Does it Run in Families?

You know, I've been wondering...have I ever told you about my brother? My brother the artist? No? Well then, let me tell you about him now ~



His name is Robert Karr, and although he is very well known within the realms of aviation art, (calendars, model box tops, book covers and gallery showings) his talents go well beyond the Wild Blue Yonder.

His airbrushed paintings of airplanes are clean, precise and as close to perfect as an actual photograph. Would you like to have a look? Here's his website The Aviation Art of Robert Karr. Please, have a look at his blog as well: RK's Pfalzhood.

The galleries on his blog are amazing. Here is a sample of some of his 2-D art.
(I especially adore the nose art section).

Now ~ have a look inside his fabulous 3-D Gallery. It is chock full of unexpected art sculptures. For those of you who may remember the band Cheap Trick, you really need to have a look here.

Robert has a fabulous amount of aviation art to offer anyone who may have an interest in flight...maybe a WWI or WWII fanatic? There are originals for sale on his blog as well as limited edition Lithos and Giclee Prints.

Also, have a look at his beautiful box of Christmas Cards offered this year.

As you can tell, Robert's world is a mixture of realism and surrealism. From picture perfect Aviation art to dancing Vikings...giant eyeballs, rock bands, and miniature cafes.

So, although my art world and Robert's art world are quite different, I thought maybe some of my blog friends may know someone that enjoys Aviation art. Maybe a grandpa or dad, a husband, boyfriend or brother. Maybe even yourself. Keep in mind that Robert's prints are priced very reasonably and would make a truly fabulous and unique Christmas gift for the Aviation fan in your life.

Thanks so very much for having a look at my brother's truly amazing art work:

Kim
Gerushia's New World

Down With the Flu

Well, Good Morning:

This is the first day I've attempted to do anything at the computer in over a week. My family and I have been nursing a terrible case of the flu. Horrible actually! It came into my home almost a month ago, riding in with my husband. What started with a little scratchy throat turned out to be a nasty and long-lived stretch of the flu that has found it's way around to my whole family. For some, including myself, the very worst of it was the constant aches. Especially in the hips and legs. For others, it was the throat. My daughter's throat was so painful, she slept with ice packs on the outside of her neck. And....as often follows with my daughter, the flu invited a secondary sinus infection, and she is now on antibiotics.

So, as you can imagine, I've been "good for nothing" for over a week. I'm finally coming around, though. Yesterday, my daughter and I ventured out for the first time and saw "Where the Wild Things Are". We were both brought to tears and thoroughly creeped out! All in all, we liked it, as it is a very familiar story in our home.

I did dabble around with my "Dancing Fiona" piece a few days ago. I've wanted to do something in black and white with a pop of red for some time now. So, I decided to play around with Fiona. She has always been my most popular piece in color....



so now, I'm offering her in black and white....



Fiona in black and white can be found in My Etsy Shop.

Oh, and since I really couldn't do anything more than plop around on my couch, I did manage to read 3 books while I was sick.

I think we're all coming out of it for the most part. Technically, we are no longer contagious, as we have all gone fever free for 24 hours without medicine.

Honestly, take it from me, do all you can to keep this hideous bug out of your house and home.

Kim
Gerushia's New World

The Apple Jar

Oh such a lovely Autumn morning. With the majority of Halloween decorations taken down, it's easy to savor the simpleness of November.

A happy pumpkin sign to greet visitors...



Magnificent banana yellow Chrysanthemums are alive on the front porch...



In the quietness of the Halloween aftermath, I finally started a wee project for myself. A project that I've been hoping to start for some time now ~ an Apple Jar...



Some folks may call them "Nonsense Jars" or "Treasure Jars". Mine is an Apple Jar. I fell in love with the idea of an old jar full of treasured goodies when I read about it at A Fanciful Twist.



I decided to call my Treasure Jar an Apple Jar because it's filled with little things that are hugely meaningful to me....they are the apples of my eyes...



Little pigs that found their way to the bottom of my Christmas stocking many years back...



A very old little glass figurine that was given to my mom by my best friend's grandmother ~ they are both gone now...



My own baby shoe, one of my mom's hair curlers and the little old scissors that my mom kept in her sewing machine box. Even an old strand of red glass beads that belonged to my dad when he was a wee little boy...



These sentimental treasures often find their way to the very back of my dresser drawers. Most times, I come across them while looking for something else. There they remain, hidden away, safely but out of sight. So, from now on, when I come across one of these old and dear keepsakes, I will put them in a jar. They truly deserve to be out in the open. They should be looked at and appreciated every day, as they remind us of little pieces of our past...glimpses of our heritage...tiny smile makers viewed through a glass jar. The Apple Jar.

