October Desktop Calendars : YES! I have a Blog!

October Desktop Calendars are here! And yes, I have a blog (back to that in a minute, or day or a week, i dunno). I have always wanted to create free downloadable desktop calendars for use and to start things off, I've created three options. I was excited! Click on the desktop calendar of your choice below, then right click and download, or click on use as background image. Each calendar this month is titled or themed so that you can choose one for the whole month or change out your choice throughout the month. All artwork is my own and are from original acrylic paintings on watercolor paper.

As this is my first time creating a free downloadable, any feedback you'd like to provide would be immeasurably invaluable. Thanks errbody! And happy October!

First, Granny Florals!

Second, October Shapes.

And last but not least, for the folks who love Halloween and all the bits about it, the Spooky!

Please enjoy! And do share!

Upcoming Exhibit : Sara Smith Self Gallery : September 2 - September 30

Many of you have been following along as I have been sharing my painting process and progress leading up to my upcoming art exhibit at the Sara Smith Self Gallery in Asheboro, NC this coming month.  I would like to thank each of you for the support and encouragement over the last several months as I have been creating this new series of work for the exhibit.  Your kind words and positive thoughts are affirmation and a part of what drives me to continue to paint and pursue my art full time.  I have appreciated every last comment, "like", and "follow" you have shared.  It is truly a gift to me to have such a loyal local group of patrons.  Even though I have been painting for many years, and have exhibited my work numerous times, the immense feeling of gratitude for the opportunity to share my paintings, remains and wells up in me even more as I wrap up final preparations.

There are a few of you who have inquired about purchasing my work.  My work will be hung on Monday September 1st and will remain in the gallery until Tuesday September 30th.  If you are interested in purchasing a piece of my art during the month of September you may contact the gallery directly starting on Monday.  The Sara Smith Self Gallery in the Moring Arts Center can be reached at (336) 629-0399 or by visiting the website, www.RandolphArtsGuild.com.  For you reference I have included the Title, Dimensions and Gallery List Price below each piece, pictured below.  I have also created a flickr album 'Sara Smith Self Gallery' for those interested in seeing my art work in a larger format.

If you have further questions feel free to email me at catcollier(at)hotmail(dot)com.  Thank you, and wish me luck! 

1.  'the passage of water through the plant' : 36" x 48" ($1,350.00)

2.  'passage + pattern ll' : 22" x 22" ($550.00)

3.  'passage + pattern III' : 16" x 40" ($675.00)

4.  'shell succulents' : 10.5" x 13" framed ($150.00)

5.  'succulent landscape' : 10" x 10" ($150.00)

6. 'jade succulent' (left) : 5" x 5" ($110.00)

7.  'spike succulent' (right) : 5" x 5" ($110.00)

8.  'symbol + code:star bright' : 24" x 24" ($675.00)

9.  'symbol + code:"X" marks the spot' : 16" x 20" ($400.00)

10.  'symbol + code:star bright/landscape' : 24" x 24" ($675.00)

11.  'symbol + code:target' : 10" x 10" ($150.00)

12.  'symbol + code:star bright II' : 5" x 5" ($110.00)

13.  'symbol + code:star bright III' : 5" x 5" ($110.00)

:: recent work round up + upcoming ::

happy new year folks!  and yes, again, time has flown and i have neglected to properly keep the old blog updated.  however, so many of you have been asking me about my current work (and about my website) and all that has transpired in the last six months i thought it high time i put a little "recent work round up + upcoming" post together for you.  

leading up to the holidays i prepared for and painted eleven new "passage and pattern" works for a show at Sewn to the Sky, a gift gallery specializing in locally handmade, crafted gifts and art.  the show was a great success because so many of you came out to support me, the night of the opening.  i want to officially thank you all, my friends and family for the enthusiasm and kindness.  i felt like the show gave me the opportunity to share some of my new work and a new direction.  i cannot imagine a better way to jump start my pursuit of art as a full time profession.  i am always grateful and humbled to share with you and this provides a fantastic amount of strength as the new year unfolds.

there are still a few works still available for sale or to see in person.  and the perfect time to do so is during the Open Studio nights, on the first Friday of each month in the Chattanooga Workspace building.  the next Open Studio night is Friday February 7th, from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.  i must add, this is a fantastic family friendly free event each month.  for those of you interested in how artists work, how they produce and the spaces they create for making, there is nothing quite like Workspace.  it means a lot to me (and to the community of artists) to have the time to talk with folks about what we do and how we do it.  i will look forward to seeing and meeting you there soon!

