layers making up my life and my art

building layers of painting, illustrations, clips of my world, vintage flowers

adding gold leaf for added goodness, white illustration work

watercolors, acrylic inks, india ink, illustration joy

paints, illustrations, tissues, stitched together

Today I was noticing my methods to building art. I have always been a lover of details, textiles, fonts, colors colliding together. My background is heavy in graphic design and illustration. I am noticing how I have always found a way in my computer generated designs to introduce elements of hand created artwork. I like this about me. Funny how we do something for so long it is just the way we do it. Not really thinking just doing. I find that when I get completely out of my head and just create it all flows out of me.

I am building a collection to present this year at the National Stationary Show in NYC in May - a new division called Fresh. Juried section and smaller I like this. Starting out designing my cards I thought "however do I do this?" Funny I have been doing this for decades. I paint and draw and layer and sew and layer more and then find the words that spill from me until I have a piece that makes me feel original and good. Something worth leaving behind in the world.

My goals are to show up in NYC with lots of new designs, pride in my booth style and in me. Being mindful of the truth of being me. Staying true to all that I am and all that I want to leave behind.

I am praying that others will be drawn to my style, my gifts and my messaging. Continuing the path of knowing that I am meant to do exactly what I am doing in this very time and space.

discovering what makes me tick = again.

mixed giddy = inks, acrylics, pens, tapes, coffee stained papers illustration

pen and ink, acrylic inks, torn papers, illustration

a section of larger piece = inks, acrylics, pen and ink, oil pastels = illustration

torn pages, acrylics, pen and ink, inner most thoughts = illustration

Sometimes you get really lucky when you dream big. For me it was to move across the country and create, create, create. Well we celebrate one year of moving and boy have i learned SO MUCH. Grateful for these lessons = some very hard.

I have found my place of creating that is real, all me, no holding back, putting it all out there.
It feels great.

Now i can create the cards, the books, get the publishers (good news on this note), find the licensed folks that are a perfect fit for me, and so it goes. I am creating more packages of my art and sending to the dream folks = loving the process.

My dream is BIG and i am marching fearless (okay, still fears at times) Staying true to me.
Supported by my hubby who believes in me big time. I love that in my life.

Color, embracing all of life, giving more, taking less, opening up to feel everything. Its all good. Thanks for following my life here on my simple little blog.

Blessed beyond and knowing.

finding my voice = knowing it is all good

line work some of my most favorite = ink with bamboo skewer

handmade envelope + treats for friends

hand stitched quilt piece by me, print, collage elements, all good.

Funny how many days turning into months then years it takes to find ones voice (again).
I have had my voice and run with it for years and years. I have had wild success with being a graphic designer, illustrator = always creating for clients. Having a rep to find my work. Lucky me. I have traveled and been lucky enough to snag really cool clients (that even made me feel like WOW-they picked me)

Well essentially with our move across the country last May I claimed my voice again. I am just hearing it these days (yes, it took longer then I thought it would to settle) I am so grateful that I live in beauty daily, inspired by the ocean, the birds, the lush tropics. It is all good. Really great. Finding that peace inside, the knowing = it is okay to just create and send it out into the world.

So I am creating with deadlines for myself these days. I am creating a body of work that will be coming together to dance for others. I am risking, I am pushing, I am doing this. Yes, I had found my voice again. Here I go.

Not easy. Learning daily and pushing harder. Okay, mountain get ready to move over. I am climbing you now.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/kellimay

staying on the path of creating, sharing and of course daily caring,

love sweet love princess owl hoot hoot

yes, i love to wear skirts but, not today. thank you.

my signature vest i adore wearing.

 

 

 

creating is where i find my comfort, peace, strength and my knowing. i just need to sit for a time and create and my world snaps into focus. i have always escaped to the most wonderful glee filled places with some level of knowing when i create.

staying on track so far this new year. creating for me. sharing with others. selling my original art for the first time personally. being super grateful that i am able to be an artist. trying to find the way to spread positive love and joy on a grand scale - world wide.

i will continue my quest knowing that the more i send out the better i feel.

grateful beyond. knowing.

facing fears = knocking them down one by one = staying steady

mixed media collage designed by me framed in vintage (of course)

graphics created by me, quote by me. unframed.

mixed media painting collage all by me. unframed.

daisy darling pen and ink, watercolor by me. unframed.

pen and ink illustration, watercolor by me. unframed

.

pen and ink, watercolor illustration by me. unframed.

mixed media illustration artwork by me. unframed.

Crazy goofy me. I have always been a graphic designer (really like forever) and illustrator. I learned many zillions of years ago after a friend told me this = if it comes easy to you it is a gift, use it, do it.
I was already a graphic designer, illustrator, artist at the time. I never charged extra for illustration.
I always thought that if it came easy to me it was worthless. After this conversation I hired an illustration rep.

So for the past thirty years or so I have made a living (gratefully) creating for clients. I really never found the confidence to create just for me and put it out there in this great big world. Crazy as that sounds it is very true.

