illuminated path painting and prints

This painting was created from intuition. It actually started out as a self-portrait attempt, when that didn't work out I painted over it and decided to just let whatever was inside come alive. I love trees so, naturally a forest came forth. Walking along this beautiful stone path at twilight, I imagine being struck with the awe of nature's beauty and am quite curious as to where this path may lead.

Illuminated Path
Acrylic on Canvas 20x16, 2012
Original Available: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CreativeStash
Prints Available: http://society6.com/CreativeStash/prints

Illuminated Path Art Print

Illuminated Path iPhone Cases

Illuminated Path Stationary Cards

Stretched canvas prints available up to 24"x30" in my Society6 shop
and up to 48" x 60" in my FineArtAmerica shop.

desert wash abstract painting and prints

True abstracts can be a challenge. I have the desire to paint over them with extra layers and make them "something". I restrained myself on this piece and final artwork is serene and can be different things to different viewers, I love that. The beautiful color palette is inspired by the desert.

Desert Wash
Acrylic and Oil Pastel on Canvas 20x16, 2012
Original Available: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CreativeStash
Prints Available: http://society6.com/CreativeStash

Desert Wash Art Print

Desert Wash iPhone Cases

Desert Wash Stationary Cards

Stretched canvas prints available up to 24"x30" in my Society6 shop
and up to 48" x 60" in my FineArtAmerica shop.

my life through instagram

Since I got my new smartphone in August I have been sharing pictures of  my artwork on the easel and little life moments on instagram. Today, I wanted to share what I've been up to with you.

september goals

My art portfolio postcards arrived!

Even though I have been quiet on the blog this summer, lots has been happening creatively. August is my birth month and as always I had a bright creative fire burning throughout the month. I wanted to share my process and excitement with you a number of times but, it's been harder then usual for me to formulate my thoughts and write. I know I will regain my writing momentum and sharing here soon.

For my birthday this year I was gifted the glorious device that is the iphone from my wonderful mother-in-law (thanks mom!). I love that I no longer have to carry my camera, plug it into my husbands laptop, transfer my pictures to a thumb drive and then upload them to my computer before I can post a picture. So much easier to just snap and share. With my new phone came the world of instagram! That little camera program is oh so fun. I have been snapping pictures and sharing them on instagram and facebook. If you are on either site I would love to connect with you! You can find me on instagram @kristenfagan or on facebook at CreativeStash.  

Well, here's what I've been up to with my business goals...

August Goals

Business - Send portfolio postcards to printer. Done! See the beauties at the top of the email. They are actually 10 postcards binded into a mini portfolio. I gave myself the goal of finishing it the week of my birthday as a gift to myself and that finally got them done! Well that and I took  a couple days off work to do some personal projects :)  

Illuminated Path iPhone Case

Art - Complete tree painting, think about reflection painting and whether it is done. Get both of these professionally photographed. Check out two art openings.  I completed the tree painting which I titled Illuminated Path, original available here and prints available here. My husband bought me the Illuminated Path iphone case as a birthday gift. I love it! (thanks babe). Reflection painting is also complete and now titled Desert Wash, original is available here and prints available here. 

I checked out 1 art showcase and visited a few local places that host featured artists. It is great to be out and about seeking art. It's been too long since I have done that. 

First in a series of abstract landscapes using a new painting technique

I started working with a new painting technique of using old gift cards as my paint brush / palette. This has yielded 5 new abstract landscape paintings this month alone. Can you say inspired?! Yes!

Blog - Decide on a wordpress theme. Moving this to September.  

Design - Continue work with clients on wedding day needs and business stationary. My friend Noel was married this month in New York. I wasn't able to attend but I was there in spirit with the programs shown above) that matched her invitation suite that I designed. I also picked up a new freelance design client that I'm really excited to be working with. 

Shop - Post about new additions in the shop to blog and facebook. I have not been good about this. I have so much I should be sharing! I really need to step this up for September. 

Read - The $100 Startup This was great. I think it lived up to the hype for me. I had to bring it back to the library pretty quickly so, I had to read fast and jot down the notes that jumped out at me and I can see this needing to be re-read again in the near future.

Family - Enjoy kids going back to school, setting new routines and seeing school friends. Nice to be back on a routine. Kids are happy to have their minds challenged and their social calendars filling up. 

