Friday, August 26, 2011

A Fresh Approach to Art


"City Life" (my new favorite!)
22x30, acrylic on canvas

I have thoroughly been enjoying art lately!  I thought I truly lived by the rule of being fearless...but after the last two weeks...I really was not being as fearless as I thought I was!  I have approached art so differently these last two weeks and have truly had a blast creating!  I have been using lots of Gesso, tracing paper, handmade papers, glitter paint, old credit cards and lots and lots of splatters of course!  I have been creating subjects that I would have never thought I would create.  I have slowed down.  I am no longer in a rush to finish a piece like I have been in the past.  The last three years have been a whirlwind for me since I practically sold everything right off the art table which left me scrambling to create, create, create!  I am learning now that it is okay to slow down.  That it is okay to start a painting and come back to it later due to either drying time in-between coats of paint or glue or just plain old..."I am not sure what I want to add there".  I am letting my canvases evolve as I create them instead of just mapping everything out first.  One never knows where a painting is going to end up.  No one knows the painting's journey before it takes its first step.  We all have intentions of course, but it is the excitement of seeing color dripping over another and seeing where the drips actually take you.  Rather, where the drips take the painting.  It is a whole new look at creating art!  I was fearless in the past when it came to outlining my subjects in a rough manner, using bold colors, the way I used a palette knife, drips, drips and more drips...but this time, it feels different.  It feels good.  Really good.  I feel like my style is evolving more and more and I am able to pinpoint what I really like in art in general.  A mix.  A mix of abstractness or chaos, a portion of it involving something specific (a subject) and art that provides a child-like feeling.  Vibrant colors are a must!  I am enjoying every minute of the creative process!  Can you tell?!?!?  

"City of Color" and "City Life"
Both 22x30, acrylic on canvas


"The Pink Panda" and "Hold on to Love"
Both 18x18, acrylic on canvas

"Balloons over the Serengeti"
18x18, acrylic on canvas

"Let's Ride"
16x16, acrylic on canvas

"Let's Play"
16x16, acrylic on canvas

In addition to me approaching art differently, today is the last day of the first week of school! So far, school has been a success. The only difference is that since we moved, our girls have to practically leave the house at the same time as when they had to wake up last year when living in our old house. For starters, our oldest is a patrol this year and that alone means they need to arrive earlier. The second reason is that we live a little bit farther from the school now and traffic has been quite inconsistent! Below is a snapshot of them on the first day of school this year...of course, baby Curran cannot go to school just yet! She was sad to see her sisters off for six and a half hours a day now as she has no one to play with anymore! Just look at the attitude on her face!


Well I am off for now!  I created some new bookmark designs last night along with some new magnet designs and I need to get them into our local Co-op today! 

Till next time...Be calm.  Be strong.  Be grateful.

Live Artfully,
Jennifer


Thursday, August 11, 2011

Fresh off the Art Table!

"Hold onto Love" (my new favorite!)
18x18 acrylic on canvas


"City of Color"
22x30 acrylic on canvas


"Afternoon Stroll"
18x18 acrylic on canvas


I have definitely been in full swing paint mode lately!  Feels GREAT!!!!  Yes, the girls go back to school in a little over a week now but I had to get back in paint mode due to low inventory levels...either way, they are letting me get some work done and I am really enjoying the new art that is coming out of the studio!  I have at least another 20 paintings to complete over the next month or so...I guess I better get back to work then huh?!?!?

I promise to elaborate more in my posts when I have more time...for now I am keeping them simple and sharing my new creations.  I hope you are enjoying them!

Till next time - Be calm.  Be strong.  Be grateful.

Live Artfully,
JM

Friday, August 5, 2011

YUM!!!

I was commissioned to do these three cupcake paintings for a customer...and I finished and delivered today!  Woohoo!!!  For my first attempt at cupcakes...I think they came out pretty good!  The pink one looks really yummy!  ENJOY!!!

I am working on the most adorable Panda right now...hopefully I will get to share him with you in the next couple of days!

Till next time... Be calm.  Be strong.  Be grateful!

Live Artfully,
JM


All 10x10, acrylic on canvas

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Back in the Studio...FINALLY!

Whew!  We are in our new house now, art camp is over, vacation is over, taking my girls to summer camps is over...time for me to create again!  I have had lots of inspiration around me and it is time for me to unleash my creative spirit so that she can SOAR!!!  I started a new series of paintings this week in my new home studio and I am super excited about them!  Take a peak...

My new home studio space is super bright!  PERFECT for creating!

"Meet Calypso"
16x16 Acrylic on Canvas


"In the Deep Blue Sea"
12x24 Acrylic on Canvas

"Carnival at Sea"
14x14 Acrylic on Canvas

Curran...she still loves to paint with mommy!


Summer is almost over!  My girls will return to school in just over two weeks and then it will just be Curran and I holding the fort down till chaos returns after school.  We hope to get a lot done during the school days...eat, drink, watch Yo Gabba Gabba, create!  Should be an easy schedule to keep huh?!?!?

Till next time...Be calm. Be strong.  Be grateful!

Live Artfully,
JM