AND NOW FOR THE CATS

Technical issues - the "guard dogs"  where stopping the cats hence I've had to do a separate post!

Anyway, see below a couple of works on canvas featuring that beautiful creature, the cat.  The one on the left hand side was a fluffy little thing whilst the study on the right was smooth coated and yes, he was a tad crosseyed!  Both originals went to their respective owners and are now framed and much loved.  I did take a scan as per normal so a greetings card is available with this image.

Should anyone be interested in a commission of a horse or pet I work from your supplied photographs.  The study could be a detailed pencil or watercolour, a quirky cartoon type pen and watercolour on canvas OR you could have a quirky design on a ceramic piece such as a mug, display plate or even a trinket box!  The style and choice is up to you.  Please note, my detailed studies are my "interpretation" of the animal, I do not do a direct copy as such but aim for expression, charactor and movement.  If the study is on canvas, this can also be scanned and used on a greetings card.

Please do comment, follow and view my website (under development) at http://www.kfsoriginals.co.uk/.  If you wish to discuss anything further please contact me by email at  tk.spall@virgin.net  at the current time as my web email address appears to be faulty.

Music is very important in my life also.  Currently work has been assisted by U2 who produced a blinder of a set at Glastonbury 2011 last night - dont you just love iplayer!

Thank you and I hope you enjoyed reading my latest blog.  Kathy xx

ITS RAINING CATS AND DOGS

I just wanted to introduce you to some of my cat and dog artwork on canvas and considering the recent weather conditions thought that the title was quite appropriate!

The left hand side image is a recent pencil study of one of my black labrador dogs enjoying a bit of peace and quiet in the sunshine.  This is the second time I have attempted to capture this particular photograph and feel much happier with the result!  It just goes to show that if at first you dont succeed, walk away, leave a while, return and have another attempt.  I very often start on a piece of work, get to a certain stage then leave it alone for a few days coming back to it with a fresh pair of eyes.  The right hand image shows the same dog, aged about 3 months of age.  An early watercolour but what I particularly liked was the capture of her curious expression, big ears and very long legs!  All house members take lots of photographs and they very often turn something up which I wish to capture in my artwork, sometimes as a study, sometimes as a quirky image.

Small prints on card are available for the pencil study whilst the watercolour is available as a limited edition giclee print.  The watercolour original is also for sale but I am afraid that my husband has claimed the pencil study original!  Again both images are scanned for greetings cards.

EXAMPLES OF HORSE PENCIL STUDY

Pencil study  "Young Foal"

Shown above are two scanned images of a pencil study on canvas.  The one on the left shows the study in its early stage whilst the one on the right shows the finished piece.  Once the outline is set I like to get some rough shading in place and most importantly get the eye sorted pronto - it brings the image "alive" to me.  The tones on this particular drawing are not too heavy but I was quite pleased with the finished result which is now mounted, framed and for sale. 

Pencil Study  "Thoroughbred Stallion"

Again as above showing part complete and finished work.  This was the second detailed pencil study I attempted, a great learning curve for me and I was really pleased with the finished result!  Tentatively I framed him (yes, all my works end up being named, talked to and loved to the point where I dont really want to sell them) and entered  into a local art exhibition at  The Brewhouse  in Burton.  I am pleased to report that he was professionally chosen to be exhibited and it was a real honour for me to view one of my works in situ with some other wonderful paintings.  Currently he is awaiting a new frame as I dont feel that the old one did him justice.  Reluctently for sale to a good home. 

Small mounted prints and greetings cards available for both designs.

My main aim is to capture "expression"  - I feel that the two images above did just that.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you wish to discuss any further details regarding the above.

Additionally today, I have just finished batch1 of several ceramic bespoke pieces. The first is a money box for a little girl based on a teddy bears picnic in the woods with friends.  I'm really pleased with this one, got a bit carried away as per usual and it is vertually covered with images!  The second bespoke order is for 4 mugs and a small biscuit plate featuring the Bedlington Terrier Dog.  I have managed to place several dogs in different poses on both the mugs and the plate, all looking a tad cheeky in their quirkiness.  Everything is now currently drying again before going into the oven to be cured.  This bonds the artwork to the ceramic making it washable.  Both of these lovely customers are long standing with kfsoriginals.  I am due to commence work on Batch2 bespoke and general stock orders this coming week.

Music to accompany today has been Nirvana followed by The Foo Fighters - just cant do without me bit of rock.  Hope you enjoy reading this latest blog.  Please comment and follow.  Thank you.  Kathy xx

FIRST BLOG FROM KATHY AT KFSORIGINALS

In order to further promote my work, I have decided to open up a "blog" whilst I am working on updating my web site at  http://www.kfsoriginals.co.uk/.  Please bear with me as I learn how to use this media effectively!   I hope to start posting images and regular updates from the artistic world and imagination of "kfsoriginals".

A BIT OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT KFSORIGINALS

I work on three different surfaces, ceramic, glass and canvas.  The artwork on the ceramic and glassware is washable with care.  Each is an original piece of artwork in its own right, I do not use stick on outlines or images, each is unique.  My work  can be a tad "quirky" which is particularly evident on my ceramic pieces and ranges from a wide range of animals to people or even a car!  I tend to take inspiration from my garden for my work on glass as I have a wide range of flowers and plants which I love.  I purely started work on canvas whilst attending craft events, I just hate to sit there doing nothing, and was surprised when customers started to ask me to do commissions of their own pets and animals.  This particular line of my work has just grown and grown with the additional benefit that my work on the ceramic pieces has also improved, everything now has more movement.  Currently I am enjoying work in simple pencil on canvas and aim to transfer this work onto box canvas soon using acrylic paint, working on shades of black to white.  Being completely self taught (apart from a GCSE Grade A many years ago) I just tend to go with the flow and whatever images I have floating round in my head - of which there are many! 

My main subject area is "The Horse".  I just love to capture this wonderful creature in art, their floating movement and wonderful expression always make me smile, even if they do stand on my feet and bite me sometimes (I currently own two horses, well one horse and one naughty little pony to be correct,  together with many other animals who always provide me with artistic inspiration).  To finish I absolutely adore to paint and create my artwork whilst listening to a wide range of music (another great love of mine).

I promote my work via craft events, a few exhibitions and one or two craft shops.  And of course, now online.

Commissions are most welcome.  Please have a look at the website for a further feel for my work and do not hesitate to contact me should you wish to discuss anything further (details on the web site)

Bye for now and I do hope that this works!