Kirsten Bailey: Art

My latest work is an acrylic on canvas, the first I’ve done since completing a commission last year.  It’s taken me a few weeks to finish, because I just didn’t want to let it go – I kept adding more and more detail.  I finally put the finishing touches on it today.  I’ve titled it “A Winter Memory”.

In other news, my painting “Persistent Illusion” has been featured on the blog Pardalote Flits.  You may remember I was paired up with Michelle from Pardalote in our most recent DUST swap.  Her hand-beaded jewellery is gorgeous and I’m honoured to be featured on her blog!
I’d love to hear some feedback on my latest painting

Tweet This Post

Those who know me, know blue is my favourite colour – it’s not difficult to tell when you walk into my house.  So when I received a message today saying that one of my pendants has been featured on a blog called ‘Ode to Blue‘, it made my morning!

If you’re a blue fan like me, go over and check it out, there are some lovely blue items there!

Tweet This Post

I just got an email from a customer I created some commissioned artwork for.  He contacted me a couple of months ago about a set of 4 paintings I’d done, titled “Moons of Jupiter”, which I had already sold.  I suggested I could paint something similar for him.  I was quite happy with how they turned out, and today he emailed me a picture of how they look framed together on the wall:

If your favourite painting is one that is already sold, let me know and I’ll paint something similar, just for you!

Tweet This Post

This week’s topic over at Monday Artday is “Castaway”.  A great topic for a Monday in my opinion – most Mondays I’d rather be cast away on a tropical island (preferably one that serves cocktails):

Tweet This Post

I came across a blog called Two Happy Stampers this week, and was impressed by the beautiful cards they make.

For the month of March, they have posted a colour challenge – to use the following four colours in a work of art or craft:

I found it a little difficult to get the colours right, but I hope they are pretty close.  This is the painting I came up with – I’m calling it “Embracing the Storm”:

I think the colour challenge is a great way to promote creativity, and I’ll definitely be back to participate in the next one, and in the meantime to check out the beautiful paper crafts at Two Happy Stampers.

Tweet This Post

As promised (OK, a little later than promised, but still!) here’s my step-by-step for the creation of my latest painting, “Brave”.

Step 1 - OK I probably didn't need to show you this - the blank page. I've started using watercolour blocks instead of pads or loose sheets, and they're great! You dont' have to tape them down at all.

Step 2: Using masking fluid, I masked off the edge of the paper and created three separate panels.

Step 3 - Colour washes for the background. Here I've done the first two. I tried to give a feeling of the day passing - using the colours of sunrise, midday and twilight.

Step 4: As I wanted to convey the idea of the same tree and bird changing over time, I wanted my tree to look the same in each panel. I usually paint my trees freeform, without sketching them first. This time, I sketched a tree in pencil first, and transferred it to the 3 panels so each would be the same.

Tweet This Post

It’s been a while since I’ve participated in Illustration Friday – I tend to wait until a topic really grabs me.

Last September I spent a lot of my holiday sitting outside in our patio, reading and drinking cups of tea.  It was so lovely and peaceful, that I often stopped reading and just sat and took in the scenery of my little garden.  In one of our trees, a baby bird was learning to fly.  It was amazing to just quietly sit and watch as he (or she?) spread his wings for the first time.

When I saw this week’s topic from Illustration Friday was “brave”, that little baby bird was the first thing I thought of, and was the inspiration for this painting:

I’ve posted a step-by-step about how I created this painting – check it out here.

Tweet This Post

It’s been a great weekend for me art-wise!

Yesterday I presented a talk and tutorial to the lovely ladies of the Springfield Lakes Art Group.  I demonstrated some of my watercolour techniques to them, and talked a little about my keepsake boxes and promoting art with Etsy.  I was really nervous but had a great time.

This is the painting I did as part of my demonstration:

Today I  finished and delivered the commissioned piece I was working on for a dear friend of mine.  It was very satisfying to see it finally hanging on the wall:

As one door closes, another opens they say – well, as I completed this commission, I received a new one – a customer wants a personalised painting similar to a painting I sold titled “When it is Dark Enough”.  I look forward to the challenge of creating a piece she’ll enjoy!

I finished two other watercolours this weekend too, titled Poppy Field and Winter’s End.  I also started work on two acrylic paintings which I hope to include in the upcoming Abundance exhibition.

I got a print done of my Sunset Storm painting for a customer in the US, and at the same time did some 4″ x 6″ prints of various paintings to make into cards.  I also put in an order for some new business cards from Moo.

As you can see, I got a LOT done this weekend – I didn’t get any housework at all done besides cooking dinner tonight, so I owe it all to my wonderful husband that I got so much arty stuff done

Tweet This Post

I’ve always been a summer kind of girl.  I love the feeling in the air as things start to get warmer.  I love that I can wear lots of different clothes and not have to cover them all up with a jacket.  I love being able to do things like go swimming.

Of course there’s a few things I don’t love about summer – the temperature my classroom reaches on a really hot day.  The nights spent awake because it’s too hot to sleep.  But over all, I’m a summer girl and it’s with a twinge of sadness I say goodbye to our Australian summer for another year.

So this Saturday Selections is featuring my favourite summer products from fellow Aussie Etsyians!

Now I know a scarf is not the first thing you think of when you think of summer – but this one by Rainbow Revolution is so lightweight and floaty, it would be perfect for draping around your shoulders on a sunny day by the pool.  When the weather turns cooler, you could wear it as a scarf and add a little summer sun to a winter day!

What better to pair such a bright and beautiful scarf with than these gorgeous “Summer Sun” earrings by Pardalote?  The beautiful silver, burnt orange and amber hues will chase away the clouds on the coldest of winter days.

This gorgeous necklace by beadsme is called “The Sunshine Coast”, and I could certainly see myself wearing it at the coast.  The silver swirls remind me of the water and the stones are like the warm sun in the morning.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my tribute to the last days of summer!

This afternoon I’m off to do a talk for the Springfield Lakes Art group so I hope to have a blog post up about that very soon.

Tweet This Post

This month I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of the DUST team‘s swap.

Basically what happens is that any team member who’s interested adds their name to a list.  Everyone is paired up with someone else, who you contact, have a chat with about their likes and dislikes, and send them an item or two from your shop.

I was thrilled to be paired up with Michelle from Pardalote – and boy did she spoil me!

I love her French Wire Beaded earrings, and so when I opened my package to see these I was very excited:

They’re the perfect colour to match a new dress I bought last month that I haven’t had a chance to wear yet.  Maybe I’ll wear it to the Abundance exhibition‘s opening night?

I didn’t only get one pair of beautiful earrings, but TWO!  These light blue earrings are elegant and pretty, and just my style.  I’m no expert at photography, and I don’t think this photo really does them justice – they are just beautiful:

As well as two pairs of earrings, I also got a pretty bracelet (I told you I was spoilt)!

I love braclets but I usually get annoyed with them after not very long because it’s so hard to do anything when wearing one, and I can’t wear them to work because I’m always writing and they get in the way.
This beautiful bracelet is so dainty even I could wear it without being annoyed by it.  And it’s so pretty!

I had so much fun particpating in this swap – I’ll definitely be signing up for the next one!

Tweet This Post