Ink Blot Paint Spot

Layers

2011-02-21T15:48:00.003-07:00

This week's topic on Illustration Friday is "layer", and even though I tried to make myself do something more grand like geological layers, or layers of meaning, all I could really think of was cake layers. Oh well, paint what you know!

Sweater

2011-02-14T11:04:00.002-07:00

For Illustration Friday "sweater", but most of all, Happy Valentine's Day!

Reverse

2011-02-07T17:10:00.001-07:00

for Illustration Friday, "reverse"

New Name

2011-02-06T14:53:00.004-07:00

You may notice that instead of Kristin Elder, I'm now Kristin Kwan! I actually got married to my wonderful husband back in 2007, but because of indecision, apathy, and immigration have only just now changed my name. So don't be confused, I'm still the same me, just with a new last name. I've updated my website, which is now kristinkwan.com, so make sure to update your bookmarks.

R

2011-01-25T11:23:00.000-07:00

A big red R for the new year. I think it might be a red letter year.

Goldfinches

2010-12-15T13:58:00.001-07:00

I just finished this painting for my mother-in-law's birthday, which I am ashamed to say was last month. Sorry Mum!

2010-11-24T12:27:00.001-07:00

out of my sketchbook today

2010-11-21T14:37:00.001-07:00

sketchydoodle for today

Scanner

2010-11-05T13:33:00.002-06:00

My old scanner decided to call it quits, which was sad. But I'm pretty excited because I now have a new scanner! It's a monster. See how it dwarfs the little printer beneath.

And here's a sneak peak of what's coming down the pipeline.

New Growth

2010-10-31T10:58:00.001-06:00

I found this in my sketchbook and realized I had meant to post it, but never did.

Back in town

2010-10-28T19:15:00.005-06:00

Hi folks. This summer has been a difficult one with the death of my father-in-law, and I've been gone a lot, so I haven't been posting. But I'm back in town and should stay planted for awhile. When we got back I took out the things I had been working on and realized this painting was done. I guess it just needed some time to sit. It's called Contingency Plan.

2010-07-07T23:27:00.001-06:00

Pollen

2010-07-02T13:14:00.001-06:00

I had fun with the last pollen drawing and thought I had better do another.

Crystalline

2010-06-30T10:42:00.000-06:00

The Sisters

2010-06-28T21:10:00.002-06:00

Tree House

2010-06-25T18:01:00.004-06:00

Haven't you always wanted a tree house. Don't you think all the time spent in it would be lovely and carefree. Think again! I'm pining for Mad Men.

Flora

2010-06-23T17:13:00.001-06:00

My little painting for today, "Flora." It will be added to my Etsy shop soon.

Ripple

2010-06-16T14:50:00.002-06:00

I made this little drawing for Illustration Friday, "Ripple." This week's topic is being done in collaboration with another blog in an effort to raise money to help the animal victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Head on over to the Ripple Sketches Blog to find out how to donate and receive this sketch in the mail.

the temple

2010-06-11T14:39:00.002-06:00

And here for you today is a page from my sketchbook.

2010-06-09T18:51:00.002-06:00

Today I made this little painting of our cat Vinnie and worked on another of my bird Milo.

Red Rider

2010-05-10T16:32:00.002-06:00

Fearless

2010-05-08T18:12:00.000-06:00

For Illustration Friday: Fearless!

2010-05-06T16:08:00.000-06:00

Some curly quotes for you. I guess it's doodles day.

2010-05-06T11:35:00.003-06:00

My dear husband is very busy these days building a house for us. Yes, this is a photo from the future!

Vanity

2010-05-03T20:47:00.001-06:00

Today's little painting is called "Vanity."

Shop

2010-05-03T12:22:00.004-06:00

Well I'm excited to say I've opened shop on Etsy. I'll be selling small paintings and drawings, stop by! Lots more will be coming soon.

link

cocoon

2010-04-30T21:25:00.000-06:00

for illustration friday, "cocoon"

2010-04-29T20:32:00.003-06:00

This is my little offering for the day. I'm calling it "night garden."

