Blog

40 x 30 Oil
Available at Gregg Irby Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia at 404.941.9787

One of my very favorite flowers to paint is peonies and this was so fun to capture these gorgeous peonies on this pretty little table and paint it all from life. My husband had just found me that new nest and I love this whole color palette…rich pale neutral colors!

So much good news and fun things going on in my art world! I am lucky enough to have a generous studio space and am revamping it and building a whole painting wall to use as my Easel. Will give me so much more space to paint and since I love to paint big this allows those huge canvases to hang in place on the wall as I work from one to another. Will post more photos and info on that as I go in case anyone is interested. Have joined in the fun over on Instagram…it’s a cool social media place to share and see so many beautiful photos- hope you will join me there and “Follow” me at kathycousart. I am painting every day as usual and getting a whole new exciting body of work ready for one of my favorite Galleries….will start posting those once they see them and approve. I so appreciate my Galleries and love working with them. Blessed!

40 x 40 Oil with Wax
Available at Gregg Irby Fine Art, Atlanta at 404.941.9787

Gathered up all my favorite things again with a few new additions and had so much fun painting this one. I love seeing the flowers compliment each other and all that wonderful reflected light bouncing around. Adore that little bird so much that I actually bought a second one they are just such a fun addition. I am having fun embracing a bit more color these days…just seeing it and painting it-and loving that. This rich but soft pastel color palette is gorgeous and makes me smile. Morning Blessings Y’all!

Painting Plein Air is how I first started painting. I love it and appreciate how it informs my studio painting. I learn so much painting on location with having to make quick decisions and determining the most important information needed for a strong design and composition. My favorite place to paint plein air is at the beach with my toes in the sand/ocean. I was lucky enough to get to do some painting at our family beach trip last week. Love catching a sunrise and can’t wait to work off the studies that I did- the colors are just beautiful.
We had such a special family time full of wonderful memories and just enjoying being all together. I was also happy to get to see two of my favorite fellow artists that I have painted with before and loved catching up with both Denise Rose and Laurel Daniel. Blessed and grateful for family and friends and what painting has done for me. It’s a gift indeed.

36 x 36 Oil with Wax
Available at Gregg Irby Gallery at 404.941.9787

So honored to share that my work is now being represented by the beautiful Gregg Irby Gallery in Atlanta. Always so special to find that right gallery that you just feel at home in. Gregg Irby is just that kind of gallery because it’s so warm and welcoming! Quite the list of talented artists and chock full of gorgeous fresh artwork everywhere you turn. Hope y’all will check out all the amazing artists there and stop by for a visit!
This painting has this wonderful textured layering that I just love and the prettiest color palette. These landscape abstracts are so special to paint and the anchoring horizon line is built up with so many possibilities of what it can be. I hear all the time that my paintings have a sense of peace and grace about them. This painting seemed to have that especially so the title just had to be “Peace Be With You”.

40 x 40 Oil with Wax
The significance of what beautiful blue and white Spode means to me is of traditions and treasures. My Mom gave me my first piece, that huge serving platter in the back of the painting, when I got married. I have collected it since then and started my daughters with their first pieces. It’s a pattern that is over 200 years old and was originally based on some fabulous Italian drawings. It’s complicating to paint and capture the intricate design and also the shifts in the blues and whites in light and shadow. This was a huge still life set up and I about needed a bigger space! Love the pops of color with the flowers and also the complimentary color of the rich oranges. This painting has a ton of paint on it that gives a wonderful texture to the porcelain especially.

40 x 40 Oil with Wax and Gold Leaf

It’s been a really sweet day that ended with finishing up this newest painting. I think my newest “kicks” that I now wear while painting had a little influence on it toward the end. I had to laugh that even my running shoes have my colors in them- Raspberry, Lime Punch and Bluebird! I love that great feeling of a new pair of shoes and these made me feel especially grateful and graceful while finishing this painting up. Most folks don’t realize that I stand while painting…and I paint all day long almost every single day so new kicks are much appreciated!
Loving this painting…all those many many layers with bits of the sweet underpainting and glazes peeking through here and there. There’s also graphite and oil stick mark making that is just so fun to do. My favorite gorgeous pale neutral palette of rich oil paints and wax has this wonderful patina that I just adore. Makes you just want to run your hand along the painting. Still having fun with the most subtle little bits of gold and also gold leaf- it’s that surprise thing that makes you smile. Hope y’all enjoy “Effortless Grace.”

30 x 30 Oil
Available at Bennett Galleries, Nashville, TN at 615-297-3201
I love all flowers but there is just something so special about Peonies! I loved painting these beautiful soft pastel colored peonies in this fancy formal container. It was challenging but I love how it turned out. The vase had some gold leaf on it and an intricate pattern on the front that I loved tackling. There was so much delightful reflected light bouncing all around and it was as always joyful to see that and then paint it. Bennett Galleries did professional photos of all of my paintings and I am loving seeing how someone else takes photos of my creations. Much appreciated!

36 x 36 Oil with Wax
Have always loved and appreciated the Japanese art and belief of Kintsukuroi. The traditional belief is this…”to repair with gold; the art of repairing pottery with gold or silver and understanding that the piece is more beautiful for having been broken.” The pieces I have seen are more beautiful and that got me to thinking about applying that in my painting process. I just love the whole concept of Kintsukuroi. Was taught early on that a painting should surprise you and hold your interest. I believe that and have had fun incorporating bits of gold leaf or gold paint along the way. This painting has so many layers that the camera just can’t capture. It glows from within and also when the light hits the bits of gold paint. I love how it all works together.
Being in my studio and tucked away painting has been extremely healing for me with the loss of both my Mother and also my Brother these last few months. I have always painted a lot and worked that around caring for my Mother. I understand that folks are surprised at the amount of paintings I am producing now and wanted to share how good this time has been for me. I am doing fine and finding a new balance with so much more time to paint. Discovering a deep appreciation for the gifts that care taking has given me. Adopting the concept of Kintsukuroi for surviving through the struggles and coming out more beautiful on the other side. Peace my friends…Grace too.

48 x 48 Oil with Wax

Available at ArtSource Gallery, Raleigh NC (919) 787-9533
Nothing better then being immersed into the middle of gorgeous peonies and roses and painting them on a 4 foot by 4 foot canvas. So much space on the canvas to play in the paint! I loved every brushstroke of this and every layer of gorgeous oil paint and wax too. Painting flowers from life allows me to really paint that connection I have to them and transfer all of that into the painting. Adore how the sunlight hits the edges some of the petals and totally shifts that into a whole different color and value from what is in shadow on the flowers. I love seeing the little bits of reflected light bouncing all over and showing up as a soft turquoise or a light limey green! Always interests and fascinates me- hope that comes across and you love this one too!

 

36 x 48 Oil
Available at ArtSource Gallery, Raleigh, NC at (919) 787-9533

I see and appreciate so much Beauty and Grace in my everyday life and love that part of being an Artist. A huge part of my training is to see and understand the warm and cool shifts in color and notice the relationships between colors. What I love most about painting landscapes is the amazing majesty of all of that combined together. Just holds me in awe and gives me such a sense of appreciation. Grace is There for certain.