Art Charms - Tiny Moments To Take Along! Released on Wednesday!

Introducing: Art Charms - Tiny Moments To Take Along!

Art Charms are created using reclaimed Scrabble® game tiles and are approximately ¾” square.


They are sealed (water resistant but not waterproof!) and finished with a high gloss, glass-like, non-toxic sealant and a Sterling Silver plated bail.


The letter on the back of your charm will be a surprise!


Due to the fact that these little charms are handmade by me ~ each one is unique & may vary slightly in color or design. They’ll look lovely as they dangle from hemp, wire, chain, beads, pins or bracelets - you choose where to hang your new Tiny Moment.


Please take great care around babies and young children, these are smooth and tempting, so let's keep the babes safe!


See the available Art Charms here - several more will be added to
the shop early in the week!


Here are some sweet words from a wonderful new collector:

I love your art for the motherly feel. I have a 6 year old boy and a 2 year old girl and a loving husband ~ and my kids have big green eyes and your work really captures that cheeky, cute sweet side to being a mum with that loving, nurturing feeling sprinkled on top! ~J.P., Australia

Thank You Jasmin!

Have a wonderful weekend all!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Two New 8x8s Released on Thursday - Free Cards Friday!

This is the last weekend of Summer vacation for us - I hope you had a relaxing and purposeful Summer!

It's Free Cards Friday! (Comment on this post here at the blog) or on my Facebook page


Two New 8x8 Paintings have just been added to the - 85 8x8s for $85 Collection


This week's 8x8 paintings:

In Common (left) ~ ... one day we realize that our children have taken on many of our interests, our sensitivities, our judgments, tendencies and attitudes. This becomes a wonderful opportunity to lead by example...


Love Story ~ ... wrapped up in a moment between outfits...


Also! A new product has entered the online store: Art Charms, Tiny Moments to Take Along!


See the Art Charms on Etsy here - where you may also see the 8x8s while they last!


UPCOMING EVENT! - Sixth Street Gallery Featured Artist Showing Opening Reception: Friday, September 4, 5-9pm Vancouver, Washington. Featuring live music by Jen Deale, Hors d'oeuvres, and more!


I wish you an inspired weekend, thank you for your time.

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Progress of 2 Upcoming 8x8s! To be Released Thursday Morning!

2 new 8x8s are cooking in the studio!
To be released tomorrow morning, look for them in the 85 8x8s for $85 Collection!

Have a great day!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Current Progress of a New (Old) Painting!

Good Eve!

I have been completely re-mastering (great word, eh?!) an earlier painting titled Hand Me Down, see the current stage to the left, see below for the earlier version.

Recently, I began to question whether or not Hand Me Down met my criteria as one of my best pieces, so I decided to rework it. The idea, I felt, was a worthy one, and I desired another crack at solving the idea.

LEFT: Hand Me Down in process (8.24.09)

Currently, Hand Me Down (re-mastered) is in its compositional brown and white stage (I begin each painting with luscious layers of raw umber and titanium and zinc white) - where I am finessing form, shadow and shape - as well as facial features.

The addition of the child being nude allows for introspection of what is about to happen in the life of this duo - I picture that the child may have recently finished his bath and is now enjoying the air on his fresh skin...

The edit of implementing the bird over the doll: I didn't fully realize the doll in the first version of this painting and was haunted by the fact that several viewers saw the "doll" as a misrepresented and badly done infant! YIKES!

LEFT: Hand Me Down (2008)

Birds, for me, have become representational of life and nature, compassion, warmth and light - so this new bird comes very intuitively.

I'm thrilled to see how this painting will unfold, I'll keep you posted!

I have a new box of paints and canvases laying in wait in the entrance to my studio - delivered this afternoon straight from Blick (http://www.dickblick.com/) - wow, it is already feeling like Christmas!


Have a great night,

Love & Sincerely,
Katie

Free Cards Winner, Scattered Scattered, Multi-Tasking...

Traci Donahue is the card winner for this week, she's off camping, but she'll get her cards soon - you can view Traci's lovely paintings here as well as in her etsy shop

I am the proud owner of this lovely little owl painting featured to the left, he lives in my upper balcony.

Left Image: Owl 2, ©Traci Donahue 2009


Scattered Scattered Scattered - some evenings this is how I feel as I bounce myself from the blog to twitter to facebook to the website to design work while listening to a podcast and shifting my eyes back and forth to "converse" with a painting in process....

