assortment to capture some impressions in watercolor. When I return home, I hope to do some larger abstracts and landscapes inspired by our visit.

The acrylic painting above, entitled “Provence Daydream” was in fact done from memory one day while in class at the Wayne Art Center, far from the Provence I love. My intention was to express the way the French countryside makes me feel, even when I daydream…which is pretty darn wonderful!

If you’d like to follow along, I will be posting some photos on my IG page @iamkathydavis. Would love to have you join me!

Birthday Blog Post

June 22, 2021

Today happens to be my birthday.

This was my sixth birthday party with an Alice in Wonderland theme.

It’s a big one, folks. Admittedly, I enter this new decade with a wee bit of trepidation, but I am also doing so with a fresh perspective. A lighter heart. An outlook of hope and optimism. A confidence that, along with the years comes the wisdom to not take life too seriously. To eat that slice of cake, to take that vacation, and yes, to have more fun with my art!

A birthday is a good time for reflection… it’s also a time to start writing a new chapter. I figure why not begin my new chapter with a blog? I want my blog to be a place to express my personal feelings on certain topics relating to my art practice and creative life. I plan to do that as the spirit moves me…with no strict schedule to adhere to. My hope is that this blog will serve two purposes. First, to be that outlet for me to write about what drives me and my art, and secondly, to give you a chance to get to know me a bit better.

With this first blog post, assuming you’ll indulge me, I’m going to share some of the things that make me tick, that make me mad, that make me feel alive. You can read my history in my Bio. But this is the nitty gritty. Some of you may know me, some of you may THINK you know me and some of you don’t know me at all. I hope this post will serve as a decent intro.

The three biggest rocks in my jar:

Self-care (body/mind/spirit),
family
my art

I try to remind myself of the importance of them every morning.

Things I love…

the beach
going for walks
eating out (I love all kinds of foods but Italian never fails.)
a good movie that moves me in some way (A Beautiful Mind, Once, Dead Poet’s Society, Shawshank Redemption…) (oh, and I like most Romcoms too)
a good book that engrosses me (currently I’m hooked on Kristen Hannah books. The Four Winds, The Nightingale, The Great Alone, etc)
solitude
the sea, the earth, the sky…all of nature’s wonders!
gardens filled with flowers
kindness from strangers
spending time with the people who get me
vacations with my family
a big pot of steamed clams with butter, bread and a cold beverage, natch
laughing with my grandsons, crying at a sad movie, feeling inspired and moved emotionally
inventions that make life easier (post-it notes, ez pass, GPS, Alexa)
inventions that cure disease
dancing
music that suits my moods (Maggie Rogers, Rhye, Michael Kiwanuka, Hotel Cool Side, George Winston, Madeleine Peyroux, Ingrid Michelson to name a few)
creative freedom
quotes (I am admittedly a quote junkie. One of my favorites is from Henry van Dyke- “Use what talents you possess, the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.”
my home (wherever I happen to be at the time.) As typical of Cancer types, I get very attached to my home as it’s my safe space, my cocoon, a place that soothes my soul. A place where my family and friends feel welcome.
travel – as much as I love my home, I enjoy traveling to new places, being inspired by different cultures, new scenery.
taking photos with my trusty iPhone
color!!!
creativity in all its forms …expressive calligraphy, contemporary art galleries and museums, folk art, street art
abstract expressionism
Matisse, Monet, Mitchell, Twombly, Hoffman…etc
coffee ice cream

Things I love/hate

social media
technology
change (I get attached to people, things, seasons, a schedule I can control…and yet I thrive on challenges and newness)

Things that make me furious

Passwords
Inconsiderate people
Closed minds
Rushing
Gun violence
World hunger

Things I am proud of

My two kids who have grown into amazing adults
The company I built (and yet I’m clear about ways I could have done it better)
The non-profit that we founded (and yet it is currently “under construction”)
The places I call home

Things I am not so proud of

Guilty pleasures…well, I have quite a few…the worst may be binging on TV shows at bedtime (Grey’s Anatomy …18 seasons worth! Woohoo! Yes, I’m one of the few who have not watched it from the beginning)
My ability with numbers, financial planning, budgeting
Skipping classes in college
Times when I could have done more, been kinder, given more of myself

Things I am grateful for:

A loving husband (who understands my need for solitude)
Loyal friends (I am fortunate to have the BEST)
Good health
A happy childhood with wonderful parents (and a pretty nice brother)
Happy kids and grandkids
Freedom

I am a flawed, imperfect human being. I suffer from fear of failure, self-sabotage, lack of confidence. I overthink. I detach from things that make me uncomfortable or uneasy. I avoid controversy. I procrastinate. I sometimes get depressed. I could always do more to help others. I can be hard on myself and others close to me.

But I care deeply about a lot of things.

I want to make good art, to become a really good painter.

I want to make a difference, however small.

I want to keep learning and growing and searching.

I want to help inspire others.

I want to leave a legacy my family can be proud of.

I want to contribute to a kinder, gentler world however I can.

I begin this decade filled with gratitude.

I begin with a desire to be more OPEN.

Open to new directions, open to new challenges, open to the beauty of just BEING on some days.

Thank you for being with me (the me you now really know) on my birthday.

X - kd

May 2021 Newsletter

May 23, 2021

Greetings in this beautiful late spring season!

Since returning to PA from AZ in early April, life has been a whirlwind for me, both personally and professionally! In addition to the normal transition routine we snowbirds experience (packing, shipping, unpacking and all of the house chores and preparations) it seems life has taken on a warp speed! With the lifting of many covid restrictions (thank goodness), family and personal obligations have increased for many of us, leaving us gasping for air as we try to adapt to our new normal. Not sure about you, but my new normal feels like anything but normal!

On the art front, I have lots of news to share…

Upon returning to work in my studio back home, I realized it was time to say goodbye to the periwinkle blue wall that I loved. For many years, it served as the perfect backdrop for displaying my greeting card designs, but more recently it has been challenging my color sense when working on new abstract paintings. So “buh-bye” periwinkle and hello Navajo white! The white also makes photo shoots so much easier.

Photographer (son-in-law) @ryan.treitel at work setting up a recent shoot…along with his assistants!

Also, I am delighted to share some exciting news! A curated collection of my work is now being represented by ARTEZONA Gallery, a boutique online gallery with a roster of wonderful artists. I am in very good company! ARTEZONA feels like a great fit for me.

Screen Shot 2021-05-16 at 2.16.32 PM.PNG

If interested, have a listen to my ARTEZONA Artist in Focus interview. It’s a deep dive into my background and insights into my painting practice. Thanks to founder Liz Hernandez and Malik for this opportunity to share the story of my creative journey.

(Please excuse the technical difficulties towards the end of the interview when we had connection problems. But I promise if you stay patient, we DO return to wrap up the interview with a few more questions.)

Sneak Peek…

I am thrilled to have my big blue painting “On the Other Side of Midnight” (acrylic on canvas, 48” x 48” ) selected for the Juried Summer Show at Abington Art Center! There is sure to be some interesting artwork on display, so try to stop by if you are in the area.

Check this link for dates and hours:

https://abingtonartcenter.org/exhibitions/