Kristye Addison Dudley - Contemporary Fine Artist

Top: The dreaded website error message.  Below: It’s me, I’m back! Hello, I am back in my studio after another big life change. I’ll be the first to admit I don’t communicate well during the transition. Why you may ask? Because I become so hyper focused and channel all of my energy to the process. This time, it was another move. We moved from Ohio to Virginia in July. Many of my creative breaks happen during PCS (Permanent Change of Station) season. As a military family we have experienced 6 of these. My daughter is in the 7th grade and has attended 5 schools. My son is in the 4th grade and has already been in 4 schools. One of those school years was homeschool taught by me. My most “creative work” of late has been organizing school enrollment, arranging goodbye parties, an August birthday in May before we moved, planning camps in a new town, signing the kids up for teams, scouts, music lessons, and gathering school supplies. I also have had the honor of dismantling one home and tu...

What a difference a year makes. Picking Pumpkins with the family Work in progress of watercolor flowers. Fall is one of my favorite times of the year and I usually plan for our family to visit farms, pick pumpkins, decorate the house, cook treats, and enjoy the cooler weather. This time last year, I was two weeks post-op from a very unexpected surgery. This year I am so thankful of where this year has taken us. I am feeling more like myself, I am talking some great art classes. My kids are back in school, playing sports, and making friends. I have made friends too. Hard to believe we will be moving again next year, but until then we will enjoy each day. Kristye.com  

Block Park Sketch for Painting Concepts © Kristye Addison Dudley  W e are doing a little spring cleaning and I am finding so many fun sketches like this one. We are also planni ng for o ur first family trip to Disney W orld ! I am so excited!!! Our kids don't know yet , and not telling them is so much fun.  This sketch was made in 2004 or 2005 while I was working on a number of bright figurative paintings. I may recreate this one with dancers with a palette knif e. I have a feeling after Disney this will be fitting. Be Blessed, Kr istye   Kristye.com   My Blog Purchase originals and prints   kdudley@kristye.com Twitter @KristyeStudio Tweet @KristyeStudio Like and share My Facebook Page Kristye's Studio    

Day 5 - Wildflowers (WIP) © Kristye Addison Dudley 6" x 4" Acrylic on Canvas Paper Day 5 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days Wildflowers (work in progress) for 99 Bottles of Art on the Wall. I am really enjoying working with landscapes. As a former athlete, I have always been drawn to the figure, but that is what this challenge is about. Stepping out of my comfort zone. Today was a very exciting day. Not only did I make it to day 5 of this challenge, but my family traveled to Tennessee to cheer on our niece as she competed in her final collegiate gymnastics meet. As a former gymnast, I remember the tears and sweat that goes into each meet. Seeing her perform with such power, grace and humility for her talent made me so proud. Her team finished first place in the NAIGC, and she placed 2nd all around out of 900 competitors from across the country and first place on vault. She is a reminder of how God gives us talents for his glory. There were so many people who admired h...

Day 4 - "Two Cherry Blossoms" © Kristye Addison Dudley Acrylic on Canvas Paper 6" x4" It's Friday! I have really been enjoying this painting challenge. Today I worked in a new way, 4-up. That's a printing term used to describe 4 images printing on the same sheet at the same time. I worked on 4 small paintings at the same time and it was really interesting. It forced me to think ahead on my layering in a way that I usually do not do. This painting and the other 3 on the sheet are for a charity auction that I am participating in. The event is called 99 Bottles of Art on the Wall. The exhibit and sale is to benefit Wholesome Wave Georgia. This organization strengthens local food communities by empowering networks of farmers to facilitate access to and awareness of healthy food choices...(They believe) that all Georgians should have access to good, wholesome and locally grown food. I am looking forward tothe event later this month. Hopefully...

My dream car 1958 Corvette Ok, so one of my friends on Facebook posted this list of things people didn't know about him, the viewer was to then post the numbers that they knew and then you were given a number to make your own list. He gave me the number 7.  So here are 7 things most people don't know about me. It took 3 towns to make up my High School. I love to take things apart and make them better. Closet handy-woman who owns a Dremel and lots of other power tools. I am a kitchen beautician. I have been doing my own hair for the better part of 20 years. I am an art supply hoarder. Everything from screen-printing to ceramics, photography, painting and so much more. I have a patent and a registered trademark for my graphic design biz. I am one of the very few Black Homecoming Queens for Clemson University. (I was the second or third in school history) My dream car is a 1958 corvette. Baby blue with white detail to be specific. The one pictured ab...

