Karla's Cottage

Seascapes for sale

My seascapes and other flow paintings are now available in my Boutique and on Etsy. 

There are a variety of sizes and colors, all inspired by my favorite beaches.

Some have a ton of "cells" (the layered, textural, bubbly bits that you can create in fluid painting).

And some have a very few.

When painting, I've tried to enhance the "pour" that I did, after it dries, by touching up with a brush. But I do my best to not cover up all of the wonderful cell activity that I find.

(These are a few close ups to show you the details)

There are paintings from different times of day...

Although I do tend to love sunrise and sunset.

Prices range from $50-90.  

Thank you for the interest you've already shown. 

I've loved working on them, and can't wait to paint more.

A poured rose

Sometimes, a paint pour doesn't go the way you'd hope. The other day, I had one blah result after another.  I'd scrape off the canvas after swirling the colors into a muddy grey, and start again just to get more boring paintings. I was ready to quit (before I went broke, I'd wasted bottles and bottles of paint), and get back on with my regular style of work and give up on this technique that was becoming sooooo  frustrating.

At one point, I looked at the grey mess, and though, hey, that could be a pretty background. So, I poured this rose. It started as a pink blob. I added cranberry and white, then swirled them with a palette knife to get this.

After it dried, I added detail and depth with a paint brush. Here is a close of up the pretty cells that formed when I pulled the knife across the wet paint.  

Nope, not gonna quit now. I want to go dump and swirl more paint!!!

 

You can find this painting in my Boutique, here 

 

A serene, mini redo for the master bedroom

You might have heard me mention pour painting.... I've been severely addicted.  And especially with ocean scenes.  I'm so in love with them, that I decided I wanted them to be around me.

 

All around me.

 

So, I might have gotten a tiny, itty bitty, carried away with hanging them in the bedroom. (These 2 are 8x10)

(These two are 11x14)

See what I mean? I've hung 8 of them in sets of two.

I knew it was not a typical way to style a room, but I decided to go for it anyway.  They make me happy, they feel peaceful, and people who walk in to the space have said, that the room is really lightened up.

(I think I'll take down the mirror sitting on the built in cabinet behind the door) 

Frames were on sale at Hobby Lobby, and I took a cartful of paintings with me to see who fit into what for cheap.  I kind of chose the paintings I'd hang by how they fit into the frame and into the room, and by using a variety of sizes, not by choosing my favorites.  Although, they all are my faves....

And I decided to go all out.  If I was hanging a few, I might as well hang a bunch.  (Even though it is the same scene over and over, in different lights or sized canvases.)

Some frames needed to be painted white, some were already the right color.  I tried to get a variety of styles, to break up the sameness of the paintings inside them.

There was thought of keeping this large frame dark to go with the top of the chest, but after looking at it this way for a week, I felt like it was too heavy for the area, and slapped some white on it, then distressed the paint a little.

While I was going beachy, I thought I'd add some beach elements to the room.  Not too many, just a few mermaids and shells.

This chest of drawers is new, from the West Bottoms antique district. I shopped on an extremely hot day, and was trying to find the exactly perfect item to fit this wall.  Well, I thought I found it, a gorgeous, low chest with a giant, aged marble top.  But it was higher than my budget, and looked heavy. I decided indulge myself anyway, then as I was starting to pay for the thing, the salesclerk said, "Wow that is a big, heavy marble top!"

On a sweltering day in the warehouse district, when I was already exhausted, the mere thought of getting it into the truck, then out and into the house was too much for me. I think I was delirious from the heat and couldn't rationally think about trying to figure out the logistics of getting the monstrosity home.

I backed out on the purchase, and went for this smaller, much, much cheaper, fixer upper instead.  It was only $100, a nice shape, and just needed handles, and paint.  

Also, it weighed nothing compared to the other one.

The top was attractive, it simply needed wax and elbow grease to shine it up.  The base, I painted white and dry brushed with gray for a driftwood look.  I found handles at Hobby Lobby, just to discover I was two short, and they were discontinued. So I returned them and settled for repainting the shiny brass handles that originally came on it. Because I was too lazy to drill new holes and patch the old ones to make a different style of handles fit.

When done, it fit nicely, has the space I need, looks good in the room, and is pretty.  But you know what? Maybe I'd settled too much.  Wrong hardware, wrong piece.

 

I look at it and wish I had the gorgeous slab of dreamy, aged, marble that I was too worn out and drained from the unseasonably steamy day to deal with.

 

It's a good thing I have such a serene, peaceful bedroom to calm my buyer's remorse angst.  It is hard to be sad about a furniture screw up when I am embraced by walls filled with seascapes.

The seaside knick knacks were pulled from the cabinet in the bathroom, where they'd been on display previously.  So, the bathroom got a bit of a redo too. Some of the art work that had been in the bedroom was used in there, and I adjusted the shelves to hide any gaps from removing all of the shells.  

A grayed, aqua was already on the walls, and even though a fresh color of paint can really lift a room, I decided against changing it.  This color suits me well, and I'm not ready to move away from it. Even though another blue might blend better with the seascapes, I enjoy the contrast and didn't want it too matchy.