the following work is based off the idea of the "passage of water through the plant".  the idea came when i was working on a piece for the Southern Lit Alliance's (formerly known as the AEC), annual silent art auction and benefit, Art.a.ma.jig.  The word/theme given this year was "passage".  i knew i wanted to shift my focus and had thought about the idea of painting plants, specifically succulents.  so i created the second piece, pictured below for the show.  when i was asked to show at Sewn to the Sky it was a no-brainer, i'd carry out and explore the "passage" concept even more.  

in the piece above, i decided to start with an entirely black (tissue paper) background.  this only became a challenge when i couldn't decide how to balance the black background with the plants in the foreground.  i think it all landed in the right place and am pleased with the outcome.  

this was my first attempt at "passage" and so much of it, i painted freehand, meaning there's less of a pattern for me to paint, i simply created and painted the plants as i moved across the canvas.

the above piece was the second in the series and i think there are a couple of really special parts to this painting, that i love.  first is the red polka dotted tissue paper i used, which was included in a purchase i made from anthropologie 10+ years ago.  so in fact, the red dots are not painted but are the "underpainting" of applied tissue paper.  the second special part of this painting for me was to apply the squares of color at the top of the painting.  this was my way of illustrating the water, and it allowed my to create a bit of 3 dimensionality that i do not typically subscribe to.  it also is reminiscent of a much earlier piece i created here.

in this piece i was inspired by a small sketch that i had made on my husband's iPad, using the Paper App.  it harkens back to more of my tree landscapes and is a bit more whimsical, not sure that it really translates as well as i wanted it to, but i am at least pleased with the color combinations and pattern.

oh gosh!  the colors in the one above are far out!  this is definitely my idea of a lovely succulent, in terms of the pattern, but the red background still blows my mind.  

and this little 4 x 4 pieces were so much fun to create.  i have absolutely no recollection of ever painting anything this small before.  i was pleasantly surprised that it was not any more challenging than painting on a larger scale.  and i am really pleased at how they look together, as if a pair.

so ~ to the future, to 2 0 1 4, i will soon begin working on a new body of work for an upcoming solo (if not solo, dual/co show) out of town.  i am going to be producing 20-25 new pieces and i am pretty sure i am on to a plan.  this will be the largest body of work i am being expected to produce in a short period of time, ever.  i have started some sketches and notes and hope to be updating and posting regularly.  for now…here's a little something to whet the appetite.

:: passage + pattern :: + out takes ::

Since the middle of July I have been busying myself with the making of as many paintings as possible.  Now, in just a week, my show at Sewn to the Sky will open and the making and painting continue.  I was incredibly fortunate to have sold the majority of my older work earlier in the year, to the most amazing people!  So I'm only bringing work into the show that I have created in the last four months.  Pretty exciting, pretty terrifying!  Those of you still out there reading and/or interested, I'll be working on my website, blog and social media outlets in the new year.  Blogging, has become a thing of the past for me, or so it seems, since Instagram.  But I have mega-super plans and I feel like this is just the very beginning again.  There is great thankfulness.

So to celebrate…I present you with out takes and in some cases, highly edited photos of random things that I did, saw, or made.  These are my secret pictures.   First, the great big Ferris wheel in Atlanta.  Right beside the Tabernacle. Eek!  

I take the electric shuttle to my studio almost everyday.  Walking, no driving, no parking, no red lights, no careless drivers, I don't have to care about.  And I love it!!!

And then I finished this painting and I felt like something new clicked on inside of me.  We'll see...

I absolutely love the golden Ginkgo tree!  Don't you?

Asheville ~  I'd love to visit you again soon!  

::art sale!::

i have finally decided to have my own little art sale again.  so let us begin.  below you'll find seven (7) newer works of mine for sale.  they have all been created within the last two years.  as some of you may remember i've conducted this sort of sale before.  in the past during a sale like this i have made work available for a reduced (50% discount) price for only a short period of time.  this time i am going to do things a little differently.  hopefully you stumble upon something you cannot stop thinking about and must have!  if that becomes the case, i've provided a few "to buy/not to buy" tips below, to help make the decision easier.  if not, then please keep coming by every month or so to see what's new!  i thought i'd go ahead and lay out the plan, are you ready?

- each piece includes title, dimensions, and reduced price (50%-more off) - all work is on gallery stretched canvas, ready to hang.

- first come, first serve! - feel free to email me at catcollier@hotmail.com if interested in viewing or purchasing art work.  work will remain at reduced price for unlimited time or to be decided by me.

- i won't be able to negotiate the price, however, i will accept payment plans at your own convenience.  payment in full is required before art work is delivered.

