Katie Jeanne Wood

Mixed Media Artist - daily painter of portraits, flowers, abstracts and birds

Unless the Moon is Fat in the Sky Video

Oil portrait painting by Katie Jeanne Wood
Unless the Moon is Fat in the Sky
oil portrait painting
Available here

If you’d like to subscribe to my youtube channel, there is a link in the video on the bottom right. It will take you where you need to go.

I’m coming up for air for a minute. Things have been super busy in my studio lately. I’ve been working on several custom orders. One is a rather large project that’s going to keep me busy for the next few weeks. Although I do have a couple posts scheduled, things will probably remain a bit on the quiet side here on my blog. 

I hope you are well. I’ve been keeping those of you doing the 30/30 challenge in my thoughts. I’m still bummed that I had to bail. However, I am happy to be back to my normal blog posting time, which is evenings. I usually have too much going on first thing in the morning to think of blogging. Posting at night works out so much better for me. It gives me all day to come back, and edit the post if I think of something to add. 

PS: if you’re wondering how to place a custom order with me, there are custom order buttons available on both of my Etsy shops. For portraits go here, and for flowers, birds, abstracts or landscapes go here. Or you can also contact me directly by clicking on the “contact Katie” tab above. 

Not to be caged – oil portrait painting plus video. Watch me paint her

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This photo was made in photoshop; however, I’m going to be recreating it as an original oil painting today on a 6×12 inch canvas. I love how an idea for one painting will soon explode into others. I think I wrote about that once or twice before. Haven’t decided yet if it will be black & white or color. Stay tuned to find out what I ended up doing. 

Oil portrait painting by Katie Jeanne Wood
Not To Be Caged
oil portrait painting on hardboard panel

She is not to be caged, or at least that the look she was giving me as I painted her. This is an oil portrait painting on hardboard panel.

The oil paint I’m using in this painting is Gamblin. I also used Gamsol and Galkyd to thin the paint just slightly, which are also by Gamblin. You will find these products at your local art supply store or online.

If you’re interested in purchasing this painting, you will find it here. 

Oil portrait painting by Katie Jeanne Wood

If you’re subscribed to my blog, and this video doesn’t come through in the email, be sure to hop on over to my website to see it. You can subscribe to my youtube channel by clicking the subscribe button in the video. 

Sweet Pea, Harold and Maude Youtube channel

katherine-jeanne-wood-sweet-pea-banner-yt

Now that I have a computer that actually works every time I need it, I’ve dusted the cobwebs off Sweet Pea’s channel. I’ll be uploading a video there weekly on Wednesdays. Same goes for my Miz Katie channel. New video every week! Exciting, eh? 

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I want to eventually increase uploads to include Saturday also, at least on my MK channel, but I’m not quite there yet. I’m thinking perhaps after the holidays will be a good time. We’ll see. It depends on my workload, and how crazy things get around here. I might have to keep it just to Wednesdays, but I do want to be more consistent non-the-less.

If you love cats, and are as obsessed about them as I am, then you’ll want to subscribe, so you never miss a video. 🙂 

Synopsis: it’s hard to sleep when you’re a restless Harold kitty, and the wind is blowing falling leaves by the window. The little noises he makes slay me. Turn your speakers or headphones up, so you can hear him. I hope you enjoy this super cute cat video. Thanks so much for watching. If you like this, please share with your friends.

***

And, coming up on the next episode of Sweet Pea, Harold, and Maude..it’s like a day at the spa for Maudie. She gets pampered like no other. Here’s a sneak peek…

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Back to filming new videos

katherine-jeanne-wood-filming-setupfilming setup

Two weeks ago, I rearranged my studio, so I can start filming videos once again. This is a messy shot of my setup. I probably should have cleaned it up before snapping the photo, but eh..just keeping it real.

I’m shooting with my Nikon camera on a tripod. The battery doesn’t last long on my camera, so to prevent it from shutting off midway through a video, I bought a power adapter for it. It slips in place where the battery goes, and I no longer have to worry about the battery going dead because the camera is plugged into my power strip. Works really well if you’re filming in a stationary setting like this. I have a large size SDHC card in the camera, so I’m good to go for a couple hours without needing to dump the card onto my computer. 

As you can see, I film upside down, and then rotate the video once I’m in iMovie. 

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This is a new oil painting that I recently filmed. I sat down, and painted 12 of these watercolor paper portraits over the past 2 weeks. I’ll show you more in upcoming videos. And the good news? I’ll be giving one away each month to my newsletter subscribers. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can here.

I hope you enjoy the video. Now that I’m back to filming, and I have a computer that actually works, I’ll be uploading to my YT channel on Wednesdays. See you there! Also, check out the kittens’ channel. I just uploaded a new video there, also, and it’s super cute. 🙂 Please subscribe to both channels, if you haven’t already.

Baby Harold and Maude kittens


Baby Harold and Maude kitties
This will surely make you smile. 🙂 

Remember the problem I said I had with filming videos because I gave my video camera away, and my dslr camera lcd window doesn’t swing out like a video camera. If I set the tripod on the table like I used to, there’s no way I can tell how far I’m zoomed in or even if the camera pointed right. Well! I found the answer to that little problem with this horizontal arm for my tripod. I can keep the tripod on the floor where I can see the lcd screen, and extend the camera out over the table. Sooo cool!! I ordered one, and it was delivered last week, which means I have started making painting videos again. I’m not sure how much time I have to put into it, but I might be able to do one a week. We’ll see. No promises, but I thought it would be a way to keep me active in my art journals again, which I wrote about struggling with earlier this week. And, I’m thisclose to finishing 3 books that I have been working on now for months, and I really want to get them done. I need to take photos of each one, and upload them here. I just realized I don’t have any of my art journals on my site, so I have to fix that. 

