I was pretty happy being a nurse for many years but when I retired I had no plan for what comes next, then I read that anyone can be an artist so I thought I’m anyone, I will be an artist.
I am a woman wondering what comes next, open to new ideas, willing to exchange thoughts but confused and restless about who I am now in these later decades of my life.
Being a twice-retired person of meager resources and advanced age, I started out cheap, buying craft paints and board panels and skinny canvas. I painted flowers the ‘one stroke’ Donna Dewberry way. (she is the one who said anyone can paint) I had fun painting pretty flowers for children and sold them at school and community sales.
But lately, I have been watching u-tube videos of abstract painting and this is my new favorite way to paint. I am a self-taught (artist) painter with help from U-Tube videos, Mr. Lang and Ms. Dewberry and Mr.Tim Gagnon plus a heap of art how-to books There is so much to learn, so many new ways to create art, I’ll need another life-time to learn all this , maybe next life?
By the way, this painting became an amazing table! Resin was the perfect finish!
sold
Update 3/7/19
Still of meager resources and even yet older, Life has moved on with me to a very new reality, an old lady on wheels. And I’m loving this new life style with GiGI my gas guzzling RV and my Smart car youcandoitBabe.I’m excited to get my life in my tiny RV settled soon so I can get back to painting I’ll need to find a space, I thought perhaps I’d paint outside at the table but it is really windy here, not sure it’s always as windy as it has been here lately, maybe it calms during the summer. Other than the wind, I think this is the best place to be now, warm and snow-less.
Update 7/19
I found a space to paint in, Kathy’s Studio is almost a reality.
Today I put 6 of my best paintings in my car determined to find where I might display them but the first place I stopped has a waiting list for a cubical to sell all kinds of art, they referred me to a place next door that was opening a gallery soon but had all the artists lined up but she took my card, Then off to another gallery that was full but took my card maybe in the Spring, took photos, something I was told he should not have done, but anyway at my 4th stop she took all my paintings, I couldn’t believe it and asked “so you want me to leave my paintings here now” and that was that! It’s maybe not the finest gallery I’ve visited but she (Grace) has a great space, many artists and art work of all kinds. Even though she takes %50 I’ll still have enough to buy more red paint.
I’d hope to be able to sell my art somewhere but I am not having any luck finding a venue.
Los Cruces is out because I don’t live in the right county and the farmers market here doesn’t start until next month and they may already have as many arts and crafts allowed vs farmers items.
So now I have my paintings in frames ready to sell and no venue until Spring. There may be more opportunity then.
I guess I’ll just keep painting and maybe add note cards here one of these days, amazing I can keep myself busy all day long doing the same things over and over without much progress in anything attempted.
I’ll go to town tomorrow to find out what is going on in the park because I saw people selling stuff there a few weeks ago. I’ll see if there is space for me at a shop where you rent a cubicle , similar to what my sister Shar and I did for a while in RIchardson, we didn’t do well there, hope this place is busier, their location is good and I always see people in there when I’ve been there, I suspect they are fully staffed and cubicles full. I need to go to town anyway because I have nothing to snack on, no chocolate no ice cream nothing sweet which was the plan when I shopped last! I bought snacks for Charley and not me. He is getting a little chubby so I need to keep him slim and trim.
I have new news but I’ll put it in a new post….excited!
I’m having a party! Yes I know I already said that but bear with me please.
I would not be having a party but the person who gave us the party in the RV park was so enthusiastic about the products, the company. (and the rewards for having the party.) The products are pricey but seem to be worth as they are making an effort to reduce the toxins in our homes, without a cost to the environment which we all know is in trouble.
I’m having a party because of all the free stuff I’ll be getting for having the party.
And
In the hope that my great grandchildren and yours may live in a world we have known and slowly and selfishly destroyed through ignorance and the consumer life style. Will they have a life without the fears of climate endangerment ? Lack of consumable water will be a huge problem in the future as we continue to contaminate the earth. They won’t unless we become aware of the damage done and efforts to preserve what we must for the future of our families.
I’m telling my daughters that they should sign up, There is one product that the host raved about. that is for removing your makeup. She says it takes everything off with just this towel and water, even mascara. It’s a start, buy that and sign up to host, I bought the dog hair glove, don’t have it yet.
