Heart of Hearts, brand new painting

Heart Of Hearts is complete ~ and that's all I can say for now (except that I love this new painting) because the next painting is literally clawing its way out of me as I write this....

MUST go paint!

The internet has a way of sucking my time away, but not tonite... which brings me to my thought for the day:

...if you have an urge to create - you MUST MUST do so... you owe it to the world...

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Free Cards Friday ~ 10x10 Paintings

Good Morning!


It is Do-It Day at my house again! I like these days and have an urge to get some indoor things finished so we can spend time outside in the yard this weekend :)




My littlest one and I planted about 30 bulbs on Wednesday, and the sight of their little sprouts sings Spring to me everytime I walk outside.




It's also Free Cards Friday! Comment on this post (here at the blog or on my Facebook page) and be in the running to win some cards ~ I'll choose the winner on Monday.








For fun, I'm posting all of the Available 10x10 Paintings here - it's so fun to see them as a happy bunch! For more information on these paintings, visit the online Forty Minis Portfolio or the Online Etsy Shop.

A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them.-- Victor Hugo

A mother understands what a child does not say. -- Jewish proverb

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

10x10 Paintings from The Forty Minis Collection, top to bottom: Wist, After The Bath, Music, Attachment, Time Well Spent, Day Dream, Star Crossed.

Love & Sincerely ~ Katie

Star Crossed - Today's 10x10" Painting Release!

Good Morning!
Have you been anxiously awaiting Thursday for a new painting release? :)

I have!

Star Crossed ~ This trio feels soft and womb-ish to me; ideal and delightful - the feeling of unconditional affection...

See Star Crossed here ~ in the Etsy Shop.

Find this brand new painting and the whole Forty Minis Collection (so far) on the website in The Forty Minis Portfolio


Tomorrow is Free Cards Friday, (comment on tomorrow's post, here at the blog or on my Facebook page) and be entered to win some cards! I will pick the winner on Monday.

Have a Great Day!

Love & Sincerely ~ Katie

Vision Boards ~ an expanding experience

Recently, I visited with my friend Tia Ribary of Ribary & Associates and we talked a bit about her Vision Board, hanging in her office ~ I have always wanted to create one, but for some reason hadn't.

Talking with Tia lit a fire beneath me. Vision Boards are talked about in The Secret , as well as the SmARTist Telesummit 2008, and a myriad of other places including the Women Entrepreneurs Organization that I belong to in Vancouver, Washington.



Basically, a Vision Board (or Treasure Map) is a collage that contains images and words of what you want to be/do/have/experience in your life - your visions, your goals.

Kathie Nelson of Connectworks describes it this way: "When you’re caught up in the day-to-day of running your business and your life, it can be easy to lose sight of why you’re doing all of this and what you are trying to create. Treasure Mapping is a proven visioning process that harnesses the power of both sides of your brain to create your own “treasure map” to serve as a guide and reminder of what it is you really want to manifest in the coming year."

Kathie is offering a workshop in Portland, Oregon area in February (see the details and/or sign up on Kathie's website) where you can get together with a variety of other individuals for a map building/consulting session. This event comes highly recommended.




On Monday, while my big boy was in school, my little boy and I decided to start creating - he creating collages, me working on a Vision Board ~ information that I have read has suggested you create your board in one sitting, vs spreading the process out over days.

We worked happily for two hours, munching apples and chatting and it was such a soul-expanding experience for me! It felt right every step of the way and the images (but mostly words) that I pulled from my art and Real Simple magazines were amazingly insightful.

I now have a beautiful board to hang in my studio - where I can look at it each day ~ information that I have read and heard has suggested you spend around 30 minutes a day with your board.

"Energy Flows Where Attention Goes" right?!

In the above photos, my Vision Board is in the upper left, the creative mess takes over the rest of the space :)

“Creative vision is more than an interest in material things it is a commitment to a better future. Nothing will happen in your life that you do not inspire by your own initiative. Creative vision is the power which inspires that personal initiative.”

– Napoleon Hill

Have a wonderful and inspiring day!

Love & Sincerely ~ Katie

Heart of Hearts ~ Free Cards Winner

Good Monday Morning!

I am working on a new painting titled Heart Of Hearts and I'd like to share it with you - here is an in-process photo:

This is a 20x24" painting. I am also taking video of this process, so I'll share the whole package with you upon completion!

Last Week's Free Cards Friday winner is Kristin of The Monster Squad - you can view her Etsy shop here. Thank you all for playing!

