Free Cards Friday | Two Years Ago While Painting Motherhood: Priorities & Conquering Excuses

Two Years Ago While Painting Motherhood

Two years ago I shared this post, containing an article that I still find very valuable today.

Priorities, Conquering Excuses & 3 Paintings in Process

The below article, first posted in the Fine Art Views Daily Newsletter, rang true with me and so I requested permission to share it with you.Time and time again I, as an artist and friend, hear similar statements from others whom I believe have an incredible talent to change the world. NOTE: While reading, please substitute "art" for any passion or career-direction that suits you - photography, knitting, medicine, business... Continue Reading

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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!

Have a GREAT and creative weekend ~
Love & Sincerely, Katie

85 8x8 Paintings: a dance of intention & creation ~ the printed book is available

85 8x8 Paintings: a dance of intention & creation ~ featuring behind the scenes notes & images, inspiration, paintings, quotes & heart-felt sentiments.

A brand new beautifully printed publication, featuring motherhood art & writing by Katie m. Berggren ~ Grab YOUR copy here!

"Katie, I just finished reading your book. Well, actually I devoured every sentence, quote, and picture. I was sad that it had an end, but giggled that it took 9 months for you to compose the pictures…the length of a pregnancy. That's perfect for motherhood paintings. I admire your approach to simply focusing your attention on your sweet boys, and letting the good energy flow. Thank you for publishing a piece of yourself. It was a delight.
Kindly, Sara ~ Camas, Washington"

85 8x8 Paintings: a dance of intention & creation features the art and writing of Katie m. Berggren, an award-winning painter, recently cited as the #1 Motherhood Artist in America.

70 pages of rich imagery featuring 85 paintings devoted to love and connection, family, touch, breastfeeding, babywearing, and the intimate moments of motherhood ~ including the emotional musings and heartfelt insights behind the creation of each painting.



This book desires to show, but to also inspire you in your own creative endeavors by providing personal journal entries and blog posts, inspirational quotes and notes from the author/artist.

Making 85 8x8 Paintings: a dance of intention & creation a perfect gift for a loving mother, devoted doula or midwife, and/or a creative soul yearning to fly higher.

Snag YOUR copy here, for just $34.99


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Do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions ~ thank you so much!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

85 8x8 Paintings ~ the brand new book

I will have some photos of the book soon, but here is a link to access the 15-page preview, and a link to purchase your own copy of this publication (70 premium quality pages, gorgeous glossy soft cover) straight from the printer. $34.99

85 8x8 Paintings

a dance of intenti...

By Katie m. Berggren

Book Preview

Enjoy! Sincerely, Katie

Seasons Change ~ brand new original painting

Seasons Change, completed.

She has a lot on her mind, distracted, caught up in changing moods. The attention of a child assists in getting her back to what really matters.

This is a textural & richly painted original 20x20" acrylic painting on canvas, available for $475. Her 1 1/2" edges will be painted deep brown and all protected with UV Varnish ~ enjoy! ♥

Let me know if you are interested in enriching your art collection with this original.

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Here is the process of Seasons Change, which I started painting while tending my booth at the Confluence Winery Art Fair in July:

Seasons Change, completed.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Thank you for following along in this process!

Love & Sincerely, Katie

It's beginning to look a lot like...

My boys decided today ~ September 24 ~ that we must have a Halloween party ~
and we must begin preparing ~ NOW!

So, we spent hours in the studio today, painting grave stones, skeletons, pumpkins and...
well, I painted Frankie (in 7 minutes). I most love their skeletons, though!

skeleton painted by my 7 year old :)

skeleton and pumpkins painted by my 5 year old :)


Frankenstein ~ a 7 minute speed painting of the spooky green man himself. My boys said to please paint him "sorta realistic, but not too scary".

I think these new creations, Halloween party or not, will have to become staple decorations around our house every Fall.


Skeletons, spirits and haunts,
Skeletons, spirits and haunts.
It's a Halloween sale: A nickel a pail
For skeletons, spirits and haunts.
Skeletons, spirits and haunts,
More than most anyone wants.
Will you pay for a shock,
'Cause we're quite overstocked
On skeletons, spirits and haunts.
~Shel Silverstein~



Have a wonderful weekend,
let us not forget to take the time to soak in those happy little spirits ~
and the excitement that surrounds them.
Love & Sincerely, Katie

New Painting, Sacred Space ~ 8x8 Book Coming to Print ~ Magnets & Buttons

An Update ~ New Goodies To Share!

New Original Painting: Sacred Space, 24x24", $625
find Sacred Space in the shop

The BRAND NEW Book: 85 8x8 Paintings: a dance of intention & creation
will be Coming to PRINT in a WEEK'S TIME! ~ Stay Tuned! ~
Grab the 70-page e-book here! ~ just $4.99
featuring motherhood art & writing by Katie m. Berggren

New Buttons & Magnets featuring Home & Spinning Tales, just $3.99 for a set of two.

Have a wonderful week's end.
Thank you for following along, and for your continued encouragement & love.
Let me know if you have any questions,
Love & Sincerely, Katie

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“Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; love more, and all good things will be yours.”
Swedish proverb

Procrastination: Inspiration from Jurgen Wolff

I am honored to receive a monthly update from Jurgen Wolff ~ it is one of few emails that I actually read and re-read, vs. toss. Here is what I felt most inspired by from Jurgen's most recent note:

Put the Zeigarnik Effect to work for you to overcome procrastination
©Jurgen Wolff, http://jurgenwolff.com/

PsyBlog.com recounted that while in a restaurant, Russian psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik noticed that waiters remembered orders only until the customers had been served, then they forgot them. She did some lab tests that showed that people who were interrupted during a series of tasks remembered more of the ones they completed.

