Kat Eye Studio

Archives for July 2016

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An Abstract Question

Ok, I’ll admit it, I’m stuck.

This #30edits abstract project I was so excited about is kicking my butt. I haven’t created a new one in almost a week, and I’m not really motivated to get back into it. Here’s the last…


So what is it that is leaving me flat about the whole thing?

Sure, it’s fun. It’s been good to see where each individual piece goes. But it feels like there is no purpose, no cohesiveness to the whole group of work. They are a series of individual pieces that don’t really relate to each other. And so far, they are not pushing me to much out of my comfort zone.

I’ve realized a few things lately, as I’ve worked through this project… 

Since I’ve sat with my art for several weekends at art fairs, I’ve realized that there is something those winter trees give me, besides inspiration. They give me a cohesiveness to my work which is otherwise very disparate in style. Even in my last #30edits project, which resulted in vastly different pieces, they related to each other since they started with the same photograph. That creates a connection between the work at least in my own mind. A connection I can talk about with others. These abstracts have no relation to each other. For some reason that bugs me.

Maybe that bugs me because it feels that they have no story on their own. The only story in them is the processing itself, the project itself. Even though what I love about abstract art is the emotion of it, it doesn’t feel that there is an emotional driving force in the creation of them. They are interesting, but when they are done, they aren’t conveying something more to me, something inside of me, in the way my art does usually. I decided I don’t want to share the starting photograph of these, because it ruins the magic of the abstract. But maybe it also ruins the magic of creation in a way, that there is no clear tie to the starting photograph, which is usually so important to my process. You can’t tell that it started as this one thing and was transformed into something new but related.

So I’m trying to decide… Do I continue the #30edits Abstract project or do I stop? Will I find inspiration if I push through this stuck place? Or have I learned my lesson and I should focus on the thing that has given me some inspiration lately… The figure?


Trying to decide. And in the meantime, I’m barely creating. 

That’s probably answer enough, isn’t it? Funny how it took writing a blog post for me to figure it out. 

Time to follow my inspiration. #30edits Abstract is on hold, indefinitely.

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The Art of Doing Nothing

I find it easy to be busy. There is nothing like a cram-packed schedule to clarify priorities and how to use my time. I am invincible. I am in control and get an amazing amount accomplished.


But I can only go for so long in that mode of operation. I get tired and cranky after a while. I’m productive, but I’m not the nicest to the people around me. I’m not at my best, or my happiest.

At some point, the pressure eases up and then I have different choices for my time. Do I continue to push forward on projects or do I take a break? What does “taking a break” even look like? 

Right now it looks like a puzzle. A good old jigsaw puzzle. And podcasts, lots of great podcasts. It’s easy to listen while puzzling. And maybe some Pokemon. 

It may sound crazy, but that’s my version of doing nothing. It’s something, sure, but none of it is accomplishing anything real. It’s taking my brain to another space for a little while, giving me a break from the “to do” list. Letting me recharge.

And it feels wonderful. Decadent and maybe just a bit rebellious. Exactly how doing nothing should feel. Like I am getting away with something.

What is your version of doing nothing? 

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The Good and the Bad

There is good and bad in coming home from a great vacation. 

The good: Sleeping in my own bed, snuggling with my cats, eating my normal food, getting back into a routine.

The bad: I can’t create art or play Pokemon Go whenever I want.

I had a great time last week visiting family and friends in Colorado. We are a road-tripping family, so the drive there and back provided ample time for me to create some new art on my iPad Pro. And I had access to new things to photograph and some people who were willing to experiment with me. 

Add that all together, toss with the techniques I’ve been playing with from Bob Weil’s online class, and voila! You have a new direction in my art. I call this one: She Opens Her Own Doors.


There will definitely be more in this series. You can visit me on Instagram or my newsletter to see these unfold. And if you would like to learn how to create this type of layered collage art, the special offer on iPhoneography with Bob Weil is still available until July 17. Visit here to learn more.

And yes, I am playing Pokemon Go! My son and I used to collect and play with Pokemon cards when he was little, so this is another fun way to connect with him at fifteen. With a teenager, you just can’t miss these opportunities. Yesterday I made it to Level 9 and joined a gym in the area I like to hike. 

This is one more fun thing to do with the iPhone. If you haven’t played yet, consider giving it a try. It gets you out walking around, and while you play you are getting exercise and can take photographs to use in your art. See you on the streets!

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You’ve written a book. Now what??

When you write a book, it feels like you liberate all you know. You distill it down to the essential topics. You think hard about how to present the concepts. You spend hours pulling together the right words, finding the best images, creating the right screen shots. You edit and correct, correct and edit.

And then it goes off into the world. And you think… Now what? My big challenge of learning, teaching, consolidating, writing about my iPhone art process is done. What comes next?

For me, that means it’s time to learn something new. It’s time to read all of those iPhone photography books I avoided, so they wouldn’t influence me too much. It’s time to take a course or two.

And so I came across the iPhoneography with Bob Weil online course. I was attracted to his art and thought, Hey, that collage stuff looks interesting! I’m going to try that.

Here’s one of my first successful collages I created using the techniques Bob teaches, from photographs I’ve taken in various places over the last couple of years:

We the People

We the People

It’s not my normal way of creating, which typically requires a single, carefully composed photograph, in combination with backgrounds or textures. This technique requires multiple source images that you can combine together into a single piece. It’s more conceptual. It’s been a challenging and interesting change of pace to create this way but I find I like the feeling of being a beginner again. It’s fun to be learning something new.

I normally don’t do a lot of promotion, but I have enjoyed the material and find it very complementary to my Art with an iPhone book and process, so I want to recommend it to you.

Bob has generously offered a great discount to my followers on his course, over 40% off of the regular price. The online course contains over 40 videos as well as some great extras like textures. (You can never have enough textures!) Plus, Bob has thrown in two short courses by Nicki Fitz-Gerald and Susan Tuttle, normally an extra charge, as a bonus for you. Very nice of him!

You can learn more about the course and register here. Let me know what you think!

Note: This special offer is only available through July 17.

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The Latest Review

“This books passes muster as a great instructional tool for the novice mobile artist – A Classic”, Joanne Carter, 2016

Pretty darn cool quote, huh?

My book, Art with an iPhone: A Photographer’s Guide to Altered Realities, was very nicely reviewed on The App Whisperer this week. The App Whisperer is the “world’s most popular mobile photography and art website” so this is a big deal! So exciting.

Pop on over and read it when you get a chance.

Time Line (#30edits Abstract 7/30)

Time Line (#30edits Abstract 7/30)

And enter the contest for a book, of course!

What, you already have a book? Enter the contest anyway! If you win, you can give the new book away. Spread more of the iPhone Art love!

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