Oil Painting "Glass Of Red Roses" by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Glass Of Red Roses"

©  Nora Kasten 2011

Oil painting on linen on board  (12"x9")    August 13, 2011

"It is one year ago, today, that my Beloved Karl died.  And today is the day I begin painting again. . . . .  here is today's effort.  I found that signing the painting was hard for me to do and felt very awkward.

This small painting was painted using a brush and palette knife.  I also used the grays that Barbara Flowers has on her palette, trying to tone down my colors.   The grays are from Gamblin and they are:  Portland Grey Light - Portland Grey Medium - Portland Grey Deep.


Sincere thanks to all of you who have accompanied me through the darkest year of my life and have given me hope so many times when I couldn't find it on my own.  Saying "thank you" is not enough, I realize, but my thanks are genuine and heartfelt for you all."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

"Fresh Roses" Oil Painting by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Fresh Roses"

Oil painting on linen on board  (16"x20")

"This painting is hanging in a guest bathroom that I intend to let go with my home / when and if it sells.  The beautiful black gallery wall is gone and restored to it's original color.  The house and garage are cleared of the things I am keeping except for clothes and personal items.  One wall in the garage is lined with paintings and frames that I want to keep.  The big Hughes easel will be gone by next week.  Here is a link to the multiple listing and virtual tour of my home.


Before returning home from the recent trip, I was able to visit with all four of my sons and with many of my Indiana friends.  While in Plainfield, Indiana, I looked at some condos with the thought of maybe buying one.  I'm so unsure of what to do now that probably renting would be a better option for me.  It's for certain that I won't do anything until "I have the I know that I know" from my Inner Presence. 


Being away from here for a while was good but the loneliness and sadness still eat away at me.  I talked to a counselor yesterday who says this will not continue and to expect good things to happen gradually that will ease this suffering.  He says  "Be kind to yourself during this time and if you can't paint, just don't do it.  If there is no joy in painting now, why are you forcing yourself?  You'll know when and if it's time.  Seek, look into and try new things." . . .  .  Actually, nothing really seems to mean anything to me now.


Last Friday I canceled out of The Sheldon Fine Art Gallery here in Naples and brought home five paintings.  They still have six of my paintings and I intend to have them back soon.  I plan to take one or two paintings to the Brown County, IN gallery the first of September but I need to be free of painting obligations right now.  It surprises me because I always thought that I would paint up to the end. 


My Beloved Karl is gone eleven months and thirteen days today.  Will after a year gone by be the time of healing?  I'm so thankful for the years we had together and yet it's so hard, still, to go on without him."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

Road Trip, Flat Rock NC by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Flat Rock, NC, home of Barbara & Jack Schreihofer. 

The last three days spent here with good, wonderful friends has been a balm for my soul.  Barbara is an artist, not of paint, but of the landscape using the most beautiful flowers. . . . .  hundreds of flower beds, designed to perfection.

It is such a disappointment that I couldn't transfer the photos of the Koi Pond, Rose Gardens, all the Flower Beds and so many Potted Arrangements.  Hopefully, I can figure out how to do that later.

I'm leaving in the morning but don't have a definite plan yet.

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

Road Trip for Artist, Nora Kasten

"Last Friday, July 1, I started out from my home in Naples, FL on a road trip. It was not planned but I just wanted to get away from the sadness and loneliness.

The IPad is with me, not the laptop, and I don't know how to insert photos or for that matter to even post normally. I would appreciate any and all help.

Friday, July 1, was good to spend some time with my son, Jasson, and his wife, Tish.
Saturday, July 2, I arrived in Cumming, GA for a 3 day visit with my son, John, and his family. I have been in awe of the beauty of this place.

Saturday, July 2, John and I drove up to Cleveland, TN to meet my dear niece, Cathy, (John's cousin) for a 3 hour visit at the AppleBee's there. I gave the painting of her dad and I that I painted a few years ago from an old photo. My brother and I were 12 and 10 years old when the photo was taken. John and I got back home at 6pm to a wonderful dinner Colleen had prepared for all of us. The best brisket, ever.

Tuesday, July 6, (today) I'm leaving for Flat Rock, NC to visit with good friend, Barbara.

Paintings on Nora Kasten Website: http://www.norakasten.com

"Sweet Dreams" Oil Painting by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Sweet Dreams"

Oil painting on linen  (30"x40") From the archives

"This painting was done from a photo of my granddaughter, Macy, when she was nine years old.  She will be nineteen in August.  Macy was asleep on our overstuffed living room sofa, not this brass bed.  She did have bangs but her hair is brown and straight.  The only thing true to the photo was my favorite orange afghan."

