Eruption

Volcanoes symbolize creativity, rebirth, energy...as well as destruction and violence. As will all things, all people, all experiences, there are at least two sides.

Through October 20th I will be donating 50% of my original art sales to the Citizens' Climate Lobby (CCL), Texas 21 Chapter. More information may be found here. Let's make the climate great again!

"Eruption"

Miniature easel included in the price of the painting.

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.

Please click the links below to share my blog.

I'd love to hear from you...feel free to leave me a comment.

Tree of Life 2

"Storms make trees take deeper roots."

Dolly Parton

"Tree of Life 2"

Through September 15, I will be donating 50% of all of my original art sales to the those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Here is the link to my online gallery. 

 https://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/kali-parsons-3935

Click on "Available" to see my available work. If you're in Austin leave a comment if you'd like to purchase something...there's no need for you to pay the shipping costs if you can pick it up at my place. Thank you for supporting my fundraising efforts!!! 

 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.

Please click the links below to share my blog.

I'd love to hear from you...feel free to leave me a comment.

Tree of Life 1

I was inspired by someone very dear to me to create a Tree of Life piece. This tiny piece is the first in what I hope will be a series. I'm adding a "1" to the title to further ensure that there will be more to come.

I am loving creating tiny pieces alongside the larger pieces I'm doing. I can't say enough about how amazing it is as an artist to complete a piece. While I am totally a process person, blissfully enjoying the journey of creating, coming to completion is icing on a delicious cake. Completion means I get to send the piece onto its next home AND I get to start another piece. Such fun!

"Tree of Life 1"

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.

Please click the links below to share my blog.

I'd love to hear from you...feel free to leave me a comment.

Take Pleasure in the Adventure

This is another closed eyes sketch. I imagine the little reddish oval going on an adventure. I wonder which road she will take.

"Take Pleasure in the Adventure"

And if you know me, you know I LOVE upcycling things. Recently I was given two lovely candles that came in this tin and this jar. After using the candles I decided it would be fun to clean them out and paint the lids so they could go forward in life as whimsical little keep-sake containers. I've given them to two friends to take them for "usability test drives" and give me feedback.

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.

Please click the links below to share my blog.

I'd love to hear from you...feel free to leave me a comment.

Love and Whimsy

When David and I were in Oregon recently, love and whimsy defined our days...made possible in huge part by our dear friends and hosts. This tiny piece lives there. Lucky little canvas!!

"Love and Whimsy"

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.

Please click the links below to share my blog.

I'd love to hear from you...feel free to leave me a comment.

Firefly...Shining from Within

I found myself incredibly inspired by an article I read a few weeks ago. It was about a little girl and her mom and seeing that we all have a light that shines from within. Read the article, this mom says it so perfectly and so much better than I could ever hope to.

It got me thinking. We all have that something that we love or something we're passionate about. Or a kindness about us that we share with others. Something that you wouldn't necessarily know about a person, but it's still there, shining from within. I've taken to looking at people and wondering just what their superpower is, what makes them shine. It's shifted how I move through this world. From assuming that everyone is just busy doing their ordinary (perhaps boring) thing to looking at that guy crossing the street and wondering if he's a sculptor. Or that lady in line in front of me and wondering if she loves to dance when she's home alone. Or if that kiddo sitting alone is totally into Legos and has the most amazing structures in their room.

It's much more fun seeing life through firefly lenses.


I released my own inner firefly and let her land on my graffiti wall in my hallway.

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!

Whimsical Roots

I did this interpretation of a tree with henna on my forearm. I particularly like the roots, all full of whimsy and personality, not unlike my genetic roots. Have you met my delightful family?

And now that you've seen my forearm, can you tell I've been working out? Nope? Oh, well. I have, ya know. Know how I can tell? When I'm at the gym I have to wait at the top of the stairs while the big muscle bound guys make their way up. I can't possibly fit on the stairway as they come up...I'm sure it's because I've bulked up so much from all those reps. Yup, it's me not them. 

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!

Today's Henna

I'm learning...and possibly even improving.

That's all I can ask, right?

I noticed last night that my previous henna had completely vanished. So of course it was time for another. Of course!

Here's how I think I'm learning and improving.

1. I'm learning that the further away from my hands, the longer the henna seems to last. All that handwashing takes its toll.

2. I'm squeezing the henna bag more gently and evenly. Makes my lines more smooth. I think. I hope. And I don't have a hand cramp. Yup, last time I had a hand cramp that lasted the entire evening.

3. Perfection is the furthest thing from my mind. Happily I don't even know what that word means.

Anyway, this is super fun! Join me sometime!!

