Katie O'Malley

Exciting news!

2012-02-09T20:47:00.000-08:00

I am very excited and pumped that the cool little coffee shop in the building next to my studio has signed me up to have my own show in April! Thank you Picasso's Coffee!
I will have more details to follow but this news has really motivated me and I have been super productive for the last... week. Here is sneak peek.

"Tree Stump", 24x36 Oil

Fast Painting

2012-01-23T19:18:00.000-08:00

So, I have decided that I need to just start whipping some stuff out. I struggle with the idea of being an "artist," and finding meaning in everything I do. I'm not going to focus on that for a while and I am just going to look for beautiful (at least what I find beautiful) subject matter and I am going to draw/print/paint it! So here is my first "quickie"; an oil painting of a wintery Meremac Springs.

one day

two days

detail

Famous Fictional - Continued

2011-12-31T07:12:00.000-08:00

Way back in November I participated in the annual Famous Fictional show at Mad Art Gallery. I love doing this show. It is fun subject matter and full of other way cooler artists than myself, but luckily they keep inviting me to join in. This years theme was "Family Portrait". So I picked the movie "Seven Wives For Seven Brothers" and the book "Little Women".

I ended up building (if you can call it that) two mirror image doll houses that could be mounted to a wall to contain my family portraits. The thought behind these are that the place where a family lives and spends time together can be a part of that family. I created paper dolls for the characters and used many different mediums to create the homes. Here are the results:


"Little Women" Mixed Medium

Interior of "Little Women"

"Seven Brides" Mixed Medium

Interior of "Seven Brides"

Good Pig

2011-12-31T07:01:00.000-08:00

"Good Pig" Oil on Board

This painting was something I was working on in hopes of applying for the Missouri State Fair. I didn't complete it (or the accompanying painting of a "bad pig"), but maybe next year.
I have always loved pigs, in fact I think one of my earliest memories involve pigs. So, don't be surprised to see them popping up on this blog some other time.

Emmett

2011-12-31T06:57:00.000-08:00

This portrait of my Grandpa Frisbee is set at the old farm where my brother and I were born. behind him is a lake that was dedicated to my Uncle Tom. This was done with oil on board and is the same size as the portrait of my Grandma Agnes.

Self-portrait/oil painting

2011-12-30T14:27:00.000-08:00

I haven't really had a chance until this year to work with oil paints. Since experimenting, I think it's love. I did a couple of paintings for the "buddies" show that Jenny Cimino put together and liked doing them so much I decided I wanted to try my hand at human portraiture.

I have a very hard time coming up with subject matter for paintings so I decided to do a painting that was a self-portrait of myself just letting go of that indecisiveness and the tortured feelings that go along with it. Painting with oil is kind of like painting with the most delicious looking icing you have ever seen. It takes a lot longer than acrylic but I think it produces much more depth and life. I worked on a larger format that I normally would as well. Here is the result:

Christmas time!

2011-12-30T14:10:00.000-08:00

These are a couple of small (6"x6") cat portraits I did of my brother-in-law's cats for Christmas.

I also gave away hand-made book safes to some lucky family members. I can't show better pictures or you might be able to steal their treasures if you are ever at their houses.

This Week

2011-10-17T20:10:00.000-07:00

I am putting in tons of time on my Famous Fictional pieces this year.

Hopefully it will be worth it! Here is a sneak peek.

Famous Fictional 2011 edition

2011-10-13T20:39:00.000-07:00

Cool poster for the event mad by Ronald Weaver

Friday November 4th

7pm to 11pm

at Mad Art Gallery

I have been hard at work on my pieces so. . . See you there!

New Boss

2011-10-13T20:30:00.000-07:00

So I have a new boss at my work and it is going great! I love how we are streamlining everything and really focusing on the product and well, just making everything look clean, clear and simple. I've been forgetting to take many pictures but will hopefully get some good stuff on here from TJ's in the next couple of months.

Totally new flower signs and way of selling them!

Tis' the season!!! Come get your apples!

Sidekicks and Soulmates: The Show

2011-10-13T20:22:00.000-07:00

Setting up. Click here for a link to gallery information and hours.

I want to thank everyone who made it out for the show last Friday night. I had a great time and hope you did as well. Now that the big reveal is over here are my pieces from the night.

The first two are pretty self explanatory, they are my buddies plain and simple and sometimes I think Chester is really my familiar.

