Under the weather and a commission

So... where have I been lately? Well, my son and I have been really sick for the past week and a half. Chamomile tea and steam baths have filled our time lately. It's really a bummer to be sick. They only work you get done is mental checklists and inspirational thoughts because you don't have the energy to do anything physical. But... just before, a bit during, and some time after I was sick I've also been working on a commission piece. A client requested a focal point piece to adorn her freshly painted bedroom walls. She wanted it to compliment her new bed linens which were a beautiful flower print with rich colors of orange, yellow, green, white and charcoal. We communicated over several weeks to collaboratively create the perfect piece for her bedroom. Here is the piece. Disclaimer: This is a one-of-a-kind piece. There will be NO prints made of this painting.

I truly enjoyed working together with this client to create an abstract painting that would compliment her bedroom colors!

Oh, that's where it was going... or not??

So I've been working on my latest obsession piece. It's two canvases, circles and my current favorite color combo. Tell me what you think...

Still working. Still refining.

Obsessed With Circles (where is this going?!)

I really wanted to title this blog post "Obsessed with the color combination of yellow, green, teal, gray, and white (with hints of brown and red)" but for the obvious reason I didn't. I'm also obsessed with circles so I kept the title simple. My last several series have included this particular color combo (Moonlight and Fresh series for example). But what has also popped up quite often in my paintings are circles. So why not put the two together!

Where is this piece going? I'm not sure yet but I know I'm having a ball (pun intended) making gray and teal and white and green and yellow (with hints of brown and red) circles! And how long will these obsessions last? Well, until something else inspires me and poof!... the next obsession will dominate my canvas! Speaking of the color gray (or grey), has anyone else besides me been confused on how to spell the word that labels this popular color created by mixing black and white? Is it gray or grey? Well since I have to tag the colors that are used in my paintings, I wanted to make sure I was spelling it correctly. So I did my research. Turns out a lot of people have the same confusion (it came up endless times in Google search - see for yourself). And it turns out that the rules are not black and white on how to spell the color (pun intended again). Both spellings are "correct and common". However, "gray" is the most widely used spelling in the U.S. So I think I'll go with the common spelling. And I think I'll continue to create gray circles (until the next obsession of course)!!!

Out of my comfort zone

So I started three new 12X12's today. The first step I usually take is applying a layer of texture with either paint, a textured medium or gesso. The beginning layer of texture gives me a starting point to guide the lines of the painting. I also usually start with a thin layer of gold over the whole piece. This gives a brightness and shine from behind the painting. But today I began just painting with rich colors. It was out of my comfort zone, yet completely exhilarating. I was manic while painting. I soared through the three painting in almost a runner's high! I loved the way the simple texture of the canvas came through the painting. I also left the warm colors behind and went with bright yellows, whites, greens and blues. Please tell me what you think. I'm not sure if I'm done or not. They are simple and bright.

Sunday Morning Painting With Jackson (Pollock)

It's a gloomy, cloudy, lazy Sunday morning. What a perfect day to paint!

Jackson and I went to my favorite local art shop yesterday afternoon to buy canvases and paint. Jackson found a "Painting by Numbers" kit and decided he would create his own art with me. So we both got up this morning super excited to paint!

His picture started out as a turtle swimming in the ocean and ended up more like an abstract masterpiece! I'd say he takes after his Mom! My little Jackson Pollock!!

Fun Friday

I took a break from painting today and went on a play date with some of Jackson's best friends and 3 amazing Moms!! One of my best techniques when painting is the ability to put the brush or putty knife down and walk away from a painting. This allows for a fresh perspective and it always gives me the ability to see something either positive or negative that I didn't see before. I can't tell you how many times I've completely changed a painting after returning to it the next day. And some days I'll be fixated on some portion of a painting that I'm not happy with and fiddle with it for hours. When I walk away and return the next day I'll quickly swipe a couple globs of paint on that spot and fall in love with it again! Abstract painting is a fine balance of order and chaos, effort and idleness, inclusion and omission. It's as much about knowing what to add as it is knowing when to stop. It's also a very deep and personal experience... by both artist, curator and collector. We fall in love with pieces not only because of the color added to the canvas, but also because of the negative space that defines the painting. I chose today to walk away, to rest and revive. I will return tomorrow with recharged batteries ready to bring paint to canvas!!

Back by popular demand... Organic Elements Series

Does anyone even remember what the Organic Elements Series are? In the height of my painting career back in 2008, I sold many pieces of art called the Organic Elements Series. Simply, they are a series of organic, earthy, original paintings meant to be displayed together, or hung in groups of 2 or 3 or alone. These paintings are created in the spirit of raw, earthy elements, organic compositions and natural colors. The size of each painting is 12" X 12". They have deep gallery wrapped sides measuring 1 1/2" thick. A paint layering process is used in these paintings to create many layers and depths of texture. As part of the series, each are labeled with the roman numeral order of the series. You can buy them on Etsy separately or buy several together to make a grouping like the picture shown.