Grosbeak

2010-04-28T22:29:00.003-06:00

Today I saw a rose-breasted grosbeak outside on the bird feeder. It was such a nice surprise. I saw them in Ontario, and I associate them with the woods. This is the first time I've seen one here in New Mexico.

2010-04-26T20:38:00.001-06:00

I'm fairly sure flower fairies wear tennis shoes in their off hours.

Currently under the brush

2010-04-21T16:51:00.002-06:00

Here's a little close-up of the painting I'm working on right now.

A big piece of paper

2010-04-20T09:46:00.002-06:00

I'm so excited. I had ordered and yesterday received this paper from Dick Blick. I'm excited because this is one BIG piece of watercolor paper. It's a bit over 4 feet wide and it's 30 feet long. I'm going to paint some nice big watercolors. Move over oils!

Irises

2010-04-17T15:03:00.002-06:00

Aren't these just the prettiest things? They are the first this year, and I was greedy and had to have them inside with me.

a little closer

Salmon Anders

2010-04-16T15:35:00.003-06:00

This morning during a spirited discussion with my husband about the relative toothedness of certain animals, I made a very thorough mispronunciation of salamander. It came out as samonander, which David thought was funny. Out of this tongue tie was born Mr. Salmon Anders.

Mr. Salmon Anders is recently retired. He worked all his life as an accountant in an obscure firm. We decided he lives at 107 Creek Lane, and spends his winters in a condominium on Oceanic Avenue.

He is now pursuing woodworking in his golden years.

This is his wife, Salmon Ella. She is a bit past her prime, but can still make a lovely batch of cookies. Just don't eat the raw dough, I would not trust it.

2010-04-15T13:14:00.001-06:00

Firebird

My new(ish) studio

2010-04-13T14:59:00.003-06:00

My husband and I are building a house, and while we are building we are domiciled in magnificent state at L'hotel d'parents (that is, my parents house). My father in law is helping us build and is staying in the room I usually paint in, so I have moved my little operation out into the foyer, which is turning out to be quite nice. I always wish for the perfect time and place to paint, but it always turns out the perfect time is now, and the perfect place is here.

2010-04-06T18:00:00.002-06:00

Remember to never smoke while you sleep.

Double Dip

2010-04-05T14:14:00.002-06:00

Well I guess the ol' blog has been pretty dead of late, but I am reviving it right now! My dear husband gave me another sketch assignment, so I'm going to use that as fuel for the blog. And I figure while I'm at it I might as well participate in Illustration Friday too, so here is my post for this week's topic "dip", or shall we say double dip.

A thousand tiny brushstrokes

2010-01-06T15:38:00.003-07:00

I've been working on this painting for quite a while now, or shall I say not working on this painting for quite a while now, and it has been giving me many guilt pangs. But I started it up again earlier this week, and this afternoon have been really enjoying myself. This is what I see when I work on it, because to reach across a big sheet of paper like this, I have to twist it upside down or sideways sometimes.

Sometimes it's easy to think that making art is all about the Grand Gesture, or the Next Big Idea. But I find when I start to get hung up on those things, I just get hung up altogether and stop painting. I have to remember that it's not about making one huge masterpiece for all time, but about making a thousand tiny brushstrokes, lovingly and happily repeated over and over.

2010-01-04T22:11:00.004-07:00

Well I hope everyone had grand holidays and is ready for a brand new decade. This is actually my golden year, and it is starting out nicely. I just had a lovely, relaxing evening watching Columbo and sketching. Now off to bed.

Missing My Dearie

2009-11-16T23:45:00.004-07:00

I'm away from home visiting my sister, who is now the proud mother of an adorable little girl; but I am away from my husband David for a whole month, and I miss him so much. Awhile back I came into our room to go to bed and the lights were all off, and David had a flashlight and laserpointer and his camera out. We had fun making pictures and messages with them. This is my best one. I miss you David.