Believe it or not, I am no longer a supporter of Multi-Tasking! I think it is a waste of time and a sure-fire way to get several things half done. Oh yeah, I'm also finishing up some new items for the Etsy shop...


Look at this:

“Multi-tasking is dead. It never worked and it never will. Intelligent people love to sing its praises because it gives them permission to avoid the much more challenging alternative: focusing on one thing.” – Timothy Ferriss

Oh what to do on a night like this!?


Have a great week and I hope that you are feeling focused and purposeful, just like the figure in Big Sky, to the left!

Love & Sincerely,
Katie

Three, Sleeping - brand new painting released today

Three, Sleeping

completed August 21, 2009

16x20"

acrylic on canvas

$280

Starting with the study, The Sleepers, I was pulled to recreate this painting in a larger format – I took a painting that I started at the Camas Live outdoor demonstration event and transformed it!

The painting previously failed to thrill me, but now, ah, I have a sensation of the pure, sweet, nurturing satisfaction within this moment of warm closeness.

Enjoy your moments!

See more here

Thank you for allowing me to share this new painting with you.

I Can See Clearly Now - brand new painting released today

I Can See Clearly Now

completed August 20, 2009
24x30"
acrylic on canvas
$580

When I check on my boys at night – it’s all so clear to me...

Seeing them sleeping, peaceful, warm – without a worry in the world. Simple, simple being human – the way they should be. I realize the important things in life, then.

During the day, this clarity becomes cloudy as I tangle with attitudes, ask and ask again, frustrate and become frustrated and work, work, work – as a mother must do.

However, no one stated it would be easy – so as I maneuver my way through, truly, the hardest job in the world (if you are trying to do it right) I take comfort in those moments when I stop everything and grab the closest boy into a hug, a dance, a cuddle or a wrestle. I assure myself that I am doing my best to stay clear and still have something that is my own – my painting.

Glimpses come throughout the day when I can truly see what I am meant to be doing: parenting and painting – I urge them to come more often, but then again, there is always night time.

See more here

Thank you for allowing me to share this new painting with you.

Drawing In Traffic, New Product Coming Soon, Free Cards Friday, Beauty in Solitude... and Goals!

Yes, I draw in traffic – and have been known to pull over to the side of the freeway to fully scratch out an idea.

My time alone in the car with my music is worth an hour of therapy, I imagine.

With sunglasses on, I feel I’m disguised enough from other drivers to feel the music and sing along – note – I’m NOT the girl you’ve seen who is completely rocking out behind the weel, I just open my soul and let the tunes wash me out. :)

Some of my favorite car music is: Hall & Oates, The Guess Who, Johnny Cash, Anna Nalick, Train, Tom Petty and Billy Joel… and I also love educational talk radio.

I have a new product coming in a few days, I can't wait to show you! Sneak Peek Coming Soon! Oh Oh Oh, they are SO cute :)

Don't forget! Comment on this blog post (here or in Facebook) and you are automatically entered to win Free Cards for Free Cards Friday! Hey, it's still Friday for about 45 more minutes :)

Above image: Beauty In Solitude, 24x30 painting - hanging at the lovely Zenana Spa in Portland, and available to take home if you'd like to run by and check it out!

Have an inspired weekend,

Love & Sincerely, Katie

PS: I achieved ALL of my lofty goals set for this week, how about you - did you achieve your goals? You did set some, right? :)

2 New 8x8 Paintings - Upcoming Event!

Two New 8x8 Paintings have just hit the market, can you believe we've reached 66 of the 85 8x8s already?

Stay tuned for what is coming after the 8x8s are fully released...

Today's paintings up for grabs!

Three ~ ... A mother and her two children ~ both of them sleeping peacefully ~ luck does occur!

The Sleepers ~ ... There is something so pure and sweet, satisfying and nurturing about the moment of warm closeness within this small family. this painting has sold.

See the two new 8x8 paintings and the whole collection here: http://kmberggren.com/portfolio-85-85.htm

UPCOMING EVENT! Sixth Street Gallery Featured Artist Showing - Opening Reception: Friday, September 4, 5-9pm Vancouver, Washington. Featuring live music by Jen Deale, Hors d'oeuvres, and more!

I wish you an inspired day.

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Commissioned Painting, Inspiration & Free Cards Winner!

Happy Monday morning, I'd like to share the process of a recent commissioned painting I created for a bright and cheerful local mother, Debi.

Debi's daughter commissioned the piece, and as I was honored to learn about the family, I also enjoyed the process very much - feeling an intense inspiration from beginning to end.

