The Widowed Life by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"This music is a Blessing to me and I'm glad to share it with you. 
 In two weeks it will be two years since my dearly Beloved Karl died.  I thought the agony of grief would be behind me by now but  . . . . . WRONG.   He's always close to the surface of my thoughts but most days I am at peace.  Maybe the coming anniversary of his death is bringing on the waves of horrible  grief anew but I thought that I would be stronger now.  Someone said to me a while back "Nora, take time to enjoy your sadness".  What does that mean?  I have fought it for so long.  Can it be true that this grief for Karl, after all, is just "prolonged self pity".

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

Reworked Paintings, Destroyed Paintings by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Red Geraniums"  (Reworked)

© Nora Kasten

Oil on linen on board  (24"x20")    Reworked July 22, 2012

"Peach With Franciscan Ware"  (Reworked)

© Nora Kasten
Oil on linen on board   (12"x12")  Reworked  July 22, 2012

"Today, I did something that I almost never do and that is to rework a painting.  I go with the theory that it is better . . .    and saves precious time to start a new painting rather than try to fix a bad one.  But the two paintings above were reworked today and I feel better about them.   I removed two inches from each side of "Red Geraniums" before reworking."

No hope for the two paintings below so I destroyed them and they are GONE

"March Bouquet No. 1"  (16"x12")
Oil on linen on board

"Dried Roses & Blue Vase"  (12"x12")
Oil on textured canvas

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

News of a workshop & Barbara Flowers new easel by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"YELLOW ROSES"

Oil painting on linen on board  (24"x20")
I think that I destroyed this painting last summer while clearing out.

"Laura Robb is giving a four day workshop in Taos, NM / September 24 through September 27, 2012.
The workshop will be held at the Blumenscheim Studio, 222 Ledoux Street, Taos, NM  87571
(575) 758-0505.  The class is limited to 10 artists and I'm signed up already.

Now, please go to Barbara Flowers blog.  First to see her beautiful work and then to learn about the Hughs easel.  Below is the comment that I left on her site."

"Barbara, I am so happy for you and I know just how you feel.  Five years ago my dear husband bought the Hughs easel (same as yours) for me, for my 70th birthday.  Just like you, we ordered it and 2 or 3 days later he delivered it to our house and totally set it up for me.  It is well worth the money and the easel of every artist's dream.  I enjoyed using it for 4 years but gave it to The Salvation Army last summer with a prayer that the right person would get it.  After Karl died I sold our big home and had no place for it then.  Today, I'm blessed with a good place to paint again.  It's just not big enough for that easel and yet my heart is full of Love and Thankfulness for such rich memories.  God is so good to us . . . .  and Barbara, I kept the 2 paintings I bought of yours and enjoy them every day."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

Oil Painting "Peach With Franciscan Ware" by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Peach With Franciscan Ware"

© Nora Kasten

Oil painting on linen on board  (12"x12")       July 20, 2012

" Today was another painting day and also a walk on the beach.  I consider this another practice painting and it's just good to be back at the easel."

Loudermilk Beach,  Naples, FL    July 20, 2012

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

Oil Painting, "Red Geraineums" & At The Beach by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Red Geraniums"

© Nora Kasten

Oil on linen on board  (24"x24")  July 18, 2012

"Another practice painting.  I painted all morning yesterday and then to the beach for an hour walk.  When back home, I painted until 6pm."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

I like to walk on our city beach, Loudermilk Beach, here in Naples, Florida


Photos taken with the IPhone

It looks like I was up high but I wasn't.  It's just one part of the
 beach that I walk over or around  . .  . .  .   Depending on the tide. 

This little boy was really busy

It was high noon when I took these photos  yesterday
and here it  looks like  the little ones were out for lunch .

This is all I could get of my feet with the sun directly overhead.

This photo is either sad or uplifting, depending on  how it registers with YOU.
It belongs to an elderly lady who was pretty far out in the Gulf, enjoying the water with her husband.

"Florida's Plumbago" Oil Painting by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Florida's Plumbago"

© Nora Kasten

Oil painting on linen on board   (12"x12")          July 4, 2012

"This is the second painting from the Plumbago blooming in Debra's yard on Marco Island.  

Again, as the first one it was executed totally with a palette knife but I still didn't get the finish that I was after.  Maybe another one . . . . I don't think so but we'll see."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

"Plumbago" Oil Painting by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Plumbago"

© Nora Kasten

Oil painting on gallery wrapped canvas  (11-1/2"x11-1/2")   July 1, 2012

"Just to be painting is my goal right now and I'm certainly surprised how each painting turns out.  I might be able to salvage this painting but have decided not to and just take the lessons learned to go on to the next one.

"Plumbago" was created totally with the palette knife to give me the loose, impressionistic look that I'm after . . . .  .  that's ok.   The big problem here is too many values when 4 or 5 would have been best to create a dramatic "center of interest" that I always strive for.  

The excitement and joy of painting again at this stage in my life is most refreshing.  It is a new beginning though and I'm having to relearn or remember so much that used to be second nature to me."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE