New Blog Address

This is the last post that will be placed on this blog. You can follow my new blog at the following link:

http://kathrynduncan.com/blog/

Thanks! Hope to see you there!

Moonwinks Cafe Exhibit

Welcome to my January 2014 AAWA (Ann Arbor Women Artists)

 Moonwinks Café exhibit in Dixboro, Michigan.

 

We're having a bit of snow this January.

 

But inside is nice and cozy.

 

 

 

 

 Stop by, have a bite to eat, and see the exhibit in person!

Creative Gift Bag Workshop at Whole Foods

Below are pictures from the class that I taught at Whole Foods on December 1st on Washtenaw Ave in Ann Arbor, MI.

As an Etsy Shop Owner, I partnered with MaryAnn Nisley, Whole Foods Marketing and Community Relations Specialist, to do this event. We had 8 participants in all; they signed up in advance. Their materials were provided, and the class was free. There were adults and children; the children had to be accompanied by an adult. We had an hour and a half class, and in retrospect, the project was a bit ambitious for the time allotted. But, everyone completed their watercolor paintings, and left with their "hand made" holiday gift bags. They were a fun group to work with, and they all enjoyed themselves.

We painted simple watercolor paintings with impressionistic backgrounds, and used liquid frisket to save the whites of our paper. I provided templates for my students to trace, if they wished. Most people used the templates, but not all. Then we glued the paintings onto bags to create our holiday gift bags. This is what the day looked like:



Gift bag examples



Hard at work - drawing.






Me - getting ready to do a watercolor background demonstration.



Mother and daughter with their gift bags!

Student drew her own picture - a rainbow design!



He had a wonderful time working on his gift bag.



Mom and sister's designs.

A double-sided gift bag. Side one design.



Side 2 design.





Event at Whole Foods Market - Holiday Gift Bags

Here's some examples of holiday gift bags I'll be teaching participants to make, using watercolors, at Whole Foods Market in Ann Arbor on Sunday 12/1 from 2pm to 3:30 pm.

 

Holiday Sale

My Etsy Shop is having a holiday sale. Use code Holiday01 and receive 10% off anything in the shop through December 15th.

Below are just a few of the items you'll find in my Etsy Shop.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/KathrynMDuncan

Flexible Coasters

Mousepad and Coaster Set

Flexible Coasters

Mousepad and Coaster Set

In Private Collection

I had an enjoyable time gallery sitting at the Brighton Art Guild's Kaleidoscope Exhibit and Holiday Gallery Gift Shop on Saturday, 11-16 . It was nice meeting some members of the guild and getting to know them. The show ended on 11-17, and everything was taken down.

One of my paintings, that was on exhibit, is now in the home of a "private collector". It's a painting of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird and purple and violet irises. The inspiration for this painting came from my garden, and my love of irises and hummingbirds alike.

"Wild Iris Nectar - 2012"

Watercolor on Paper

Matted to 14" x 11"



Paintings on Exhibit

These are some paintings I'm exhibiting in Brighton at the 2013 Kaleidoscope exhibit from November 7th through November 17th. It's going to be a wonderful show with some gorgeous artwork on display from many talented local artists.

"Poppy Garden"

Watercolor on Paper 

matted to 20" x 16"

"Glowing Once, Glowing Twice"

Watercolor on Paper

Matted to 11" x 14"

 

"Wild Iris Nectar"

Watercolor on Paper

Matted to 11" x 14"

Coming Right Up - Brighton Art Guild's Kaleidoscope Art Exhibit and Gallery Shop.

 

I'm participating in the Brighton Art Guild's 2013 Kaleidoscope Art Exhibit and Holiday Gift Shop featuring affordable artwork for sale. It is located at 9795 Village Place Blvd, Brighton, MI 48116. It is just a few doors down from Buffalo Wild Wings Restaurant.

Tonight I dropped off my paintings and gallery store items for "intake". Everything had to have an inventory tag on it. The show starts on November 7th at noon and ends on November 17th at noon. I'll be gallery sitting on Saturday, November 16th from 12 pm to 4 pm. Stop in and say hello!

This is day one of two of the annual Ypsilanti Craft Fair and Health Bazaar. Yes, that's me at my booth - an 8' table. I've learned to consolidate for craft fairs. I brought my greeting card display, framed prints, matted prints, mousepads, coaster sets, and mousepad/coaster desk sets. All of my items contain images from my original watercolor paintings on them.

It was a good fair; my items did well. The interaction with people that stopped by my booth was invaluable. It was great to hear people's reactions to my work. All in all, a good experience.

Just completed an AAWA Non-Juried Art Exhibit at Sweetwaters Café in Downtown Ann Arbor, MI. One of my watercolor paintings sold at that show.

Bluebirds in Flowering Dogwood Tree

by Kathryn Duncan

I've now got an exhibit up at Joe and Rosie's Café in Dexter, MI.

 

Ann Arbor Women Artists Annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Show

December 2012

Polo Fields in Ypsilanti, MI

 

The entrance is festively decorated for the holiday season!

