Kary Lee Illustration

Thanks for Stopping In! You made Prune Orchard Art Walk a success.

2011-08-08T10:52:00.000-07:00


Prune Orchard Transparent Watercolor Copyright 2011

It's always a pleasure to share my work with you. And, the Art Walk at Prune Orchard was no exception.

As expected, Debbie's shop was beautiful. She created the perfect backdrop for displaying my work and to showcase my new pieces and some old favorites.

Catching up with old friends, getting feedback and sharing my work is what makes what I do such a joy! Your support and energy fuels me.

Garden Angel Transparent Watercolor Copyright 2011
Debbie Yates and I pose beside my most recent portrait. The inspiration for this painting is bitter sweet. This beautiful little girl is the daughter of a childhood friend. Sadly, she passed away in 2009 in a tragic accident. I was compelled to portrey her in hope that this image will celebrate who she was and the love her family will always have for her. I appreciate her dad's approval to create this painting.

Books at the event are now available online.

Dizzy the Dolphin is available on Amazon.com.

Stan's Busy Day, Weed and Seed and Swoozie and Suzie are available at www.perfectionlearning.com. Search with the title in search bar.

More prints and note cards will be available soon. Keep checking back for more information.
-Kary

Artist Reception for Kary Lee this Friday at Prune Orchard.

2011-07-21T23:52:00.000-07:00

It's my second year participating in Pullman's Art Walk. This year my work is featured at Prune Orchard. I just love this place. The owner, Debbie, has supported me in the past through book signings, and selling my books and note cards. It's great to be back. It's a fun place to shop with our without an agenda. Honestly, there have been days I have popped in just to perk myself up. It just feels good to be there. As a matter of fact, this little shoppe is the inspiration for my latest illustration appropriately called "Prune Orchard." Come by and see it tomorrow at the artist reception. I'll be there too!

Friday, July 22nd from 4 to 8.

215 E. Main St. #2 in Downtown Pullman.

Prune Orchard

In addition to my new work, I'll have original book illustrations, prints and note cards available. Many of the characters in my book illustrations were inspired by people right here in our community. Stop by and see if you recognize anyone in my work!

See you tomorrow!

My inspiration to paint.... it's like getting back into shape!

2011-06-14T18:19:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've produced any new work. I actually hesitated in posting that statement. What would you all think about me admitting I've been out of the loop and out of creative shape. But, it is what is is. I'm putting it in writing because then it becomes real. Ten pounds creep up so quickly and before you know it, you turn around and see another ten on the back side! So, here's the deal: In January I made the commitment to make my illustration business my top business priority and dedicate two days a week with plans to increase as I am able financially. My creative energy was slow to emerge. I was so out of shape. It's really no different than munching on your favorite potato chips while watching an exercise infomercial. You're close to it, but not actually working at it.... yet!

I spent the first few weeks re-organizing my studio. Or, reacquainting myself to the gym and my trainer. Fortunately I received some great advice from a supportive friend and successful illustrator a few years ago that stuck with me. He told me that it's okay to 'dink around' in your studio. Thanks David! So, I did just that. And he was right. The paradigm began to shift. Just being immersed in my stuff.... books, paintings, thoughts, dreams. It was like revisiting old friends. I felt the energy surge. It actually made me cry a few times. It's hard to harness the emotions when they've been bottled up for so long. I did some soul searching and thought... "What do I do now?" I waited for the skies to part and a ribbon of light come down with the answers. Nothing! Hymmmm. So although it was rather anti-climatic I did the only logical thing I could think of. I made a list.

It was a list of things I wanted to accomplish; short term and long term and why. The why was the important and hardest part. With that information I wrote an artist statement. I had never done that before. It transformed my image of myself. I don't think I truly took myself seriously before. But I had it in writing! It was very empowering.

Since I moved in November I also had to set up my studio. I arranged, and re-arranged more than a few times but it's feeling good. I think the timing is right this time. It's been so long since I've looked forward to entering my studio, let alone staying there for more than 20 minutes.

