KJO Fine Art

08/09/2026

I sometimes think being an artist is really an exercise in paying attention.

The more closely I look, the more I realize how much complexity God tucked into things we could so easily pass by—the turn of a petal, the unexpected color inside a shadow, the way no two living things are quite alike.

I can paint what I see, but I’ll never out-create the Creator. And I’m perfectly happy with that. ❤️

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08/08/2026

A little look back at some of my older floral paintings. 🌸

It’s interesting to revisit work from another time and see both what has changed and what has stayed consistent in the way I paint. Flowers have always given me an excuse to play with color, shape, edges, and all those wonderful little imperfections found in nature.

I thought I’d pull a few out of the archives today.

Do you have a favorite among these?

08/02/2026

Still in the messy middle—building color, texture, and structure one passage at a time. I’m enjoying the contrast between these warm golds and the cool blue-green background.

Do you enjoy seeing artwork evolve, or do you prefer the finished reveal?

08/01/2026

Artists don’t have too many supplies.

We have the exact right number of supplies for all the projects we are definitely going to finish someday. 😄

The fact that some of those projects have been “in progress” for several years is completely beside the point.

What art or craft supply are you physically incapable of passing up?

07/30/2026

Artists are always collecting things—not necessarily objects, but colors, shapes, shadows, and little visual moments that might find their way into a painting someday.

A flower bending toward the sun, an unexpected color combination, or the way light falls across a petal can become part of that mental collection.

What have you noticed lately that made you stop and look twice?

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07/29/2026

One of the strangest things about being an artist is that a painting can look completely different after you step away from it for a while.

Problems become obvious. Good passages stand out. And sometimes the part you nearly painted over turns out to be the strongest part of the whole piece.

Do you ever need distance from something before you can see it clearly?

07/28/2026

Studio confession: sometimes I spend more time debating one tiny brushstroke than I spent planning the entire painting. 😄

Should it be warmer? Softer? More defined? Or should I leave it alone before I “fix” it to death?

Painting requires creativity—but it also requires knowing when to put the brush down.

Are you someone who knows when to stop, or do you tend to keep tinkering?

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07/26/2026

Sometimes creating art feels less like making something new and more like uncovering something that was already waiting to be seen.

The painting doesn’t always reveal itself all at once. Sometimes it comes through a color choice, an unexpected brushstroke, or the quiet instinct to keep going. I’ve learned to trust that process a little more—to listen instead of forcing.

Do you believe inspiration comes from somewhere beyond us?

07/25/2026

Four years ago today, I lost my husband, Keith.

At his service, I remember watching the photo montage and noticing something I had never fully seen before. In photo after photo, his face was lit with joy whenever he was playing with our kids. When a lifetime of moments is gathered together like that, certain things suddenly become clear. I don’t think I had ever realized just how much happiness Keith found in being a dad.

To remember and celebrate that part of him, I’m sharing two older paintings I made of Keith reading to our youngest, Joe. A year after painting the first portrait, I returned to the same moment and reimagined it in a Cubist style.

I’m grateful I captured this quiet little piece of their life together. He loved the kids deeply, and that love still lives on.

07/25/2026

I’ve been thinking about the kinds of artwork people feel most drawn to—not necessarily what matches the sofa, but what creates a feeling.

Do you tend to love paintings that feel peaceful, joyful, dramatic, nostalgic… or something else entirely? I’d love to hear what makes you stop and really look at a piece of art. ❤️

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