Friday, April 11, 2014

Coneflower Do-Over to Auction

Redid this painting just 'cause I love it. Luscious warm yellow crown, bright green background, springtime pinks, floppy petals, just love the overall look of it. Painting objects that have such great presence in their own right and then painting them a bit larger than life just seems to work really well!   


Coneflower
click here to bid

I will always give credit to other artists that inspire me - they do so much of the "work" with composition, color, contrast - I am indebted to their energy, curiosity and talent!  


Photo courtesy of Barbara A. Novak PaintMyPhoto Coneflower  kudos on a wonderful subject!  great cropping, depth of field - what's not to like!

coneflower


Enjoy - life is joy we make one moment at a time.  Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  Comments much appreciated. 

Friday, April 4, 2014

It's Springtime, Let's Get Hopping!

It seems no matter what culture or religion, everyone embraces spring!  What's not to like with the earlier dawn, warmer weather, beautiful nature evolving. . . .  All I know is there's a kick in the air and we all want to be a part of it!

Story time - My art club challenge was to paint a bunny (Easter/Spring, you get that right?).  Egads, I don't paint animals - well okay a few, but a soft fluffy bunny?  Yikes! In desperation, started researching photos and discovered the most amazing artist -- Hue Li check it out - the gallery is here, look for the "What's Up" painting.   Adorable.

Honey Bunny
click here to bid


On top of having the most amazing bunny, Hue Li was so generous granting rights to me and providing a wise Chinese saying that I will keep near-and-dear to my heart when painting animals.    To me, it takes a ton of talent to visualize something outside of what you see in a still life or photo.  Kudos for creating such a wonderful, animated painting and letting me paint way outside my box.   I love this guy/gal and will be sorry to see it go, but alas this is what I do now.    

Double down, my challenge to my art club is to paint a humorous, animated subject.  Now I have to pursue more things outside of my comfort zone, but that's what is all about.  Woo hoo. 

Enjoy - life is joy we make one moment at a time.  Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  Comments much appreciated. 

Johnna

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Getting Re-Started

Blogging is time consuming and yet another creative challenge, but being committed to it seems to compel me forward.  So part of my "catching up" phase is to start blogging and posting a few paintings each week.  Fingers crossed!  My Dad used to tell me, just start writing anything, and your writing gear will kick in.  I cannot tell you how many times I've written, thanks to my Mom, "The quick brown fox jumps over the fence!"  I guess that was my gateway-drug. . . .  ha, ha. 

Experimentation:  This is a first for painting on a cradled panel, which is something I've wanted to try. Basically, a panel with a ½" wood frame behind it.  Artists I admire use them and I wanted to know why.  The panel has a heavy linen texture that was also an interesting adventure.  I like the way it sits in my favorite floater frames!  The flowers were part of a humongous spray of tulips on Valentine's Day.  Happy Girl!  These two wanted to perform in front of the hot lights and throw some serious shadows around.    Kinda reminded me of hand shadow puppets - always a fun thing to play around with.   I think I will try more of these in the future.

Tulip Shadow Play
click here to bid


Enjoy - life is joy we make one moment at a time. Thanks for checking out my blog.  Bunny on the way - it's Springtime!


Sunday, March 30, 2014

Catching Up

First of all, many thanks to my wonderful friends and artist pals who keep me going.  Nothing is more delightful (especially during my daily grind) to see an email that says I have a new blog comment!  It inspires and compels me to get my act together.  I am so flattered you take the time to "cheer-lead."  Finding out that art is indeed truly humbling and takes a strong attitude to venture into the space.  Most artists, I think, have no choice -- they just gotta do what they do - to the delight and admiration of their patrons.  I guess I'm like that, but my engineer head keeps arguing with my artistic side.  Need them to play nicely together!

In the good news department, the Art at the Mill envelope arrived.  Frankly, it is still scary to open the letter. . . .   Answer, get spouse to open, review, present and deliver the "news."  My guy is really fantastic at that!  Job well done. 

A little side story - the Glazed Pear Royale was his favorite so I said months ago, "we can hang this in your space until it needs to go."  When the results came in he said, "I have to have it and buying it now."  Lucky guy and smart guy 'cause he literally sent me the PayPal payment in a blink of an eye!  Errr, no debate from me.

The others are off to the show - I already miss Frilly Lily.  Will be happy if it sells, yet delighted if she finds her way back home.  

Frilly Lily
To see details on the show and schedule, click here.  Opening day is Saturday, April 26th. 


I've been experimenting a bit recently and will be posting a few paintings later this week.  Hopefully, I'm back on track - cannot believe it's been a month.  


Thanks for hanging in there with me.  Till then, 

Johnna

Friday, February 28, 2014

Show in the Mountains



Wow, it has really been a while since my last blog post -- there's just something about a 30in30 that is exhausting.  Not to mention the recent "disaster" of two paintings not being viable - frustrating because I fall in love with each and every painting (that you get to see).  Aargh! 

My excuse for the lack of blogs - I have been busy the last few weeks getting ready for a show.  For some reason, I always underestimate how much work is involved deciding which paintings to submit, filling out forms, sending photos for the jury process, pricing, framing, naming, etc.  Oh yeah, not to mention the painting part!  The show will hang from April 26th through May 11th.  See what I mean, it's ONLY February and you have to be ready!!!  Ha, ha.    The show, Art at the Mill (Berryville, VA), has about 300 artists and over 1,000 pieces of art on display.  Spring is a wonderful season to head out to the Shenandoah Mountains, mark your calendars.

