Sunday June 24th!

Kelly's Love Seat

Ellen's Chair

 

Janet's Chair

Kat's Sullen Goat

These are from my homework assignment last week, to draw a chair!  I was delighted, first of all that people took me seriously and DID their homework, and what they discovered as they drew their sketches as well!

Ellen's version of Truffles

Karen's yellow-bellied bird

Sara's Yellowtails

Georgiana's Pup

Kelly's Sunglasses

And then we have the in-class assignment, which was to paint using one color per brushstroke.  This means you have to mix a slightly different color every time, even if what you are painting is similar in color~  I love it because it makes me really think about where I want to put my paint strokes, and I really look at the color as well.  This is another one of Carol Marine's hints!

Tuesday June 19th

Hi there!
Yes I realize it isn't sunday-  we were in Lanesboro for the art festival and here is a little pug I happened to be lucky enough to photograph!
Just getting geared up for the 30 DOgs in 30 DAYS!!!

Send in your images SOON!  It is filling up FAST!

Thursday June 14

We had a great class last night, though I did get home too late to post-  I thought I'd be okay with having class go til 9pm because it seems like we only just are getting into it!  But then I had a wonderful 20th Anniversary party to drop by and though I only stayed for 45 minutes, I was still pooped...  but very happy to be a member of this particular arts-saturated community in this city at this time on this planet!

SO here is my painting demo from last night- a tape measure-  I'm sure some of you could tell, right?
And some student work~  yay!

And a dog to keep you going til July!
Check here for more info about the 30 Dogs in 30 Days project!  And e-mail me if you want in!  katjojo@hotmail.com

Sunday June10th!

Okay folks!  It is again time for the 30 Dogs in 30 Days Project for this July!  I've started a webpage here that explains the project in more detail, but the basic idea is that I will be committing to painting one (or maybe more) dog a day for the entire month of July, and I will post that painting on that day!  The thing I love about this project is that YOU are helping me be responsible for my growth as an artist!  I gain experience and practice and you get to cheer me on and watch the dogs commence!  I know I'm using a lot of exclamation marks but that's because I am excited!
SO
Send me your dog images, and I will look through and select a dog for every day in July-  If you want to commission your painting, then I will include it for sure!  You don't have to commission one, but the ones that are will be included.  Your size choices for commissions are 8x8 ($130), 10x10 ($200) or 12x12 ($285).  Any pieces not commissioned will be painted 8x8, and will be up for auction on my Daily Paintworks Site, and will be delivered to the new owners after August 30th.

I will post the OFFICIAL LIST of Dogs and Days by the end of June, so all images MUST be received by June 29th!
In the meantime, I have NEW WORK at Crema Cafe on Lyndale and 34th Ave in Uptown, a pile of Bingos at the Lasalle Plaza Dunn Bros.  I will be hanging new work at Rye within the next two weeks (goats and pigs!) and will also have a show in August at the Egg and I.  We'll have a breakfast Opening for that one!

Whew!  Okay, that's a LOT going on!

Wednesday June 6, 2012

Tonight was my first night of my second ever adult painting class!  And it went beautifully, despite the odd air-compresser thumping noises coming from next door which required me to speak really loudly and to adjust the night's lesson to include more painting demo than I'd planned-  about halfway through class our neighbor came in to explain the noise and to say he usually comes in on the weekend and that he hopes this scheduling conflict won't happen again.  Very gracious!  And what he was doing was refining grease for use in those cars that run on grease... sorry, can't think of the word.  I'm a little tired...
So here is my unfinished demo painting for the evening, and a selection of work from our class!  I did not include names but if you want to let people know it is yours, you can comment on this post!  And I know I need to take another photo of the yellow mug...

 It is amazing how looking at your work small can help you see the composition and how it truly looks without fussing with the details...

Thursday May 31, 2012

I do apologize for missing this Sunday and this Wednesday...  life has been beautiful and hectic!  And I admit I've let a few things slide...  Once I get through the next two weeks things should start riding along and forming a more regular rhythm.  I hope.
So here is a sweet little "white haired dog"  I painted for a trade with a colleague-  I'm hoping the recipient actually owns a Westie and not a Lhasa or some other form of fluffy white dog....

