Kimberly Wlassak


 

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It has been way too long since I've visited my blog.
I didn't mean to wait so long, but life has a way of throwing curve balls.
We are at the end of the 9th week with no income.
When my husband was laid off, we knew finding a new job would be a nerve-wracking, and possibly lengthy, process.

We were right.

This is a scary time, not knowing what the future holds.
Although, we really never know what the future holds, do we?

So, while we are trying to get though this as gracefully as possible...
it is beginning to take it's toll, mentally and financially.

I force myself to see beyond the daily fear of the possible losses that can come from this unexpected lay-off.

The sunset's fiery glow through my studio window ~


Hours and hours of art projects to keep my mind clear.

Children's book illustrations are always an escape ~

Drawing


Salting


Painting.

You can purchase this original in my Etsy Shop .

Entitled: "Love is Blind."


Sometimes just savoring the view from my desk.
Colors
Gifts
Oddities
Music


More drawing.

Trees.
What is it about drawing trees?
I've loved drawing trees since I was a little girl ~


Add another tree ~


Slowly but surely working on the Tylwyth Teg (Welsh Faeries) illustrations ~


And...sometimes, I even need to take a break from art.
Just passing the time.

Clearing my mind.

A good book ~


Organizing my collection of Children's books ~


I recently found my old "Liddle Kiddles" book.
It was one of my very favorite books.

During that period in my life, I dreamed that my name was Vicki.
Unfortunately, I wrote Vicki right on the front of my treasured Liddle Kiddle book ~


I finally filled up each empty pane in the vintage window in my studio ~


Sometimes I just watch the puppies sleep in the warm winter sun ~


....and sometimes, I watch the wildflower seedlings ~


Growing every single day ~


These are difficult days.
Filled with fear and what-ifs.
But I am finding hope.
Hanging on to it.
Keeping it alive.
Nurturing it with art
and
books
and
puppies
and
the hope of new growth.

With no payroll check and only unemployment, we are, of course, scrambling to make ends meet.

I am having a storewide 20% off sale in my Etsy Shop .
Simply use coupon code HELPINGHAND when checking out.

I am really relying on my art as a means to help pay the mortgage and other bills.

So, if you see something you like, now would be a great time to purchase!

And....one more thing.
I chose to post about this at the very end of this ridiculously long blog post.

I wanted it to be at the end, assuming that most people would stop reading by the time they got to this part.

Simply and purely out of absolute embarrassment.

But, I just wanted to let you know that a friend started a GoFundMe
account for my family.

It is a very reputable crowdfunding company.
It's helped thousands of people get through financial tragedies.
GoFundMe also helps business start-ups as well.

Anyway, our job loss predicament fits the GoFundMe guidelines for donations.

We are hoping to raise $5,000.00, which would be enough to pay 3 mortgage payments and some groceries.

That was the suggested amount.

We are at just about 25% of our goal, so not yet enough to make a mortgage payment.

Anyway, if you would like to donate, simply click HERE .

Or...you might just rather buy some art.

Or...you might rather not do either one.

Which is totally fine!

This is such an embarrassing thing to do...
To ask for money.

But, these crowdfunding companies are doing great things for people that are in temporary hard times, like my family.

I've found that desperation can lead you to uncomfortable places in life.
You ask for things you normally wouldn't.
You find yourself scrambling in ways that you never thought you would.

Life can become a living nightmare....
that is, if you lose hope.

Which, so far, I haven't.
And for that, I feel blessed.

Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World
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2014 L.A. St. David's Day Festival & Working (Playing) ~

