Healing 2

"I go to nature to soothed, healed, and have my senses put in order."

-John Burroughs

"Healing 2"

Mixed Media

$125

48"x30" on canvas

My original paintings are available in my online gallery.

  I welcome commissions.

Please click the links below to share my blog.

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.

Lost in Thought

So I'm sitting here lost in thought at a coffee shop just wondering what I'll blog about today, when all of a sudden I notice that the amazing cinnamon roll thingie that Dave got us has the most crazy curly peaks at the tips at the top. It's kind of an odd cinnamon roll to explain, but suffice it to say that it would fit in in a mild version of a Dr. Seuss book. And then my mind wandered to the painting I did today and then all I could think about were the curly tips of the woman's hair. And the sugar and herbal tea must be getting to m because all I can think of is that my painting and the roll must have come from the same awesome alternative universe or something.

And now I know for sure that I'm not going to eat the last bite.

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!

Fabulously Adorable

On my birthday earlier this week we went out to eat for dinner. It was fabulous family fun. But the fun was not limited to our table. Nope. Because all of a sudden a straw wrapper flew through the air and hit my kid in the neck. All four of us turned to look where it had come from and there was this fabulously adorable curly-haired chick. She caught our gaze and put her head on the table.

Me: "Don't worry about it, I've totally done the same thing before."

She raised her head and smiled in relief. And then she giggled with her equally adorable boyfriend who had obviously been the target of that errant straw wrapper.

Young love...as delicious as the enchiladas I ate that night.

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!

Staring Down

It wasn't my intention. It really wasn't. But...

The first thing I painted on my hallway graffiti wall was this creature...and it happens to be right outside my oldest son's door. Now I rather like this creature, but I'm thinking that in the middle of the night when my kid gets up to go to the bathroom and sleepily heads back to his room, that this thing staring at him might just be a tad startling as it stares him down.

Sorry, kiddo, I'll make the next thing a tad more welcoming.

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!

Poops, they Did it Again

Yup.  Once again I've been pooped on by a bird.  And not one of my own birds either.  I was just innocently sitting outside of a coffee shop when...SPLAT!  It somehow managed to hit both of my legs at once.


Little guy:  "That's pretty great mom!"

Dave:  "You got blessed!"

Little guy:  "That's funny!"


And I most definitely do feel blessed.  But I'd be OK with the universe spreading the blessing love around just a tad.

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!

What Sleep Brings

So the little guy has been attending a summer fitness camp thing.  I would have thought that he'd be raring to go in the mornings...you know, wake up easily, jump out of bed, gleefully get ready, happily eat a hearty breakfast, and give me a hug, kiss, and "I love you" when I dropped him off (after all, I'm getting up super early for his summer thing, too.).  But, no.  We grog our way through all those steps and I merely receive a grunt when I tell him "I love you!" at drop off.

But today we were rewarded with a little whimsy, a bit of humor as the fairies and elves had obviously been up to mischief whilst we slept.

The kid got up (after multiple requests).

The kid got dressed (under duress).

The kid ate one fourth of a bagel (with minimal resistance).

And as we walked out the door and he was shoving his phone in his shorts, "Hey, there's a teeny, tiny sock in my pocket!" And he tossed my sock on the table.


...and I just smiled figuring I'd keep the fairies and elves that live in our house my own little secret.

Click here to purchase this piece.

 

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

Examining the Data

I have to say that I find something very interesting.  I live with three fellas and the microwave at our house is a serious disaster.  Despite the fact that we have two microwave dome covers that live on top of our microwave, the inside of our microwave looks like a gruesome scene from "Dexter"...splatters everywhere...ceiling, sides, door, circular tray...disgusting. 

Now, the microwave in my classroom is used by me and the lovely woman with whom I'm lucky enough to work.  We use it each and every school day, all school year long, and on the last day of school we don't every have to clean it because it is pristine.  Note:  we do not have a microwave dome cover.

