Tag Archives: artist

Show at The Overlook

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of dropping off two of my paintings for a three month show at The Overlook. It was the first time I submitted for this particular show. I was very excited to learn I was accepted. The theme for the show is CONTRASTS which lends itself to a variety of definitions. The curator of the show defined it as:

Contrasting colors, textures, ideas and probabilities –
interpretations of opposites and ironies, Yin and Yang.

The first piece is one I painted earlier in 2025 and takes the literal approach to contrasting colors. When I finished this painting I wasn’t sure where it should “live”. I slid it into my portfolio and waited for the right opportunity. When the CONTRASTS open call went out I knew this was the piece to submit.

Game of Graces
© Kathie Scrimgeour
11x14 monotype print on Bristol paper
Game of Graces
© Kathie Scrimgeour
11×14 monotype print on Bristol paper

The call allowed for a total of three pieces of artwork so I needed two more. I had been brainstorming a painting for months that would combine a photograph into the piece.

To Dream
© Kathie Scrimgeour
20x24 Gel Monotype Print with image transfer on Bristol paper
To Dream
© Kathie Scrimgeour
20×24 Gel Monotype Print with image transfer on Bristol paper

To Dream actually came to me one evening while I was falling asleep. I found the idea to be a perfect juxtaposition of the waking vs the dreaming worlds. Plus it fit the requirements of the open call perfectly. In my efforts to produce this painting, I made the mistake of trying out a new process. This process should have been done with something smaller. When mounting the finished piece to the cradle board, the paper buckled. The painting was ruined. I did learn an important lesson, it was possible to replicate this piece. In the end, I did not attempt to mount this one. It was framed.

The last piece I submitted was, sadly, not accepted. After seeing all of the other artists’ work I understand why. Most, if not all, were abstract pieces and, as you can see, this is not.

Quiet Bloom
©Kathie Scrimgeour
11x14 gel monotype print with image transfer on Bristol paper
Quiet Bloom
©Kathie Scrimgeour
11×14 gel monotype print with image transfer on Bristol paper

I will freely admit, I LOVE THIS ONE!
The image is from a photograph that was inspired from an Unsplash photographer. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find their name to be able to apply the appropriate acknowledgment.

In the end, I was pleased when I heard two of the three were accepted. Thank you to the organizers for this honor.

If you are in the area please stop in for the show which runs until the first of the year.
The Overlook Restaurant
10555 N La Canada Dr
Oro Valley, AZ 85737

Leave a comment

Filed under Art

Welcome to the Gallery

I am excited to share with you all a new page on this website:

ART

Over the past year I set my writing aside to expand my creative outlet to include the visual arts. I began in watercolor and have now moved to a mono printing process called Gel Printing. I have become obsessed! Don’t get me wrong…writing is still an important part of my life, and you can still find my wordsmithing mostly on my other blog, AbitraryDustBunnies. My excitement for gel printing has prevented me from keeping up to date here, and now you know why.

ART is an abbreviated version of the full gallery you will find on my Instagram feed @kathiescrim
I hope you enjoy this added dimension of my artistic journey. Join me on Instagram! I can’t wait to see you there.

Leave a comment

Filed under Art

Word, Word, Word, Word…..

STUCK. Ever have one of those days that you feel so stuck you could scream? Artists of every kind have at one time or another. The painter stares at a blank canvas, a photographer stares at an empty lens, and a writer stares at a blank sheet of paper. Stuck. Nothing. Nada. Ziltch. It is a frustrating experience isn’t it?

How do you go about getting unstuck? A few ideas that may work for you: run,swim, meditate, walk, or jump up and down. Some people find it helpful to do an artistic exercise of a different kind. If you are a writer then scribble a doodle. If you are a painter then write a poem, and if you are a photographer….well, I used to turn the camera upside down just for a new perspective. For writing I like to consult my Delve Writers group who can always come up with a new tip or trick. The latest comes from the top in the unstuckedness class of writers, Chris Mandeville (author of 52 Ways to Get Unstuck). Her advice for today: write the word, ‘word’ over and over again and see what comes out.

I was so inspired by this I ended up with two blog posts. So, in honor of getting unstuck I want you to have some fun too. In the comments please write ‘word’ over and over again and see what comes of it. You can see mine at arbitrarydustbunnies.

….and begin….Word, Word, Word, Word…..

Leave a comment

Filed under On Writing, writer's block