New Paintings - Women w/ a Retro Vibe

This past Saturday I had a creative streak and did two new paintings and started on a third. The third one is really going to be cool when I finish. It's really late right now, so I don't feel like taking pics and posting the unfinished work. I'll leave you in suspence, maybe tomorrow.

Here are the two I did complete. I think they are really cool and have a 50's retro vibe - sort of Martini Lounge. That's what I was going for. I love that late 50's early 60's swinger style. Like I said, Martini Lounge, tiki room, doowop style. I love that stuff. I guess that is why I'm also drawn to Pollock, de Kooning and that whole New York Style of abstract expressionism. It's all from the same era.

Anyway, here are my newest pieces. Both are 18x24:

This first one is simply called "Woman and a Bird"







And, the second one is "Don't Look Back"







Hope you like and I hope someone at least looks. Here's hoping and as usual, til next time.

Kat

Napa, Painting, Reading

Well I'm back from my vaca, and glad to be home. It was a wonderful trip and can't wait to go back with my husband and good friends.

Napa is absolutely beautiful and the weather was fabulous, so different from this South Louisiana 90 degree temperatures with 80% humidity. I could have a spent a few more days there, but was still glad to come home. I'm sort of a homebody and love just hanging around home, doing little chores, gardening, pampering my pups and painting. But, every now and then, I need an adventure to get me out of my comfort zone. Plus, it's good to experience other places, people and create lasting memories that can never be taken away. I'm an uneasy traveler, but I do realize that travel, especially with family, is so rewarding and leaves such a lasting impression and really brings family closer.

I can't wait to get back to painting. I did finish one today, that I had started before my trip, but haven't taken pics yet, so it's not ready to post. I need to get back into the painting mindset. I've just been catching up with laundry, grocery shopping, doctor's appointments, etc. (ya think my husband or kids would do that while I was gone? Right.)

Also, I started reading this great book on the plane trip home and can't put it down. It's cutting into my painting time. It's "The Gold Coast" by Nelson DeMille. It's "the Great Gatsby" meets "the Godfather". It's an oldie but goodie book that has been laying around and I never got around to reading. It takes place in '88 or '89 and was published in '90. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the "Sopranos", so Mr. Bellarosa, a character in the book, who is the head of the N.Y. crime family, in my mind IS Tony Soprano. Great book, I can't put it down. I highly recommend it.

In art news, I'm in the process of setting up my own web-site to showcase my art along with this blog. I'm going to keep my e-Bay store for a little while longer, I had my first really big sale from my e-Bay store the day before I left on my trip from a return customer, yea!!!!! So, I better keep things as is for now. But I will keep you informed of domain names, etc. I'm still trying to work things out with EBSQ art who I had my domain name registered with and am waiting for them to free it up so I can use it for my own site that will be set up through another art hosting site, that I think will be a bit more professional. Anyway, I'm itching to get back to my book. Take care and. . .

Til next time, Kat

Trip to Napa - Not My Usual Paintings

Hello again. Just wanted to let 'whoever' know that I won't be posting next week, I'm going on a girls trip with my mom and sister to Napa, CA. We have never done this and have always wanted to. It's mom's treat, so we're going. It will be fun.

I HATE TO FLY!!!!!!!!!! I'M A NERVOUS WRECK!!!!!!!!

I know I'm being silly and air travel is the safest way to travel, but I'm still nervous. Thank God for Zanax, don't leave home without it. I'm in no way condoning drug use, but if you need it for true anxiety, that's what it's for. And, I have anxiety.

Well, onto two new pieces. The first is "Evening Glow":




and the next is "Giving Him Props". This is an inspirational/spirtual piece that was done with acrylic and mixed media. This is a favorite, is on my counter top and is not for sale.




Hope you like these pieces and here's praying for a safe trip. Til next time.

Kat

Funky Quilt Art

Hello everyone, this is a piece I did awhile back which draws heavily on my past quilting experience. It's somewhat of a collage done like a quilt with pieces of painted paper canvas built upon a black painted gallery profile canvas.

My first artistic outlet was creating quilts, but I found I liked picking the colors and fabrics and putting them together in a creative colorful way better than doing the actual quilting and finishing.

