Friday, August 26, 2011

Free Cards Friday | The Northwest Mother's Milk Bank and the Expanded Visions Collection | Raising Awareness | Giving

Remember when I was trying to decide which local mother & child organization to donate a portion of sales from The Expanded Visions Collection to?


I've decided to contribute to the Northwest Mothers Milk Bank (I’ve actually had them in mind all along).


The Northwest Mothers Milk Bank's mission is: To collect, pasteurize and distribute donor human milk to meet medical needs.


I am honored to have $130 for them so far. If you'd like to purchase one of the paintings in this collection (and further support NWMMB) Come Check Out The Available Paintings!


The Northwest Mothers Milk Bank is saving the lives of babies and changing the lives of families. I am honored to have $130 for them, so far.



Why do we need a milk bank in the Northwest?
Currently, US milk banks cannot meet the need for donor milk. The closest milk banks are in San Jose, California and Denver, Colorado. This can mean increased transportation costs and time and occasionally limited availability when providing donor milk to our area. Oregon and Washington have two of the highest breastfeeding rates in the United States with the potential to have sufficient breast milk donors to serve infants throughout the Northwest region and other parts of the US. A committed group of volunteers is developing a human milk bank to serve the Northwest.




What is a Milk Bank? (from the NWMMB website)

A milk bank screens, collects, processes and dispenses donated human milk as a community service, providing human milk to babies whose own mothers cannot supply the milk to meet their baby’s needs.


A milk bank is also a resource for health professionals and the general public in the uses and benefits of human milk, the standard in infant feeding.



The Northwest Mothers Milk Bank has been designated a "Developing Milk Bank" by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. HMBANA members meet strict standards for screening of donors and processing of milk.


There are currently eleven milk banks serving North America. Milk Bank locations.



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



There are currently 7 Original Paintings Remaining in
The Expanded Visions Collection.



SEE THE AVAILABLE PAINTINGS In the Online Shop
(paintings from The Expanded Visions Collection are labeled inside the details of the item).



Here are a few:



Escaping Ordinary, 10x10 ~ $130


Inspiring Passion, 8x10 ~ $120

Meditation, 8x10 ~ $120


Let me know if you have any questions,
Have a great day!
Sincerely, Katie


It's Free Cards Friday ~ Add your note or insight to this blog post (here at the blog or on the Facebook page) throughout the weekend and be in the running to win some cards ~ I'll choose the winner on Monday. Come back on Tuesday to see if the winner is YOU!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

More 4x4 Paintings

Chunky 4x4 Original Paintings ~ brand new!
Currently offered only on Facebook ~ come on over!




These little paintings allow me to produce hand-painted, artist-created, straight-from-the-studio original pieces ~ that hang right on a nail (without a wire, actually) ~ or would love to be propped on a tiny easel.


You Make Me Sing and Feast On Life, in process.


Calm In A Crazy World ~ currently available.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/80327244/mother-and-child-breastfeed-painting-on




They display beautifully in an grouping.


Feast On Life ~ currently available.
Currently offered only on Facebook.


Let me know if you have any questions ~ THANK YOU for your support.


Love & Sincerely,
Katie



Wednesday, August 24, 2011

High Spirits ~ Marie's Painting ~ A Commissioned Piece



I am honored to present High Spirits ~ a painting I recently finished for Marie.





My paintings always start out as brown and white on canvas. I like to finesse the forms and composition, before I add color. It keeps things simple, and keeps me focused on the figures!




Beginning to add warmth.




The blue bursts forth!




High Spirits ~ complete.



Thank you to Marie, this was a fun painting to complete, and I can very nearly feel the joy between you and your sweet daughter.


Have a great day,

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Submit Your Photo | Mindful Mothering Paintings ~ inspired by You! | Get a Free 8x10 Print



Gentle, Mindful Mothering Paintings… inspired by You!