Debi was to receive this painting as a birthday gift, and had previously purchased Blessings at a local art fair.

Talking with Debi's daughter, I realized that over time I had begun to add more and more white to the skin of my mothers and children, and this made me curious, and also inspired to move back toward warm and color-infused faces.


This, plus recent studying of current and previous painters I admire is leading me down a very exciting path. I can't quite share the details yet, but am taking notes to record the process.

Currently, I am finishing up a painting that I started in April and then set aside. I Can See Clearly Now has blossomed from a "blah" presence in my studio to a piece I find myself looking at multiple times in an hour.

I will be presenting I Can See Clearly Now to you before too long, after we've spent our required time together :)


Additional upcoming inpsirations in the works include a completely new product in the Etsy shop (I'll let you know when it has arrived) a sneak peek will come in the next week or so.

...as well as the plans for what will happen every Thursday once the 85 8x8s are completed...

I'm addicted to presenting something each Thursday morning, and over the last 6 months it has become a very exciting part of my weekly schedule - this weekly unveiling WILL continue, just in a new way, watch and see!


I've set some lofty goals for this week and I will be achieving them - I've posted them in my studio, so they are completely visible.

Mychelle is the cards winner, thanks for playing!

Thank you all for your continued support and love.

I wish you a very inspired week!

Love & Sincerely,

Katie

Free Cards Friday! Contest Entry! Win Win Win!

Let me tell you about Fancy Pants Kids - a company started by my friend Gretel in Canada - see some of her cool creations to the right:

Fancy Pants Kids is based in Toronto, Ontario (Canada) and specializes in the design and construction of quality dramatic play garments for children.

Recognizing the vital importance of imaginative play in child development, Fancy Pants Kids delivers creative and inspiring play items that will be treasured by children and parents, alike.

Fancy Pants Kids’ designs are kid-tested, practical, durable, washable and are made with the express goal of lighting the spark that will allow a child’s imagination to explode with endless possibilities.

Gretel is currently running a contest from which you could win one of her fabulous designs for your kids! I know my boys would go head over heels for a super cape!

Go here and sign up for Gretel's mailing list to receive the Fancy Pants Kids quarterly newsletter - this will automatically put you in the running for a prize!
Visit the Fancy Pants Kids website!


Want to WIN some more?! Comment on this blog post here (or on Facebook) and you'll be automatically entered to win free cards from yours truly. Have a great day!

Image Left: a recent commissioned painting - prints are available upon request.


Love & Sincerely,

Katie

2 New 8x8 paintings just released!

Good morning!

Two New 8x8 paintings have just been released into the world - Merchildren and Sentimental!

Also, I will be the Featured Artist at Sixth Street Gallery in Vancouver Washington for the month of September, beginning in an opening reception on Friday, September 4 from 5-9pm with music, food and more!

Have a wonderful day!

Love & Sincerely,

Katie

Camas Live - August 8, 2009

Good Evening!
Camas Live took place in Camas, Washington on Friday evening, August 8 from 5-9pm - what fun! I thought I'd share these images with you. I hope you have a wonderful week!

"I tell you, the more I think, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people."
Vincent van Gogh

Love & Sincerely, Katie

2 New 8x8" Paintings - 2 Upcoming Events!

TWO NEW 8x8 PAINTINGS!



























Tenderness ~ ...such innocence and delight as two individuals find comfort and purpose in each other.

Merchild 3 ~ ...I contemplate fiercely the fact that I have less than one month until my child begins kindergarten...


See the two new 8x8 paintings and the whole collection here.



























TWO UPCOMING EVENTS! Yeah!

CAMAS LIVE - TOMORROW NIGHT - 5-9pm

Friday, August 7 from 5-9pm in lovely downtown Camas I'll have a tent with original paintings, prints, cards and 8x8 paintings! I'll be introducing THREE new paintings, as well - come see them if you are local!

This is a new event for me, so I will be looking forward to seeing my local friends and collectors there!


LOVE ART GALLERY - PASSPORT TO SELLWOOD - SATURDAY - 10am-5pm

Here is your chance to experience the gorgeous Love Art Gallery in Portland, Oregon. If you are local, I implore you to take a bit of time to go (8036 SE 13th Avenue, Portland OR) for Passport to Sellwood - I'll be there with my tent and a selection of demonstrating artists - the town as a whole is celebrating - learn more here.

Be prepared for the atmosphere and personality that will embrace you as you enter Love Art Gallery.


I wish you a lovely and inspired day.

Love & Sincerely, Katie