Stitching

2009-10-31T11:05:00.003-06:00

If you've been wondering what Kristin has been working on the last few days, here's the answer. A baby mobile for my niece who will arrive in this world any day now! I'll post a picture of the mobile when it's done and hanging above the crib. Hopefully I can do that before I post the picture of my niece, but we'll see.

A Sketch for Today

2009-10-15T21:43:00.004-06:00

A wedding crasher of sorts

The Proof

2009-09-11T15:47:00.005-06:00

Well, I'm alive and here's the proof. I (and my husband) have been busy getting his greencard and then moving his things down from Canada. Boy is that ever a chore. But now it is over and we are living happily ever after. And I'm starting a new painting too.

And for a big bonus for waiting so long for this post, here's David and me in a cave!

Reading by Catlight

2009-06-07T18:30:00.004-06:00

David and I going to be moving in a little bit. I've run out of watercolor paper, and I don't get any more until we are moved, so I am reduced to using leftover scraps. I am literally "reduced", this piece of paper was only 3 1/4 by 6 inches. But that's a good thing I suppose, as it's not really the time to start a big new project right before moving. Soon we'll be settled in, and I think there will be a nice fat order going out to Dick Blick then.

2009-06-02T15:53:00.002-06:00

I went for a walk in the woods today, and as always there were many nice surprises waiting for me.

This frog reminded me of an Easter egg the way he was hidden in the grass.

Cherry Blossoms the sequel

2009-05-31T15:57:00.003-06:00

Here it is all finished up. Now I'm going out for a walk.

tofu

2009-05-27T15:13:00.003-06:00

I love Pieter Bruegel and I also love tofu. I think Bruegel must have loved tofu too, don't you think?

Cherry Blossom

2009-05-26T15:59:00.003-06:00

I'm working on this painting for a friend. She got married (a little while ago, I hate to admit), and I had promised her a long time ago that on the event of her marriage, she would receive from me a painting. I'm about half-way through painting it at this point. I was going to post it when I finished it, but my dear father (yes you), one of my biggest but most impatient fans, is always asking me when I will post something new and always complaining about what a long time ago it was that I last posted, so consider this a special sneak preview curtesy of dad!

Springtimey Goodness

2009-05-19T09:03:00.001-06:00

I'm trying to soak in as much springtime as possible before it leaves.

Kokeshi up close

2009-05-18T18:55:00.003-06:00

Here are some better photos of my doll. Kokeshi are traditionally painted with a few spare lines for the face, and floral patterns on the body. I really love the way the Japanese kokeshi look, but I wanted to do something that would reflect some of my heritage too, so I gave mine a hispanic flair.

Kokeshi

2009-05-17T16:34:00.003-06:00

I'm excited to be part of the exhibit KOKESHI: From Folk Art to Art Toy. A kokeshi is a traditional Japanese doll made from wood and painted. I'm just waiting for my kokeshi to completely dry, then I'll put her together and post her picture. There will be a lot of wonderful artists participating, and I was so pleased to be asked to create my own kokeshi. The show will open July 11, 2009 at the Japanese American National Museum. For more information about the show, visit the website.

A Nest

2009-05-13T15:16:00.004-06:00

I found this nest on the ground today. I was walking past when a bird flew up only a few feet from me, and I thought that since it waited until the last second to fly away, it must have been guarding a nest, and it was. I didn't get a good look at the bird, but it had a brown back and was about the size of a robin. I think it might have been some kind of thrush, but since these eggs aren't blue, maybe it is sitting on brown-headed cowbird eggs. Does anybody know whose eggs these are?

May 21 I saw the bird today and it is a brown thrasher. Just to let you know.

