Loleta

"Loleta" Oil on canvas, 9x6, $95
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

I have spent a great amount of time on the computer
in the last few days. Putting a new blog up took some time
what with all the fine tuning, which I am sure will continue,
and all the networking. I must have sent out 60 emails
yesterday. I think it will be a good thing though. Heck
I already have 3 followers. Woo hoo! This week my
art blog passed the 100 mark and now has 102 followers.
This is not including those of you that get my daily email.

I am working on another 24x18 painting for the show and
have reached a precious stage too early. I am going to
have to be brave when facing it and be radical with it.
I did finish a little one yesterday.

Please check out my new metaphysical blog
www.ourlivingdream.blogspot.com

A new blog!!

"Painted Pony", Oil on canvas, 30x40, $1500
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

Today I am posting a painting I have shown
before for two reasons. I started a new blog
expressing my metaphysical voice. This painting
is the header of the blog. Also, I spent yesterday
putting the new blog together so I did not go to
the studio (hope that angel wasn't there waiting
for me) and I don't have new work to post.

I am excited and a little nervous about my new
blog. If this is your cup of tea please check it out.
If you know anyone who would enjoy what I am
offering please pass the link along. The new blog is:
www.ourlivingdream.blogspot.com

Dockside

'Dockside', Oil on canvas, 9"x6" $95
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

I believe it is a full moon today, so get your
howling clothes on. I am hoping to howl at a canvas.
I worked on another 24x18 this weekend but it needs
to dry a bit before I can work it anymore. Too bad, it
is an energetic piece, perfect for howling. Today's
piece is another small one and I am hoping it is a
significator (did I make this word up?) that there is
a reason to be dockside, maybe there is a ship coming
in.......and it's mine?

Jubilee

'Jubilee', Oil on canvas, 24"x18", $540
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

I am happy to have finished another painting today.
It is interesting to me that I have a show coming up
on place and I received this grant to reflect the
power of this area where I live in my art work, and
the last two pieces, with no conscious effort on my
part remind me of places locally. Today's painting, for
whatever reason reminds me of Jubilee Lake. But,
not only places, people in my life. 'Crossing the Blues'
reminds me of my friend Tara, who turned 26 on
Tuesday. That means she was born in 1984. To me
1984 is a futuristic novel. That goes to show the
difference in our age. We are kindred spirits in
agelessness .

I know, I am rambling. Today's painting reminds me
of Melissa, who is now basking in the warmth of the
desert, hanging with her 93 year old dad and her sisters.

Crossing the Blues

'Crossing the Blues' Oil on canvas, 24x18, $540
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

I am finally calling this painting finished. I often start
a painting by cleaning my palette and putting the
remaining paint on the canvas of the new painting.
Then I create the painting responding to the paint that
has haphazardly been laid down. This time the paint
was particularly psychedelic and I loved it's intensity.
Now you might think this is a good place to start.
Actually what happened was I had too much on the
canvas that was already precious to me. What was
I going to destroy in order to make a painting that
worked? 'Precious' can be the enemy to creativity.
When I was working with Cindy collaboratively I
would say "ohhhh I love this part of the painting,
I love what is happening here." She would inevitably
paint over the part I had pointed to. I was wishing
I had Cindy there when I was working on this painting,
so I called on the Cindy in my self and attacked much
of the 'precious' (doesn't this bring to mind The Lord
of the Rings? "My little precious!).

I live close to the Oregon Trail in a valley at the Base
of the Blue Mountains. Crossing the Blues was the last
huge challenge for those traveling the Oregon Trail.
Some people died trying to cross these mountains.
Now it takes 45 minutes on the freeway. The title is
of course a triple entendre. And, yes, I had to pass
through the emotional blues to create this painting.

Primavera- New eBay

'Primavera', Oil on canvas,14"x11", $275
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

It was so great yesterday to get back into the
Art and Meaning project. I am hoping it inspires
others to get involved. I have quite a few requests
to artists out there.

I had one of "those" days yesterday where nothing
happened in the studio but paint getting used. On
that note I will quote Philip Guston:

"I go to my studio every day, because I may go and
the angel will there. What if I don't go and the angel
came?"

I went, but she did not show up. I know wherever
she went that artist had an incredible day and soon
it will be my turn again.

J.B. Krost- Art and Meaning

'Cursed' Haunted Room, Acrylic on canvas
approximately 3.5'x4'

"What is the meaning of doing art for you?"
It's hard to say, only that it is..... meaningful,
painful, liberating,and very personal. I have
a studio (vacant bedroom) in the corner
of my house. At times I find myself actually
avoiding the area, and I wont go in there at
all (I don't know why). When I push myself in
there, its really hard to get me out. I'm not really
sure what draws me in there, all I know is that
there is a peaceful feeling, or one of purpose
that slowly builds within me that is hard to find
something to compare to.

I have only been in a handful of shows and only
actually sold one painting. I don't think I paint
for the glory or notoriety or I'm sure I would
apply for more shows and more galleries, I feel
that I do it, more, for my own satisfaction , to
give me a moment's peace and solitude in order
to explore my mind and the possibilities to see
what comes out on the canvas. I am an avid fly
fisherman and have the same sensation when
I'm out there doing that .

