Retreat '09

Last weekend was our annual art retreat. This group of women have been going up to work on oil paintings in Wisconsin for a weekend in fall for over 30 years. The salvation army camp for the past 24?? I think...
Anyways, not only do I enjoy these women and an opportunity to set time aside to paint but I also look forward to spending a little QT with my mom. Especially now living out of state it's important that we both set time aside and make efforts to hang out.

Here is a picture of my finished painting. I found the photo in the Oklahoma Living magazine a while back and loved the colors. It's a very 'mystical' scene. I don't know why but painting rocks is one of the hardest things... I think they turned out okay though ;)

It has worked out really well the last 2 years... Mike's folks live about 1/2 hour away from the camp so he flew in to see them, picked me up for a visit and then we had a 12 hr road trip back. Kinda long but not bad... we had plenty of laughs and chats.

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Oil for Auction

Okay, I have yet to sign it... and possibly add another piece of stem... [and maybe a tiny little bug on it] but this is pretty much it.
Along with donating a custom project of my decorative art services, I also offered to do an oil painting for the upcoming Habitat for Humanity auction. Proceeds from these two donations will go toward Women Build, a group I have been involved with since Fall.
I'll be curious to see how the painting does... I have never sold nor auctioned any of my oils... I tend to get too attached after hours and hours of work... this one probably only took me 12-16 hours though... so I'll keep a picture :)
Today I'll be working on the Kustom Kate display... then hopefully I will be finished with auction stuff with a couple weeks to spare... not like me to be so ahead of schedule... but the painting will probably take a couple weeks to dry.

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What do you think?

Okay, I came up with a couple ideas using some of the products and techniques I do on walls combined with oil paints and canvas...
A little more contemporary than the fine Detail Oils I usually do... but I am thinking about introducing myself to gallery display... here are the first 2... so what do you honestly think... it doesn't have to be your style, but do you think they'd sell?? (you can comment anonomysly)




Above: Black is a reptile skin texture.
Both: Inset patterns done in metal-leafing




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New Painting

Here is a picture I found in our Oklahoma Living magazine put out by the Electrical Company (co-op) I can't tell if it's a photograph or painting. There is an artist's name (Brent Stovall)It's of Beaver's Bend State Park in OK. Pretty huh?

I started painting it this week... hopefully I can keep working on it!




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What should I Paint?

I have decided to do some oil paintings and see how they sell. My friend at Elegance by Design offered to display them in her shop... so we'll see how it goes!
My thought was to take some pictures of things here in Oklahoma for inspiration, so the other day I was driving around looking for some interesting "subjects" then again yesterday Mike and I did some driving around and took some more pictures. Here are some pictures I am deciding between for my next project, please feel free to vote! I will paint what you vote on and then post the finished painting!
This could be fun! It also makes me more accountable to get going!
#1

#2

#3


#4


#5



To view more oil paintngs by Katie Stenglein :
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Home for retreat and visiting!

I've been "home" for the past week... it has been busy and jam packed. I have enjoyed visiting with family..... time flies by! I'd love to se and visit with more people but it just isn't possible.
I got home from dropping Mike off at O'Hare... hae was here for about 36hrs. And have been catching up on E-Mail and blogs for the past hour or so. What's funny is: I turned on the TV when I sat down to my computer time... I put on what looked like an animal planet type program... I JUST noticed that it is not in English. Ha! What a nerd.
This is a picture of a Cake Rose Made for Retreat


I was at painting retreat thursday through yesterday afternoon (My main reason for this trip)... I started and finished a painting... can't believe that! Here's a picture of my painting.

I go home wednesday... hopefully to booking work and some busyness... however I wouldn't mind a bit of rest. :)
I am going to watch the Bears Game tonight with a bunch of my cousins... really looking forward to it!

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Website Update

Mike and I have Finally updated the photos on my website! If you have time stop by! We also plan to be making more site improvements in the near future!

www.kustomkate.com

(There's an active link in my sidebar)