Sandhill Cranes continue

Sandhill Cranes are beautiful and fascinating birds. Some people think they are prehistoric in apperance. I think they are amazing. Right now, I am working on four small paintings of these birds. Some are on paper, which I enjoy greatly. I love the process of watching the painting form and illuninate the beauty of the birds.
This painting celebrates the shapes of the these amazing creatures while flying and just being who and what they are. It is a bit different from my usual style or rather painting format. I just wanted to show the shapes and some of their movements. I hope you like it.
Hopefully more will come soon.

Birds of Jackson

Here is another small painting, this time on paper. It is mixed media.
We have a growing population of Sandhill cranes here in Jackson County,to the
frustration of many farmers since they do chow down on freshly planted corn.
They are fascinating birds and many people enjoy observing them.
Personally, I love their feathers and the way they turn from a blue-grey to
a brownish color at least in spots as they bathe in dust.
Stay tuned for more, I did start a sandhill crane on canvas, but was not happy with
a few things, so, that work of art is still in progress.Stay tuned for more Birds of Jackson.
Till then...Have a great week or 2. Betty Kay

New Series begins

Here it is, the first in my series of Birds of Jackson Michigan. Jackson is now being promoted as a bird watching area, and It should have been sooner. Therefore, it needs illustrations of the birds we see here all of the time. This fellow was a return visitor to a pond in front of a cemetary on N. Elm st. My husband photographed him every year until sadly, he came no more. He had no mate and looked a little scraggly if you were able to see him or her up close. We were so sad when he did not come back, but we have many photos to remind us of our friend and now a painting to remind of his life. He is or was a heron. We miss him.

I'm now working on Sandhill cranes. They are beautiful birds with a delightful dance. We see them summer to late fall. I'll put my finished work up as soon as I'm happy with it. These are small paintings, but I intend to also paint them on larger canvases too. I hope you like them. Look around you and pay a little more attention to the birds. they are wonderful. Till next time, have a great tomorrow. Betty K.

What's new

Today is the garage sale at Art 634. I don't know if I'll have anything garagy to sell or not. However, I started a new series of paintings this week. In honor of Jackson Michigan going to the birds (Bird watcher town), I have started a series of bird paintings. The first is a blue heron that my husband Kenny enjoyed photographing a few years ago. He (the heron) was always seen in a pond here in Jackson. He was a bit scraggly looking. I think he or she was old and had no mate, but year after year turned up at the same place, then last year, no bird. We were very sad about the lack of heron. So, in honor of our bird, the first is his portrait. Next will be sandhill cranes. Birds are such beautiful creatures. By the way, there will be a Sandhill Crane festival here in October at the Sandhill Crane Vineyard and Winery. The blue bird festival is hopefully coming back. That festival is in the talking stages.

Back to this weekend... Art 634 in Jackson Michigan, garage sale Sat. and Sunday. Sunday is also the 2nd Sunday with music and who knows what all, so come on over to join us for art, music and fun on Sat. and Sunday afternoon. I'll look forward to seeing you all.

I'm Back

The Fairy Fest is now past and I am recovering. Wow! It was two days of small fairies and other small creatures as well as larger ones running around the building at Art 634. What an event. We had tons to do and see. I do believe it was a success. I was busy most of the time face painting. I had some that came back the 2nd day. All in all we had about 200 each day. That is a lot of children. fortunately, we had lots to do, some for small amts of money and several free. I'm regrouping artistically. Keep you updated soon.

The Countdown

So many things to do and here I am writing on my blog. The Fairy Fest is quickly approaching and I have much to do to be ready. I should be in the studio cleaning and setting up for the big event. Oh well, I will be rested. Tuesday will be a better day for cleaning,etc. I would prefer to get to the heart of art. Art from the heart,that is what I love. I've gathered small canvasses to make more affordable art for the less than happy economy. I think perhaps a new series would be appropriate for small canvasses. Something new and fresh would be great. Any suggestions? I would love some input from you. Have a great artsy day. God Bless. Betty K

Update, Fairy Fest, bionic knee

Well, it is almost fairy fest time (next weekend,4/25 11am-6pm, 4/26 12am-4pm). I'll be face painting. There will be lots to see and do: a fairy door scavenger hunt, fairy houses on display, books and author on hand to autograph, the Rose Queen will have tea parties on Sat, fairy dancers on Sun. It will be lots of fun. Last year we had over 200 wanabe fairies running around in winged costumes. I wonder what kind of turnout we'll have this year? I hope my husband with the new bionic knee will be able to come and help out or at least sit in may studio and keep an eye on things while I'm busy painting faces. I need to get back to work, I've been staying home with the recovering knee. I've only been able to go to work for a few hours this week. Hopefully next week will be better. Till next time, God Bless.