The results are pleasing, and refreshing.

If you'd like to learn how to do a poured paint seascape, I have a youtube video with directions. But please forgive the lack of editing. And take a dramamine before watching it.

Or check back to my Boutique later this week, when I get some ocean scenes photographed and listed for sale.

Here is the video.

 

 

 

My husband had a birthday too.

While I have been celebrating my 60th from early April to mid June, my poor husband only got one day of partying for his. 

He made up for it by mentioning his age (57) from the time I turned 60, until he turned 58 a month later.  Hmm, yes, I heard that, Rich!! 

 I wanted to do something special for him, since he put up with all of my celebrating of my own holiday.  

We spend a lot of time out on Lake Clinton, near our home.  And we have a favorite area, a quiet cove that is ideal for swimming and picnicking. So, I took dozens of photos the last time we were there, and did this painting from them.

At first, I framed it.  Then, took a look at it on the wall and thought it looked like a little old lady painted it. (which I realized that I am)

Once I popped it out of the frame, I liked it better.  

Here is our cove from another angle.  We are often the only people there when we go.  Lake Clinton is a beautiful spot and I am always surprised at how quiet it is.

Although, we do our best to liven up that cove!

We have even convinced our son, Ryan to come out on the lake with us this season.  He hasn't been as fond of the place as the rest of us, over the years.  

For Rich's birthday, we packed a picnic and headed out to our cove to have dinner.  It was only one party for him, as opposed to the 7 or so I had.... But I think he liked it.  And I hope that he will enjoy the painting. 

Around here, there are a lot of paintings, but I tried to make this one special for him. 

And you thought I was done celebrating? Ha!

My husband is becoming overwhelmed by the length of my birthday celebrations.  His birthday has come and gone, while I am still living mine up.

Seriously, I thought I was done too, then my Birdsong pal, Tami, included me in her own birthday party.  She, Nora, and I are all turning 60 this year and at her recent craft day gathering, she toasted the three of us, plus others' special days too.

Not only that, she created these lovely crowns for our trio of 60 year olds.  (Mine is too far back on my head to show in this, but you can see it in the close up, above.  Gorgeousness, huh????)

Tami supplied projects for the day too.  There was an assortment of lids to turn into note holders, and clip boards to foof up. 

As it always is, her craft day was filled with laughter and creativity.  Thanks, Tami!!

When your friends know you well

Back in May, I threw myself a birthday dinner party and invited some of my long time, good friends.   We'd met through our love of art, and even though our art endeavors have gone different directions over the last 20 years or so, we still have a love of each other.

They collaborated on a charm bracelet for my 60th, with pieces charmingly filled with memories of our times together and of my favorite things.

There is sea glass (one of my obsessions), a heart signifying family, diacrylic glass from a group project we did, birthstones for my kids, and see the bakery stand? I love to serve cupcakes on a tiered stand, not just on a plate.

A vine for my garden, a bird for Birdsong, a mermaid for my love of the ocean, and even charms for my doggies.

My friends found  yorkie, doodle, and golden retriever charms for the bracelet.  And a Disney castle!!

It was a thoughtful gift from friends who know me well and who I am lucky to have.

Thank you, guys!!

I'll leave you with a few photos of the table before the group arrived.

 

 

 

Two Grads in One Day

At the end of May, two grands graduated. Avahni from high school, Sugarwings from 5th grade on the same day.

Seriously? How can this little sprite be headed for Jr High next August????!!!!!

Avahni is training to be an EMT before going on to be a paramedic.

We're very proud of her hard work.

We had a day of being spectators, first at the grade school gym, then at the high school athletic field, where we found a seat with a backrest on the shady side of the stadium.

Yep, a lot of happiness was in the air that day!

 

Lawrence Busker Festival

My girls were part of the annual Busker Fest in Downtown Lawrence over Memorial weekend.

Since they travel so much for performances, it is always extra welcome to have them doing their act right here in town where I can easily catch a show.

And it was a really good show!

More poured and swiped oceans

The obsession with oceans has not let up.  

Acrylic paint pouring is a real trip. You never know what you will get, even though I'm trying to control my paints, and I do use a brush to touch up and add detail after it dries, the paint itself has a mind of its own.

See how the "cells" develop?  I adore that part.

Here is another close up of the cells. I call them Sea Cells.

This is the painting it is from.

I mixed the acrylic paint with water, a conditioner, and coconut hair serum.

This is how it is poured out onto the canvas. 

Next, I use a cake server to spread the colors, much of it pours off the side of the canvas. What is left, I try to manipulate into waves and clouds.

It is hard to believe that this becomes...

This, huh?

The process intrigues and fascinates  me.  And since I am land locked, here in Kansas, it is nice to think about oceans.  

Abstracts are fun to do too.  This one was done with a "dirty pour".  All of the colors are layered into a cup, turned upside down on the canvas, then I "swiped" across it with my cake server.

My typical painting style is too detailed, much better suited to illustrations than art to hang on walls.  So, I've been using this technique to try to teach myself to let go a bit and let what happens, happen  

 

Here is a tutorial on how I do these.  Please excuse the mess and the lack of editing!