Skull

2009-05-12T13:09:00.005-06:00

David and I found this skull when we were walking in the woods. I did a little lookyloo on the internet and we're pretty sure it once belonged to a raccoon. Because bones have a relatively smooth and uniform surface texture, but very complex planes and angles, I find them really fun to sketch.

Spring in Ontario

2009-05-05T18:13:00.004-06:00

I'm in Ontario right now as my husband is acquiring his greencard. It's a frustratingly long process, but I'm very glad I'm here to enjoy the springtime. Spring is absolutely my favorite time of year, and usually it seems like it's over in an eyeblink, but it seems to last longer here in Canada.
The trilliums are very beautiful in Ontario, and there are so many! We've seen lots of red ones too.
These baby robins were sleeping peacefully when I took this picture from David's shoulders. Their mother watched us the whole time.

Hooray for May

2009-05-01T16:47:00.004-06:00

Happy May Day to everyone! And my NPR calendar illustration is all done.

The Portrait Party

2009-04-02T19:02:00.003-06:00

Awhile back I put my name on the list for the portrait party (link), and then I got kinda busy and had to say no to a lot of nice people wanting to trade portraits. But then I wasn't busy for a little while so when Furia (whose portrait you see above) asked, I said "Sure!" But, of course, then I got really busy again, so he's had to wait a really long time for his portrait. Anyhow, here it is finally. Thanks for being patient, Furia!

NPR!

2009-04-01T10:47:00.005-06:00

I'm back! I was very excited to be asked to submit a sketch for National Public Radio's 2010 calendar, and even more excited to have it accepted. This is my sketch, and when it is a finished painting, I'll share that with you on the blog. I love NPR so much, and so I'm super-pleased to be able to do a project with them. If you don't listen to NPR, start! You might get hooked.

2009-03-02T09:26:00.002-07:00

Here's a peace offering for my delinquency lately. I'm working really hard on a project right now, and that's why I've been gone, but my project is finished on March 19. You know in Apollo 13 when they're about to go around the moon and radio contact will be broken, they say ", see you on the other side." Well, see you on the other side.

Nekomata?

2009-02-03T21:25:00.001-07:00

This little video has been blazing its way around the net recently, and I know this is my sketchblog and all, but I loved this sooooo much I had to post it here. Also, I think these people might soon have a Nekomata on their hands.

A Lady

2009-02-02T16:06:00.003-07:00

I'm reading The Portrait of a Lady right now, so I suppose this sketch was inspired by the character of Isabel, although strictly speaking it is not supposed to be an illustration of her.

One Hundred

2009-01-29T14:25:00.006-07:00

Yay, today my blog turns one hundred posts old!

This sketch isn't supposed to represent that fact, it's just the sketch of the day. And I think it also works for this week's Illustration Friday theme, "climbing." Although maybe it is more like ascending. I used to participate in I.F. all the time, but haven't for awhile, and it occurred to me that as long as I'm doing a sketch-a-day thing, I might as well do something for Illustration Friday while I'm at it.

Two of My Favorite People

2009-01-28T20:59:00.003-07:00

I made this little picture for my sister and brother-in-law's Christmas letter. They are happy newlyweds, and are off to a great start at the family tradition of sending out the Christmas letter by tax time.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-27T21:21:00.003-07:00

Yesterday was Chinese New Year. So today I am ringing in the year of the ox with, what else, a sketch of an ox.

Bunnies!

2009-01-24T16:09:00.004-07:00

Chess Sharks

2009-01-23T16:00:00.003-07:00

(Damie, this is what I was sketching when I was on the phone with you today.)

Nekomata

2009-01-22T20:01:00.005-07:00

I read about this interesting folklore monster of Japan called a nekomata. It is a cat that has been allowed to grow too large, and so has gained terrible powers. Its tail splits into two, and it can walk on its hind legs and speak as a human; it can even grow to five feet tall. A nekomata can light fireballs in your house, and I'm pretty sure it ought to do this with its forked tail, sparkplug like. So if you have any fat cats, watch out.

