Vanishing Youth

Dreams lost,

they've seen too much,

their youth vanished.

"Vanishing Youth"

This is an 9.5"x7.5" piece in my art journal. Prints available on request.

(Printed image will be slightly cropped for printing purposes.) 

All works are copyrighted and all rights are reserved by the artist.

My original paintings are available in my online gallery.

Prints of many of my paintings are available in my Etsy shop. 

Let me know if you're interested in prints of my paintings.

  I welcome commissions.

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For All of Our Children

My husband recently did a photo shoot of one of my friend's kiddos. I was incredibly struck by one of the photos, the shadows so compelling that I was inspired to capture them.

As I painted my version of this beautiful young man I thought of my own boys and all of the children I teach and all of my friends' children, and I felt incredibly protective of their present and future. Let's do right by them.

"For All of Our Children"

My original paintings are available in my online gallery.

Prints of many of my paintings are available in my Etsy shop.

  I welcome commissions.

Please click the links below to share my blog.

Sad Clown - Part 5

I'm not a cougar, though I'm certainly old enough to be one. But don't worry, I've apparently found the perfect way to compensate for that. This morning I was driving my kid to school. I ended up behind a couple of guys on bicycles. They were weaving back and forth right in front of me. I just slowed way down and patiently cruised behind them. And in spite of the fact that my headlights were illuminating them (the sun was just beginning to rise), they seemed clueless about my presence...until one of them turned around, saw us, and fell in line behind his cycling buddy.

As we passed them we heard, "Prius stalking like a cougar."

Guess my car is pretty quiet.


I finished my sad clown painting. There is something so special and wonderful about painting my children. Precious moments in time, precious memories, precious boys. Here is my finished painting and the last couple of stages are below.

"Sad Clown"

I worked on his skin tone, his hair, and his costume.

I changed the shape of his head, added more
details to the background, and finished his
costume by adding more colors and shadows.
All that was left was to add shadows and
paint the edges of the canvas.

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Most of my paintings are for sale and I welcome commissions.

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Sad Clown - Part 4

I was reminded of a flavorful love from my childhood today. Dave and I were at Trader Joe's and I saw a bag of "GIANT Peruvian Inca Corn". Basically, big freakin' corn nuts. I loved corn nuts as a kid. Loved them! When I took treks to the convenience store located a few blocks from my childhood home, I'd get a bag of corn nuts and one of those flaky chocolate pudding pies. Mmmmmmmmm...sweet and salty! I'm not really a sweets person any more, but boy, oh, boy, did I have a good time eating that GIANT corn today. This could be a problem....


I worked on my sad clown painting a lot today. It was a two steps forward, one step backward kind of day, but that's the best kind when it comes to painting.

I worked on the skin tone and added
green bric-a-brac to the sleeves.
 

I added some shadows to the collar, defined
the legs/feet, adjusted the shape of the face,
and added some shadows to the costume.

I worked a bit more on the facial tone,
added color to the hair, made the eyes a
bit smaller, and started working on the
window sill. I also got rid of the green
bric-a-brac and lengthened the left sleeve.

I decided there was no way to fix the face
as it currently went, so off went the eyes/nose.

And back on with some skin tone. I also
adjusted the shape of the lips.

I added tone to the eyes, face, hair, and costume.
I also added some elements to the background
and started working on the window sill. What's
lovely is that the window to the left of the painting
is the same window my big guy was sitting in front
of in the photograph. The real window is open
right now because it's a lovely day in Austin, TX.

Click here to view my gallery.

Most of my paintings are for sale and I welcome commissions.

Please click the links below to share my blog.

Sad Clown - Part 3

My husband is a genius. It's true. For a long time now our wonderful wacky chickens have been insisting on laying their eggs in one laying box. They have nine available yet they would use just one. But Dave tried leaving the laying box door latched during the day so the area was completely enclosed (they could still get out of the coop another way) and our girls started laying their eggs in all of the laying boxes. I guess they just needed to feel more safe and secure in there.

It's good to be in the presence of genius! And lots of eggs!


And I continued working on my clown painting.

I worked on the shape of his head, added some
details to his face, and painted white on the
parts of his costume that were going to be
colors other than red.

I began adding some preliminary details to his costume.

Click here to view my gallery.

Most of my paintings are for sale and I welcome commissions.

Please click the links below to share my blog.

Sad Clown - Part 2

I seem to lack self control. Even though I've been told to not over-use my right arm (post surgery). I can't seem to help myself. And making it doubly hard, parts of my arm are still numb so I don't get immediate feedback if I'm causing a problem. My solution? I made a wacky bracelet out of t-shirt scraps (I had a bunch left over from the t-shirt up cycling I did right after my surgery) to remind myself to "STOP OVER-USING THIS ARM!" T-shirt scraps speak in all upper case, of course. I'm pretty sure I did better today thanks to my goofy bracelet, I hope so anyway.

