More About the Peaks of Otter and Just let Gravity do the Work...

 

Peaks of Otter History

My family has enjoyed this beautiful Bedford setting and it is one of many Blue Ridge Parkway sites my husband researches for birds and butterflies. I thought is would be interesting to include some historical facts about this beautiful place that has been an inspiration for a number of my paintings.

No one really knows how the Peaks got their name. There are no otters in the area. The most likely explanation is that two brothers, Charles and Robert Ewing named the peaks after otters from their native land.

There are many natural settings and rivers named for otters in Scotland and England. Charles Ewing and family members are buried at the foot of Sharp Top.

Europeans have known The Peaks for about two and a half centuries. Flat Top is the higher of the two and is 4,001 feet above sea level. Sharp Top is 3,875. Sharp Top appears higher but it is an optical illusion.

Sharp Top draws more visitors and Virginia's contribution to The Washington Monument was taken from the top of Sharp Top.

I learned about The Peaks of Otter from a great essay called The Peaks of Otter Story by Thomas A Markham. There is a lot more to read there if you are interested!

Life with The Bird and Word Man 

Today I was getting so irritated with a site I am unfamiliar with that I called my husband up to complain about it.  I love his solution to the problem.  Don't let it get to you. Open the window and let gravity do the work.  I almost did just that!

 I am still having a great time working on my Kendall Expressions and hope to have my latest one of a domestic cat up soon.

Don't forget about my Limited Time Promotions on Fine Art America!  I always have three selections up.

Sold Three More Best Sellers and L.D...

I am so pleased to sell prints of favorite paintings over and over again!  A few days ago another print of A Break in the Clouds, Blue Ridge Jewels, and Wildflower Current went to a great patron in Alexandria, VA!  Wildflower Current is the only painting of the three that is still available and I hope someone decides to buy the original.  It is a stunning painting with exquisite color contrast and flowing motion.  I'm sure I will sell many more prints of it in the future.

Just finished another Kendall Expression and uploaded one of my favorites, Lion Explosion, to Zazzle.  Galloping Red is a wonderful swirl of energy and it has been uploaded to Fine Art America and Zazzle.  As I have mentioned before,  I love to work with red/green contrast and this is an excellent example of my preference.  The galloping motion of the horse is echoed throughout the painting with intense, expressive brushwork.

A few days ago I was talking to my husband about my personal way of learning.  I have a photographic memory but there were times in school when I thought I was taking longer than most of the other students to understand a concept.  Once I fully understood something I had it cold.  Since this is typical of students with one form of learning disability I told my husband I may be a little L.D.  He said, you mean Luscious Dreamboat?  Now that's a smart husband!  He's a keeper!

Be sure to check out my Special Promotions on Fine Art America! 40% off regular price of prints of popular paintings!

So Pleased to Sell Prints from My I Love the Beach Creative Photographs and Wind it back...

I am pleased that patrons are interested in my I Love the Beach photographs.  I am known for my award-winning paintings but I have always had a love of photography and most of my paintings are creative interpretations of my photographs.  I don't like to work plein air so my photos are my initial sketch.  This year I decided to add the medium of photography to my portfolio.

It is great to branch out into yet another medium and get positive feedback for it.  Two of my beach photographs stumbled for several weeks on Stumbleupon and then both of them were sold on Zazzle.  One on a mug and the other on coasters.  I mostly sell originals and prints but I also have some of my most popular works on Zazzle where people can buy my work on kitchen, office, phone, and computer accessories.

I know one home accessory my husband would like to do without and that is the alarm clock.  This past week-end I reminded him we needed to turn the clock back an hour.  His reponse was wind it back to the river and drown it!

Be sure to check out my Special Promotions on Fine Art America.  40% off regular price.  I almost always have three up.

Also keep checking on what's new in my Kendall Expressions folder!  Dream Horse stumbled for a week!

Never a Still Life and Swim off the Plate...