My muse is slowly coming back. I'm all over the map. Ideas are spinning in my head; images, opportunities, passion! Creative people are good. They genuinely care. They want you to succeed.

I have been blessed with an amazing circle writers, illustrators, and musicians and of course friends, family and fans. When I've felt overwhelmed or defeated I've learned to reach out. Every time there has been someone there to encourage me, with their story and understanding support. I'm lucky.

Here's a smattering of things I'm working on. Proof I suppose that I've given up the potato chips (or at least cut down). I'll keep you posted. Keep an eye out for new stuff on my website. -Kary

Gallery quality reproduction prints available!

2010-12-09T11:40:00.000-08:00

If you have interest in getting prints of my existing work, let me know. I'm in the process of working up a new price sheet, but can do special requests if you have something you're interested in immediately.

More to come.....

Bid on my Dizzy Gift Basket and support Pullman High School Boosters!

2010-12-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

"DIZZY"

Bid on my Kids' Book Basket at the
Pullman Greyhound Booster's Auction

It will include a signed book, a new print ready for framing, a plush "Dizzy" dolphin and some other goodies.

All proceeds to the auction go to support local Pullman High School Events.

Wild Ivy Book Signing....a success!

2010-07-26T16:18:00.000-07:00

Thank you everyone who stopped by the the Wild Ivy on Friday for my art display and book siging! It's always a treat to meet new people and a boost to my creativity.

And thanks to my daughter Katy who made the delicious dessert pizza cookies.

In addition to the fun, food and conversation special treat for me was a visit by two friends from High School.

(left to right) Keri Ecklund, me, Grace Leaf and Keri's niece.

Keri is a school teacher in the town where we went to high school, Chewelah, Washington. She bought a book and will be donating it to the school's library. What a nice thought, little ones from my home town hearing the story and seeing the illustrations! How special!

Charles and I pose for a shot
between customers.

Congratulations to Kari Mosley.
She is the winner of the a signed Dizzy book drawing!

Again, thanks for stopping by and for the kind words from those of you who were'nt in town but dropped me a line. It's that support that makes what I do worth it.

If you missed it and interested in purchasing a book, note cards, or prints please contact me through my website email. I'd love to hear from you.

What' lost is found! The Sunnyside Park series is reunited!

2010-07-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

Recently returned, Whirlwind II, one of a series of three.

Viewing and book signing this week during

Pullman Crazy Days at the

Wild Ivy,

275 SE Bishop Blvd., Pullman Wash.

Friday, July 23rd

from

4:00 to 8:00.

Windermere Community Service Day

2010-06-23T10:29:00.000-07:00

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Click on the icon above to learn more. (No idea why the 'target blank stuff is showing up above...oh well).

Every year my real estate company, Windermere Real Estate sponsors a Community Service Day. The entire office takes a day off from our usual tasks and volunteers for a community service project to help improve our community.

This year we worked for the City of Pullman cleaning up two nicely landscaped, but overgrown areas on the North end of town. It's a nice feeling driving by and seeing the beautiful setting and know that I helped make it happen.

It's also a great opportunity to re-connect with co-workers. Here I am with Ginger while my broker, Lynn looks on in the background. We were thankful for the sunshine!

KL Design creates a new look for Real Estate professional group.

2010-06-14T16:14:00.000-07:00

Once again my two worlds collide. I was able to design a logo for Whitman County Association of Realtors as Kary Lee, designer for Whitman County's professional Realtor association, WCAR. It was a great opportunity to create while giving back to my community by improving the image of our association.

Pullman is a small town and although we have several offices, Realtors in this county work together to provide the best service for all of our clients. My goals in this design were to provide an image that can identify us all as a group, regardless of the office we work for. I believe the clean lines and neutral colors will provide our MLS a sophisticated yet friendly icon that works to improve our image throughout Whitman county as well as in Washington state.

TA DAA!

2010-01-27T17:27:00.000-08:00

The words echo in my head as I rattle around in my new kitchen space...
"Rachel Ray will be returning any moment. You're going to have to clean up your mess and go home now." But it's mine! It's really mine.

