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...

" The Jo u rney" © Kristye Addison Dudley   This painting was commissioned by a collector and good friend of mine , Chris Draft. He also uses the artwork for the logo for his foundation. Chris Draft Family Foundation     He also heads up Team Draft after the death of his wife, my close friend Keasha, to lun g cancer. He has made it his mission to c hange the face of Lung Cancer. Keasha was not a smoker, b ut her life was still taken too soon by cancer. Please visit the links to learn more. I took some ti me at the end of the year to reflect on the highs and the lows. The biggest change in my art career was the daily painting challenge I accomplished in the Spring. It really sparked my passion for painting, and helped me grow as an artist . It also reintroduced me to social media through my friends online,   collectors, other artist and prospective galleries. My work is being represented in a local gallery and I am teaching my first palette knife class ...

Day 3 - Happiness: Triptych  each 3" x 4" on paper © Kristye Addison Dudley Day 3 - Happiness Prints As a part of my 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. I am going to experiment with new processes and just have some good old fashion fun in the studio without worrying about the outcome! This doodle was originally created during valentines day while painting with my 3 year old (which is always a highlight). I took a break from my painting and decided to do some simple prints from the sketch. My 3 year old daughter and 19 month old son fill our lives with laughter and playfulness. I wish we had more joyful, positive media surrounding us, so I created these prints with happiness in my heart. The process is below. I created 3 prints and hand painted two of them with accents. Step 1 - Supplies: Foam Sheets, Roller Brush, Paint Step 2 - Draw on the Foam Sheet (I used a simple ink pen) Step 3 - Roll on the paint Step 4 - Rub the painted side on a sheet of paper Step...

Day 2 - "Brilliant Blossom" © Kristye Addison Dudley 8" x 8" Acrylic on Canvas; Purchase Original or Prints Day 2 of the challenge and I have some great news.  I have been accepted in to the juried CFAI group. I am honored and humbled to work with the other members. This is such motivation to continue to create daily. The work above was created mostly with a pallet knives and I have incorporated new colors into my spring series. Brilliant purple is a color that I have owned for years and had not full embraced. But now I am a fan! If you are wondering why the new obsession with Cherry Blossoms, my family lives in Georgia and last weekend we went to the south's largest Cherry Blossom Festival. It was in Macon, Georgia just 30 minutes from our home. Classic cars, carnival rides for my toddlers, cotton candy and yes lots of cherry blossoms.It was a great time and we accomplished our weekend goal. Wear out the kids before they wear us out. Be blessed...

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 ...

Reflections © Kristye Addison Dudley purchase prints This painting is called Reflections. I painted it years ago during a time when I was just pondering what my life would be like. Would I get married? Would I have kids? Those questions have been answered, but there are so many more like... Which do you prefer pizza or sandwiches? I have always been more of a pizza gal myself, but recently I seem to always end up with sandwiches, or actually IN sandwiches. What's my affinity for pizza? It's an open in your face complete meal. Sandwiches are sort of sneaky. Even though you know the ingredients, there are always surprises when the whole thing comes together. Right now my life is like that. It used to be sort of like a pizza. It was pretty easy to see what you were working with. But now, I am totally in a sandwich. I am in an interesting little tortilla wrap that is my family. It's odd being sandwiched between your kids, your deployed spouse, your parent and everyt...

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...

Revelations I © Kristye Addison Dudley Purchase Prints or Cards On the news today, I heard a really sad comment. It was about the divide between working mothers and stay at home mothers. I have to admit, there have been days when I have been working and felt so guilty about KJ being in daycare that I wanted to cry. This year I even took steps to make my work schedule more flexible and add more variety so that I can spend more time focusing on my family. There have been days when I went to lunch and saw mothers out with their young children and envied the time that they spent together. Then there are those days, where my work is so fulfilling that I know if KJ were with me, I could not give her the time and attention she deserved. And then there is that awesome time of the day, when I go and pick her up from daycare and she sees me and smiles. She drops whatever she is doing and runs to me saying "Momma!" And I am reassured that all is well. The truth of the matter i...

"The Earth Has Weight" © Kristye Addison Dudley Purchase Prints and Cards online Hello, it's been a while since I have blogged. I have been busy with life! Well, busy growing one. I am 17 weeks pregnant with our second child and it's a little boy. I was really sick and exhausted for the first trimester and I just focused on getting through it. Now I am feeling better and my body is having flashbacks of when I was pregnant with my little girl. KJ will be 2 next month and it's all sort of blowing my mind. We are also planning to move into a rental house here in Louisiana. I am really excited about it. Last year we almost closed on a home here, but once again, God had other plans. We found peace and contentment where we were and waited until the time was right. Well the time is now. And we will be moving into a larger and even cooler place. It's a restored 1930s home, with lots of great sunlight, parks in walking distance and a huge attic that will ...

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...

Well after 5 years, I am going to be in my first show! This photo is of me setting up. The show is in a unique place here in Shreveport called mainspace @ artspace . It's an exhibition space for local, regional and national artists. This juried show includes 17 artists and is an introduction of sorts for me into the arts community here. Everyone has been so nice to me the "new girl" and the opening is this Friday.  If you live in the area, there are more details on my site, and I would love to see you there. The space is unique, the walls are black, 12ft tall and each artist has a tall column to show their work. I submitted quite a few works, but the ones showing first are the ones that looked the best together in the space. I am also showing my hand painted pillows (that's what the white shelf in the picture is for). I will post more photos from the show later. I have been thinking a lot about time lately. How to get the most out of it, how to be more disci...

