May 2022 Floral

Have I mentioned how much I love using my scraps from screenprinting and color mixing with gouache? So satisfying.

You're Invited

Hey friends!

The Ragged Edge Art Bar and Gallery is featuring my work in their beautiful gallery space next month.

More details to come but I just wanted to give a quick shout out to save-the-date.

The Edge serves delicious artisanal beverages with or without alcohol and they also have a lovely patio space to sit and sip on beautiful summer days in Iowa.

Invitation

“Invitation” by Mary Oliver

Oh do you have time

to linger

for just a little while

out of your busy

and very important day

for the goldfinches

that have gathered

in a field of thistles

for a musical battle,

to see who can sing

the highest note,

or the lowest,

or the most expressive of mirth,

or the most tender?

Their strong, blunt beaks

drink the air

as they strive

melodiously

not for your sake

and not for mine

and not for the sake of winning

but for sheer delight and gratitude –

believe us, they say,

it is a serious thing

just to be alive

on this fresh morning

in the broken world.

I beg of you,

do not walk by

without pausing

to attend to this

rather ridiculous performance.

It could mean something.

It could mean everything.

It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote:

You must change your life.

###

Peace be with everyone on this day when we think of all who have loved and nurtured us through the years. Such a blessing.


Midwestern Spring

It’s been a blustery cold spring but our daffodils are loving it.

Collage using scraps and color palette testing strips along with markers.

National Hang Out Day

In honor of this day when we highlight the beauty of hanging laundry out to dry I submit one of my favorite paintings I’ve ever made.

Essentials

“What Should I Pack?”

Sunday sketching: collage and handlettering.

Raccoon Heart

One of the benefits of my studio space is that it overlooks our backyard.

The other day I watched a VERY large raccoon saunter across our backyard. I stepped outside to see where she was headed and I got to watch her climb our neighbor's HUGE oak tree and tuck herself into the heart shaped hole.

Nature is so cool!

Spring Refresh

I use commercial grade products in my screenprinting studio: special inks from Japan and super high quality towels. Yes, they cost me more on my end--- but my intention is for my towels to hold up to many years of use.

From time to time I also refresh my screens---especially designs like my "Iowa Farm" because even commercial grade photo emulsion starts to wear down after many hours of squeegees pushing the ink through them.


Thank you for purchasing so many of these towels along with my other designs. I truly appreciate it!


Sending Love

Sunday sketching. Sending love and warm colors out into the world today.

Original Paintings for Sale

Here's a photo from my spring show at the Hearst Center for the Arts which made it easy peasy for me to indicate which of these pieces are now for sale at The Ragged Edge Art Bar and Gallery in downtown Cedar Falls.

They are framed and priced affordably for gift giving or keeping for yourself.

So stop by Ragged Edge and check out all their amazing work for sale and enjoy a beverage in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

#katebrennanhall #originalsforsale #paintings #11x14inches

Welcome

#sundaysketching for October 7th.

Sunday Sketching October 3rd Edition

Sunday morning sketching with poetry misprints, glue, crayons and my trusty little scissors. That was fun.

My sketch book is filling up. Almost time to buy a new one!

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