Kat Johnston

new series - reflections

2011-06-19T13:24:00.000-07:00

Getting Caught up

2011-01-16T18:30:00.000-08:00

I got the flu, been feeling out of it last couple days . Heres the artwork from day 12- 15 which gets us caught up to today (Day 16)

I have been noticing the art has been more organic looking, clouds, veins, tissues, etc.

Day 12 (shown left) I was trying to recreate what I saw in my inner minds eye- what appeared like waves of energy or frequencies- almost like sonar like the kinds bats use. There were three waves and they merged on one another in the upper center.

Day 13 (shown left ) This one was a small little vessel that appeared in my vision, and the energy around it was nurturing and warm.

Day 14 (shown right)

Day 15 (shown above)

Lately I've been feeling like not sitting my the meditation or doing the artwork. But after I do

them I feel better, I am leaning to let my inner guidance take over and not try to control or plan what emerges, It's exactly what I tell my Art Therapy clients to help them get over their inner critics. I suppose sometimes taking our own advice is the best advice that I can ever been given.

http://katjohnston.yolasite.com/

Day 16 (shown above)

Day 10 & 11 of Meditation art series

2011-01-11T16:41:00.000-08:00

Day 10- My vision during the meditation was one of being craddled in the energy and nurance of the universe. There was a great sense of reassurance and gentle nudging to let go. Letting go of worry, need for control which then allows for more trust in the process of life unfolding. Isn't that the joy of being alive? The not knowing?

When I sat down to make the art work, I started with the energy, it looked like waves or clouds in layers, coming to a point in the middle. I added the figure laying or being supported in the middle to represent the mesage of letting go, releasing the control and just allowing things to happen, and unfold. The image felt very peaceful to me, much like how I felt during the meditation.

Day 11- I felt connected to the universe and the energy flowing through me, at first I saw what looked like pedtals of a flower, overlapping each other, like a blooming lotus but bigger. These pedals faded into the background and I saw very clearly an hour glass filled with sand. The majority of the sand was still on the top, slowly sifting down to the lower half, the passage of time. It registered to me as my life, the years that had already passed and the "unspent" or

years I still had left.

The message seemed to be one of encouragement to live my life to its FULLEST potential and not to waste one more second on anything that does not give me joy and fullfillment. Then very clearly the words " I am deserving," came to me, that I do deserve to have all that I have ever dream of, and of expanding and becoming all that I am capable of being! Getting in touch with my belief in myself as an ever expanding human being.

To learn more about my journey and the energy work I do-

Visit http://katjohnston.yolasite.com/bio.php

Day 9- "Peeling back the layers"

2011-01-09T14:18:00.000-08:00

Day 9 of Meditation Art series, despite the fact that it is Sunday I had work this morning, ( a Reiki appointment with a client) I offer private in-home sessions, so I met the client at her home in West Philly, which meant I had to get up , shower, to get out there by 11am, was not that early but still didnt give myself enough time this morning to do the mediation so I waited until the later afternoon to do it. Sometimes I find that the time of day that I do it makes a difference in how it goes, can't say that one is better then the other-- they just are different results.

I sat for the normal 15 mins, but it felt ALOT longer, I had multiple layers of things that happened,, the first thing that I saw during the meditation was this rolling back of what looked like layers of earth or skin, thick and peeling back to reveal the soft underneath. I can only assume that the underneath is my unconscious, and that my peeling away of the "noise" and clutter of the mind and activities of the day would only enhance my experience. I made the artwork about this imagery- after completing it I saw that it also reminded me of a storm cloud and an open field or plain. There is always a clearing after the storm, and without the rain, the land would become dried up and un-usuable.

Following the peeling away imagery, I felt so thankful and excited about my life, what was awaiting me in the near future whatever that may be. I imagined wrapping myself in a spiral of energy, like a blanket or sash it wrapped around my entire body starting at the top of my head around me as I sat in lotus position. It was a yellowish-orange and it engulfed me in its light. A reiki symbol came to mind, the healing Buddha/Master symbol-- I felt very safe and secure. I readied myself for amazing wonderful things to come my way, I believe we create our own realities and allow or disallow the universe to give us what we most desire, love, happiness, abundance.

