HERE’S to W O R K I N G again !

kate church

OPEN BLOOM acrylic on canvas

CREATING SPRING acrylic on canvas

This was part of a series of Amaryllis paintings I did to combat winter isolation and work on my climb back to heath. It all began with a bulb kit from the superstore that, once it began to flower, showed six huge blooms on two stocks. I am crazy for these flowers as they take me back to my winters in Mexico when these beauties seemed to surround us on door steps, porches and balconies and the wonderful spring garden show at Juarez Park in early February.

BLOOMA AND OTHER STORIES : diptych 24 x 36 and 24 x 30 acrylic on canvas

BLOOMS AND OTHER STORIES acrylic on canvas dyptich

Personally, Amaryllis truly represent time out from winter and helped me to find my soon to be “new blooms”.

The paintings pushed themselves out of me as I wrestled with some dark days and the emotional journey that came with this time, my paint brushes not caring where they were or how things happened just happy to move and join into a dance that was needed and allowed myself to be outside my routines.

STAGES OF BLOOMING : acrylic on canvas

I am doing exponentially better every day now but trying my best not to minimize or forget too quickly what I have walked and experienced…

HIDDEN MEANINGS : acrylic on canvas with cobbler’s nails

The journey of cancer is sobering and I did my best to walk within it rather than above it…does that make sense??
I am often confounded by the depth of it…

BLOOMING SOFTLY : acrylic on canvas with gold leaf background

In early February I was so happy to return to our printmaking group here in Mahone Bay after more than a year of absence. I did several sweet little lino cuts of ” Amaryllis” to complete this blooming series … they are linoleum printed as intaglio (kind of a reverse lino print) then coloured with acrylic washes and gold leaf.

AMARYLLIS BLOOMING linocut intaglio print with hand finished acrylic wash and gold leaf 4 x 6 ” $125.00 in 8×10″ mat 150.00 framed

BLOOMING linocut intaglio print with hand finished acrylic wash and gold leaf 6.5 x 7.5 ” $165.00 in 12 x 16 ” mat 195.00 framed

OPEN HEART AMARYLLIS linocut intaglio print with hand finished acrylic wash and gold leaf 4 x 6 ” $125.00 in 8×10″ mat 150.00 framed

thank you to all of you for writing to me last time I posted, it meant a lot and has me determined to continue to post as I re-enter my creative life full time. Please know I am doing well, being real is a strong place for me …

Now, with this strange state of new living, I am so grateful for being past the treatment/hospital sessions and feel somehow prepared for this time after having had this cautious year of cleanliness and isolation …

now, I hope to create new work from a new mental state and space …

Stay tucked in (has become my new normal) and please remember,

DON’T POSTPONE JOY as it can be found in the most simple places . . . .

Posted In Newsletters, Scribblings,

April 7, 2020

21 responses to “HERE’S to W O R K I N G again !”

Kathy Blake

March 18, 2021 at 6:14 pm

Kate,I am just now, a year later, looking at your work…with such admiration. I was in your dollmaking class many years ago in Haliburton…your work has always spoken to me…I go back to it often, love the whimsy and the seemingly bottomless pit of creativity and skill❤️❤️👍🏻❤️❤️

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judeprashaw

April 14, 2020 at 1:22 am

3rd painting: do you see a bird leaning in to a woman clothed in a blue mantel? Like a benediction, a healing blessing.

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judeprashaw

April 14, 2020 at 1:20 am

3rd painting: Do you see a bird leaning in, touching the forehead as if in a benediction, of a woman clothed in a blue mantle? A sacred blessing I think.

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mmunzonedesigns

April 12, 2020 at 12:57 pm

Hi Kate,
Your work is always beautiful, I so glad for you that you are getting better everyday, stay safe, wishing you a continuing healthy future.

Cheers,
Michelle (Munzone)

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Jeannette Jennings

April 11, 2020 at 1:03 pm

Hi Kate,
I am so glad you are back doing what you love. It has made so many people happy and opened the door to a whole new world of fun and richness for me. I know the past months have been very long and at times brutal. However I do believe your strength of mind and spirit as well as your amazing talent will sustain you. The sun has come out again. Enjoy ever second of it. You are a creator! I’m sending you all my love and energy.

Keep the faith.
Jeannette Jennings

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Patricia

April 9, 2020 at 9:57 pm

Hello Kate,I am so glad to receive your last couple of emails to your group! Your paintings are beautiful!

I love that there is a signature expression in these paintings that reminds me of your wonderful whimsical sculptures/dolls. It’s so good to know that you’re on the other side of the cancer treatments! I appreciate the realness in what these paintings express. It sets a good example for me. Still learning to let what I create be about who I am. I’ll add that I’ve admired your work for years, wishing to learn to tap into my own creative voice which I’d kept buried during years of supporting myself at accounting (something I always hated to do). I’m down here in Virginia going through Virginia’s version of this COVID 19 adjustments.

