Rainbow Raindrops

If you are just joining my art journey, then umbrellas and raindrops may seem a bit out of place here.  But one of my favorite subjects awhile back were indeed umbrellas.  I painted many umbrellas actually.  They hold alot of symbolism for me.   I've not painted one since, well.....I get a little teary as I write this.  You see, I sent a friend an umbrella painting card while he was very ill to "guard and protect him from the pain.  an umbrella that would always be waiting when he needed. an umbrella that I would hold if he needed....."  And he kept that card with him, always.  Up until his death I was told.  So I've not painted an umbrella for sometime now.  But as I was playing with some new encaustic paintings ideas I decided it was time.  And boy am I glad I did.  There is so much joy in this little painting.   Two little friends sharing an umbrella as rainbow colored raindrops fall all around them.  

As I continue to prepare for my upcoming Solo Show, I made a simple request of myself.  To let go of fears, to paint in as many mediums as I knew, and to share the love of ALL I do in the studio.  And most of all, to be proud of the end results.  So this show will include acrylics, oil pastel paintings, encaustics, plaster sculptures, mixed media, and jewelry.  Yep.  It's going to be good.  I can feel it.  I promise to share more details about the show later.  But for now, I pass an umbrella on to you. 

Rainy Days Don't Get Me Down.....Well Actually...

It's been raining here again. I pass a small horse farm everyday and once again the poor horses were desperately seeking high ground because their small pond was more of a lake in their pasture. And now that the weather is cooling, the rain is even more unpleasant to get out and about in. And most uninspiring I have to say. I finally have a clean desk, clean house, Christmas decorations up and presents wrapped. And guess what I did today? Got back in my comfy clothes after the gym hour and did nothing. Yep. Me, Jenni Horne actually vegged in the BED with the old lady cat and dog. Boy were they tickled to have Mommy around. BTW there is nothing on TV worth watching during the day.

So I am sending you out tonight with an up close view of a newer umbrella painting. An umbrella.....have you noticed how cool they are now? They come from very tiny to large enough for a small army, have amazing patterns or solid beautiful colors, and are very swift to open with one little finger. But all accomplish the same thing. They shelter us from the rain. And those of us with a little more punch to our personality you can tell, because we have the patterned umbrellas, and maybe even some super cool zebra print rain boots. Look at your umbrella and think about it, does it tell anything about you? Then look around the next time it rains and try and guess a personality based on a stranger's umbrella (or are they the stubborn ones without an umbrealla?). I betcha it'll tell you tons. And it'll give you something to giggle about if you run into them in the Target isles later on.

We Found Love in the Rain

Here's a peek at some of the work I've had on my desk the past couple of days. We Found Love in the Rain is a collage piece on canvas. I combined my new layering paint techniques with favorite papers and stamping. It has been seriously dry the past month here in Georgia. So dry, that our Bermuda grass feels like toothpicks under your toes! Yesterday while painting this I was dreaming of rain and how lovely it sounds on the windows outside of my studio. And how sweet it really is to share an umbrella with someone you love. Then today it rained! So maybe I'll go paint up another rainy scene to get it to rain again tomorrow. hehehe....

Rainy Day Fun

It's a cold a rainy day here in Newnan today. How appropriate that I just finished up my new Rainy Day Fun painting. I saw some umbrellas in a children's book and thought, new inspiration! A little silly, I know, but once they are framed in white bead board, they'll be a great painting for a mudroom, laundry room, or heck, your family room! These umbrellas would surely make Mary Poppins tickled pink. Better than that old black one she floated around with anyways.

Well, I'm off to get more painted. I've not mentioned it because it's slipped up on me, but I have a show coming up very soon. It's the Trinity School in Atlanta's Spotlight On Art. I was thrilled to be invited since it's invitation only. They have 350 artists on the list this year, including some heavy hitters! I'll be taking about 15 paintings, 10 framed tiles, pendants and a few felties. It looks like a wonderful event. If you are around that week it's Feb. 17th-21st.