If you desire to connect yourself with your higher self- find fullness in your life-

check out the healing and energy work sessions I offer

http://katjohnston.yolasite.com/

Day 8- Meditation Art

2011-01-08T16:40:00.001-08:00

Day 8- Today's meditation had me very relaxed, saw waves of colors, layered on each oher,almost like tide or waves of water on the shore. I felt at peace and connected to the universe. Still feeling the effects of my energy healing session from yesterday.

Be my fan on facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Expressive-Energy-Healing/127932397245521

http://katjohnston.yolasite.com/

Day 7 of Meditation Art

2011-01-07T15:50:00.000-08:00

Day 7- very special day for amazingly good energy! I completed my meditation in the morning but did not have enough time to make art right afterwards due to having to rush off to work. At work, I received so much positive energy and feedback from multiple people, telling me that "you are a God-sent" and how young and viberant I look. It felt so good to get so much positive attention from COMPLETE strangers!! I felt very connected to the universe, it seemed as if people around me picked up on that.

After work, I had plans to meet with a colleague of mine to trade modality treatments. I gave her an art therapy session and she gave me IET. To learn more about energy work including IET and reiki - check out website: http://katjohnston.yolasite.com/

It was very powerful and I saw and felt many different things. The image that stood out to me the strongest was when I envisioned a figure standing at a distance at first, each second that passed it became closer and closer to me until it was standing near me. I felt its presence in the room, it felt like it was someone who loved me, cared for me, watching over me and wanted to let me know how proud they were of all the things I was doing with my life. Two people came to mind , one was my grandmother and the other my uncle, both deceased. I felt at peace and enjoyed the presence of the figure, it stayed for a short while then disappeared. I decided since this was such a strong image and intense that I would make my art today about that instead of my meditation from earlier in the day.

Day 6 of meditation art

2011-01-06T15:16:00.000-08:00

Todays meditation was powerful, very clear message and imagery. I saw a tunnel, path through a very long dark passage.There was a light, clearing in the distance"light at end of the tunnel". I had the opportunity to experience this in real life, this past summer I went on a bike ride/hike to some abandoned highway sections that included tunnels. They were complete empty, run down, had not been driving on in years. As I walk through this mile and a half stretch, complete darkness, it was like nothing else I have every experienced. I was full of anxiety, fear of not being able to see where or what I was walking on or into. I had to walk in blind faith, one foot in front of the other slowly getting closer to the light where it was sunny and fresh air.

During this meditation I was reminded of that experience, I saw the tunnel exactly how I remembered if you are standing on the opening before entering, looking into it. The message was one of facing my fears of the unknown, moving forward without knowing what comes next, continuing on my journey and not allowing the darkness to control me or keep me from achieving my goals.

http://katjohnston.yolasite.com/

Day 5 of Meditation Art

2011-01-05T19:40:00.000-08:00

Day 5 of meditation series, Today was different , got up without enough time to do my morning meditation before having to leave for work. My day felt "off" I was more easily agitated and less centered. Upon arriving home after work, the first thing I needed and wanted to do was my meditation. While connecting to the energy,my eyes began to flutter, as they sometimes do when I am receiving attunements for reiki or having a connection with energy during sessions, this was the first time I had such a strong connection.

I saw a variety of shapes, including a bird like figure in the center of my mind's eye and then a moving, swirling triangle. I asked the universe if it had a message for me today. I received several, less clear cut but along the lines of not fearing, pursuing my dreams and accepting and exploring the darkness, the parts of me that I deny , don't understand or am fearful of. According to Jung we all have these parts of us we deny or reject- called our shadow. I am interested to explore the shapes/images I saw and what type of message was meant for me,as I continue this practice I am hoping to receive a more and more clear vision and direction, as I learn to quiet my mind more effectively.

http://katjohnston.yolasite.com/

Day 4 of meditation Art

2011-01-04T18:07:00.000-08:00

Day 4, again completed my meditation time early this morning before getting ready for work. Felt my crown charka (top of my head) open and connect with the universe.Also envisioned an exercise I sometimes practice called "magnetizing" where you imagine a spiral/coil coming out from your chest/ solar plexus charka pulling in toward you those things that you would like in your reality. Today while practicing this coil I imagined good things, people connecting with me, more opportunties and abdundance making its way torwards me.This was very energizing and invigorating for me! A great way to start my day!

