merry new year, and all that jazz

hi there!  merry holidays and new year, 2023!  it's been many, many months since blogging here, and with reason;  i've done no art-ing in all that time.  none.  zilch.  nada. 

my year has been filled with gardening and canning the fruits of my labor.  it's been filled with love and sadness.  it's been filled with learning, with anxieties, with lyme disease pitfalls and ill health.  it's been filled with a growing depression, and also laughter with sweet hubby.  life has been full, but with a stagnation of my creativity on paper and canvas.  the studio became more and more of a holding place of things that didnt have a home and a place for when a quick decision was needed to put something.  my creative space was in a sad state, and the limited movement created by such a state meant i went to the studio, took a quick turn and left, knowing i couldnt fling paint the way it needed to be flung.

my kids came at christmas and as always asked if i'd done any new paintings.  the shame i felt inside myself knowing that i havnt used my creative juices for so long was tangible and has now been turned into action.  i asked some strong people to help lift heavy things out of the studio, and i decided that the huge, my sized, "besties holiday" painting that i blogged about in my last post must be painted over in order for me to want to hang it in my home.  it's been in the way in my studio for too long, but i just cant hang it in a prominent place when it isnt my style.  it's not my personal style, but i still have it up in my store so i can buy myself a tote or a small print if i want to.  i have a new story in my head that i sketched out the other day.  i've searched my personal archive and unsplash and have printed out about 20 reference/idea images for this project.  and so, the stage has been set that i will soon be creating a new piece.  a many layered, multi-focused painting that will take time to complete.  (that's the plan, anyway...)

sketch of my thoughts so far

 

today i have started with tidying and organizing the studio in order to be able to move around.  the next step will be to gesso over the old painting before the fun process of a layered, drippy, colorful underpainting.

say goodbye

for the new year i've got many ideas and two daily planners to keep me moving in the direction i wish to go instead of wallowing in my mud;

i've been off facebook since christmas eve, and it's been so freeing to be off such a soulsucking non-activity.  my plan is to stay off it for as long as i can/want, and then if i go back to it, to limit myself to 1 hour 3 times a week.  (i'll try to update on social media when i post here, but i hope to soon update the blog to include a subscription by email).  i also want to limit my youtube time for the same reason.  it's time for me to live my own life, not to watch others live theirs, and not to wallow in others dramas.  my time on fb and utube must be purposeful and healing, not for low vibration activities;

i've got to get my health back on track.  lyme and co-infection symptoms have been tiptoeing back and thats a scary thought.  i will be going back to my old journals and notes to see what helped me when i was under an integrative doctors supervision, and i will do more research to get myself back to a good place.  i also want and need to lose some of the weight i've been slowly gaining, so i've got a plan for that as well with habit tracking my exercise, a yoga challenge, food journaling and just trying to be as active as i can;

i've decided not to do any art classes this year, which was a big decision as i enjoy the community created within the Lets Face It group on facebook.  since i'm restricting my tech usage, since i havnt been working on classwork, since i've felt bad comparing my work with others, and since i know my own style... well, it seemed a waste of money to continue this year.  i've got a list of art goals i'd like to work on this coming year, and a backlog of classes i could work on if i decide i'm stuck and need a push;

i've got a list of foods and recipes i'd like to can, and i would like to learn how to make a good homemade bread (one of my sons is heavy into breadbaking and delighted the family with a couple loaves baked during our Family Game Day on january 1st).

all these things combined with seed starting and planting my gardens this spring and early summer should help me off the couch, leading to a more healthful and enjoyable life-worth-living for me.  

i wish for you all things wonderful in the new year!

until later,

jenny

big ideas in 2022

hi all.  yep, it's been a minute since i've posted.  honestly, i've been on a painting hiatus, concentrating on my spiritual health, trying to educate myself and to delve into lifes' mysteries.  i'm a libra, so i look into things from all sides, and oh, there are so many sides to the mystery of life and the earth we live on!  the muds run deep, lol.

but, i'm back!  i spent some time with my tarot deck the other day, and it gave me some great insight to some places where i might stumble in the coming year.  since then i had an idea that will bring some forward motion to a dream sweetie and i have.  forward motion made by me, instead of all from him, so this gives me an added push for my idea to work;  i need to be of financial assistance with making the dream happen.

our dream is a big one, with a big, ongoing income stream needed, and my artwork hasnt been forthcoming with the flow.  i get awesome drips here and there, but it's time to come up with a product that will give more of a flow wherever it's seen.   that means affordable to the masses and with a feeling that people will want in their homes.