Sketch Day Fourteen

2009-01-19T15:07:00.001-07:00

A little island paradise.

Day of the Triffid

2009-01-18T17:06:00.003-07:00

Any science fiction fans out there may recognize this as a triffid. I just finished reading Day of the Triffids, which was wonderful by the way, and thought I'd draw one for today.

ce n'est pas un titre

2009-01-16T20:32:00.003-07:00

I'm running out of things to say about the sketches. Maybe I'll think of something better later, or then again maybe I'll just start posting sans text.

Jessie asked if this sketch has to do with a story, and yes, it kind of does, in a second-hand way. The story of Abraham and Isaac has been a very popular theme throughout the history of art, I suppose partly because it is very dramatic. So I guess this sketch uses that imagery, although it obviously isn't really about Abraham or Isaac. Here are some links to past depictions of this story by Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Brunelleschi, and Chagall. There are many, many more out there.

Sketch Day Eleven

2009-01-15T15:31:00.002-07:00

If you can't think of anything to draw that makes sense, well then draw something that doesn't make sense.

Day Ten

2009-01-14T21:33:00.002-07:00

It's a little late this evening, but it's here.

Sketch Day Nine

2009-01-13T14:51:00.003-07:00

I love houseplants.

Back on the Hook

2009-01-12T16:35:00.003-07:00

Well, I thought I was off the hook today because our internet was down, but whadya know it popped back up again!

Orly?

2009-01-11T21:51:00.001-07:00

Sooo, this is a total cheat, because I did not sketch this today, but David made me post something. He said I absolutely had to. Oh, he's a meanie all right ;) I was busy painting though, so don't get on my case too much.

The Birds

2009-01-10T19:16:00.001-07:00

Today we have some birds blowing bubbles, as you can see. What you cannot see, however, is the rest of this two page spread, which I am even now turning into an oil painting. Probably the biggest reason I didn't post the rest of the sketch is that it is rough, and kind of hard to tell what's going on, but also I don't want to spoil the surprise.

Sketch Day Five

2009-01-09T18:35:00.000-07:00

This, I think, is a soda fountain for unusual people.

Sketch Day Four

2009-01-08T15:40:00.001-07:00

Here are some little beasts for our fourth sketch-day. As you can see, the little guy in the middle is probably a cousin of the wild things, and I suppose the rest are his second or third cousins.

By the way, I've updated my website with my most recent artwork (which I've been featuring on the blog).

Golden Fish

2009-01-08T10:58:00.001-07:00

Well, I finally finished this piece. It is sort of a companion to Red Bird, which I posted earlier.

For Cindy

2009-01-07T16:37:00.001-07:00

Lions, tigers and bears! Cindy, my friend, said she wanted to see some bears here, so I drew the one, but nothing else was coming to me, so then I drew the lion, and then of course I had to draw the tiger. Maybe there will be more bears later, we'll see. Lots of animals so far. I guess I just like animals.

The Traveler

2009-01-06T17:01:00.001-07:00

Day two of our little experiment. I think I like this project so far, but I did forget about it until this evening. I'm going to work really hard at seeing it through the month.

David's project for me

2009-01-05T19:42:00.001-07:00

David (my husband) noticed I was suffering a bit from the winter doldrums earlier today, so he made a project for me. He said that I had to sketch some every day and then post something to my blog every day this month. So here is a queen with her pets to start us out.

Rar!

2008-12-31T11:09:00.001-07:00

This little monster is from a painting I'm working on right now.

Mr. and Mrs. Calliope Hummingbird

2008-12-22T14:50:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple more little friends of mine.

The Hubby

2008-12-17T11:39:00.001-07:00

And here is Mrs. Nuthatcherson's dapper husband. Both of these pieces are about 4 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches.

Mrs. Nuthatcherson

2008-12-13T21:43:00.001-07:00

I'm doing a few little portraits of birds for fun. This lady will soon have a gentleman companion.

