Happiness Blooms from Within

"A flower does not think of competing with

the next flower, it just blooms."

-Anonymous

"Happiness Blooms from Within"

5"x5"

I signed it on the side so the purchaser can decide which way is up.

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.

A Trio of Roses

A trio of roses received is a gift of the words "I love you."

"A Trio of Roses"    2.75"x2.75"

Miniature easel included in the purchase price.

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.

Be an Owl

Being human is exhausting. So be an owl.

Saw that quote today...made me smile. I used to draw a version of this fella all the time years ago. So nice to see him again!

"Be an Owl"

Acrylic and Charcoal

12"x12"

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.

Yellow Rose of Texas 1

I've lived in Texas almost 50 years, and even though her politics make me grouchy at times, I can't help but love this big state of ours. (And, yes, the state being blue...subtle touch, right?...is a dream of mine.)

Stay tuned for more Texas themed art!

"Yellow Rose of Texas 1"

Miniature easel included in the purchase price.

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.

Adding some Whimsy to the Hood

I've been busy with a super fun "little" project. It all started with a fence, a rather dilapidated fence, a fence that we were so hoping would be replaced with a cool new fence by the developer who was building the huge house you can see in the background of the first photo. Well...that didn't happen. So David, our boys, and I tore down the old one and put up a new one.

Our old dilapidated fence.

The guys working on our new fence.

Well, that new fence was screaming "I'm not just a fence, I'm a canvas!!!!" And, not to crush a fence's dreams, we decided to make that happen.

My mock-up of the fence mural.

David and I painted the fence white.

I was so excited I had to snap a shot in the first hour or so of painting.

End of Day 1

A squirrel above me was eating nuts and dropping partial nuts and spit on me. Ew!

End of Day 2

Here I am signing it at the end of day 3.

30' of Flowers

Panoramic video...not sure if this will work on the blog.

If you're in Austin, stop by!

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.

Stepping into Frida's Mind...Beauty, Strength, Pain, and Joy - Part 4

It was an incredible experience painting this. Part of the painting process was learning about Frida's life both before and after her accident. I think that with more than any other painting I've done I felt compelled to do her justice. To show her beauty, strength, pain, and joy. During the process of painting her I noticed that she started as a young Frida and with layer upon layer I embedded her life experiences. Makes me think of the lines and shadows on my own face and the stories they contain within them. I looked at my reflection this evening and honored my own experiences...the beauty, strength, pain, and joy.


Here is my finished piece. And, yes, I added to the name of this painting. It's a painter's prerogative.

"Stepping into Frida's Mind...Beauty, Strength, Pain, and Joy"

And here are the last few stages.

I decided that her lips needed a redo. They
were too close to her nose. I also did
some work on her right eye.

I redid her lips, added yellow to her dress,
and began working on the details of her ear.

I painted in the circle on her forehead. It's
a scene with a skull. Frida's painting is titled
"Thinking about Death".

I worked on the tones of her face
and lowered her chin.

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.

Stepping into Frida's Mind - Part 3

I was sooooooo excited yesterday. I got a set of steak knives for FREE from a grocery story I shop at. (Ironic, I know, since I don't eat meat.) I've been collecting stamps every time I make a purchase and I finally had enough stamps in my booklet to trade them in for the knives. It reminded me of being in charge of sticking all those Green Stamps in the booklets when I was a kid. I think my parents were onto something making their kid lick all that nasty gum on the back of the stamps and making me feel ever so special at the same time.

Well, what I realized after I got home with my FREE knives is that said knives actually cost me $700 in groceries. I seriously earned those knives! And you know what? I'm already saving stickers again because I totally want some kitchen shears. And they'll only cost me $300 in groceries!

...ah, the sweet anticipation.....


I continued working on my Frida painting. To me she's looking like a young Frida. I need to work on her a bit to allow the truth of her pain and life experience to shine through. That will be an emotional process and I'm looking forward to it.