Do you like to work?
Whatever work you do, you should like it.
It makes life happier, I think.
I love my work.
So much so, that I find it hard to even call it "work."
I'm under several deadlines at the moment.
And, I've just finished an illustration for an upcoming book called:
"The Age of Saints. An illustrated guide to the Saints of Wales" written by Peter Anthony Freeman and published by A Raven Above Press .
Each participating artist was asked to create a piece of art based upon a Welsh saint. We were given a list of saints and asked to choose one.
The story of Saint Dyfrig is very dramatic and filled with fire and magic and all sorts of bold imagery.
Saint Dyfrig was the illegitimate son of Efrddyl, the daughter of King Peibio. Legend says that Peibio was horrified to discover that his unmarried daughter was pregnant and the shame led him to have the poor girl executed for adultery. She was tied up in a sack and cast into the River Wye but, miraculously, she always returned safely to the bank. So Peibio had her burnt on a funerary pyre. However, when he returned the next day to recover her body, the King found Efrddyl sitting amongst the ashes, clutching her new-born baby boy. Upon seeing Peibio, the new-born Dyfrig reached out to the King and kissed him on the cheek. The King, who had leprosy, was immediately cured of the disease. His heart melted and he welcomed them both back to the royal court.
So, my art piece is a sort of bold look into the fire.
Efrddyl is in the heat but she is casting away the flames.
The image I created shows Efrddyl still pregnant with Dyfrig ~
There will be a book release party at the
The book includes an amazing line-up of artists from Wales and the States.
In between deadlines I'm also working on new art for my Etsy Shop .
With the current loss of income, the more originals I can put in my shop, the better!
I just listed another new piece last night ~
"Lida was a top notch singer and guitar player.
She was shy....so shy that she only sang and played alone in her room.
Her sister would listen to Lida's music through he r bedroom door and she knew that Lida had so much talent to offer the world.
She pleaded with Lida "Please Lida, please play and sing for the world. I'll stay by your side and we'll sing together."
Lida was very afraid, but she trusted her sister and she swallowed her fear.
Before she knew it, she was playing and singing for her whole world to hear, on a lovely springtime day."
If you're interested in "Lida's First Sing-Along" you can find her Here .
So, as you can see, I am keeping busy.
Working.
Although really, I must admit, it really feels like playing.
But truly, it is my work.
Until next time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World
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Tylwyth Teg Book Cover and Other Random Goodness ~


By Kimberly Wlassak, 2013-08-19

Hello There!

I have been so busy lately.

Busy working on a book cover...

and I'm finally finished!

I am so excited to show you.

I still have 20 illustrations to finish for the book by February, but the cover is officially done.

This book was created from the Welsh excerpts of "The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries."

It is an old text that hasn't been published since early in the 1900s.

My publisher, "A Raven Above Press" , is publishing the text for the first time in many years and I am doing 20 illustrations plus the cover!

The idea for the cover came from an 1879 illustration ~

A re-imagining of this old illustration in my own style ~

If you look closely, you will see some of the same characters represented in my new piece.

"Tylwyth Teg" are Welsh Faeries.

Let me tell you, they can be trouble!

Not always, but they certainly can be little buggers.

The book will most likely debut at the 2014 St. David's Day Festival in March.

It takes place at the beautiful Barnsdall Art Park in Hollywood .

So...this book is certainly keeping me busy.

I have several more pieces with deadlines as well. There are no words to describe how grateful I am for the work I do.

I am glad to have busy hands and a busy heart.

In between creating and researching....there is life.

Real, good life.

Birthday tables ~

Green tomatoes soon to be fried ~

Red tomatoes soon to be sliced ~

and Johnny Appleseed Skies ~

My friend, Shell, came by for a visit ~

and sketched out the basic idea for my new tattoo ~

It's sort of a "life" tattoo, I guess.

I represents 5 things that have always been important in my life ...

My family

(all the flowers are my families birth flowers)

Art

Gardening

Music

and Welsh Mythology.

The yellow daffodils actually represent both my love of Welsh things AND my birthday.

Shell did an amazing job capturing just what I wanted.

Here's the tattoo after the first session ~

I realized after talking to Shell that I forgot to ask her to add a pair of Victorian scissors to represent my collage work.

Fortunately, my tattoo artist, Dan Smith from Captured Tattoo , was able to introduce the scissors .

My arm is super swollen here after an almost 4 hour session.

I still have two more sessions to go. One more for shading and the third to add all the color.

I have to share this rather unflattering photo with you.

When I get a tattoo, I tend to drift off. I actually start falling asleep. As you can see here, I'm starting to slump and, evidentally, Dan thinks it's funny ~

My arm is looking gorgeous right now.

