The Cool Tones of Winter

The cool grays and blues of the brisk winter weather are contrasted by the warm browns glowing from the indoor sanctuaries we call home.

Past Dew- framed collage mad... snphillips $950.00	soft blonde garden floresdelsol $75.00
seed pods and seams pillow lottahelleberg $125.00	Gift under 10. Set of 2 knit... imali $8.00
Tern Shorebird by Harry Monk seasonedantiqu... $165.00	Vintage-Inspired Dessert Ped... BurlapAndBlue $27.00
moss . fine art print gretchenmist $22.50	Human Nature - Art print shirae $20.00
Wishing Tree: Auspicious Ink... bmuse27 $35.00	Getting It Right - Art Print drkennedyjones $20.00
moths - paper and wax string... aruppel $45.00	Shabby Chic Silver Bowl TheKingfisher $13.00
Pearl Moon, Silver Sky 8 x10... marileecjones $12.00	vintage unique mid century l... thecreekhouse $32.00
Handmade XL 38x50 Unique Tou... BowWowBeds $	Light Brown Stump SteffBomb $25.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

Life Lace

These original artworks are inspired by texture, shape and color. I am interested in how the natural texture on the ginkgo leaves contrast the hand cut paper and the painted surface. The shapes of the Italian hand cut paper are taken directly from a plant I grew. All eight pieces make up that one plant. These eight artworks were made over many years. This is one of my favorite projects. The colors of the ginkgo leaves are vibrant and contrast with the calming teal blue of the scalloped paper. The textures and shapes of the painted elements and the collage elements are what make these pieces truly unique. The collage contains painting elements, real dried ginkgo leaves and hand cut Italian paper. These original artworks are available for purchase on Etsy.

Life Lace No. 1

Life Lace No. 2

Life Lace No. 3

Life Lace No. 4

Life Lace No. 5

Life Lace No. 6

Life Lace No. 7

Life Lace No. 8

Join Me

I've created an Etsy Team for Fine Art Giclee Prints. I hope to start discussions on making quality archival prints, as well as packaging, selling, promotion, edition making, etc. Who can join? Any seller with at least one giclee print edition in their shop with the intention of faithfully representing their edition in their shop and providing their customers with the best possible product.

Look forward to chatting with you!

Kim

Simple Beauty Blooming Again

Just in time for last minute gifts, I've issued a new larger print edition. At 20"x20" these are the largest prints I have available. The edition size is only 50 prints and available on Etsy.

There are six images in the Lenten Rose series. In this series, I studied every inch of the shape of many plants. This flower is know as a Lenten Rose, although not a rose at all, it is known to bloom around the time of Lent. Many people view this simple beauty as a symbol of new beginnings.

The Lenten Rose or Helleborus Orientalis may be the first flower of the season in the very early spring. The sepals are extremely long lasting and may persist throughout the summer. These perennials have an evergreen foliage that stands up well to the early spring temperatures.

Lenten Rose No. 2

Lenten Rose No. 4

Lenten Rose No. 5

Lenten Rose No. 1

Lenten Rose No. 3

Lenten Rose No. 6

Thank you for visiting!

New Craspedia Original Paintings

Drawn directly from nature, these two paintings reveal the details in the shape of the craspedia plant. They 6"x6" on mounted board 7/8" deep and ready to hang. Available on Etsy.

$50 each on Etsy

Being Thankful

I'll keep it simple and say I am thankful to live. A list of the things I am thankful for will always be incomplete. Instead, I will take life at each moment it comes and appreciate all the things it has to offer, good and bad. 

Book Gift Guide for Nature Types

National parks, meditations on wood, bunnies and birds are just a couple of the subjects covered in these books. I can imagine any nature enthusiast cuddling up this winter with a good book and thoughts of getting outside soon.

National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways by National Geographic Society
For those who enjoy time in the car and taking the long way, there are 275 drives to tackle in this book. We've enjoyed making notes in the margins and sticking in menus, receipts and leaves we find along the way. Each time we open this book it is filled with memories of beautiful sites and fun journeys. A GPS is recommend!

Wildwood: A Journey Through Trees by Roger Deakin
Ideally you want to be sitting under your favorite tree when you read this book but a nice window will also do.  This book is for the person who loves trees and nature writing. It will inspire and deepen your appreciation for the outdoors.