I sip my coffee while opening my new EZ-glide drawer to retrieve a plastic spatula. I'm making pancakes on my new grill and... I'm starting to get an attitude. For the first time in my life I have an opinion about which drawer in which we should keep the measuring cups (the lazy-Susan in case you're interested). My girls aren't sure about the new me. I'm much more demanding. But the trade off, a hot breakfast, almost makes it worth it.

Newly completed details, "the icing on the cake."

We survived the holidays with various details still to be completed.

Duct tape handles were
replaced with stainless steel.

Although both are silver,
I've found I in fact prefer
the newly installed stainless
metal variety.

Missing Trim.
Didn't account for new drawers length
and trim height. Another modification.

Ducting the stove vent posed both financial and time issues. When dealing with existing construction, you never know what surprises you'll find in the rafters. A truss in our path caused a $400 modification. Did I mentinon the importance of budgeting for over-runs?

Expectations verses results.
When I have an idea for a painting, there's a lot of planning before the final design is executed. As an artist I am in control from planning, design and finally execution. I create every pencil mark, and brush stroke (for better or worse). Designing a kitchen was humbling. You have a plan. Then you have to order your supplies based on little squares of product, anticipating how they'll harmonize, or clash, with the other little samples.

For example, this neutral glass tile. It appears glass tile is shiny. Who knew? And, the buff color selected to blend with the newly painted antique white walls.... it has a green cast when reflected off the dark cabinetry. I'm an artist for pete's sake, why didn't I anticipate that?

After a sleepless night, mulling over the possibility of being the laughing stock of the artist world, and never landing another staging job, I called an artist friend and color guru for reinforcement. I asked him to come assess the irreversible damages and if necessary, lie. He didn't hum or ha. He said he "loved it." I stood in disbelief, convinced that it was a bold faced lie.

Calmly, he turned to me and asked if I had ever cooked a Thanksgiving dinner. I perced my lips and squinted. Where in the hell was he going with this?

" Remember the time and effort that comes with preparing that meal?" He continued. "When the time comes to sit down and eat you're really not hungry." Okay....yeah.... so what does that have to do with anything? "You can't see it yet because you're not hungry anymore. Relax. Be patient."

It took me a couple weeks to 'detox' from the construction hang-over. But, once I had, he was right on the mark!

There's more than one right answer.
I have a new appreciation for my clients as I move them through this process. Yes, ideas had to be modified and decisions that I had obsessed about months before had to be changed. But, it all works. You have to let some of the stuff roll off your back. And if you've started out with a strong design plan and surrounded yourself with qualified and trustworthy people, it's going to be alright. I finally settled in and enjoyed my meal. It was worth the wait.

Finishing touches

2009-11-08T09:44:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of the almost finished kitchen. No handles yet and the trim around the window needs to be taken care of. There's always something!

Out with the old, in with the new: keeping the artist in me on target.

2009-10-31T10:50:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 21; Demolition day and the beginning of the project. What's seemed like years has in reality been 6 weeks.

Hours after they ripped out the island I received a phone call, the cabinets will be two weeks later than expected. Perfect!

We had running water and appliances so it was sort of like camping. Our fast food bill rose significantly in those few weeks.

As the time drew closer and as we coordinated with the plumber and electrician, we pulled the rest of the cabinets, sink and dishwasher.

I started experimenting with paint colors. Being an artist, this is where I can go a little crazy. I over think everything and worry about things that the normal homeowner would probably never consider.

I settled on a taupe that was neutral (or appeared so) and would warm up the area.

We moved the working kitchen to the laundry room in the basement. The fast food budget once again rose. And, the kitty litter box, also housed in the laundry room, received significantly more attention than ever before.

Every day a little more progress was made.

October 12, cabinets arrive. As it turned out, they were only delayed one week. Now we're back on track.

October 13, cabinets are installed. The transformation was uncanny. The rich dark color was a wonderful change from the standard 90's golden oak. Being that this was ultimately an investment decision, I was careful not to go too modern, but definitely update the look.