Health - Wheat free, dairy free, drink 64 oz water a day and go to 2 yoga classes with my friend Kandes. I was pretty good about wheat. I did the best with dairy yet, I got 2 yoga classes and 1 zumba class (yay!) but, that darn water drinking. It's the hardest for me! Overall this year I am down 13 lbs since last August so, I'm a happy camper.

Soul - Meditate, journal (written or art), find some quiet time for myself. A little meditation and I found some wonderful pockets of quiet time.   

September Goals

Business - Compile local shops to approach about my artwork. Work on a holiday postcard.

Art - Complete new abstract landscapes by sanding, painting sides, adding hanging hardware and scan.

Blog - Decide on a wordpress theme.

Design - Continue work with clients on wedding day needs, business stationary and event promotions.

Shop - Share new additions in the shop. Work on items for Hissyfits Hullabaloo in November. 

Read - The Violets of March.  

Family - We have some packing to do as we are moving. I've been in denial, but it's time to face the fact we need to find a new home, pack and move by mid October. Yikes.  

Health - Wheat free, dairy free, drink 64 oz water a day and go to 1 yoga and 1 zumba class. 

Soul - Meditate, journal (written or art), continue to check out local art venues.

 If you would like to join in The Meetup biz goals fun, head on over to Athena Dreams.

earth-friendly hemp note card sets

Celebrate, congratulate, thank!
Express your thoughts with these hand painted and earth-friendly hemp note card sets.

Set of 3 Watercolor Ikat Pattern Note Card $7.50

Set of 2 Watercolor Hello and Thanks Note Cards $5

 

Set of 2 Watercolor Hemp Note Cards $5

Set of 2 Watercolor Affirmation Art Note Cards $7

august goals

July was all about our family vacation. We had a great time visiting friends and family with time at the beach a visit to New York City and an enjoyable Phish concert. The first few days back I was in denial about being home, lounged around and did as little as possible. Then it took another week to get myself back on schedule.

June/July Goals

Business - Work on portfolio postcards. I have not given this project any of my time.


Art - Custom Alphabet Bunting painting, share mermaid painting, one new painting. Done, done and done.


Blog - Think about blog series and schedules. I thought about a few options for posts  but, mostly I have been thinking about moving my blog to wordpress and redesigning it with a proper portfolio. I narrowed it down to a few themes I like and want to take the leap and begin working on it.

Design - Work with a new wedding invitation design client, continue work with logo design clients. Finished invitation design & assembly for new wedding client and worked with a new graphic design client on business stationary.


Shop - Art necklace, and 8x10 prints and add one new painting to online shops. Art necklace has been added, the 8x10 prints I had printed are added. painting has been created just not added yet.


Read - I'd Rather Be in The Studio and Raising Freethinkers. Still reading I'd Rather Be in The Studio. I didn't get a chance to read Raising Freethinkers and brought it back to the library for another time. Instead I read  The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World.


Family - Drawing classes and activities from the Being your Best book with the kids, lots of movies, pool time and water play. We had lots of movies, pool and play time but, I wasn't able to get the drawing classes and activities together. My plate has been too full. Low key playtime has been more my speed this summer.


Health - Wheat free, drink 64 oz water a day and try a yoga class at my local recreation center. Wheat free! Still doing well. I was about 75% good on vacation and am working to be back at 100% wheat free again. Drinking water is still a struggle. I did a little yoga on my own, that felt good.


Soul - Meditate, journal (written or art) weekly, find some quiet time for myself. I went to a meditation circle for the first time, that was cool. I intend to go again and see how this helps me in my every day. Journaling is sporadic as is finding quiet time for myself but, I'm grateful for the time I have. 

August is my birthday month so, I plan to be a little extra kind to myself when possible. I have been in need of yellow paint for awhile and I saw this aqua color a month or two ago and couldn't stop thinking about it. So, while shopping for supplies for two weddings I'm working on, I bought a few tubes of  new paint to play with. What artist doesn't enjoy new supplies?!
 
August Goals

Business - Send portfolio postcards to printer. 

Art - Complete tree painting, think about reflection painting and whether it is done. Get both of these professionally photographed. Check out two art openings.

Blog - Decide on a wordpress theme.

Design - Continue work with clientson wedding day needs and business stationary.

Shop - Post about new additions in the shop to blog and facebook.

Read - The $100 Startup

Family - Enjoy kids going back to school, setting new routines and seeing school friends. 

Health - Wheat free, dairy free, drink 64 oz water a day and go to 2 yoga classes with my friend Kandes. 