i think i found it!

it feels good!

i have a stack of these wooden slice ornaments that i've used to affix prints of personal photos as gifts, but i'm about to experiment with affixing prints of my paintings.  i think my paintings would look great as minis hanging in various unexpected spots in a home!  i can imagine them in windows, hanging on lamp switches and drawer pulls.  i've also made some photo ones with magnets behind the wood slices and can imagine my art on fridges all around the world.  that thought makes me smile!

i was able to affix one print today, and i think i want a thicker paper, which means stronger medium to attach to the wood.  i also need to ponder how i want the edges to be.  do i want to decorate where the paper meets the wood so it's not feeling so abrupt?  do i want a matte or gloss finish?  (leaning towards matte finish, so the glare wont be too much in some light).  do i want some of the inner wood to show, instead of only the bark? 

 

i'll be experimenting with decorating this one

each wood piece is so different that it's going to be a process to size each and every print for each ornament and to cut each print to the unique shape of the wooden piece.  that's going to take some time for each piece so i'll still be taking care and putting my energies into them just like all my artwork.  i want to make these affordable for people to consider buying them, but i'll need to consider if this will be financially feasible to make any profit at all with these. or maybe i should concentrate on the bigger original paintings to sell and to put in my shops for people to put on mugs and other merchandise. remember, this will be helping to finance our big dream!

i can see these anywhere a little pop of color is needed in the home!

 

these little guys need a name now.  i've got some ideas for that as well, but here's my problem with naming these little gems of a product.  i have original paintings on canvas, and original mini paintings on canvas.  those are self explanatory; "paintings", and "mini paintings".  but these are prints on wood.  i feel they need a 'product name' and it needs to make sense with who i am as an artist and my artwork.  my art business name is HeavenSpirit Creations.  my art is spiritual and uplifting; joyful; has something to say; makes you feel connected; sends a message.  so the name needs to convey what it is and what it is presenting.  or at least has a name that gives some sort of feeling in that direction.  sweetie likes the name "Whimspirations", which is a cute name, but my art isnt whimsical in my eyes.  even if my art becomes cute in a mini size, it really doesnt say "whimsy" to me.

my name ideas i have that i like so far are;

 

Tiny Intentions

Tiny Totems (but not all will be of spirit animals, so not the best)

Hanging Altars

Tiny Guides (not my favorite)

Rooted Offerings

Rooted Altars

Mini Alters

Rooted Intentions

Rooted Visions

Rooted Treasures

Tiny Treasures

 

as you can see, i like the double meaning of the word rooted here.  rooted, meaning very strong and firmly fixed, and they are also made of wood from a rooted tree.  i really enjoy the imagery of that.  out of my list of names, what is your favorite?

 

 

looking good on my own altar space

 

 

for now, i'll be starting to make these with prints of some of my original paintings.  since i have almost 200 paintings, i'll be picking favorites that will work well for the circular piece of wood.  it's gonna take time to get a good supply going, and while i work i'll be able to figure out a name as well as think about cost to make and how much to pay myself for the time and artwork.  it'll be a process!

until later,

jenny

 

 

class work

 ok, I lied in my last post about what was coming next.  I was inspired by this weeks and last weeks Let's Face It classes, taught by Jeanne-Marie Webb and Emma Petitt.  Jeanne-Marie's class had me bringing out a reference image I had wanted to try anyway, of two women together, but to paint it in a loose, non-realistic way, with lots of mark-making and layers.  and I wanted to incorporate Emmas large, figurative hands.

heres the initial reference photo that intrigued me;

I liked their stance and the hands.

and heres how my progress went;

getting ideas and blocking it in

have a harvest theme in mind with pumpkins and a bushel of hearts

the end result;

gave up on the left-side pumpkins, 

added lots of autumn leaves 

and the hearts became an inner-work symbol

some close up photos of spots I adore;

the hearts and texture of the bold underpainting (that I didn't photograph)

her eyes...  full of love and concern toward her tired sister

ugh, the moodiness of her!  she is beat.

love the necklace area, the hair, the leaves, her voluptuous lips...

just yes to all this!

they make a great team

"Sisters of the Autumn Wind"

Changes are happening.  They are ending the busy time of harvest and entering a time of well-deserved rest, when they will go inward with love and self-care to develop a plan for the next season.