It was necessary to pick materials that would have a wide enough interest. But, it was also important to keep the integrety of the house style and consider who the typical buyer for a home in this price range would be and the quality they would expect. I refrained from choosing a completely modern look. I love the look of the new sleek clean door front with the long, nickle handles. But, I'm not in downtown Seattle. It's Pullman. I have to appeal to a wider demographic than that. I compromised and went with a Quaker/craftsman cabinets that are beautiful, clean lined while having historically proved the test of time.

The color is probably my biggest risk, dark sienna/espresso. My kitchen is part of a large great room. Since the room is so large, I can not only justify the darker wood but believe it's necessary to update the feel of the space. It also ties in with the slate in both the kitchen (as you can see above) and the slate in the living room that's in plain view.

I'll post more on Monday. I've got to get some yardwork done while the sun is still shining. -Kary

Staging starts at home, my home!

2009-10-21T17:05:00.000-07:00

Last Summer I became my own client. I'd been thinking about remodeling for awhile. Nothing is 'bad,' just dated and inefficient for the space. There's lots of potential, fancy for old and uninteresting. So, I decided it was time to put my money where my mouth was. Making the right decisions, we'll get to enjoy the remodel before I put it on the market and get most of the investment back when we sell. My plan is to downsize when my girls are out of high school, in 2 to 3 years. In order to get top dollar and have less time on market, the house needs updating.

When it's your home, your money and a space you have to live in, it's a whole new enchilada! The term 'doctors make the worst patients' comes to mind. I have a new found respect for my client's and the decisions I ask them to make. When it's yours, it's hard to see the forest for the trees! But, it's coming together. I currently have cabinets but no counter tops. My basement washroom has become a makeshift kitchen and I understand the new hood piping never came in. They're sorry, but they can't find it. It'll be a couple weeks, the reorder has been back ordered.

Based on what sells a house fastest, I decided on the kitchen. It was a great space that was poorly executed. The more complete and functional the space the more buyers are likely to be interested and the more they will be willing to spend. The majority of buyers only see what you show them. With the right plan, I will encur the best return on investment and get to enjoy it until I sell!

Painting a Picture in Real Estate

2009-10-16T08:56:00.000-07:00

As an artist and designer, selling real estate is really just another creative process. It's problem solving. The approach is no different than when I'm commissioned to create a painting. My client has a goal, I've got the tools to help them achieve the goal. I've got to 'paint a picture' that is personal to them. Everyone comes to me with similar basic needs, but they all have their own unique set of circumstances. If they're selling the trick is to help them transform that painting from a personal portriat to a nice, peaceful landscape that you would see in a public hotel lobby. Beautiful and inviting but generic. Our job is to appeal to the widest margin of home buyers. So, home stagingng has been the glue tying my two professions together, or maybe I should say the paint.

I love this part of the job. Sometimes we're in a big hurry and there's no budget. Okay, so I'm painting with an existing canvas and moving around the images. I might paint over some of it, or just switch things out. The trick is to take as much of what my clients have and reuse it in a more productive way.

Then there is the long term, goal oriented client. They may not be hiring me to sell their house right away, but they want to make some long term improvements and want to make sure they'll get the most return on their investment. Again, creative problem solving. And, I help clients improve there quality of life with peace of mind that their improvements are also a great investment. I'm working on my real estate website. I want to show more before and after pictures. There's always more to do, show and create. Check out my 'STAGED and SOLD' page on my website. www.karylee.mywindermere.com

The big reveal, I'm leading a double life!

2009-10-06T16:45:00.000-07:00

I going to come clean and let you in on a
little secret.

Some of you know me as an Artist, Illustrator or Visual Storyteller and some of you know me as a Realtor and Home Stager. I've kept them separate to avoid confusion. But, as both careers progress it's become counter-productive. Now I have clients that are on two mailing lists and I constantly have to switch hats. It seems like I'm hiding something. It's becoming confusing. So, here's the scoop. I do both. I love both and the combination fits my life very well.