I painted her hair black and worked
 on her eyes and eyebrows. I also
darkened the shadow by her dress
and outlined her neck and shoulders.

I added a layer of skin color which lightened
the shadow by her shirt. I also gave her
eyes a bit of sparkle.

More darkening of her skin.

I did the first layer of paintin the leaves.

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.

Stepping into Frida's Mind - Part 2

I've had new glasses for a couple of weeks now. And get this...not one person has noticed. I guess they're a lot like my old ones. When I was choosing them I suppose change must've seemed scary. Anyway, I took them in today to get them adjusted. They weren't being very kind to the top of my ears. The very nice glasses lady took them, sat down to work with them, and SNAP! Yup, they broke.


Me: "No problem. I can go all dork style and wear them with tape holding them together."


She didn't let me do that, of course, though the prospect had my inner geek a little excited, I must admit. She found another pair that my lenses fit in pretty well and off I went...more hip than dorky, unfortunately.


I continued working on this painting. I'm really enjoying the process with this one.

I started working on some flesh tones. The
original painting seems to have a yellowish
tint to her skin so I'm leaning that direction,
but perhaps I went a bit too yellow. It's just the
first layer. I decided I didn't like her right eye
so I got rid of it. 

After reworking the right eye I decided that I
didn't like either eye. Off they went!

I redid the eyes and I think I'm getting closer,
though don't be surprised if they go again. I
worked a bit on her face,a shadow by her
shirt, the hairline behind her ear, and her eyebrows.

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.

Stepping into Frida's Mind - Part 1

I'm the mom of a high school football player. As such I find myself watching a sport that I'd never in a million years intentionally lay eyes on. Mind you I only watch the game when he's on the field. And by watch, I mean peer through my fingers, wince, and cross my fingers and toes that he doesn't get hurt, all the while aware that I am utterly and completely clueless about any rules of the game.

I talked with my little guy after his last game.


Me: "I was watching you play and I realized that all of you on the field actually want to play."

Little guy: "Uh, yeah, mom."

Me: "Whenever I got on the field when I was a kid I spent my whole time hoping that the ball (or whatever) never, ever headed my way. You're not like that at all."

Little guy: "When were you on the field?"

Me: "In P.E. class."

Little guy: "That wasn't a choice, mom. Everyone on the football team is choosing to be there because we all want to play."

Me: "Oh...."


I think I get it, sort of. I guess it's like how I absolutely love creating art each and every day and my kid hated creating art in the art class he had to take at school. Choice is an awesome thing.


I started a new painting. In the class I'm taking we're now studying Frida Kahlo. I am so excited! I find her absolutely fascinating. Excited to make an attempt at stepping into her painting mind.

I quickly sketched "Thinking About Death".

I added more details and worked on lowering
her left eye so they'd be more even as they
were in the original painting.

I roughed in the background. I'm so excited
to start painting this!

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.

That Summer Feeling

Summer break is officially over for me this evening. Tomorrow I start back at work with a job I absolutely love. (I teach three and four-year-old children with disabilities in case you don't know.) And I'm sitting here reflecting on this amazing summer break I've had...and kind of wondering why it's called a "break" as I've been crazy busy.

- I've done a number of commissioned paintings in addition to my daily painting.

- I trained a bunch of wonderful new teachers.

- I've had an exhibit of my paintings.

- I started my fifth year of painting and blogging daily.

- I've taken two painting classes.

- I received a diagnosis that is fixable by surgery (that'll happen really soon).

- I helped my oldest son pack and move out of our house.

- I got my hair cut shorter than it's been in many, many years.

- I started painting much bigger.

- I learned how to do minor surgery on my chickens' feet.

I'm thinking there's more, but those are the things that pop into my blissfully exhausted little head.

What a grand summer it's been!


This is a sweet little practice piece from a class I'm taking. I love the warm summery feeling it has.

"That Summer Feeling"

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

Little Blue

If this painting looks familiar, there's a really good reason why.