I also start my June session of painting lessons next wed in my studio! I may be able to offer some in August-  we'll see.
And I will be looking for DOGS for this year's "30 Dogs in 30 Days" so if you have any photos or are interested, let me know!  Sizes will be limited to 8x8, 10x10 and 12x12!
xokat!

May 20th!

What a great weekend!  Max and I went to Art-A-Whirl yesterday and I bought a great piece from Joel Sisson that is now gracing the back of our house!  I LOVE it!

"Share, You Say?"

Winged Heart

And this is a lovely dog, from the Grand Marais Art Colony~  I'll have to get Kyrstn to tell me his name again as I've forgotten~

I had incredibly positive reviews here at my current position, and one thing my principal asked me was when do I feel overwhelmed?  She and my supervisor were commenting on how calmly and smoothly I had integrated into a new work environment~  and I'll tell ya, it has been fantastic!  But TONIGHT I AM feeling overwhelmed!  I agreed to do a presentation for a colleague's multi-cultural club  of our trips to Hebden Bridge and various places in England and it is scheduled for tomorrow, and I am feeling a little unprepared~  though I am sure I will have more than enough material.  I just haven't had time to go over it all!  Ack~
And I have to also say that the painting class is FULL for June and I will be sending more info out to the participants by Friday, hopefully tomorrow afternoon!

And here are some of those goats I promised you!  There are more but I still haven't gotten good pics~
BUSY over here!  Hope you are well!

Monday May 14th!

I meant to post some of these yesterday evening, but the day got away from us~  We were up in Grand Marais since last Thursday, painting at the Art Colony.  Max and Duane and mom and Jill and I stayed at the lovely Gibbs' cottage again, and I painted more pigs and goats~  and some Bingos too~  and Duane and Max headed back on Saturday so they could be in the rescheduled Mayday Parade yesterday, which was an exhausting and exhilarating day for the two of them!  I was sent a couple photos throughout the day so I felt a bit like I was there.... Max was amazing, and totally wiped out by the time I got to see him at 7pm~
Anyway, here are the pigs~  they are larger versions of the one I donated to Art4Shelter~

March 9, Wednesday

Yet another goat situation for your perusal~  there is something I seriously love about that angle of the back leg on just about any mammal.....  And I am happy about how this image came out, compositionally and emotionally....

They were at the MN Zoo Spring Babies Opening at the Farm.  We took Max for his 3rd birthday....

And tonight was the Art4Shelter Fundraiser at the Chambers Hotel, and I donated a number of pieces that seemed to disappear before my eyes.  I was told by the lady behind me in line that this one caused a fisticuffs.....

I may paint another version this weekend up in Grand Marais.... it's my yearly painting pilgrimage....

Oh and I am teaching another painting class in June.   Wed nights, 6:30-9,  let me know if you are interested~
Yay!

Sunday May 6th!

So there was no Mayday Parade today, because of the soaking we received last night.  The park was so saturated we weren't allowed on the grass unless the theater was willing to cover damages...
Thank you those of you who stopped by HandmadeMN yesterday!  It was a bit thinner than usual, maybe because of the weather, but I had a great time painting and chatting-  I seem to be interested in goats...

Sunday March 29

Just trying to stay up late enough to watch "Doc Martin" on TPT...  I painted Gus in a typical Gus pose.  And it just always tickles me how noble he can look, despite being such a silly dog.  Bingo was the same way-  elegant and goofy as all get out.

Thursday April 26th

Right?  It is april 26th?  Dang!  I'm just enjoying life WAY too much lately!  Can't believe it's almost JUNE.  Well, yes I know we still have May but the way I'm going it will be a blink and it's gone anyway so I might as well get a month of whining about the arrival of June.
The "30 Cats in 30 Days" Opening Celebration is TOMORROW NIGHT at Diamond's!  6-8pm!  Come on out and watch me fumble wine and drop dollar bills as I attempt to make change!  Come see the cats if you haven't yet!
And come meet the other cat lovers you didn't know before!  That's the thing about cat people-  they aren't outside walking their cats as much as dog owners and so don't have that socializing opportunity...  and I suppose that could be because they aren't as social a being as a dog owner...
And this painting was done this evening-  not sure it is finished-  I like the sky~
From my car driving to work, taken on my i-phone...

