Adventure #162: KJ's Flight School

Dear You,

It still amazes me -- even though I've painted 8970987987 (approximately) paintings--  how you can start out in the morning with something that's only in your head, something that doesn't actually exist, and with the help of a blank canvas, some paintbrushes, paint and a bit of time -- you have created something real and tangible that you can show others and say "Here, look what I did!"

So, hey, guys, here, look what I did:

Seriously, the process is still sort of magical to me. Like I know I painted this. I know 39870987987 (approximately) brush strokes went into it.  I vaguely recall at one point thinking "ARRGH!" (because I am half-pirate, doncha know?*) and "I am NEVER going to finish this" but even with those facts, it sort of seems that the paintings just kind of...appear.

And they rarely show up just as they were in my head. This one, for instance. From the moment I had the idea several months ago, the background was a cream or maybe a light lemony yellow and her hair was going to be a mane of rainbow pastels (something I still really want to try!) and the rest of the colors were muted and dreamy.

Of course, I should know by now I don't have a muted bone in my body. They're all very bright, some even neon, I'm afraid.

It became evident as soon as I had her face painted that she needed to be a dark haired gal and I didn't want to go with anything traditional so I decided to do a blue-black -- however, for future reference, when going for blue-black, lay down the blue, then add in black lowlights, because if you do the blue first, you do not wind up with blue-black. You wind up with black.

Also, in my head, the text said "She was the type of girl who tied on wings and prepared for takeoff", but in the middle of the painting I thought of this wording and liked it better.

She didn't turn out how I'd initially envisioned her at all -- but I think she turned out just the way she should be. And that's kind of like life, huh?

She will be in the shop later today, both as a print and the original.

Love,

Comments

[Marisa]

So cute, KJ! And I hear ya... the process from start to finish never fails to surprise me either. No matter how much I envision a painting, it always has a mind of its own... and the painting is always right!

Love this new one!

[NatashaMay]

Beautiful! And the colors are perfect.:)

[Pamela Quevedo]

Adorable!

[Romany Witch]

I love this, she's adorable. I'm thinking rainbow hair would be cool though.

[Lisa]

she's cuuuuuute! Love her.

[Shraddha]

Oh, she's so cute! KJ, you seriously put potential buyers in a fix! If they're like me, they would go mad trying to decide which piece they should buy. They're all so good. :-)

By the way, I gifted "How She Got Her Wings" to my sis-in-law and she loved it. She had no idea I had 'actually bought your art' versus 'always drooling over it'. :-P

[Johanna]

she is divine :)

[Leanna]

Got pointed your way from the Benner Daily. I have a 2-yr-old buddy that reminds me so much of the spirit of this painting! Beautiful!

[Julie GM]

I LOVE this one! Reminds me of my girls...

[Colleen]

I just adore this one. Inspiring.

[Rosanne]

I love the angel theme you hae throughout a lot of your prints. I realized last winter as I was decorating for Christmas how many I had around my house in decor and I'd never really realized it.

[Kathy]

This is absolutely adorable!! Just love it!

[Brandil]

I am absolutely and beyond in love with this painting, I found you through your etsy account. I can NOT wait to buy at least a print of this. Being a flight attendant I sometimes forget the joy in flying and seeing this painting reminds me why I fell in love with it in the first place. Thaaank you for sharing your talent.

Brandi

[KJ]

Hi, Brandi! Thanks so much! I'm so glad you like the painting. She's one of my favorites, too!