A Lovely Custom Painting

This weekend I set aside a little time for painting in the studio. My good friend Jill asked me to paint something for her front living area. I love painting custom paintings first of all, and second even more for someone I know I'll be able to see it hanging in the living area for years to come.

Since I am trying out the little paints I was able to finally use these wooden Coke crates my framer Phillip grabbed me. Although by the time I was finished painting for the day the paint was still all over my desk. Kind defeats the point of having them stored neatly, but I tried! I think Katie Daisy has her paints stored like this. I know I saw this idea on someone's art desk. :) I am liking the thinner paints so I can layer easier and not have such goopiness on the base layers. If you've taken a class from me you might be gasping or giggling at this sight.....I know. I am eating my words right now. Part of the beauty of being an artist is trying new supplies out. A few years back I fell in love with the Soy Paints in tubes like these. But the company didn't really develop the line and honestly I haven't seen any recently. But seeing all the yummy colors one day at Michael's

I thought, "What the heck...let me try these out."

This is my studio assistant Ellie. She loves the vintage pink couch for napping while I paint. Pretty much if I'm down here, so is she.

 

I delivered the painting last night. It fit perfectly in the space and complimented her other Jenni original. I need to go back and photo the room. It's a lovely space.  So...if you'd love a custom piece for your home feel free to email me! Have a lovely Tuesday friends.

Scatter Joy

About a month ago Tammie, a former custom painting client that lives in Louisiana, emailed me saying she'd recently been hired as an elementary principal and wondered if I would be willing to paint her a large painting for her new office. Of course I said YES! We talked back and forth about what to paint...her mascot was kinda cheesy so that was a no. Plus she wanted something that could eventually go back to her home. I suggested a word embedded in a landscape with my funky flowers. She said "Sounds great!" I said, how about "Scatter JOY"? So that every time a little child is in her office they see those words. Every time a parent is in her office they see those words. Every time a teacher is in her office they see those words. Embedded into their brains and hearts. Scatter joy.....I believe in the power of words.

Off I went to paint the idea. I love the composition. Simple and yet has an impact because of the contrast in flower colors and the word. I love these new zinnias that are appearing in my work. Sometimes social media becomes embedded in my brain and I just have to get it out. For some reason zinnias were in my instagram feed over and over and over...so they spilled out and onto my canvas. Love. Cone flowers are a personal favorite of mine as well as daisies. Which BTW are finally blooming in my yard!

 And of course it's framed out in a salvage bead board frame. I did add a coat of flat black and distress it for a more finished look. She should receive the painting today. I can't wait to see it hanging in her office!

Painting A Bike

Yesterday I was quite under the weather.  Today...well let's just say I am dressed like an Eskimo, drinking water and praying for strength.  This is not the time of year to be trying to get a sub.  Let's just leave it at that.(yesterday she showed up 45 minutes or so late!  WHAT?) This was the scene pretty much all day at the Horne house.  I hate being sick.....

I did however get bored a couple of times so I wandered down to my studio, turned up the Christina Perri, and dove into painting this rather large bad boy!

I am hoping to finish this up by the weekend so Phillip the framer can get it framed.  And then....we ship!  I know. Crazy how big it is and shipping.  It gets to ride on an airplane in the freight section.  Lucky painting. 

It felt so good to paint again.  Sometimes it takes just making myself get into the studio to get the mojo going again.  It's so easy to make excuses these days....gotta clean the house....gotta get kids here or there...gotta go running....gotta.... If I am ever going to get past this plateau I am firmly grounded on I have to make a conscious effort to get into the studio and make.  No one ever got to the top by standing still.  I for one am not too good at standing still.

Have a lovely weekend!  We are playing baseball for a 15U team as a fill-in in Lagrange.  Kinda excited for William to play outside of his comfort zone.  Mailey has big plans with a girlfriend and something about sewing a kangaroo pouch on their sweatshirts.  She's been talking about it for 2 weeks straight.  Lawd where she gets these ideas!  HAHA....Sounds like I will have a fun evening with my sewing machine. 

Later...Jenni

Painting in the Process

Today I wanted to share another painting progression.  Last week I shared a whimsical flower painting where I started with a black background and worked my way forward with layers and layers of paint.   In this technique I layered yummy texture onto wood, carved the truck image into the texture, painted then filled the lines with oil sticks.  It is a rather lengthy process with days needed in between each step.  But the end result is quite capitvating... 