Katherine Wilson's booth of lovely hand-made cards and journals. 

Colin Mehaffey's booth of unique hand-carved objects. I met Colin

at the Dixboro Fair; he was in the booth next to me.

My booth of cards, mousepads, coasters, and prints with images from my

original watercolor paintings.

 

People strolling around the fair.

Vickie Peterson Machalak's photography.

Getting ready for the fair!

 

 

Shopping for a gift, perhaps?

 

November Update

It's been a busy time for me this month and last with my involvement in arts and crafts fair preparations, Etsy Store maintenance, AAWA Program Chair responsibilities, and participation in Juried and non-juried exhibits. Not to mention that I had a temporary job as a "reader" for three weeks in November!

I participated in the Brighton Art Guild's Juried Art Exhibit called "2012 Art Harvest" and as an added benefit to being accepted into the show, I was also eligible to participate in their Holiday Art Gallery Sale for items costing $100 or under. Their Holiday Gallery Sale ran concurently with the Juried Art Exhibit for two weeks. I'm happy to say I'm glad I participated, because my items did very well. I even sold a small painting! All-in-all, it was a win-win!

"Mighty Wings"

16" x 20" matted, Watercolor on Paper

2012 Kathryn Duncan

Accepted into 2012 Art Harvest Exhibit

Violet Irises II

8" x 10" matted, Watercolor on Paper

2012 Kathryn Duncan

Sold at 2012 Art Harvest Holiday Gallery Store Sale

 

 

Now, I'm getting ready for this Saturday's Ann Arbor Women Artist's Holiday Arts and Crafts sale at the Washtenaw Polo Fields in Ypsilanti, MI. This is the last art fair for this year for me. I love the venue for this art fair! Last year it was beautifully decorated for the Christmas holidays, and I expect it will be the same for this year. Hopefully we'll have a lot of people attending this year!  

 

My Painting "Baby Blues"

Last month I sold my painting, "Baby Blues - Eastern Bluebird Family" to a lady that bought it as a present for a family member. It's home will be in Australia! You just never know where your artwork will end up! I love that painting, and hope it's new owner will too!

This is a family portrait of five fledgling bluebirds that have "fledged" the nest, but are still being fed by their parents. The parents also teach them to hunt bugs for themselves leading them to become independent. Bluebirds are in the same bird family as robins, and they don't eat seeds because their beaks aren't strong enough to crack them.  

Dixboro Fair 2012

Spent the day yesterday at the Dixboro Fair in my booth under the big tent. It was a very hot and humid day, although there was an occasional breeze! The fair was very well attended, even with the heat. It was a lot of fun, and a lot of work, of course. My husband helped me set up and taken down my booth. I saw many familiar faces of artisans and friends, and had a lot of laughs throughout the day.

Getting set up for the fair, prior to start time. 

Art Fair Coming up - Artisans on the Green - 2012 Dixboro Fair

Hello! I hope you are enjoying your summer! Can you believe it's July already?

I've been busy getting ready for a few upcoming Arts & Craft Fairs for this year. I'm going to be at the Dixboro Fair again this summer, on the first Saturday in August. 

Come and stop by my booth to see what's new for this year! At my booth you will see original watercolor paintings, a nice assortment of prints on fine art paper, greeting and note cards, mouse pads and mini-mouse pads (coasters) featuring vivid images from my nature watercolor paintings. My printed items make lovely office and home gifts for all occasions.

Want to see an advance preview of my show items? Click on the link to my Etsy shop:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/KathrynMDuncan

I hope to see you there!    

Artisans on the Green - 2012 Dixboro Fair

5221 Church Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Saturday, August 4, 2012
10am - 6pm
Kathryn Duncan, Booth #13, under the big tent

Picture taken at AAWA Holiday Art Fair 2011

About my newest floral paintings

Pink Roses and Bud - 16" x 12"

Watercolor on Paper

Yellow Moonbeams - 12" x 16"

Watercolor on Paper 

Poppycock - 16" x 12"

Watercolor on Paper

Field of Dreams - 16" x 12"

Watercolor on Paper

I've been working on several floral watercolor paintings so far this year. To me, flowers are  fascinating, challenging and my inspiration for these flower paintings comes from my flower garden.

When I was working on this rose painting, "Pink Roses and Bud" I wanted to achieve beautiful pastel pink and yellow roses, attractive shadows, along with a harmonious background. I wanted the leaf edges to be jagged in some places, and the leafs to form an interesting design.

With the yellow roses painting, Yellow Moonbeams", I was trying to achieve more dramatic lights and darks, interesting negative spaces, along with color harmony in the background.

 My first poppy painting, "Poppycock"  has a very simple background. The focus is mostly on the flowers, leaves, and buds.

 In my second poppy painting, "Field of Dreams" I was experimenting with negative painting in the background. The leaves have a floating, dreamy-like design to them. The green color has a beautiful light blue-green color peeking out from leaf to leaf. It's a little bit of a fantasy.