Local Pottery

I am working to transition my working studio into a shared space for art gallery/retail.  I will offer my original oils on canvas, fine art prints, my mixed media oil artwork and my hand-cut tin pieces (angels, crosses, etc).  I also have a few home decor items I've picked up here and there - candlesticks made from old porch spindles, mirrors made from antique wood moulding, antique dough bowls, lamps made from antique ballusters, antique tin and wood picture frames and anything else that I find that's made from antique wood and tin! 

I will also be offering a few pieces from other local artists.  Today, I'd like you to introduce you to my mother, Suzanne Fox.  She started creating pottery when I was just a little girl (I won't bother to tell you how long ago THAT was!!!) and would take me along to local outdoor art shows.  She now lives in Fairhope and creates beautiful pottery at the Eastern Shore Art Center.  We normally share booths at art exhibitions, since her pottery compliments my artwork perfectly.  I selected several of her pieces to put in my shop.  Here are a few, pictured below.

Blue Crab Trivet, Wheel Thrown with Hand-Painted Design, $20.

Tiny Soap Dish, with Local Honey Soap, $8.

Small Pitcher, Blue over Black Glaze on Tan Clay, $20.

Small cups (tea or sake'?), Blue over Black Glaze, $8 each or $15 for both.

Wood fired vase, Summer 2011 Fairhope Anagama Kiln Firing, $20.



6" Soap Dish, Molded and Stamped Design, Coffee Cream Glaze, $10.


To see the rest, come by and see me.  My studio hours will be 10:00-2:00  Tuesday through Friday.

Impressionistic Portrait

"Lane Children", 30x40 oil on gallery wrapped canvas, Private Commission.

Here is my latest commissioned oil portrait.  This sweet mom wanted me to paint with very thick oil paint in an impressionistic style.  I just love it!!!  It's so much fun to move paint around with a palette knife.  This portrait is truly best appreciated when seen in person as the waves and the clothing is very textured and the oil paint in the water gives it wonderful depth.

I used a snapshot she took of the children at the beach and took it from there.  It's painted on a 30x40 "gallery wrapped" canvas (meaning the sides of the canvas are a couple of inches thick and the painting extends onto the sides).  She said her walls in her den are white and this painting will really pop in her home.  I truly can't wait to see.

If you have a photograph from the summer you think would make a lovely oil portrait, I'd love to take a look.  Sizes range from 8x10 to 30x40 and larger.  I have VERY limited openings for Christmas gifts, so if you think you MIGHT be interested in commissioning something, please let me know NOW.  I'd be happy to meet with you in my studio to discuss your artistic vision. 

All Things Old Are New Again

Ok, you all know how much I love old stuff, especially old wood.  Well, check out these mirrors made from genuine antique window and door moulding!  These are small and can be hung anywhere, but if you need a specific size, I will try to accommodate.


Overall Dimensions 18 x 15.5", Mirror is 5.5 x 8", Beautiful 5 1/4" moulding in white, gray and antique pine, $85.



Overall dimensions are 15.5 x 18", Mirror is 8 x 10", Fabulous 4 1/2" moulding in shades of white, brown and gray with tiny hints of blue and yellow, $85.

I was in Fairhope visiting my mom this weekend and took a few great shots of the views of Mobile Bay around the Fairhope Yacht Club. I was hoping to get some photographs of the regatta they were having there, so I could do some sailboat paintings, but got there too late. Here are some other images I thought I would share.

Mobile Yacht Club Marina - Sailboats are hard to photograph because their masts are so tall and the reflections in the water are also proportional!

"Kayaks on a Rack" - cool colors!

All neatly put up and ready for next time.

These seagulls were so cute all lined up.

You never know what you are going to find washed up on the beach.

A parting shot from Mobile Bay - I love being down by the water!!!

New Paintings on Canvas

I don't get to paint oysters on canvas very much, since the demand for the mixed media work is so high, but I had a chance recently this past week.  These are wonderful to pick up for gifts or to put on easels around the house.  I like to paint a two-toned "aged" appearance on my backgrounds.  I think it makes it look more dimensional and interesting.  I've done different colors, but I am really liking this aged blue (below).

