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Work in Progress…

I recently started work on a new canvas piece.  I was hoping it would be ready for last week’s Handmade Expo, but the details are taking a while to do!

Here’s what it looks like so far:

KL Bailey Art - Canvas work in progress

Eventually it will be a painting of three of my swirly trees in Autumn colours.  Usually I do this style of painting on a small scale in watercolours, but this one is a larger canvas painting (20″ x 24″).

You can see I’ve started the swirls on the left hand side tree – eventually all the trees will be covered in swirls.  I’m also using a textured gold glass paint on this painting.  I will add the trunks and branches of the trees last.

I haven’t thought of a title for this painting yet – any ideas?

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Illustration Friday – Atmosphere

Here’s my submission for this week’s Illustration Friday topic, ‘Atmosphere’.  For once I’ve taken the topic very literally, and I’ve painted a picture of the Earth’s atmosphere:

Atmosphere - original watercolor painting by Kirsten Bailey

The weekend just past was super-busy for me.  I had a stall at The Handmade Expo, which was great fun as always.  We had a great turn out this month with people out and about voting.  A big thank you to all those who stopped by my little stall!  After the Expo we visited family and then the next day attended a birthday party.

With a weekend like that, I was very pleased to be able to get a few evenings to myself to get some painting done!  Of course, sleep is overrated 🙂

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Illustration Friday – Star Gazing

I was delighted to discover that this week’s challenge over at Illustration Friday is “Star Gazing”.   I was recently requested to paint something similar to my “When it is Dark Enough” painting, and was part way through it when I found out about this topic.

Here’s the finished product – I’ve titled it “The Stargazers”:

The Stargazers - Original watercolour painting by Kirsten Bailey

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Another Great Day at the Handmade Expo!

Yesterday I spent my day at The Handmade Expo, and had a great time!

KL Bailey Art at the handmade expo july 2010
Me with my artwork at my Handmade Expo Stall

It’s so much fun getting to meet my customers (which I don’t get to do when they buy from Etsy).  People were lovely and I sold some pendants, rings, cards, and an original painting 🙂

Another thing I love about meeting my customers in person is that I get an idea of which designs are popular, and what people would most like to see.  For this market I started selling rings:

Some of my ring designs - I hope to have more made for the next market

At the next market I’m hoping to have some earrings made.  Of course I will still have my most popular item by far, my pendants:

Many pendant designs!

Thanks once again to all those wonderful people who came by to meet me at my stall!

I’m looking forward to the next market on Saturday 21st August 🙂

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More Owls…

I recently had a request for a painting featuring owls – I’d never painted an owl before until a bit over a week ago when I painted Satellite and Sage.  Now I could be a little addicted!

Here’s my latest creation – I’ve titled it “Midnight Meeting”:

Midnight Meeting - Original watercolor painting by Kirsten Bailey
Midnight Meeting

I’m looking forward to this Saturday’s Handmade Expo, where I will have my original art, keepsake boxes, jewellery and cards for sale, including some owl-inspired pieces.  Brand new to the market will be my wearable art rings, featuring prints of some of my most popular paintings.

I’ve still got a week to make new pendants and rings – are there any designs you’d just love to see on one of my jewellery pieces?  Let me know and I’ll make sure I have them there.

Hope to see you there – stop by and say hello!

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Saturday Selections – THS July Colour Challenge

I’m looking forward to creating an artwork for the Two Happy Stampers July colour challenge soon.  In the meantime, I thought this beautiful selection of colours would be a great inspiration for my Saturday Selections this week:

1.  In “Concord Crush”, this beautiful Handknit Scarf by Crickets Creations.  I just love the different textures and shades of purple in this gorgeous handmade scarf – the title says “fit for royalty” and it certainly looks it!

2.  For “Poppy Parade”, I’ve chosen these vibrant Red Chiffon Flower Hair Pins by Nomsa.  I love their simple elegance – what a wonderful finishing touch to your outfit!

3.  In “Very Vanilla”, we have this gorgeous looking Paradisi Body Butter by fellow Queenslander Rhasdala.  This creamy moisturiser is perfect for soothing dry skin, and features a blend of soft vanilla and refreshing grapefruit scent.  The Paradisi scent is one of Rasdala’s most popular, and is also available in soaps, bath salts, lip balms and many other body and beauty products.

