Snapshot E-Magazine - Featuring Katie m. Berggren - August 2009

Vancouver Wasnington's Snapshot E-Magazine is featuring my work and story for August 2009!

I invite you to check out this stunning FREE monthly magazine, and to subscribe to receive one free lovely magazine per month.

Open publication

A big thank you to Shiela Strubel, the editor and creator of Snapshot, for her hard work and ability to be easy to work with!

Have a great afternoon everyone and THANK YOU for the positive response on today's 2 8x8s (they have both found new homes) - I'll be honored to present two more to you in ONE week!

Don't forget to comment on tomorrow's blog post to be in the running to receive free cards.

Love & Sincerely,

Katie

2 New 8x8s ~ Waiting and Realize

Good Morning!

2 New 8x8 Paintings are Available!

Waiting

This mother gave me intensity from the beginning – she is content, I think, yet waiting intently for something. The arrival of a traveler, perhaps, or an upcoming birth? While one child has given in to rest, another child seems to float, barely suspended by a mother’s hand. There’s a photo of me when I was three and I appear to be floating aside my chair – I’ve never been able to explain it – now I figure that the energy was such (I was happy wearing a pretty yellow dress with a giant flower in my hair) that I was light as air.

See More: http://kmberggren.com/g215.htm

Realize

After my father passed away in 1998, there was a song that mesmerized me – a country song titled Daddy’s Hands by Holly Dunn (“Daddy’s hands were soft and kind when I was crying, Daddy’s hands – were hard as steel when I’d done wrong, Daddy’s hands weren’t always gentle, but I’ve come to understand, there was always love in Daddy’s hands…”). I realize this painting is about more than a father’s touch – but about the breath and energy, eye contact and atmosphere that flow between. It seems fitting to complete this painting on the day that would have been my father’s 62nd birthday.

See More: http://kmberggren.com/g216.htm

Camas Live is coming up on Friday, August 7 from 5-9pm in gorgeous and charming Camas, Washington. See more info in previous posts!

There are several 8x8s to choose from in the Etsy shop, see them here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5899985&section_id=5890229

Tomorrow is Free Cards Friday!

Comment on tomorrow morning's post and be in the running to win...

Have a great day!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Stylestance, North Bank Magazine, HandMade News, Top Artists Directory... some shameless back-patting for myself and others!

Good Morning!
I've had the honor of being mentioned by some wonderful folks lately, and wanted to draw attention to their businesses and blogs.

Stylestance - I am the featured artist on Stylestance today! You can see the article here

Here is the definition of Stylestance: "STYLE + SUBSTANCE. Stylestance is a thing of beauty that has a deeper purpose behind it. Stylestance can be a simple yet life-changing product. Fashion that serves a dual purpose, even if that purpose is just to make us feel good. A beautiful item lovingly made by hand. A company or service that sets out to change the world. And stylestance can be embodied by a person with effortless style who does meaningful work. Stylestance Daily is my forum for new stylestance discoveries. I strive for stylestance every day. "


HandMade News recently chose Pieces of Me to go along with their article on creating a travel size weighted blanked for children with Autism or Aspergers. You can see the article here.


The North Bank Magazine of Vancouver, Washington - who has featured my work in the past and is compiled by the talented Jessica Swanson, has chosen Linger as a navigation image for their Craft section. You can visit the North Bank Magazine website here, and I recommend it!


Top Artists Directory featured my business as the Top Artist of the Week in May Kim Barker, aka Laketrees is doing a free mini portrait giveaway - her work is gorgeous, so you may want to enter to win! Competition extended through July 31. Visit Kim's site here! And good luck!

Have a great weekend!
Love & Sincerely,
Katie

Free Cards Friday and Camas LIVE!

Good Morning!
The boys and I are getting ready to play a game, but I wanted to make a mention of an upcoming fun event in Camas Washington!

Friday, August 7 from 5-9pm in downtown Camas I'll have a tent with original paintings, prints, cards and 8x8s! This is a new event for me, so I will really be looking forward to seeing my local friends and collectors there! I'll keep you updated as it nears.

Point of View (above) has been one of my favorite 8x8s to date, and I realize that this little family still waits to inspire someone new on a daily basis.

Point of View hangs at the gorgeous Love Art Gallery in Portland Oregon. If you are interested and not local to the area then just let me know and I can retrieve it for you.

If you are local, I implore you to take a bit of time to go to Love Art Gallery (8036 SE 13th Avenue, Portland OR) - the atmosphere and personality there may floor you.

"Health, Learning & Virtue will ensure your happiness; they will give you a quiet conscience, private esteem & public humor."

Thomas Jefferson

Don't forget to comment on this post and be in the running to receive Free Cards for Free Cards Friday! I'll choose the winner over the weekend.

Have a great day!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

A New Week of Inspiration...

On Saturday, I was so lucky to get to spend most of the day with my brother, Kevin - he's a painter in Sweden and he's finishing up a 3 1/2 week stay in the U.S.