Also, I'll be out of the country from February 23-March 5, but will be doing some work from Sweden! Meanwhile, the Online Shop will be open and fully functioning, orders just won't be shipping out quite as often - I will have some help on this side of the globe, getting the orders packed and out :)

"Children seldom misquote you. They more often repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said."
-Mae Maloo

Have a great day!
Love & Sincerely, Katie

Free Cards Friday ~ The Sun Comes Up on Pieces Of Me!

I have decided to warm up a previous 8x8 Painting - Pieces of Me, I loved the idea and composition, but it needed some spring :)

This painting is part of the 85 8x8s for $85 Collection and is the last of two pieces available.

See Pieces of Me in the Online Etsy Shop here!

Today is Free Cards Friday! Comment on this post (here at the blog or on my Facebook page) and be in the running to win a few of my new cards ~ I'll choose the winner on Monday.





Have a great day and a lovely weekend!


Sincerely, Katie

Prints of Energy Now Available

The original Energy will be off to a new home tomorrow ~ which means prints of this painting are now available ~ learn more in the Etsy Shop: http://www.kmberggren.etsy.com



Tomorrow - it's Free Cards Friday - come back to comment on tomorrow's post and be in the running to win free cards.

Have a great night!

And thank you.

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Energy... Feeling It! The New 10x10 Painting!

I hope you are having a great Thursday!

Energy, the newest 10x10 for The Forty Minis Collection has arrived!

~ From the beginning, I loved the energy that swirled about this small family - and I can't help but think that they are waiting for something or someone, or possibly saying farewell... ~

Find this brand new painting and the whole Forty Minis Collection (so far) at http://kmberggren.com/portfolio-40minis.htm

Tomorrow is Free Cards Friday, (comment on tomorrow's post, here at the blog or on my Facebook page) and be entered to win some cards!

Have a great day!

~ Love & Sincerely, Katie

Here & Now is here, now!

Good evening!
Tonite I present the finished image of Here & Now, the newest large painting to emerge from the studio. Tomorrow morning this painting will be live on the website.

Watch the fast blast video of Here & Now's creation process

Watch the fast blast video of Here & Now's creation process

Tomorrow I will be presenting Energy, the 8th 10x10 - see the whole Forty Minis Collection here and let me know if you want to be notified by email when this new painting hits the market.

Have a great night!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

New Painting Video ~ Here & Now ~ Free Cards Winner

Presenting a brand new video! The process of Here & Now, the newest painting from the studio.

I'll get it photographed tomorrow ~ today was a beautiful picture-perfect morning, but we spent it walking to the park and playing with Great Grandma :)

It occurs to me that the important stuff we are meant to learn must come from within - books and other people we admire can hint at this stuff, but it will not sink in until we are ready, then it bursts from within in a way that makes sense to us...

just a thought :)

The Free Cards Winner for last week is: Kimberly ~ thanks for playing everyone!

Have a great night,

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Slowing Down to the Speed of Life, Carlson and Bailey's insightful book

I am honored to have received permission from Joseph Bailey to post this excerpt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Slowing Down to the Speed of Life
©Richard Carlson & Joseph Bailey http://joebaileyandassociates.com/index.html

The first of seven techniques for getting into the present moment while parenting.

1) Become More Oriented to the Present Moment

One of the primary keys to effective, joyful parenting is the same as the key to slowing down to the speed of life: Learn to live more of your life in this moment. So much of the time we are reviewing some aspect of our experience that is over and done with – this morning’s quarrels between siblings, last semester’s poor report card, last night’s disrespectful comments. Or we are rehearsing an unknown or feared future – what if my child doesn’t get into college? What will happen if the kids can’t get along on our vacation? What if Sara can’t meet any new friends? All of these concerns (and thousands of others like them), past and future, are just thoughts…

Consider this, imagine your life as a timeline:

You were born _________ right now _________ the moment you die.

Consider everything that has ever happened to you in your life as it exists right now – pleasant experiences, embarrassing moments, passion, sadness, grief, success, failure. At this moment in your life, looking back, what realm is everything in? Is it actual reality or merely thoughts in your mind? If you guessed that it’s in the realm of thought, you are right. If you fainted in a public speaking class, it’s no longer real, it’s only a memory. If you were a high school cheerleader thirty years ago, it’s now only a thought. Anything and everything that has ever happened in your life exists now only in memory.

Now consider the future. Everything that will ever happen to you in the future is, in this moment, only a thought. It hasn’t happened yet. You can’t touch it; you can only anticipate it, think about it. You may become rich and famous or broke and homeless, but whatever may happen, at this moment it’s all thought.


That leaves you with this moment and this moment alone! This present moment is the only “real” moment that exists in real time – right now. But remember, this moment too is constantly changing and it too is experienced through thought. The moment vanishes and is replaced by the next one and so forth.

