Kristye Addison Dudley - Contemporary Fine Artist

Hello, I wanted to share that I was featured in a magazine called Fabulous Floors Magazine . I am just seeing the tear sheet for the first time. I started painting these canvas pillows with screen printed art to extend my work and I was thrilled to see them in a national publication. I have also created floor cloths, handbags and screen printed cards that I will post more about in the future. Fabulous Floors Magazine - Hand Painted Pillows by Kristye Addison Dudley Purchase Pillows If you are interested in commissioning artwork, home decor or purchasing prints   please contact me, I would love to work with you. Be blessed, Kristye kristye.com dorilam.com kdudley@dorilam.com Purchase originals and prints

Happy New Year, I hope this new year is treating everyone well. I have started the new year off well traveling, seeing family and renewing my passion for painting and all things creative. My husband and I took a couples trip to New York City and that place always sparks so much creative energy in me. There is something about the heartbeat and pulse of the city that I had been missing. I have decided to embrace all parts of me and try to make are without rules. My good friend Erin and I were chatting online and she always has something motivational to share. She reminded me to have fun. Sometimes, I get so concerned with making "good" art, that I don't want to make mistakes. How silly is that! The best art sometimes comes from mistakes. So it's time to have some fun in 2014!!! So, in doing so I am going to share more about my work, paintings in progress and studio life in general. You know, the mistakes, the trial and error, the paths less taken.  Hope you are rea...

"My perspective, your perspective" (Detail of diptych) © Kristye Addison Dudley January is almost over and I have only blogged once. I have got to get back to it! Well, here's an update. A memorial fund has been set up for Keasha, here is the link Keasha Rutlegde Draft Memorial . And I still can't believe that the new year started off with such a huge loss. I love you girl. On the home front, my 22 month old is settling in to all-things-toddler and keeping me and my husband very busy. My husband and I have been making plans on my career change and recently found that "our" best laid plans had some flaws. That's probably because, our plan veered slightly off of God's plan. The painting above has a partner that is right side up. It's always reminded me of how different a situation can appear from your point of view. Sometimes you need a new perspective. And I thank God for that. "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is w...

Thy Will Be Done - Acrylic on Canvas © Kristye Addison Dudley Purchase Print * It's been an interesting start to the year. I have been asked numerous times "How was your holiday?" I know that people are asking out of routine, because usually the response is "It was great. How was yours?" Then we fall in line with the dance of sharing all the good things that happened. I have had a harder time staying in step with this dance this year. The response "We went to a funeral for one of my college friends." Is not what people really want to know and I try not to over share. But that is the truth. We had a great Christmas eve. We spent it surrounded by our close friends. We had a great Christmas Day. We enjoyed a church service and spent the afternoon opening gifts and hanging out eating left overs from the night before. The next couple of days were just as lazy, until I received the call that changed the tempo for New Years. We drove from Louisiana to S...

There are so many moments in our lives where we question why things happen. There have been times where I wondered "how did I get here?" and "why me?". I have been reflecting on this year, my relationships, my hopes and dreams. I have had the opportunity to see many of my dreams come true. I am married to a wonderful man. I have been blessed with a spunky little girl. I am able to not only create art, but to walk, paint, laugh and share my life with wonderful family and friends. In the picture above, I am standing with one if my childhood idols. Yep, we are the same age, but Keasha was always two or three steps ahead and without her knowing made a path for me. We met in high school at a science and engineering camp at Clemson University. She was so pretty and smart. She graduated from high school a year early, and then majored in engineering. She had her own car, I couldn't even drive yet, and a personalized license plate that some how spelled QT-PIE. ...