I have had many requests to bring the series back and so I'm excited to announce their return!!!

The most popular aspect of these earthy nuggets is the affordable price. Each 12X12 piece (with a deep gallery wrapped side) is only $70! They easily accent your home decor displayed singly on a small wall space or in multiples on a larger wall space. Stay tuned... Check back in my Etsy store for availability!

I'm baaaaaaack!!!

Wow! I'm wiping off the cobwebs. It's literally been four years since I blogged. You can see the date of the last post. What happened? Well I'll tell you... The birth of my son! "But he was born in 2008" you say? That's true, however, I started painting again when he turned a year old. That was a moment in time when Jackson was old enough to entertain himself a bit and I was still a stay at home Mom. That moment didn't last long though, and I was back to work and busing Jackson here and there to preschool and playdates and so on. And here we are in the summer of 2013 and I've decided to dive back into it. And so, the rebirth of my Etsy shop! It feels so good to be back. Painting is literally therapy for me. And my mind and body were craving that release. However at the time I didn't realize it. It all started when a coworker asked me to do a painting for her about a year ago. And I thought, "Do I even remember how to paint?" She bought the materials and I went to work. It was as if I never stopped painting. And it felt so good. Here is the piece I created for my friend:

But life and work got in the way and painting was a memory once again. Then, I needed a new focal point for my living room earlier this year. I pondered "Are my paints still useable? Maybe they're all dried out? My tools and supplies are all in my storage room." Turns out, many of my colors were, in fact, all dried out! But there was just enough to create a new piece for my living room. I dropped a cloth on Jackson's playroom floor, plopped a few paintbrushes and tubes of paint down, placed the three canvases on the cloth and began. The heavens opened up and the angels sang! Well, not really, but it felt that way. Pure bliss! Here's the piece I created:

It's amazing how things just come back to you! It's like riding a bike. But time and life aged my skill... and for the better. I discovered a new technique then and there. I have been painting steadily since the beginning of June and I'm discovering new techniques along the way. Texture is still my driving force - the constant that I always start with. Welcome back to my blog!

Recent Contemporary Abstract Art

Textures, rich colors, depth, simplicity... Affordable Contemporary Abstract wall art for your space....
www.chaanda.etsy.com

First Stage of Creating Textured Contemporary Abstract Art

In this blog I'm going to explain my first stage in creating my Abstract Art: Texture

One of my favorite characteristics of Abstract Art is texture. Texture is so important in my pieces. Texture, actually is THE most important element of my Abstract Art. It is essential for my art to have a 3-dimensional quality to it. I have tried just simply painting color on canvas, but I always return to the texture.

Texture can be created in so many different ways in Artwork. You can use the paint itself as a texturing element by painting on extra thick or use a pallet knife. You can mix in a texturing medium that mixes in with the paint. You can use other mixed-media items such as tissue paper or any material that will give the piece a 3-D effect.

The way that I usually start my pieces is by covering the canvas with old, clumpy, thick, expired gesso. That’s right... I have cans and cans of old gesso that have coagulated into this fabulous textured medium. I smear it and stipple it and cluster it over and over until it just feels and looks right to me. Sometimes it takes two minutes and I’m done, other times I’ll be there for an hour manipulating the medium on the canvas. In these pictures you can see the textured canvas after it has dried. The final picture is showing the texture after I started painting it. Click on the images to really get a zoomed in view.

Next week I'll talk about color!!

Recent Paintings

I've obviously been into Green lately

Textured Contemporary Abstract Art: the Journey of Creation

Well my son is a year old now and I'm finding I have a bit more time to get back to the drawing board, so to speak. I've taken a year off from painting and I've missed it every second. Although... I've enjoyed so much caring for my son and watching him grow and develop into a little toddler (actually not a little toddler... he's very big for his age, 95th percentile).

Now that I'm painting again I'm really looking at my Abstract painting style at a much deeper level. I've been away for so long that it felt like I forgot my style, my technique. I didn't really though, it flowed right back out from the depths of my painting memory. But I have been hyper-aware now of each step I take in the creation of my abstract pieces. It is important for every painting or piece of Art to have a story and a bit of history. And it's important for the proprietor and/or consumer of that art to know its story.

That’s why today I want to share with you the process... the “Journey of Creation” of Chaanda’s Contemporary Abstract Art!!! I’m going to attempt to blog once a week about the process my paintings take, from beginning to end. We’ll talk about texture, color, composition, mood, and inspiration. I will talk about one feature at a time and put it in context with pictures of each stage of my process. I hope you will tune in each week as I create my newest piece of Art!

