Crop of Self-Portrait (in progress)

There comes a point in every protagonist's story where a crucial decision must be made. Where change is option A, and option B is to remain stagnant. I have opted for A and you know, it is scary but not nearly as scary as remaining exactly the same. I was most frightened when I approached the crossroads. Once I chose my A option I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and waited for some kind of self-destruction.

As you can see, that did not happen. I am still here. How crazy is that.

With the choosing came the change. Here are a few examples:
--I have a new workspace with huge floor to ceiling windows that face the Continental Divide.
--I have been painting AND working AND playing, though still trying to perfect the balance. It's been heavy on the "working."
--The nice part of that is that I illustrated a book. I will have my name on a book cover. This may sound kind of obvious but it is honestly the first time that has happened.
--I started teaching an art class 3 weeks ago. I've never taught before. I like... no I love it, much to my surprise.
--I donated two paintings to auction to benefit a local charity. Both sold. I thought it would be painful to part with my babies, but no. I felt liberated by it. Proud even. My art stood side-by-side with some of Colorado's most highly-respected artists. Which in turn made me a peer of such painters. That's really cool.
--Music. After a long hiatus, I have wound some shiny new strings on my guitar and carved a little niche for it in my living space (rather than shoved under the bed). My fingers have been itching thanks to all the new music I've come to love. I'm also going to lots and lots of live shows this summer. I have pledged to myself that I will attend every show in which I have even the most remote interest. This weekend it's the Grand Archives at Hi-Dive.
--This return to music fanhood has affected my wardrobe. It's getting a little funky. :)
--Alone time. I treasure it, I love it, I look forward to it. Especially after art class. :)
--Current reads: "Wreck This Journal" by Keri Smith, "Everyday Matters" and "The Creative License" by Danny Gregory. And Wuthering Heights when I can't sleep.

I do believe the right half of my brain has completely taken over and its having a crazy party and there's nothing I can do about it. Not that I'm complaining. I'm just tickled to be invited.

*exhale*

Labels: fine art, illustration, me, watercolor

–A portrait of a baby

–Illustrations for a book

–Illustrations for my own manuscript

–A mountain bike trail map

–Two logo/identity packages

–Mountain bike festival ad materials

–Taxes

–Myself

Labels: me, work

Me as a little snowbird with my dog, Max.

It's 12:30 am, January 5, 2008 which means it is officially my 34th birthday. Although technically I was born at I think 3:01 pm in 1974, so I'm not quite exactly 34 years old yet, but I think I am ready for a new year. Thirty-three was not for me. I actually cried when I turned 33. But for some reason, thirty-four just doesn't have quite the impact 33 did. Perhaps the difference is wanting to live in the present vs. living in the past. I don't know. It will be bittersweet nonetheless.

Bitter, because my husband won't be here. Sweet, because my Dad will. He is going to be on the next flight from Philly to Denver and will arrive at my house some time around 12:30 pm tomorrow. Well by golly that's precisely 12 hours from now. I should probably get some sleep.

Before that, my friend Sarah is taking me out to a "fancy breakfast" in the morning, and then I may try to ski a few death runs with a few friends and a few masses of 12,000 turistas on the mountain shortly after. It happens to be the busiest week of the ski resort so far this year, and as a local one tries to avoid being amidst that kind of crowd. Long lift lines, impossible parking, rude guests, impatient parents, sobbing children--it really takes away from the spiritual nature of skiing. But you know, it is my birthday, and if I want to stand in line in front of some guy who will inevitably butt in front of me because he JUST CAN'T WAIT to be on the next chair, so be it. Perhaps I should find some sort of birthday hat to keep that guy at bay. You just simply can't butt in front of a birthday girl, can you? Surely not without a short stint in hell.

Tomorrow evening the plan is to do a pre-dinner cocktail at Rebecca and George's, where I have requested an appearance by the infamous Shot Ski. (I like to call it shotsky, so it sounds like a Polish invention). Then down to Untamed at 7 for dinner and drinks with the rest of my mountain family. I hope my Dad can keep up. He is probably waking up in about half an hour to get ready for his 6 am flight. Yeah, I know how that feels.


My first birthday and my Mom's long hair. Right on.

Labels: birthday, me

...and I'm not quite ready yet. This weekend I'm going to:

1. Get a tree, put it up

2. Stop by a friend's cookie-making party

3. Some general housecleaning, to prepare for a ladies get-together I'm hosting later in the week

4. Finish my holiday card painting, get cards made

5. Get some pressies for the doggities

6. Do some random Christmas shopping

7. Attend another friend's get-together

8. Take my time and not rush, there's no point in it.

9. Ski if I do have any time left over

10. Do a little bit of work if I have time left over after skiing.

I think that is plenty.

Labels: holidays, me

One of my new goals for the next few months is to find and/or attend an inspiring creativity workshop. I don't care if it's about general creativity, or more specialized for oil or watercolor painting--I just want something that will get my juices flowing. I have been feeling stumped in this area for quite some time and it stumps my confidence in my work. Something relatively local is preferable, but I will travel to an awe-inspiring location for the right price.