We rambled around Portland and visited Powells Books where I was delighted to bring home some books on some of my favorite artists, including Kathe Kollwitz - a german expressionist artist (drawings, block prints, sculpture) who worked during the 1890s and the 2nd World War. Her emotional drawings were one of the main reasons I yearned to become an artist - years and years ago.

Kollwitz's image above: Worker Woman with Sleeping Child (Arbeiterfrau Mit Schlafendem Jungen)

Her work touches me in a way no other has. She did what I yearn to do, in regard to capturing emotion (frequently between mother and child) - however, you'll notice if you click around some links above, that her eyes saw more suffering, death and poverty than mine (hopefully) ever will, so her work has a couple themes that I have no intention of working with. But the emotion, *sigh*, just splits my heart.

At Powells, I also picked up books on Gustav Klimt and Mary Cassatt.

Have a great week!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

English Estate Winery and Free Cards Friday!

It's Free Cards Friday! Comment (through blog or facebook) to this post and be in the running to receive free cards! I'll choose the winner over the weekend.

The English Estate Winery Art & Wine Fair in Vancouver Washington took place over last weekend and it was a great success!

I'm sharing some photos from the event here, taken by fellow artist Ray Klein

(FaceBook users: see the photos here: http://www.paintingmotherhood.blogspot.com!)

In my studio, I stand while I paint, so sitting on the grass while painting was an interesting

experience!

I want to THANK all of you who came and shared time, art, conversation and beautiful weather (on Saturday) with me - Sunday's weather was quite a bit cooler, which makes me that much more grateful for the collectors (current and new!) who came to shop on Sunday.

I had the opportunity to see many new faces, shake many new hands and welcome several new collectors, two of which, Ratha and Carolyn are show here (above).

I began a painting at the winery, titled Keep, see above, and will keep you updated on it's progress!

Have a great weekend, and don't forget to comment so you can win free cards!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

English Estate Winery & off to the beach!

The Art & Wine Fair at English Estate Winery yesterday was grand! Beautiful weather, wonderful company and great new collectors and contacts. Thank you to all who came and made it a very successful day - I'll post pictures Friday. Today, I'm back to the Winery for a few hours before heading to the beach with my family for the rest of the week.

I have my painting supplies with me so that I can keep my promise to paint every day - I'll be working on Thursday's 8x8.

Abby is my free card winner (again!) thanks Abby!

Have a wonderful day and if you are local and just hanging out - come see me this morning at the English Estate Winery Art & Wine fair from 11-230ish.

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Free Cards Winners - Studio Progress - Upcoming Event!

As I type this, my printer is producing prints for this weekend's event, some of the production is complete, and I'm working on four new 16x20 paintings.

A recent consulting call with the wonderful Ariane Goodwin of SmARTist, and a recent evening with some girlfriends has helped to re-invigorate me... inspiration: a nice studio-warming gift!

The painting furthest to the right is inspired by the 8x8 painting titled Quench.

The Free Cards Winners for the last two weeks are Abby and Cindy, thanks for playing!

UPCOMING EVENT:

This weekend, July 11 & 12, I’ll be painting onsite at the English Estate Winery Art & Wine Fair in Vancouver, and I’d love to see you there! I’ll be there 12-8pm on Saturday and 12-3pm on Sunday.

Along with me, I’ll have 10 8x8 paintings, 3 new 16x20s, 24x30 paintings, 18 new card designs and a multitude of prints! Purchase an original 8x8 and take home 6 free cards or a free print! Purchase a 16x20 or larger and take home 8 free cards or two free prints!

Wine, crafts, art, music, sun, great company … you can only imagine the fun to be had!

The address for the Winery is 17806 SE 1st Street, and the number is 360.772.5141, http://www.englishestatewinery.com/

Last year, this event was the highlight of the summer – I am looking very forward to this weekend.

Have a wonderful, sunny week!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Sneak Peek at the New Studio - plus Free Cards Friday!

Welcome to the weekend!

The transition is complete, and here, I'd like to introduce you to my new studio in East Vancouver - the place where magic is bound to happen - a place where I can stretch my legs and my wings, stand back from my paintings, learn, experiment and grow.

I thank YOU for your support over the years, allowing me to believe in myself, to dream, to draw from your stories, emotions and positive influences.

I thank those who own paintings (and have given them as gifts) and prints and cards, those who have entrusted me with their emotions and their memories, Thank You.

Without YOU, this new place would not be..

For those of you that are local, I would LOVE to see you next Saturday and Sunday (the 11th and 12th) at English Estate Winery in Vancouver Washington where I'll be visiting for an Art & Wine fair (12-6 on Saturday and 12-3 on Sunday).

Last year at this show, the paintings went very quickly and the experience was completely fulfilling. I value the collectors I made last year at this time and I invite you to come and visit, drink some wine, view a myriad of local artists and vendors and get your hands on some 8x8 paintings (from the 85 8x8s for $85 collection) as well as prints and a supply of brand new card styles.

I hope to see you then!

Please feel free to call me with any questions: 360.261.0874 - this is a Kalama number, so it is long distance from Vancouver.

Remember, this is Free Cards Friday - so comment on this post and you are in the running!

Have a happy and safe Fourth Of July.

Love & Sincerely, Katie