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| Caught click to zoom / purchase |
Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time – Johnna
Friday, August 31, 2018
Caught "Yellow" Handed
Who knew four large yellow fin tuna could fit on such a tiny painting. Apparently they are quite big but not the biggest tuna in the sea. Stop me now before too many fish puns start happening. Anyway, fish are fun to paint and people love to collect them. Not sure why, but mine tend to sell quickly. I would guess most are related to some sort of "fish tale" and you know how much I love hearing about and making memories!
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Date Night
Here's the final submission to the show and a departure from all the autumn inspired set ups.
Wine and roses for a special date night, anniversary, or a romance in bloom. Sure hope someone remembered to bring more wine!
Delighted to report that 3 of 6 paintings made it into the show. Not surprised that they are the very autumn inspired pumpkins, basket of tomatoes, and duck decoy.
For those in the DC area, click Art at the Mill for more details. The show is from September 29 - October 14 at the Burwell-Morgan Mill - located at 15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, VA 22646. A beautiful drive through the mountains and countryside, just across the Shenandoah River.
Tons of artists and great prices if you're looking to add a bit of art to your life.
Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time – Johnna
Wine and roses for a special date night, anniversary, or a romance in bloom. Sure hope someone remembered to bring more wine!
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| Date Night click to zoom / inquire |
Delighted to report that 3 of 6 paintings made it into the show. Not surprised that they are the very autumn inspired pumpkins, basket of tomatoes, and duck decoy.
For those in the DC area, click Art at the Mill for more details. The show is from September 29 - October 14 at the Burwell-Morgan Mill - located at 15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, VA 22646. A beautiful drive through the mountains and countryside, just across the Shenandoah River.
Tons of artists and great prices if you're looking to add a bit of art to your life.
Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time – Johnna
Friday, August 24, 2018
Just Picked!
Well tomorrow is the big day to find out if any of the paintings make it into the Fall Art at the Mill show (Millwood, VA). Just realized that the name of this painting and the timing of the jury results is a bit of a play on words. I hope all of them get "picked." Fingers crossed!
This painting has more objects in it than anything I've ever even thought about painting. Pretty intimidating for a 6x6 inch, just a couple of simple objects, kind of artist. . . . I tend to get bored with a painting and just want to finish it, but learning that part of the joy is taking your time, moving around the subject matter, revisiting things, and finally bringing the painting together. Being a "creative" is much more of a journey than I expected, but rather delightful to have the opportunity and time to finally pursue it.
Colorful bounty of the harvest season along with the last of the sunflowers. Let the feasting begin!
Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time – Johnna
This painting has more objects in it than anything I've ever even thought about painting. Pretty intimidating for a 6x6 inch, just a couple of simple objects, kind of artist. . . . I tend to get bored with a painting and just want to finish it, but learning that part of the joy is taking your time, moving around the subject matter, revisiting things, and finally bringing the painting together. Being a "creative" is much more of a journey than I expected, but rather delightful to have the opportunity and time to finally pursue it.
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| Just Picked! click to zoom / inquire |
Colorful bounty of the harvest season along with the last of the sunflowers. Let the feasting begin!
Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time – Johnna
Thursday, August 23, 2018
Tone Deaf
Not exactly sure why, but I only had one music class as a teen - 7th grade. While my sisters learned to play the piano, I was off in my own little world making things - sewing, knitting, papier-mâché and other craft-like projects.
That's why this class set-up was a deer-in-the-headlights moment. But again, tackling something new seems to have a way of working out - and always a great confidence booster. The instructor must have thought I crawled out of a cave because I didn't even know the words for the parts that I was having trouble with. . . . F-holes anyone? ha, ha.
After explaining my gap in musicology, I asked if this was a violin or a fiddle and he said, "you always buy a fiddle, but sell a violin." Makes sense to me! Sharing the moment with a fine cognac would make for a great ending to the day. I think I hear soft music playing in the background. . . .
Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time – Johnna
That's why this class set-up was a deer-in-the-headlights moment. But again, tackling something new seems to have a way of working out - and always a great confidence booster. The instructor must have thought I crawled out of a cave because I didn't even know the words for the parts that I was having trouble with. . . . F-holes anyone? ha, ha.