Soul - Meditate, journal (written or art), find some quiet time for myself.

 If you would like to join in The Meetup biz goals fun, head on over to Athena Dreams.

this week i'm loving ...

meditation

Meditation Flags by Cazmira

I went to my first meditation circle on Sunday. I have been meditating off and on at bedtime to help with sleep and wanted to try meditating with others during the day so, I checked out meetup.com and found a group nearby to sit with. I usually use this guided meditation video from youtube which helps me clear my mind by listening to the soft sounds and voice guiding me. This was a very different experience. We sat meditating for 20 minutes in silence. My mind has a lot of chit chat going on. I engaged in the thoughts and then tried to let them go and gain space. The space was short lived though as a new thought would arise one on top of another. We took a break and then meditated in silence for another 10 min. The second round I did a little better but still chatty. This is going to take some practice. Some meditation flags like the ones above would make a nice reminder.

toy cleaning and organizing

Diaper Caddy by Hip Baby Boutique

With school a couple weeks away I figured now was a good time to clear out toys, trash broken items, donate others and organize the stuff worth keeping around.It was a two day ordeal as I needed lots of little breaks to get through all the stuff. I completed the kids playroom but, still need to tackle the bedroom. How cute is this Diaper Caddy above? I think it would work really well for organizing little bits in the play room too!

snickers ice cream bars

Need I say more? For some reason I decided to buy a box of these and by eating a half bar here and half bar there I managed to finish the box almost completely by myself in a few short days. Man, these bad boys are good.

true love wedding stationary

This month I attended the wedding of two good friends in New York and I had the honor of designing their wedding invitation suite, programs and favor tags. This wedding marked the eighth wedding stationary suite I have custom designed. I decided it was about time to share these designs with you and I am starting, well, at the beginning with my own wedding invitation almost 11 years ago.

I got engaged two short years after I began my career in graphic design. I knew I would design all the paper goods for our wedding. I was in love with drawing digitally at that time so, naturally I wanted to put those skills to work and create an illustration dear to our hearts. We are both lovers of trees so, the idea to draw two trees intertwined and growing into one another was a natural one.

 

Not one to miss the opportunity for a little pop of color and whimsy I added a butterfly between us to complete the design. The response cards (not photographed) had simple wedding rings illustrated on them and for the the travel guide I illustrated a man on a bicycle. Again a touch of whimsy. The trees have little green apples that I repeated in our wedding day decor, bouquets and had green apples with seating cards pinned to them. That day was and still is one the best days of my life. True Love.   

vacation on long island

My family and I are back from a two week vacation on Long Island in New York. We saw so many wonderful people and places. I gathered a few favorite photos to share with you.

We celebrated two great friends tying the knot, caught some waves at the beach, rocked out at a Phish concert, celebrated two great friends baby shower (see the painting I created for their daughter Lily), kids played with their cousins, celebrated a childhood friends bridal shower, roasted s'mores over a campfire, took a day trip to NYC and attended lots and lots of BBQ's and pool parties. It was a whirlwind of activity and jammed packed fun. We got home on July 10th but, it might as well have been yesterday. It took me a really long time to get back into my daily groove. But, that's what vacations are for right - to laugh, play and the come home and reset.

Hope you are enjoying some summer fun and hopefully even a little relaxation sprinkled in too.

this week I'm loving ...

sleep

 Stacey Winters

After a very busy 12 days traveling with two kids, attending a bridal and baby shower, celebrating a wedding, a little phishing and visiting with our friends and family in New York it feels great to sleep in my own bed and to drastically slow down our schedule and allow for some lazy summer days at home.

clouds

Pony And Poppy

It has been cloudy, rainy and all around beautiful this week in Arizona. A break from the sun is most definitely welcomed this time of year. This also made for some extra sleepy days, bonus!

chris guillebeau

I love reading. I always enjoy reading something that is entertaining but, usually you'll find me reading books on how to better myself in work, life, parenting, diet, ect. It can be a sickness really. The latest book that has challenged me to think differently is The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World by Chris Guillebeau. It is a great read for anyone who wants to live an unconventional life.Chris questions education, credibility, and influence, and gives useful ideas as alternatives to the traditional methods of gaining those qualities as well as how to apply them to your career based on what has worked in his own life. The apply part is really the tough one for me. I get stuck just before the stage and veer off course. I need to figure that out still. Lucky for me, I am picking up his newest book The $100 Startup today! Very excited about what I will learn next.