Kim
Gerushia's New World

The Unexpected Day

What a lovely and quiet morning it is. I am the only one that has found my way out of bed so far. I've just poured my second cup of coffee and am deciding what to do with the day ahead. You see, I had plans today, certain plans like purchasing a few more pumpkins for carving tonight, going to the grocery and things such as that. Now, I've had a change in plans, an unexpected day is ahead. It looks like my trusty automobile is in need of a new battery and is refusing to start, so, I am sort of "stuck" here for the day. You want to know a secret? I'm a wee bit glad of it. Now, I have a perfectly legitimate excuse for staying home. A whole lovely day ahead to do all kinds of fun things.

I've already had a slow and chilly walk about my yard this morning. I've discovered that my hill holds a feast for the neighborhood birds, as the Firethorn offers up a large portion of red berries....



I took notice this morning that my blue garden gate could use a new coat of paint. The scratch, scratch, scratch marks at the bottom of the gate are from Junior (my mini-schnauzer) trying to dig his way through to the garden....



Ooopsie....looks like my birdhouse could use a new coat of paint as well....



Out front, the Liquidambers are showing a hint of Autumn warmth...



Earlier this morning, I finished off the last little bite of "Nutella Rolls" that my daughter made ~ Scrumptious and decadent...





These quiet days at home allow me to really see and appreciate all the small things, like my old cat Bonzo just up from a morning nap...



Quiet time in my almost finished studio...



Sparkly Jack-O-Lantern faces...



Old friends and new...



I adore pulling out my seasonal "vintage ephemera" for decorations...



So many comforting and familiar sights all about. It's easy to overlook these things when I'm oh so busy. So today I will "stop and smell the roses"...



Uh Oh, there are terrible and sweet temptations as well...



A huge cauldron full of goodies just waiting for the Trick-or-Treaters tomorrow night....



Let's hope that, after my day at home, there will be a few pieces of chocolate left for the costumed kids tomorrow night!!

Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World

Secrets Under The Blood Moon

Hello There...it's so good to be back. I believe it's been just slightly over a week since my last visit.

I've been busy working in my studio, as I have two custom pieces to finish. You see, these pieces are very dear to me, as the photos that I am working with are family photos. My dear aunt ( my mom's sister ) who passed away exactly a month to the date after my mom passed, is the focal point for these compositions.



They are to be gifted to my cousin, ( her son ). But, woe is me, I am having a terrible bout of "artist's block". Maybe it's because the pieces are so close to me. I've painted the backgrounds and then re-painted the backgrounds. I've introduced images and re-introduced images...still, I'm not satisfied. So, this weekend, I decided to work on something less personal, to rest my frustration and, hopefully, to find my direction.

It's been a couple of years since the last time I created an ACEO. This particular piece is a bit different, as I have used a neutral background, which allows the integrity of the old photos to hold their places. The neutral-ness also allows the "blood moon" (or Hunter's Moon) to take a bow as well. It's hard to believe, but this is my 210th ACEO. I really prefer to work at 4" x 6" or 5" x 7", but ACEOs are a good way to train the eye to utilize small format bases.

I titled this piece "Secrets Under the Blood Moon". I adore the idea of the Blood moon, which is an alternate name for Hunter's moon, the first full moon after the Harvest Moon. Seems rather fitting this time of year.



You can find this piece in print form at Gerushia's New World.

Now is a great time to sample some ACEO prints, as I'm having a "Buy One Get One Free" sale until the end of October.

Until Next Time, which I solemnly promise not to brutally market my self,
Kim
Gerushia's New World

Transformations

In honor of Vanessa's Hauntingly Magical Celebration ~~

Although the calendar clearly says that Autumn is upon us, my little front garden refused to believe. The stubborn Impatiens continued to throw their colorful confetti of pinks with all their hearts...



But alas ~ a swap for happy orange Jack - O - Lanterns...



and creepy crawly spiders was in order....




The lush and cool hues that thrived in the ever-present terra cotta pots...



have transformed into grim and sullen arrangements....



Halloween rocks with their playful expressions...





and morbid wounds...



line the concrete path.



But wait ~ the transformation continues indoors, with black iron Candelabras...



bleeding ghastly red wax...



The mantelpiece is ablaze with the warmth of the season. Happy pumpkin faces galore...



And our holiday mascot sits amongst the other Halloween characters...



patiently waiting for December, when Mr. Skellington will perch upon the tip-top of our family room Christmas Tree.

Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World