Monsters in Progress

2008-12-08T19:58:00.000-07:00

Here is a little preview of what I'm working on right now. I'm so excited because I'm going to have pretty much the rest of December to do with as I please, and I'm looking forward to a lot of painting. I've been terribly busy with illustration projects, so my paintings have been simmering way back on that ol' back burner, but now I get to take them out and finish old ones and start new ones. Yay!

oh hai guys

2008-12-05T13:44:00.000-07:00

Oni

2008-11-25T12:28:00.000-07:00

I've been illustrating some stories for the Core Knowledge Foundation. One was the story of Issun Boshi, a Japanese folktale. In the story there is a monster known as an Oni; he was my favorite part to paint by far!

If you're in Massachusetts...

2008-11-24T14:40:00.000-07:00

Well, my posting has been just pathetic, hasn't it? I've been working really hard on an illustration project, but I'll be done soon, and then I'll be back with the regular programing. Anyhow, If you're in Massachusetts on December 6th, make sure to stop by the opening of Pop Euphoria at the Aurora Gallery in Worcester. I'll have one piece in the show, and it looks like it'll be a lot of fun, so I'm sad I can't be there. Toodaloo and I'll be back soon enough!

Red Bird

2008-10-01T13:58:00.000-06:00

Here is the finished painting. It is oil on acrylic-gessoed paper, and it will be mounted on hardboard. This piece will be in the group show Pop Euphoria which will run from December 6 through January 9. A portion of every sale will be donated to the Toys for Tots charity. link

Oil on Paper

2008-09-19T14:49:00.001-06:00

Here's what I'm working on. These will be in oil, they are on gessoed paper. The drawing part is always really straightforward, but when I get the paint out I always feel like I'm jumping off a cliff and hoping for a safe fall.

Return

2008-09-07T14:39:00.000-06:00

Well I've been gone for awhile, haven't I? My sister just got married, which was a wonderful experience, but a very busy and somewhat exhausting one. Anyhow, I'm back. Before the wedding I'd been doing more work for Core Knowledge on the story of Snow White. Here are the dwarves on their way home from work.

Advice on Morals and Manners

2008-06-18T09:19:00.001-06:00

This is my newest painting. On my website I've posted pictures of it progressing. Click here to view it on my website and follow the link to the demonstration.

Coming Soon...

2008-06-13T10:46:00.000-06:00

These two guys inhabit a painting I've been working on for a little while. Since it has no deadline, I tend to push it aside for more "important" projects, but I've had some extra free time lately and it will be done soon. I've been documenting its progress as I paint, so when it's done I'll post all of the pictures on my website.

Mozart

2008-05-22T13:37:00.001-06:00

I'm working on a project right now illustrating the life of young Mozart.
This is Wolfgang's father Leopold Mozart playing the violin.

And here is baby Wolfgang trying to reach the keys of the family's clavier.

Mozart spills ink on himself as he writes music.

float

2008-05-12T18:42:00.000-06:00

It's been quiet around here because I've been busy, but I'll be back.

Trying to relax

2008-04-25T06:56:00.000-06:00

Most of the paintings I make are fairly tightly rendered, and sometimes I feel like I start to spiral into a maze of details and lose sight of why I love painting in the first place. When that happens I like to take out my acrylics and do whatever. I try to forget about how it will turn out and just put paint on paper.

Cats

2008-04-09T10:17:00.001-06:00

I think our cat Vinnie infected my brain with toxoplasmosis and now I have to draw cats. Here are a few.

The second cat is actually a study for a cat in a painting I'm working on right now. Recently a couple people have asked about my painting process, so I'm taking lots of pictures of this piece as it progresses and when I'm done I'll put it all up on my website.

Mona Kilauwea

2008-03-31T14:11:00.000-06:00

I've been working on this watercolor in between illustration work.

After posting this, I realized it works very well for this week's Illustration Friday topic, Homage. As you may have noticed, it is a humble homage to another Mona.