To read more about energy work:
http://katjohnston.yolasite.com/

I decided to capture these experiences in the artwork, both the energy flow I felt and the exercise of magnetizing" that I did while I meditated. It was a very fruitful experience for me.

Again I see a pyramid like image-up side down coming out of the top of my head.

Day 3-Meditation Art

2011-01-03T14:40:00.000-08:00

Today was day 3, I did my meditation before work, did my artwork following the sitting, I was concerned things would be rushed due the time restraint of having to work (since it is Monday) but I had plenty of time for both- meditating and the art making. Part of me wished I could stay home and paint all day, blow off my job all together. In addition to the daily meditation inspired art I began a new painting yesterday, the ideas kept coming to me while falling asleep and during my sitting both yesterday and today. (shown Left- new painting - not yet complete)

So the image/vision I saw for today's meditation was a very large, open 3rd eye-(Shown Right),. Again I asked if there was a message from my higher power, what I should take away, the messageI recieved was to keep "following your heart". After I completed this artwork I refelcted on the fact that the shape of the 3rd eye as well as the colors used seemed to mirro those found in my new painting (shown above)

The slit in the chest of the girl looks very similar to the 3rd eye image. I believe with the unconscious there are no mistakes and that everything that arises is meaningful and significant.

Day 2 - Meditation Art

2011-01-02T10:04:00.000-08:00

Day 2:

Started my meditation, set timer for 15 mins, but my cats kept interupting my quiet time,so ended up sitting for an additional 15mins, kept having visions of my next painting, last night as I was trying to fall asleep same types of ideas were floating around. I guess that is a sign I should start the painting. I had a hard time today clearing my mind of random thoughts. I did towards the middle of the first sittting and then torwards the end of the second one, see image of water or a path leading back towards the hortizon, disappearing into the distance, and pillars in the for-front, like as if I were looking out from a terrace of some kind. I was a peace scene, inviting, and I asked if my source had a message for me. a simple, over-used and popular scripture verse came to me "Seek and you shall find"

As I worked on the visual creation of what I experienced internally, I began to notice the path or water that I envsioned began to look like another pyramid, right down the center of the page, even the blocks of road started to emerge as bricks laying the foundation of the mysterious structure. This will be 2 days in a row of pyramid imagery that was not intentional but simply emerged on it's own.

To read more about energy work :
http://katjohnston.yolasite.com/

Its that Time of Year again!!!!

2011-01-01T12:57:00.000-08:00

"FUN-A-DAY" is an annual art show. This is the 3rd year in a row that I have participated. For the entire month of Jan, you make or do one creative thing per day, then at end of month you put all 31 pieces together to be displayed with everyone elses work! It such a wonderful way to start the year off to a creative note!

This year I decided to intergrate the practice of meditation with art making. I will be meditating for at least 15mins each day followed by making art, inspired by my inner experiences and visions. I am very excited to see how the art may change or emerge as I practice quieting my mind, search for guidiance, and connect with my source.
To hear more about energy work:
http://katjohnston.yolasite.com/

This first piece, I did today, the first day of my new practice. While meditating I felt a strong energy coming from my hands and from the top of my head. I saw lines connecting the 3 points of energy to the universe above. Without realizing it, those imaginary lines created a pyramid.

I have taken up reading the works and theroies of Jung. I have always been both interested and drawn in to his ideas about the collective unconscious and how we have shared images and concepts that we are unaware of. I believe that this image of the pyramid came to me from deep within, spotaneously emerged. I am excited to see what else comes as a result of this practice, combinng meditation with art making, and both trusting and allowing my mind and spiritual connection to be given form on its own accord.

Recent shows and awards!

2010-12-25T09:16:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Its been a busy winter season for me so far , have been shown in 2 artshows in Dec ,which are still up if you want to go check it out!

First was a Juried group show theme of memory /dreams called "DeJaVu" which opened ealrier this month at the Off The Wall Gallery. Which is housed inside a local bar - Dirty Franks located at 13th and pine st.
My painting "Remnants" (shown right) was the first to be sold in the show and won the Top Honor - "Mary-Rowe memorial Master's Award" It was a very exciting night for me. I felt so appreciated and special! I was literally beaming!!!
Left is the postcard with the names of all the artists who participated.(note the detail of "Remnants")

Also have work on dislay at the annual members show at the Main Line Art Center located in Bryn Mawr, PA. A local art center I belong to, where I sometime do my pottery and show work occasionally, it's conviently located only a few blocks from where I live so I can roll out of bed and go throw some clay which is nice. I love wheel throwing I find it very relaxing and fun!