Love is in the air! February 2013, MJ (6 months old) and KJ (2 yrs old)  at dinner. I  can't believe my last post was February of 2013! Ok, I am going to try and catch you up! In March 2013 I started to get the hang of my husband being deployed. I knew who to call when I needed help, my mother was figuring out how to use the washing machine, the remote control, how to assist at the potty and how to calm a crying baby. I was working on running a 5K, freelancing part-time as a graphic designer, taking KJ to gymnastic class and making it to my Diva Dance class once a week. My husband was managing his deployment and always made time to talk to the family each and every day. Then late in the month seasonal allergies and illness seemed to overtake my home. By the end of April, I had taken everyone to the doctor at least once. April also was the month that I delivered my husbands birthday gift. A video of friends and family wishing him happy bday. His care package included ...

As I look back over 2012, I can't overlook how my year began. I spent New Years Eve burying one of my friends. I was early in the first trimester of pregnancy and not ready to tell anyone. I was sad but hopeful about the year and felt the need to hold tight to my friends and family. Since then our family has grown and I am the proud mother of two kiddos. My spunky and creative little 2.5 yr old girl and my sweet smiling bouncing 4 month baby boy. My husband and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary and together re-energized our marriage. His upcoming deployment helped us to not sweat the small stuff. My mother has been living with us and that has provided a much needed time to reconnect with her. I am getting to know the woman not just my Mama and in turn, she is seeing me as a mother. It's all very surreal. This new year is going to be a challenge full of surprises, but I am so thankful for another year, actually for another day to share with my family and frien...

 Do you remember that song "He's got the whole world in his hands"? I used to love that song! This morning before daycare my KJ awoke to an extra Christmas tree. We decided to put up two since this house is so large. This one is the "gold" tree. It has mostly gold decorations with a few red blubs and snow flakes. KJ likes the little red ones and was excited to add her own blubs to the tree. Watching her hold that little bulb made me think of the song. We have so much in our control day to day. Even with those things that are out of our control, we can choose how we deal with them. This month has continued to be a roller coaster for our family. My husbands deployment was initially cancelled. Then it was turned back on. Then, his training for the second deployment was cancelled and discussion of another cancellation was being discussed. Then on Wednesday of this week, we find out he has offical orders and he will be leaving in a couple of days and will be gone ...

Soul Stirring © Kristye Addison Dudley Have you ever been in a situation where you had to decide weather to laugh or cry? This month has been full of them. Highs and lows, tears and laughter have filled our home. The most important event that happened this month was Mark's deployment was cancelled. Of course I cried! I was so happy to know that he would be home with our family. He came home from training with the great news. Then there was looming dread of when he would be called up. Funny how the mind works. In other news KJ, our 2.5 year old, is officially potty trained! We went full tilt on training during a three day weekend and she is in panties! Lots of laughter and potty dances for that one. My baby is growing up (tiny tears). My mother is doing well, some days are easier than others but for 80 she's pretty amazing! Watching her chase a half naked 2 year old to the potty, was pretty funny. Realizing that she can't do everything she used to do is difficult...

Family photo of my husband and KJ our babymoon in June. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9 NLT) Ok so I am 35 weeks prego and I am ready to hold this little guy (or baby Jedi as my husband likes to call him) in my arms. On July 10th, I was blessed to turn 39 years old. Yeah I know, we aren't supposed to say our ages these days, but I feel very blessed to be one of the people who lived to see another day, month, and year of this life. Was this year perfect? Not by any means. Was this year full of memories, laughter, tears and growth? Yep and for all of the things I don't want to experience again, I am so fortunate to have lived through them with my family and friends. Well this next year is full of milestones and I am only in day one! My son is due any day now. Really!!! Last night I started having "light" contractions for about 2-3 hours straight, all while ...

High tide by Kristye Addison Dudley Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. (Matthew 6:21 NLT) This was my scripture reading this morning and it made me think, what do I treasure? I remember when I got my first job, I was driven by my career, buying my first car, owning my first home, and looking the part of a successful put-together gal. I used to regularly get my hair, nails and eyebrows done. I shopped like it was a part-time job. Then one day I decided that I didn't want to spend anymore of my time in a salon. So I cut off my hair (really all of my hair). Then slowly but surely, I began to distance myself from the material things and "some" of the vanity. Now I get my nails and eyebrows done on special occasions. The cars and properties have come and gone and come again and represent more of a necessity than before. During our vacation I had one opportunity to reflect on the trip in pen and watercolor. I sketched KJ pickin...