Anahata Katkin

Snow Bound

I'm back from the tradeshow mayhem. Now we are snowed in with a freak snow storm this week. It's actually been nice to bundle up inside and sled down our street with the kiddos. Thanks to the snow I am also missing this weeks PLAY retreat up in Port Townsend. It's Teesha's new brain child. Three full days of self directed art making. Have to do that at home I suppose. Like all of you I'm sure it's definitely been busy. Kathleen has officially moved to town and joined us in the studio! WooHoo. Though her cute little Mini Cooper can't even make it out of the driveway. Poor thing. But we are already zooming away on tons of new products and designs. I can't tell you what a relief it is to actually have a team now and not be working all alone on so many things. I think you can expect super things from us this year! And I had to share my wooden deer head with all of you. It hangs over my desk- and even though I haven't found the right accessories for him yet I just love him. But you should here the comments I get around here about him. But we don't care. Nothing can break our love.

More pics from last post

Just to be clear - these tanks have far more depth than you can see in these pics. The beluga for instance isn't in a tiny bowl like it looks here... I'll upload all the cool jellyfish pics when I return home...I am in the Chicago airport killing time and trying to force myself to not have another Starbucks. I may have to break down for a chai exception!

Hey Y'all!

I have to say. This picture was indeed taken from my iphone. Not to sound like a commercial but when traveling it is such a handy little bugger. No I wasn't swimming up against jellies but I am still in Atlanta and we went to the Georgia Aquarium here. They have the worlds largest aquarium and it was mind blowing! I am usually happy enough to go to that sort of thing but I'm not usually stunned. This was an incredible experience. The Beluga whale tank was beyond words. I actually teared up from seeing the Beluga who was happily swimming next to the glass in all it's glory. I must say that every creature we saw looked very content. The Beluga was practically smiling at all of us and it felt like such a miracle to be up to close to him. He also had two ladies (whales) in there with him - so he wasn't all alone. Maybe that explained the big grin. (Here's a link to my new friends webcam The tanks are hardly tanks but enormous underwater scenes. The main "tank" was probably 60 feet deep and the viewing happens in front of a giant plate and you are literally standing on a giant ocean floor while whale sharks swim over. It's crazy people.
I took an obscene amount of photos at the jelly fish tank and I definitely feel a jelly fish art series coming on. The light in the photo above is actually generated by the jelly! Isn't it beautiful? I highly recommend this place for anyone who is even remotely interested in science or animals. It was something i will remember for years to come.
I am having some technical issues here at the hotel but when I get home I will share all the pics with you.
More soon....

Indian Stitch

I have been really digging embroidery lately. Indian florals always have that embroidery look to me. I'll be making my first trip to India in late February. I can hardly wait to see all the lovely textiles and colors. It's been a dream since I was a little kid to go there. I'll be just outside of Rajastan. (I hear it's the mecca of textile artisan's in India) I'll be there working on some new goodies for PaPaYa! and just wrapping my mind around what's possible in a land full of artists. I have had to gear myself up for the heart possible wrenching realities of India as well. But I am so looking forward to the full spectrum. Anyhow. Wanted to share today's spin off of my embroidery obsession....
xoxoxox....

Going Away a While

I am gearing up for my bi-annual trade show marathon this month. Starting next week I will be gone until the second week of February. I will try and actually take some fun shots of my trips to Atlanta, LA and SF. I am hoping to make a trip to Savannah while I am in Georgia this time. I just hear amazing things about it there. Also does anyone have some really great tips about Atlanta? Last time I was there I really loved it but seemed like I was missing the action somehow. I'm interested in your favorite eats and stores and anything else special I should see in Atlanta.
At the end of it all I am driving up to Port Townsend Washington for Teesha Moore's PLAY retreat. The first one of it's kind. It's just a retreat for artists to get together and make art. There are no classes but some demos) and just four days of making stuff. Just what I need after all the rushing around on airplanes. Hopefully some of you joined that retreat as well and I will see you there!

Angela Cartwright's new book Mixed Emulsions is now available. I had the pleasure of adding a contribution piece to her book. (You've seen this guys before.) The book is FULL of great artists. I was thrilled to see a contribution even from CW Slade and fellow bloggers, Tiffini Elektra, Misty Mawn, Celine Nevarro, Kelly Kilmer and so many more. It's definitely worth a peek.

Happy New Years!

One of my New Years Resolutions is to do more fine arts. To paint more and draw more. I have been feeling sick of my collage work for quite a while. I mean...I enjoy doing it but I am just sort of tired of the same old results. I am wanting to get a more hand applied feel to everything. And any time I actually take the time to do a painting the image stays with me for years and becomes a wonderful new addition to my space. PaPaYa! is hosting Paul this June in Ashland , Oregon and it will be the perfect way to slow down and commit myself to some larger paintings. Paul is a wonderful teacher and human being and I enjoy his retreats so very much. He focuses on mandalas and eastern traditional arts but you can focus on any style or technique while you are with him. (for instance check out the lotus in the image above- it's a painting!) No matter what kind of artwork you are drawn to brushing up on your skills is priceless. If you are like me and want to make fine arts a new or expanded part of your life then consider registering for the June retreat. You can contact Mandala studio at (949)-497-2708 if you want to check it out. And there is more info on the retreat right here. Happy New Years Bloggy-Land.