"After reading Bill Whalberg's blog a while ago, http://billspaintingmn.blogspot.com, I am inspired to write also.  My Beloved Karl died August 13, 2010 and it's been ten and a half months.  Concentrating is still hard and makes painting difficult.  For several weeks now, I have been eliminating everything superfluous in this house and in my life.  I'm obsessed with giving away, throwing away and have made umpteen trips to the Salvation Army drop-off.  Last Friday, I listed the house for sale.  It certainly isn't the best time to sell but it's time to be pro-active in getting through this season of grief.  Now that I've decided to sell the house, I wonder if that was the reason I was (and still am) so overwhelmingly obsessed with the clearing out of so many things.  My Inner Spirit assures me I am doing the right thing but the sadness persists.  I have to force myself many times not to think of my Beloved Karl because the tears are still so close to the surface.

Writing down some things helps and one thing (along with many others) that came to mind was "I must fully accept, mentally and emotionally, that Karl cannot be with me and I will be at peace with that.  Others have come through aching grief and sadness . . . .   I will too."  

It's shameful to me that I am still not functioning emotionally very well."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

Oil Painting "Watermelon For Snacks" by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Watermelon For Snacks"

© Nora Kasten
Oil painting with palette knife on linen  (18"x20")  Completed June 3, 2011

"It's good to be back at the easel today and I'm not concerned how the painting turned out.  Of course I always want to do better but that's not the main concern for now.  

I've had an attitude adjustment that has helped.  Also, another thing learned that for me to function as a normal human being and not on the emotional roller coaster, I must get a good night's rest. . .  .even if I have to take a 5mg. Ambien to do so sometime.  I believe taking meds to cope with grieving can only be a band-aid and may even prolong the process.  

Well, here this widow is in beautiful, sunny Naples, Florida and though I have not walked on the beach very much in years past, now I find it to be good therapy.  Walking from 6pm to 7pm is a great time because it's still sunny and warm but not the hot noon day sun.  There is always a wonderful breeze and I like to walk splashing in the water,  just at the edge of the Gulf.  I am Blessed."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

"Roses In Vermont 2010"

© Nora Kasten 2010

Oil on linen  (10"x10") For sale at The Brown County Art Guild, Nashville, IN

"The art world still seems so far away for me but I am not without hope.  If this continued grief is self pity (and I think it must be),  my heart will surely accept the loss of my Beloved Karl soon so that  a new life without him can begin.  He died nine and a half months ago and though I have some days without tears, they still erupt too often.

Last week I read (listened to on the IPad) Joyce Carol Oates "A Widow's Story"/March, 2011.  Her beloved husband, Ray, died in February, 2008.  I'm not experiencing guilt but other than that our lives and emotions during the first year of being a widow seem to parallel, even the things we've done.  The book was very depressing for me to listen to but toward the end she firmly states "The value of suffering itself, physical pain, emotional and psychological pain, is there any purpose to it?  Then at the end she says, "Though I am writing this memoir to see what can be made of the phenomenon of grief in the most exactingly minute of ways, I am no longer convinced that there is any inherent value in grief.  Or if there is, if wisdom springs from the experience of terrible loss, it's a wisdom one might do without."  Oates words inspire me to get on with the new life God has for me. . . . .  but what is it?"

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

"Run For The Roses" Art by Artist, NORA KASTEN

"Run For The Roses" 

Art Exhibit, May 7, 2011

SHELDON FINE ART GALLERY,  Naples, Florida

Featureg Artist

NORA KASTEN

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

"Watermelon" Beginning Oil Painting by Artist, NORA KASTEN

Beginning of "Watermelon" Painting

"I blocked this in one afternoon, over a week ago and not sure if I will get back to it since the watermelon is long gone to the trash.   My interest turned to fashion and design and below is my latest creation."

"A page (below) in the May issue of Town & Country magazine was my inspiration.  I had this pink linen Lauren blouse that I liked but didn't like to wear because the linen fabric wrinkles so badly.  It doesn't show in the photo but the fabric for the skirt is 100% cotton, quilted squares . . .  and yes, I laundered the fabric before cutting out the pattern.   For this leisure wear evening dress, the wrinkles won't matter to me.  Do any of you watch the Food Channel?  There's a cooking program called "Semi Homemade".  That's what I'm calling my new dress, Semi Homemade."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE

Oil Paintings by Artist, NORA KASTEN, to Sheldon Fine Art Gallery, Naples, FL / "Run For The Roses" Show

Visual arts

Opening this week

“Run for the Roses,” exhibit by local artist Nora Kasten, 9 a,m.-9 p.m. Sundays through Saturdays, today through May 10, Sheldon Fine Art, 460 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. 639-6255

Ten Paintings Delivered to Sheldon Fine Art Gallery

"These paintings were delivered to Sheldon Fine Art, on Fifth Avenue today for Saturday's show, "Run For The Roses".   Saturday, May 7, 2011."

NORA KASTEN WEBSITE