After explaining my gap in musicology, I asked if this was a violin or a fiddle and he said, "you always buy a fiddle, but sell a violin." Makes sense to me! Sharing the moment with a fine cognac would make for a great ending to the day. I think I hear soft music playing in the background. . . .
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| Buy a Fiddle, Sell a Violin click to zoom / inquire |
Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time – Johnna
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Autumn's Lure - The Decoy
Hey - what's a duck doing in there? You guessed it another set up from last autumn's art class.
The teacher is an avid hunter, gourmet cook, farmer, musician, world traveler, multilingual and no doubt many more descriptive attributes. He is also very approachable, humble, and a great instructor. He loves to challenge his students by adding something unusual to each still life set up. Duck decoy to the rescue.
Doesn't Mr. Duck look comfy as the center of attention amid the colorful bounty of the harvest season? Just need a big pot of coffee and maybe find a cozy fireplace nearby.
The teacher is an avid hunter, gourmet cook, farmer, musician, world traveler, multilingual and no doubt many more descriptive attributes. He is also very approachable, humble, and a great instructor. He loves to challenge his students by adding something unusual to each still life set up. Duck decoy to the rescue.
Doesn't Mr. Duck look comfy as the center of attention amid the colorful bounty of the harvest season? Just need a big pot of coffee and maybe find a cozy fireplace nearby.
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| Autumn's Lure click to zoom / inquire |
Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time – Johnna
Friday, August 17, 2018
Pumpkin Party . . . Whaaat?
Too soon? Definitely! Seems like summer has hardly gotten started with so much rain on the east coast. Can't complain though because it's usually hot and humid. Transitioning into fall is most difficult for me, but I guess the time has come to work through the "denial" phase.
This painting is for the show in late September, so I guess the subject is on point for those who LOVE autumn. Wouldn't it be so boring if everyone was the same?
This painting is for the show in late September, so I guess the subject is on point for those who LOVE autumn. Wouldn't it be so boring if everyone was the same?
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| Pumpkin Party click to zoom / inquire |
Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time –
Johnna
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Where Did She Go?
Who knows, but hard to believe a month has flown by. Decided to finally renovate the master bath, so that will be my excuse. Much still to do, but the sledge hammers will be flying in a few short weeks.
Meanwhile the art monthly challenge was to paint something big so decided to finally finish a pile of large paintings. Luckily there's a show being held in late September which is extra motivation to get them spruced up and on their way. I'll post them over the next few days while keeping fingers-crossed they make it into the show. Then more finger-crossing hoping they find new happy homes.
All were set ups from a class late last year - I am always challenged with what to paint and how to get the composition right. The "evil" teachers love to challenge us with mixed subjects and things (I for one) would have never thought to paint. Somehow unfamiliar objects turn out better than expected - no doubt because you have to stop thinking about what it is and just paint the shapes you see.
Here's my favorite - always wanted to paint my black teapot and the abacus. Super fun doing the gold and loved adding my coin mobile to the mix because it seemed something should fill that space.
As you would expect, my classmates were none too happy with my contributions that day. Mix it up, try new things, be a little uncomfortable!
Meanwhile the art monthly challenge was to paint something big so decided to finally finish a pile of large paintings. Luckily there's a show being held in late September which is extra motivation to get them spruced up and on their way. I'll post them over the next few days while keeping fingers-crossed they make it into the show. Then more finger-crossing hoping they find new happy homes.
All were set ups from a class late last year - I am always challenged with what to paint and how to get the composition right. The "evil" teachers love to challenge us with mixed subjects and things (I for one) would have never thought to paint. Somehow unfamiliar objects turn out better than expected - no doubt because you have to stop thinking about what it is and just paint the shapes you see.
Here's my favorite - always wanted to paint my black teapot and the abacus. Super fun doing the gold and loved adding my coin mobile to the mix because it seemed something should fill that space.
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| Far East Charms click to zoom / inquire |
As you would expect, my classmates were none too happy with my contributions that day. Mix it up, try new things, be a little uncomfortable!
Enjoy, life is joy we make one moment at a time –
Johnna
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