I am very excited about my current still life of an old purse in an intensely expressive style.  I am really getting into my own brand of Expressionism!  It is great to just react to the paint as feeling in these works.  The subject matter is secondary to the message about art that I am trying to convey. I pride myself on the amount of "life" I put in a still life.  They are anything but still- these are scintallating paintings!  I think the Kendall Expressions folder on my website is going to be a huge one.

My husband hates fish.  For years we hardly ever had it due to his dislike.  My son has no problem with it.  He eats any kind of fish or seafood.  My husband hates it all but he wants to eat it for health benefits.

His solution is to cover it with mustard.  The other night I mentioned to him the fish was swimming in mustard.  My husband's reply was he hoped it would swim off the plate and keep going!

Be sure to check out my 40% off Special Features on Fine Art America!

Beauty, Danger and The Blimpasaurus...

I just finished another acrylic painting in my new series, "Kendall Expressions", and am very pleased with the intense, vibrant color contrast in this one.  I wanted to combine the beauty of a wild animal, in this case the cougar, with the beauty of a wildflower field.  The title is one with several meanings.  To me, the animal is as beautiful as the wildflowers.  Both need our protection.  The danger is not really in the painting.  The danger is the lack of concern a lot of people have for both.

When I was a child I heard this saying all the time.  Nature will take care of itself.  I now know that is ridiculous and we have to be diligent to preserve our world.  If the honey bee goes, so does a great deal of our food.  I hope naturalists, like my husband, Clyde Kessler, can continue to educate people about environmental concerns.

My husband has a new joke about the Dinosaur Extinction Theory.  This is quite whacky but it is fun!  Instead of a meteor hitting the planet, maybe one dinosaur, the Blimposaurus, grew so big that it fell of a cliff and squished the others.  Not likely, but it does make for a comic image!

 
Be sure to check out my Special Promotions on Fine Art America!  Look for the clock icon under Shop!

So glad to sell a Canvas Print from Kendall Expressions and Look under the Hood...

Not very long ago I started a new folder entitled Kendall Expressions in my portfolio and am so pleased that I just sold a canvas print of Lion Explosion to a great patron In Zionsville, Indiana!  As I have said before my work has Impressionistic and Expressionistic components but in these works I am letting my expressive side take over and it is great to get a sale so soon after I uploaded these works.

I am also pleased that I am really getting into the acrylic medium in a way that is endearing me to a type of paint that is not real high on my lists of favorites.  The colors are great but the fast drying time and the way it adheres to the canvas has always bothered me.  Most of my new Kendall Expressions paintings are in acrylics and I am starting to figure out how to apply the paint in a way that says me!  I look forward to future paintings and am also considering some ideas for oil paintings as well.

My husband has come up with another funny for the blog.  I love to add humor here!  First, I have to explain that a Sensei is an oriental sage.

What did the Sensei say to the garage mechanic?  Look under the hood, greasehopper!

Kendall Kessler Paintings in Art News and I couldn't hit them with a Diesel Truck...

I belong to a number of great groups on Fine Art America but I am especially pleased with all the features of my work on the online publication, Art News.  I have lost track of the number of paintings I have had on Nadine and Bob's publication and will continue to submit more.  They work hard to promote artists and we are all very thankful!

Still working away at uploading artwork to my portfolio.  Be sure to check out the 2011-2013 folder on my website.  Most of the works are new and I am pleased with how well they look on the site.  I am especially pleased with my recent paintings in the Kendall Expressions folder.  I just put up a new one and it is my favorite so far!

At church yesterday we were discussing the loss of a great cantor.  He and his family are moving away for a better job opportunity and they will be greatly missed.  The congregation is a small one so my husband and I were wondering who would take his place.  It certainly would not be him.



He said he couldn't hit notes with a diesel truck if they were lying flat in the middle of the road!

I don't think he will be asked to sing.



Looking forward to the new season of The Mindy Project September 17th!  Hope to see Reaching Out again and again in her office!



As always I have Limited Time Promotions on Fine Art America.  Don't miss out on 40% off large canvas prints of popular works!

Loading Away and It is always a good day...