I feel like I should be like Bart Simpson and write, "I WILL NOT OVER-USE MY RIGHT ARM" fifty times on the blackboard.


But, in spite of my arm having been over-used, I still had to paint just a bit. Here's how my "Sad Clown" is coming along.

I added another layer of white.

I added flesh tones, some basic facial features with
watered down black paint, the basic color of his
clown outfit, and his hair.

Click here to view my gallery.

Most of my paintings are for sale and I welcome commissions.

Please click the links below to share my blog.

Sad Clown - Part 1

When I was digging through a bin of old photos while I was off work for my surgery, I came across a bunch of pictures of my big guy when he was a very little guy. One just jumped out at me and insisted that I paint it. My big guy was maybe four years old and it must have been around Halloween because he's wearing a clown outfit. So about sixteen years ago my big guy got all clown outfitted up and something must have happened. Maybe something big, maybe something little, but whatever it was left him feeling sad. And that moment in time was captured on film.

I started working on painting that sweet, sad little clown today.

I started by painting the basic colors of the background.

I used watered down black paint to rough in
his basic shape. He's sitting on the window sill.

I went over it in white so I could begin painting color.

Click here to view my gallery.

Most of my paintings are for sale and I welcome commissions.

Please click the links below to share my blog.

Wonder and Dread - Part 2

Yesterday I did something I hadn't done before. I stood in front of a group of about sixty folks and talked for hours. I'm an introvert to my very core, but I had SUCH A GREAT TIME! I co-presented with a lovely teacher friend of mine and we shared information a wonderful group of special ed teachers. Most of you already know, but in case you don't, I'm a special ed teacher. I work with three and four-year-olds with disabilities and I love it.

And crazy me, I've already let the powers that be know that I want to present again. Yes, good times were had.


I finished my painting of my big guy when he was a little guy. He and his girlfriend gave me two big thumbs up. OK, they didn't actually do that because that would be goofy, but they said that they like it a lot.

"Wonder and Dread"

It's funny. I kept looking at the painting and looking at the painting.
The nose was absolutely, positively in the wrong spot.
So off it went! I love working with acrylics!

I redid his nose in the right spot. All that was
left was to add a bit of color to his hair.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale and I welcome commissions.

I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

I'm running a big sale on my paintings through the end of August. Almost everything in my gallery is 60% off. I'm only keeping my most current work (paintings on page 1) at the listed prices. If there's something you'd like, please let me know by message or comment so I can manually adjust the price. Thanks!!! http://www.dailypaintworks.com/artists/kali-parsons-3935/artwork

Wonder and Dread - Part 1

When my big guy was little he was such a sponge. He'd open his eyes way beyond what seemed possible, and soak in everything. His look of wonder was truly something to behold. And the adorable thing is that while his eyes were full of wonder, the expression on his mouth was dread. I always thought that the speed with which things were entering his brain was just a tad more than his little self could fully absorb. He's still got those amazing big eyes today...and his mouth is much more likely to be a big grin.

I started by painting the basic outlines and eye shape.

I added some flesh tone.

I added some color. 

I've still got a lot to do on this. So much fun seeing this precious little face again!

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale and I welcome commissions.

I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

I'm running a big sale on my paintings through the end of August. Almost everything in my gallery is 60% off. I'm only keeping my most current work (paintings on page 1) at the listed prices. If there's something you'd like, please let me know by message or comment so I can manually adjust the price. Thanks!!! http://www.dailypaintworks.com/artists/kali-parsons-3935/artwork

Dream Sky High

I was commissioned to create a painting for a little boy's room. His lovely mom wanted it to feature an airplane and for it to be colorful. I was super excited to get started! And as I was painting it I thought of my own guys when they were little bitty boys themselves. I thought of my pure love for them as I painted the hearts. I thought of their amazing personalities as I painted sparkles. And I thought of just how funny they were as I painted swirls. And you know what? My love for them now is just as pure yet so, so much stronger. Their personalities are so their own filled with their own passions and creative drives. And, gosh, my kids still make me laugh each and every day.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.

I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Grandson with Rainbrella

Note: I changed the title of this piece because I'd forgotten the cutest name for an umbrella that this child had come up with. Love!

Previous title was "Sun Shower"

...or, rather, grandson shower.

A dear friend sent me a photo of his adorable grandson standing in the yard holding an umbrella and asked if I'd be willing to paint it. What an honor it is to be trusted with friends' precious memories!

