Where's Kimberly

I lost my glasses, the ones that I wear when I'm working on the computer, which means I'm not spending much time online! I can kinda sorta see the screen when I'm wearing my other glasses, however, I highly emphasize the kinda sorta see portion of this sentence! I'm off to take the family room apart, the last known location of said computer glasses, it's in need of a deep cleaning anyway!

Today's Mailbox Haul

A friend of mine sent me coarse ground red earth pigment and ochre samples from Montana, they arrived today, so this is what I'll be working on, grinding the reddish-brown pigment until it is very fine using a muller. I'll then take some of the finely ground pigment, mix it with soy milk and will paint fabric swatches and allow to dry to see what the final color will be like. I'll do inchies for a challenge I’m participating in this week!

He sent me two other samples a green and a yellow, which I approved so he'll be sending me the yellow and green pigments next week to also grind down.

He also put some pine needles, horsemint, bison hair, and buckskin in the package with my pigment and ochres. My studio smells like the mountains of western Montana at the moment.

If I can get the pigment ground fine enough I'll make handmade pastels for drawing and painting with as well.

Practicing Play

I’m taking an online course with Jeanne Oliver called Wild Awaking Paint Big while I wait for my pigments to arrive from Montana. I highly recommend the course, especially if you’re in a stuck place like I am at the moment. I already knew how to do everything we’re learning in the course, 90% of which I learned back in art school and of course I wrote a book on Rust Dyeing many moons ago.

That said it’s refreshing to take classes from someone else, to gain new perspective, stimulate the old brain cells into working differently. Another bonus is I’m using up studio supplies I’m no longer in love with and want them gone.

So if you’re stuck, like I was, then I highly recommend Jeanne’s class, and drag out those supplies and play a little to loosen things up.

They're Disappearing!

Taken June of 2019

Taken June of 2019

Marsh January 2011.jpg

Taken January of 2011

I wish I had an image of the marsh from 1999 on my computer, I will have to find one of the old photos to scan in and add it here later. You can see here that many of the cottonwoods, which are standing in a marsh, have now fallen down. Apparently a small tornado went through the area a year or so ago and knocked many of the trees down.

Oil Paint and Cold Wax

Cottonwoods. Oil paint & Cold wax. 5 x 8 inches on canvas paper.

Cottonwoods. Oil paint & Cold wax. 5 x 8 inches on canvas paper.

I’ve been experimenting this past week with water mixable oil paints and cold wax. Not sure what I think about this medium, yet, other than working small is not working for me so it’s time to set up the easel.

This painting evolved from memories of the cottonwood stand at my favorite marsh, Bjorkboda, in Hamilton County, Iowa. I was there last month and many of the trees have now fallen over and only a few remain. I need to go back and take some photos to share and soon.

Field at Dusk

Field at Dusk kbaxterpackwood.jpg

Field at Dusk. 9 x 6 inches. Oil bar on watercolor paper.

Decided to break out the oil bars this afternoon and do a little “coloring” as my husband calls it, lol. It was fun to just lay some color down onto some paper and not worry if it would work or not, just explore. He then requested I add some pheasants to the grassy area, which probably won’t happen.

Thinking

IMG_3237.jpg

I created, and just submitted my new Patreon page for review! In the process of looking for imagery for my account I found this guy hiding in a stack of papers. I’ll be gathering my drawing supplies and clearing my easel so I can create more birds like this Owl for my patrons.

Charcoal, conte, graphite, gesso, watercolor paper

18x20 inches