• art,  artists,  inspiration

    Beautiful Motivation…

    So anyone who follows me on twitter or is in my presence for more than 5 minutes knows, like the rest of just about everybody, I’m Hamilton obsessed. I’ve been listening to the Hamilton soundtrack pretty much Non-Stop (see what I did there?) since it come out.

    That said, my friends know I’m also planner obsessed and lucky for me my writer bud, Jax Cassidy is also a super talented artist so I commissioned her to make me up these gorgeous pieces which I plan on putting on my bulletin board for inspiration and putting in my planner to keep me motivated.

    Jax 4 (2)

     

    Jax 1 (2)

    You can check out more of Jax’s work here at her Etsy shop  www.InspirationUnbound.etsy.com  or email her at inspirationunbound@gmail.com  for a custom work of your own! Thank you so much, Jax for the inspiration, the motivation and the smiles.

     

    All the best,

    KMJ

  • art,  awards,  interviews,  K.M. Jackson,  my view

    Fashion, Art and Romance

    Howdy! I hope you’re having a lovely one. Please join me today over at fellow Crimsonista, Synithia Williams blog where she interviews me and I’m talking about a few a my favorite things: Fashion, Art & Romance. Click on over here to see what I have to say. Thanks Synithia!

     

    manet

    Édouard Manet (French, 1832–1883)
    Lady with Fans (Portrait of Nina de Callias), 1873
    Oil on canvas; 44 1/2 x 65 9/16 in. (113 x 166.5 cm)
    Musée d’Orsay, Paris, Bequest of M. and Mme Ernest Rouart

     

     

    All the best,

    KMJ

     

    image from here

  • art,  bad dog,  jack,  musings

    Fear is a four letter word

    What’s Jack up to? Well it’s been another exciting weekend with the Jackster. I tell you all that dog keeps us hoping. It seems no food is out of bounds as he somehow got to the peppers on the counter. So we’ll see how those go through his system. This should be interesting. And then on Saturday night I had a shock when going to the bathroom I flip on the light and find Jack for some reason just chilling in my bathtub! First of all gave me such a fright. Second of all, Ewww! Yeah me and Jack are having issues about right now.

    On another not Jack dog therapy related note I’ve got to get in serious writing gear. I’m getting way deep in the dear twins college search mode and about to get busy with guidance and the application process soon but I have to be careful not to let it totally derail my planned writing schedule. I know me, and the stress of the college process could easily override the urgency of the writing process and one totally needs the other if you know what I mean. But honestly the whole thing is enough to paralyze me with fear.

    Fear. What a terrible four letter word.

     

     

    I hope you have a fearless week this week.

    Best,

    Kwana

    Image: The Scream by Evard Munch for more on Munch see Artsy.net here

  • art,  artists,  interviews

    Interview with the Artist- Dawna from Dlmtle Art

    Hello everyone. Today I’d like to introduce you to an artist I found via Google, Dawna Morton.  I found Dawna in an unlikely way. Quite a few Sundays ago I was on the run, literally, to take the DD to 2 dance shows and had the vision of a Moody Sunrise in my head because it was a moody kind of day. So… long story, short I searched Google for a moody sunrise image and Dawna’s work came up with many others but her’s just jumped out at me. I put it up, said on my post, “image from here” and linked to her blog and ran out the door with the DD, running late as usual. The next day I hear from Dawna.. Lesson here: I should have asked before putting Dawna’s image up on ye old blog.

    But Dawna’s work at DlmtleArt is gorgeous and it should be seen and talked about. She’s kindly agreed to do a blog interview here. So let’s chat with Dawna.

     Dawna Morton self portrait

    Hi Dawna. Thanks so much for being here today. Please tell us a little about your background.

    How long have you been an artist? Is this something you’ve always done? Did you study at school?

    I grew up in the inner city area of Portland, Oregon. I have 2 brothers, a sister, 5 step brothers, and 5 step sisters. My Husband and I have 5 kids and a dog, and live on a forested half-acre overlooking the Columbia River.