In general, I find myself inundated with natural instances of inspiration, and more than anything I’m aching for time to get them all down on paper or canvas before they flit away…

If you hang out with me in person, you know my journal is always in hand, and I annoy myself, even, with my need to capture sketches, thoughts and words on so many occasions.

However… I’ve got an itch, an idea, an inspiration and I’d like to involve you ~ my community of intriguing, wise mothers and women, fathers and friends, followers and motivators.


Drawn In? Wanna Get Caught Up?



Submit your Photo(s) of Gentle, Mindful Mothering ~ however you describe it, however you find meaning in the words Gentle and Mindful ~ however you make it your own.


For you, is it: breastfeeding, co-sleeping, baby-wearing, walking together, talking together, reading together, laughing together, cooking together, crying together, playing together…?


Share your moments, if you feel the urge, and swirl your beauty into the fertile soil from which the Intimate Moments of Motherhood paintings sprout.




If you’d like to get involved, here is what to do:

1) Save your favorite photo(s) with YOUR name as the title of the image.



2) Email your photo to Katie@kmberggren.com



3) Add the understanding that by sending me a photo, you agree to let me be inspired by your image, and you agree that the design and copyright of the painting in its process and finished forms remains with the artist (that’s me!). But you can certainly brag to your friends by sending them over to the Painting Motherhood blog!




4) Agree that if your photo is chosen, you will be honored as I delight in sharing your lovely photo (and your first name) with my Facebook and Painting Motherhood blog Communities, as well as revealing process images as your photo inspires a painted canvas…


This is important: I do not strive for photo likeness in my paintings ~ more importantly, I capture the essence, the emotion, the movement, the connection, the contact, the energy…


What's In It For You? If your Gentle, Mindful Mothering Photo does indeed inspire a painting ~ wooohooo! ~ YOU get a free 8x10 print of the finished painting ~ RAD!


Have questions? I’m here, just let me know what they are.


OH! ~ I forgot to mention ~ the first 5 people to send a photo via email get a free gift in the mail!


Thank you for your consideration,
Love & Sincerely,

Katie

Monday, August 22, 2011

Free Cards Winner ~ More Chunky 4x4 Original Paintings

I'm still having a blast with the 4x4 paintings ~ and I plan to create them as long as I am having a blast :) If they start to get boring, I'll take a break!





And I'm really loving how these paintings look hung in a group. In the above photo, all mini paintings are claimed, except the lower left (Resilient) and the lower right (Calm In A Crazy World).






Resilient ~ this one is available! Let me know if you are interested.



Calm In A Crazy World ~ this one is available! Let me know if you are interested.








It is IMPORTANT to NOTE!


I've decided to offer these little 4x4 paintings for $44, and am, at this point, only offering them on the Facebook page ~ so if you are not playing along over there, you may want to come join us!



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






The Free Cards Winner For Last Week is Amanda, thanks for playing!


Love & Sincerely, Katie

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Painting Motherhood In Review: Home

HOME has become one of my signature pieces ~



she has helped to define my purpose, and has served as a valuable icon for what I am out to do.








Here is her story:


The first cassette tape I owned was Billy Joel's - Innocent Man - I nearly wore it out. I still have that tape and have ever since I was a little girl. It's beat up and dusty and I don't even own a cassette player!


Billy Joel's (older) music has always moved me and several seem to be written just for me.
One in particular (playing as I write this), "You're My Home" contains a message that speaks to my heart.



"... when you touch my weary head


and you tell me everything will be all right


You say - 'use my body for your bed


and my love will keep you warm throughout the night'


...Well, I'll never be a stranger


and I'll never be alone


wherever we're together


that's my home..."




Throughout the last couple years, Home has taken her place in my fair sign, my website banner, my Facebook welcome page, my Online Etsy shop and Facebook page avatars. Her simple monochromatic form has also become the inspiration for two commissioned paintings (at client request) over the years.





The Original Painting of Home sold right away, after completion.