The members show will be up until Jan 15th - for more info-go to : http://www.mainlineart.org/event_detail.php?id=65

Upcoming shows include Textile FIber art show in NYC, in Jan, and the beginning of "Fun-a-day" projects- I will be creating one art piece for the entire month of jan, and opening will be be somtime in Feb, this will be 3 year in a row participating.

more details to follow

Integrated Energy Therapy (IET) !!!!

2010-08-27T17:17:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to announce a new addition to the energy work I will be doing.
IET- Integrated Energy Therapy- very powerful, high frequency healing that has extreme results
The focus of this energy healing process is on "letting go" - getting to the root of emotional baggage and getting rid of it so it no longer weighs you down! As a result the receiver feels lighter and more free after a session. The energy keeps on working and making changes for weeks after the actual session! I definitely recommend this for anyone who is SERIOUS about making some major life changes and wanting more out of their life! words are not enough to describe the intense wonderful energy that this modality has to offer! Give yourself the gift of healing and give IET a try! One session is enough to knock your socks OFF!!!!

Expressive Energy Healing -- What is that??

2010-08-11T06:27:00.000-07:00

SO, What is Expressive Energy healing?

Expressive = art therapy
Energy = Reiki

Simply put, I am combining the practice of Art Therapy with Reiki energy healing work. The two systems compliment each other VERY well. First of all, Reiki is a very visual experience to those receiving it, most often the person receiving a reiki treatment drifts off into a dream-like state during which they are deeply relaxed. In this state the mind wanders and they see and experience variety of images , memories, colors, etc. Each person's experience is completely different and unique. Being able to express and rely this intense and unique healing experience and put it into/ manifest it in some form will work to make it more integrated, more powerful.

As far back as when C.G. Jung was alive and practicing psychology he utilized art to assist his clients in expressing most fully what they experienced in their dreams. Since dreams are sensory, visual experiences it is best captured not by using words to describe but images of course. His patients created magificant drawings that capture intense symbolism and deep psychological themes that Jung then used to study and write about throughout his lifetime.

I combining the use of art therapy with Reiki, it is my strong belief that the two modalities will be strengthen by the other. Art taps into the unconscious and helps bring about insights and clarifies situations, bringing about personal growth and wholeness. Reiki taps into the person's own energy helping restore balance and remove any blockages that are hindering growth and healing, including any emotional, spiritual and physical things. Both are powerful tools to be used for healing.

For more information and If interested in trying Expressive Energy Healing, please visit my website : http://katjohnston.yolasite.com/

Mail art series - 4 weeks!

2010-05-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

I signed up to participate in a 4 week long Mail-art exchange through artclash (same group who I did the "fun-a-day" show with)

I really enjoyed making these small collages and sharing them with others. I only wish that people who received them acknowledged in some way that they got it, and that they liked it. In each packaged I mailed out I included my info, website and email for them to be in touch with me along with a friendly note. But not 1 out of 4 people responded which was definitely a bit of a disappointment for me. I still enjoyed doing this mail- exchange, if anything it taught me a thing or two in the art of letting go--- I often have difficulty seeing my work walk off in someone elses hands. I'm growing as an artist- by able to be more excited about seeing it being sold and enjoyed by someone else, rather then hording it all for myself.

Week 1: went to a lucky lady in Santa Cruz, CA

Week 2: went to a lucky gent in Philadelphia, PA

Week 3 : went to a lucky lady in Bloomington, IN

Week 4: went to a lucky lady in Philadelphia, PA

New recent work- artist made album!

2010-05-10T19:25:00.001-07:00

Here's the latest newest addition to the wedding album collection! Summer colors, themes of nature, growth, beauty!

back view

Wedding Wire

2010-04-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

Review Artist Made Albums at WeddingWire

Working on new artwork

2010-04-16T10:40:00.000-07:00

Been busy working on new artwork, in addition to selling some at the "outdoor" art sale. It was so much fun, I decided to do it twice already and will probably do it throughout the summer!
Heres some mini-canvas mixed media I did last weekend- they are all 4" by 4" I can paint while I have everything set up outside, work on new stuff while doing to art sale. It's the BEST!!! that is as long as the weather cooperates!