    Although I did not seriously start trying to sell my artwork until three years ago, I have always enjoyed art. Starting with a childhood love of late night coloring, several ceramics courses and an art class in middle school, followed by some more art classes in high school, I went on to major in Fine Arts at Brigham Young University with the intention of entering the illustration program. Then after my Sophomore year of college I married my high school sweetheart, and my family became my full-time top priority–as it should be 😉 It was not until recently that I started putting more of an emphasis back on developing my talent as an artist.

    You paint and do photography? Please tell us what you love about both mediums?

    As a child I was shy, introspective, and quiet, so expressing myself visually was and still is easier than in conversation. I have always loved to play with color, and there is something about the creative process that is relaxing and therapeutic, causing my worries and cares to all fall away while I lose myself in the process and feel of moving the brush, pen, or pencil across the paper. Although I use many different mediums, watercolor is by far my favorite because I love its ability to capture the essence of sunlight.

    Photography is great because it gives me a creative outlet when life is too hectic to paint. I also love how since I have started selling my photos as well as my art, I find myself constantly on the lookout for the beauty that surrounds me. It gives me an excuse to get out of the house and go hiking, or just poke around the yard whenever the sunlight is “just right.” Recently I’ve been having fun experimenting and learning some new photo editing techniques to come up with something new and imaginative.

     

    Your love of nature is clear in your work. Is there a subject matter that you prefer or does it flow for you?

    At first my favorite subject was people–specifically people in my life and events involving them that were nearest and dearest to my heart. Even now, hope, joy, love, spirituality, and family are often themes in my art. It is perhaps because of how sunlight, water and other nature scenes symbolically express these themes that I am so fascinated with them as subjects.

    Since recently my life has been chaotic and hectically busy, lately I have been working on some less time intensive exercises to move away from photo-realism in my paintings by doing things like looking at a scene for 5 minutes, then painting it entirely from memory.

     

    I know you are a busy mother too. How do you manage your artwork and your family? What’s a typical day or week like for you? Is any day typical?

    I had a good laugh when you asked whether any day is typical. Some days I’m not sure there isany such thing. Dealing with a toddler, an infant, and three school-age children requires a lot of flexibility. I have to do a lot of playing things by ear and make the best use of my time based on whether the baby is crying, what the toddler is getting into, or if anyone is having a complete meltdown. My schedule is constantly in flux based on the kids’ developmental stages and activities–so I quite frequently have to learn to readjust my daily schedule.

    Managing my family and having time for my artwork is a bit of a balancing act. I try to make the most of all the little moments during the day when there is the opportunity to get two or more things done at once–all while trying to get enough quality time in with my family. I find that things like preparing ahead, being creative in my use of leftovers, making sure the kids all have adequate age appropriate chores, and taking time for spiritual nourishment as well as family fun helps keep things on a more even keel.

    I love that advice and it would help so many of us working moms!

    Thanks so much for being here again. You can contact Dawna for custom pieces or prints or greeting cards at:

    her blog is at  http://dlmtleart.wordpress.com/
    see Dawna’s art at http://dlmtleArt.imagekind.com
    For greeting cards and more visit http://www.zazzle.com/dlmtleart*
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

     

    Best,

    Kwana 

  • art,  artists,  inspiration,  musings,  my view

    In/Sane Woman

    This woman hangs out on my inspiration board which is over my little desk. Sometimes she’s hidden behind seemingly prettier more well behaved pictures or sayings. Tucked away just a little corner of color, a finger, a breast or an eye peeking out. Then things get jostled, moved around and she’s back out in full view. It’s like she’s pushed her way out and won’t be hidden behind the pretty.

    Woman I by Willam de Kooning. 

    I don’t know what made me instantly pick her up as soon as my eyed washed over her in the MoMa gift shop but my hands flew to her and it was like picking up a part of me. Wild, scattered, colorful, fierce but constrained.