The upshot is that when you start something, it stays in your mind until you finish it. If you don't start it, you find it easier to put out of your mind.




The implication for procrastination: start the task you're avoiding. Even if you do just a little, that will keep it on your mind and make it more likely you'll return to it.




ACTION: If there's a task you've been avoiding, spend five or ten minutes starting it today.

above text: ©Jurgen Wolff, http://jurgenwolff.com/

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"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."
- Mark Twain

above image: process of a new painting ~ currently untitled, but I'll show you more as it progresses :)

Have a great week! Love & Sincerely, Katie

4 Paintings From The Past | Free Cards Winner

Recently, while perusing my folders and folders of completed paintings, I came a cross a few that I hadn't looked at in awhile. And I felt the urge to show them to you.

Tenderness, 2008 ~ I really love this one, it caught my eye as I hadn't seen it in awhile :)

Origin, 2007 ~ there is something about her posture that I like. I may play with this pose again soon.



Sentinel, 2007 ~ this was created for a doctor, a gift from the clinic's receptionists and nurses ~ to shed light on, and appreciate his protective nature toward his young patients.

Lyrical, 2008 ~ I worked on this painting while tending my booth at a holiday art fair in November 2008. To see it makes me feel Christmas-y :)

These original paintings have all sold, but I can make prints of them for you, if you like. Let me know if you'd like an archival, signed print in either of the 3 following sizes: 8x10 for $17, 12x12 for $29, or 13x19 for $54.

Well, there is a little blast to the past for you ~ I created these paintings back before I really knew what a blog was, and before Facebook was even in my vocabulary.

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The Free Cards Friday winner for last week was Melinda, thanks for playing!

Have a wonderful day,

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Sacred Space ~ a brand new original painting

Sacred Space ~ 24x24" Original Acrylic on Canvas
see painting statement below

this piece is available for $625

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Here is the process of Sacred Space:

Sacred Space ~ complete

This painting sprung out one night after lying with my 5 year old in his bed. Just like this. As he fell asleep, I had a thought: "there is no place I would rather be right now".

I'm really enamored with her expression ~ it's one of bittersweet acknowledgement of her child getting bigger and bigger, more remarkable, and taking on a mind of his/her own. And that child? Perfectly adorable, in my opinion.

Have a great weekend,

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Free Cards Friday | 4x4 Chunky Original Paintings ~ are you seeing these?

Hi! Over on the Facebook page we are having fun with 4x4 Original Paintings ~ I'm releasing them (at the beginning) ONLY on Facebook ~ and it has been loads of fun!

I have completed 4 fresh new paintings today, and while working on them realized they were kindred. Together they make a sweet little compilation (an instant original art collection). They were also available individually.

These 4 paintings have SOLD.

There will be more to come, and there are currently 4 available chunky original 4x4s, here they are! Find Them in the Online Shop

Calm In A Crazy World

Making Shade

Sway


Pretty Mama

You can choose to grab one or more of these original paintings in the online shop!

Start your original art collection, easily :)

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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!

Have a GREAT and creative weekend ~

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Artful Bliss ~ August 2011 ~ Portland Oregon

The paintings display beautifully at New Day Center for the Arts in Portland, Oregon. The show will come down during next week.

It was another one of those cheek-aching evenings ~ where I got to meet and visit with many new people. I know it is a good event when my cheek muscles ache from smiling within the first hour.

My buddy, Liz Ness of Liz Ness Studio ~ mixed-media artist/painter/tech-guru!

Each painting has a story ~ and we've included the stories with the paintings ~ visitors to this event remarked on how they loved to read the thoughts behind the pieces ~ the intentions.

The Four Women who put it all together (from left to right):

Liz Ness of Liz Ness Studio, Myself, Kirsten Klug of Bamboo River Press, and Linda Krueger of Say Healthy Chocolate

Linda offered Xocai Chocolate samples, Kirsten shared her activity book for children, and Liz and Myself shared our artwork. It was a lovely evening with delicious treats, conversation, and music in the air.

Visitors enjoyed the songs and stories of Portland's own singer/songwriter Mila Polevia

Our ample supply of varied hors d'oeuvres were well enjoyed ~ especially by the children who danced around and played throughout the evening.

I had the opportunity, during this event, to meet Currie, and present to her her completed commissioned painting, Over The Moon.

During our event, a special adjoining room allowed children to create their own art ~ thank you to Kirsten Klug and her family for making this possible.

It was an evening worth sharing ~ and I hope those who came and shared had a wonderful time. Thank you to Kerri Altom and Kayt Huggans for photography

Have a wonderful evening,

Love & Sincerely, Katie

Complicité (Complicity): a newly completed commissioned painting

I'm proud to feature Complicité (Complicity) ~

a brand new commissioned painting that has just headed off to its new home in France!

initial sketch

composition formed in brown and white

finessing figures and forms

additional warmth and detail

Complicité (Complicity) ~ complete

thanks Cecile!

Love & Sincerely,

Katie