So after many years of nurturing this thought of creating for me and sharing with the world = I begin. Yes, I begin again. I am creating. I am listing my art on Etsy. I am telling others that it is out there to be found by like souls. I am still trembling inside praying that the folks who receive my art will like it in person.

I so look forward to the day when the anxiety leaves me and I know this = Kelli your art is good, it helps others feel good, it is okay to put it all out there.

Thanking you for sharing my journey. You are greatly adored.

listening to my heart = really listening, finally

listening to my whole heart = facing fears

my first printed Pearl Button card 2013 Holiday

my first Pearl Button Sticker 2013 Holiday

forever grateful for my little 12 pound muse = daughter Pearl Button

2014 for me is about making my dream a reality. creating designs filled with joy filled words, photos, layers of design and love tons of love poured in = cards, cards, cards.

i have so many fears about making this happen = not sure where they come from or why? i am choosing this = face them, break them down one by one and THRIVE.

i will be learning how to create a following of like minds and souls. i do hope to inspire, create and give of myself through my designs.

here i go. please come with me = we will have fun.

thought for today

design, illustration, quirky, ever so fun!

Remembering this morning on this fine shiny sunny today that I love illustration. In my busy world of creating and designing I get so focused on doing. I need to take time to just draw. After all it all started when I was a little girl just drawing and drawing and drawing. Okay, maybe I did build a mad Barbie pad complete with custom bedding.

I am going to start today just drawing one thing each day. Secretly in a journal for no one else to see. I think there is a great freedom in knowing it is not for a client and not to be judged. I bet this is going to be so good for my soul.

All good things for one's soul. Try one thing you have been wanting to do TODAY!!! Yes, do not wait.

More creative by me here http://www.facebook.com/730Thursday

definitely a muse. Pearl Button.

latest card for my Pearl Button line.

Pearl has many friends. Sheep well she loves sheep.

Bears and turtles too.

A muse of course. I am finding more and more reasons and inspiration daily for my new line of products Pearl Button. Sure we are starting with cards, what fun. We are marching on with other products and it thrills me.

Keeping it simple. Mission to share joy, laughter, love and create a tiny piece of happy to share.
I have been trying to write my mission for my class I am in for weeks. This just spilled out of me and I love it.

So today starts another fun filled week. I for one am just giddy about the possibilities.

More fun by me here http://www.facebook.com/730Thursday

A cause I am getting behind. Love the animals.

artist Katherine Dunn = one of her covers = magic!

Katherine Dunn saves all of these animals. LOVE.

More artwork by the talented Katherine Dunn.

I do not get to really help animals like I would like to (yet). This artist Katherine Dunn is one of the incredible people/ artists doing just that. Saving the animals. She is raising funds to produce a book.
Visit link for more information and a video that will have you smiling and crying at the same time.

I have never met Katherine Dunn. I hope to. I just admire her and her love for animals big and small.

"Misfits of Love" is a book idea I have been working on in one way or another since I first moved to our Apifera Farm back in 2004. Here is a slideshow of how the book will look and 'feel".
My farm is a final home to many of the misfits - the old ones and the crippled ones, creatures that were neglected, abused or left as useless. Their hearts live here with me and their stories are worthy of print.
Funds will be used [see specifics below] to get this quiet little book ready for publication.
Ever since I can remember, I have had empathy for the elderly creatures, or the 'discarded", and that includes humans. Upon moving to the farm, my barnyard seemed to be a natural settling ground for wandering abandoned roosters, old donkeys, misplaced ducks and a variety of old and challenged goats. Oh, and a pig that came with a goat. And old mice in love. Many of the creatures were adopted from bad situations, rescued by another and then sent to Apifera- but some dropped out of the sky, so to speak.
We live in such a throw away society where old is not valued by the masses - but I see the beauty and soul in 'old' every day here....be it in the eyes of an old, misused donkey or the curve in the crippled legs of a handicapped goat.
When my father was dying in hospice, many states away, I was unable to go to him. Taking care of my old creatures took on an even more symbolic meaning for me. As I rubbed oil on the pig's very dry skin each day, I was reminded of my father's 85 year old legs and how dry and sore they were for him. I couldn't help him, but I could soothe this pig with my hands and she in turn soothed me with her charm and pig beauty.
This fundraising stage is to get the book 'print-ready', and having done that before, I can tell you it takes time, energy and money. I plan to work with the same editorial consultant who was a former editor at Chronicle Books to get the manuscript in tip-top shape. With 144 pages and $125 hour consulting fee, it is a major expense - but very important.  Funds will also help me get the layouts of the book prepped. Each chapter focuses on a different animal with a narrative, emotive sepia photographs and one full color art spread of a painting. Promo copies will be made at about $50 each that will be used to generate interest from publishers or help determine if self publishing is needed. My goal is to have the manuscript ready for first edits by January and first layouts will begin at the same time. I will be doing the layouts, but will need some expertise on proofs/layout print prep from consultants.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/katherinedunn/misfits-of-love-a-book-of-art-and-story-from-apife