4.  I love the warm, dark colour of “Early Espresso” – I think these Smoky Brown Quartz Wire Wrapped Earrings byAngelene (anothe QLDer!) capture the colour perfectly.  These two high-quality smoky quartz briolettes in a rich coffee colour have been spun with sterling silver wire to create this beautiful pair of earrings.

5.  This Pear Canvas All-Purpose Pleated Bag by Tippy Thai matches the “Pear Pizzazz” colour perfectly!  It is made from high quality canvas, and features an adjustable strap as well as plenty of compartments for all your essentials.

I hope you liked this week’s Saturday Selections.  Which is your favourite of the five colours above?  I can’t decide between “Concord Crush” and “Early Espresso”.

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Let it Snow!

We’ve had a few very chilly nights here in sunny Qld lately – certainly no snow though!  But, as I’m heading off to the Snowy Mountains for a skiing holiday soon I’ve got snow on the brain.  Especially as they haven’t had much snow yet this season.  Let’s hope these snowy handmade beauties from Etsy will send the right message out into the universe – let it SNOW!

Left to right and top to bottom:

1.  Snowflake etched stirling silver earrings by Jenna Appleton.  These are the perfect winter accessory!  I love the delicate snowlakes and the hexagon shaped stirling silver.

2.  Snow Crystals Bridal Necklace by the Beautiful Garden Boutique.  This necklace is so elegant and pretty!  It’s advertised as bridal jewellery, but I think it would also be stunning worn with an evening gown and a pair of matching earrings.  You could even use it to dress up more casual outfits – a very versatile piece!

3.  Hoop Framed Wall Hanging – Snow in the Forest by Caitlin Sainio.  Isn’t this pretty?  It features three hand crocheted snowflakes mounted on a forest green background.  And I love the title, “Snow in the Forest” – it conjures up all kinds of peaceful images of large flakes of snow falling on trees.

4. Snowy Queen Blue Icicle Mystic Quartz marquis CZ Earrings by Blue Tulip Designs.  I love the way these elegant earrings have just the slightest tinge of blue to them.  And they’re on sale at the moment, so how could you resist?

5.  Snow Queen Tattoo Tights by Tattoo Socks and More.  These are just the coolest thing ever!  I love this idea.  Make sure you check out the Tattoo Socks Etsy store, as there are lots of other cool designs like butterflies, swirls and peacock feathers.

6.  Snowy Tree Notepad by Jennifer Boston.  I fell in love with this stunningly pretty notepad featuring a tree being dusted by glittery snow before I even realised who had created it.  I get most of my supplies for pendant making from Jennifer’s supplies store, The Crafty Dragonfly.  So, I can personally vouch for the friendly, personal service, quick delivery and careful packaging which have made me keep visiting her store.

I hope these beautiful items have put you in a snowy kind of mood – even if you’re in a part of the world where it’s summer right now.  I’ll post up a pic of me in the snow when I get back from my holiday, and who knows, maybe I’ll come up with some of my own snow inspired art too!

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Satellite and Sage

This week’s topic over at Illustration Friday is Satellite.

I’ve combined this idea with a request I had for some owl paintings, and come up with this:

Satellite and Sage - Original watercolor painting by Kirsten Bailey
Satellite and Sage

The satellite is of course our moon, and the sage is my wise old owl.

I’m going to have a few more tries at some owl paintings, so stay tuned!

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Field of Hope

I think you’d be hard pressed these days to find someone whose life hasn’t been touched by cancer.  I myself have lost family members to cancer, which is one of the reasons why I’m honoured to be participating in a ‘Crop for Cancer’ scrapbooking day next Sunday.

I’m able to combine my love of art with my love of scrapbooking to help raise money for the Cancer Council, in the name of a dearly departed ‘Scrappin’ Sister’ who lost her battle with cancer more than a year ago.  Last year’s charity scrapbooking day raised $1093, and we’d like to top that this year.

To that end, I’m delighted to donate a painting which will be raffled off on the day.  I’ve titled it Field of Hope, and included the daffodils which are the symbol of the Cancer Council.  It’s my representation of hope for a cure.

Field of Hope - Original Watercolour painting by Kirsten Bailey
Field of Hope

If you would like to make a donation to the Cancer Council, you can do so via their website.