Back from Hiatus

The dogs' footpath. Maybe I should use my skis rather than a shovel?

I spent the past 2+ weeks in Pennsylvania catching up with family and friends, some that I haven't seen in 12 years. It was really encouraging to know that I still have a huge network of support where I grew up, in addition to the group of friends here that I call my "Colorado family."

It snowed just a bit when I was at my parents' house, where everything freezes and gridlocks with just a little bit of slush. When I returned to Winter Park were at least 20 fresh inches on the ground—and stairs (above)—and more is on the way. All I have to say is, "it's about time." This being a la niña year, temperatures have been generally warm and precipitation very weak. I am looking forward to some powder days before I head onto my next adventure, wherever that will be.

At the moment I am looking for work. Any kind of work. Due to the aforementioned conditions, in addition the economic crisis, my ski industry clients have cut their marketing budgets to pennies on the dollar. I have educational illustration projects coming up in late March, but until then... Got art? Want art? Need help? Hiring?

Meanwhile, I am working on my picture book manuscript, "Time to Fly." I also have a few other book ideas brewing in my brain that will require some serious research. I plan to apply for as many grants and fellowships as I can to get these projects off the ground. Oh, and you know, to buy things like bread. And wine.

So to all you artists, illustrators, designers and creatives out there who are struggling to make ends meet right now... you are NOT alone. However, this should not stop us from creating, now should it. Our artistic endeavors are needed more than ever in this time of depression and despair. Inspiration is in the air. The government has called upon each of us as citizens to bring prosperity back to our country. What can we do to help? That's something else I have begun to explore. Got ideas?

Walls Blank?

NaturesOrnaments.jpg
Originally uploaded by Kate Garchinsky | PenguinArt.com

Coming to WallBlank.com today: Nature's Ornaments. Limited edition prints of my watercolor painting are available for sale on WallBlank.com for one week, or until the prints sell out. Prices are as follows:

8.5"x11" - Edition of 75
$17

11"x15" - Edition of 50
$27


From the site:

How Wall Blank Works: A new piece of art will be posted for sale every weekday, available for one week or until it sells out, whichever comes first. Once an edition is sold out, it will never be available again.

Each print comes with a certificate of authenticity and ships for a flat $6 in the USA, $8 to the rest of the world. Find out when my art is up daily by following Wall Blank on Twitter. And while you're at it, follow me!

Alpenglow

Alpenglow
Watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold press
8" x 10.5"
©2007 Kate Hamilton

So hey, look! I painted a picture this week. In between manic job quotes, billing and rush projects I crammed in a watercolor painting. I needed something to use as a backdrop for an ad I've placed in Rocky Mountain Bride Magazine. In the next issue I will also have an illustration published in an article about spa days. I'll let you know when it's available.

What is really significant about the painting above is that I completed it, start to finish in just a few hours. I had no choice. The ad deadline was that day. I had no existing ads to pull and reuse. A few times in the process I almost abandoned it. It seems that there is a point in every piece I create where I feel impatient and just want to Get. It. Done. Already. This usually happens after I have all my basic elements laid in, but the detail is not yet there and the colors are merely an underpainting and very non-representational. It is easy to walk away at this point, especially when my pesky inner critic starts to whisper, "This painting is going nowhere. You're really going to mess this one up. Don't waste your time." As a result I have dozens of unfinished pieces in my collection, and all are pretty much in the same underpainted phase (hmm, there's a pun in there). These abandoned efforts annoy me. I hate them. I want to throw them all out but for some reason I hold onto them. They're in a portfolio under the bed.

So I had a few opportunities to abandon my painting above but I persisted. And I finished it. And I like it. So there. Take that, inner critic, Ms. Poopynannyhead.