Sunday April 22, 2012 Earth Day!

We walked down to Lake Hiawatha this morning, Max carrying an umbrella and rolling it along the ground until we gave him a stick instead so he could really push it into the dirt without worrying me that the brolly would break.  I don't know if you have a favorite umbrella, but this one was given to us as a wedding present by a beautiful, inspiring, wonderfully creative couple we know who also have a single child and I am rather fond of it.  It is red, with a clear handle with liquid and a small red heart floating about...
Since it was Earth Day and Duane and our neighbor Mark canoed around the lake yesterday snagging trash for a couple hours, I thought I'd pick up what I could along the shoreline while the boys goofed on the beach.  Straws, cigarette butts, and plastic water bottle caps were what I found the most.  My search had to be abandoned when Max in his rubber boots went out too far and tripped over a soggy log he was attempting to kick.  We removed the drenched pants and socks and dumped the lake out of his boots, then wrapped him in my scarf and his blankie and Duane's vest and headed home.
That has nothing to do with these paintings.

South Mpls April

Marshall Ave, Spring

I will be finishing "Marshall Ave" tomorrow night, hopefully, and intend to hang these at Crema on Tuesday morning.
Oh, and I had a two-award evening last Friday!  Mom went with me to the Northern Lights Juried Exhibition at Century College and I received an Award of Excellence (with a lovely cash prize!) for "Of COURSE I Love You" and at the WARM Juried Members Show I was given an Honorable Mention for "Park Ave, November"~

Of COURSE I Love You!

Yay!

Friday, March 13

FINALLY, you say, SHE PUBLISHED ANOTHER BOOK!!!! Yay!
Yup, here is the widget for the newest "30 Cats in 30 Days" Book!  This one holds all the cats from LAST year as well as this year!  So if you had a cat in the project last year, take a look!  He or she will be here! 
You can order yours on-line now!  I've ordered some already and will have them at the Celebration at Diamond's on April 27th so you can buy one from me there if you like, or go for it!

I am really excited about this!  And I worked REALLY hard on it~ 



So~   let me know what you think!

30 Cats in 30 Days March 2011 & 2012 by Kat Corrigan | Make Your Own Book

Thursday, March 12

Hi everyone!  I've been taking a little bit of a mental break~  It has been tough at times with Bingo gone and I've had a bit of difficulty painting as a result.  I know, sure, you say.  Slacker~
Well, so here are those palm trees I was talking about.

They are all actually the same tree.  I just wanted to really get it right.  I think the smallest one may be my favorite-  what do you think?

March 7, Saturday

I feel a little bad for not posting sooner.  I have some great palm tree paintings from Florida I meant to post last sunday, Palm Sunday, but wow.  Somedays I have no choice but to slow down.

I've been slow the last few days.  Bingo died on Thursday afternoon.  I've made a webpage of most of the paintings I've painted of him.  He was a huge muse for me, and a huge support of my art and life and joy, and very good at making me take a walk when I needed to go make some space in my brain by occupying my body.  It was a terrible surprise, to find him unable to move anything but his head and the choice was quickly made to help him through to the other side.  Man.  More paintings will be forthcoming.

And I had just painted these this week for the Deviant Dogs: Dispelling the Myths fundraiser at Northrup King.  I have a number of NEW dogs at the "Deviant Dogs: Dispelling the Myth" Show at the Northrup King Building (1500 Jackson St NE Mpls, 55413), Gallery 332 on the 3rd floor.  It opens  April 5th 5-9pm for 1st Thursday, and has an Opening Party on Saturday April 14th 3-9pm.  I will be there on the 14th from 7-ish to 9.
Come see me and buy one!

 

March 31, Sat

Whew!  This is the last cat.  Ting.  Sounds like another pretty incredible animal, polydactyl like my own beloved Jeebo~  I tried to get her feet in there...

