Adding dimension to an old 60x48 #contemporaryart #interiordesign #street #popart #modernart #gallery #art #koi #decor #kelliethomaswalker

More progress on the fireplace from my childhood home. I don’t understand how some, close to me...feel awkward or reserved about me painting this after it burnt down. It’s the healthiest thing a person can do and I wouldn’t be painting it if I didn’t want to talk or share my story. It’s good for me. No one should ever bottle any thing that hurts. Life isn’t rainbows and lollipops. Feel free to reach out to me if your grieving. For back story visit my blog on m

Follow me into the dark

This past summer my childhood home and the surrounding area burnt to the ground in the Carr Fire. It’s extremely hard for me to put my vulnerability out there, but I’ve realized in order to tamp into my true self I need to. What devasted me about losing this house is that I haven’t spoken to my father who raised us in this house in over 21 years. I’ve always been very guarded about the whole thing. My  dad still owned the house with his new family when it was lost. I left Redding when I was 18; I married young. Too young. I look back now and know I was trying to escape. Since I left I’ve only visited a few times. My sis and her family still live up there too. I couldn’t explain it until now why I couldn’t go home. I just knew it hurt too much. That town and house held so many memories for me. I guess I always thought I’d be able to see my old house, my room, my tree swing, the old cemetery me and my brother used to hike to in the hills of Old Shasta, my tree fort, Mr. Hardt’s Property where I pretended I was a professional cyclist-taking a tumbler in my bike that I still have the scar on my knee. But all of it is burned and gone. All the trees are gone. 

So, since the fire I have felt huge growth as an artist. Quite a big boom. I can see on all my old pieces what needs to be done. I cannot work fast enough. I know when I get blocked I just need to look at the photo my sister sent me of our old fireplace standing among the ruble. I started the layout of painting this old fireplace today. The one we hung out Christmas stockings on. The one I sat on a day before I left for my life in Southern California. I have the photo of me sitting on my brothers lap on it. So I’m painting this for me. As a reminder. A reminder that, that grief is a part of me. That I can go home still; even if I have no home. It’s still in my heart.  

Note: I am remarried, the first one didn’t work out  

This is just the start.... 

48x48 heavy texture  

Taking this 60x48 and popping all the images. Leftover paint pallet can go to waste...then work on an old one. #streetart #illustration #popart #painting #koi #modernart #contemporaryart #edgy #artist #art #decor #gallery #la #longbeach #interiordesign

Started working on figurative but too much coffee from my daughters 6am swim practice soooo I worked my old solar painting and Boe says “hi” #abstractart #orange #art #artagallery #modernart #americanartist #painting #artist #sun #solar #solarflare #interiordesign

I added in sheer violet. Heavy body paint ratio 1/2 paint to 1/2 Golden Gel medium. If you don’t have retarder you’re going to need to wet it down often as the gel dries fast I went around the Red and magenta borders with the violet to soften. Inner corner eye, bottom lip, outer rim of nostril, chin-then swipe down. Added violet around blooms. Over the whiteadded in water to my brush. Once I varnish it will really pop the colors #cherryblossom #cherrytree #geisha #modernart #art #painting #drawing #gallery #japan #americanartist #decor #interiordesign #arttutorial

Reworked Geisha 4 “Legend” 48x48. Subdued some of the cherry blossoms and popped her face more #art #geisha #cherryblossom #contemporaryart #modernart #japan #americanartist #gallery #artist #painting #interiordesign #artcollector #portrait #decor

Some work on newest ballerina #ballerina #ballet #dancer #tutu #abstractart #art #painting #modernart #interiordesign #figurativeart #gallery #decor

Rework

Reworking three this next week.1 0f3. “Praying” 

A few retouched

Slight retouch of this koi 48x48, added in more dimension and bright contrasts. I like to think the koi I lost last month are living inside this piece. #abstractart #abstractthought #koi #contemporaryart #modernart #art #decor #gallery #exhibitionseries #americanartist #japan #largeart

Added gold leaf  to the outer edges  

this is a new ballerina I started 

Popped her kimono to a brighter green and pyrole red. Better call this was done ⛩ oh and three in a pic of my painting buddy. She loves her mama so much #artofinstagram #art #figurativeart #kimono #geisha #americanartist #painting #contemporaryart #kelliethomaswalker #modernart #gallery #interiordesign #artist #artwork #artwork #instaart

In order to provide our home with 6 of us more room, I’m going through old art I outgrew and am repurposing them. Below I’m working with gold leaf on three old ones

this one isn’t old, it’s for my niece’s Grad present

My 1st ballerina painting. I’m going to redo her. Make her better  

“Reborn”

I think just a few more touches to soften and add dimension and then she’ll be done #geisha #art #painting #americanartist #contemporaryart #modernart #interiordesign #figurativeart #japan #kimono #kelliethomaswalker

Almost done with the rework of “Reborn”. Decided to go edgy.

Rework of old Geisha. I have to rework the face because I accidentally smudged it 🙄 #figurativeart #geisha #kimono #art #workinprogress #painting #modernart #contemporaryart #california #americanartist

Figurative Series

Started #3 in my Figurative Series. Quick sketch #ballerina #ballet #dance #illustration #painting #art #kelliethomaswalker #gallery #contemporaryart #classical #blackandwhite #interiordesign #figurativeart #modernart

Good days work. 

Working all angles

It’s my birthday🤪 my husband fixed up my Koi pond and were going Koi shopping since my koi died with the pump malfunction. He bought a better pump, made me a little waterfall, added some succulents. 

Very quick sketch on # 2. I ran out of black so my mom is running to get me some😘. Probably can’t see it (but I can) it’s a ballerina laying down legs stretched out, from neck down.