Winds of Change , Acrylic on Canvas © Kristye Addison Dudley It's been a great holiday week so far. I am getting tons of rest and working towards a new year full of personal goals. One of which is running my first 1/2 marathon. So far I have only gotten new shoes, but you have to start somewhere. I am so grateful for so many thing I can't even count them. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving Day. We spent the day with friends of ours here in Bossier City. They have a 2 year old little girl, who our 18 month old KJ couldn't get enough of and a 5 week old little boy, who has given my husband a little baby fever. We did a pot luck and completely stuffed ourselves. I have been trying to make those left overs last as long as possible, I really don't want to spend this weekend cooking and cleaning up the kitchen any more than necessary. I have also been helping do graphics for a dear friend of mine who is getting married on Sunday. We are not going to be able to make i...

 "The Team" Acrylic on Canvas 30" x 24" © Kristye Addison Dudley Purchase Prints and cards Last Friday, the opening was great! I met so many kind and talented people in the art community and I was surrounded by our new family of friends here. It felt so good to share my art with them and receive positive feedback. Since art is so personal, art show openings tend to make me feel a bit like I am standing exposed in a room full of judges. But luckily I made it through without a scratch. The next morning, I awoke with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. As I mentioned in my blog last week, I "Remember when..." I used to go and visit friends at the drop of a dime. Being married with a little one, makes that spontaneity a bit less spontaneous. But, because of my amazing husband I was able to catch a last minute flight out of town to go and visit with some girlfriends that I have really been missing. So Saturday morning, I got on a plane and flew back ...

Leap of Faith - 6ft x 6ft Acrylic on Canvas © Kristye Addison Dudley Purchase Prints of my work Last weekend I participated in a charity benefit at my church. It was for breast cancer awareness and pay tribute to survivors in the community. There was a great turn out, and I was one of the vendors on hand to share my work. I met so many wonderful people. I donated a print of " In the Huddle " To the speaker. Her story of her life's trials and tribulations was astonishing. But her spirit of thanksgiving was inspiring. The next day we went to the church of a family friend. The pastor is discussing a series on joy. And the message was right on time. One thing that I find myself constantly battling with is keeping my mind focused on pure and simple joy. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I pray and I give thanks in all situations (not just for my b...

Hand sculpted ceramic figure © Kristye Addison Dudley I have always loved working with my hands. From building mud pies as a child to painting, I really find that the creative process of making something feeds my soul. The figures that I paint have always had a life of their own, but I have wanted to see them as 3D figures. So I just took a leap of faith and started to pull them off of the canvas. Small collections of figures like this, will soon be available on my site in limited editions. If there is a painting that you would like to see in 3D just let me know. I find myself always driven to make things. I can't seem to find enough things do do with my hands. The trouble comes in when instead of doing, I start to think and plan about the details. The devil truly is in the details. I am going to search for some new projects for this fall. I have been wanting to try to make jewelry. Maybe that's next for my busy hands. Blessings to you all, Kristye kdudley@kristy...

At Ease © Kristye Addison Dudley There are a few things about living in the south that are often talked about, but there are hidden rules that we abide by too. One of those things happened to me last week. In the south, we pull over for funeral processions. I remember growing up and seeing the cars go by and not understanding why we stopped and pulled over on the side of the road. My mother would say, we are showing our respect to the family who lost someone. I never really asked why, I just learned this was how it was done. This week while I was grabbing lunch, I saw a procession coming my way so I pulled over to the side of the road. I was kind of in a hurry, with a long list of things to-do, but for those few moments, I took some time to pay my respects to a family who had lost a loved one. I didn't know the family, but I have felt the loss. I took time to pray for them and for my family. So in the South, we do lots of strange things. As a matter of fact we do a lot of ...

"Iron Sharpens Iron" 24" x 24" © Kristye Addison Dudley Whew, I am tired. But, I am the best kind of tired. My brain is tired, but I keep thinking of new projects to do! The commission shown was a purchased as a gift. My good friend Dr. Antwan Treadway wanted a gift for his mentor, Dr. Paul E. Gates, brother of Dr. Henry Lewis Gates. I found a scripture that gave me inspiration to create this work. Psalm 27:17 Iron sharpens iron and one man sharpens another. We went through a number of drafts, and he selected this theme. The reflection of mentor and student. I have really found that using the palette knife and expanding my colors has brought an exciting dimension to my work. This painting does make me want to reach out to people who have encouraged me along the way. There are so many people that have in large and small ways touched my life and helped me to grow. That includes you. Thank you for reading my blog and sending your kind comments. Until ne...