It's been a busy month

What a month! I've been so busy with commissions and a husband with a new knee. Now is gear up for fairy fest at Art 634. It will be a big event with lots of winged fairies running around looking for fairy doors. There seems to be garden fairies in my studio. They have been digging in my basket garden. Tunneling is more like it. What a mess. I think they are setting up house in the tunnel. Off for now. God bless. Betty Kay

Will wonders never cease/the journey

Here they are. The pictures have been found. . Here is the explanation... We were driving to Indianapolis for the time trials at the race track. I was wearing blue blockers and seeing lots of scenes that I would love to paint. However, it is hard to sketch as scene at 70 mph. Then a stroke of genious hit...I have a camera in the car. Voila! I now have a multitude of reference photos of scenes to paint from. The scenes were much more attractive with the sunglasses on, so I decided to paint bright. Also, I live in a cold and often grey environment, so the logical choice was ito paint warm. My first paintings were from a trip back from home (Texas) in November during various stages of wintery weather, all very grey and precipitous.(is that a word?) Any way the following paintings were warm and colorful often with yellow or orange skies giving the inpression of a hot sunny day. Several people come to my studio to just sit and soak up the atmosphere of warmth and cheeriness. It feels good to have people enjoy my art. I hope you do too. When we moved from Texas to Michigan, it was mid-January and people were cursing the snow. That is one reason I chose to paint warm and bright, also I love color. God bless. Betty K.

Where are the pictures?

We set up a slide show that it seems is somewhere in cyperspace....lost in space. The Pictures are from a series I've been painting for 2years called "Scenes from the Highway". I'm a bit out of order of my journey as an artist. I've jumped from early childhood to now. I'm sorry. Perhaps you would rather hear about now anyway. I can say that I've spent most of my life becoming and artist. I realy did not have much formal tranining during my school years, except for the art classes in jr.high and high school, which stopped when we moved from Austin, Tx to Pearland, Tx. There were no art classes. I picked up art training in college where I majored in Art, esp. in sculpture. I married, had 3 beautiful children in 2 years (when our son was 2yrs, we had twins) and put art aside. I was a bit overwhelmed. I returned to classes at the community college near our home in Pasadena,Tx'. When all my children were in school. I retook drawing and painting. Actually, I took Ad. art, painting and got into clay. Working in clay is terribly addictive. I was doing quite well when a wrist problem caused me to go back to painting. I later found out the wrist problem was a neck problem. When we moved to Michigan in 2002, I got a job. Hated the job and when I had enough money, opened an art studio. It just happeded that several people in this area were wanting to move forward in the Arts. I think I'll tell you about the arts in Jackson,Michigan next time. Who knows, perhaps the slide show will come back from outer space. Til then. God bless you, tomorrow will be a great day. Betty Kay

Signs and Fairy Festival

I'm sorry to have been so neglegent with my posts. We had problems with the pictures. Most of the problems are my lack of computer savy. Actually, I've been holding out on learning how to use the computer. So, here I am becoming a computer person. For me it has not come naturally. However, It will as I do it. The big project is to marry my art to the computer. I don't know if you are interested in my art journey. If you are, let me know. I would like to hear from you. I have been very busy with commissions. I'm making signs for businesses at the building my art studio is located in. Right now I'm just finishing a 24"x72" sign make of 2 strethcd canvases. I painted them like one of my paintings with metal leaf swirls on it. It is bright and will show up very well. I'll post pic's of it when it is finished. I must seal it and frame it since it will be on the dock of the building. I received another commission for 2 more signs for Gallery 634 last week. I hope you will come visit if you are in the area. I'm located in Jackson Michigan. we're planning a Fairy Festival for the last weekend in April. Last year, we were overrun with fairies, fairy doors, and everything fairy, including little girls with wings. I'll give more info as the event nears. Please don't give up on me, I'm trying. Have a blessed week. Betty Kay

Working on pictures

I was all set to add pictures to my blog, when my husband, Kenny looked at them and decided that we need to retake them all with his new camera. I do agree. They could be better. Tomorrow is the big photograph day and hopefully I will add a slide show this week. Who knows, I might even have may website up and linked to this blog.I think this should be a weekly blog.
I'll try to take new photos of my work each week to show and sell. I have been painting quite a lot, but I have a bit of difficulty focusing on one media. I want to do everything at once. For discipline's sake I'm endeavoring to paint a painting a day without lapsing into collage cards or paper bead earrings. I love making all kinds of art, some is good for a warm up, like altering books. However, I do sometimes get carried away with the warm ups. Til tomorrow, Betty.

Blog, blog, blog is all I hear. OK, I'm blogging already. I need to blog. My name is Betty Kay and I am an artist. I was inspired by my grandmother, Ella. I never saw her paint, she was ill and her eyesight was failing when I knew her. I was only four when she passed away. I still miss her. She was one of those people who could do almost anything. she was multi talented. She had no formal training in art, but she had natural talent. Her paintings helped get her family through the great depression. She was able to sell some of her paintings for $100 each. she did commissions for the few people with money. I didn't notice her paintings when I went to her house. Only when mamma brought one of her paintings home to our house ,did I see them. When mamma walked across the living room, I saw a large still life, a vase of flowers. That is when I knew. I said to myself, that is what I want to do. The only deviation I have made is a move into sculpture and pottery. To me, all art is additctive.
Thanks for listening, I'm hoping to post pics on my next edition. Betty k.