Creating an art language for myself is exciting and rewarding
More exciting news: The Art of the Aura Class, and my first art show since 2009.
Hello friends, this week I’m spotlighting my ongoing recent art making adventures that have led me to a new language and way of painting. It’s been coming on for years, but really picked up speed in the past few months. Today’s newsletter is a bit of a photo dump, which is always fun.
Also, I have exciting news: after years teaching meditation and clairvoyant classes, I’m combining them with art making in an upcoming class called ‘The Art of the Aura’. This class is open to all levels of meditation and art making experience, so whether you’re new to all of it, or more experienced, this class will fit.
Thank you for being here, I always appreciate you for showing up.
Love, Kris
Find me online:
Visit my art website: KrisCahillArt.com.
New Class: The Art of the Aura: Meditation, Art, Clairvoyance, and Your Aura. Starts August 13. Learn more and join this class.
Art Show: I’m participating in the Two Mountains Fine Art Show happening on August 13, in Trenton GA. Read all about it and come see me!
My new painting style is making me very happy.
I’ve been building this style for years, and now it’s here in a way that works for me.
I’ve written many times about how much I love using paint journals in my art practice. They are helping me validate and build a new visual language for myself as an abstract painter. When I need some eye candy, I flip through one of my paint journals to treat myself to a validating eyeful of my own work.
It’s funny how time and distance can make it easier to see and love my own paintings!
I love working with stencils, but don’t want to have them look like ‘stencils’. I want the layers of texture that eventually become an interesting deep rich image. I prefer stencils that have a more abstract or natural look that I can repeat, even on top of itself, to create subtle textures.
I combine the textured layers with sponged texture, brush marks, drawings and lines, scratches, fingerprints, whatever tools I have at hand. I work quickly , then stop and stare for long periods of time, sometimes letting a piece hang around for a bit until I find its next steps.
The exceptions to this are my paint journals, which I tend to complete in a painting session. I’m working in two journals at once, along with whatever paintings that are in front of me at the time too. I might work on any number of paintings in one session, adding to my palette as needed.
I also love making bookmark sized paintings. These started out at 9” x 12” sheets of watercolor paper, then get painted on both sides using acrylic, markers, pencils, and ink, cut up into small tiny paintings, painted more, varnished, and voila.
I gave a bunch of them to friends as gifts at a party we had a while back, sold some to collectors, and I have them in many of my own books. Here’s a new batch I’m working on now.
They are a perfect size to experiment with a lot of different textures, and it’s so much fun to make them all.
More works in progress:
Inspiration for a rich and textured life
The Art of the Aura Class begins Wednesday, August 13. Read more and join the class.
I could go on, and will do so in a future newsletter! I hope you have an artful and colorful week.
Thank you for reading, and please share with a friend. Kris