"Blue Rain"

First of all, abstracts do not come easy for me.

One of the first things I tell my students when teaching a class, is my experience with abstracts.

Do you know that there actually is a method to the abstract madness?

Yes. There is. People who look at abstracts think they would/should be easy to paint.

I say "go for it".  Because trust me on this.

Painting abstract is very difficult.

I think part of the reason is that you have to let your mind go somewhere not so familiar. 

Color and content need to mesh.

And like every painting, you have to know when to stop.

There is a story in there somewhere, you just have to find it.

So, out of my abstract series....

"Blue Rain"

clear skies are pushing out the rain

30 x 30 mixed media with ground pumice

 Gallery wrapped canvas

Price upon request

Have a beautiful day y'all!

kb

The "Blessings" Series

Every now and then I will start a series with my art.

I really had not intended to start a new series with Roundtop coming up.

until....

The painting below appeared on my canvas.

I immediately loved it and decided I really wanted to paint more art using gold leaf.

so.  I showed this painting to my friend "E" who had just gotten back from a 3 week trip to Myanmar.

"E" does these amazing documentaries all over the world and I am SO proud of her for following her dream!

She was in Yagon for a while during this particular trip.

She told me the story about her visit to the Shwedagon Temples.

She said that while she was in Yagon, she would go to the temples and it brought such a peace within her.  The monks would give her a tiny flake of gold leaf for her to apply to the already adorned gold temple.

The monks talked about good deeds quite a bit and evidently gold represents a good dead or a blessing!

"E" and I had lunch last week and during that lunch I soaked all of this information in and at that very moment I decided to start this new series and call it 

"Blessings"

So, anytime I will be using gold leaf in my paintings it will be out of the "Blessings" series!

Introducing my first painting in the Blessings series!

"Horizon"

30 x 30 mixed media framed in a gold float frame

Price available upon request

Have a terrific day y'all!

kb

A New Day.

Hey friends!!!

How are you?

I am great!

(thank you!)

1 month post op rotator cuff surgery and I can do almost everything except raise my hand over my head.

Well, that and maybe move furniture.

"W" told me Friday night that he lied to me about the doctor telling him I needed to wear my sling for two weeks.

W knows me way too well.....

I wondered why the doctor looked at me all weird at my checkup when I complained about having to wear that stupid sling for 2 weeks. (I was only supposed to wear it for 5 days)

safety precautions from my hubba because yes I would have done stuff that I was not supposed to do

so....

We are officially 49 days away from Roundtop.

(enter surprise face emoticon)

(enter help face emoticon)

For the next 6 weeks I will be cranking it up like a maniac on speed to have at least 40 paintings ready for Roundtop.

That does not include the 24 acrylic framed watercolors that I will be making.

I try not to think about it too hard because I get overwhelmed

I am going to be showing my newest work on my blog every time I finish one!

So...here we go!!!

Yesterday I worked on some techniques.

I worked on dry brushing.

What is dry brushing?

It is a technique that furniture painters use to highlight decorative parts of a piece of furniture.

You dip your brush into the paint and wipe off the brush with a paper towel.

Then you use a quick wispy motion to go over your piece.

In my painting, it allowed me to create rain.

"A New Day"

I love this painting because I think it represents beauty, power, and tranquility.

The water is reflecting off the sun as the sun is peeking through the stormy clouds.

We have weathered the storm.

A peaceful day is ahead.

Does it speak to you the way it speaks to me?

Have a wonderful day y'all!

kb

Girl Friends After 50....

I'm stealing this pic from my friend Leslie Ann whom I went to high school with.

(she's much more artsy than me and I respect her talent like non other)

so....

....I had.a moment last night. A raise the roof, rock the baby, moment, added to a pity party.

yep. I did.

I need a vacation.

I need a vacation with my girls. My best girls.  Not my daughters, not my sister, not my nieces.  My girls.  The girls I have been friends with for years and years and years but never see one another.  Why? Because I've moved 5 times since my 'core' group of friends became besties about 20 years ago.

That makes me so super sad!

I've made new friends, like Elizabeth, Cindy, Renee, Helen, Michele, Tami, Barbara D, Cissy B and Sissy L, Lisa, LA, but we just don't get to see each other much.

And it truly, truly makes me sad.

And I need a trip with them too.

So as I was taking a bath tonight I thought about this.  Ya know, we are all so very different.  Some women love to stay at home.  Some like Lisa and I work like a dog getting ready for our next shows.  Some just really don't make it a priority.  But mostly? Like me, we don't take the time to make it a priority and nurture our friendships. I'm guilty. I'll admit. I'll take watching my grandkids over going on a trip with my friends. 

My number one wish for my new year is to either really, really work on spending time with the friends I've had forever, or make new friends.  Because I will tell you a secret.  It's really depressing living in 5 different places in 8 years and keeping up and making new friends.  I need you guys!

So, lets do this guys...just girls. Let's commit to making time for one another.  There is nothing more fun nor gratifying than to hang out with the girls!!!!

have a super happy day!

kb

A New Year, A New Me!

I haven't blogged since November! That's a record for me I must say. Why? I'm really not sure.  But my oldest daughter Jordan and I were talking about it the other day and we both realized that we missed it.  It's been my journal for years and years.  My recipe book, my photo album, my way of recording my personal journey in my life.  Add a little art and travel and family doings into that mix and it's simply my life!

So. what up?

Well.  After we got back from Napa (my last blog) W suggested that maybe it would be a good time to get my ole bum shoulder fixed before the new year.  Insurance was changing, and well, you know the deal.  I've played tennis for almost 50 years now and the ole shoulder had run it's course.  So, what I thought was a simple shaving down a few bone spurs and repairing a simple tear, turned into a rotator cuff tear.  Meaning, what I thought was going to be a pretty simple surgery, turned out to be....omg...the most painful thing EVER.  I am 16 days out and can lift my arm almost to my chest which is really pretty good considering.

Rotator cuff surgery aint for sissys y'all.

Being in a sling for two weeks and watching House of Cards 3 x over (the entire series), Scandal 2 times over, and um,,,,,the x rated highly intense Orange is the New Black (I could only watch that whole series once).

I'm a SOOOOO ready to get back in the saddle.

But, gotta take it slow.

I will be very happy to start exercising again since I'm pretty sure lying on my butt for two weeks has put a good 20 lbs. on me.

And, my hope is now I will be able to do the one thing I have consistently LOVED to do for 50 years of my life.  Play tennis again.  

So.

Back to the new year.

I FINALLY finished my new website!!!

After a mere TEN hours of wanting to throw my computer at the wall it's done. And I ain't changing a thing.

I'm too cheap to pay someone to do it, and really I like a good challenge.

To say I needed a Xanax drip while I was developing it is an understatement.

go here if you want to see it, (cause really, I'm pretty proud of it!)

www.kendallboggsfineart.com

Christmas this year was just so much fun.  We all got together in typical Boggs' fashion and I must say all the gifts were just spot on.  I don't even think anyone took anything back. Oh wait.  I got W a ginormous piece of luggage which we all decided really wasn't for him. But other than that, we did pretty good!

One thing I was particularly proud of was the selling group that I admin on FB.  It is called Buckhead Trading Group.  Through an online auction we were able to raise over 18,000.00 for a small Atlanta charity called Giving Grace.  Giving Grace helps single moms and homeless with immediate needs.  Organizing this was one of the most proud things I think I have ever done.  So, you are going to be hearing more from me in the future.  I'm over being burned out by blogging and am ready to move forward with new stuff, new art, new pics, new travels, new me!!!!

Have a wonderful day y'all!

kb