- i will accept cash or check (payment must clear before art work is delivered).  not accepting credit cards or paypal at this time.

- i have created a set over at flickr, specifically for my current work on sale, it's probable that the image quality is going to be a whole lot better over there.  so please do check it out!

- i also wanted to mention that i am currently accepting commissions.  please do not hesitate to contact me.

thank you...

SOLD::feather trees:: 12"x36" 2D Mixed Media Collage ($400.00)

SOLD::in they came:: 12"x18" 2D Mixed Media Collage ($150.00)

SOLD::senseless trees:: 10"x10" 2D Mixed Media Collage ($100.00)

::oh canada:: 10"x10" 2D Mixed Media Collage ($100.00)

SOLD ::untitled landscape:: 15"x30" 2D Mixed Media Collage ($200.00)

::late night television trees:: 15"x30" 2D Mixed Media Collage ($200.00)

SOLD::lightning snow trees:: 24"x48" 2D Mixed Media Collage ($400.00)

outtakes + stuff + maybe a list

this evening i have felt like reminiscing and so it just seemed right to share some outtakes, moments captured in the last couple of months.  not really outtakes but snippets of images and ideas.  colors and light that i like manipulating.  images i haven't previously shared anywhere else but here.  i have been thinking a lot about my family lately and I started writing them a letter but just couldn't finish it, not yet at least. 

basically, i thought i'd just share the photos today.  the pattern above struck me and i like it.  it's a dress and even though i like the colors and patterns a whole lot, i cannot really imagine myself wearing a dress like this.  but i think it's pretty and i love the way the light is fall on the folds.

mister fm and i went to see first aid kit the month before last and i thought the shadow of the soap dish/dispensary in the shower of the hotel we stayed in, was rather fascinating.  when i saw it, i remember feeling immediately good.  which is weird but something about that soap dish and it's shadow made me feel really good.  silly! me!

so one of our big accomplishments this month was making the time to hang our new curtains.  i had curtains i purchased from west elm and world market made into black-out curtains.  meaning i spent a lot of money to buy really pretty curtains and then spent a little bit more money to have black-out fabric sewn into them.  and then spent a little bit more money to buy the hanging hardware.  whew!  what an adventure, and we are extremely pleased.  i will be owning these for the rest of my life.  if you need advice let me know.  my friend monica, shared the idea with me and i thought it was a such a good idea i had to try myself.  

i guess a couple of weekends ago we went downtown to a little artsy craft fair and on our way back to the car, i saw this pretty tree and felt like borrowing the color.  it's almost as bright as the sunshine and has sunshine in it, don't you think?

next on my to do list:
1.  finish yarn + pompom fall/autumn wreath

2.  see a nephew's basketball game

3.  make more spice cookies

4.  finish a painting

5.  have a BIG painting/art sale

6.  listen more to the welcome wagon

7.  be more intentional

8.  turn things around

9.  sophie's open house

10.  remember to be thankful everyday, every minute.

night. night. folks!

a list + photos

i am not sure i know how to write anymore.  i am not sure i have much to say and writing just like anything takes dedication.  and that i am not.  not dedicated because life takes over and time catches up with me.  the new job, mister fm, my lack of desire or motivation, the changes distract me.  and i'm fine with that to some degree but it is hard not to feel like i have lost a bit of myself somewhere and for that reason time eludes me for now.  i'll take a minute to make a list and share some photos.  a list + photos.

1.  spending time with friends

2.  drinking my first 'horse's neck'

3.  giving my car to my little sister

4.  trying to paint

5.  staying in contact with my grandmother {mommom}

      - her name is sonia, which i think is a lovely name

6.  looking forward to seeing the grand sister duo : first aid kit

7.  excited about hanging new curtains in our apartment

  

above is a piece i made for the AEC's annual silent auction benefit, art.a.ma.jig.  it was exciting to me to be able to make this new piece.  it was quite a departure for me.  it is still a landscape, but with out the trees.  i am hoping i'll get back to this place soon.  this piece was about a desert and was titled {as it seems}. a weird title, short for 'it's not always as it seems'.  

another photo i took the other night of mine and mister fm's pin board.  it's got pieces of us pinned to it.  little bits of us and what we love.  a few polaroids, a thank you note from a friend, postcards from our travels and from our favorite magazine {uppercase}.  parts of our identifications.

this afternoon, i walked with a couple of my co-workers to warehouse row and at from the food trucks that park+serve on thursday afternoons.  there are these telephone poles cut in half, painted with red stripe.  i love this idea and would really love to incorporate this idea into my home some day.  just the type of color inspiration i needed in my day.

i'm done.  must hit the sack.