Painting Boats

I have been in the mood to paint boats lately.  Maybe it's the end of summer.  At any rate, I have three pieces that I've finished and I really like.  The blues are soothing and the paintings make me wish I was "there".

The first two are based off of a photo I've had for a long time.  I've painted something similar before, that sold quickly.  So, I thought I'd revisit these canoes: once larger and another time in a higher "key".  In "Boats on Blue II", notice that there are tiny "pops" of burnt orange in the dark shadows.  It's like the painting isn't finished for me, until I can figure out the "odd man out" color that really sets the work off.  I once took a cooking class in New Orleans where they were talking about using spices in food.  There are flavors that are similar, but for a really phenomenal dish, you need a little bit of an "odd man out" flavor -- a spice that is opposite but complementary at the same time.  This is what I try to accomplish when using color in my work.  I am very happy with the results and will apply a gloss varnish on these for a really nice watery effect.

"Boats on Blue II", 24x24" acrylic on gallery canvas, $350.

"Canoe Trio", 12x12" acrylic on gallery canvas, $95.

Secondly, I have really been wanting to paint some sailboats.  I don't sail, but I have a dear friend and also a neighbor that do.  Something about flying over the water, with no motor noise, has got to be wonderful.  I tried to keep the colors airy and breezy and I think I did well with that.  I still had to pop some tan and darker blue in there to make it interesting.

"Sails on the Bay", 12x24" acrylic on gallery canvas, $200.

Enjoy the last few weeks of warm weather!  Can you believe that Labor Day is next weekend????

Slumber Party!!!

I first read about Theresa McPherson and her "Lights of Empowerment" ministry in the newspaper.  I felt called to share my artistic talent with these girls.

http://blog.al.com/pr-community-news/2011/01/empowering_teen_girls_new_mobile_nonprofit_reaches_out.html

Theresa and I made several calls back and forth and tried to get something set up for her summer camps.  We could never work out the details and the idea to help began to fade...

Then, last week, I saw Theresa on the evening news.  They were interviewing her in response to a local high school prom video that hit You Tube in which girls were not dancing very nicely, to say the least.  I told my husband that I sure hated that I missed that opportunity to help her and her ministry.  So, guess who calls me the VERY NEXT DAY?  Theresa!  She was having her monthly "BFF" sleepover and had thought of me to come and do some art with the girls.  How weird is that????  Anyway, I told her I was DEFINITELY interested!

I  then enlisted the help of my favorite 10 year old girl artist, Morgan McGehee and her mom Laura.  We decided that the girls could paint a cupcake or a ice cream cone, similar to the ones Morgan paints and sells to raise money for a well in Africa.   (To see Morgan's work, go here:   http://www.facebook.com/TheHopeProjectMobile).  We gathered supplies and met at Lights of Empowerment behind a local church on Cottage Hill Road last Friday evening.

The girls were just starting to arrive -- in their pj's and with cute sleeping bags and pillows.  They played board games while waiting for all the girls to get there.  Theresa said she expected about 20.  What a fun night she had planned!  Theresa started with a devotional and scripture reading, all designed to encourage the girls that they are all special and beautiful.  The girls then had several activities they rotated in groups to: our painting room, face painting, making bead necklaces, a "spa"/personal hygiene area, Wii games, etc.  All the while, fun music is playing and girls are busy having fun and doing all the activities.  Then, refreshments - nachos, pizza, drinks, cupcakes!  As we were finishing up the art room, they had started a limbo game - cue the music "Hot, Hot, Hot..."!  :)  Wow, what a fun time!!  Miss Theresa sure knows how to throw a fabulous sleepover!  Alas, us art teachers had not brought our pajamas or sleeping bags, so we had to pack up to go home.  As we took this last photo as we left, I had a feeling the party had just begun...

To learn more about Lights of Empowerment, please visit www.lightsofempowerment.com and consider donating your time or talent to this great organization.

For the LOVE of Oysters

I received the cutest email a while back:

"Hi Jennifer,

I stumbled upon your website in the most unusual way recently.  I’ve been surfing the web in search for a gift for my sisters upcoming birthday.  We share a love of oysters. –it’s actually an obsession really.  We have spent a summer of gluttony slurping dozens and dozens AND dozens…a ridiculous amount. I live seaside in NJ, my sis is in NYC and summertime she spends half her weekends here with me at the shore. 

I have been reading oyster blogs and reviews of oyster books, found some cool oyster knives and shucking gloves that would be very useful especially shucking after the wine has been flowing J  Anyway, I somehow landed on your blog.  I really like your work and the light airy way you’ve written about your inspirations.  I had a nice reminiscence of my own summer fishing, crabbing, boating and sunsets on the dock. –Autumn has arrived here in the northeast and soon we will be hibernating.

Two pieces of your work I would like to have for myself. “oyster on blue” 4x6 and “oyster trio” 6x12 both oil on canvas.  I hope they are still available."

This just makes me smile!  I packaged up the requested artwork and sent it up to New Jersey.

Here are the pieces she unwrapped:

After following following up with her to make sure she received the artwork and that she was pleased with it I got the following response:

"I LOVE LOVE LOVE my oyster paintings! They make me happy every time I see them!

Thank you for checking back.

Happy New Year! I hope it’s the best one yet!"

So, now my artwork is being enjoyed by an "Oyster Lover" in New Jersey.  I just think it's amazing that the internet allows us to share artwork and ideas so easily from all over the country and the world.  Have a blessed day! :)