and this is how I'll be treating myself these next few months of transformation.  I'm going from a full summer of growth; myself as well as my garden and the knowledge I obtained as my body grew stronger.  I'm tired and struggling with some new health challenges, and some old symptoms that have returned.  I'm turning inward again as I have almost reached the end of harvest season.  I'll be centering my focus back on the inner self.   I was neglecting some important things as I tended the gardens and canned the resulting fruits of my labor in order to nourish me over the cold months.  I hope I can learn to juggle these things a bit better in years to come, for next years garden is in planning stages, and it will be an exciting one to work on!  

but for now, I'm still tending the last few fruits to ripen in this years beautiful garden.

until later,

Jenny

whats next (AKA buried treasure)

as I worked on organizing my art studio yesterday I came across more works in progress I'd like to concentrate on after them waiting patiently for a year or two.

some of the works are just interesting backgrounds, but three are dear to my heart and I'd love to get them on the wall instead of being thought of as cluttering the studio.

a soon to be rendition of my childhood homestead

from a photo of my daddy as a child with my grandmother

a sketch from a very cropped, very fuzzy 

but cherished photo of my grandmother and me at the beach.

hopefully I can do the memory some justice!

then I have my newest from my free reference site that I'll be working on;

and thats a look into my painting future!  it's now September and I have lots of personal house-type things I have planned before Christmas rolls around, some of which involves bringing my painting area back down to my studio instead of where the Christmas tree will be in the heart of the home.  I might be kind of cutting the expectations close- especially since I'm dealing with more health concerns which may or may not involve knee surgery.  I figure I have a selection of paintings to choose from if I get overwhelmed with the other life-stuff and the muse comes calling.

until later, 

Jenny

procrastination in action

this is what happens when you start cleaning in the studio, I guess.  you came across some brilliantly colored and textured old backgrounds that have the beginnings of a sketch (this time of an elephant), and decide to play instead.

see the top portion of this painting?  thats how all of this was.  red/orange textured paint and a simple sketch that I needed to figure out.  I love his energy!

found a 'before the before' shot. close to how it started today

and I just looked up his meaning here and am floored again with how animal energy comes to me when I need it.  I was looking at the painting, searching for it's title.  and the words "at ease" came to me.  the background leaves nothing to be at ease about, but he is standing sure of himself, grazing on what is around him with his trunk at his mouth.  he does not seem troubled or tense about what is going on around him at all.

the article says ;

Do you have a long, hard journey in front of you and need strength to make it through? Are you taking care of friends or family during tough times and need support? Elephant, as a Spirit, Totem, and Power Animal, can help! Elephant teaches how to nourish the mind, body, and spirit, so you are strong during trying times.

just floored.

so, he will be titled "At Ease"

Elephant teaches how to use what is around to nourish us, to listen to the guidance of the Elders so we remain calm and sure footed when times are difficult.   this is the way to help our tribe.

time to meditate on this totem coming to me at this time.

until later,

Jenny

working in my shops, cool items

hi all!

this week I've been working at getting my paintings - at this count 191!-  available on each item it can physically go into.  it's been a struggle to do some of them, and others have come out really cool!

but, then, trying to find them again in the shop has been difficult.  unfortunately I've found that society6 is not very user friendly and only shows people 5 pages of paintings when I have so much more.  unfair and discouraging when I cant find my own artwork in my own shop, knowing I had uploaded them!

I am in love with a few of the items I worked on over these few days, so wanted a place to share and to keep them close to me, so I can remember them when it's time for me to buy some of my own stuff for personal use.  and you get to be witness to the awesomeness in case you decide they are just too cool to pass up!  

first one that comes to mind is this cool fanny pack.  I know, I know, fanny packs are so '80's, but I swear, THIS one is brilliant and makes me smile!  we need more of that!

find it here

if you remember my girl that this bit came from;

these fanny packs only take a clip from your artwork, and it was originally getting a bit of the girls face.  I wondered if I could make it better, so went in and resized and moved it to make the lovely word on her shirt fit perfectly in the space provided.

the LOVE part is also on a couple of stools in my shop

I adore this affirmation, and it's amazing on this sun shade!  a bit on the pricy side, but I'm in a dreaming mood and when it comes to my art, I want to dream big!

find it here

that affirmation fit on almost every item, from greeting cards to curtains.  and what it didn't fit, I chose a different spot in the art (like "YOU" is on a stool, and "BEAUTIFUL" is on a mug).

and heres another happy affirmation from the series that I edited to fit.  the phrase was "I allow myself to be happy", and it fit beautifully on the pillow below as...

find it here

the texture in this next one is amazing!  it was a mini painting of mine, and when blown up to gigantic shower curtain size... well, I just drooled over this one when I was working on it this week!