Hmmmm...I'm not quite sure what to conclude from this. 

This is part of my Hallway Project.  More little friends keep showing up!

Click here to check out my gallery.

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

Axe Awesomeness

The fastest and easiest way to get your kid to do manual labor is to offer a tool to go along with it.  And what is the most desirable tool ever?  Well, from the data I've collected it's absolutely, positively an axe. 

Give the kid a rake and ask him to fill the bags with leaves and the reception is cool at best.

Give the kid an axe and ask him to chop up all the branches you've trimmed and you've got the most amazing, manic, obsessive worker ever.

You're welcome.

This is part of my Hallway Project.

Click here to check out my gallery.

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.

Hooked on Mints

My kid has a problem.  And I suppose I only have myself to blame.  While I can't control what he thinks and does (like ever!), I was likely the one who first exposed him.

Yes, my little guy is apparently hooked on mints.  It started with Tic-Tacs, then moved to those curiously strong Altoids.  Around Christmas he switched to some organic vegan mints that I gave him.  (At least that's a little better, right?)  Yes, I'm officially his supplier, it seems.

And all of that would be just fine if he consumed perhaps ten or fifteen a day.  But, no.  The kid has consumed up to fifty in an hour.  When one mint is just down to a wee little nub, he pops another in his mouth.  He's a chain minter, that fresh breathed, goofy kid of mine.

Click here to purchase this painting.

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.

In Need of Support

So my little guy went out in drag for Halloween this year.  And while he got to have the delightful freedom that a skirt allows, he also go to experience an issue that is not so delightful.


Little guy:  "That bra you had me wearing didn't hold these up."  He held up the roller derby socks I'd "enhanced" him with.

Me:  "Not enough support, eh?"

Little guy:  Yeah, they kept popping out."

Me:  "Yup, it happens."


Super mom here...doing my part to bring up a man with empathy.

Click here to purchase this painting.

Collaborative Art

Most of the time I do my art on my own.  No help.  No input.  But the other night as I sat at our kitchen table sketching and painting, I had my kid's new little kitten keeping me company.  He licked a bit at my brush water before I could stop him.  He bumped my brush as I was laying paint down.  He walked on my painting as it was drying.  And after a while he fell asleep partly on my pallet.

He was the best collaborative partner EVER!

Check out our work!

Click here to purchase this painting.

My Collaborative Partner

Thanks for "liking" my blog posts!!

Like Father, Like Son

So the big guy cracked me up.  Like I said yesterday, he brought home a sweet little kitten from the pound.  The little fella is awesome, we're in love, it's all good.

But the whole "get a pet and surprise the family with it" thing?  Well, I can't exactly hold it against my big guy...it's a family trait after all.  A paternal one, that is.  Both of our dogs arrived at the house as surprises, Dave grinning ear-to-ear holding two of the sweetest little puppies ever.


Big guy:  "I pulled a dad."  Grinning ear-to-ear.

Click here to purchase this painting.

Thanks for "liking" my blog posts!!

Sentimental Sunday

Been having a sentimental Sunday 'round here.  With my big guy entering college and my little guy starting high school next week, as in just seven days from now, I keep thinking of the little boogers they once were...as I look up at them now towering over me...and I'm absolutely confident that they'll each be brilliant and amazing in their owns way.  I mean with a history of such deep thoughts, how could they not be?


My little guy who once inquired, "Was [big guy] zero when he came out of your privates?"

and..."Dump trucks must cuss a lot because of all the beeping sounds."


My big guy who had a great idea after receiving his glasses prescription for a weakness in only one eye, "Can I just get a unicle?"

and..."I ate a big, big, big, big booger in the bathroom!!"


I'm so excited for them!  And can't wait to hear what they say next!

Why yes, of course, this is supposed to be me and my boys.

Click here to purchase this painting.

Thanks for "liking" my blog posts!!