Watership Down by Richard Adams
In this classic, the reader peaks into the lives of rabbits, where we can read their words and experience their hardships.  This book is full of excitement and imagination. After reading this book, you just might look at the rabbits in the yard a bit differently. You may even say hi.

Flights of Imagination: Extraordinary Writing About Birds edited by Richard Cannings
Most bird lovers have a great story about a pursuit of a rare bird or their first memory of finding appreciation for our winged friends. This collection of short stories will relate with anyone who has a passion for birds.

Gift Guide for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Bird watching, hiking, gardening, nature writing, and everything outdoors! I put together a couple Etsy Treasuries to help you in the Black Friday and Cyber Monday rush for gifts. Good luck in the rush!

Gifts for Bird Lovers Under $25
Gifts for Nature Lovers Under $25
Gifts for Nature Lovers Under $50

Happy shopping!

Rugged and Shabby Frames

I love frames! I've found some really great frames lately and paired them with some of my new prints. My new favorite frame maker is ArtCityFrames on Etsy. Her frames are solid wood and have great details. If your looking for something salvaged and even more rugged, than Foundre Frames is awesome. You won't get the same frame twice. His frames are only available wholesale, unless you can find them at retail shops.

I've paired some special frames with prints that will make great ready-to-hang gifts for outdoor enthusiasts and gardeners. Check out my Etsy shop for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

Eucalyptus 8x10 botanical print framed in Foundre frame

Clover 8x10 botanical print framed in cottage style frame from ArtCityFrames

Lenten Rose No. 6 botanical print framed in cottage style frame from ArtCityFrames

Save an additional 10% until November 30

Tis the season for deals! Etsy has rolled out new coupon codes unique to each shop. Use the code madebykim10 to save 10% in addition to the 10-20% already marked down on many individual items in my Esty shop. All 8x10 and 11x14 unframed prints include free FedEx ground shipping in the United States. Hurry this deal only lasts until November 30, 2010!

Framed Original Geranium Painting (on sale $85)

Eucalyptus: 8x10 botanical silhouette print (free shipping)

Lenten Rose 3: Framed Mini Botanical Print (on sale $20)

3 new 8x10 prints

These 8x10 archival, ultra-high quality giclee prints are on Hahnemuhle smooth watercolor paper, 308 gsm, printed with pigment inks said to last 200 years. All imaging for print preparation, as well as printing is done by me at the professional print shop I work at. I insist that the my print editions stand apart from the original artworks and have a life of there own.

 "Clover" available on Etsy

 

  "Life Forms 3" available on Etsy

 

"Summer Weeds" available on Etsy

Giclée Prints Part 1: A Great Giclee

Most buyers and artists have an idea of what a giclee print is but most don't realize there are significant differences between an acceptable giclee and a great giclee. This post will be the first in a series of posts on the details of making, selling, and buying giclee prints.

There are four basic things to consider when making or buying a giclee print. I will go into more detail in future posts.

Printer/Ink: Giclée is a high-quality archival inkjet print. Printers vary in dot size and inks vary in longevity. Be careful, because even the best printer can be run at a more economical setting, resulting in a soft and dull print. The key is to ask a lot of questions if you're buying prints, and provide a lot of information if you're selling prints. In a later post, I will list questions to ask your printer.

Paper: The best option is 100% rag paper without optical brightener agents (OBA). Optical brighteners make paper look bright white but can react with atmospheric pollutants and yellow over time. The paper must also be compatible with the printer and ink for optimal longevity.

Image: This is the part hardest to get right. Great photography of artwork for reproduction can really only be done by a professional. Getting a high-resolution, color-correct digital file will ensure your print has depth, saturation, detail and sharpness. Many professional photographers who specialize in fine art reproduction are using digital scanning backs that create files many hundreds of megabits or even gigabits. 

Matting and/or Framing: Giclee prints, like other works on paper, should be protected from UV light, moisture and atmospheric pollutants. Always use 100% acid-free materials. Avoid adhesives and use polyethylene bags to protect your print before it is framed.

In the end, you can have the best printer and paper, but what's the point if your digital file is just okay. And why put that great print in a frame that is going to ruin it in a couple years. In my next couple posts I will go into further detail in each of these categories and explain some of my experiences over the past ten years of making giclee prints.

Giclée Prints Part 2: Printer and Ink

Giclée Prints Part 3: Paper

Below are details of some of my paintings taken with a BetterLight scanning back.