 Intuition - 30" x 40" Acrylic on Canvas © Kristye Addison Dudley Do you listen to those voices in your head? Do you sense danger by feeling the hairs on your arms stand up? Whatever your signal is that keeps you moving in the right direction that's true intuition and the higher power moving in your life. Earlier in the year I went to a women's retreat where we were discussing being anointed, transformed and redeemed. We talked about discernment and getting clear path from God. One of the speakers talked about the difference between "Good ideas and God ideas". That really stuck with me. I sometimes feel my head is going to burst with ideas and I don't know which way to go. Sometimes I hear clear next steps and then things usually go smoothly. But other times, I go on impulse and things always take more effort, cost more money and require more work than if I had just followed my intuition and waited. This painting was created in a time of stilln...

By Gods Grace - 30" x 30", acrylic on canvas © Kristye Addison Dudley We are on the road doing what I am calling the "East Coast Tour". Much of my family hasn't seen KJ since we moved away. Now she is 17 months old and full of personality (some of which are characteristic of all little toddlers). We are driving from Louisiana to Georgia to North Carolina to South Carolina and then a 14 plus hour drive back to Louisiana. We are so thankful for this time with our family and friends. We can't see everyone, but we are seeing as many people as we can. Today is my mother's birthday. I feel so blessed to be able to spend the next couple of days with her. Just a few weeks ago I was afraid for her life, but by God's Grace we are celebrating instead of morning. My husband and I are also having some uninterrupted time to think. To really listen to the wind in the trees, hear the birds sing and just have our minds eye opened to life around us. We ha...

© Kristye Addison Dudley I just wanted to give you an update. My mother is doing much better. She is out of the hospital and with my sister. We have so many decisions to make, decisions that we have all put off for so long. But I do have faith that God will provide all that we need if we seek him first. I have a bad habit of knowing what is right and veering off on my own. Then God puts people in my path to remind me of the straight and narrow. I have said it before, but I am so thankful for my family and friends. All of the love and support over this last week has help renew my spirit and my faith. Instead of staying sorrowful, I have been able to look forward. I have been really hard on myself about where I am with my art career. But the truth is, I am where I am and that's that. If I am truly present, I am much farther along than I was last year, so I need to stop beating myself up and embrace progress. (Even if I feel a bit like I am moving at a snails pace. LOL) I ...

"Crashing Waves" 8" x 10" © Kristye Addison Dudley I have been having quite a week. I have felt like I have been riding on waves and being thrown and tossed around. From work, home and family it felt like a roller coaster. This past week my husband traveled to San Antonio for pre-deployment training. Although he goes to work in his Air Force uniform everyday, I still don't like to think about the commitment that he has made. My first cousin was deployed today, bringing the military life back into reality. Our plans for where we are going to live changed in an instant. And it seemed like there were challenges everywhere I looked. While Mark was gone I found myself appreciating all that he does for us. KJ and I went on with our usual schedule, but each night we Skyped "Da Da". KJ started waving as soon as I brought the computer out. It really made the week go by faster to see his face and hear his voice. I had been trying for days to ...

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...

Stephanie Blank (wife of NFL Atlanta Falcons owner), "In the Huddle" 36" x 48" © Kristye Addison Dudley In 2002, while I was a professional cheerleader with the Atlanta Falcons, I participated in a charity auction. Although I have drawn since I was a child, majored in fine art and received a graduate degree in graphic communications, I still found (find)  myself feeling insecure about my art. I think it's because when I share my work, I am not just sharing an image. I am sharing a part of myself. Exposing those things that most of us write only in our journals. My journals are there for the world to see and built by my own hands. When it's not accepted, it's like being personally rejected.  This was the first painting that I was publicly  displaying and I was pretty terrified about it. First of all, when approached about the painting I said "I don't do Football players", and didn't think that my work would work for this venue...

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

Red chair in the rain - Watercolor and ink © Kristye Addison Dudley I have spent the last week on vacation with my family. We are coming to the last day of our vacation and I am on a sun-sand-seafood-induced high. This was KJ's inaugural beach trip. There was a "first" everyday. Her first time putting her little toes in the sand. Her first time waddling into the ocean and and then running back to me. The first time getting sea water up her nose and then laughing about the weird sensation. So many wonderful firsts. I love seeing the world through her eyes. I did find time to sketch, this one is from the one day it rained. Kristyeaddison.com Kdudley@Dorilam.com

Figure Study - acrylic on canvas with palette knife © Kristye Addison Dudley A few of our friends were in town last weekend and they were coming over to hang out. So you know what that meant...we had to straighten up around the house. It's so funny how we get in a habit of just moving things around without really getting organized. Then before you know it, everything is a mess a again. Our little toddler, aka "Sticky Fingers Dudley", has a masterful way of getting into EVERYTHING. Sometimes I just sit back and marvel at her cunning and acrobatic feats of strength to get to that one object that is seemingly out of reach. But more times than not, she finds a way. Sometimes I get frustrated with the things that are out of my control, instead of just letting God take charge. I can learn a lot from Sticky Fingers Dudley. I can stay focused on those things that are right there in front of me and challenge myself to make the most of the things that I can control. Like keeping t...