Tag: artist

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Heart Felt at :the mezzanine: @ Entangle – Living Art

The Heart Felt exhibition at :the mezzanine:, Entangle – Living Art, is happening in just under a week and I’m starting to get nervous excited!

Heart Felt Exhibition at the mezzanine, Entangle - Living Art, Dayboro

This is the first time I’ve been involved in an exhibition since before my daughter was born, and I think the theme fits perfectly with my painting style.  Many of my paintings, especially my ‘family tree portraits’, feature hearts and convey feelings of belonging, love and connectedness.  

Hope Within - Original watercolour painting by Kirsten Bailey
“Hope Within”

I really enjoy being involved in exhibitions.  Not only do they give me an opportunity to showcase my work, but they also allow me to see the work of others.  My husband is staying home with the kids on Friday night for the opening, so this exhibition will also an opportunity for a kid-free night out!

If you enjoy my work, I really hope you’ll take this opportunity to come and see it in person.  I do my best to scan or photograph artwork carefully, but seeing it in person really brings it to life.  There are also 6 other artists showcasing their work, and from what I’ve seen of their work so far, I’m extremely honoured (and maybe a little intimidated!) to be showing my work alongside theirs.

“Heart Felt” opens at 6pm on Friday 4th August at :the mezzanine: @ Entangle – Living Art, 38 Williams St, Dayboro.  The exhibition runs through until August 27.  

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Abstract watercolours

I love painting in watercolours – it’s definitely my favourite medium.  My watercolours are a bit unusual compared to many I’ve seen, as many of them are abstract or naive in style.  I love making abstract watercolours because it gives me a chance to let the paint have a ‘mind of its own’.

Many of my favourite abstract watercolours are inspired by science, like my ‘Moons of Jupiter’ series:

“Moons of Jupiter – Callisto”
“Moons of Jupiter – Europa”

Some more ‘space’ inspired works:

“Imagination Encircling”
“Persistent Illusion”
Red Planet - abstract watercolour painting of Mars by KL Bailey Art
“Red Planet”

From the very big to the very small – some of my other abstract watercolours are inspired by microscopic images:

"Filtered" red and blue abstract watercolour painting by kirsten bailey
“Filtered”
"Needle" - original abstract watercolour painting by kirsten bailey
“Needle”

But I think my favourite overall is this one – it’s only a tiny painting, but it has a lot of detail:

Subterranean - original abstract watercolour painting by Kirsten Bailey
“Subterranean”
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Little details

I’ve been enjoying doing some paintings with lots of little details lately.  The first is one I started a LONG time ago, but only finished recently, entitled ‘Growth’.  This painting includes lots of little details, including some embroidered elements, which is a first for me.

Growth by KL Bailey Art
‘Growth’ – original watercolour painting by KL Bailey Art

 

The next two paintings were both inspired by ocean waves.  One was done primarily with watercolours, with some ink drawing done afterwards.  The other was inspired by zentangles, and I did the patterened sections with a sharpie first before adding the colour with watercolours later.

Blue watercolour ocean painting by KL Bailey Art
‘Beneath the waves’ – original watercolour painting by KL Bailey Art
'In the Deep' - watercolour painting blue with black and white details
‘In the Deep’ – original watercolour painting by KL Bailey Art

 

I’m not sure which one I like best yet, but I’m leaning towards the last one – what are your thoughts?

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Don’t Forget to be Awesome

So I haven’t posted here in a while, for a lot of reasons – I haven’t had much time for creating since I had my kids, and I’ve had even less time for the more tedious aspect to having an art business: promotion.  I’ve completed a few paintings since I last posted, but just didn’t get around to putting them up here.  I’m also hoping for a long-overdue overhaul of this website, but I’ve decided not to wait until that’s done before I start getting organised again.

My latest painting is called DFTBA, and I think it’s very fitting that this is the beginning of my creative revival.  I hope you like it!

Don't forget to be awesome - space painting by KL Bailey Art
Don’t forget to be awesome
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Yesterday’s Market

I was very grateful yesterday when the overcast sky managed to hold back the rain for The Handmade Expo.

It was a quiet market for me this month, but I really enjoyed meeting the new people who came along to have a look at my little stall, and of course enjoyed seeing my regular visitors.  Many thanks to all of you who stopped by and said hello!

I won’t be at the next Handmade Expo in October, but I’ll be there in November and December – perfect timing for those wanting to grab some Christmas presents!

Me with my newest painting at The Handmade Expo

I’m now enjoying a break from my day job (school holidays!) so I intend to get lots of painting done!  I’m working on a couple of commissioned paintings, so I’ll keep you up to date with the progress of them.

P.S. I’m wearing my brand new Kellie Christie necklace in this pic – I can never resist going and spending my profits at other people’s stalls when I’m at The Handmade Expo (even on days like yesterday when the profits are non-existent)!

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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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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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The Handmade Expo

Kirsten Bailey at the Handmade Expo
Me with my keepsake boxes, pendants and cards

Yesterday I spent my morning at The Handmade Expo, at the Ipswich Turf Club.

After a bit of a shaky start (I am prone to stressing out at the best of times, and a mix-up over where to set up had me freaking out just a bit) – I had a great day!

It was definitely a better venue to sell than the Suitcase Rummage was – people were expecting higher quality items.  I sold quite a lot of pendants, some cards and a couple of keepsake boxes.

Keepsake boxes, pendants and cards by KL Bailey Art at the Handmade Expo
Keepsake boxes, pendants and cards

The best thing about the Handmade Expo was all the lovely people I met.  I really enjoyed being able to meet the people buying my work and hearing their comments.  It also gave me a good idea of which styles were popular.  One lovely lady who purchased two of my paintings at The Coffee Club Springfield popped in to meet me, which was wonderful.  A huge thank you to all those who stopped by and said hello 🙂

Original art by Kirsten Bailey at the Handmade Expo
Original Artwork

The Handmade Expo is held every month at the Ipswich Turf Club.  While I won’t be able to make the May market (I will be participating in Padua College’s Artscape Exhibition), I will be at the June Market on Saturday 26th June.  I’m hoping to make it a regular event!

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Two Happy Stampers April Colour Challenge – Take Two

I recently wrote about participating in this month’s colour challenge at Two Happy Stampers, which involves creating something using the following colours:

I wanted to have another go at creating a painting using these colours, and this is what I came up with:

Early Spring - Original watercolor painting by Brisbane Artist Kirsten Bailey

It reminds me of the shrubs they have around my school which drop white flowers in a carpet all over the ground.  The branch of the tree is actually painted in navy watercolour paint although it looks pretty close to black.

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Media Mention

Well, sort of.  You may remember I donated one of my paintings, a watercolour entitled “Reach” to the Young Variety Heart Art Show.  While I wasn’t able to attend on the night, I was pleased to be able to support the charity with my donation.

Yesterday, a friend of mine mentioned she had seen a painting that looked very much like one of mine in the free newspaper given out on trains, MX.  She gave me a copy, and Lo and Behold, it was my painting:

Young Variety Heart Art Show news article from MX newspaper

I’m not mentioned by name, but that is definitely my painting “Reach”.  Even though it’s only a free newspaper, I was thrilled to see my painting there!  I’m also really happy that my style is distinctive enough for someone to be able to tell it’s one of my paintings even though my name isn’t on it.