new in the online shops

we put up the 3 bouquet paintings and a unicorn online today.  I love the colors I used on each!  I'm going to make it a quick post with the photos this week.

society6 first, just art prints;
*click title link to go to art print- then scroll to bottom of page to find other items with the same art.   enjoy browsing!

"Spring Bouquet 1"

These flowers will spread joy daily and never need watering. Made with collaged paper, then painted over in a drippy, loose interpretive way, to create a carefree focal point for any room.


"Spring Bouquet 2"

A fresh spring palette of colors awaits you each morning with this abstract artwork. I began with a collage of papers, to which I imagined the bouquet into being with heavy palette knife work and dripping inks.

"Spring Bouquet 3"

Imagine this sight as you sip your coffee. A soothing bouquet of spring colors to bring joy into your day. Made with collaged papers over which I used a palette knife to create a loose, textured piece. I then added drippy inks in my signature style.

"Unicorn Warrior at Rest"

Made with an under collage of sheet music for the song “This Is Me”, Unicorn magic is strong here! Do not be tamed, stand firm and be your own person, no matter what the world expects of you. With your strength anything is possible



now for redbubble;

"Spring Bouquet 1"

as a mug

"Spring Bouquet 2"

as a spiral bound notebook

"Spring Bouquet 3"

as a contrast tee

"Unicorn Warrior at Rest"

as a floor pillow

as always, enjoy browsing all the beautiful, well made items with my art on them!

until later,

Jenny

working with bouquets

it's been a slow week.  I've given myself the space to go inward with all of the feelings and be ok with the quietness.  its been a week of doubt, depression and health concerns and research.  it was strange to not go to Bates Crafters Gallery to bring any new paintings.  I was able to get back to dabbling with a gift painting over the weekend and that helped the blues a little.

I've been slowly working on a cute little threesome of bouquets that I started months ago with a collage of colorful papers

I'm liking them.  they are colorful and drippy and loose.  they will be a shock to people browsing at Bates to see something other than animals coming from my little shelf, but it's good to branch out a little here and there.  these won't have my usual descriptions added, as these are just generic paintings, no message other than joy.

until later,

Jenny

my blog is 2 today!

another year down, and it doesn't seem real that i started the blog 2 years ago.  my society6 shop was a year old on may 30th and i've sold 34 items since then, thanks to my amazingly supportive friends and family!

when i feel like giving up, you guys turn me around and remind me that it's all part of the journey.  the ebb and flow of life, the times of floating on air, when painting seems so easy, and when it all goes muddy and i can't seem to paint anything the way i see it in my head.  the days when i can't get off the couch and feel guilty and 'wrong' and not a 'real artist' if i'm not painting all day every day.

you guys help me pull myself out.  every. single. time.  thank you from the bottom of my heart.



so, whats been happening?  lots!

our daughter got married, and i had to dress in something other than pjs or paint clothes;

and... i got my hair done in crazy colors 

and feel so much happier!

i finished my yellow vase painting;

named "love, everlasting"

this painting is about love and loss.  when you lose someone you truly love, thru death or a break up, you never forget them, they are in your heart for eternity.  the love is still there, just in another form.  thats why it hurts so much to lose a loved one.  it's like the love has no place to go, so it stagnates and festers.  yes, this painting is different than my others in that it's not very uplifting.  it takes you to a sad place before showing you that love never dies.  this one had to come out, though.

a title didn't appear to me so i had to do some thinking to come up with one.  in order to do this i googled the meanings of red roses (immortal love, sacrifice, health, memorial, passion), the color yellow for the vase (friendship), the number 3 (the ascended masters are near, responded to prayers and want to help...  also a number that represents my three sons).  the freemasons have three roses as a symbol of a guiding principle.  each rose indicates abiding 1. love, 2. life, 3. light.  the rose is also a symbol of being a carrier of secrets.  in tarot the rose represents balance, promise of new beginnings and hope, with the contrast of thorns that represent loss, defense and thoughtlessness.  the major arcana of magician, death and fool cards each have a rose, they all hold strong meanings of balance.  with all these thoughts on paper i came up with several titles that could fit, but "love, everlasting" was the winner.

and, the beginning of a series for me;

 the seeker

when they start becoming 3 d 

when you walk around the room...

good feeling!

the figure needs more tending, but i love the direction she is going.  i want the background to have an unfinished feeling to it.  she is searching her own truth, her path is not known, it's all very fluid.  

this series of paintings will be of my personal archetypes.  the ones who have come into my life, for a lifetime or a season.  each painting will be a stand alone piece, but together they will be an important piece of work in my life.  who knows how long it will take me to get thru them, and i'm sure others will pop up in my life.  i am concentrating on the lightworker archetypes and not the shadow ones, out of personal preference right now.  i wish to bring more light into my life and the lives of others, so i may choose to steer clear of the shadow archetypes (addict, critic, blahblahblah).  i've been enjoying finding appropriate reference photos on the copyright free sites to stick together for a painting that speaks to me as the archetype.