I just missed signing up for your workshop in Charlotte, NC and then was told that it was for members of the doll group down there. I’ve often wondered if my most favorite great grandfather, Guy Atwill Hall, who apparently spent some of his childhood years living in Nova Scotia might have rubbed elbows with members of your family way back when. You are an inspiration to me. Now in my “retirement years” — almost 68 — I chose to change careers and currently mostly teach pottery classes having returned to school so I could do something I liked for work “before I die” — that’s the refrain that goes around in my head. I especially like that your example inspires me to let “my voice” be an expression of me and not just something pretty that will sell. Sending you warm wishes, Patricia

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Catarina Bitkover

April 9, 2020 at 4:29 am

Dear Kate,
Love your paintings. There is so much emotion in them. The latest one seems cathartic.
Best wishes for continued recovery,
Catarina

7 apr. 2020 kl. 22:34 skrev KATE CHURCH <comment-reply@wordpress.com>:

kate church posted: ” CREATING SPRING acrylic on canvas This was part of a series of Amaryllis paintings I did to combat winter isolation and work on my climb back to heath. It all began with a bulb kit from the superstore that, once it began to flo”

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Judy Burchette

April 8, 2020 at 11:54 pm

Hello Kate, so good to hear from you! Your encouraging thoughts are a comfort to me. I do enjoy you post and activities. Look forward to receiving many more emails in the near future. Warmest regards to you.

Sent from my iPhone

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Brenda Giffen

April 8, 2020 at 8:23 pm

Hello Kate! I’m thrilled to read that you are well on your way to recovery. What a journey of experience you have had and I wish you only good health from hear on in!

I once took a class with you in Toronto, and you and I tried to pull together something for Schomberg, but we couldn’t. We are now in Collingwood where there is a thriving art scene. If you ever go on the road with your classes, this would be a place that I am confident would attend your wonderful classes to create! After we know that we can be safe to gather, and again, if you’re going to be in the Toronto and GTA anyways, it might be something that you may wish to consider.

You are such a remarkable person and your art is magnificent, whether the whimsical sculptures or these beautiful canvases!

Be well and thank you for keeping me on your mailing list. You brightened my day as you always have since I met you!

Best wishes for continued great health, healing energy and love, Brenda

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Elise and Larry Doane

April 8, 2020 at 6:32 pm

So sorry you have such a terrible year and to end it with this awful pandemic just doesnât seem fair. I am so glad you are feeling better and working again. I love amaryllis too and yours are beautiful.

All the very best to you in this very very difficult world.

Cheers

Elise Doane,

Halifax

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Mary Docksteader

April 8, 2020 at 2:52 pm

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Gabriele

April 8, 2020 at 1:21 pm

The amaryllis paintings are lovely. They have a depth of color and yet a looseness that’s just wonderful. Glad to hear that you are doing well.

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Jan Bush-Wood

April 8, 2020 at 12:24 pm

So beautifully written Kate. it”s so good to hear that you are creating again. Beautiful spirit.

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Patricia

April 8, 2020 at 8:27 am

Continued good health love and joy.
I so appreciate your gift of art and words.

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Carol Mellin

April 8, 2020 at 2:33 am

Beautiful work Kate. As always you never disappoint.💜

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Joy Bacon

April 8, 2020 at 1:54 am

Dear Kate,
I am so pleased to read you are feeling stronger and enjoying your art making. I love what you have posted.
I wish you continued good health, strength, and creativity.
Take care, stay safe and keep well.
Joy

Joy Bacon
Email – joybacon@shaw.ca
Home Phone Calgary – (403)246-1909
Cell Phone – (587)582-4362
Home Phone Scottsdale – (480)664-0459

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luminio

April 7, 2020 at 11:51 pm

You are splendidly amazing!

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

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Betty Alleyne

April 7, 2020 at 10:35 pm

Congratulations Kate! Your new work is fabulous..and I’m so glad you’re fully immersed in creative life again.
Stay well..and soldier on!
With much love and encouragement from my home to yours!
Betty

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Jean Chapple

April 7, 2020 at 10:11 pm

Hi Kate, I was smiling the whole time I read this . I am very happy for you.
These paintings have such rich and joyful colours. Love them ! ~ Jean

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Jennie Francis

April 7, 2020 at 9:09 pm

These are just gorgeous Kate

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cookery52

April 7, 2020 at 9:03 pm

Hello Kate, So great to hear that you have all the cancer treatments behind you and are feeling better day by day. I took a class with you in Mineral Point, Wisconsin a couple years ago—the first one you did there. I made a ventriloquist and his dummy, and you made a little balloon for me, if that rings a bell. No worries if it does not. Long ago I taught cooking classes, and the students always thought I remembered each and everyone of them.

Love your Amaryllis paintings and the bold colors—a bold new you! Take care, and “stay tucked in” as you say. We are fine here in Galena, Illinois—a few cases of coronavirus in the county, but who knows where this will lead. I work part-time at the local non-profit art center, which is closed and no plans on when we can re-open. Gathering groups of people for music, plays, and gallery openings may be far, far in the future. I’m happy to spend time in my studio. Take care, Patricia

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