Still working away at uploading artwork.  The slides are not too much of a problem as long as I have ink in my printer but the ones I have to take outside are quite a pain.  Right now I am taking pictures of flat ware so I am taping them to the wall which is much easier then dragging my easel outside.  Still having a great time with my Kendall Expressions folder.  These paintings are my personal take on Expressionism which has always been a favorite style of art for me.  I like to switch mediums every now and then so it is great to be in Acrylics again.

We were at a friend's house in Childress and noticed the chickens that were walking around their yard.  They don't have chickens, but their neighbors do.  They looked like they were having a great day pecking everything in sight so I mentioned that to my husband.  He replied that it is always a good day when you are not on the menu.  He certainly has a point there.

Be sure to check out new work in Kendall Expressions!  I am working on a new one right now and hope to have it up soon!

Also, don't forget my Limited Time Promotions on Fine Art America.  I always have three up!.  Forty percent off the regular price!

The second season of The Mindy Project will air September 17th and I am looking forward to seeing my best seller on the set.  I hope they have more scenes in her office where it is located.

My New Folder Kendall Expressions and You would download a Gorilla...

 I don't have a lot to say right now except that I am surprised at what some people put on Twitter.  The internet really can be a Trojan Horse.  I try to be careful and constantly on my guard against abusers and scammers.  I have artwork in 21 states, Germany, Canada, and Australia but if all those scams were real I would be in a lot more states and countries than that.  One person on Twitter sent me a vulgar question.  I'll be sure to drop him.

My painting keeps me going and I am very pleased with my new folder, Kendall Expressions, on my website kendall-kessler.artistwebsites.com.  I am letting my expressive side lead the way into colorful works that scintillate the canvas!  Love what I do!

As always, computers hang me up.  I need to sign my photographs that I uploaded and some paintings that I uploaded from slides that don't have signatures.  I have looked at several tutorials on how to do that on Aperture and, as usual, the instructions don't match.  I am thinking about Downloading Gimp which is a free software program like Photoshop.  My husband is much more leary of the internet than I am and he claims I would download a gorilla.  If that gorilla could help me sign my artwork online, you bet I would!

Be sure to check out my Limited Time Promotions on Fine Art America and The Mindy Project with my drawing in her office is on Mondays at 9:30pm.  The show has been renewed for a second season.  Don't miss it!

My Expressive Side is Taking over and The No Bell prize

I have always considered my paintings to be an expressive form of Impressionism.  I am fascinated with the intricate colors of light and shade but I also strive to put my emotions into my artwork.  Right now I want to let my expressive side take over in a series of wildlife paintings.  I hope to achieve an expression that will grab the viewer into another world.  We will see how it goes.

My husband has come up with a great idea for a new prize for under achievers.  He is going to call it The No Bell award.  This award would be for all the people that don't really accomplish much.  I can think of a lot of people that would win the No Bell award or the Not Quite a Ding a Ling award.

The Mindy Project is on Mondays right now.  It has been renewed for another season!  It is fun to see my drawing in her office.  Check it out!



Also, be sure to check out my Limited Time Specials on Fine Art America!  I try to have three up at all times!

On the Wild Side and Maybe I need a sign....

I used to think that artists didn't really return to old paintings to re-work them.  I was wrong.  I have done that on a number of occasions and am doing that right now.  Pierre Bonnard, one of my heroes would work on three paintings at a time and turn them to the wall when he wasn't working on them.  I cover mine, too.  Paintings will drive you crazy if you let them.  I don't want to go crazy.  I like painting too much.  Anyway, years ago I did a painting of a tiger's head and didn't like it at all.  I put it away and when I was cleaning some things out I found it and decided to work on it again and it is coming right along!  Wild animals can be a a great experience in oil paint!  Colors and brushwork flying all over the place!

Tonight as I was making a right onto a gravel driveway in Montgomery County I slowed down so as not to mess up my car with ruts.  I still got off the main road in a reasonable amount of time but the car behind me screeched on the gas pedal to let me know what a jerk I was in his opinion.  I have to turn into this driveway every Friday so maybe I need a sign on my bumper  that says this driveway is full of ruts so I am turning slowly.  Give me a break all you creepy tailgators!