Chester

Bowie


Funniest Person I Know

Caption for my self portrait: Let's face it... nobody knows you better than yourself. I have shared all of the same experiences and I'm always there for me. I bring out the best and the worst in myself and I give myself the best, most honest and strait-forward advise (not that I always take it). I'm my harshest critic and sometimes I'm the only person that understands the real me. I am really not full of myself, I'm not even saying that I'm a great friend or the funniest person in anyone's life but my own, I have just always been a self-comforting introvert who can make myself laugh out loud on pretty much a daily basis.

Crazy Day

2011-09-03T16:43:00.000-07:00

I had a very "Final Destination" kind of day today! So I went to the Loop for a sidewalk chalk competition this morning and during that I stepped off a curb wrong and hurt my ankle.

Here is what I was able to finish of my homage to Betty Grable before Michael came to take me to the ER.

So after the ER (just a bad sprain, no broken bones) THIS is what my spot looked like!

I've cheated death for one more day!

Sideshow Parents

2011-09-01T21:12:00.000-07:00

Here are the pictures I did for the "Carnival of Curiosities" at the Koken Art Factory last month. I wasn't able to go to the show but it sounded like fun. These are 8"x10" mixed media (mostly oil pastel, pencil, ink) and are of my dad and mom.

Sidekicks and Soulmates

2011-09-01T20:34:00.000-07:00

Here is a tiny sneak peak of just one of the pieces I am doing for a show in October.

You should go!

Grandma

2011-09-01T20:29:00.000-07:00

Here is a little painting I did of my Grandma Agnes. It is from my favorite photo of her. She just has a look in her eye that makes me wonder what she is thinking.

Project Project Runway #1

2011-08-04T19:42:00.001-07:00

Here is my first weeks attempt at a fun group that is doing challenges similar to the ones on Project Runway but with dolls each week! Go here to see the others.

This week's assignment was to use a 10"x10" swatch of plain white fabric and another that was similar to a nightgown you had. I ended up "dyeing" my white fabric with watercolors and using just a snippit of my pajama fabric around the decolletage. My favorite part is a little belt I made of some trim and some deconstructed costume jewelry.

CARNIVAL OF CURIOSITIES

2011-07-29T15:33:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for something to do on Saturday, August 13th starting at 8pm I have a couple of drawings that will be hanging. It costs $10 to get in and there will be all kinds of crazy sideshow stuff and a cash bar.

Sneak Peak

Koken Art Factory's description: "A unique and spectacular art, music, and entertainment event featuring Carnivale-themed and inspired artwork of all mediums, musicians, bellydancers, sideshow and circus performers, fortune tellers, games, glorious madness, and fantastic mayhem to be had and enjoyed by all!"

little us

2011-07-26T20:51:00.000-07:00

Here is an update: Both Mike and I done as little wedding portraits!

Here is a little portrait (about 3.5") I did of myself tonight..
hard to believe the photo I did it from was taken over 4.5 years ago!

past few months at tj's

2011-07-24T10:54:00.000-07:00

I haven't been good about taking pictures of my projects at work lately but here are a couple of Trader Joe's signs that I liked enough in the last couple months to actually document!

After about 5 trys by me and another artist this banana sign seems
to be working well.

This is a huge sign I made to try to re-vamp the flower section of my store. Below is a smaller sign in a similar style made to showcase the fact that we have bouquets everyday for just $3.99!

art for sale!

2011-07-24T10:49:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of commissioned pieces that I did for people that I work with towards the end of last year.

This was a picture of a "first home" that I did in watercolor/ink/pastel

Here was a family portrait done in acrylic.

Turkey Time

2010-11-18T19:01:00.000-08:00

This is what you would right when you come through the front doors of my store right now! Next is an endcap for pie stuff!!! Then the tops of wine rounds that go great with Thanksgiving meals. Also, on top of being one of the artists for the store, I am also the song writer. This "Turkey Town Hoedown" is meant to be sang at the top of your lungs to the tune of every square dance jig I have ever heard.

Demo Peeps

2010-11-18T18:56:00.000-08:00

This is the wall next to the demonstration table (yes, the place to be for free food!) that I filled up with portraits of all of the demo divas and devos. Unfortunately they have already decided to go "in a different direction" here so these portraits will have to live on here instead of the store.

tile fun

2010-09-01T19:24:00.000-07:00

I painted a bed rat:

And the prince of kittens:

on tiles from one of those "pottery painting" places!
I think they turned out pretty good considering when you are painting them all the colors look almost the same. I also painted a coffee mug with a possum on it and big letters that say "O'Possum" but there is really not a good way to take a picture of that one that will do it justice.

Augusta Plein Air

2010-04-21T16:37:00.000-07:00

Crafty time!

2010-04-21T16:30:00.000-07:00

A lovely lampshade i revamped with felt rounds and HOTGLUE!!!!!!!!