 Almost there.....it's amazing the difference the lines filled with oil stick make!

 Think I have enough tubes of paint?  Never enough....like my closet....never enough.  hehehe...

This was a custom painting for a sweet client I met at the Decatur Arts Festival.  I truly hope her wife was speechless when she opened it!  Because it was painted just for her.....

For the Ballerina

Sometimes people come into our lives and yet we never actually meet them.  Blogging gives us this wonderful opportunity to connect to people across the globe.  And sometimes we get to know them on such a deep and personal level, that if ever given the opportunity to meet in person there are SURE to be tears of joy!   That's how this custom painting came about. 

I meet Cheri through my blog in February.  I was reeling in grief after the death of a friend and she was dealing with grief of her own. She is a reader of my blog and while in the hospital waiting room she pulled up my blog and the post "A Gentle Spirit".  The artwork and the prayer I used sent a message to her soul she said.   She then proceeded to thank me for "reaching in and starting my heart back up."    She's an artist as well and told me she enjoys reading my blog and finds inspiration here often.  Wow.  Talk about humbling.   I was of course balling my eyeballs out throughout the entire email and sent her one back immediately thanking her for taking the time to share her story with me.  Because you know what,  it's the stories like hers that remind me that I am EXACTLY where I am supposed to be in this journey.  And her story adds and enriches my story you know?

So a few weeks back she asked me if I would paint her a vintage bike with the birdcage on the back and the quote, "take your heart with you everywhere you go".  I could not have been more thrilled to paint this for her.  She wanted it pink because she used to be a ballerina.  Oh the symbolism throughout this painting.  It just gave me goose bumps to paint it!

So it will head to her house today.  I send it with such a grin on my face.  I can not wait for her to open it and see it in person!!

                   

So dear Cheri, I thank you SO much for taking the time to email me and share your story.  There is magic in words.  And the sparkly dust you sent my way in February touched my heart perhaps more than my words did you. 

Wedding Gift Thoughts

About a month a ago a sweet fan of my work called and asked if I would make a tandem bike as a wedding gift.  Awesome gift, right??  So of course I said yes.....and finally got it done and mailed to Miami!!  I used a filter on the pictures below, so they are a little softer and dreamier than in person.  Just thought I'd try a little something new is all. 

By the way, as I am typing this blog, baby Graham Cracker keeps jumping onto the table, walking across my keyboard and resetting the post!!!  Dang it.  But man is she cute.  Ooooooo...is she cute.  Anyhoo, as I was saying before interrupted twice now, this was a great idea for a wedding gift.  And made me think back to my wedding and my favorite gift.  And that would be......drum roll here if you like......The Juicer.  Yep.  Billy and I used to be HUGE juicers.  We'd throw everything but the kitchen sink into our glasses.  Especially fresh ginger.  Now that juicer is long gone though, and honestly, other than all the amazing china we received which is packed up in the attic because we thought we'd only be in this house for maybe 5 years and instead stayed 16....I don't remember many of our gifts.  Of course we got linens and towels and that sort of stuff.  But an original piece of art, now this happy couple will remember this forever.  I hope anyways. 

I have another custom bike painting for a sweet blog reader coming up this week.  And art camp to prepare for.  I have 24 kids coming.  uh-huh....I said 24.  I am over-the-moon about the camp too!!!!  I had to hire another art teacher to help me with that many hands.  Wait until you see what we are making next week.  Several of my blog friends have actually signed their kids up after seeing the 1st camp.    wink...wink....

A Little Painting For Christa

Ok, so maybe it's not so little!  I met Christa at the Folk Fest in August.  Sweet little thing loved my pink daisy painting....but needed it to be 6 times the size it was.  Man, I think it turned out amazing!  This afternoon the kiddos and I are headed to Atlanta to deliver the painting then head over to the Puppetry Arts Center for Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer production.  We are super excited!  What a wonderful start to our very busy Holiday filled party weekend! 


PS yes, it has taken me until today to get it all ready for her.  Note to those wishing for a custom painting, I do tend to procrastinate.  tisktisk.