Please note: if the horizontal arm is anything you’d be interested in, just be forewarned. If your camera is heavy, it will tip the tripod over. I think the trick is to not extend the arm too far, and use a 55mm lens or anything with the least amount of weight. Large lens will make it topple over, and smash your camera into the table..unless you sandbag your tripod, which I am considering doing just to make it more secure.  

A little video and a ramble


A little video
(24 seconds)

I filmed myself painting a couple weeks ago, but it didn’t turn out so good. Number one, I didn’t like the painting at all, which happens a lot when I try to film myself painting. I don’t paint like I normally do for some reason. I think I get camera fright or something. Number two, I had the camera settings wrong, and it was overexposed. Number 3, I gave my video camera away last year, and now I’m using my slr camera. It’s not easy to set up. I used to set the tripod on the table because the video camera had a swing out, movable lcd window. I could see what I was recording. My camera’s lcd window is attached, and doesn’t move. If I set the tripod on top of the table, unless I stand up on the table, I can’t see if I have the camera positioned right or zoomed in enough. I’m not going to stand on the table. So..the tripod was sitting at a strange angle on the floor, and it was awkward to paint with one arm behind my back, so I wouldn’t bump the camera. I was squished for room, and no wonder I wasn’t painting the way I normally do. I usually move all over the place when I paint, and use both hands because I’m ambidextrous. I draw better with my left hand most of the time, and I paint better when I am flailing all about.

Anyway, yeah, I deleted all the footage, and it’s just as well, but here’s a little clip of some floral paintings I recently did. It’s not the same, but hey, I can say I tried, and that’s all that counts for me. 

I still like Magisto a lot, but my membership has lapsed. I only get to upload 10 photos now, which kinda stinks. I didn’t use the site enough to justify spending $35 on it again, tho. Oh, well. 

One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.
Sigmund Freud

More progress shots of boy in oils, pouty face, and very short video

Katherine Jeanne Wood - boy in oils

Progress always involves risk; you can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.

F.W. Dupee

I woke up early, really early, like before 5am early. Killer backache. :/ I’m better now, but I had to get up, and move around. I’m still plugging away at this boy in oils. I fixed his eyes and the shadow on his neck this morning. I think I messed his nose up in the process, but it’s an easy fix. I’m not sure where I’m going with it next. The reference photo I’m using is black and white, so I’m making up his skin color as I go along. Sometimes, I think I nail it, but other times..eh. It’s going to take a while. When it’s finished I’ll gather all the progress shots together into one post.

Katherine Jeanne Wood - pouty face art journal page
pouty face
art journal page

Fun, very short video = less than a minute long

The making of Rose Video, Dick Blick Order, and Talk About Oil Paint

Katherine Jeanne Wood - 9x12 print Rose

The Making of Rose  – art journal page using acrylics
video below

Music: Too Late by Dinner and a Suit
I LOVE discovering new bands before they get too big.
There’s something magical and sweet about new starts and beginnings.

Katherine Jeanne Wood - paint palette
oil palette

Yesterday, I got 14 tubes of oil paint delivered from Dick Blick (2 more are coming on backorder, which I hope doesn’t take 3 months like it did last time on a backordered item :/), 12 stabilo pencils, a Stabilo sharpener (for those of you not into sharpening with a knife, like me), 60 small (4×4 and 6×6) canvas, white acrylic paint (for my art journals), and Dorland’s wax for sealing oil paintings.

Katherine Jeanne Wood - 4x4 Aria
Aria
Available here

It seems that each time I order from Blick the cost goes up. I went from $30 to $50 orders up to $100. Now, it’s $250 -$300 every couple months. Good thing I sell enough to pay for my expensive art supply habit. It’s kinda funny, tho. I used to waste money on art supplies. I’d buy stuff, and end up never using it, and I’d either throw it away or give it away. Now, I know myself as an artist (my needs are basic), and I use every single thing I buy, usually on a daily basis. So, I’ve gotten smarter about buying, even if I now buy more than ever.

Katherine Jeanne Wood - In Your Absence
Painted in memory of my mother

your absence has gone through me
like a thread through a needle.
everything i do is stitched with its color.
~ W.S. Merwin

In Your Absence
Available for purchase here or directly through me

Have you noticed at Blick that most items have an “everyday low price”, so no discount or sale price, ever. I did get $1 off on each tube of paint, so I can’t complain. Dorland’s wax is super expensive, tho. I would have liked a discount on it. Oh, well.  I got a free paint brush, valued at over $10, so that was nice. 🙂 It’s the most expensive brush I own. I don’t know if I’ll use it or just stroke the bristles now and then. ha Oh, I’ll use it. Just not on these tiny canvas, but it will be great for large ones.

8x10 Becomingly Dressed
Becomingly Dressed
Available for purchase here

Listening to Some People Have Real Problems by Sia (full album)
which is wicked good, so turn it UP.

 If you’re visiting on Friday, happy PPF! Don’t forget to click on the banner up there ^, and scroll down to see what else I posted this week. I blog 5 or 6 times a week, so if you’re only visiting one day, you’re missing a lot. You can also sign up to be notified by email when I post. Look for it –> over there in the sidebar.

 

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