New Year, New Gallery

 Happy New Year!  
Last year was a rather strange one for me, I spent more time "percolating," and not as much creating - change is in the air - I already feel a shift, do  you? 

She Changes© Nadya King

For me, one of these shifts is moving to a new gallery, one my friend Holli and her husband will open this spring. McMinnville Center for the Arts, MECA, will be a  place of inspiration and service to the community. I'm excited to be one of the MECA artists.

I've loved being an artist at Ten Oaks Gallery over the last two years, enjoying all the art, and attending events. ...and, Holli has taken several of my Intentional Creativity classes, so it feels perfect to be part of this new venture. I hope to offer some of the community classes there, as well as show my art.

In On Sunday, I picked up my work from Ten Oaks. This week, I have been working on my bio, and choosing 5 pieces to hang at MECA - whew! What a process! It's intriguing to me how that process goes. 

Two of the ladies, Siren Song and Elen Star Path, were in a show "Myths and Legends,"

Siren Song© Nadya King

several years ago, and also part of my show as a Featured Artist at Ten Oaks, September 2016. I love the magic of legendary figures, and bringing them into this world. Siren Song is one of several Mer women who have come to me. 

Order of the Phoenix and She Holds the Heart of the World were painted in harmony with our greater of continuity, during online offerings. I was a Hearth Tender for Black Madonna, which included both painting prompts from Shiloh, and history of the Black Madonna in Europe from Kayleen Asbo. I love the depth Kayleen brings to all of her shares.

The fifth painting, She Changes, began as the demo painting for one of my own classes, and I continued working on her in my Gaia as Portal class last spring near Earth Day. I invited my students to bring a canvas to repurpose if they wanted, and my 20x20 Birch Panel seemed perfect! 

Elen Star Path© Nadya King

Elen Star Path 
(16 x 20", acrylic on canvas)

Guardian of the ancient pathways, the Leys, the kundalini currents of the land. 
The horned lady, Elen leads us aplom the first track ways, the migratory paths of the reindeer in the Northern lands. She leads us home.

Siren Song
(16 x 20", acrylic on canvas)

I call you from the depths, invite you to sing your song.
Listen to the waves
Listen to your heart beat
Which moves the currents of your very being
Listen. Listen.

Order of the Phoenix
(16 x 16", acrylic on canvas

Order of the Phoenix© NK

)

From the ashes, we rise transformed. 
From the ashes, we are born anew.
Enter the fire, and find rebirth.

She Changes (20 x 20", acrylic on cradled birch) 

She Changes everything she touches, everything she touches changes. Earth Mama invites you to listen for her voice in the wind, to see her patterns in the stars and swirling water, to cherish this sweet planet. Will you answer her?

She Holds the Heart of the World© NK

She Holds the Heart of the World  
(18 x 24", acrylic on canvas)

She hears the cries of the World
And ponders them in her heart.
She Holds holall dear
Treasures beyond measure
She Holds us in her heart.

Oh! It was hard to decide which ladies to submit! ... I was almost ready to relinquish my "thesis" painting from my Color of Woman quest, Priestess of the Cosmic Portal, but when I looked up her message in my Initiate book, realized she has more to teach me. Such is the power of creating with intention, and juicy Juju Journal making.

I'm looking forward to meeting the other artists this weekend at our Blank Canvas event, and to the Muse nudges I'm feeling! 

Intention and Hygge

I've been exploring bringing more intention into my living space, and rearranging areas. As an artist, I tend to have lots of supplies, and am of the generation that tends to accumulate paper, and have a hard time passing things on! (Are artists ever minimalistic??)

Currently, my Atelier is in my dining "nook," a space about 7 x 9' which fortunately opens into my high ceilinged kitchen...

My tall easel fits under the arch. 

The living room is the length of the house, 20', with the front section 13' wide, and the back 10'  (the stairs take the other 3'  and the whole house is  950 x feet) I'm shifting the Atelier to the back half, and will move my harps intro the nook.

I've painted part of the larger area a minty green, and the window frames white (they've been French blue) Then, moved my couch to create a Hyyge corner where these shelves were. 

Hygge (hug-ee) is a Danish term, a light in the darkness, to carry us through the cold winter months...Elements may include Candles, a warm cup of tea, good book, cozy seats with warm blankets, creating a feeling of cozy comfort. My friend Jeanine has a beautiful blog on bringing more Hygge into your home.

Hygge corner

After I began rearranging things, I received a message from the coordinator of our Art Harvest Studio Tour, asking if I'd like to apply for inclusion! I'd just been thinking of the tour, and 10 Oaks Gallery is one of the event sponsors....
It looks like my clearing and rearranging is timely! It's a big commitment of time and energy, and I need to *paint up a storm* to get ready! Fortunately, it's in the fall, so I have time to prepare - and an application to write! 