Create your Fate my friends!!!
Chaanda

Here he is my new arrival!!! Jackson Thomas born July 3rd!

Talk about an Art Slumber!! I feel soooooooooo out of the artsy-loop!! I had my baby!!! And took three months off! His name is Jackson Thomas and he is the light of my life. I am in love and having the time of my life with him. I'll post some pics of his beautiful face. But..... in the meantime I have not painted one lick, one stroke! I feel as if I've neglected one baby for another! I miss it so much. But can't seem to get back in the swing of painting. For one thing Jackson took over my studio in the guest bedroom... so it is now a baby nursery. I really have no where to paint. I'm going to have to create a new studio somewhere in the some corner of my home. And breastfeeding and caring for the baby leaves little time left in the day (not to mention I don't really want his little lungs breathing in acrylic paint just yet!). So when will I get it together and get back to my other love???? Let's just say one day at a time. IT WILL HAPPEN SOON THOUGH!!!!! I CAN'T STAY AWAY FOR TOO LONG!! CHEERS!

Canadian Newspaper Article about my Art!!!!

At Home: Affordable art is available online

Kristie Feener
Special to the Echo
Wednesday June 11, 2008
Kristie Feener

When it comes to purchasing artwork, I think sometimes we are under the impression that it is going to cost us a fortune. Lucky for us it doesn’t have to.
I am a huge fan of online shopping and a great place to look for reasonably priced artwork is on www.Etsy.com, where there are 150,000 sellers online. There is such a huge selection of things – artwork, jewelry, clothing, bath and beauty products and so much more. Every item is handmade. There is a huge range of prices, so there really is something for everyone.

A big trend right now is wall decals. They are easy to apply and look fantastic! These are ideal for children’s rooms and also great for creating a feature wall. It seems that the choices are endless. Wall decals are removable, but not reuseable. You can even get decals for your laptop and cell phone, too. A few shops worth checking out are: www. michellechristina.etsy.com and www.holly.etsy.com

One of my favourite abstract artists is a lady named Chaanda Bishop. Bishop’s shop is definitely worth looking at! Her work has such rich, beautiful colours. There is so much texture in her pieces and they are such a treat to see. Talk about eye candy! She is currently holding a sale in her shop at: www.Chaanda.etsy.com

Other great abstract artists’ stores to visit are: www.homestudio.etsy.com, www.ingridsart.etsy.com, www.originalabstract.etsy.com and www.earthart.etsy.com
If you are looking for something that is fun and casual, check out: www.suzannaanna.etsy.com – she makes the most fantastic five-by-five-foot art blocks that you mix and match to create your personalized arrangement for your house. A couple of other great stores are: www.Kmichel.etsy.com and www.angelapetsis.etsy.com
If you are looking for some really trendy pieces, you’ll want to be sure to visit: www.caterangel.etsy.com – she paints the most gorgeous portraits of women. Also go to: www.shauno.etsy.com -- –hauno creates lovely pop art portraits and abstracts.
You can also find a great deal of pottery on Etsy. Jmnpottery has some gorgeous pots, magnets, bowls and some very funny coffee mugs (be sure to check out the bride and groom skully mug set) and www.Studio1212.etsy.com is fantastic, too!
A few great stores featuring children’s artwork include: www.chichiboulie.etsy.com, www.artandphilanthropy.etsy.com, www.emrick123.etsy.co,and also www.sticknymph.etsy.com

I know that you will enjoy visiting Etsy as I always do. Happy shopping! Enjoy!
– Kristie Feener is the owner of Elements Home Decorating & Staging, which offers services to Airdrie and the surrounding area. To ask a question about decorating or staging, e-mail her at: kfeener@telus.net

Greetings Art Lovers!! I am having a blowout sale in my Etsy store www.chaanda.etsy.com! Let's just say I'm trying to clear out my inventory before I have my baby! That's right, I'm pregnant and will have to go on maternity leave soon. So to celebrate I'm having a "BABY SHOWER SALE"!!

Every item is on sale and the prices have already been adjusted. On top of that I'm offering 10% off shipping on every item. That price has been adjusted too!!!! Please visit my store and see all the special deals going on! Thank you!

Yellow/Green Commission 2

Yellow/Green Commission 2
Originally uploaded by Chaanda1

These are two of my latest works... They were commissioned by a client who asked for a piece with GREEN, YELLOW, GOLD. I made two for her to choose. She chose both!!

Yellow/Green Commission 1

Yellow/Green Commission 1
Originally uploaded by Chaanda1