From the Vault: Release 2/10 - one piece pulled from over 20 years of art-making

Let's go into the VAULT again ~ a collection of over 20 years of art and feelings. Returning to a time when I was mothering two in diapers, the entire day, every day. My PULL to be an amazing mom and my PULL to be a painter were not hand-in-hand at that point - they were PUSHING on each other. Looking back now I have gratitude for my younger self for putting the kids first and painting second. 

 

Perhaps you remember this time in your own life? 
Or you are there right now... You are not alone.

 

A glimpse from the past, a snippet from a 2007 journal entry, life was not easy mothering two babies and growing a business: 

“Somehow I have to be a mom all (flipping) day and spend the only two hours a day without kids (naptime) cramming to get my design work done and anything I want to do for my website and promotion. 

 

Then, somehow after the kids wake up, I have to find time to do the house cleaning and also paint and make any personal or business calls. Then, at the end of the day I have to put dinner together, do the dishes and bedtime and bath. It is just SOO much for me. 

 

I am the only one who truly believes in me. And maybe that is the way it should be. Who knows. But all I know is that I can’t seem to spread myself thin enough and it is wearing on me. I want to spend time with (my hubby) in the evenings, but that leaves zero time for painting. If I don’t paint, then the next day I feel worthless. I feel so strong that painting is how I am going to support my family one day. I see it so clearly. 

 

More than anything right now I want to lock myself in the studio (laundry room) and paint for six or eight hours. Listening to music and drinking water. That is all I want. That is where my heart is. But I am forced by stereotypes of motherhood and wifehood to do other things. I just don’t want to. I just want to PAINT *&#%.”

 

~~~~ phew, hang in there, mama, it gets SO much easier/better ~~~~

 

 

I’m releasing one reimagined From the Vault piece each day for 10 days; affordable, collectible, and extremely limited. Only 7 hand-embellished 8x8 inch prints of each painting will ever exist. After the final print from each piece is claimed, the vault closes.

 

Early Bird Bonus: the first two collectors of each Vault print get a handwritten greeting card from me, with a behind-the-scenes message about the painting + an art sticker.

 

 

 

 

RELEASE NUMBER 2: RESILIENCE

Written in 2007, during her creation: The mother sees darkness, but the child sees light. The child reaches for possibilities and potential. The mother begins to pick up her broken wall, intent on putting it back together using the inspiration from the child. Despite the fact that we may be feeling weak or down-trodden, our children have the amazing ability to reach for the brighter side and to show us what really matters, thus inspiring us to reach for the light.

 

 

 

 

Heavy, textured Velvet Satin Paper.

Only 7 prints. 

Hand-embellished. 

Straight from the Vault.

 

Each print of Resilience will be individually embellished with my brushes and paints, then signed and dated. You can even request eye color and/or hair color accents customizations.

 

 

Thank you for joining me on this adventure into the past!

Love & Sincerely, Katie