Red Kite Original Sketches

For those individuals that know me, they have probably wondered the reason for calling my blog, "Red Kite Gallery". Besides the fact that I found someone else on Etsy using Brite Ideas Designs (only spelled correctly!), I wanted a trademark that people could really identify me with and the red balloon was already taken. My goal with starting up a new Etsy store was to deviate from the lamps and night lights and really focus on my drawings and paintings, which also seem to do better on Etsy than what I was doing.

So, I have been hard at work generating some cute and whimsical sketches in ink on white card stock. Listed above are just a few examples of my sketches. With Spring slowing creeping to the Pacific Northwest, I find myself very focused on little spring critters. There is just something really cute about snails and slugs and ants. They stir up a childlike curiosity in me. Most of the sketches are rendered with brown sharpie and feature a small kite somewhere in them that I hand-color in red. I do plan on selling all the sketches as originals...so there will be no prints! The first group of 10 drawings were done on plain computer paper, so they will be listed as cheaper than the card stock ones. I hope to get the Red Kite Gallery Etsy Store open and running within a week or so.

Bye now!

April Art Show Pictures

Here is a collection of images from the art show I had at the public library at the beginning of April. The theme of the show was sweets and junk food. The show consisted of a variety of different items including cards, jewelry, lamps, night lights, hanging art, etc. The giant lollipops and orange creamsicle are hanging art. The only grouping I don't have a decent picture of is the smaller candy swirls. There were five of those in a variety of colors that hang also.

The cake slice, melting ice cream cone, giant cupcake and ginger bread man are all working lamps. The smaller night lights included a cherry pie, ice cream cones, grape jelly toast, and pizza.

Sitting decorative art included three different cakes. Two chocolate cakes and one pink frosted cake with conversation hearts on top.

I also had a large variety of chocolate bon bon magnets, ornaments and cupcake ornaments.

Many of these items including the cards are still available to purchase directly through me (rittenhousef@yahoo.com) and some are listed on etsy (http://www.briteideas.etsy.com/)

The Ants Go Marching...

Sometimes I wonder at "normal" people. You know, those select persons that have no artistic bone in their highly organized skeletal structure...they seem so entranced by my artistic creativity and ability. Even some of the artists I DO know constantly question where my inspiration evolves from, as if I am the only one privy to the bubbling waters of the artistic fountain of creativity. Yes, that is right...I know where the elusive fountain is and I will tell you where to get some, FOR A PRICE! All kidding aside...inspiration for me crops up randomly...like a rest stop bathroom on a very long drive. The more urban your area, the more bathrooms...out in the sticks...well, your just up &$%@ creek!

No really.....inspiration presents itself in the small things like this picture of marching ants.

These are for my daughter's first Kindergarten presentation on a bug (Can you believe that her teacher even gave her the option of a PowerPoint presentation to enhance her computer skills---PowerPoint in Kindergarten?!). She picked ants and needed a visual to accompany her oral presentation. We decided to construct the highly original and classic....Egg Carton Ant! You know, those cute ones that YOU made in school prior to PowerPoint presentations, sculpty, Michaels and JoAnns....that's right....with chenille pipe cleaner appendages. When I saw those cute ants marching on my kitchen counter, that bolt of artistic lightening jolted me enough to take a picture to remind myself that ants, in black and red would be great to render in the wire/paper process I am particularly fond of right now. Just like the Spring Bee I posted several days prior. Who wouldn't love some marching ants to hang on your bedroom or living room wall? And if you don't like this idea....I can recommend some other really great blogs to read....

The Alligator Lady

THE ALLIGATOR LADY

The life of Mary Gatore, Queen of Crocs is shrouded in romance and mystery!

Did Mary truly love the Lord Piggly Wiggly? Did this dashing knight break her innocent heart? Was she associated with his mysterious disappearance? Was he LUNCH? How much of his murder was she aware?

Was this Mary, Queen of Crocs, involved in plots to assassinate and depose her powerful cousin? Or was she simply a pawn in the intrigues of her time?

More to come involving this tale of murder, vengeance, deceit & romance!

The Queen of Crocs is nearly finished artistically. Her hand needs to be completed and I still need to fashion her hat. Once she is completed, she will be for SALE! Interested parties can contact me via email at redkitestudio@yahoo.com or rittenhousef@yahoo.com

Baby Steps!

I can tell that I am getting older! That or the effects of constant exposure to children's television programs is finally taking it's toll on my poor brain. My brain has become the equivalent of an old out-dated car that sputters and and shakes at it tries to function merely to get started, let alone, drive anywhere. Ahh yes, I labored away on the 18th (of April) creating this great blog to promote myself and my art. I created a cute name, a new email, a new Etsy shop...all to link things together. And what happens....somehow I manage to restrict even myself from access to this great avenue of advertisement and self-expression. Awesome move....and very typical of myself!

So, once again I have to re-create myself AGAIN! Bravo Idiot! THIS time I have written down everything..and if it fails once again...well...I suppose I will just have to try something entirely different....maybe FAST FOOD?! Would you like fries with that?

Start a Blog....What the #%@!

"You should start a blog in order to get your name out in the world", so I have been told. So here I am laboring, with little knowledge about computers and technology, let alone how to set the foundations for a blog with settings, layout, fonts and colors. Only now am I kicking myself at having passed up college courses in Adobe photoshop and web design for those other courses like Life Drawing and Abnormal Psychology, which are not helping me very much right now. Yes, that green eyed beast is dripping big fat drops of drool on my shoulder as I enviously observe other blogs that look like pages of candied inspiration and yet here I am with this red blob of melted goo that seems anything but appealing. Maybe a sacrifice to the computer guru will help me with the development of this blog....though that may mean I would be down one of those beautiful blonde mop-tops I gave birth to....I suppose that readers will just have to choke down this horrible blob of mental strain and labor with a big cup of coffee and a bowl full of humor. Brace yourselves, this WILL be a bumpy ride!