An ART garage sale !!!

2010-04-02T11:25:00.000-07:00

This weekend I decided to host an art garage sale, right in my back yard!
I put up tons of my paintings, collages, felts up on display as well as pottery, knit bags, etc.
I'm very excited to sell some work !! Plus I think having garage sales are FUN!
It's been a long time since I did one, (like I'm talking 15 yrs or so)
It suppose to be a gorgous weekend too! Lots of sun!

Wish me luck!!! :)

Spring time is HERE!!

2010-03-26T12:38:00.000-07:00

Inspired by the recent uplifting change of weather, I have created a"Spring time" wedding album-- with birds, eggs, and of course brides!!!

Check out the lastest recent work on http://www.artistmadealbums.com/recentwork.html

Book binding is fun!

2010-03-20T18:28:00.000-07:00

I did some book binding back when I was undergrad, taking all different art studio classes. In fact, fibers was one of my favorite courses while earning my Fine Arts degree. Thats when I learned how to hand felt things, and make handmade paper, and some book binding. (oh, man that was over 13 years ago!!!! ) Doesnt feel that long ago.

Now I have my own business, designing and hand making all my own books for the wedding photo albums featured in http://artistmadealbums.com/ and I really enjoy making them. There are many different stages to making a book, the first part is cutting the book board, measuring is extremely important so that everything lines up right. If the parts and pieces don't fit together, then you can't make the book. After measuring and cutting everything, you piece it together using linen tape, next you drill the hole where the screw posts go on both the front and back sides of the book. Next measure and cut the book cloth to cover the board, this not only gives it the main color and texture but makes it more endurable. Glue the book cloth down, and make sure everything lines up right. Lastly measure and glue your choice of decorative paper on the inside cover of front and back. And you are done!!!!

The thing I like the most about the screw post way of book binding, is that you can take it apart, by undoing the screws if you need to add more pages to the photo album. I think this is extremely valuable since alot of times you can always find more pictures to include, that way your album can continue growing and evolving!

Pottery and such...

2010-03-18T11:24:00.000-07:00

Just got back from the pottery open studio, I wish they had more hours, this time they cut back to like only 3 days a week and they are all back to back, Tues, Wed, Thrusday, which is kind of unhelpful if you have projects that need to dry or you don't want to get too dry. If they are too dry then you can't trim them and you're screwed. Timing is a very large part of pottery and with such inflexible hours, it makes it very annoying and extremely challenging.

So today for example, I had plates that I made thrown on the wheel, four of them from my class on monday and two from last week that we're drying... well, the two I had thrown last week were too wet to trim on Monday (in class) but TOO dry today!! urghhh... I trimmed them the best I could. Then I'm faced with the dimlemna of do I trim the ones from Monday -today or wait till next Monday (since there's no open studio b/w today and MOnday) so those are my only options, luckly almost all of the plates were ready to be trimmed except for one-- I just waited till the last min for the wet plate and carefully trimmed it up anyways.

I am trying to make a set of plates to replace ones that my boyfriend still has , and that we both use all the time , that were from his previous marriage , that he got as wedding presents. I don't have much against them except for the association of his former life and they aren't much to look at... brown with dark blue flowers painted on in the middle. I know I can do MUCH better then that! AND how cool will it be to eat off my very own plates EVERYday!!! SO much fun!!

I will post some pictures of the plates when I get done with them. Plates are very tricky, because there are some many steps and stages where things can go wrong, and I have broken and/or had cracks happen right up to the very last final stages. As it stands right now I have 6 that are trimmed up and drying, hopefully they will all survive .. [fingers crossed]

New work to check out!!

2010-03-17T21:29:00.000-07:00

This is my lastest update to recent work!!!