The swelling is gone and the lines are amazingly dynamic.

Life is good!

Simple things make me so happy.

Fresh flowers in the studio ~

Stocks? Stocks at summer's end? Go figure! I couldn't believe it when I saw these springtime favorites at the grocery.

My studio smells like a warm spring day ~

Book covers, dinner from the garden and birthdays. Pretty tattoos, fresh flowers, and Johnny Appleseed skies.

Random goodness.

Busy hands and a busy heart.

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

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Well...
I'm just so....so....tired and frustrated.
Murphy has struck again. Darn you Murphy!
Okay...so, I am in a huge bind.
In my art, I use a small printer extensively.
As Murphy's Law dictates, my printer just died ~
right at the beginning stages of an exciting and big project.
I am illustrating a book about "Tylwyth Teg" (Welsh Faeries) for A Raven Above Press and I have 20 illustrations due before August.
I am also creating the cover for the book and I need to get started on that ASAP.
With no printer, I'm sort of doomed.
So....I am having a half price sale on every item in my Entire Shop .
I desperately need to get a new printer.
If you've ever been curious about my art or have wanted to purchase a piece, now is the time!
I am so afraid that I might have to back out of this book project, which would be sad, sad, sad and heartbreaking.
Any and all purchases would be so deeply appreciated.
If you're interested in helping, simply use coupon code MURPHY to get 50% off anything in my shop.
Thank you so so much!
xoxo
Kim
Gerushia's New World
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Well ~
It's been a crazy couple of days.
I've taken on a huge art project. I can't give you much detail other than I have 4 months to create 21 pieces of art.
I am desperately in need of new art supplies to get me started on this journey, soooo...
I think a sale is in order. Don't you?
This sale is in my Zibbet Shop instead of Etsy.
Mainly because Zibbet doesn't require a coupon code.
You can get 33.33% off all my original pieces and the prices are already marked down for you. So easy to use Zibbet!
There are 15 original pieces, including my newest art. Would you like to have a look? If so, just click Right Here .
I am over the moon excited about this new project.
It will require a lot of research but I'm ready to go!
I had to offer up a new bio photo for the project ~
I'm also knee deep in composing cover letters for children's book art agents.
These are the kinds of things that make me nervous and crazy. The business end of art is not my strong point!
Along with my arty stuff last week, I also had fun author stuff to attend as well.
I went with my daughter to the release party for Anna Carey's new book called "Rise" ~ Anna is such a sweetheart. Funny, witty and gorgeous!

(Anna reading from her book)
The signing was held at an amazing indie bookstore in Hollywood called Book Soup .
As usual, the local Young Adult fiction authors came out in support for Anna.
left to right:
Jennifer Bosworth, Gretchen McNeil, Ransom Riggs (author of "Miss. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, which takes place in and about Wales), Lauren Kate and the always amazing Josephine Angelini ~
My daughter (a book blogger and future published author) knows all these spectacular authors, I'm just the mom! :-)
Ohhh...and, we discovered that one of my puppies has double canines! ~
So...all in all, I've been busy.
I absolutely have to buckle down and get started on this new project.
As soon as I get the green light, I'll give you all the details.
Until then, I desperately need new art supplies to get me started. I need 21 canvases, a lot of new paint, countless ink cartridges and a ton of cardstock!
My hopes are that I can sell a few originals to at least get a good start on the first 5 pieces this week.
Any and all purchases made will help me immensely. No matter how big or small, any purchase will be greatly appreciated!
I'll be back super soon with more news and some springtime photos!
Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World
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Traditionally, I love this week....the first week of Daylight Savings Time.
Long lasting light and a promise of warmth is just around the corner.
I don't mind losing one hour of sleep.
The trade-0ff is well worth it.
Spring is peek-a-booing in my yard today.
Just a few pink nectarine blossoms ~
Soon, very soon, my nectarine tree will be covered in a riot of pink ~
...and I've just spotted the first secret nasturtium hiding under the daylilies ~
Looking forward.
Staying focused.
Believing that there will be softer days ahead.
Life can be so harsh and ugly sometimes.
Unexpected struggles and long drawn-out darkness has a way of stealing hope.
I cling to the Springtime.
Thankfulness.
Kelly is better
She is taking her medicine and eating her special food.
She's been playing a bit too!
So thankful.
While taking care of this little girl, I worked in the studio ~
and finished this piece ~
This particular piece is very important to the over-all story of "Gerushia's New World." You see, Huck and Pan (Huckleberry and Pansy) are two of the strongest and boldest characters in Gerushia's World. They are helpful in the battle against Serafine ~
See, Gerushia's New World is not just the name of my art business.
It is the name of an epic fairy tale that I am writing.
Huge fairy tale!
Every piece of art I create has a character that lives in Gerushia's World and is part of the over-all story.
Serafine is, well, sort of like the Lucifer character in Gerushia's World.
Huck and Pan are very important in the battle against Serafine.
Anyway...if you're interested in either of these original pieces, you can find them in my Etsy Shop .
I am keeping busy in the studio. Going forward with my art and my story.
Working on a new piece that, I believe, is going to prove to be a challenge!
I am super excited to sink my teeth into this new piece.
I am off to take a long walk.
Clear my head and make plans for the week.
Thank you for stopping by.
Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World
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St. David's Day Festival in Hollywood, California


