Greetings! ...from Kimberly Shaw

Studio Desk

What does an artist's desk look like in the middle of a project? Well, that depends on the artist.

 

What does your desk typically look like? A messy desk is known as a sign of a creative mind and an empty desk has been called the sign of an empty mind (probably by a messy person). For me chaos disrupts my creativity. I tend to get bogged down when there is too much piled on my desk and I can't find anything. I see a clean desk and a new sheet of white paper as a pallet screaming for a new creation.

Last week my desk was piled in tissue sketches for a couple of days where a cup of cold tea stayed buried with a "science experiment" developing inside.  I'll spare you the picture of that, but I will share a sneak peak of the painting I just completed, which means 3 of my 7 new cards are done.

Now my desk is cleared and a 4th project is under way.

So, please share, how do you keep your desk? Messy, clean, in between, or all of the above at different stages?

Humble Adoration

So today I jumped on my soapbox again, this time to shout about a dear friend I admire.  With great enthusiasm I prepared to stand perched with her painting held high overhead to shout, "THIS GIRL CAN PAINT!"   In describing what this painting means to me personally, I found myself stepping off my soapbox to sit with my head in my hands, moved to tears under the amazing mercy of a heavenly Father.

I first saw Sue's painting when she posted a photo of it in her flicker photostream and it captured my heart instantly.  To me the happy cottage is so inviting, safely nestled against massive woods that stand to protect it from any coming storm. The warmth of the sun brighly shining upon it and the grassy knoll that leads to a lush tree standing as a landmark that this is home.

Writing these thoughts down brought to mind the trial I just came out of, where God was a shield protecting me from the attacks of the enemy, the light of His truth served to comfort and guide me, and I always felt safe as long as I remain planted in His will.

Though Sue may not have known the impact her painting would have on me when she painted it, God used it bless and encourage me. Through Sue's gracious generosity, her painting has found a home in my studio. Like a landmark it will always be a reminder that there is a trustworthy God in heaven who truly loves and cares for us. So now, back on my soapbox, I stand to shout, and by no means to deminish Sue's God given ability to paint a stunning painting, I wish to proclaim,

"My God, how great Thou art!"

But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; in reverence of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before my face. But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield. Psalm 5:7-8, 11-12

Sitting Pretty

I transformed my average office guest chairs with the very beautiful "Summer Soiree" fabric designed by one of my favorite textile designers, Paula Prass,  giving them the girly look they were screaming for.  Now they are sitting pretty in my studio.

Aquarelle

This Royal Grafton teacup was so much fun to watercolor in its delightful aqua color, sitting on a frilly doily,  against a pink background, with a pink rose in front. 

My favorite part to paint was the lower left where the doily lifted up allowing spots of light to shine through. I also enjoyed painting the gold accents in its various hues.

 

Welcome to my Studio - Where Bloggers Create II

The top floor of this little building is my studio. Today Karen Valentine is hosting her 2nd Annual "Where Bloggers Create" party and I've accepted her very gracious invitation. I originally designed this little building as a playhouse for my children. Of all the architectural projects I designed in my previous career, this is the only one I had built for myself. It's tucked into the slope in our back yard with the garden shed downstairs with the playhouse above. When the children grew out of it I moved in.

You enter it from the back up a few steps and through the garden.

A big antique chair sits in the corner waiting for visitors and the walls are covered in friend's artwork, vintage plates, and shelves of inspiring teacups.  The artwork over my desk was painted by the very talented Georgia who works for me. The red peanut shaped desk is from Ikea. The plan was to come home with the white rectangular desk featured on the cover of their catalog, but I opted for a bit of fun with hubby scratching his head. There's a story for almost everything here, but I'd love to be able to serve you a cup of tea before I show you around.

Tea is the inspiration behind my paintings and I have plenty to share.

 

These colorful teabags, mostly from Harney & Sons and Harrisons & Crosfield, become a part of my artwork.  My mother's antique pansy teacup was the inspiration for a painting I created here.

I painted the shadows first to avoid smearing the artwork later. Next I added the gold trim, because honestly, it was an easier choice than conquering the pansies right off.

 

 

 

Once the pansies were finished I painted my grandmother's handmade table runner underneath. Eventually this became a Thank You greeting card.

My Studio is always a bit cluttered. The artwork of the boats on the left is a friend's father's unfinished piece I rescued from a local thrift store. I'm sure it wasn't as valuable to the original owner being unfinished, but has sentimental value to me. The Sunflower painting tucked behind the door came from an auction to support the High Schools art program.

As you can see, it's not very big. I have mat cutters, a light table, watercolor paper, pencils, brishes and files of ideas tucked in each drawer.

 

A white hobmail lamp illuminates my desk beautifully.

 

   

I'm finally discovering these liquid watercolors, but my favorites are the set of antique inspired colors which work beautifully for vintage china.

  

My frien Ali drew this "T-ANATOR" for me which says, "Tea and cake or death, tea and cake or..."

I've painted this very sweet bud vace on a Thank You card when I should have been painting Christmas cards. It's hard painting christmas when your studio is surrounded by roses blooming in the summer. A friend loaned me her rose teacup which finished the setting.

Lace is my favorite thing to paint, but I need to use a very samll brush to fill in all the negitive spaces.

"God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." -Genesis 1:17 

I believe that if God created man in His image, with part of God's charator being creative, He also gave man the ability to create. May you clearly see the abilities God has given you to be creative. It doesn't have to be in painting, sculpting, or drawing, it may be in cooking, or planning a fun day out with friends, or even in organizing your home. Whatever gift God gave you, find joy in doing it.

Thanks for visiting, and thank you Karen for a fun event. For more "Creative Bloggers" visit Karen's beautiful creative space at My Desert Cottage and the list of all the participants.

I'm always sure to have one visitor who takes a nap under my desk while I paint.

Where Bloggers Create II

I'll be sharing my creative space tomorrow with over 500 of other fabulous creative bloggers for this second annual event "Where Bloggers Create II". Doesn't it sound like fun!!! You bet it does, and I'm looking forward to going on an amazing tour. To join the fun, and I'm sorry I'm sharing so LAST MINUTE, visit Karen Valentine at MyDesertCottage who is hosting this fantastic party!

For peak into my studio and a glimps of some of my favorite things I've created there, I look forward to having you, where there is sure to be a cup of tea and a cozy chair to rest in.

Spring Fever

As April showers bring new flowers, new ideas have begun sprouting in my mind. My desk is layered in sheets of tracing paper from sketching designs, doodling notes of concepts I want to develop, with other almost completed projects under the pile. 

I need to get organized, but with my garden just outside, the corn, beans, and melon seeds also stacked on my desk are anxious to be planted in their beds as soon as I clear some weeds.

The Nasturtiums have reseeded from last year while Black Eyed Susan, Echinacea, and Forget Me Not seeds were planted yesterday. I'm already anxious to see them sprout. 

The fragrance from the Grapefruit blossoms are also calling me outdoors. A few showers are expected today which will help me stay focused on the projects on my desk. But, as soon as the sun peaks, I'll be in the garden.

Happy first day of April!!!