It seems that more often than not, I do not go into the studio. It is bitter cold and getting colder tonight. Today is the day Mama and I each had our pedicures and my toes are still “curing”. They aren’t dry yet and I don’t think I want to sit by the space heater until they do dry!

I’m inclined to go up to the house and get under the comforter and snuggle down awhile. Anthony Bourdain may not be on TV, but watching a food program is something that I find to be quite relaxing. Noticed that the lady of “Barefoot Contessa” has trimmed down a bit. Wondered if she would do something about her weight. She hid it well under a wide blue shirt that flowed away from her body. Amazing how a nice smile and loose clothing can hide “the obvious”. I’m intrigued by “weighty matters” and often watch the programs about obese people trying to lose weight. Whew!

 Well, studio, I will miss you, but my heart is always there, reaching for my paints and having quiet time to create. I’ll pick up the painting I’m working on here and add a few more lines to it. Deciding what design to use for balconies is puzzling me – plain or intricate? Filigree? Tee hee!

I watched “The Ascent of Money” last night on PBS. Will watch it again to see if I “get it” or maybe check out the book. Talk about credit confidence. If we owe the Chinese and they decide to collect big time, what will that mean for all of us? I like Chinese food and thinking along those lines it’s probably time to get some Egg Drop Soup again. Knee-Hi, the latest dog, likes Egg Drop soup, too. She especially likes the flat, crunchy noodles that accompany a take-out order of soup.

 And so, another day passes here at “The Cottage”. Mama is in her bed with her word-processor “writing away”. She’s a writer (you know). It will be for me to take the word-processor and download a file to my computer to print it out for her to edit.

 Onward!

1st Wednesdays Parties – Feb. 4th, May 6th, Aug. 5th

5:30 to 9 p.m.

513-721-ARTS

The Cincinnati Art Museum and The Taft Museum recently featured outstanding Chinese exhibits. “China Now” was incredible! I hope you have the opportunity to “Google” and explore what is happening in the graphic arts in China.

     Getting ready for my next show at the Symphony Hotel is a priority task on my list of “to-do’s” for this month. Five paintings are framed and “ready to go”. I have two other paintings I want to complete. They are street scenes done on illustration board – using gouache, watercolor, ink, marking pen and acrylic paint.

     It certainly is encouraging to have family and friends  who appreciate my paintings and drawings. This Thanksgiving and Christmas I continued the tradition of doing my own card. Uncle Gene kept a scrapbook of my pictures for years. One year I didn’t produce “an original card” for Christmas. It was an “awful moment” for Uncle Gene. Oh my! So, now I continue the tradition – easily – by taking a photo of one of my paintings and reproducing it through Publisher 98 on my old, reliable computer. This year Mama and I sent out more than 200 cards.

     Back to discussing the show: what is required is a system and supplies. I have pre-printed tags that can be filled in “on the spot” and posted by the painting. I have a bag which contains hammers, hooks and other materials for hanging a show. I need to make a postcard that will be my “advertising” for this show. I think I’ll produce my own and save a big printing bill. Oh my! I need to check with Symphony Hotel for final details, too. Onward!

Mama and I are still here – still ticking off the moments day by day. The New Year offers new opportunities to refocus upon “things important”. For me, it’s getting Karen’s Studio “up and runnig” again. This takes concentrated effort on my part. It takes advertising, promotion and “making time” to get the job done! I’m painting pictures in the family room now. The bar area works nicely for setting up a small studio area. The painting I’m doing now is a street scene with a cobblestone walkway going up the middle and around a corner between several European “row houses”. Windows of a flower shop and antique shop are on opposite sides of the street. The outline of the buildings are done in black ink. I “fill in” the rest of the scene with watercolor gouache and acrylic wash paint. I enjoly “making up” street scenes.

 I have a couple of  street scenes that I painted during those years I was single – 1968 – 1971. They are favorites and hang in my bedroom and dining room hallway.

