Personalize It!

This weekend, I had the privilege of attending a monogramming shower for a close family friend. What a neat party idea to celebrate a friend's marriage or birthday! No Southern home is complete without a monogram. Or two. Or 16!

This was painted on a 10 x 10 stretched canvas with acrylic paint. Picking out just the right color for a friend's home can be tricky, but this multi-colored background will look beautifully coordinated anywhere. If you are looking for something more neutral, this could easily be done in monochromatic tones. It would be beautiful set in a frame, too. I love art that is versatile! 

What's your favorite type of monogram?

Family Tree

Awhile ago, I posted about my husband's sister, Amy, and her husband, Robert, and their desire to adopt a child. My brother, Ike, and I (i.e. The Rough Drafts) wrote some songs together and recorded an EP to help them raise some of the funds needed for this journey. You can still download that album here. Name your price! Even if you don't download it, though, you still need to visit the webpage, so you can view the cover art for the EP. Pretty cool tree, huh? It was created by my husband, Mitch, who-in addition to being a brilliant family man, commercial construction manager and organizational guru-is quite an artsy-fartsy fellow. He sketched it with pen and paper in only a few hours!

As far as the adoption journey: After a long, hard couple of years full of fasting, praying, and fundraising Amy, Robert, and their daughter are hoping to add a new member to their family very, very soon! The donation link posted on The Rough Drafts' Bandcamp page is no longer working, but I know they would appreciate your prayers over these next weeks and months. We couldn't be more excited to see what God has in store for their family!

As a gift, we gave Amy and Robert a canvas decoupage made from the sketch Mitch drew for the EP. I used oil pastels for the bold colors. The aging effects took several weeks. 

The tree, itself, is so symbolic of a family. No 2 trees will have the exact same features because so many outside elements determine how a tree will grow. No 2 families will look exactly alike, either, for the same reason. Ultimately, what helps us grow stronger is how we respond to those outside elements to grow into something strong, useful, and beautiful. I could go on, but I'll let you look for yourself to see what other family correlations you can find. 

What makes your family tree strong, useful, and beautiful?

"This is the Church…This is the Steeple.."

It's been awhile since I've posted. I've been a very busy mama! I now teach 2 and 3 year olds at a wonderful preschool here in Little Rock. It's been a challenge, but I'm very thankful for my coworkers and the valuable lessons learned so far. This job has also provided more opportunities to create art--my greatest love outside of children!

The preschool had an auction to raise money for improvements to the grounds. Of course, I wanted to donate some items. Here is one little jewel. It's the steeple of the church where the preschool is run and it is a beautiful landmark here in West Little Rock:

This is a 16x20 acrylic painting on canvas. It raised $210 at the auction!!! Since then, I have been selling these like hotcakes! I'm so excited to have been able to help the school, too. 

Please contact me at: KaSoulStudio@gmail.com if you would like me paint your church steeple as a work of art!

Scriptures with Friends

Have I mentioned that I absolutely love my job? If not, then you should know that I really, truly, absolutely LOVE my job! Mainly because I'm a little introverted, and a creative activities are comfortable setting for me to meet and get to know new people. 

This group of friends and sisters in Christ enjoyed a lazy Sunday afternoon of painting in my dining room. Here's what they made:

"It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from within you--the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. This beauty will never disappear, and it is worth very much to God."

-I Peter 3:3-4

This girl (J) had to leave a little early, but she let me take her picture just before leaving. Another reason why I love my job is that I meet people I may never have met. I found out that J knows my dad; and my grandfather, who was a preacher, married her parents! Cool!

 

Pretty Bird

Monday night, I got to be apart of another great painting party! These girls have been worshipping and studying the Bible together and they wanted to end the summer with a BANG! Oops. I mean, a BIRD! A pretty one, sitting on a branch with colorful leaves:

Don't they just make you want to sing praises? I think I will:

"All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. (Psalm 104:27, 28 NIV)"

Thank you, Lord, for giving me a passion for creating art! I am "satisfied with good things" and it is all by your glorious, generous hand.

Vase of Base

So...I've started teaching small classes on my own, which has been a perfect side job! I love teaching. It's been great to see people with virtually no art experience sit and paint a beautiful canvas, all with just a little help. 

Here is the "original" painting: 

I named it "Vase of Base," inspired by the band from the 90s. It is a 16x20 done with acrylic paint.

Here is my class, a group of friends from church:

One friend decided she wanted something a little more abstract, so she skipped the vases and painted the background only, with her own little added "flair." The other ladies added their own little touches, as well. I love what they came up with! 

Please let me know if I can come paint with you and your friends. 

Catching Up

I have had some projects over the past few months, which I've been meaning to share with my readers here. 

Excuse the messy garage. This is my footboard and my awesome experiment with chalk paint. Ka Studio might get into the furniture-distressing business after this project! Next week, I am helping my first customer distress an old trunk, so I'll keep you posted on how that goes.

"Namaste!" That what I named this piece, after the discipline and focus I developed while working on it. Well...that, and the yoga classes I was taking in early winter inspired me just a tad. This is an 18x24 extra deep canvas--the best money can buy. At least at Hobby Lobby. I used oil pastels (my fav) and the tips of my fingers to create what you see here. Dontcha want one?

And finally...I created this colorful cross for a class I taught on my own last month. It was a great group of ladies I have worked with over this past school year. It is just basic acrylic paint on an 11x14 canvas. 

Please contact me if you have a project I can work on for you. My email address is KaSoulStudio@gmail.com