find it here

this butterfly went on just about everything without thought to placement, it looked just that good!  (yes, even the fanny pack)

unfortunately as I'm going through my store to find the items I was attracted to most for this post, I got distracted by another clean-up task that would make browsing my store easier for everyone.  I think my next painting should be a SQURREL!

if you go to my shop, you'll notice a button called collections, like below;

I'm in the process of gathering like items together in their own collections.  all animals together in one collection, but then all the bees have their own spot; all the elephants together if you're just looking for elephants; all the affirmations together.  hopefully this will solve the issue with finding my artwork in the shop.

anyway, time to stop dreaming of a wishlist of my own paintings and get back to my not as much fun to-do list!

until later,

Jenny

newest in the shop

hi there.  just a quick update, since it's a rough one today.

sweetie uploaded a few of my newest spirit animal paintings to redbubble and society6, so right to it.

in redbubble first;
*click on the link below each photo that will bring you to all the items for the painting.   enjoy browsing!

we have "Pug With The Heart of Gold"

Pug teaches that what you desire you will achieve thru your own actions. Move forward and it falls into place. No need to worry. Live in the present, happy to be with, to play with, and charm your favorite people.

shown on a woman's tee

"Swift To Love"

If Beagle is your totem, you are completely devoted to those you love. Beagle teaches to be a team player and to enjoy nature, even in an urban setting. Be active, wherever you are. Root out the joy in life with those closest to you

shown on a tote

"Nice Doggie"

Dog teaches you to play nice with others. To live in the present moment and forgive those who treated you unfairly. He is wise enough to be his own best friend as well, treating himself with kind words and deeds first, so that he can then serve others.

shown on a sticker

"Otter's Glow"

Otter has your back. When you need motivation, courage, or just a pick-me-up, otter energy is the place to turn. otter is fierce when needed, but will turn around after the fight to play in a field or in the water.Otters energy shines!

shown on a framed print

"Otter Delights"

The Otter delights in many things. His curiosity is endless and he finds joy in living, jumping right in. He is self assured and fearless in his comings and goings. Call on Otter energies to give you a boost of confidence and joy.

shown on a photographic print

"Playtime For Otter"

Otter is a playful soul, finding the joy wherever she turns. They accept challenges head on with a shrug and continue forward with a positive outlook. Call on Otters Wisdom when you have doubts you can get through life troubles with a carefree attitude. Their antics will brighten your day.

shown on a metal print

"The Otter's Curiosity"

Otter is naturally curious. They find the world an interesting place, and can come up with creative ways to implement ideas. They are playful and artistic, needing their energies to be used in these positive ways. Their joyful nature makes their wisdom invaluable for many.

shown on a floor pillow

now for society6;

*click link to go to art print- then scroll to bottom of page to find other items with the same art.   enjoy browsing!

"Pug With the Heart of Gold"

shown on a canvas print

"Swift To Love"

shown on an acrylic box

"Nice Doggie"

shown on coasters

"Otter's Glow"

shown on a cutting board

"Otter Delights"

shown on a laptop skin

"Playtime For Otter"

shown on a bathmat

and, "The Otter's Curiosity"

shown on a carry all pouch

Sweetie and I went to Bates Crafters Gallery in the snow this morning in order for me to feel more at ease with my display of the Spirit Animal minis.  I felt I was doing them a disservice by just setting them on an easel and being done with it, when they have more energies in them to give to people.  I wanted to make sure that the totem animals were noticed for what they are; a loving energy to help you in your life.  I spend a bit of time researching each animal and it's meaning as a totem.  even if I have several paintings of an animal, I try to make each meaning and write up unique.  I was kept awake at night thinking that a person could buy a piece of artwork from me and not know it's significance!

we spent some time figuring out how to get the painting bios in the little space I have, and I think we did a good job.

 an artists work is never done

 each painting has it's totem meaning attached to it now

a few of my newest in their new spot in the store

 photo by Fran Bates

photo by Fran Bates

the two newest otters still need to be varnished and their sides painted so are not yet at the store, and I'm still contemplating whether or not to bring in the dog magnets when I dont have more than a handful to show.  we'll see how the coming week looks for getting more painted, or if the body will be in need of more rest.  I have been on the go for a while and now might be a good time to take a little break from everyday painting.  I have not yet committed anything to Pat at the animal control, nor have I spent any money for extra space to show the magnets.  I dont want to burn myself out by pretending I'm super woman during a time of healing.  I can go slowly with the dog magnets, and when I have a bunch I can put them out into the world.  I think they would have a bigger impact that way, honestly.

until later, 

Jenny