This is a great world, but there is a lot wrong
with it. Art is like being in the eye of the storm,
its peaceful and is calm,but at the edges there
is a lot of violent swirling and debris. Sometimes
you need to find a refuge.
J.B. Krost
J.B.'s links are:
Haunted Room
http://JBKROST.MOSAICGLOBE.COM
Community: HeuteKunst TodayArt

Madras

Madras, Oil on canvas, 14x11, $275
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

As I sit here thinking what can I write today (I didn't blog
yesterday as I didn't come up with anything to say) I
realize I am a little discombobulated as an artist. I love
to paint large. I am craving a huge canvas and I am
painting small for the show in June and to sell now.
I painted yesterday on a 24x18 canvas a painting that is
about as big as you could fit on a canvas that size. I mean
bold. It's not finished. When it is I'll post it. Maybe I need to
have a large canvas going on the side. Oh well that's
enough rambling for now.

Have a great day, I hope it is sunny where you are. It is
here and it is 22 degrees right now. It will warm up.

Seismic- New eBay

'Seismic' Oil on canvas,14x11, $275, Starting bid $137.50
Bid Here

I have spent 2 days on making up my art supply
order and actually ordering the first half. Who would
have ever thought it would take so much time?
Today it is back to the easel for me!

I have not given up on the Art and Meaning Project.
I have approached some artists and some have
approached me, but I am not getting any responses.
I would imagine it has to do with my long break with
the blog.

Western Novel

'Western Novel', Oil on canvas, 9x6, SOLD

Thank you to the Union County Cultural Coalition,
I am on my way to the bank with a check as result
of an art grant for art supplies! I am so excited, I have
never received a grant before this. I spent all yesterday
working up an order as the 17th is the last day of a sale
at Daniel Smiths. Like a little kid in a candy shop!

I spent this weekend going back and forth between
3 paintings. Today's painting is one of them.

Circus Life- New eBay

'Circus Life', Oil on canvas, 9"x6", SOLD

I decided to put this small painting on eBay.
Since it is one of my faves I am starting the
bidding a little higher than usual.

It snowed here last night. It looks like
between 3 and 4 inches! This is the first snow
since early December! You never know
what the weather is going to do in Eastern OR!

The Witness

"The Witness', Oil on canvas, 40x30, $1500
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please
email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

For now I am calling this painting finished. It
has felt like a process of birthing. It is, in the end,
a dark painting. It does not surprise me as I
emerge from the darkness of the past 6 months
that my first real effort would turn out so dark.
My friend says it is not dark but rich and I would
describe this time I have been through as rich also.

WIP

Work in Progress, Oil on canvas, 40"X30"

I am reworking the painting I had name The Witness and
I thought I would share it with you. It is not finished. I need
to get more value contrast going as it is now really dark.
I like it better though. I know some people liked it as it
was, but I kept looking at it with discomfort.

It's cold here this morning, 25 degrees and spitting snow.
It would be nice if it would stop fooling around and give
us one good snowfall before Spring hits. I am not
complaining I have loved the non Winter and it has been
perfect for for someone who can not slip and fall. No
ice is a good thing in my reality.

Claret and Abuqui New eBay

'Claret' Oil on canvas, 9"x6" SOLD
'Abuquiu' ,Oil on canvas, 14"x11" SOLD

I have posted two new ebay auctions this morning
after the last one completed.

I struggled with the image of 'Claret' in photoshop
trying to get the red as true as it is, but I only
succeeded in making the image a bit dark, at least
it isn't as red orange as before I started.

It is Spring like here this week with crocuses in
bloom, the Tulips and daffodils coming up and
buds showing on trees and bushes. What an odd
Winter it has been! But I am not complaining, I
could be in Florida or Texas, where it has been
unusually cold.

The Witness

The Witness, Oil on canvas, 40x30

I am calling this painting done, but we'll see. Often I
stare at a painting long enough and I see what needs
to be changed/added. This was a fun piece, bringing
together the figurative and the abstract. I loved
working this way. I tried to make a Raven out of it,
but it insisted on being a Crow. Same family, Crows,
Ravens, Blue Jays, Magpies, right? My mother was
a big bird watcher. She said the Jay family was the
smartest as they used objects as tools. I guess no other
birds do that.

So I just opened the dictionary of bird totems and it
says in the first sentences "My grandfather told me
that the crow was the smartest of all the birds. What's
more, it even knew it was the smartest of birds and
enjoyed it to the fullest. In fact, it was so smart that it
chose to stay a crow, rather than move on to some other
area of evolution". There you go. As far as the totem it
says "Wherever crows are, there is magic. They are
symbols of creation and spiritual strength. They remind
us to look for opportunities to create and manifest the
magic of life. They are messengers calling to us about the
creation and magic that is alive within our world everyday
and available to us."
I like that and I'll leave you to it.

May magic and creativity abound in your day.

Abuquiu

Abuqui, oil on canvas,14x11, SOLD

Having grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area I am
quite familiar with earthquakes. I was there when the Loma
Prieta earthquake happened, collapsing part of the Bay Bridge,
a freeway in the East Bay and setting fire to buildings in
the Marina District.

That was a 7.1 earthquake. I can not even begin to imagine
an 8.8, seismic measurement is exponential. I don't know
what else I want to say, other than my mind is boggled at the
size of this quake. And of course that I have total compassion
for the Chileans. My prayers are with them.

The last few days my creativity went on strike. I had to
work on a figurative piece to get it back. Then after spending
two days with that piece I was able to get back to my small
abstracts. I may have started something new, where there isn't
such a fight going on inside of me of what I am here to create.
I was starting to feel a little stuck with the figurative piece after
working it for two days but working the abstract seems to
have loosened that a bit. Back and forth, this will keep me
entertained!