Free Cards Friday - Moving Weekend! New Studio Finished!

As we speak, Igor, the wonderfully hard-working flooring installer is finishing up the floors in my new studio - moving starts now :)

It's Free Cards Friday, and since I'll be without a computer tomorrow - I'll give you through the rest of Friday and all of Saturday to get yourself into the running for Free Cards... weekend? :)

Comment on THIS post before midnight on Saturday and you could be randomly chosen to receive Free Cards via mail! Tons of happy winners so far, let's get some cards for you!

Here's a thought to get you going:

"Our mothers and grandmothers... some of them moving to music not yet written." ~ Alice Walker

Have a great weekend!

Love & Sincerely,

Katie

Above painting: Sprinkling Sunshine

New 8x8 Painting - Preparing for Move into New Studio!

Good morning!

As I worked on this little face last night, I realized that this is the last 8x8 painting to be completed in my transitional studio - this weekend we make our final move to the new place and I will begin setting up the studio ~ I can hardly wait as you may have guessed :)

Pieces Of Me marks the 52nd painting in the 85 8x8s for $85 collection - I'm thrilled to see what next week brings - have a wonderful Thursday!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

In The Now - Free Cards Friday - Comment and Win!

Good morning - yesterday began the cleaning and renovation of our new home and studio - today: demolition occurs! I'll have studio images to share before too long. In the meantime, enjoy your today, the fresh air, the little bodies and voices that surround you and depend upon you.

This morning, I read Dana Layon's (of Zen Flow Yoga) Weekly Om about Being In The Now (view Dana's website here - click on Free E-Newsletter to receive your own inspirational Weekly Om) and after reading it, I heard the voices of my little boys - playing with their Playmobil Knights in their room ~ I considered the painting that needs wiring and labeling, the sandwiches that needed making, the potluck stuff that needed to be packed....

...then, I went in and sat on the floor of my boys' room and played Playmobil with them. We were all happy. The stuff got packed, the sandwiches got made, and we are ready to leave - not even late :)

Today is Free Cards Friday - comment on this post and be in the running to win free cards!

Have a great day!

Love & Sincerely,

Katie

Above painting: When I'm Feeling Blue

Thursday's New 8x8 Motherhood Paintings!

Good morning!

I'd be honored to introduce you to the two newest 8x8 paintings, number 50 and 51, if you can believe it!

Embrace & Skin To Skin

learn more about them here:

http://kmberggren.com/portfolio-85-85.htm

They are currently available in the Etsy shop: http://www.kmberggren.etsy.com

Have a wonderful day!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Sneak Peek - New 8x8s Near Complete!

Thursday's 2 New 8x8s are sneak peeking at you! Embrace (left) and Skin To Skin (right)
They are near complete - see their unveiling on Thursday morning, here, in the Etsy Shop http://www.kmberggren.etsy.com and via email blast - if you are not currently receiving emails when new 8x8s are released and you would like to, let me know by emailing me at katie@kmberggren.com.

Have a great Wednesday and I hope you are feeling as caught up as I am (in some ways!)

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Creation Process - You May Say I'm A Dreamer

Good morning! I have something to show you (and Shiela is my Free Cards Winner, by the way).

One day while working on this painting, I found myself humming the words “You may say I’m a dreamer… but I’m not the only one” and assumed this would be the title. However, I have also always wanted to name a painting “Talking with Lennon” after Lennon’s song “Imagine”.


You recall the words, I’m sure:


“...imagine all the people, living life in peace (sharing all the world) (living for today)…No need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man…”


The line “Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can…” always elicits my response “yes I can” (this jives with my feelings about the non-need to buy buy buy). I have always considered myself talking with Lennon and have wanted to paint this for years.


While taking a break from this painting, I picked up my Dr. Wayne Dyer book Change Your Thoughts ~ Change Your Life, and opened right to the 18th verse of the Tao Te Ching: “Living Without Rules”.

Dr. Dyer says: “Picture yourself in a world where rules and laws don’t exist, where everyone lives peacefully and harmoniously. There’s no anarchy, thievery, hatred or war: people simply live, work, love, and play without needing to be governed. Can you imagine a planet where the need for codes of conduct and edicts to govern the populace are simply unnecessary?”

It struck me that this coincidence required that this painting be my Lennon painting - but what about “You May Say I’m a Dreamer”? They are in bed, after all...


CLICK!


I quickly realized that this was a line from the same song! Thus, this painting became complete – with its meaning and its title.

“Talking With Lennon” will, without a doubt, show up as a title at a later date!

Have a great day!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Completed Commissions, Free Cards Friday

Here are the completed images for the newest commissioned paintings - these were a joy to work on, and their new owners were a pleasure to work with!

You can see more commissioned pieces in the Portfolio of Privately Owned paintings.




My son received some knock knock jokes from his Grandma for his 5th birthday - here is his favorite one:

Knock Knock

Who's There?

Witches

Witches Who?

Witches the way to go home?