I've added more photos to recent work on Artist made albums. Check out this very unique photo album, with original mixed media collage artwork on the front and back of it. Each photo album is custom made with YOU in mind! Once you send me your info, email and best time to reach you, your free consultation will help me get an idea of the size, color of your album as well as some themes for the artwork that you'd like included, or maybe you want me to just create something for you and be surprised!!! I feel that you are well deserving of something as unique and as special as you for your wedding day photos! After all that time and energy spent into making the wedding perfect and exactly how you want it down to the very last detail, why not get the perfect wedding album to show off those photos of your wedding pictures to your friends and family! No one album is the same, no replications, each one is original, handcrafted and completely one of a kind!

http://www.artistmadealbums.com/

ARTIST made ALBUMS

2010-02-28T13:17:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! check out this website, featuring my line of customized wedding albums, I use mixed media /collage to create a one-of-a-kind work of art on the cover of a beautiful album to display all your wedding day photos- why use a pre-fabricated, boring album when you could have you very own original artwork created in the form of a functional photo book!! I work with you to come up with the colors and themes you want in your artwork to go along with the feel you want to display your wedding pictures! What could be more perfect!?

Take a look! http://www.artistmadealbums.com/

hey, hey, its your birthday

2010-02-24T09:21:00.000-08:00

It's my birthday today, I am 31 years old. Don't feel 31 at all, but what is 31 suppose to feel like? I imagined when I was a kid that 31 was a grown-up, you'd feel like you knew what life was about, you'd have a serious job, lots of responsiblities, married, kids, a house. I have none of things, not right now at least. 31 is nothing like what I thought it would be. And thats a good thing, because I'm making it up as I go along!

Birthdays are a time of reflection for me, I compare, look back, where was I a year ago today, how much has changed, how do I feel about it. my life so far. Its a natural checking in point, I've done this for a while, its not anything new I started as I got "older". I think I always have. Even as a kid I was very aware of myself, of life and of time passing.

Time is a funny thing, it doesn't seem to have any laws that govern it, it makes up it's own rules. Sometimes it feels like it passes by really quickly and at the same time like it's standing still. Music can transport me back to a very real, relived moment in time. Almost errie, how instant this happens, and the longer ago the music was from the more intense the effects it has. Once the music is embedded in a moment of time, it can not be reassigned. For example, Rainer Maria as soon as I put that cd on, it transports me back to my early twenties, got tormented and angry I was, how raw I felt my emotions, and memories of me blasting it in my pea-green bedroom -wishing I had had better parents. I see myself then, smile, and it's hard to even imagine that was me, the same person that's here now. How much we grow and evolve and change. Not all, not everyone grows and changes with time, it's not to be assumed or taken for granted. I worked hard to come as far as I have, a driving force still at work in me to never settle for less, to always strive to become better, stronger, happier, and be a force of change rather then letting life just happen,,, because we only have one life to live.

Unlike how I thought as a child, that when you get to be 30 something, you just have a grown-up life, I realize, we don't just know things or have things because we are a certain age, its a conscious effort, nothing is handed to us, we have to go out there and get it. Life is what you make it. We have complete and total say over what are life is and how it is turning out. Thats a wonderful and frightening thing! Means we have no one to blame and everything to gain!

New projects underway!

2010-02-20T07:34:00.001-08:00

I have been working on a new line of products.............. NEW and UNIQUE handmade collaged customized wedding albums!!

It was an idea I had about a month ago and now we are making it a reality! I am very excited to get started!

Here are some photos of the first album I have designed so far!

It measures 12" by 12" with black pages.

Photos from the opening 2/13/2010

2010-02-16T13:21:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos of the "fun-a-day" opening!

I had a table set up with the I-Ching book, descriptions of the symbols, the coins and scrap paper so that everyone at the show could try asking the I-Ching a questions. Alot of people were very interested in how it worked.

"Fun-a-day" art opening by Artclash coming this Friday

2010-02-09T14:34:00.000-08:00

I am very excited and pleased to be a part of this year's Artclash's Fun-a-day show 2010!!!

This is the event where artist's create one piece per day for the whole month of Jan. It's such a great way to start off the new year on a creative foot!

I have posted some info/ pics of my projects for this year, the I-Ching feltings, and am very excited to be presenting them to the public for the first time this upcoming Friday!

If you can make it out, it's going to be a great show! Over a 100 artists! Very creative, unique things! Its Friday 12th 7pm-11pm, and Sat Jan 13th 7pm- 11pm. For more details check out:

http://www.studio34yoga.com/2010/01/art-fun-a-day-212-213/

"Putting it all together" Art opening 2010- NYC

2010-02-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from the opening, there were 156 artists involved internationally, and over 100 people who attended the opening. Great show, lots of amazing work!