Do you have home studio?
Any goals on your list you're aiming for? 

Happy PPF! 

Holiday showcase, Snow Queen

T'is the busy holiday season, in the USA, we've shared the gratitude of Thanksgiving, and are quickly approaching Solstice, Hanukkah and Christmas, turning of the wheel toward the New Year, 2018! What a year it has been, natural disasters and those caused by humans abound, as does mulch Grace and joy. 

The gallery where I exhibit my paintings is hosting a holiday showcase of the represented

Muse of Creative Fire

artists, and I have been competing a painting which began as the demo for last summer's Muse of Creative Fire class. I have been intrigued with round canvases, so choose one for that class. 

We had a lovely group of five students at an art Center about two hours away, and spent the day bringing our Muses into the canvas. Like many of my demo paintings, she has been waiting for the next step for awhile, then began whispering. Two of my granddaughters are rehearsing for our basket studio's annual Nutcracker, which gave the inspiration for the transformation from summer muse to Snow Queen! 

The color theme shifted from the reds of summer to winery blues and silver. I darkened her background, and used plastic wrap in the wet paint for patterns, as I brought new life into her havue and halo. Both silver and interference play in the highlights, and I got silver leaf for her crown and earrings. I'm am pleased with the transformation, she's ready for the holiday show.

Snow Queen

What transformations does this turn of the wheel bring you? What treasures are nestled beneath the snow? 

Posting to Paint Party Friday

Featured Artist

About a year ago, during our annual Art Harvest Studio Tour, I was introduced to the owners of the Gallery at Ten Oaks, by one of the artists they represent. I asked if they were accepting art from New artists, and they said, "Yes! We'd love to see your work!" 

My friend Sepha and I went together a couple of months later, with 5 pieces each, and they were delighted to show our intuitive, mindful art! They spotlight one artists work each month and already had a full schedule; so asked if we would have a combined show, as their Featured Artists in September! 

5 of My ladies on the left

We were in the path of totality for the eclipse, and a couple of the pieces for the show include the moon and Sun's corona. I revisited my Queen of Your own Heart, "She Sees By Starlight" and had to paint a little Dragon! I think my Red Madonna Dragon will hold the eclipsed sun as well.

It was fun to look back, and see paintings I had for my first Featured Artist show, Musings, back in 2014 at Walnut City Wineworks, shortly before entering the CoW teacher training! 

Eclipse from Central Oregon, © Ken Strode

My painting Sekhmet hung at the Wineworks for the next year, and is in this show as well. 
I have several classes on the schedule for September, Red Thread Reiki 1, and a Musé Day offering, Musé of Equilibrium, exploring themes of harvest, compost, and cycles.

* are you too far away to visit the Gallery? Enjoy this 1/2 hour YouTube clip where I share my harp and art on our local cable channel, with host Howie Harkema!! 

Blessings as you move into fall, and happy Paint Party Friday! (Head over to the blog roll, and add your post to the list!

Painting panel

I love painting on wood! 

When I was in my Color of Woman teacher training a couple of years ago, I found our "Art Doc" Leslie's tutorial on buying and mounting a hardwood panel super helpful.

I painted both my Taliswoman, "Songs of Light," and my Alchemist, "Firekeeper," on wood panels my dear son-in love helped me mount. I bought and had the panels cut at Lowe's, then took it to Matt, who has the tools, workspace, and is handy. (And loves my art!)

Hummingbird from Songs of Light

I got a little sanding block depth fine sandpaper, sanded the wood, and watched a tutorial that recommended applying a couple of coats of GAC-100 (polymer, the binder for acrylic paint) before the gesso. 

The suggested drying time for the polymer is 3 hours, the gesso drys much more quickly. I sanded between the dry layers, then wiped the dust off with a soft rag. 

I was blessed to provide online support for last weekend's Legend class, "She's a Piece of Work," with Shiloh and CoW graduate Jassy Watson, and decided to paint on wood again. I didn't have time to assemble a board this time, so purchased an "American Easel" birch painting panel. These are lighter weight, and easier to hang! 

I followed the same process of applying two layers of GAC-100 (the first Thursday night), then three of gesso. I diluted the first layer gesso a bit (no more than 25% water!) dipping my brush in water, then the gesso. I sanded each coast of gesso lightly, before applying the next, and wiped off the surface each time. I paint in my dining nook, and propped the panel on my kitchen sink and chair back for the preparation!

By the time we were ready to paint Friday afternoon, the board was ready! This is (much) lighter than the panels we made, so won't be as heavy to mount. I hope to hang Her at the Gallery which hosts my work when She's complete, and I think she may want some "gold" leaf (which goes well on wood!)

Ready to paint!

Happy painting, and happy Paint Party Friday!