February 17, 2012

Seashells By The Seashore

I've been painting a little the past few days.  I still haven't finished my studio cleanup completely, so I can't show you my whole room yet, but my worktable is not looking too bad.

I decided to paint a trio of seashells.  Everything seems to have associations for me. I wonder if that is a sign of being older. Everything exists in my brain in layers.  I can't look at seashells without thinking of the line 'She sells seashells by the seashore':  a tongue twister from my childhood. I also think of my grandmother Viola who used to vacation in South Carolina every year and bring back shells. Mostly she collected tiny shells that she would open into a butterfly shape and glue onto all sorts of things.

I sometimes wish that I lived closer to the ocean. I love combing beaches for shells and sea glass. Plus, I always feel a sense of peacefulness beside large bodies of water. I've always wondered if that is because so much of our body is made of water.

Next week, I hope to finish my studio cleanup. I also need to get back to making a few new prints for my Etsy store. And paint (that's the part I like most).

20 comments:

  1. Kathleen,
    The painting is gorgeous! Love the fresh green of that sea urchin. Lovely!
    Have you thought of selling any of your originals on Etsy?
    xo
    Jody
    (p.s. green with envy over your studio space. I sit on the couch with a t.v table at the moment. LOL!)

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    1. Thank you so much, Jody! I think that sea urchin is one of the prettiest greens I've seen in a long time. I have been mulling over whether to try selling some originals. I am lucky to have my loft studio and felt very, very guilty for a long time that I wasn't using it. Now at least I am. But let me tell you--you do some mighty fine painting on that t.v. table Ms. Edwards!!! It goes to show that it's not the space that matters.

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  2. Oh wow, I loved your flowers (painted ones, I mean) but I'm now even more in love in your painted seashells !! They are truely amazing ! Will you make prints for the shop with this painting ? I hope so !
    Can't wait to see your space, if you are willing to show to us fans. :)
    Have a glorious weekend ! xoxo

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    1. Sonia-You know how to make a girl's afternoon end on a high note. Thank you very much for your lovely words. I will try to make a print and will post photos of my 'clean' studio soon. Have a wonderful weekend too! xx

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  3. They are just GORGEOUS! You could have walked down my strreet to the beach, picked these off the sand and plonked them on your desk. We are inundated with sea urchins and cone shells in winter (the urchins still with their spines attached). Your spirals are mesmerizing!

    Your lovely Viola sounds like someone I could've shared afternoons over cups of tea and seahells.

    I'm happy to send you some Aussie sea shells if your quarantine laws allow?

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    1. I appreciate your comments so much, Cindy.

      You are so lucky to live where you do. I would love some Australian shells someday if it wasn't too much trouble. I would love to send you something in return. I have just looked at the Cdn. govt. website and they don't seem to be restricted as long as they are clean and critter-free and are not protected in their country of origin.

      My grandmother Viola was a lovely person and I often wish I could have spent time with her as an adult too.

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  4. One word: wow. Your seashells are absolutely astounding.

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    1. Two words: thank you! It's so nice of you to say that.

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  5. Studio space looks VERY neat and tidy, my room is such a tip. I want to tidy up, because I'm in danger of losing work! I love your seashells, the shadows make them stand out so 3D. Very soothing colours too! X

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    1. I had to look up 'tip'. I think we would say 'dump'. It's fun learning slang and idioms from other places. Thanks for the nice comments on my seashells. When I first sketched their outlines, they looked so darn flat. There is always a point (or two) in every painting where I think 'this is not going to work'. I don't know if you find that too. Slowly they started to take form and began to look like shells.

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  6. Ok Kathleen, make room in your studio - I've got some shells fresh off the sand for you!

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    1. I saw them and they are absolutely gorgeous! I cannot believe that you found so many shells and pieces of sea glass in one short walk.

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  7. what a lovely painting kathleen
    you really capture the three dimensional quality of the shells
    what a nice workspace you have too.
    xx

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    1. Thanks Arounna very much. My workspace will be even better once I have everything around my worktable in order. I'm getting there. :) xx

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  8. I love this painting Kathleen!
    I can't wait to see more.
    Mary Jo

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    1. Thanks Cullen. I appreciate your words.

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  10. Lovely photos of Meeko and shadows in the snow. Color of wood of Your work table sets off subtle shell color and stills so nicely. Gives me hope of more order in my studio. Working on that.

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    1. Thanks Claire for your nice comments. Studio order is an ongoing challenge. I'm still working on the piles of things on my studio floor. :)

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Thanks so much for taking the time to visit my blog and to leave me a comment. I love reading them. -- Kathleen

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