Ihad 3 pieces in the show- "ambivalence" "perched" and "chemistry"

Biggest snow storm EVER!

2010-02-07T08:41:00.000-08:00

So the morning of my art show in NYC, (Saturday) We have a record breaking storm of the century- like 26 inches of snow, we're advised not to leave our houses, major declares Philadelphia in a state of emergency- due to the insane amount of snow! But I am determined- I have to get to the opening, I have been looking forward to it for weeks now! I can't believe out of all days, why this has to happen?!

We waited, watched the new reports on what the conditions of the roads were. I called the gallery and apparently for the first time in history despite the fact that Philadelphia got 2 feet, NYC has like nothing ( a few inches) so they are definitely still having the show.

I get dressed, ready to go and decide I'm going to check on the condition of the car, how badly it's buried in snow. I am already wearing my outfit for the show ( a dress and stockings) as I dig out the car. I'm sure all the neighbors thought I was crazy being out there shoveling snow in stockings!

Finally we get on the road, the hardest part was getting out of the drive way and onto the main roads. But once we reached the highway, it was pretty smooth sailing, the farther away from Philly we got the better the conditions. Once we arrived in NYC, I had almost completely forgotten how insane it was when we left, it seemed like a different day altogether that we had been in that crazy storm. I'm just glad we made it, I was very determined and I was glad that I had a dedicated man (my biggest number one fan) by my side to help me get there safely! I hate driving at night and especially in the snow, so he drove the whole way and the whole way back!

Upcoming art show in NYC

2010-02-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

Count down begins, I have my very first opening in NYC this upcoming Sat night!!! Its a big deal for me because NY is like the mecca of art, or at least it has been in my mind even from the time when I was a little kid. If you can make it as an artist in NYC, well, then you've made it!

I am driving there from Philadelphia this Saturday, 3 of my new collage pieces got into a group show of all Collage, Assemblage art. I'm excited to see what else other artists did!! I'm sure there's going to be lots of good stuff. I'll be sure to post some pics of the opening on here afterwards.

I'm nervous, excited, not sure what to expect, how many people will show, if I will sell any of my pieces. [fingers crossed]. I dont know what to wear!!! [butterflies in belly] :)

I -Ching Feltings

2010-02-02T22:38:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have seen my etsy shop, http://www.etsy.com/shop/creationsbykathryn?section_id=6721545 have a bunch of feltings that I am doing as part of a series (also see previous entry feltings-a-day) for an upcoming show the artclash is putting on fun-a-day.

This series is called, I-Ching feltings, because I used the anicent Chinese "Book of Change" I-Ching oracle to inspire my artwork for that particular day.

So each day for the entire month of Jan, I asked a question, any questions -whatever was on my mind that particular day, " What does today have in store for me?" or "What should I be focusing on? What's the best way to handle...." etc. I asked the question (recorded it in a small notebook) then tossed 3 coins, recorded the pattern with a line, either broken or solid- the broken lines represent yin energy, the solid yang energy, the coins get tossed 6 times giving you a pattern that includes 6 lines, which correspond to a symbol represented in the I-Ching, a description can then be read of what the "answer" to your question is. I have found that the answer or descriptions tend to give general advice or things to consider, not totally a clear cut answer. Occasionally the wording used was very relevant and surprisingly helpful for the question that was being asked.

If you'd like to try it yourself, asking a question, I've found this online version:

http://www.ichingonline.net/

After receiving my answer , the symbol, reading the description, I created a felting inspired by the reading.

Once the felting was complete, I cut out colored felt in the pattern of the symbol and hand sow it onto the felting.

my cat has a death wish!

2010-02-02T16:20:00.000-08:00

Like a month ago, I was getting something out from the storage space, which is located behind the couch in my living room. I get what I need and go to move the couch back to its normal position. As I'm pushing the couch back against the wall, its like not moving, theres still live 6 inches between the wall and the couch. So I push harder, not uderstanding, why its not going any closer to the wall. Then I hear a little squeak and realize its my cat!!! She's being crushed , her little body is in the way! OMG!!! I am horrified and feel like a god-awful pet owner/mom because I was unaware of her and directly responsible for causing her harm. I immediately move the couch and she runs out, all out of breath and tramatized. I feel so bad, I craddle her, pet her, ask her if she's ok and tell her how sorry I am.