This exercise helps to emphasize how precious this moment really is by reminding you that all other moments are only an illusion. This moment is the only real one there is. Appreciate each new moment instead of focusing on moments that are over or yet to be, and you will operate at the speed of life.

©Richard Carlson & Joseph Bailey http://joebaileyandassociates.com/index.html

Here are the details of this inspiring book:

Slowing Down to the Speed of Life
How to Create a more Peaceful Simpler Life From the Inside Out

©Richard Carlson and Joseph Bailey
Harper Collins Publishers

"Carlson and Bailey help us recognize rushed thought processes and access healthy, relaxed feelings, and, using the popular "psychology of mind" approach, they teach us to gain new-found abilities to stay focused on the task at hand and enhance our creativity and achievement. Illustrated with useful exercises, charts, and diagrams, as well as inspiring personal reflections, Slowing Down to the Speed of Life shows us there is plenty of time to build meaningful relationships, master seemingly hectic schedules, and maintain a healthy calm in the midst of the life's storm. "

Buy the Book at Amazon

I have just completed a painting, titled Here & Now, and I adore it. I also (yay!) have a ton of footage of the painting process. So, in the next couple days, I will be posting the painting to my website and the video to my Youtube Channel my Youtube Channel

Have a wonderful weekend!

Don't forget to comment on yesterday's blogpost to be in the running to win free cards.

Love & Sincerely, Katie

above image: Spending Time, 30x24" acrylic painting on cradled panel

Free Cards Friday!

It's Free Cards Friday! Comment on this post (here at the blog or on my Facebook page) and be in the running to win some cards!

Have a great day!
Love & Sincerely, Katie

After The Bath ~ Today's 10x10 Painting ~ Plus, Watch The Video!

After The Bath ~ I really love the colors in this painting. The newest release into The Forty Minis Collection.

"Celebrating that raw and intimate moment: birthed from the warm soft bath, into mama's warm soft arms."

Snag this painting in the the Online Etsy shop!

A special bonus with this painting release:

WATCH the video of the last portion of the painting process! http://www.youtube.com/user/kmberggren

I'm very excited about the Painting Process Videos, and you will definitely see more soon.

DON'T FORGET! Tomorrow is Free Cards Friday! Comment on TOMORROW'S post (here at the blog or on my Facebook page) and be in the running to win a few of my new cards.

Have a great Thursday!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

After The Bath ~ Watch the Painting Process of this brand new painting - Tomorrow's 10x10 Release

oh yeah! I succeeded at something that was, just a month ago, completely beyond my perception - the first Painting Process Video is available - see it below, or here: http://www.youtube.com/user/kmberggren on my new facebook channel (phew).







The painting in the video is titled After The Bath and it is TOMORROW'S 10x10 release into The Forty Minis Collection.


I'll get to work on getting some more ready - this is so much fun :)

I'd love to hear your comments when you watch the video.

Thank you & Sincerely, Katie

Sneak Peek at After The Bath ~ Thursday's 10x10 painting!

Good afternoon!
I would like to give you a sneak peek at the UNFINISHED After The Bath - Thursday's 10x10 release into The Forty Minis Collection!

Still in order for this painting is warming the skin tones and background as well as adding atmosphere, color and final details. I like it so far.

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Last weeks Free Cards Friday winner is Annette - thank you for playing!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Hello Mama! Painting Progress ~ Mary Cassatt: one of my very favorites

Good evening, it's about time to call it quits for the night, but I wanted to share this ~ I just achieved the (underpainting of) the mother's face in my new painting, it's simple and makes me feel very happy.

When this face popped up on the canvas, I instantly said "hello Mama!" I guess that's a good sign since she and I have been spending a fair amount of time together lately :)

My plan is to get some video footage of her process, but learning the new Flip video camera (which I did in like 2 minutes tonite), working out the tripod situation and finding time to work without interruption have been pieces that have not come together yet in the same time and space.

You can see more of this painting by scrolling down to a previous blog post.

This weekend, I couldn't help but feel like a subject in a Mary Cassatt painting ~ my little boys and I spent hours sewing and I'm ridiculously tickled and proud of the creations we made - little stuffed toys that they seem to adore. It was miraculously fun!

Young Mother Sewing, 1900
© Mary Cassatt (American, 1844–1926)
Oil on canvas
36 3/8 x 29 in.

This is one of my favorite Cassatt paintings - she's a dream.

I like to think I could paint like her someday - she never had children and always regretted not experiencing her own chance at motherhood, bless her, she probably would have been a great mother.

Have a great evening and week!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Free Cards Friday ~ Free Etsy Gift ~ Upcoming Fun Stuff

Hi!