And, just a reminder, my forearm is decidedly not for sale, I find I need it,

but if you'd like to check out some of my purchasable art...

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!

For the Love of Rituals

I adore rituals. You know, the awesome little things that become our rituals because we end up doing them over and over again. Like my love of tea. The heating of the water, the steeping of the bag, the blissful experience of the tea as I take that first sip.  Love!

Well, by golly, I think I have a new ritual. Every couple of weeks I think I'll create a new henna drawing on myself. This wee flower on my inner arm is my second try ever. My hand is still shaky as I'm getting used to this exciting and amazing media, but I think I'll improve over time. Practice, practice, practice.

Thanks for going on this henna ride with me!

Nope, my arm isn't for sale, but...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!

Something New...Something Blue

I love trying new things, I really do, but something I just did for the first time ever is not working out so well for me.

You see, I managed to bite my tongue in what appears to be the absolute, perfect way to bruise it good and plenty. While I've bruised pretty much everything else at one time or another (I tend to walk into things a lot), who knew that it was even possible to bruise a tongue?

Anyway, I'll be distracted by this whole event for a while...I figure my entire sense of reality has undergone a shift.

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!

All Wild and Curly

This morning I woke up to the most amazing bed head I think I've ever had.  Truly, I rather looked like Medusa...on a bad snake hair kind of day.

Now what's nice about my mornings is that I get to spend them alone.  Well, not counting the dogs and cats.  So my family is spared the sight of morning me.  But on the rare occasion that one of them does pop out into the living room before the sun comes up, well, I shout out a preemptive "I'm pretty!!!"

You know, in case they aren't able to see through my wild exterior and all.

 Exhibit A...Insert "I'm pretty!!!" here.

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!

The Things I Say

For the life of me I have no idea why I'm still surprised by the things I find myself saying.

The little guy had been assigned a lovely sketch assignment many weeks ago.  It was due the next day.  What does he do when I nag him (again) about it?

He toots.


Me:  "Art, not fart."


I think that has a future as a bumper sticker.

Click here to purchase this painting.

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

About to be cooped up...and so excited about it!!!

So we've got chickens in our future.  I was skeptical at first.  I love animals, really I do so very much.  But chickens?  They've never seemed particularly lovable to me.  And as animals we'd be welcoming into our lives, I really wanted them to fall into the lovable category.

Now, my experience with chickens is admittedly limited.  I've eaten them, sure.  I've had a male chick in my classroom briefly (we named him "nugget" if that gives you any idea of how much of a fan I was).  I've even seen them from a bit of a distance at friends' houses.  But I just wasn't feeling the love. 

Well, all that changed yesterday.  The kid and I were going into my dad's back yard when we heard some rustling.


Little guy:  "Hey, it's a chicken...in their yard!"

Me:  "What?!?!"

Little guy:  "Look, a chicken."


And, by golly, there was, indeed, a chicken!

My little guy went upstairs to let them know and I set about figuring out just what to do about this lost chicken.  I followed it around.  It followed me around.  I reach out to touch it.  It scampered off.  I got in its path.  It let me touch its back.  I was officially starting to consider liking this sweet chicken.

I decided to be very brave and put my hands on both sides of it.  Everything was OK.  I decided to lift it a few inches off the ground.  Its legs dangled and everything was OK.  I decided to hold it close to me.  It settled right into the embrace.  I was officially starting to fall in like with this sweet chicken. 

I carried the chicken up to the house.  My kiddo walked out when he saw that holding the chicken was totally possible.  I handed him the chicken.  He held the chicken in a gentle hug...and then it pooped!!!  I was officially falling in love with this sweet chicken.


Jump forward a day and I'm sitting at the table and my husband and kid are designing a chicken coop for our back yard.  I'M SO EXCITED!!!!

Click here to purchase this painting.

Awkward but Worth It Cat Moment

Now I know I'm a fiend about my yogurt.  I love this particular kind that I'm hopelessly addicted to.  My mornings simply aren't right without it.

Anyway, lately our old cat, Pug, has been lingering very close by when I've been eating it.  I think he caught the scent of something he's decided he's most interested in.

A little about my cat.  He's a HUGE orange tabby, a total stud of a cat, he's got big muscles, and if he could figure out a way to fund them, I'm quite sure he'd be covered in tattoos.  He's quite a cool cat and he never, ever looks dorky.  Never.

Until yesterday, that is.

I gave him my empty yogurt container since he'd been lovingly admiring it as I ate.  He stuck his tongue in, took just a bit of a lick, tasted it, and then he went for it.  He stuck his entire face in the container.  Lick, lick, lick.  And then as he lifted his head he realized he was stuck, stuck, stuck.  I took it off his face, set it back down, and he plunged his face right back in it.

