New Cactus Painting

Today I finished a cactus painting I started at the beginning of this month. It always feels good to complete a piece and to start a new one. It's the in-between that has so many ups and downs, little hurrahs and doubts, accomplishments and frustrations . .  .well, you get the picture!

"Sunwashed Cactus" is done on Arches 300 lb. cold press watercolor paper.

"Sunwashed Cactus", watercolor, 19"x27"       Kathleen Ballard

Here are some earlier works that are related:

"Cactus Pears", watercolor, 15"x28"  Kathleen Ballard

"Cactus Apples", watercolor, 17"x17"

"Flowering Cactus", Watercolor, 17"x17"

"Farmers Market Proteas"

My watercolor "Farmers Market Proteas" is currently being exhibited in the National Watercolor Society Annual Member Exhibition and has won the "Keith Crown Award" which is one of the past president's awards. I am so honored to be accepted!

"Farmers Market Proteas", watercolor, 20"x28" Kathleen Ballard

New painting of Archie

Yesterday I finished a new watercolor of our cat, Archie. Paintings of animals are not my usual subject matter but I really had fun doing it!

First I did a "sketch" watercolor of a section of the painting to see what obstacles I might incur especially painting fuzzy, soft fur. I'm so glad I did the preliminary sketch because I ended up not being happy with the results. I decided to try and take a departure from my usual painting style which is somewhat tight to a looser approach and am happy with the results!

Archie loves to lounge and sleep on his back with all four paws in the air! He looks so relaxed and cute I can't help but to give him a few pets! That's when the purring begins!

"Purring", 17 1/2"x17 1/2" watercolor on cold press paper
Kathleen Ballard

New Painting in Cellophane Series

Yesterday I finished a small watercolor in my Cellophane Series which consists of depictions of candy wrappers. "Candy Wrappers" is 10"x14" and painted on Fabriano Artistico 140 lb. cold press paper.

"Candy Wrappers", watercolor         Kathleen Ballard

My Floral Paintings video

florals

My Water Paintings video

water

Recent Artist Documentaries

I love documentaries, especially about art and artists. Recently I've seen two that are interesting.

"Cutie and the Boxer" is the story about New York artists Ushio Shinohara and his wife, Noriko. This 2013 documentary shows their relationship in their 40 year marriage as Husband and Wife and Artists. Ushio is famous for being a "Boxing" painter and Noriko for her "Cutie" illustrations. To view the trailer, click here.

"Cutie and the Boxer" 2013 documentary

"Ai Weiwei, Never Sorry", the 2012 film about China's most famous international artist and dissident, Ai Weiwei. To view the trailer, click here.

"Ai Weiwei, Never Sorry", 2012 documentary

These two documentary "portraits" are interesting and worth seeing.