My Etsy Shop.....

I've decided to try out a new venture....Etsy. Everyone tells me I should try it, so I am! LOL....

Click here: www.katandthefiddle.etsy.com to visit my Etsy shop. there you'll find some original paintings, miniature paintings, doll clothes for American Girl dolls that I sew myself, as well as some dolls that I have been making.

Seaside Art Gallery-Nags Head, NC

Seaside Art Gallery (www.seasideart.com) in Nags Head, NC hosts each year the International Miniature Art Show. This year I decided to take the plunge and submitted three pieces of my miniature art. I was quite nervous about it at first, since I never had sent my art via mail to a gallery I've never been to, nor really known. It kind of felt like sending my children off for the first time to thier first day of school. Oh my!!
Anyway, a good friend of mine is a regular exhibiting artist with this gallery and she had recommend them to me. She said that my miniature art was quite good, and that it was worth a try for me to do so. Then gave me thier brochure.
Several weeks later, I had three miniature paintings that I had done, matted, framed and ready to go with my $35 entry fee. First prize was $600, but out of some 550 artists from all over the world. I knew winning was not going to be easy.
The three pieces I sent was "Eastern Point Light, Gloucester, MA", a very tiny tiny painting measuring 1/2 inch by 3/4 inch. Yes, you read that right. It was matted off and framed in a 3 x 5 frame. The next was "Frolicking Through the Hayfield," a larger scale painting of 2 x 5 inches, matted and framed off in a 5 x 7 frame. The last was "Meet the Bouys" and measured about 3 x 3 1/2 inches and matted and framed in a 5 x 7 frame. All three pieces were watercolors. At least the second two can be viewed on my website www.freewebs.com/kathleengormanwermuth and click on the Miniature section.
Needless to say, I didn't win anything. Which I expected with such a vast number of entries and many good works of art I may add. But I did sell my "Meet the Bouys" piece and was thrilled to do so.
It has no given me a new outlook on my miniatures again, and now I've begun springing back into painting them!!
Happy Painting!

New Miniature Pieces at Seaside Art Gallery, Nags Head, NC

Seaside Art Gallery in Nags Head, NC is hosting the 18th Annual International Miniature Art Show. To view this online, please visit www.seasideart.com There you can see all current entries of miniature art there, including three of my pieces. "Eastern Point Light, Gloucester, MA", "Frolicking Through the Hay Field" and "Meet the Bouys." All of which are watercolors.

This is my first International Miniature Art Show. Although miniatures are not new for me. I began painting them in 1998, and several of my paintings were featured in a magazine called Dollhouse Miniatures. I took a small break from painting them, since it does sometimes get your eyes a bit weary painting on such a small scale. Although some of the paintings featured in the Art Show are much larger than mine. Most of mine on average are business card size if not smaller. My smallest painting measured just 1/2 inch by 3/8 of an inch including the frame!

"Easter Point Light, Gloucester, MA." is also another "micro mini" as I call them. But the actual framed painting is also framed and matted in a larger frame.

Whims and Wants................

Yesterday was my birthday. It was a good birthday, quiet and relaxing. Unlike birthdays from my childhood, which often was filled with the colorful excitement of balloons, party hats and horns. Although I have to admit I wouldn't mind one of those again. But anyway, as a kid with an approaching birthday I often would make a list of "wants." Most often it was some kind of Barbie accessory or doll something or horsey. I guess I was a very typical girl growing up. But I have noticed as an adult our wants or toys change dramatically and often the requests are not much. Some may wonder why this is, and I think its because as adults we have the resources, or at least usually do, to buy whatever we want. We don't have to depend on the grown ups to buy our whims and wants. Whatever we want, we get it.
So over the years my list of whims and wants to request for birthdays, and also for Christmas has gotten very short. Last year hubby and daughter surprised me with a much needed sewing machine. Which I love!! And at that time it just didn't seem like we had a little extra spare cash for me to buy one. So when I was surprised with one, it was extra special.
So, this year has been much like most lately and I sat and thought about it. What would I want for my birthday? And I couldn't really think of anything. Since I usually feel you would request something you would want, but normally wouldn't buy yourself. For whatever reason.
How about some canvas'? No, already bought some. I suppose that goes for watercolor papers and drawing papers. They just don't excite me enough as present material for myself anymore. Since I have to buy them anyway.
So I spent a few more hours thinking of different things that I might have wanted, but never went and spent the money on. Talk about weird. This usually never happens for me. I usually can always think of something to find as an excuse to buy myself when I get birthday money. But I couldn't think of anything.
New saucepan? No. Bought one last month. A nice stainless steel one with a built in strainer and a glass cover. The girl at Walmart thought I was crazy spending $30 for just one sauce pot. But its a really nice one!! How about a sewing machine cover? No, I use my machine way to much and it never would get used. That would be a waste.
It wasn't until I was going through Walmart again. I seem to be there everyday. I had to pick up white vinager to clean the coffee pot with, paper plates, milk and a few other things. When I came apon a clip on desk lamp. The kind with a neat flexible neck on it. Now, I could use one of THOSE!! I've been using a small 25 watt lamp that doesn't give off much light to work by at my art desk. I don't know if that would be a want or a whim, but I bought it just the same!! And I love my new lamp. And its handy enough to clip on my easel as well!
So, now that I finally made my decision on this years' whim and wants for a birthday gift to myself, my inlaws have sent me some cash. I guess its back to the drawing board to figure out what else I might want to buy.