and, thats what i've been up to since last i've written.

again, i wish to thank my supportive circle of souls who keep the positive narrative running thru my head.  when my inner critic wishes me to jump ship, when i want to throw in the towel, i now ask myself, what would peggy say?  what would lisa or kathy say?  or char?  would nancy want me to give up?  and, my mark?  what would HE say?  mark has done nothing but support my passions in life, and he knows this one is my biggest outlet.  mark would be pretty concerned if i gave it up.  so, while painting may be frustrating sometimes, it's the best thing for my mental health, and keeping your loving words handy in my head keeps that fact registered as truth.  i love you all so much.

until later,

jenny

new paintings in the shop!

hi there!  as i promised (myself) we were able to get the barn painting and bouquet painting up this weekend.  i'm happy with how they both look!

New Hope Memories;

canvas print

notebook

cards

totes

and more items!

A Bouquet of Joy;

prints

throw pillow

travel mug

shirt

clock

and more!

i've been going back to older paintings to make them ready for the art show in february.  i'm currently working on a huge 40"x40" canvas that just wasn't as beautiful as it could be.

from way back at the beginning of my blog!

i used some of my favorite bold colors to liven up the lotus and leaves, spraying to create the dripping effect i love and lay it down to dry.

 adding more definition and shading 

to the lotus petals

 working on the dragonfly coloring 

and letting his wing drip

love how this detail pops!

you will be seeing this painting again.

until later,

jenny

a bouquet of joy and an artist show!

mothers day is sometimes lonely and depressing for me, like others, so i decided to go to the studio and just play, not worrying about an outcome until later.  to be in the moment with the color.  let it flow.

i started with a canvas that had been a collection of left over paints from other paintings.  i'd just slap the paint on this guy when i was done with a painting.  i didn't take a 'before' shot of this canvas, but i saw a bouquet in a vase so went with it.

i painted around what i saw

i wanted to play with the abstract, let it be loose.

i loved how it looked here, and i should have stopped.

but then THAT VOICE said "it just looks like circles.  kind of like targets.  it's not enough.  fiddle some more"

so i fiddled some more.  and i did create targets, so that wasn't good.  and i also created mud, and that wasn't good.  but i persevered, and i think the design may be complete...

sitting with it, to see with new eyes

changed some colors, and added some little areas of interest

painting this really helped pick me up out of my doldrums.  art heals!

those who follow me on my personal or my art facebook page have heard the news...  i'm going to be doing a showing of my art at our town library in february!  this is a huge deal for me, as my social anxiety made it a struggle just to talk to the person to get an application and information about a showing.  hell, it was anxiety producing just thinking about any of this.  i have created a major list to be ready for february, and i've gotten a head start with the easier things, like writing information for each painting and a bio for myself.  the paperwork is easy.  now i must varnish and wire a slew of paintings while still creating new original work to show and 'fixing' older paintings so they are ready for company.  this also means my klimt inspired painting is on the back burner, but thats no problem.  so, yay me!  i did a hard thing! and it's going to get harder!  

yay me... ? 

it's a good thing.  thats my mantra these days.  this will be a big opportunity for me to be brave, and good will come out of it for that braveness.

until later,

jenny

new items in the shop

we finally got the last of my september challenge photos off the camera and into the shop, including the final painting.

i present to you, "lady of the lilies, unfolding"

find her print, here

her tote

makes a beautiful throw pillow

and a pretty appropriate shower curtain

more items with this print are in the shop as well

here is "challenge 6"

the print

tote

all over print shirt

and more!

and finally, "challenge 7"

print

travel mug

and duvet cover

find these and much more in my shop!

until later,

jenny

the end is near!

i can see the finish line to this painting, and it's coming in exciting ways.  today i was inspired to cover a lot of the background with a transparent yellow.  that was scary, but i knew if i didn't like the result i could spray it with water and wipe it away.

i also worked her hair again, making this girl one of the most changed paintings, hair-wise, as i am!

here she was yesterday...

and after some good changes...

i have included a large drop at the top, symbolizing many things in my life.   i knew this symbol would be included somewhere in this painting, but had no clue it would be so prominent.  i like how it helps move the eye around the canvas.

i can see where i will work tomorrow, a small change, and i will soon bring her upstairs to sit with me a while.  she may give me more whispers, or she may silently speak of her completion.

i'm so happy with her!  hopefully i can get a bright, calm day to get good photos of her to put her in the shop in the near future.

until later,
jenny