Tako Kichi

"Tako Kichi: Kite Crazy in Japan" is on exhibit at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, NM till March 23rd, 2014.

I read about this exhibition in this past Sunday's Los Angeles Times in the Arts and Books section, "Art, on the fly". There are over 200 kites from an inch to 12 feet in size, most dating 1960 to present and handmade using traditional, natural materials.

Japanese kite, circa 1925 insect design.

I always loved Japanese kites and even have a small, simple collection I've purchased over the years from kite shops and gift stores. This exhibit would be so much fun to see!

Koi watercolor on Twinrocker paper

I finished the painting on the Twinrocker watercolor paper that I had purchased from Daniel Smith. This paper is 14"x17 1/4" with four natural deckle edges and is cold press on one side and hot press on the other. "Koi in Aqua Water" is done on the hot press side (I had started it on the cold press side and was unhappy with it so restarted it on the other side). I must say that the hot press side is a bit soft so care must be taken if you choose to use a masking fluid but I still like it.

"Koi in Aqua Water", 14"x17 1/4", watercolor   Kathleen Ballard

This handmade paper is not perfectly straight on all sides (some of it may be due partly to my photograph) which I think is lovely.

Twinrocker Handmade Paper

A couple of weeks ago I ordered a few sheets of Twinrocker handmade watercolor paper from Daniel Smith and really liked it. Later on, I decided to check out Twinrocker Handmade Paper's site and discovered that they offer paper samples. I ordered a packet of 8"x10" watercolor paper assortment which included a sheet each of hot press, cold press and rough papers, each handmade one at a time with four deckle edges and their watermark.

This watercolor paper is made from 100% new cotton, is archival and acid free as well as being tub sized with gelatine allowing the paint to stay on the surface of the paper clear and bright.

I just received my sample in the mail which only cost ten dollars including shipping from the company in Brookston, Indiana. Also included is a descriptive page, watercolor paper price list, description page with codes, weight and thicknesses, and a certificate for a 25% discount on an order of WC paper.

This watercolor paper is beautiful and a pleasure to paint on. What is your favorite paper and surface?

Twinrocker Handmade Watercolor Paper sample packet

Twinrocker WC papers, hot press, cold press and rough

Saturday in the Park with the Masters

The "Ninth Annual Saturday in the Park with the Masters" was so much fun and inspiring! It was held at the beautiful campus of the Maranatha High School in Pasadena. The weather was beautiful and there were fifteen artists demonstrating their unique painting styles portraying the landscape or painting one of the models posing there.

One of many beautiful views of the Maranatha High School campus

Maranatha High School campus, another beautiful view

Brenda Swenson's watercolor

Chris Van Winkle working on his watercolor

Chuck Kovacic painting model in oils

Debra Holladay painting model's portrait in oils

Artists gathered around pond painting

Frank Eber painting in watercolor

JoAnn Formia discussing her watercolor painting

Jose De Juan painting model in oils

Joseph Stoddard painting in watercolor

Nancy Shiershke painting in watercolor

Nancy Shiershke's oil painting

Pete Morris painting watercolor of model

Tom Fong and his watercolor

Al Setton joking with Tom Fong

Al Setton painting from model with acrylics

2013 Peeps Challenge

I was invited by four artist friends to participate in the "Peeps Challenge" this year. There are five of us each painting five versions of the beloved Easter candy, Peeps. What fun!

(shown in alphabetical order by artist):

"Happy Hour Peeps", watercolor     Kathleen Ballard

Kathleen Ballard

"Happy Hour Peeps", watercolor on Arches hot press paper, 10"x10".

"I never knew that little Peeps had a dark secret. They are usually seen this time of year hanging out in Easter baskets or lined up in their little boxes. Drinking is so unbecoming of them and they never uttered a peep about loving cocktails!"

"Little Bo Peeps", watercolor                   Chris Beck                

Chris Beck

"Little Bo Peeps", watercolor, 6"x6"

The lovely Little Bo Peep ceramic figurine in Chris' painting is surrounded by sugar free Peeps candies and two little ceramic Peeps salt shakers. Chris Beck's blog

"OTB", oil on canvas, 4"x12"

Jelaine Faunce

Jelaine's internet was been down so her painting was revealed late.
Jelaine Faunce's blog

"A Fistful of Peeps", oil   Geraud Staton

Geraud Staton

"A Fistfull of Peeps", oil 14"x11"

This painting is an inventive take-off on the "A Fistful of Dollars" movie poster with Clint Eastwood. I mean, Clint Peepwood! Geraud Station's Blog

"Equality Peeps", watercolor        Pablo Villicana

Pablo Villican a

"Equality Peeps", watercolor, 6"x6"

Pablo's painting represents the sign of the times and his passion for equality for all to honor his friends and family. Pablo Villicana's blog

The National Watercolor Society Traveling Exhibit

Hello Everyone!

The other day I received a nice email from a woman who attended the National Watercolor Society Traveling Exhibit, currently in Massachusetts, that she saw my painting, "Balboa Park Pond" and really enjoyed the exhibit. I thought I would share the schedule with you as it may be in or coming to your area.

February 23 to March 25, 2013
Cultural Center of Cape Cod
307 Old Main Street, South Yarmouth, MA 02664
www.cultural-center.org

April 2 to May 14, 2013
Southern Arts Society Inc.
301 N. Piedmont Ave, Kings Mountain. NC 28086
www.southernartssociety.org

June 4 to July 16, 2013
Lansing Art Gallery
119 N. Washington Square, Lansing, MI 48933
http://lansingartgallery.org/

July 30 to September 27, 2013
Grants Pass Museum of Art
229 Southwest G Street, Grants Pass, OR 97528
www.gpmuseum.com

October 14 to December 6, 2013
West Valley Art Museum
P.O. Box 6777, Peoria, AZ 85385
www.wvam.org

"Balboa Park Pond", watercolor        Kathleen Ballard

Valentine Challenge

I was invited to join three artists for my first Valentine Painting Challenge by Pablo Villicana Lara along with Jelaine Faunce and Geraud Staton. What an honor to join these three super talented painters for a fun run of incorporating Sweethearts candies in our paintings.

After much thought of coming up with ideas for this challenge, I considered painting an unwrapped chocolate foil heart against a background of scattered Sweethearts candies. Crumpled foil is a subject matter I love to do. Once I proceeded with photography of the little still life I set up and drew it on my watercolor paper, it was so involved I thought for sure I would miss the deadline and abandoned that idea.

I choose a glass, heart shaped bottle with a cork stopper filled with Sweethearts and proceeded with a high key watercolor of it.

It sure delighted and amazed me when I saw the finished challenge paintings by Pablo, Geraud, and Jelaine! Wow!

"Heart Full of Hearts", watercolor 10"x8",  Kathleen Ballard

"XO", watercolor 8"x10" watercolor,  Pablo Viillicana Lara

"Candy Love", 6"x6" Oil on Canvas,  Geraud Staton

"Playing with the Queen of Hearts", 6"x6" oil, Jelaine Faunce