Worries of dorkiness were tossed aside...all for the best yogurt ever.  I get it, my big ol' furry friend.  I get it.

 Click here to purchase this painting.

A Mom's Advice is Rarely Heeded

I bribe my kids to get them to hang out with me.  It's a fact.  Just the other day I told my little guy that I'd buy him lunch at Chipotle if he'd walk there with me.  He negotiated on the walking bit, of course...and off we went, I walking and he riding his bike...I in a scarf, gloves, and two sweaters, he in a T-shirt and sweat pants even though I asked him twice if he wanted to dress more warmly.

And it was groovy.  He stayed right by me, conversed with me the entire way, ate his way-too-big burrito, and we started walking back.  The wind picked up a bit and suddenly he was riding closer to me.  Way too close.  And then he got behind me.  Right behind me.


Little guy:  "You need to eat a lot more, mom."

Me:  "Why?"

Little guy:  "Because you're a lousy windscreen."

Me:  "Wouldn't it be easier if you'd just worn a hoodie?"

Little guy:  "Why?  I'm fine."


I'm pretty sure that someday I'll be right. 

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Santa Strategy Fail

I actually tried something last night...something I'm pretty sure I never even tried when my kids were little.  I hope I didn't, anyway.  You see, the little guy's room was a disaster.  Disgusting, really.  Stuff everywhere, seemingly half of our dishes strewn about his surfaces, and the place just had a smell.  A bad one.  So, after many nice reminders to clean it up, I pulled out the big guns.


Me:  "Santa Claus is watching you.  You better clean that room."

Little guy:  "Let him watch me."


That's what happens when your kid is fifteen, they're no longer a believer, and they're a smart aleck. 


Me:  "Watch me not give you any of your presents tomorrow."

Little guy:  "OK, gee, mom."


That's what happens when your kid is fifteen, they believe your threat, and they give up being a smart aleck for just a moment.


Score?

Mom:  1...I got my way.
Kid:  1...He got to have presents (and a clean room).
Santa:  0...Sorry big guy, can't even give you points for trying.

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Consequences of Sibling Rivalry

Sibling rivalry reared its ugly head today.  And I was with only one of my children.

I was in a dressing room at a store trying on some skinny jeans.  These weren't the run of the mill skinny jeans, these were the skinny jeans.  I pulled them off the hanger feeling quite self-assured and optimistic.  I pulled the left leg on, then the right.  Only the right just barely made it over my heel.  Now I don't have an abnormally enlarged right heel, for some reason that's exactly where they decided to place the big plastic security thingie.  I pulled the pants up to my waist...well, almost...and it became perfectly clear that those jeans were not meant to be worn by the likes of me.

So the process went in reverse.  All was fine until it was time for that right heel.  I was STUCK!  I got my phone out, considered calling my big guy who was actually the reason we were at the store, decided against it, and gave it one more HUGE tug. Success.


On the way home....

Me:  "You don't wear skinny jeans, eh?"

Big guy:  "No."

Me:  "I tried some on when we were there and I couldn't get them off.  I almost called you for help."

Big guy:  "I wouldn't have helped you."

Me:  "You wouldn't have helped me?"

Big guy:  "You would've eventually figured it out."

Me:  "Gee."

Big guy:  "Maybe I would've helped you if you didn't always side with my brother when we're fighting."


Sibling rivalry rearing its ugly head.  I love those guys of mine!

Click here to purchase this painting.

Waste Not, Want Not

I heard a little tip recently.  It was an artsy, fartsy painting tip.  What I heard was that you should never, ever rinse perfectly good paint off of your paintbrush.  Instead, find a piece of paper or a canvas or anything else that is paint-worthy, and just slap it on there.  So I started doing that...all the time.  And it's been so much fun creating stuff from the total random mishmash that is created from the leftovers.

This one I did some printing on top of and then embellished it just a bit.  SO MUCH FUN!

Guess my parents weren't all wrong about that old saying...I didn't waste, and I got what I wanted.  Good stuff!

Click here to purchase this painting.

Silver Linings

Picked my kid up from a sleep over early this afternoon.  He looked blissfully tired...and a bit snarfly, a little heavy on the booger side, stuffed up.

As we drove home I noticed him leaning to the side just a bit.  That lean that makes me think I should roll my window down sooner than later.  That lean that always seems to make my kid ever so happy.


Little guy:  "This is the best thing ever!"

Me:  "What?"  I go ahead and begin rolling my window down.

Little guy:  "I can totally stink up your car and I don't even have to smell it!"


That's my guy, cup always half full, always finding the silver lining...even to mocos verdes.

Click here to purchase this painting.

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