"Oyster on Blue", 4x6 Original Oil on Canvas, $22.50

"Oyster Trio", 6x12 Original Oil on Canvas, $60

Lastly, I'd like to welcome "Very Vintage", who has set up a little retail shop in the front part of my studio space.  Someone to share the rent - yay!!!  They have brought in antique furniture, rugs, home decor, prints -- all to set off their FABULOUS collection of antique and vintage jewelry.  The shop is open Wednesday through Saturday 11-5 and by appointment.  I have learned a lot in just a couple of weeks about vintage jewelry designers and fads and fashions of the past.  The bad thing is, every time I walk through to get to my art studio, I see something else I "need"!  :)  Come check it out.  We'd both love to see you.

Seaside "Business" Trip

This past weekend, I traveled to the Seaside/Sea Grove/Watercolor area of Florida with a friend of mine.    There, I brought some new work to The Studio Gallery in Grayton Beach.  What a great gallery and fabulous owner and staff!  We spent a lot of time just browsing all the wonderful local artwork and talking "shop" while we cataloged the new work.

I brought them several new pieces, including this "Crab Duo" on antique shutter. 

Life is really tough on a business trip like this.  We "had" to: eat out at Bud & Alley's and The Red Bar, check out all the local art galleries and gift shops, go shopping and, of course, hang out on the beach.  Here are a few of my favorite shots from the weekend:

Beachside view from Grayton Beach, FL.

Gorgeous water!

Unbelievable Sunset.

Enjoy your Labor Day and last few weeks of summer!!!

Cathedral Commission

I received a commission from Ashland Gallery for artwork of The Cathedral, but in a smaller size than was currently hanging at the gallery.  I finished it up today and brought it down to midtown Mobile, along with a few other items.  For those that are interested, The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is located in downtown Mobile, AL and was built in 1835.  It has beautiful architecture and I have attended many a wedding here.  This is my finished piece:



Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, oil on metal on 12x12 antique tin ceiling tile, $150.


I also painted St. Joseph Chapel .  It's located on the campus of Spring Hill College, which is the 3rd oldest Jesuit Catholic college in the United States.  This is a smaller size than what I normally create, making it a perfect size for a wedding gift.  My husband and I were married here, so it will always hold a special place in my heart.

St. Joseph Chapel, oil on hand-cut metal, on 12x12 antique tin ceiling tile, $150.

 Lastly, I brought some various oyster pieces to keep them stocked up.  They also requested some more "hot sauce" and okra pieces, so I'd better paint some more soon!

"Oyster", oil on hand-cut metal, on wood from a vintage door, 5x5, $45.

"Oyster Trio", oil on metal, on natural, antique beadboard salvaged from Atmore, AL farmhouse built in 1907, $89.

"Oyster", oil on metal, on natural beadboard salvaged from Atmore AL farmhouse 1907, 5x6, $45.

So, if you need a wedding gift or some artwork for your house, stop by Ashland Gallery and take a look around.  They have toys (my boys can't stop playing with the "Bucky Balls"), frames, Ugly Dolls, gifts and, of course, fabulous art.  Go by and check it out!

Back to School!

Ok, I've finally gotten the boys back to school and have some time to get things done and to create some artwork!  I have lots of plans for new pieces -- I just have to decide which to start with first.  Fish, florals, churches, crabs -- all on the list.  Let me know if there's anything you'd like to see!

Here's a few single oysters I got done a few weeks ago in between playdates, swim team, and sports camps!  I had a commission for a single oyster on a white or natural background.  I decided to make several for her to choose from.  She said she wanted to hang it in her bathroom - which I think is awesome!

Here are the ones on the "natural backgrounds".  I used beadboard tongue and groove, rough cut cypress and the blueish gray one is a porch board.  All from a farmhouse in Atmore, AL built in 1907 and damaged beyond repair by Hurricane Ivan. 

Here are the ones on the "white" backgrounds.  I used antique tin ceiling tiles on two and a piece of wood from an old vintage door on the other one.

As always, I choose real shells (looking at shape, size and coloring) to complement the "canvas" on which the artwork is mounted.  All of these are approximately 6x6" and retail for $45.  If you'd like to see a close-up of your favorite, just email me at jallen1919@gmail.com.

Oh yes, as for the client, she chose the middle oyster on the white tin ceiling tile.  I hope it looks fabulous in her home.