I have a large stencil with my Studio advertisement and phone number on the back windshield.  When we got home my husband answered the phone and all he heard was a loud, screetching whistle.  Maybe that was the guy that was behind me.  You think?

Don't forget about my Limited Time Promotions on Fine Art America!  40% off of large canvas prints of popular paintings!  Check it out!

It gets more complicated and Beyond the Toes...

Lately my paintings have been a great experience.  I am still, as Paul Frets once said to me, arm wrestling them down, but I am enjoying the struggle more than ever.  I am at the point in my development when all of the past methods are coming together and having a party on the canvas!  Complicated systems of colors and textures that add joy to my life. I can't imagine a life without paint.  Winston Churchill once said that and I may have mentioned that quote before but it bears repeating for us happy artists!

I still have 20/20 vision but the reading vision is a mess.  For a while I could put my feet out straight in front of me, attach the writing to my toes and read away.  Now I think I am going to need an extra pair of glasses to put my glasses in the case.  I guess one pair will have to stay out.  My husband can top that.  He actually asked people at his office where his glasses were.  He couldn't find them anywhere.  He was wearing them, and not on the top of his head.  On his eyes.  Bleary eyed computer nuts!  Still working away and I can still see so I just keep going.....

The Mindy Project has been off for a while.  Hope to see it and my drawing, "Reaching Out", in her office again soon!

Don't forget my specials in the Limited Time section of Fine Art America!  Large canvas prints of favorites at 40% off.

Sold another print of A Break in the Clouds, one of Wildflower Current and Maybe they struck a rock...

So pleased to sell another large canvas print of A Break in the Clouds and my first print of Wildflower Current!  Both of these paintings are very special to me.  My husband, Clyde Kessler has spent countless hours researching birds and butterflies at Rock Castle Gorge on The Blue Ridge Parkway which is where A Break in the Clouds comes from.  Wildflower Current is one of my best celebrations of color and texture!  It is a vibrant beauty and I hope to sell many more prints of it.  The original is still available.  A Break in the Clouds sold the first time I exhibited it.

I have both paintings in the Limited Time Promotions section of Fine Art America.  They are on pages three and four.  Check it out!  Large(24"x36") canvas prints at 40% off available for a short time.

http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/all/special+promotions?page=3

http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/all/special+promotions?page=4

I get a lot of scammers on my phone regarding painting sales.  I have mentioned in previous blogs about the scammers that want to send me a check that is more than the price of the painting and then I am supposed to pay their  private shipper out of the excess amount.  Of course, the check is bogus and I would be out the money I send the shipper that never shows up if I were stupid enough to fall for the scam.  Funny thing.  I stopped getting the scams for such a long time that I said to my husband that maybe the head scammer sent out a message to not waste your text money on me.

A few days ago they started up again!  My husband said maybe they struck a rock on the river and all their equipment fell off the raft they were living on.  They must have re-built and gotten another computer and cell phone.  Anyway, they still have no hope with me.

I am Loving it and Don't pull the plug...

I have always used photographs as the basis for my expressive paintings for many reasons.  The main one is the lack of privacy.  People mean well but I can't concentrate when people talk to me when I work.  If I set up an easel outside I am sure to get an audience.  I think I have mentioned this before but I am not positive so here I go again.  I had a friend that insisted on painting plein air and when people talked to her she would ignore them.  I can't do that and I know I have mentioned before that I am not a slave to nature.  Nature is my starting point and I take it from there so it is not necessary for me to paint from life.

Now I have included photography as one of my mediums and I am having a lot of fun presenting them as the end result!  It isn't anywhere near as satisfying to me as painting but I do enjoy it.  I have great respect for the medium, it just isn't what I do. Still, I think my photos are  very interesting additions to my mediums.  If you check out my portfolio you will find oil paintings, charcoal drawings, ink brush drawings,lithographs, etchings, aquatints, pen and ink, oil and soft pastel paintings, watercolors, colored pencil drawings and now, photographs.