"Ting was a wonderful girl. Even people who weren't huge cat fans loved Ting. She was so polite, petite, happy, goofy, friendly. I got her as a kitten when I was in high school. She was with me through many life shifts - even becoming quite the traveler when my husband joined the Navy. Even though she grew up with me she truly belonged to my husband. We had her until she was 19 years old and she stayed so sweet her whole life, even near the end when she was sick. We miss her every day- especially her vocalizations (she was half Siamese) and her beautiful blue eyes!"

 I will be posting more info about the show at Diamond's~  at this point, I am intending to hang the show next Friday, April 6th, and it will be up until May 20th at 1618 Central Avenue Northeast  Minneapolis, MN 55413, and I am planning on an Opening/Celebration on Friday April 27th from 6-8~  We will get your paintings to you on or after May 20th!

Thank you SO much for following this month!  I will be returning to my bi-weekly painting posts until the "30 Dogs in 30 Days" of July!  Keep that in mind if you or anyone you know is interested in getting their sweet lil' ol' mutt in on that one!

Kat!

March 30, Friday!

I actually have one more painting tomorrow!  Couldn't stop rolling once I got started!  Do take a minute to check out all the cats here on my webpage~  some of them have been re-done!

And here is a "Three-For-Friday"!  I am someone who appreciates challenges (thought sometimes I imagine my ever-loving husband would prefer I spend more time with him than with my paintbrushes...)  and so I agreed to do three cats today, and these are NICK and NORA and NELL!

"Nick, Nora, and Nell are my Three Musketeers. They came into my life along with three other kittens, all very sick and in need of a foster home. I cared for all six kittens for many weeks and nearly lost Nora and Nell. They all survived: two went to my friend Ann and one went to my friends the Clarks, and I kept N, N, and N! (Nellie would have been put down by the shelter if I hadn’t kept her, because she was a weak, sickly runt).   Nick and Nora are named after Nick and Nora Charles of "Thin Man" fame, and Nellie is simply Nellie (or Nell or Nelly Belly).  Nick’s my ‘big panther”– big, black, and sleek – and a real mama’s boy.  Nora is sweet as pie and a bit wobbly due to cerebellar hypolasia.  She walks, runs, and wrestles as best she can – she doesn’t know she has any limitations! Nell had severe vestibular disease as a kitten and has a permanent head tilt to the left, so she always looks inquisitive.  Despite being the sickliest one, she grew to be a star acrobat and athlete. They are all such dears, I could keep writing, but I’ll stop now!"

I am so glad to know so many people who rescue animals!  And did I mention that a percentage of all profits is going to Caring for Cats?  It is a No-Kill Cat Rescue Shelter in St Paul~
Thank you all!

March 29th, Thursday

Sometimes I feel like Thursday is when I get things done.  Usually it's Tuesday.  I read somewhere once that Tuesday is the day most work gets done because Monday is when people are recovering from the weekend, Wednesday is hump day and people are just suffering through, Thursday is so close to the weekend you're already sluffing off, and Friday, well forget about it baby!  It's the WEEKEND!
This is Alice.  I greatly enjoyed painting her too, though I was a tad worried about having her eyes closed, but I think it feels a really peaceful piece...

Here's what Alice's loving owner says about her~
"About Alice— she was abandoned in a section 8 house and was pregnant with 5 kitties.  Animal rescue eventually found her and a foster family was secured for her. She delivered 5 babies but only 4 of them lived…….4 girls and they all looked like her…..white with black splotches. When I went to the foster place, I thought I was going to walk away with a kitten but I decided to go with Alice instead. She was so engaging!

I think her time in the lonely house made her really crafty about things b/c there’s nothing……I mean NOTHING…….that gets past her. She can be in the opposite corner of my place and if I rustle a piece of paper, there she is.  She’s a real sweetie, though, despite her auspicious start to life.

When I brought her home, she hid in the back part of the closet for 3 days but I knew her curiosity would take over eventually.  Gradually, I’d see sightings of her until, eventually, I’d see her laying on the side of one dog or on the head of the other one.  I’m now down to one dog and Alice…..and they’re best of friends. They’re really sweet."