Recent Commission, Acrylic on Canvas, brush and palette knife © Kristye Addison Dudley This painting was commissioned for a wedding. The newlyweds wanted to have a painting made of their engagement photo. They walked through a beautiful park, holding hands stepping over stones that linked across a pond. I love the reflections of the figures and I was so happy to be a part of their new journey in life together. Also, I have finally updated my website. The new address is simply www.kristye.com . Let me know what you think. Have a great day, Kristye kdudley@kristye.com kristye.com dorilam.com

 Commission for Mo'Nique (Oscar award winner) © Kristye Addison Dudley Tonight I took some time to update my list of exhibits, collectors and charitable events. I was shocked when I saw them all together. I have really had some great experiences, met some wonderful people and have had the opportunity to share my heart. This is one of those divine things that happened to me. My first solo show was in 2002. I was so excited that I sold a large painting. I was walking on cloud nine and trying to learn more about how to become a "real" professional artist while pursuing my graphic design career. While delivering my first sale, my collector was in a meeting with a customer, but he told me to come and bring my book. He invited me in and introduced me to his customer. I was so surprised to see that it was Mo'Nique! She's a comedian, and won an Oscar for her supporting role in "Precious". She liked the work I was delivering and asked to see my work.  Sh...

Dock at Sunrise - Mixed Media - Watercolor and Photo © Kristye Addison Dudley I was always Daddy's little girl. I was basically his shadow as soon as I could walk. He was an architect and a professor. I still consider him to be the smartest person I've ever known. He taught me to draw and see the world in a completely new way. When it was time for me to choose a major in college he asked me, "What would you do whether you got paid for it or not?". I said I would travel the world and paint. So, I majored in art. Now that my husband is a Daddy, I can see my little girl following him around! And already at 14 months she is a total Daddy's little girl. I can't be jealous of all the attention he gets, now I know how my mother must have felt. I am sure that he will be giving KJ lots of advice and I hope that she knows that one day she can live out her wildest dreams and fulfill her life's passions. My Father's birthday was on Monday June 13, he would ha...

The Dudleys 2010 - Photo © Gene Ho Photography Saturdays at the Dudley home are pretty low key. Mark likes to take KJ for a morning run in the jogging stroller and I get to enjoy a peaceful morning of painting, projects and maybe work out too. I look forward to this little bit of serenity all week. Ginger, our shy tabby cat and trusted art apprentice, keeps me company in between her naps in the sun. Yesterday started out to be another one of those mornings until...we realized we were out of one of KJ's prescriptions that she needed for the weekend. My husband, who is a man of few words, says "Are you coming with us?". The way he said it was innocent and sweet, he was really saying "Don't stay at home and paint alone, spend the day with us!" I immediately felt terrible and told him "Of course, I will come." Mother's guilt is an awful thing, trying to balance precious family time and time to replenish myself seems to be a ball I am cons...

Watercolor and Acrylic, brush and knife © Kristye Addison Dudley 2011 I am sure you have been wondering where the paintings are. Well, I am happy to report, I have been painting! I am currently working on two commissions. One is a wedding gift and the other is a gift from a student to his mentor. Both are figures and feel very blessed to be creating them for my collectors. I really love commissions and the development process between myself and my clients. They provide photos, feelings, quotes or a general concept and I look for inspiration to transform that into a visual medium that can speak volumes to others. While I am working on those I continue to work on smaller pieces too. This magnolia study was really fun (yes my work is fun). Since I am also a graphic designer, I have to sometimes force myself to loosen up and paint "outside" of the lines. I wanted to leave just enough of the form of the flower and the leaves to show the shape without taking away the airiness of t...