Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Recent Work




I've only been managing a meager couple of hours in my studio a week as the semester comes to an end. This has led to me working on smaller pieces, so I can feel some sort of accomplishment. Here's what I've been working on recently.

In other news, the Young Contemporaries show came down today. I'll be picking up my pieces tomorrow afternoon, which means they'll soon be going off to their new homes!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Visiting Artist Lecture: Josephine Taylor



This evening Josephine Taylor, an artist who lives and works in San Fransisco, came and gave a lecture about her work. Earning an undergraduate degree in Religious Studies, Josephine did not take the traditional route in art education. Her family was supportive, but did not see art as a viable career, a note that resonated with me personally. After working unfulfilled at a desk job, Josephine realized she did not value 'things' as others did. So she quit her job and started building her portfolio for grad school.

Working through the overwhelming fear of making "contemporary art" when unversed in the knowledge of art history and without the traditional schooling, Josephine struggled at first. This struggle led her to give up completely the notion of making "contemporary art" and simply make work for herself. She returned to her roots, picking up a pencil and paper, drawing her family as she had in her childhood. The subject matter that emerged was personal and honest, the terrifyingly truths of her youth. Josephine's father was diagnosed bipolar. He was an alcoholic and a drug addict. More frightening perhaps was Josephine's middle school experience, where she and many of her classmates were molested by faculty. These horror stories came out in her drawings. While many were pastel in palate, lending a rosy atmosphere, her work always carried a subtle undertone of violence.

Her work is intensely personal. Her best advice to the student body being to make personal work, be honest with yourself, it's ok to be afraid of what your working on, growth comes from a place of discomfort.

By the way, her work is ENORMOUS.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Miscellany Release




The Miscellany release party was tonight. I'd not seen the printed book before I went. I was pleased to say the least when I walked in. I'm proud and honored to have my work in print. (I'm friggin' published!)

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Dun, Dun, Dun ... Another One Bites the Dust


This morning I received an email from one of the interns at the Halsey Gallery. Apparently yesterday, after walking through the Young Contemporaries and Salon des Refuses show, a couple became quite adamant about owning my watercolor installation. I got their contact information and they were delighted to hear form me. Another sale!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Etsy: Watercolor No. 17





I got my first sale on Etsy on Saturday! Hooray! I find it interesting that my most expensive item was the first to sell, hmm. Makes me think twice about my pricing...

I'm continually working on watercolors, scraps of paper floating around my desk. However it seems that I only get a good one for about every six that I paint. Well this is my most recent finished piece. The watercolor measures 2" x 2" and is mounted on 8" x 10" paper. It is currently for sale on my Etsy shop for $22.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Progress: No.23 continued


This painting has seen many painful iterations sitting on my easel for the last month or so and is finally starting to come around. Yay progress!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Back in the Studio




Circumstances over the last say, two weeks, have kept me from my studio: PAX, getting sick from PAX, my parents visiting, the Young Contemporaries 2010 Show, starting my Etsy shop, ... the list only jumps exponentially when I start thinking about my schoolwork. So this afternoon got to spend a meager hour or so in my studio, only to be glared at by the still unfinished behemoth on my easel. I couldn't bring myself to work on. Instead I worked on some tiny scrap wood and pulled an unfinished piece from earlier in the semester down off the wall. I don't know what to do with it. There are aspects that I enjoy, but I'm unsure where this piece needs to go to be a stronger painting. Painting is a process, so it'll work itself out in time.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Working On My Website


I took this afternoon to re-vamp my website. I still have to re-size some of the images and add the photo details, like painting title, size, and medium, so this version isn't live yet. Sometime tomorrow hopefully. Let me know what you think.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Etsy Shop


My Etsy shop is finally live. Please go check it out! www.kaitlincarroll.etsy.com As you can see, I've currently got six of my watercolors up, however, the primary images I'd wanted to start my shop with are currently in the Salon des Refuses show at the college. They'll go up once the school show comes down.

Young Contemporaries 2010

Young Contemporaries 2010 opened last night. The reception was wonderful. There was a great variety of work. Mary Jane Jacob did a wonderful job of picking submissions for the show. I got a great many complements on my work, the best of which came from one of my business professors, Dr. Kelly Shaver. Dr. Shaver came and walked around the show, he'd previously not known I was a painter. We talked art and business for a while, as it turns out his mother was a sculptor. His wife joined him later in evening, and after showing her the above painting, they said "We'll take it!" MY FIRST SALE! I was so giddy. The evening only got better as I was awarded with the Best Painting Award. This semester is rounding out quite wonderfully.