Here's wishing you a wonderful and relaxing weekend, and remember to comment on this post and be in the running to receive free cards for Free Cards Friday!

Love & Sincerely,
Katie

New 8x8s and a FREE GIFT for you!

Good Morning!

I hope you are well!

I know you've been eagerly awaiting Thursday, and so have I!

Introducing 2 new 8x8 paintings: Sweet Love and Forget Me Not!

See the whole collection here: http://kmberggren.com/portfolio-85-85.htm

SPECIAL FOR YOU, FOR TODAY ONLY!

In honor of my big boy's 5th birthday, buy any 8x8 and receive a FREE Print! That's a $12 value, and if you buy two 8x8s, you get TWO FREE PRINTS! http://www.kmberggren.etsy.com/

Make a note in the comments section for the print(s) you'd like (I'm not making prints of the 8x8s because I want them to be unique to the buyer, but any other painting has a print).

There is an enticing collection of 8x8s still available in the 8x8 collection - click here to see only the available 8x8s: http://kmberggren.com/portfolio-85-85-Available.htm

Thank you for your time and have a great day!

Love & Sincerely,Katie

Love Art Gallery Grand Opening

Let me tell you about Love Art Gallery...



There is a passion that flows through this gallery ~ the second you walk up the purple steps.


The family that has created, designed and presented Love Art Gallery to the world are the type of individuals that I try to surround myself with, those I feel an instant connection with.


Ruby and Heather wrapped their passion and kindness around me and my work, even through the first emails in which they inquired about my paintings.



The evening of Friday, June 5 was the Grand Opening for Love Art Gallery in Sellwood (Portland) Oregon.





The renovated historic building in the shopping district was bursting at the seams with energy, artists, shoppers, sparkly beverages, fresh truffles and Buddhist chanting by Thom.


Every last fragment of this lovely building has been thoroughly attended to – from the garden sculpture to the purple entry steps, to the light switch plates, through to the artwork gracing the bathroom walls.


I invite you to come and experience the joy, the tenderness, the artwork and the spirit at Love Art Gallery.

8036 SE 13th Avenue (on the corner of 13th and Spokane) 503.954.2656

loveartgallery@comcast.net Ruby, Heather, Ted, Christopher

The gallery is open Tuesday - Thursday from 10am–6pm, Friday and Saturday from 10am-8pm, Sunday from 11am-5pm, and is closed on Mondays. Open by special request/appointment.


Have a great week my friends!
Love & Sincerely, Katie

Painting Process - Saturday Sons!

It's a beautifully calm Saturday, painting with my boys and working on commissioned pieces.





The Free Cards Winner for Friday is Sarah, thanks for playing!




Showing the process of a current commissioned painting - from sketch, to value study and onto warmth, tightening and detail.





The next stage is continued warmth, the addition of energy, motion and sparkle - then completion!

Last night was an awe-inspiring Grand Opening at Love Art Gallery in Sellwood (Portland) Oregon. The beautiful renovated historic home was bursting at the seams - with visitors, artists, chocolate, sparkling drinks and passion!

Tomorrow, I'll post images - what a nice, refreshing evening.






Be sure to check out the Etsy shop for Father's Day gifts, the 7 available 8x8 paintings, a myriad of prints, individual cards and box sets of cards. http://www.kmberggren.etsy.com/




Have a wonderful evening - Love & Sincerely, Katie

Free Cards Friday and Process of Commissioned Painting

Good Morning my friends!


My boys are making gingerbread houses out of graham crackers and cream cheese frosting - I had to grab my camera and I ended up with a couple cute ones that are already inspiring new paintings. I'm not sure what is yummier, graham crackers with frosting, or little sweet boys covered in frosting!


Today is Free Cards Friday, comment on this post and be in the running to win free cards! Soon, I'll be ordering a large new batch of cards, but in the meantime, there are some really great ones in stock!




Here are the next two process images for one of my current commissioned pieces ~ see the initial sketch in a previous post below!

I'm working on the next stage of this painting, and am enjoying every moment of it.

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love.

~Mildred B. Vermont

If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?

~Milton Berle

Love & Sincerely, Katie

New 8x8 Paintings - New Gallery!

Good Morning!

Introducing two new 8x8s, Swing #2 and June!

See the whole collection here: http://kmberggren.com/portfolio-85-85.htm

Also introducing my new gallery, Love Art! Gallery, located in a renovated historic house in the heart of Sellwood's shopping district in Portland, Oregon.

This stunning gallery is a family creation by Ruby Campbell, Ted Newton, daughter Heather Love, with husband Christopher Love and little Corina & Rhiannon Love.

The gallery hosts the finest local artists in a delightful setting ~ presenting paintings, sculpture, jewelry, glass, mosaics, pottery, photography... an eclectic selection of awesome artists, personally and professionally.

Come share the JOY! Grand Opening: June 5th, 6pm-8pm.8036 SE 13th Ave. (Corner of 13th and Spokane)503-954-2656 - loveartgallery@comcast.net

Have a great day!

Thank you!

Love & Sincerely,Katie