Check it out!

My husband and I are completely dry in the humour department so I am going to repeat something I saw on Facebook that brought back memories.  A cat is lying next to a baby with a pacifier and the caption is, " Whatever you do, don't pull the plug".   I am third in a family of four children so I heard a lot of stories about my baby years.  It seems I was perfectly happy if I was fed and had my pacifier.  My two older siblings loved to pull it out.  I would scream and then they would put it back and I was quiet.  I know what that cat was talking about!

Be sure to check out my Limited Time Promotions on Fine Art America and look for my best-selling print, "Reaching Out", on The Mindy Project!

If you didn't catch me on The Hour of Joy you can see me on Episode 5 on her Website!  The show was March 10th.

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Up-loading Maniac and More Mirror Jokes...

I am trying to get a schedule going to improve  my portfolio.  I am one prolific artist and I have a hard time keeping up with adding my new work and getting to older work that needs to be photographed or scanned into the computer.  So I am trying to add three new items a day which is a lot more work for an already over-worked artist.  Hope I can keep the pace up so I can catch up on work I have been meaning to add for a long time.  Where is that fairy that will add more hours to the day?  I want to have a serious talk with her.

My husband is coming up with more mirror jokes.  I honestly think he still looks great.  He has never thought much of his looks but now he claims one of the mirrors committed suicide and fell off the wall when he got near it.  He also says he is afraid the bathroom mirror is going to hand him a lawsuit to get money to reflect him.  Not so!  I keep telling him the world is filled with short, fat, bald men and he is not one of them.

Be sure to check out my Limited Time Promotions on Fine Art America.  Great large canvas prints of my most popular paintings at 40% off!

Also, look for my drawing, "Reaching Out", on The Mindy Project on FoxTV Tuesdays at 9:30!  I have missed a few episodes but it was visible on the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, and 18th episodes.

Patron is Happy and It is simple Arithmetic

I am so glad my patron for my latest portrait commission is happy.  I always check with them before it is completed to see if they are happy with the likeness.  She is thrilled with the painting and took a picture with her phone to show her husband.  Portraits are so tricky.  One of my favorite sayings is, Don't do portraits because there is always something wrong around the mouth.  I am proud to say I have always had 100% success rate with commissions and would be glad to do more.  This patron is making plans for the next commission of her daughter after this one is done.

As I have said before sometimes you just can't get to the mute button fast enough.  There is a commercial on now that is really irritating my husband.  The announcer claims it is simple physics, a body in motion tends to stay in motion.  My husband's response is, it is simple arithmetic.  You have a drug to sell me and I am not going to buy it.  The  answer is zero sales.

Be sure to check out my sales on Fine Art America in The Limited  Time section and look for my best seller, "Reaching Out", on The Mindy Project.  I have had to miss a few but I  did see it on the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, and 18th episodes.  I hope it was visible last night.

Computers do not like me and That is why they do that...

I really have to restrain myself from taking a hammer to our computer at times.  I carefully composed an email newsletter that I sent out last night.  I followed the instructions to the letter as I always do and for some reason my rough draft was sent out instead of the final version.  So, instead of the location where I will be appearing with my artwork on May 7th, there is an incomplete sentence that is embarrassing.  From now on I will compose the letter on a word document and copy paste it.  This is the second time this has happened and there will not be a third!  I am going to try to cheer up now.  This is certainly not the end of the world.

I think I have figured out why there are commercials of the program included in the commercial breaks.   Now there are so many commercial breaks the producers show a bleep of the program because they are afraid you won't come back and then you will miss more commercials.  I'm not sure, but I think there are more commercial breaks then actual program.  I think I will time them.

I will be appearing with some of my work at the Pulaski Market Place on May 7th from 4-8pm!  Hope to see you there and don't forget about my Limited Time Promotions on Fine Art America!  Just sold another large canvas print of Marsh View at Pawleys Island to a great Virgina patron.

Also, check out my portfolio.  I have a number of new uploads!