Looking back at 2012

Shadow Walk 6, winner of the 2012 Edward Hopper House Small Matters of Great Importance show.

6 x 6 inch, oil on panel. © 2012 Kathleen Coy

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 Despite my best intentions, it hasn't been easy to find time to keep my studio blog up-to-date while painting every day and maintaining my daily painting blog, so I'll fill you in - it's been a very busy and exciting year - I started my painting-a-day project in April, and to date have painted 176 daily paintings, plus 21 additional paintings (mainly commissions and larger works). As my style developed, I felt confident enough to enter, and go on to win, the small works show at the Edward Hopper house in New York - a huge honor! I studied for a week with the incredible Karin Jurick at Hilton Head Island, and had a painting accepted into the Randy Higbee Gallery small works show in Costa Mesa, California this december, where my entry was purchased by one of their collectors. To top it all off, 66 of my paintings have sold this year. I feel incredibly blessed...

Steppin' Out, Randy Higbee Gallery 6 Squared show.

6 x 6 inch oil on panel, © 2012 Kathleen Coy

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Self-Portrait in Winter, 4 x 4 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

NFS. My first self-portrait. Read about it here.

To my friends, family, and supporters, your encouragement and kind words have meant the world, and help keep me going on days when the workload feels overwhelming. Your understanding of how focused I’ve had to be this year is much appreciated. It’s been a very stressful year in some ways, but it’s also been the best year of my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support, and I wish for a year of beauty, creativity, inspiration and joy for us all in 2013.

A Pair of Collies

Memory Oak Victory is Mine. Aka, Refund.
10 x 10 inch oil on linen, © 2012 Kathleen Coy

I can't believe it's been so long since I've updated this blog. I am posting five days a week on my daily painting blog, however, so if you haven't checked that out in a while, there are lots of goodies to be seen there.

Here are a pair of Collies I was commissioned to paint. Both highly accomplished show dogs. Since these boys are local, I had the pleasure of meeting them in person. I was immediately struck by their poise and good looks - they were like a pair of supermodels.

DreamHearts Golden Opportunity at Memory Oak, AKA Brodie. 
10 x 10" oil on linen, © 2012 Kathleen Coy

Both paintings are 10 x 10 inches, oil on Belgian linen.

New painting - Greyhound in the snow.

Bully in the Snow, 7 x 5 inch oil on panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

My daily painting practice is helping me develop a looser style that I like very much. I painted this little gem today for an upcoming auction for GALT - Greyhound Adoption League of Texas, a wonderful organization that does so much for greyhounds in need, providing medical care and foster homes for these beautiful, sensitive dogs.

Some of you may recognize this dog. It's Bully, of Bully'n Nelson fame. A big thank you to Bully's mom, for letting me paint her beautiful boy. I hope this painting raises much needed funds to help the hounds.

A Puppy Commission!

Ruth, 14 x 11 inch oil on linen panel

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

Yes, and not only a puppy commission, but a Rat Terrier puppy commission! This is Ruth, and she is four months old. What a face! This painting was so much fun, from her little name tag to her wee nose to the ornery look in her eye. I love it all.

Here are a few work in progress photos:

I hope you enjoyed this painting as much as I did! 

For more cute Rat Terrier art, there's a new painting of Cloud on my daily painting blog today:

http://katsdailypaintings.blogspot.com/2012/05/day-26.html

Much love,

Thank you! And more thoughts on the portrait of K

I am overwhelmed by the comments that were left on both my blog and KB's blog regarding K's portrait, Seize the Day. I appreciate each and every one of them, thank you all so much!

There were two comments posted on KB's blog post that I would like to share:

From houdstooth:

"...There are times when we all feel helpless as we watch someone we care about go through a difficult struggle. Being able to do "something" is the way a lot of people try to feel better about a situation they can't change. You and K have brought inspiration to so many people, I'm so glad that we could repay you in some small way for sharing her (and yourself) with all of us!"


Knowing that my art can be the "something" that makes people feel better and brings them together means the world to me. There is nothing more rewarding than that.


From TK and Squashies:

"KB,

This blog has always been a masterpiece. You have painted K's essence, with your amazing love, empathy, and prose.

How could we not know K's spirit?

To have the ability, the talent and the empathy to capture that spirit in a single image, is beyond my comprehension. But we I stand, spell-bound, in the presence of Kathleen's work.

When two great masters of perception come together- this is the result. I am humbled and honored to have been here to observe.

THANK YOU, to three great ladies for reminding me of what is important. And what is not."

This is exactly what happened. I had more than just a photo of a beautiful dog to work from. I had KB's entire blog to work from - I knew her hopes and fears, and K's moods and joy for life. I felt all of that weave itself effortlessly into the painting, and the video. It was a very humbling experience.

The blog community is just that - a community. And it's an honor to be a part of it.

Thank you everyone again for your kind comments. I wish I had time to visit each blog individually to thank you. 

Much love to you all,

Seize the Day

Seize the Day, 16 x 20 inch, oil on canvas

© 2012 Kathleen Coy

When I was commissioned for a surprise painting of K from the blog Romping and Rolling in the Rockies, I was truly honored. This inspiring blog is a favorite of mine for many reasons - the dogs, the scenery, the wildlife, and the heartfelt writing.

For those who don't know, K is a chocolate lab who reminds us about living in the moment and enjoying each day to the fullest, despite her frightening health concerns. (Animals are such great teachers!) The author of this beautifully written and fascinating blog shares her bittersweet journey with the world, and I appreciate her courage.

When I say it was an honor to paint K, I truly mean that. It was an honor to be thought of by the blog community to paint this gift, to know that I was chosen to create something with such meaning for her family. And I hope, along with all those involved with this surprise, that this painting will help to ease some of the pain and bring comfort to all who love K.

The painting shows K facing into the sunset, giving her fur a reddish glow that her human loves. The look on her face is pure K, and can be summed up by one phrase: Carpe Diem!!

I was inspired to make a pretty epic (for me) video of the process. I think the only thing missing is car chases and explosions. All kidding aside, I enjoy making these painting videos. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Be sure to have your speakers on!

Here's the direct link to the video: http://vimeo.com/40682331

Much love,

New project, a painting a day!

No posts since January doesn't mean I haven't been busy. I'll post some updates soon, but I wanted to let you know about a new project I've started - a painting a day for a year! WHY??? You can read about it on my new daily painting blog:

http://katsdailypaintings.blogspot.com/

I hope you'll follow along with me on the journey.

Much love,

New horse painting: Isis and Cerus

Isis and Cerus, 30 x 24" oil on canvas

© 2011 Kathleen Coy

I had so much fun painting these two beautiful horses. This pair is a mother and son, and the painting was commissioned by a new collector as a gift to his wife. I was told she cried for five minutes after opening it. I love hearing stories like that, it means a great deal to know that my work makes people happy.

This painting is fairly large, so I've included a few close up shots to show the detail and texture:

And if you'd like to see how the painting came to be, I've made a time lapse video of the progress. I hope you enjoy it!

Much love,