I am honored to offer Home in print form, such as an archival 12x12 print,




Home has been featured on pendants and charms














As well as the Volume 1 Hardbound Painting Inspiration Book (which contains the same art as the mini Volume 1).




I thank you for your time ~ let me know if you have any questions, or would like to take home a print, charm, pendant or book containing Home.


Love & Sincerely, Katie

Friday, August 19, 2011

Free Cards Friday ~ Chunky Original 4x4 Paintings ~ what fun!




On my mind for years now... has been the idea of creating tiny originals. I've flirted with the idea, and at the advice of another artist, set the idea aside for a couple years, thinking is may not have been a good one.




Recently, at a craft store sidewalk sale (we just stopped to get a canvas, but ended up with much more!) I spied these little canvases and the idea came flooding back.



Remind Me (sold), 4x4





This idea is also related to my urge to create beautiful products, while stumbling over the option of whether or not to license my work (I've been on that stumbly path for years). I am working on the full story behind my "licensing" thoughts, to share with you in the near future.




These little paintings allow me to produce hand-painted, artist-created, straight-from-the-studio original pieces ~ that hang right on a nail (without a wire, actually) ~ or would love to be propped on a tiny easel.




Granted, they are priced higher than prints created by someone elses mother in China...




This is what I want, deep inside ~ to create work that is actually created in-studio, by the artist (hence my previous mention of my licensing stumble).



No Place (collection of the artist's son), 4x4




Thus, I prepared a few of the 4x4 canvases, and just this week gave them a go!



Paired with the new attraction to adding text to my paintings I am in hog heaven. Having So much Fun!


Memories Made (sold), 4x4





I've decided to offer these little 4x4 paintings for $44, and am, at this point, only offering them on the Facebook page ~ so if you are not playing along over there, you may want to come join us!




Above shows the newest set I'm working on ~ and will be posting them one by one to the Facebook page today (and maybe into tomorrow morning).



Let me know if you have any questions ~ THANK YOU for your support ~ as you prove to me that I am on the right track.


It's Free Cards Friday ~ Add your note or insight to this blog post (here at the blog or on the Facebook page) throughout the weekend and be in the running to win some cards ~ I'll choose the winner on Monday. Come back on Tuesday to see if the winner is YOU!

Sincerely,
Katie

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

A soulful dance of intention & creation ~ The 85 8x8 Collection E-book ~ Get a Free Preview

The 85 8x8 Collection E-book (a soulful dance of intention & creation) ~
chock full of rich images and behind-the-scenes notes ~ will be released soon!



Some sample pages of the 70 page book.









Get A Free Preview Of The E-Book


Everyone on the newsletter list will receive a free preview

in their email box when the book is ready ~ join here: Join Today



I look forward to sharing it with you! ♥



Love & Sincerely,

Katie

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

In Kind ~ Her Story and her process





They are alike in so many ways ~ hair color, skin tone, sleeping position. They are alike, seeking comfort from one another, and they are together.













Have a wonderful day!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Monday, August 15, 2011

Over The Moon ~ Currie's Painting ~ Free Cards Winner

Currie's boys love the moon, and she loves them more than the moon and stars. Creating her painting was a delight, and I am thrilled with the finished piece (as is she).

















The completed piece, Over The Moon ~ notice the little crescent moons in the eyes of the boys. Thanks Currie!




~ Currie came to the Artful Bliss event, to pick up her new painting ~





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


The Free Cards Winner for last week is Marcianna ~ thanks for playing!



Have a great week!

Love & Sincerely,

Katie

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Featured Artist: Stephanie Dyer of Beyond Words Designs

Beyond Words Designs


I'm honored to feature the work of Stephanie Dyer ~ a mother of 5 ~ an artist and wife.


Stephanie focuses on Celebrations of motherhood and Tributes to loss ~ her work is thought-provoking, warm and flowing.










Stephanie's lovely customized work is truly Beyond Words,
so I will leave you with samples of her work.
~ I hope you will take a moment to visit her website ~



Have a great weekend,


Love & Sincerely, Katie