You can sign up to host party and get free stuff too!
The sale is on face book, a private site and I give the names of friends that may be interested in the products. My party is on March 1, a Sunday and goes on for 5 days. I need to add the names on Feb 29. you don’t have to be a Facebook friend, I just need your name for Heather Kirven (consultant) to note who gets credit for the sale. (that would be me)
For me the only possible down side might be giving the names of friends.
But on thinking about possible cons I realize that if you don’t buy anything all they have is your name, no other info, it’s just like ordering an item anywhere , like amazon. I’ve put no money into this except for my purchase for Charley, it is not a pyramid thingamathing.
You can see their product line brochure on line so you will know just what you need/want before the party. Buying these cleaning products will save you from ever going down the cleanings product aisle again.
Drop me a note or an email if you want to be included in the party. (kothon@me.com)
So, have you tried any of these products by Norwex?
Today I went to a ‘party’ here in the park, all us ladies went and I believe all of us bought something, a cleaning product usually though I ordered a pet mitt to ‘loosen loose hairs” in hopes that I will be able to wear black clothing without looking like I’m sharing Charley’s coat. He sheds like crazy, good thing I love him.
Anyway I’ve signed up for a party in March. You will no doubt be hearing more about their products and you may decide you want to host a party too! The neighbor giving the party, said it was her first time doing so and said she is having the party to share her appreciation of the product that she has used for some time and really likes them and the company. (plus she got a bunch of freebes)
The products are not cheap. But when you look at the final cost and the fact that they are long long lasting, it all turns out to be cost effective and good, or at least less harmful to our Mother Eath
So now I need to learn what I need to learn to be successful at this new endeavor, always a challenge., I doubt that I will sell mountains of products but I like the products, they were demo’d today and despite the cost, orders were made and more orders have been suggested.
I know I need their laundry detergents that are safe for the environment and uses a plant based formula where one bag of detergent washes up to 100 loads. It takes a lot of Tide to do 100 washes.
Oh geez I sound like a commercial don’t I!
Anyway, I’ll probably want to know who would like to be invited to the ‘party’ at some point, maybe check out their products and who knows you may find something you didn’t know you needed until now. Seems like we have the party on private facebook group, I’ll find out how that works and post here and on facebook.
I like enviro friendly almost anything…….Just think you would not have to go down the cleaning products line at the SuperMart ever again with just a few of these fine products. Many of their products are made from recycled OceanBound plastic. I like that, less plastic in our oceans is good.
The company’s global mission is……
Improving the quality of life by radically reducing chemicals in our home.
Birthday cake at happy hour today baked by CJ (owner) she takes care of us like we are her children so we all get a birthday cake. I’m feeling good, heard from my sisters and a brother and my kids. It’s been a good start to a new year.
Yesterday I worked outside getting anxious for Spring I’ve planted some bulbs here and there and can’t wait to see them . I rearranged my rugs and plants. I even got a bit of sun burn. It has been beautiful the past couple afternoons.
The door window in GG was slipping, I hadn’t noticed it but a friend did and-set about fixing it but it was more difficult than anticipated so tomorrow we’ll get back at it. The day we tried it was too cold and windy and things didn’t set,
A neighbor gave me a step he didn’t need and it is perfect at my entry I am fortunate to have helpful neighbors and friends.
Too busy perhaps, I’m talking about this new web design I put here. Isn’t that the way it goes, you plan something new and find you like the old better than the new but can’t reverse at this point. A good project for a rainy day always a challenge figuring out how to work this out on my computer and I’ve been a bit lazy here lately.
We had one day of beautiful winter snow in Caballo yesterday, today it’s almost gone, I think that is the best way to have snow, one day of beauty to appreciate and then gone without a lot of messy mud to deal with. Poor Charley didn’t know what to do when I told him to go out to pee, he needed a gentle shove to get him going, then he liked the snow and was eager to go but we didn’t go far, too cold. The big wet flakes of snow would have been great to build a snow man and snow balls. the tree outside my window was covered, felt like Minnesota for a day. ( and only a day)
taken through the window
I am now a resident of New Mexico, my new drivers license photo is just as bad as my Texas photo. But not worse.
