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

Nature's Ornaments
Watercolor on arches 140lb. cold press
16" x 20"
©2007 Catherine E. Hamilton

Labels: birds, fine art, holidays, illustration watercolors birds, watercolor, wildlife, winter

Alpenglow
Watercolor on Arches 140 lb. cold press
8" x 10.5"
©2007 Kate Hamilton

So hey, look! I painted a picture this week. In between manic job quotes, billing and rush projects I crammed in a watercolor painting. I needed something to use as a backdrop for an ad I've placed in Rocky Mountain Bride Magazine. In the next issue I will also have an illustration published in an article about spa days. I'll let you know when it's available.

What is really significant about the painting above is that I completed it, start to finish in just a few hours. I had no choice. The ad deadline was that day. I had no existing ads to pull and reuse. A few times in the process I almost abandoned it. It seems that there is a point in every piece I create where I feel impatient and just want to Get. It. Done. Already. This usually happens after I have all my basic elements laid in, but the detail is not yet there and the colors are merely an underpainting and very non-representational. It is easy to walk away at this point, especially when my pesky inner critic starts to whisper, "This painting is going nowhere. You're really going to mess this one up. Don't waste your time." As a result I have dozens of unfinished pieces in my collection, and all are pretty much in the same underpainted phase (hmm, there's a pun in there). These abandoned efforts annoy me. I hate them. I want to throw them all out but for some reason I hold onto them. They're in a portfolio under the bed.

So I had a few opportunities to abandon my painting above but I persisted. And I finished it. And I like it. So there. Take that, inner critic, Ms. Poopynannyhead.

Labels: fine art, landscapes, painting, process, snow, watercolor, winterpark

Coldilocks and the Three Polar Bears

Originally created for a charity exhibit benefiting First Book Philadelphia. Scroll down for my southern polar edition.

Labels: illustration, illustration friday, watercolor

As usual, it's been a while since I contributed to Illustration Friday. As usual, I do not have time to paint something new. But I do have something in my archives that suits the topic, and that is not against the rules. This illustration is one of four I completed for a book called "Chanda's House" by Katrina Martin Davenport. Sometime after completing the first four Katrina and I decided to pull the title from the publisher that was planning to publish it. Long story short, it was not a mutually beneficial arrangement. I have hope that someday this story will find its' publisher.

The illustration depicts a scene where the main character, Katrina, has a talk with her mother about differences in culture. Specifically, Katrina has a friend, Chanda, who is Indian and after a scary first experience, Katrina is apprehensive about going to play at Chanda's house again. Katrina expresses her fears and her mother assures her that experiencing different cultures can be an adventure, which makes it all a lot less scary.

I haven't painted any children's illos in a long time. Not since this series in 2005. It's on my list of to-do's. Along with painting landscape masterpieces and becoming an expert skier. One thing at a time.

I'll be uploading some new pictures of Butters and Maggie to my flickr page soon. Butters is almost as big as Maggie!

Happy Friday.

Labels: children's books, illustration, illustration friday, watercolor