My creative/art career came first. Should you be curious, you can learn more on my illustration website: http://www.karyleeillustration.com/ or my real estate site: http://www.karylee.mywindermere.com/ . No denying it, with the exception of being a mother, painting and creating art is my passion. Watercolor illustration seems to be my main outlet. And, as much as I love my work, it sometimes appears more like a curse than a gift. I wonder some days why I can't just get a 9 to 5 like 'normal' people?

About 3 1/2 years ago, after many small book and commission projects and tons of networking got a phone call from a publisher. I landed a trade book project, pulling my illustration career further into the main stream. The years of networking and small projects were finally paying off.

On the same day I got a second phone call. My husband had quit his job. (Life is what happens when you're making other plans.) Over the next 6 months while pouring over story boards and thumbnails, creating characters and living my dream, my marriage dissolved. By Christmas of the same year I found myself a single mom of three teenagers, with two cats, a dog, a mortgage and a beautiful children's book about a dolphin, 'Dizzy' (Stonehorse Publishing, 2007). The creative process kept me sane, but as anyone in the publishing industry knows, you're not getting rich on your first book and a small advance.

All feel good aquatic creatures aside, I needed a job, a 'real' job! I needed money and flexibility. Hymmmm....Looking for a silver lining, I talked to a college friend who had the same education background was selling real estate quite successfully. It seemed like a good fit.....housing/architecture, interior design, urban planning had always been an interest of mine. I remember housing plans, real estate trends and pricing fluctuations like many men remember baseball statistics. It made sense. She encouraged me, I called her broker immediately. I got my license in June of 2006 and started working for Windermere Real Estate at the same time my second set of final illustration spreads were due for my book. Needless to say, it was crazy. But, keeping busy then was a blessing.

Three years, several sold houses and commissioned paintings later it seems to be working. Throw into the mix the current state of our economy and I think you have the makings of quite a journey.

The two professions have proved to compliment each other quite well. I live in Pullman, Washington which is home to Washington State University. Because of the cyclical nature of our housing market our busy time tends to be Spring/Summer. For that time, I sell! sell! sell! Then, things ramp down in the Fall. It can come to a complete standstill in the Winter months. It's when I put on my wool socks and pull out my sketch book and snuggle into a new art project.

I'm thankful to have a new listing and a couple buyers right now. But, I've turned on the fire place and am getting ready to pull out my watercolors and sketch book. I am in a bit of denial that I have to wear shoes again, but there's something nice about the Fall once I finally 'cross over' to acceptance.

So, that's it...the big secret it out. I lead a double life.

Kary's First Post

2009-10-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

Ha....I did it.

Official first blog entry was during the summer. It's October 1 and I'm finally figuring out how to maneuver through this new experience. I'm hesitant and feeling a little resistant to be honest. Why do any of you care what I think or am thinking? I'm open to new things however so alas here I am devulging into the viral marketing world. I feel a sneeze coming on.

Example Entry

2009-07-02T23:04:00.000-07:00

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Phasellus mollis enim vel augue volutpat id sodales felis fermentum. Praesent pharetra, tellus vel porttitor aliquet, nibh sem rhoncus quam, tincidunt sollicitudin orci justo ut lectus. Ut varius, lacus non dignissim luctus, urna augue congue justo, vel fermentum ipsum leo sit amet leo. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Duis viverra pellentesque enim ut gravida. Aliquam in erat ligula, vel eleifend metus. Ut dictum est id ante pharetra fringilla. Ut mattis auctor nunc vitae aliquam. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Aenean consequat venenatis elit, et rhoncus sapien sodales quis. Proin sed turpis nisl, at auctor magna. Aliquam tincidunt gravida mollis. Mauris euismod cursus imperdiet. Aenean rutrum sodales eleifend. Ut pharetra massa et diam lacinia tempus. Cras condimentum molestie varius. Suspendisse gravida pulvinar ante, non iaculis tellus varius et.