    I’m feeling very much like Woman I as I go into the weekend. Hope it’s not too bumpy a ride. Have a good weekend.

    Best,

    Kwana

  • art,  life,  my view,  stress,  ugh

    Sad Clown

    What am I 12 0r 13? How do I get these things? I have been dealing with a cold for over a week maybe 2 and I woke two days ago with a really red eye. I thought (well hoped) it was my allergies. No doing there. It continued so I went to the eye Dr. to find out I have pink eye. Pink freakin’ eye! That and the two big pimples between my eyebrows make me wonder if I’m 12 or something. Ugh.

    So that’s the reason for the Toulouse-Lautrec artwork today (still keeping with the Paris feel). I’m feeling like a bit of a sad clown out there for all the world to see even though I’d rather hide. Oh and the fact that I’m giving up sugar for Lent (again) does not help my Sad Clown mood or attitude. Speaking of attitude I sure like hers. Love the pants. This was painted over 100 years ago and still they look great. So stylish.

    Happy Friday.

    Best,
    Kwana

  • art,  life,  my view

    Oops

    So this story is like my worst nightmare since it’s so Kwana like. I think I may have said here before that in my fashion days one of my nicknames was “Grace” since I’m such a klutz. Constantly tripping over my own feet and getting all sorts of snickers from the more gracefully inclined fashionistas. I can’t tell you how many times my DH has chuckled at my stubbing a toe and gotten his head bitten off for it in the middle of the night. “Hey, who moved that bed?!” “Uh, nobody it’s been there for years.” “Oh, well, shut it!”

    Well, when I heard the story about the poor woman who tripped and fell into this Picasso at the Met tearing it my heart just broke for her. There but for the grace of God go me and all that. Read more about it here.

    Best,
    Kwana

  • art,  artists,  life,  writing life

    If I Had a Million Dollars

    Tackle it Tuesday? Ha I wish.
    Today I find myself thinking if I had a million dollars (well, 2 or 3. A million just ain’t what it used to be) I’d hire that cleaning fairy and hunky Top Chef to make my life just a smidge (read: whole boatload) more manageable. Life is very different now than from when this still life was done by Pop Artist Tom Wesselmann in 1963.

    It’s another postcard I have from a visit to the MoMa. I think I was drawn to the color and calming simplicity of this kitchen. I’m sure the Rice Krispies and the Dole Pineapples helped pull me in too.
    What practical thing would you purchase if you had a million or two?
    Tom Wesselmann 1963, Still Life #30

    Off to tackle some edits today.

    Best,

    Kwana

  • art,  artists,  inspiration,  love,  my view

    Welcoming Kiss

    This is Marc Chagall’s Birthday done in 1915. I have it in a postcard stuck in my bedroom mirror among others. The colors are heavenly and perfectly balanced. The kiss and the present of a simple bouquet is divine. This seems to be the perfect welcome home from any mate. But what I love most here is the way the man is stretching, seeking, bending towards his wife. Yep, literally bending over backwards to get to her. Isn’t love grand?


    Best,
    Kwana

  • art,  artists,  my view,  writing,  writing life

    Plot Light

    Howdy Peeps! Good day to you all.
    Check out this chandelier that I spied on my trip to the MoMA with PVE. Isn’t it wild and don’t you love it? I sure do and can’t get it out of my wacky head.


    It’s by German designer Ingo Maurer done in 1997. The “Zettel’z is a grand chandelier where the Bohemian crystal drops are substituted by scribbled paper notes from some incurable romantic’s desk. The light shines through the paper mobile. In this work Maurer plays with traditional approaches to chandelier manufacture, using precious and semi-precious materials.”

    “The truth is found between the lies”

    I like to think of it as a great plotting tool. Wouldn’t it be a fun way to plot out a story? You can arrange and rearrange the scenes while letting the light shine through to show you the way. Just be careful to not get burned!

    Best,
    Kwana