My submissions are below - wish me luck that a few get through the jury process.  I am biting my lip and entering two of my love-crush paintings - so very hard to give them up, but a show is the place to do it . . . .   Do you remember your teen-age crush, well it's the same thing - not logical, but heartwrenching!   LOL.




The pear started out very colorful, but then had layers and layers of glaze applied to the background to tone it down and layers of glaze on the pear to bring it forward.  I am liking this style and may try to do a few more.  I think it goes particularly well with these gold frames. Not sure the frames look as awesome as they do in real life - blogger is doing something. . .  

Glazed Pear Royale





Love-crush - just love the way this one turned out and can't imagine letting it go, but it looks so great in the frame. . . .  Someone will have to fall in love to buy this one (if you know what I mean - wink, $$$, wink).                                                     Frilly Lily 



The ones below are going in with my low profile black "modern" floater frames that don't detract, but give dimension and enhance the look of the panels. 

Dawn Fox 8x10"

Honey Dew Ya Love Me 6x6"
Hot Sunshine 6x6"
love-crush #2


















Enjoy!  please keep your fingers crossed that I make it into the show.   

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

The Strategy and Then Some

First, video should be fixed.  If all else fails, here's a link 

Second, my new strategy is to paint three or four paintings during the week and then post them Thursday - Sunday.  These are the busiest auction / advertising days so it just makes sense to make this the goal.  Wish I could paint every day!

Third, so much for strategy -- this week I painted two only to find out the panels have the "measles." Several months ago I worked extensively with the manufacturer and we tried a bunch of things.  When I thought we'd had finally caught the culprit, adjusted and then started using them again, with wonderful results.  Somehow though, the mystery has returned . . . .  Really too bad - I absolutely love painting on these super smooth panels.  I'm going to post the two here, but not put them up for auction.  It is so very sad - a lot of lost energy.  So it's back to my other panels that have never, ever been a problem. 

Chicadee
Coneflower

Fourth, and to my great delight, the Last Sunflower sold.  It was getting ready for a show in April but snatched up by a keen eye.   I love, love, love this one.  I especially love it when a painting is to be a gift for someone.


Last Sunflower
Reston, VA

Please visit my gallery

Enjoy, life is one adventure after another,   

Johnna

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Pear Debut

Apologies for taking so long to post the final video and star of the show -- which would be the pear, of course!  Putting this doll on auction, probably a collector's item seeing as how it's the first video. . . .  

Hoping to paint more this week and get a routine going.  I especially enjoyed all the comments and visitors during the 30 day challenge.  Hopefully have found a few new friends - welcome.

Pear Debut
click here to bid


Video had a mini-makeover. Please click the photo below to watch.  Suggest changing the resolution to 720 (using the little cog wheel icon) and watching is full screen - see below.  




In the bottom right corner of the video - you'll see these icons:


cog wheel (left) - full screen (right)
just hit escape key to get back to normal



Sunday, February 2, 2014

Happy Ground Hog's Day

Okay a day late, but I have something new and fun to post.  First though, I'm not at all happy that Punxsutawney Phil has declared more winter.  Maybe he'll be wrong since it actually hit 50 degrees today in DC.  However, we're supposed to get six inches of sleet / snow tonight. . . . too crazy to predict if you ask me!


To the fun part - My First Video!   Nothing pre-planned about this adventure, but a mix of happenstance, two artists, and amazing technology.    Check it out with the link below.  The "Pear Debut" will be put on auction after the "stills" are done --  tee hee, that takes another day, but you get to see pretty much the final painting in the video.   Suggest you change the settings to 720 using the little cog-wheel and view it full screen.  Now you can watch me paint, over and over and over . . .  just like Ground Hog's Day!



Still Snapshot - Pear Debut
The Video - Timelapse - Painting a Pear


Enjoy - Life is one great adventure after another!

Johnna






Friday, January 31, 2014

The Results Are In

This is a quick post to share my collage from Leslie Saeta's challenge, 30 paintings in 30 days.  It was a wonderful and amazing experience in many ways.  Thank you all for your support, comments, purchases (!) and interest.  I hope to keep things going!



The Paintings
click here to see my gallery and auctions



Created collage with an on-line program called picmonkey. Just go to PicMonkey and select "create a collage".   It's free, fun and only takes a few minutes - try it out.

Enjoy,

Johnna

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Day 30 - Shoe Candy

Oh no, today is the last day of the Leslie Saeta 30in30!  I have to say this is THE most art inspiring thing I've participated in that really propels me forward, challenges my comfort zone, and at the end really let's you know "you did it."  

Afterwards, you can look back and say, "Hey if I did that, I can probably tackle the next super-duper-double-dare."    Leslie, thank you so very much - you are an inspiration of the best kind!  I will tell you all again, Leslie makes it seem so do-able that you fearlessly charge in and love how much you thrive - even if you don't hit all 30! 

I have no idea why this title makes sense to me . . . . I've painted this shoe before.  Picked it for my 30in30 January "swan song" because I just love it and wanted to see how she would look in a new "outfit."   Oh my, a switch from turquoise to pink is almost indescribable.  What was I thinking, until I fell in love and decided it reminded me of candy, valentine's day is approaching (okay so maybe that's what took over my other brain), childhood adventures to the fair with amazing pink cotton candy, and perhaps a throw-back to the term  "eye-candy" from my dot.com years. Whatever, I hope you like it. 

Shoe Candy

Shoe Candy
click here to bid



Check out Leslie's other artists here