A smiling grasshopper and two imperfect paintings
From the studio of Kathleen Gadeken
Before I tell you what I’ve been doing this month, I want to acknowledge what this month means to me.
September 30 is my sister Diane’s birthday. This is the first one since we lost her unexpectedly in February.
In honor of Diane’s birthday, I’m sharing this coloring sheet of one of my favorite memories. When we were kids we had a season where we got to horseback ride every weekend. Diane loved horses and loved to ride. I hope you’ll enjoy coloring – or share it with someone you love.
Happy birthday, Diane. I love you and miss you.
And to anyone mourning someone you love, I’m sending an extra hug today. 💙
This September, I also went back to school.
One day a week, I'm teaching second-grade enrichment at Roots & Wings, it's a new hybrid school. My Thursdays are now filled with science, nature, math games, stories, nature walks and the wonderfully unpredictable things second graders say.
So far, we've studied insects, explored a pond, made cornhusk dolls, and learned about seed dispersal. You guys, I'm learning right along with these bright kids. It's been so fun, even when one of them holds an extra large grasshopper right up to my face to tell me it's smiling at me, and I have to keep myself from freaking out!
This school is reminding me that learning doesn't have to feel serious to be important, meaningful. The first day there were muddy shoes, a grinning grasshopper, a large black spider hiding under a rock, and kids excited about the discoveries of all of it.
Another place I've been playing and learning is in my Facebook group, Walk & Talk with GOD: A faithful walking community. Strengthening our faith, one step at a time.
I created this group as a place to encourage women in their faith through daily walks, scripture, and art.
Each month, I choose a theme and pick artwork to complement the topic. Sometimes I use artwork I’ve already created, and other times I create new art works just for that group. The month of October is all new artwork I'm excited to post, but for the month of September I used birds I’ve painted as I prepared for the I LOVE BIRDS picture book, which will be for sale very soon! I paired them with Philippians 4:8 verse "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things."
I really loved the color scheme and wanted a poster. If you’d be interested in purchasing one, I’d be happy to send you the details.
If you’d enjoy Scripture, art, and encouragement in your week, I’d love to have you join us. Click the link below, then choose Join group.
Recently, I decided that a wall in our downstairs TV room needed two watercolor paintings. I knew in my head the perfect sizes, the colors and exactly where they should hang. So I painted them. Simple and loose. I tried hard not to try too hard.
When I held them up in the spot I planned for them. They did not look good.
But I still like them. In my opinion, they feel simple, restful, and imperfect. And what I'm learning is imperfect here means, I had fun making them and now I wait for where they belong.
BE BRAVE EVERY DAY. BE CURIOUS ALWAYS. BE KIND NATURALLY.
Kathleen Artist, Illustrator & Writer Founder, Fox Tree Art
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