Painting this reminded me of standing in my own yard growing up (partly because this friend of mine happens to live in the house I grew up in, though this image is not at that particular house). I'd throw my umbrella to the roof, climb the loquat tree in the front corner of the house, get on the roof, open that umbrella, and jump off. Over and over and over again. I very clearly remember thinking that the umbrella in no way slowed my eight foot descent.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.

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To the Side

Every night I tuck my chickens in. This entails going to their coop and doing a head count. And by head count I mean that I actually reach in and give all six girls a little love. And every night Fuzzy, our littlest one, refuses to face me. The trouble for her is that I still totally know she's looking right at me. Eyes-on-the-sides-of-your head problems.

Chicken love....

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.

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Changed Along the Way

Sometimes things don't end up as you intended. They alter and morph along the way. This piece started as a loose interpretation of Billie Holiday and about halfway through it was clear that the subject of my painting had decided to go another direction entirely. I set aside my picture of Billie Holiday and let the portrait be my guide...and I ended up with a young lad. Glad he pushed himself to the front of the canvas!

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.

I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!

Helpful

While my kids are really quite helpful (they really, really are), they tend to take their time when it comes to getting them to start being helpful. Unless...


Me: "Will you please help bring the groceries in?"

Little guy: "I'm hungry, will you make me a sandwich?"

Me: "After you bring the groceries in."

Little guy: "I'm too hungry to help."

Me: "Everything to make a sandwich in out in the car."

Little guy: "I'll get the groceries!"


I love my helpful boys!

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.

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Same as it Ever Was

I was at the store the other day.


Cutie checker lady: "I love your hair!"

Me: "Oh, thanks. I just roll out of bed and settle for whatever it decides to do that day."

Adorable bagger dude: "I've had the same haircut since I was a kid."


And I absolutely believe him! He had the cutest little boy haircut on a man EVER!

Same as it ever was awesomeness....

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No Shave November Fail

I've been actively participating in No Shave November.  Actually, now that I think about it, it's not an active thing at all.  Rather, I should say that I've been passively participating in No Shave November.  And things were going quite swimmingly until....


Me: "Those few long hairs on your face are getting pretty long, kid." Turns out that sixteen year old boys get random long hairs while all the other hairs just stay short, sweet, and delightfully prepubescent. 

Little guy: "You can trim them if you want," he said as he played a game on his phone.

Me: "OK."  And I did.

Little guy: "Wow, mom, serious No Shave November fail."

Me: "Ack! Why didn't you remind me?!?!"

Little guy: "I'm just joking, mom. You're the only one in the family doing the No Shave November thing."


Yeah, but gosh, somehow I feel like I just blew it.

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For the Love of her Boys

Last night, like most weekend nights, there was a boy fest here at our place.  Thing is, our sweet dog, Hazel, is convinced that she is one of the boys.  So when they closed the bedroom door at about 1:00 AM leaving her on the outside, she fell into deep despair. 

She came into our room and whimpered endlessly.  She jumped onto our bed and shook with sadness.  She sighed often and heavily driving us absolutely nuts.

So after trying unsuccessfully to sleep with my head completely covered by our duvet for at least an hour, I got up, opened the boys door just a Hazel's width, let her scurry in, and returned to my bed.


And "Zzzzzzzzzzzz" filled the house. 

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From Bad to Worse

I picked up the kid after a long sweaty game of football last night.  And I tell you what...the smell of his uniform that was filled with his sweat and the sweat of every other teenager on the field that he'd happened to bump into...Bad.

Yup, all the windows went down.

And then the amazingly strong smell of some poor rotting animal filled the car...Worse.


Serious olfactory overload.

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Texting Snafu

Sometimes texting your mom goes terribly wrong...


Little guy's text:  "When we go to California you should get me a sex was sh*t." (The "*" is my doing to keep this blog post Rated PG.)

Then, a second later:  "Shirt"

Me:  "Surf's up, typo man."


And my kid learned just how valuable the letter "r" is.  The shirt purchase is still up for debate.

Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.

 

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I Fell for It

My little guy was playing music for me in the car as is our routine.  I groove on it.  Then the non-radio version lyrics get to me (I'm old, you see), I turn it off with my steering wheel stereo controller, he turns it back on, lather, rinse, repeat. 


Me:  "I'm not a fan of that one."

Little guy:  "That's because it's 'up dog'."

Me:  "What's 'up dog'?"

Little guy:  "I can't believe you actually fell for it and said, 'What's up, dog?'"

Me:  "Ugh."

 Click here to view my gallery.  Most of my paintings are for sale.

 

I'd love for you to share my art and blog with the links below.  Thanks!