This piece is taking that geometric piecing and doing it with paper and paint. It is very colorful and was fun to do. It is called 'Funky Quilt Art' and is 12" x 12".



If interested in this piece, please contact me through this site, my e-mail or at www.katcrosbyart.com

Thanks for looking and hope you like my work. Til next time.

Kat

Colorful Outsider Art Mixed Media Abstract Paintings

MY PICTURES DIDN'T COME OUT IN THAT FIRST BLOG, URGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Let's start again.

Hello again, after my mini-tantrum Friday night, I figured I should be better behaved and post some of my work. Since this is what this blog is all about, my art and trying to get it 'out there' to be seen.

These are some funky mixed media and acrylic pieces I did earlier this year. I used different interesting objects for interest and texture. Cardboard, fabric, a metal grid just to name a few. I wanted these to be edgy and colorful and was in an optimistic mood when doing these, especially the first two. I don't know how artistically relevant they are, but they were fun to do and I definately had a vision in mind when doing them.

1.) "It's a New Day":


11" x 14" - $75.00

2.) "Life's Calling":


11" x 14" - $75.00

3.) "Water Ways":


12" x 12" - $85.00

4.) "Still Waters":


12" x 12" - $85.00

5.) "Reflections":


16" x 20" - $95.00

All of these pieces were done on gallery profile canvases and do not require framing. And, as you may have quessed, they are all for sale. If interested, please contact me through this site, or visit my e-Bay store at www.katcrosbyart.com.

Thank you for reading my blog and viewing my art. 'Til next time - Kat

Why am I blogging?

Why am I blogging? Does anyone read these things? Will it bring my art any exposure and ultimately any sales? I'm doing this because 'they' - the powers that be, said "in order to sell art online, you have to have a blog". What do they know? I guess we'll see.

I'm not posting any additional work tonight, because it's late and I just wanted to post since it's been a couple of days since I've done so. Will anyone read this? God only knows.

You know, I think I have to post tomorrow or another time when my thoughts are clearer and I can show some more of my work. Also, I have to build a web site. I currently have an e-Bay store - www.katcrosbyart.com, but haven't sold anything in a month and I think e-Bay is getting ready to dry up as far as art sales go. They are getting too greedy with listing and final value fees. Now they want their sellers to not charge shipping fees. What the F? We won't charge shipping but will go up on our prices, which will make it that much harder for starting artists like me to sell. (I can't imagine it being any harder.)

So, in the long run, it will bring in more money for e-Bay in the way of Final Value Fees. They think they are so smart - who do they think they are dealing with? Do they think we or the buyers are that stupid? Come on, give me a break. And, very few people that shop e-Bay for art are willing to pay what the art is really worth, they want garage sale prices. OH, OH, OH, and, sellers can no longer give negative feedback to buyers!!!!!!! So basically a buyer can bid whatever, say $10,000.00, on a piece of art, never pay for it and get off scott free!!!!! No negative feedback, no nothing. What's up with that shit? Unbelieveable!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, enough of my rant against e-Bay. I guess the good thing about blogs is it gives you a forum to rant and put your thoughts out there. Yeah, but does anyone really read these things?

Till next time.

Kat

First Post - May 15, 2008

Hi everyone, a little bit about me. I'm a self-taught artist from South Louisiana. I was born and raised in New Orleans and that fabulous ecclectic city has shaped who I am. I have lived in South Louisiana all my life, but have traveled extensively.



I started out doing small pieces of art, mostly ACEO's, but have moved on to bigger pieces. I have sold alot on e-Bay, but want to move onto other venues. I find e-Bay is not too art friendly and there doesn't seem to be a market for my style of art.

Here are a few of my early pieces:


This is a small chunky piece that is 4 x 4 x 1.25 called "Emerald City".


This is another small chunky piece that measures 4 x 4 x 1.25. "Lolli Pop Art". This is a fun colorful piece.


Another 4 x 4 x 1.25 called "Dueling Sunflowers". This is a really cool piece where the sunflowers continue onto the sides of the canvas - wrap around art. This piece was painted outdoors sitting in my backyard on one of those beautiful early fall days on a Friday afternoon having a cocktail. It was a fabulous day and I wanted to capture the crystal blue sky contrasting with the warmth of the sunflowers.

That's all for this evening. Till next time.

Kat