Villains

2009-11-10T14:23:00.000-08:00

Here were my entries into the Famous Fictional: Villains show
that is up at Mad Art Gallery right now.

Nurse Ratched

The Witch

Next Week

2009-10-21T13:09:00.001-07:00

I have a set of paintings in this show next weekend! Come by if you want. I will post my images later, but this is an awesome poster that Dan Zettwoch made to promote the show!

so and so

2009-06-06T13:19:00.000-07:00

Here is a guide for symbols on our labels

Some end-cap signage

A funny portrait of my boss drinking wine on the job (I made the palm trees too!!!!)

The revamped New Items shelf

Mermaids have attacked my desk!!!!!!

This is just a neighbor's yard... but it is awesome!!!

MAGNETS!!

2009-05-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

Stuff in my store nowadays

2009-05-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

I have revamped the flower section:

Here are some endcap signs:

Some more revamping in the wine section:

Some random "Section Coolness!":

Some signs from the produce section:

These were inspired by my babies!

Random:

nudes 2/3/09

2009-02-04T15:44:00.000-08:00

My sweeties

2009-01-29T20:47:00.000-08:00

Here is a drawing I did of my kitties!!

lori's birthday weekend!

2009-01-26T21:06:00.000-08:00

I copied off of my new pal Dan Z. and made
a cartoon of my weekend in my sketchbook!

top that

2009-01-22T15:06:00.000-08:00

Here is a new sign for the bananas!

and here is the back of that sign!

Figure drawings from this week...

Whoa! First post since moving!

2009-01-15T14:23:00.000-08:00

Here are some animals in my new store!

Some co-workers

Here are some figure drawings I did Tues. night

october is near!!

2008-09-11T01:12:00.000-07:00

From Blogger Pictures

last couple weeks

2008-09-02T21:51:00.000-07:00

Here are some templates for the store I have made

Here are some chalkboards

Here is some value signage we have been working on putting more of in our store

some new price templates

2008-08-14T12:34:00.001-07:00

We are redoing all of the store with templates I am designing that go with more of a tiki, island theme that we have going on so far.
Here is one for the frozen section.

Here is one for the grocery isles.

Here is one for yet to be determined section.

last month or so

2008-08-14T10:46:00.000-07:00

Here is a look at what my work area looks like on a normal day

Some more favorite items

I tried to incorporate my mom and dad's new puppy in this one

Some Fourth of July Decorations

How I dressed my boss up on the 4th!

some stuff lately

2008-06-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

it's a new year... but here is some old stuff

2008-02-12T19:07:00.000-08:00

Here is a sweatshir I made to wear during the holiday season!!!

holiday season

2007-12-17T04:32:00.000-08:00

Here is a nice hand turkey i made for the holidays

And here is the mural i was working on (i will add a more detailed pic later)

here are more of my employee favorites

here are some stamps from a giant postcard project we have been working on

here is a chalkboard from work

abracadabra

2007-12-04T16:00:00.000-08:00

I have been busy at work here is some of my stuff lately:

a small chalkboard depicting AZ winter

From Art

A small price sign

From Art

a chalkboard for our fresh food case

From Art

Turkey Day sign

From Art

Be Thankful for tough decisions chalkboard

From Art

Detail of flower wall mural I am working on (our manager Sara)

From Art

I have already finished the flower mural and will post pictures soon :)

2007-11-07T15:01:00.000-08:00

more work stuff

2007-09-26T15:59:00.001-07:00

work work work

2007-09-19T18:05:00.000-07:00

Here is a chalkboard i did the other day... notice the misspelled word...

Here is a small board at the registers

and pricetags that went below them

here are some employee favorites that i have been doing for the past day

Charles Shaw display

2007-08-30T15:42:00.000-07:00

feed the monster

2007-08-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

Here is my latest, the color is a lot brighter in person though!

chalk chalk chalk

2007-08-19T17:37:00.000-07:00

Here are my first attempts at the chalkboards at work!!

monkey around

2007-08-15T16:08:00.000-07:00

I started working at Trader Joe's here in Phoenix and here is my first big project,
I call it banana's :)

mikey poo

2007-08-15T15:48:00.000-07:00

Here is a pastel drawing I did of Michael from a picture on our wedding day. xoxooxox

2007-07-05T08:38:00.000-07:00

here are a couple of visors i painted for this weekends float trip.

Welcome!

2007-05-21T16:27:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone!
I have set up this blog as a place for me to post any creative.. silly stuff that I might do. I encourage comments, suggestions, additions, etc.