By Kimberly Wlassak, 2013-03-08
So...can I tell you where I've been all day?
Can I show you?
I've been sitting right under this tree.
This exotically scented Plum tree ~
Gifting me with Springtime petal-snow and perfumed breezes.
I am in love with this tree.
Can you marry a tree?
I would, maybe.
The blue skies have been breath-stealing lately ~
Sunday offered a shockingly gorgeous blue sky ~
On our way to the St. David's Day Festival ~
at Barnsdall Art Park in this little ol' town ~
The festival was great and I was so busy, I didn't really snap many photos to share.
The view from Barnsdall is lovely.
Griffith Park Observatory ~
The festival was the sight of the release party for
"The Children's Voice"
Oh how I adore this book of Welsh Nursery Rhymes written by Peter Anthony Freeman.
I am excited and humbled to be a contributing artist ~
There are so many amazing illustrations in this book, each piece printed along with the corresponding nursery rhyme.
My art piece was created for this particular nursery rhyme:

"Hen Wraig Fach"

Little old woman living in the Valley,
Ragged clothes and heavy clogs,
She had a calf named Twm
Who was quite poorly a long time ago.
Little old woman giving the calf some milk,
But the calf refused it,
Well she then became angry
O dear! She slapped him.
Little old calf running like mad,
And she was shouting "For God's sake!"
Following a calf across the country
Oh friends, what an experience.
My brother, Robert Karr created the book cover!
My friend, Rochelle Rosenkild has a lovely piece in the book ~
...and, my cousin, Danny Walden has an illustration in this book as well ~
All sorts of huge thank-yous go out to Lorin Morgan-Richards of
for being the mastermind behind this publication!
The books will be offered for public purchase on March 9th....
But ~ If you must have one right this very minute, I have a little offer going on.
I am selling the original art I created for the book along with a signed copy of "The Children's Voice"
The book included in this offer is signed by the author and 7 of the attending artists, including myself.
There are only a very few signed copies of this book.
If you're interested in purchasing my original art along with the signed book, you can find them in My Etsy Shop .
So, all in all, the festival was successful and the book release party was fabulous.
After a long day of meeting and greeting, we found our way back home through dark skies and circus lights ~
And...thank you so much for participating in my give-away. Most people had to leave email comments. There were 32 comments altogether, but only 5 people were able to leave their comments on my blog.
The winner of the give-away print set is ~
Joanna Grant!
Now...I'm off for an evening in the studio.
Continuing work on this piece ~
which will finally include 2 of my favorite characters in Gerushia's World
Huck and Pan.
Huckleberry and Pansy are 2 of the very earliest characters I introduced into Gerushia's World way back when I first started writing the story.
Very happy to finally introduce them to you (soon).
Until Next Time:
Kim
Gerushia's New World
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