So then today I'm moving the couch again, and my cat, who has to be in the middle of everything, is looking. This time I keep a good eye on her, making sure I dont repeat what happened before. She is not anywhere near it when I go to push it up against the wall, my boyfriend is helping me move the couch. Then at the last min, he yells for me to stop! I'm like "what, whats the matter?" And he tells me, its the cat, she's behind the couch again! I can't believe it because I was totally watching for her this time. She was across the room, she waited until we were almost completely done, then darted back behind it like as if she WANTS to be crushed!! Now, I'm like, "what the hell?! Does she like have a death wish?" Do I have a suicial kitty?? LOL!

What a crazy little animal she is, this time I didnt feel as bad, because she did it to herself!

We affectionately call her "little baby fuck face" because she's always getting into trouble and she looks like a wild alley cat!

Janurary coming to a close...

2010-01-31T16:25:00.001-08:00

Jan is over---- which means I'm done with my Feltings!!! YAY!!

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed making them, I did, but they were very time consuming. I will probably still do them from time to time, but not every day it was starting to get to be TOO MUCH!

Heres a pic of them hanging on wall, if I do say so myself, they look nice all hanging together! kinda impressive :) .... not to tute my own horn, but ya know, sometimes you got to!
To see some of these individually - check them out on my etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/creationsbykathryn?section_id=6721545

Feltings-a-day

2010-01-29T18:11:00.000-08:00

The artclash hosts "fun-a-day" every year,( http://www.artclash.com/ ).
I did it last year and decided to do it again this year. Its a great way to start off the new year on a creative note! Basically here's what it is, anyone can partcipate, all you have to do is create one of something for the entire month of January. It doesnt even have to be art, it could be baking a cake, or recording a video of you dancing, anything! Then in Feb, they collect all the projects and put up a show at a local venue.

This year I decided to do felting, which I hadn't done college which was about 9 years ago. I enjoyed it back then in college- making colorful, abstract "paintings" with dyed wool. It has been quite an adventure doing one everyday and alot of work, I forgot how much time is involved, all the different steps-

Basically what you do is first you lay out the colored wool in a pattern, it has to be thick because it shrinks a little when you felt it.

Then you sandwich the wool in between 2 screens, loosely join the screens together by sitching it together with thread and a large dull pointed needle-- just enough so the pattern doesn's change or move too much.

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Then you shock the wool with alternating hot and cold water washes, while agitating the fiber. This helps the different colors of fibers "stick" together, shrinking and expanding together. I do this in my bathtub. This is my favorite part because its very phyiscal- rubbing and scrubing any and all frustrations you may have- taking it out on the fibers!

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Then once you're sure you've hit it with enough hot/cold water, you cut the strings that hold the screens together and carefully peel the screens off the felting. This is ALSO my favorite part because the end product is never quite exactly how you originally lay out the pattern, things move and shift in the process of agitating and shrinking. The unveiling is very exciting!!
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Then what I do is measuring and cut a wooden rod for the back so that it can be hung up on the wall. I bought large wooden dowls from Home Depot and a small hand saw so I cut them down to size. Attach the rod to the back of the felting with thread.

The finshed product is a much flatter felt then the orginal fluffy wool fiber you saw in the first photo as I was laying it on the screen ( the pic with my kitty in it )

So heres my beginning of blogging

2010-01-29T16:41:00.000-08:00

Here goes nothing!
Not sure why I haven't started a blog before now, I guess I always preferred a more ol' fashion way of doing things which was paper and pen journals. I had SOOOO many journals, like I could have made a small bon fire out of them, kept me warm for a few weeks at least. SO, I suppose this is the more efficient, more modern way of recording your thoughts and connecting with others, it definitely saves on paper! :)

I am currently unemployed,(an ever increasing, popular growing club) which has allowed me much more time on my hand, which was strange at first, but I am loving it now!!!
Recently I have become extremely motivated to start working on my art, putting on into the world, especially online. The more I am learning the deeper and deeper the rabbit hole goes. I had NO IDEA that there was so many websites, Internet communities, and forums to help artists get exposure for their work and connect with other artists. wow, I am very impressed! And excited!!