 Classes are not increasing in size. I’ve started an “Art, Music and Theater” Meetup.com group. Some of you who belong to the group will be joining me and my students at the Cincinnati aRt Museum for the first Wednesday of the month to see the latest exhibitions. Then, we will continue our regular Wednesday evening classes at my studio at 2511 Essex Place, Essex Studios #125. Classes start around 5 p.m. and go until 7. We are very “casual” at the moment.We paint what we want to paint. We enjoy being together. New students – will pay $15 a session on a “Pay As You Go” basis. Call 513-600-8063 to let me know if you will be starting classes. Adult beginners or adults who want to “start over again”.

 We had a good holiday here at “The Cottage”. Some of the decorations are still up. The colors are cheery. The decorations are happy reminders of a special time together. I’ve been trying to learn how to do more filming so that I can eventually have my own “You Tube” site working. Maybe I will demonstrate some of the painting lessons.

 Hope all goes well for all of you this year. ONWARD!

All is well “around here”. Mama’s still “with us”. It will be 2 years August 1st (I do believe). Will check this out. We manage each day – day by day – sometimes I use the 15-minute timer to tick off the minutes and to keep me focused.

I’ve been writing (again). This time it’s about my father’s history. I’ve found his writings (some of them) in his old briefcase which is falling apart at the seams – truly splitting apart. It’s been interesting “digging”. He put his thoughts in writing  on legal-sized yellow paper as he was pondering various matters that concerned him.The paper now is aged and darker in color.

I swim in the morning and drink Aria Women’s Protein Drink for breakfast. I continue acupuncture treatments on Thursday mornings. Having a social life through Meetup.com has made life more enjoyable – going out to many interesting places to eat and attending various art, music and theater events. I’m an organizer of three groups – Tea Toads, The Cincinnati Brunch Club and Art, Music & Theater Meetup. I also continue to go to the studio on Wednesday evenings or attend art events on Wednesday evenings at The Cincinnati Art Museum.

Creating some art “along the way gives me some time to relax and step back from “caregiving duties”. My paintings are abstract and are quickly produced. I sell some of them now for $20 “off the wall” at our art walks.

OK. Enough for today’s “catch-up” post.

Onward!

Karen

We’re having “Open Studio”  on Wednesday evenings 5 to 7 p.m. EXCEPT for the 1st Wednesday of the month from Sept. – May. We go to Cincinnati Art Museum for “One World Wednesday”.

Hooray! We did it! We opened  the studio for the Oct. Art Walk @ Essex Studios. Many pople stopped by to enjoy our art work, good food and company. Penny Deer’s beautiful display of handmade soaps were a bit hit! Penny will be at our next two openings, too. Candice Teasely and Susan Deyo were “on board” to help set up, hang up and set out all that is required for a special show. Speaking of “show” … Moe is always a big hit – with her bright, colors and personality plus. Wanda, Candice’s mom, helps out, too…and she enjoys art!

Meeting new artists up and down “our hall” was fun. Jeff Smith’s photos are exquisite… I bought two. Then the lady who made the tiny Fairies and other whimsical figures caught my pocket book “off guard”.   Mainifest Gallery is a major and important addition to Essex Studios. Candice and I want to sign up for some of their drawing opportunities. Tree lovers – woods people who revel at the magtnificence of trees will love Robert Mullenix’s work. View his work at http://rwmullenix.blogspot.com/

Several people showed interest in classes with Karen on Wednesday evenings – $15.00 “Pay as you go” -for a 2 hr. session. Penny is considering teaching classes on making soap molds. Susan teaches Pencil Drawing. If you have any interest in classes, please call Karen @ 513-600-8063.

Today our bricks go on  the  auction block – to raise money and awareness for Women’s Breast Cancer.  See the bricks: www.breastcancerbricks.org

One more note: This Wednesday evening i’m attending the Cincinnati Independents food event @ Newport Aquarium for a Food Tasting. Magnificent!

Also, visit www.meetup.com for information about many fun groups. You’ll find my Brunch Club and Tea Toads there. 

OJNWARD!  Karen Kelly “As Always”