So if anyone out there in webland has any hints on how to find one, or recommendations for a workshop they have taken, please pass it on. Please comment or email me at kate (at) penguinart (dot) com.

In the meantime I am reading SARK's book, "Make Your Creative Dreams Real: A Plan for Procrastinators, Perfectionists, Busy People, and People Who Would Really Rather Sleep All Day."



I *heart* SARK's handwritten, scribbled and doodled books. This one is a little more structured but I don't mind. The watercolor-textured inserts with multicolored marker writings make me want to draw like a kid again. SARK is a bit like Sesame Street for the troubled adult mind.

I will put SARK's next workshop on my list of possibilities.

Labels: books, creativity, me

Right now, in my life I am grateful for abundance. I have recently received and experienced an abundance of:


1. Support from my friends, both near and far
2. Love from my family
3. Work from my clients
4. Motivation from my husband
5. Affection from my dogs
6. Inspiration from my surroundings
7. Grace from the Universe
8. Hope for my Self

I hope this Thanksgiving, spent at home visiting family will bring even more abundance for me and those I love.

Happy Thanksgiving

Labels: family, friends, gratitude, me

...I feel an unprecedented amount of gratefulness and appreciation for my good friends.



What would I do without you?



I'd be smiling far less, I am sure.



Thank you so much for all your support. xo

Labels: friends, me

This week I have decided to make some changes for the betterment of myself. Changes that will benefit my self-esteem and strength. A baby first step was to have my hair cut. I know it sounds kind of minor and trite but I believe there is a bit of secret symbolism behind it. Eight inches of old growth was cut from my head. That represents the last 12-16 years of my life snipped away, half an inch a year. Not that I feel like I need to let that much of my life go (or maybe I do), but the weight of it was keeping me down. I struggle with self-confidence and putting myself out there, me as I am, without apologies. I want to change this attitude and be a more self-loving Kate. There was a time when I could not even comprehend the concept of self-love. It sounded like selfishness, greed, not any kind of love. Over the past 6 years I have come to learn what it means. I am far from complete attainment but I think I can get there. I just need to make some changes.

So Step 1 is really improving my self-care. Taking care of my appearance. Shining myself up like a new penny. First the hair, next some new clothes, a massage, my fingers and toes... seemingly superficial things that make an immediate impact on how I feel about me.

Step 2 in my transformation is a bigger one--returning to therapy and not just for a few weeks like last time. To actually do some serious work on my psyche. Tackle the issues, new and old. Take power over my mind.

Step 3 is improving the health of my body. Making a commitment to physical activity that includes strength training. Walking the dogs and skiing do not count. They belong in their own category of stress-relief. Step 3 also includes drinking less alcohol, eating better, drinking more water. Breaking bad habits and forming healthier ones.

Step 4 is stress relief. A lot of 1-3 fall into this category, but there are other things I neglect to do. Spending time with friends and talking about my current stressors. Walking the dogs. Skiing as much as possible. Things that are beneficial treats.

Step 5 will be taking the benefits of steps 1-4 and applying them to my relationship with my husband. This will be ongoing and not necessarily chronological. I think the benefits of all steps will help nuture what is fragile. This month marks our 6th anniversary. I want it to be a celebration of who we are now, not 6 years ago.

And that's an awful lot of work, all that up there. Well, I could look at it that way and run the opposite direction. Or I could see it as a challenge, a set of goals to work at and start over and work at again. All I know is that the steps are imperative to my happiness and self-love.

Labels: me

I was tagged by Michele, oh you know, back in August! Sorry Michele...

Four jobs I've had:
1. Receptionist at a Catholic priest's rectory (counted a lot of Sunday collection money)
2. Waitress at a cheesesteak shop (one of two waitressing jobs, I will never do that again)
3. Senior Designer at FAO, Inc. (got laid off by those guys, then rehired--TWICE)
4. Sole proprietor of Kate Hamilton Creative (best job ever)

Four movies I can watch over and over:
1. Titanic (mainly for the costumes)
2. The Muppet Movie (love you Kermit!)
3. Winged Migration (makes me cry)
4. March of the Penguins (duh!)

Four countries I have been to:
1. England
2. Italy
3. Greece
4. Antigua

Four places I'd rather be right now:
1. Skiing
2. Painting in plein air
3. Florence--never did get to see David
4. On a plane on my way to somewhere I've never been

Four foods I like to eat:
1. Good, fresh sushi*
2. ...and other fresh seafood, especially if Thai*
3. Indian*
4. New York pizza*
*you can't find this in Winter Park, Colorado

Four places I have lived:
1. Norwood, PA
2. Clifton Heights, PA
3. Havertown, PA
4. Winter Park, CO*
*first place I've lived that is not located in Delaware County, PA

Four people I'm tagging:
1. Melanie
2. Stephanie
3. Gennine
4. Heather

Labels: me