My 3-year-old was itching to take photos of me again yesterday - so I let him take my promo shot (once again!) it was due time, anyway. He's rather talented with the camera.

He even obliged to let me get some of us together!

Today is Free Cards Friday! Comment on this post (here at the blog or on my Facebook page) and be in the running to win a few of my new cards ~ I'll choose the winner on Monday.

Also - in the Online Etsy shop, I've just about hit 600 sales (cool, thanks everyone) and I'd like to give the person who purchases the 600th item 5 free 5x7 full color art cards (that's over a $15 value!)

There are 598 sales right now, so it won't be long :)

My wonderful (and tech-savvy) husband gave me a Flip video camera for a gift, so it won't be long now til we learn how to use it (remember, he's the tech-savvy one!) and then I have plans to take video of the painting process.

Training the camera lens onto the canvas so the finished product will show the painting from beginning to end (or so). I'm very much looking forward to it!

I'll let you know when I have this whole process figured out.

Have a wonderful day and weekend!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Attachment ~ The Forty Minis Collection continues into 2010

The Forty Minis Collection continues into 2010 with Attachment, the sixth painting in the collection.

Affection


~ Being there when needed, answering the call, anticipating the need, providing solutions, offering warmth and touch, an ear and a gentle heart... ~

Detail of Affection

Detail of Affection

Detail of Affection

Find this brand new painting and the whole Forty Minis Collection (so far) in The Online Portfolio and in the Online Etsy shop!




Also! By popular demand ~ prints of paintings from the 85 8x8s Collection are now available in the Online Etsy shop - take a look and let me know if you have any special requests.




Was there an 8x8 that you admired but missed? See the 8x8 Collection here.


~ Love & Sincerely, Katie

Tomorrow morning - the newest 10x10 - stay tuned!

Tomorrow morning brings the newest 10x10 painting - it is called Attachment, and I love it's gentle warmth. Can't wait to show you!

See you in the morning!
Love & Sincerely, Katie

Music - re-envisioned and re-introduced!

Recently, I was working in my studio and Music, hanging on my studio wall, kept calling to me :) Taking a good look at it I realized I had a new vision for it ~ and I say to myself that this is my art-given right - to change my paintings while they are in my possession!




Here is the previous form that Music took - and it's fun for me to think that this painting progressed as real-life - beneath the current painting of a mother dancing with her baby is the same expectant mother with her husband. There is even more of a story now. I like that.

I would love to hear your feedback - and you can view the new painting in the Online Portfolio

Have a great day!

Free Cards Winner - Painting Progress - Prints of Spin

Good morning!
My silly hilarious little boy is snapping photos of me as I assemble this blog post - he's rolling in fits of laughter and I'm amazed at the crazy angles he can get!

The painting I showed a couple days ago as a sketch is progressing, here is how it looks at this moment:

It is an untitled painting at this moment, but the inspiration and energy and purpose that I have for this pieces is being infused bit by bit - the title will come very naturally as I soak in the music and time.

Prints of Spin, the 5th 10x10 in The Forty Minis Collection are now available - view them here http://www.kmberggren.etsy.com/



The winner of cards for last weeks Free Cards Friday is Gabi, thank you all for playing!

Have a wonderful day!
Love & Sincerely, Katie

Free Cards Friday - Starting Off With Inspiration...

Happy New Year!

My inspiration has felt a bit knocked down in regard to larger paintings, lately. Steadily I've been working on 10x10 paintings and such that I've had trouble thinking outside of that smaller inspiring size!

I've righted myself over the last couple days though, and owe much of it to a most fantastic book I've stumbled across. Slowing Down to the Speed of Life by Richard Carlson and Joseph Bailey.

I found it at the library bookstore along with Deepak Chopra's The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success and felt like they had both been left there just for me. As if wandering into that bookstore on our way out of the library with our arms laden with books (on puffins, Christmas, crafts, cooking and boating) was meant to be.

Slowing Down to the Speed of Life is a perfect mix (for me) of The Secret and A New Earth by Eckhard Tolle - speaking much of the same language yet in a very understandable and easy to digest format. I love it and am dreading the day I turn the last page.


At least I own it now, though, so after I have passed it around a bit, I can read it again.

So, today I've sketched out 2-3 new larger paintings - and I've included one here - it's a rough sketch, completed at the little craft table while I drew with my son. Untitled at this moment, but finished and wonderful in my mind. I can feel change in the air and I can hardly wait to start on this.

Today is Free Cards Friday! Comment on this post (here at the blog or on my Facebook page) and be in the running to win a few of my new cards - I have many new styles and plan to post some in my Etsy shop very soon.

Have a wonderful first day of 2010, wow.

Love & Sincerely, Katie