When the rains caused flooding in Texas recently, a sweet little guy lost everything in his room when the water took over his house. One of those things was one of my paintings. So this is my redo. Little Blue is back and ready to sing!

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!

Birthday Bouquet

So today's my birthday. It's true!


Dave: "I thought about buying you flowers for your birthday...but then I didn't. Does thinking about it count?"

Me: "Totally. And, anyway, I'd much rather go out to eat than have flowers any day."


They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but that's absolutely goes for me, too. I think I hear some veggie enchiladas calling my name!


Here's to the start of another trip around the sun!!!

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!

Blue on Blue

I did some jean patching today. It's the sort of thing that's in my sewing skill set.

Dave loves his jeans. He loves them so much that he's rarely, if ever, willing to part with them. So when his beloved jeans get a hole in them, well, I patch 'em. And patch 'em. And patch 'em. One of the jeans is pretty new on the wear scene and it now only sports one patch. Another has two. But the current granddaddy has eight patches. Eight! And those patches are all different shades of blue. And those jeans are my husband's favorite.

And I love this about him.

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!

Fall Leaves

I spent quite a while out in the chicken yard this morning. I was raking all of the fall leaves. Yes, fall. As in those leaves have been there for several months. Anyway, all the leaves were making it so grass couldn't grow, and our chickens love grass, so they had to go.

And I tell you what, raking around chickens is pretty much a comedy show. I'd rake a beautiful pile and move on to another part of the yard where I'd rake another beautiful pile. The thing is, while I'd be raking the second pile, the chickens were quietly being quite busy turning my first pile into about eight small piles.

Adorable...I love my girls!

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 Flowery and Fabulous

I finally finished a project I started back in December. Lucky for me, my family is completely groovy about me taking over our hallway as my own personal canvas. Here, after a two month delay due to I don't know how many distractions and a small dose of laziness, is our air conditioner closet door!!

Stop by and check it out!

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

(though not this one as it's attached to my house).

 

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

Waiting Blissfully

I took my little guy and my niece to an ice skating rink the other day. I didn't skate because, well, basically I'm a wimp. I don't like to be cold. Ice skates make my feet hurt. And most of all, I don't like to fall on really hard surfaces (which always happens).

But those young'uns had a blast. And while they skated seemingly endless ovals, I blissfully waited, watched, and videotaped. Good times were had by all.


I drew this piece back in October when I was visiting my brother's family and I accidentally left this and one more drawing. My adorable niece found them and when they came last week they brought them. It was so much fun painting it after all this time!

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!

A Wee Little Bit of Home Improvement...Kali Style

Because drawing, painting, and glittering flowers by day isn't enough for me (I've been doing this, here...check it out!), and because my family is super cool about me turning parts of our house into a canvas...well, I painted a door in our hallway.

I keep threatening offering to paint my teenage boys' doors, too, but thus far they've turned me down. Ya, I don't get it either.

While I'm not selling this door, you might be able to talk me into painting one of your doors.

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!

Through the Rain

It poured last night.  A lot.  And at about three in the morning I heard some rustling in my bedroom which kind of freaked me out because there's been a need for a lot of police activity a couple of doors down lately.  But thankfully, it was just Dave arriving home from Forth Worth after a night with Senator Wendy Davis. 

And being the awesome wife that I am, today I admonished him for driving through the rain and coming home so early because, after all, of all the women I'd be OK with Dave spending the night with, Wendy Davis is pretty much the highest amongst 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!

Entrepreneurial Spirit

So the little guy and his friend have been selling drinks and other stuff in our front yard during the Austin City Limits Music Festival.  They've been making money in the way that you'd expect...but a little while ago my kiddo came in carrying a banana peel.


Little guy:  "Someone paid me a dollar to throw this in our trash."

Me:  "Groovy!"

Little guy:  "Do we have any more ice?"

Me:  "Just what's in the freezer."

Little guy:  "Good!  Someone wants to buy ice so they can make a margarita."


Loving these little entrepreneurs!!

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!