Mutter mutter mutter....................

Ever have days you know that you have plenty of do, but you just don't know how to motivate yourself? Well, I seem to be at that point. I find that I've been muttering around the house contemplating many things. Some I have gotten done, some half way, and some not.
So, yesterday since my daughter was home from school due to the fact that her teacher was out sick. Why is that you ask? Well, my daughter has a disorder, in which her body creates more white blood cells and so she's prone to catching anything since it does effect her immune system. So with any chance of her catching something, I prefer keeping her home to avoid any illness. Anyway, I had a list of things I wanted to do. But wasn't quite sure what I wanted to dive into first. I had my doll clothing I needed organizing. I make and sell doll clothes as well. And needed to organize all the art and craft stuff for my new program for the special ed classes at my daughter's school. I had to work the clay doll head sculpture I've been working on. Tons of Civil War clothing sewing, and doll clothing. A watercolor I had started and a canvas piece I want to do to which I have not yet sketched out. Not to mention the fact that I needed to unload the dishwasher and fill it back up with the dirty dishes in the sink. I hate looking at dirty dishes in the sink. It's a pet peeve of mine.
So, with that said.................................I ended up going to Walmart for a few things. I know, that wasn't on my list. But the things I needed to get there would help with some of the things I did have on my list. Does that count?
Let's see, I got a few plastic totes, you know for the organizing. I got a nice large one. Which I ended up using for my daughter's stuffed friends who are usually sprawled out across the living room floor. And a few organizers for the doll clothing and the art stuff. As well I got a few other things, that had absolutely nothing to do with my game plan for the day. But hey, that's how it goes. One thing I did buy was those stickem' funky things you put on the bottom of your bathtub. You know, so you don't slip and fall. I saw those, and thought it would be a good idea to have, since I've already done that last week. Slipped and fell in the bathtub. Thank goodness I didn't break anything (on me) and went completely down. Im sure it would have been quite embarrassing if my husband had to call 911 for me. So I bought some stickem' funky things and I actually got to apply those after I cleaned the bathtub out. It needed to be done anyway.
I managed to unload the dishwasher. Which always seems tedious to me, and I don't know why. Im trying to organize my timing on that so it doesn't seem so tedious. So far I haven't figured it out. I cleaned my bathtub and applied stickem funky things. Which by the way, seem to work pretty well. I got all my art stuff organized for my art program, and the doll clothing organized. I even managed to do a load of laundry to boot!! I also managed to finish hammering grommets in the corset Im making. I hate grommets. And I did work on the watecolor a little bit.
So, where does that leave me? Today I will have to reapply myself to most of the things I had on my "to do" list from yesterday to which I was unable to get to. Since I ended up applying myself to other "to do's" instead.
Mutter mutter mutter...............................

Now what?

Well, I am now at that point where Im not so sure where to go with the next project. Since I've left the gallery, I feel like Im at a railroad crossing, waiting for the next train to come by. And being the impatient person I can be. I feel like I need to start doing something.

So, Im getting ready to package up some pieces for an upcoming Miniature Art Show and Im trying to decide which ones to submit. I've finished another one of my grayscale paintings, but one in miniature of a portrait of a girl. It came out pretty well I think.

Speaking of my grayscales, Im trying to come up with a "name" for the series. Since they are done in only black and white paints, with one piece in it in color.

Im also re-thinking of my notecards, illustrating the book I've been meaning to do, and I also finally got some new clay to start sculpting a doll's head. Since I was thinking about starting a doll line to complement my doll clothes that I make.

I thought I would have heard from anyone in regards to my new piece missing from the wall. My miniature being stolen, really ticked me off. So I removed all my stuff from the gallery. But I thought I would have had at least someone ask "what the hell happened?" But nothing.......

Well, Im perhaps better off.

BOLO.......

Be on the lookout...........
Yes, there's still salt in the wound. I honestly don't know if I should be pissed off or honored that the thief chose MY painting to steal?
Anyway, here's a picture of "Eastern Point Light" done in watercolor. As you can see, the penny next to it shows off its size. The frame was also handcrafted by myself as well. The painting was also featured in Dollhouse Miniatures magazine I believe, back in 1998. Or was it 1999. But if you see it, its STOLEN!!