Greetings, welcome to my studio.
This blog is about my journey from being an occasional artist to a frequent, practising and exhibiting artist.
I studied art all through my teenage years, through school, private art classes and then University. I graduated as an art teacher with a major in textiles and printmaking.
So there you would think was the beginning of a fine artistic teaching career, but no, I went off traveling and worked in Hospitality and ended up running a training company. (That is after more loops and bends then you should be boredwith.)
But the desire to create still remains and with the chronic fatigue gradually improving, I have decided to get serious again.
I started drawing postcards, then this inspired me to start drawing again in earnest, so this year I have been trying to build a body of work that I can take to the galleries. Sharing this journey with others on the blog has given me purpose and the responses I have received have given me hope and encouragement, thank you.
I hope you enjoy this journey with me and may it help and inspire others just a little bit too.
Karen Bailey Studio 
Thanks so much for checking out my blog!
xoxo
@graylinsample
yepindeed.com
Hello Ms. Karen,
Thank you for the lovely comment on my painting. I must say I find your work very inspiring and love your style. My story is somewhat similar to yours except that I’m ‘going back’ to painting due to my current situation (unemployment). As a result I’m also painting differently: my style has evolved as I’m introducing different mediums/elements (such as acrylic which I used to hate…or ‘black’ on my palette) and this is my first time painting flowers only!–I’m big on figurative ‘art’ where human faces/portraits are a predominant element of the composition.
PS: Since I read the comment you made above: my mother’s French so I’m actually fluent in the language. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you ever need help with it. Also saw the Sennelier inks you got for Christmas! Lucky!!!
PPS: I absolutely love your grevillea series!
Best regards,
Marie-Alix PH.
Marie-Aix, I am so pleased you like my work and thank you for your offer to help me with my French, though I think I am a lost cause. I wish you all the best with your art work, you certainly have a real feeling for colour and design. I look forward to your new work. Karen
Thanks for visiting my blog – let me know if you exhibit sometime as I am also in Melbourne.
Thank you Anne, I love dropping by and seeing what you are doing, and I will certainly let you know when I finally exhibit.
nice reading about you
Thanks. I invite you to visit my blog Ajaytao2010@wordpress.com. Browse through the category sections, I feel you may definitely find something of your interest.
Thankyou, I am glad you enjoyed my blog, I will certainly come for a visit. Karen
thanks
Thank you so much for stoppingy blog! I appreciate ❤
What a beautiful artworks you have❤amazing!
Looking forward too see more your posts😃
Glad yoy could return the visit and you liked my work.
Thanks so much for liking my post and drawing “Gidget.” How exciting that you are now able to follow your true passion and make art.
Hi, it is still a bit of a juggling act, but much fun.
thanks for following my blog and I wish you the very best with your interesting blog 🙂
*liking my post i meant sorry :p
Thank you for dropping by, I look forward to your future blogs.
Love your blog 🙂
Thank you so much for dropping by and taking time to look at my work. Karen.
lovely find, also I am a Karen Bailey and I have a blog, and my mum is an artist called Ruth Bailey haha. We are in England.
Oh how lovely to meet another Karen Bailey. Such a coincidence you mother is Ruth as I follow an American artist called Ruth Bailey. I couldn’t link to your blog from you comment can you send the address?
This is a little belated, but thank you for stopping by my blog. You have beautiful artwork!
Thank you for your kind comments I am glad you like my work
Beautiful work… and I know how much effort it takes!!
Thank you Sheryl and I really enjoyed browsing through your work, really lovely, fresh and vibrant.
Interesting to read your story, I too trained as an artist and got sidetracked by life. Happy to be back on the road again now. Good luck with you plans.
Hi Sue, we have more in common as I also have a background in textiles and my house is strewn with spinning wheel, loom, unfinished quilts etc. I enjoyed going back to your blog and reading the posts in order. I am trying to get up the courage and energy to exhibit this year to complete the move from hobby to career, nearly there. I found my blog gave me so much help through the lovely feedback and support I received from readers and the need to produce work so I had something to post about. Karen
I started the blog to give me motivation to keep at it, I thought if I had to write something every week that would focus my mind. I find it so easy to be distracted, I have a large garden and this time of year it takes lots of time. I’m involved with a small cycle training business and we start training very soon (if you are interested Google – pinkskycycling.com). And the internet of course – huge time sink! Excuses, excuses………… I have managed something each day this week but not nearly enough. Today another distraction – felt making with friends……….. I am working to try and get a portfolio together to apply to do a Botanical Art Diploma but I have until later this year. I look forward to hearing about your exhibition!
Wow – I love your work and think I already have one on my Pintrest page – have you managed to combine linocuts with paintings?
Thanks Celia, The linocutting is on hold while my wrist recovers, hope to be back into it later in the year. Karen
Thank you for following my blog! I am really loving your art!
Wow, your work is beautiful and so inspiring! Love your flowers and that you work with so many media. Looking forward to your updates!
Thank you so much for your kind words and for visiting my blog I am so glad you enjoyed my work. Karen
My pleasure!
Realizing you’re on the other side of the world, our summer is your winter. Glad to brighten your day – as you and your artwork brightens mine. Cheers from the US!