New Painting Reveal at Gallery 50

This past week I finished my newest painting! I had just enough time to prepare it to be apart of the Salem County Arts in Bloom exhibition at Gallery 50. The opening reception is this Friday, March 2nd from 6-9 PM. I will be revealing my new painting at this exhibition and give a brief talk around 7PM. My fellow Arts in Bloom artists will also be in attendance and refreshments will be served. Gallery 50 is located at 50 East Commerce Street, Bridgeton, NJ 08302. The show will be on display until March 30th.

 I hope to see you Friday night!

Donating to Woodstown Ambulance Squad 12

I announced earlier this month via my newsletter that I will be donating 15% of all artwork sales and commissions during the month of February to the American Heart Association.

However, after learning about this week’s tragic fire, proceeds will be going to the Woodstown Ambulance & Rescue who lost all of their vehicles and equipment.

This includes: original artwork, greeting cards, pillows, prints, necklaces, and home decor. Click a picture below or shop here: https://www.kimberlyenglish.com/shop

Stained Glass Template

Last year I was approached by Mr. & Mrs. Joe McDonald for a special commission. They had seen me paint live at Taylor & Tyler's wedding and needed my help for a project of their own. They are the Aunt and Uncle of the groom who wanted to make a custom stained glass work of art as their post-nuptial gift to the couple. Joe is a very skilled stained glass maker and requested that I create a template for them to work from.

We met to discuss the idea of the stained glass piece and we went over examples of works that they liked. We talked about form and how that played into creating a piece of stained glass artwork. It was very helpful to learn more about the process since I have never made stained glass before. Ultimately, they needed a simplistic drawing, to scale, that they could use to cut out and trace onto the glass for cutting.

Since their wedding day was extremely rainy, the McDonald's wanted to create a colorful image that would include the farm and barn where they were married. I used reference pictures from Taylor & Tyler's engagement session along with pictures of their backs from their wedding day (below) to create the composition. I started by creating a small 4" x 6" sketch of the design. I then enlarged it to the requested size: 12" x 18". I left the design simple so that Joe could make decisions as to where to add extra pieces.

It was so much fun to be able to help the McDonald's create another unique piece of art for Taylor and Taylor. Below is the finished piece. I'd love to know what you think of the process, please leave me a comment!

Photo courtesy of Dana Zarin Photography © 2017

Photo courtesy of Dana Zarin Photography © 2017

Photo courtesy of Dana Zarin Photography © 2017

Template I made for the stained glass

Finished stained glass work of art by Joe McDonald

New Painting Workshop: Rabbit Milk Can on 2/24/18

Join me for this rabbit painting workshop on a large rusty milk can (6"w x 11"h). You will learn to blend, create gradients and use textures to paint fur and grass. No experience is necessary. Participants may also add a gingham ribbon (not pictured). All supplies are included in the price of the workshop. Light refreshments will be served. Please click here to read workshop policies.

Saturday, February 24, 2018 12-3PM

Cost: $35

 Studio Location

A Whole New Light

328 Harding Highway

Elmer, NJ 08318

To register, click here

Looking for New Farms to Represent

As an agricultural advocate for farmers in South Jersey, I am always looking for new contacts and inspiration to photograph. I use the photographs to create original acrylic paintings and to ​promote the active agricultural community in southern New Jersey through sharing on social media and with farming agencies. You can see the collection of photographs I have taken by clicking here. If you are a farmer that would like to have your land, equipment, or operations photographed or created into a work of art, please click here to fill out the Farming Contact Form. The first 10 farmers to fill out the form will receive a free framed print (size and picture orientation is at the discretion of the artist) and a yearly calendar. All farmers will receive one free print and will be acknowledged when sharing online.

Scheese Farm, Friesburg, NJ

Wilson Brothers Farms, Daretown, NJ

Being the Child of an Entrepreneur

Today I wanted to reflect on my experience of being child of an entrepreneur and how that has helped me to realize my potential to be one as well. When I was growing up, my mom started her own candle business in the basement of our home.  When I would get home from school, I would help by wicking the candles for her to pour. Our house always smelt AMAZING. She was super busy with home parties and she would travel to Pennsylvania, Maryland, and all parts of New Jersey. As I grew older, I would accompany her on her home shows to help carry in the candles, set up, and check out customers.

As time went on she wanted a store front and I remember spending weekends with my family driving around and touring properties. When we found the perfect location, we spent the next year renovating the store and warehouse. It was so exciting to witness her opening day!

My brother, sister, and I learned so much about demolition, construction, and what it takes to make any dream a reality. A lot of parents encourage their children to be anything they want to be. But we grew up knowing we could be anything we set our minds and hands to.

Fast forward to the present and we all have followed our dreams with our own unique careers. My brother works on a professional drag racing team with aspirations of starting his own machining business. My sister is a skydive and wind tunnel instructor as well as a graphic design small business owner. And I am a certified art teacher and professional artist with my own business. I attribute our success and unique career choices to my parent's exposing us to the reality of the hard work that is required to make our dreams come true.

Were you a child of an entrepreneur? Did you also start your own business?

I'd love to hear your story!

FREE Reusable Calendar

Every year I would buy a magnetic calendar for my fridge. However, this year I couldn't find the primitive country style that I normally buy. I also realized that the calendars were often too small to fit all the details of our events. So I decided to make a reusable calendar that I can use year after year. 

Since I made one for myself I thought I would share it with YOU! Get a FREE Digital download of a reusable calendar. Choose from an 8" x 10" or 11" x 14" calendar that can be used as a dry erase calendar when mounted in a frame under glass. Attach magnets to your frame to display on your fridge for further versatility. Directions for printing below.

1. Click here and download the desired size.
2. The 8" x 10" file can be printed on a regular printer. Skip to direction 4
3. The 11" x 14" file needs to be printed on a wide format printer be the proper size. If you do not have such a printer, the file can be printed by Staples and picked
   (See the screen shots below for more detailed instructions)
1. Click here to go to the Staples website and choose their Engineer & Oversized Prints
2. Choose "Engineering Prints in B&W"
3. Click Upload > Choose the file > Click Upload > Click Done
4. Name the File and Change Quantities to "Quantity: 1 Pages: 1"
   (The price should default to $1.79)
5. Click "Special Instructions" and type" Please do not enlarge. File is a specific size: 14.5" x 11.5"
   (This will ensure the size will be printed correctly and the tech won't enlarge it)
6. Click "Add to Cart" and follow instructions for checkout
4. Cut along the light gray lines
5. Place your calendar print out inside a frame
6. Display on wall or glue magnets to the back of the frame to display on your fridge

1. Choose "Engineering and Oversized Prints"

2. Choose "Engineering Prints in B&W"

3. Click Upload > Choose the file > Click Upload

4. Click Done

5. Name the File and Change Quantities to "Quantity: 1 Pages: 1"

6. Click "Special Instructions" and type" Please do not enlarge. File is a specific size: 14.5" x 11.5"

(This will ensure the size will be printed correctly and the tech won't enlarge it)