A neighbor stopped by my studio the other day to tell me I should take my paintings to Las Cruces. He thinks my paintings on canvas paper will be something new and that I have enough of them to make a good showing at the Saturday fairs in Las Cruces. He says the fair is weekly and runs down several city blocks and is always well attended. Las Cruces is about 60 miles south. I’ll take a ride done there to see what it looks like, he says it a free market place.
I love free.
So I painted 3 more paintings of similar colors and now I’m out of canvas paper. Need to order more today, thanks to amazon delivery I’ll get it quickly so I can paint some more. This canvas I’m painting on is not what artists use to sell their paintings on but I like painting on it because I can fold them up or even cut them up to use for some project. Easy to send in the mail if I have a sale that’s not local. And hanging them in a frame they look just as good as when painted on canvas or board.
You should have seen the mess it was trying to paint in my RV on snow day. I’d been to Walmart to shop for food as the cold was expected and I didn’t want to go out if I didn’t need to. I’d collected some paints and all the other stuff i’d need while I painted sitting on my bed with Charley beside me, he taking up too much space, It gets complicated but I finished one painting and painted two more, I haven’t taken pictures yet but will. I’ll need to take those paintings out of the frames and sign and varnish them, I hate that part, always afraid I’ll mess up putting the varnish on them. they do look good in these cheap Walmart frames, bright outrageous colors of red orange and pink.
This is my red period! Exuberance needed, these three latest paintings shout joy at you, you need to be ready for them, you will love them or hate them.
My finger tips hurt. People would say that is what you must accept when learning to play guitar, but I think it is from having too much paint on my fingers, acrylic paint is very drying and together with dry skin it makes them feel like paper cuts. Yes I did play around trying to learn cords on the guitar but not enough to cut my skin! Something, maybe a combination of events has disrupted the integrity of my finger tips. So far the only advancement I’ve made on the guitar is that I’ve broken 2 strings, small e stings both times. I should have ordered plenty of strings,maybe I will when I order the canvas paper.
Well I’ve babbled on here while eating thin latte oreo cookies and just drinking grape juice…….. the wine box is in the studio where I don’t have to keep it in the refridge it’s cold enough, and makes me go out to get a glass full, cuts down on usage and stimulates my imagination when painting in the studio and welcomes anyone passing by for a glass and conversation.
I thought I’d get an inexpensive learner guitar and hopefully learn a new brain saving technique.
Whenever I start messing around with the guitar Charley begs for attention, attention and a belly rub. He throws himself in my lap, really it’s like he does a back flip bottoms up.
He doesn’t like it when I’m busy on my computer or reading either.
He’s spoiled and has doubled his arrival wight from 12 pounds to 24 pounds! He’s beautiful and generally well behaved.
He is happy to stay home alone because he hates going in the car, he shakes from the time we go til the time we get back. So now I leave him home with a treat.
He knows when I get my keys and put on my shoes I’m going in the car. He does very well home alone now, I don’t need to use that supersonic noise thing to keep him from barking, neighbors report he has not been barking, it’s because he’s happy not to go with me in the car.
Charley and friend.
Learning the guitar is not so easy, not easy at all! It looks easy and cool just strumming and humming but so far I can’t even remember the g string. Memory, that is the challenge I’m working on, it’s a bitch!
It’s been cold in Caballo but the afternoons are briskly pleasant. I am now a resident of New Mexico. I like it here. I should get my new drivers license and plates soon. It’s only taken me 2 visits to the DMV so far needing birth certifcate, marriage license translated insurance info and more but it was in the nicest DMV I’ve ever been in, no waiting efficient and a clean organized process. A far cry from my experience in TX. Small towns are great and almost no traffic!
I planted a few perennials today, hopeful for a splendid ‘Spring. I lost a few plants to frost even though they were in my studio, very sad and sorry my beautiful succulents collection froze.
Today I’ve been working inside my RV cuz it’s really cold outside! I’ve done quite a lot today, I worked on my Fine Art America web site and finished it, it looks pretty nice, that’s the web address down there and it works!
