Sunday Studio Welcomes Friends

This Sunday I hosted a few friends in my studio for Sunday Studio time. Well...actually I'd never met them before, only met them online.  As you know, I've been teaching an online course called Paint Something: an e-course. It has been a huge blessing for our family in several ways. I absolutely love connecting with creatives from across the globe. This past course a sweet new painter named Britt kept popping up in my email with questions and paintings she was working on. I could seriously feel her excitement for painting through the lines on the web. Makes my heart so full to know the joy I have has spread to another.

Anyhoo, she asked if I'd be willing to do a private art class for she and her Mom. This is not something I normally do. But something about her energy made me say "Yes". Come on down. And by down I mean she DROVE 2 hours south to her Mom in Athens and then they drove the 2 hours to my house. Talk about humbling. She drove all this way just to take a personal class in my own studio. Awesome. Truly. So here we are in the studio. Oh and Mailey joined us too. That made me very very happy. :)

And before you knew it 3 hours had passed. She asked lots of questions I'd never thought about. Sometimes as a painter you just paint ya know? They were great questions though and ones I intend to add to PART 2 of the e-course coming out this summer. We all painted birds I'd found on the internet. This was what I painted during the class. As part of my personal classes I always paint with the students. I think it's important for beginning painters to watch my technique. Quickly they see I am very messy, very fast, and layering paint is what makes my paintings glow. My painting:

Britt's mom painted this:

And Britt painted this. Well...she's not done. She's a tad more meticulous than I.

During our time together I found out that she's a photographer. So today I peeked at her sight and about DIED. Her photos are gorgeous. Britt's specialty is baby photography. You gotta go peek here at her site. It'll just make you all gooey inside at how sweet the images are. Dreamy for sure. I want to reverse time and get my babies photographed by her. 

Anyhoo....this weekend got me thinking about studio time. If you are interested in a personal studio session email me for possible dates.  jennihorne@ymail.com

Private Studio Sessions

length:  3 hours

days: I am available most often on Sunday afternoons. But can work in a Friday or Saturday depending on kids and hubby. I could teach as early as 3 on Fridays. 

includes: all supplies and inspirations

cost: $60 per person for 3 hours

*please note I do prefer at least 2 students in attendance. It can be mother/daughter or just friends. I can hold up to 12 in the studio at a time. If over 10 we lengthen the class to 4 hours. 

So gather your peeps and come on down to Sharpsburg! I can't wait to meet you all and talk art and family and life and passions. It'll be a fabulous way to spend an afternoon.

Creatively,

Jenni

Take Your Heart With You...

So we did end up with a snow day Wednesday. And the snow never came. Just buckets and buckets of rain. I was so disappointed....this southern girl loves the cold and the snow. And boy was I dying to try out the new snow saucers from LLBean. With a snow day though I was able to get several little projects around the house done and slap some white paint on the giant painting I'd started over Winter Break. Woohooo!! Lawrence of course supervised the process. He cracks me up having to sit in my lap while I paint. The dogs really prefer when I sit at the art desk with the yellow chair. It's much more comfortable. He eventually fell asleep. And then fell over into my lap.

We really need to cut his toenails. Look at those things! Anyhoo....here's the start to the white paint. By the way I bought a fresh tube just for this 4'x8' painting.

Now you see why I placed the red so randomly and cray cray. I wanted the hearts to be softer and more like whispers in the background. If I'd drawn and painted them in it wouldn't have given the same affect. I just love seeing my work in progress. I take tons of photos along the way with every painting. It really gives a unique perspective seeing it on film. I teach this in my classes, to take photos of your art throughout the process. It's like knew eyeballs.

Speaking of eyeballs, these birds have some awesome ones right? These new bird designs are definitely going to find their way to a few more paintings. I want to make one with rainbow wings under a giant umbrella! Can't you see that? With heart raindrops. Oh boy. I need to get home and get into the studio asap.

I started another larger one right after finishing this one. I am loving it as well. Hopefully I'll get into the studio on Saturday for a spell. For now, I've gotta go teach a bunch of elementary kids all about the Underground Railroad Quilts and their secret messages. This is such an awesome way to crossover teaching history and art. I love my job.

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.

A Bird (of Course)

So you didn't really think I'd forgotten how to paint a bird did ya? Still loving these Americana paints. Look at how her feathers are illuminating off the freaking canvas. Love. Swoon. Ok...off to paint some more. See ya later friends!

Robin Love

This is a custom painting ready to ship off to its new home. I love the deep frames Phillip made me this last time around. Graham Cracker seems to approve too. She kept loving all over it while I was taking photos!

Time To Listen

Looking at this composition I can't help but smile at it's meaning.  There she is, on top of a beautiful fluffy flower, pure and white.  She's gone as far away from the voices, the nay sayers, the stress, the life she was in the middle of living to be alone.  To sit and listen.  To find her own voice.  To enjoy the calm. 

We all need this type of escape to allow ourselves the opportunity to recharge our creative energy.  I've found running to be this time for me.  It's a wonderful way to really listen and find that creative voice.  So how do you find your center?  How do you channel your creative energy? 

Beautiful Breeze

Today as I was running around Lake Peachtree I found myself listening carefully to the sounds which surrounded me.  I am not using my ipod these days so I can allow my mind time to rest, time to cleanse my head in a way.  As much as I'd like to meditate in it's pure form, the act of stillness has not been perfected by my body.   I find running to be a way for me to meditate. 

The sounds which surrounded my 4 miles were the rhythms of my breath, beating of my heart, my feet hitting evenly on the pavement, the singing of  birds, the rustling of the tree branches, an occasional train whistling, the wind whistling in my ears......slowly the rhythms began to orchestrate a beautiful song.  And allowed my mind the freedom it needed from the day to day life. 

I wrote this quote some time ago in my journal, and thought how appropriate to add it to this particular painting. So sweet is the imagery placed with the gentle words. If you have the time, and a bit of patience, take yourself outside and sit and listen, or better yet run and listen. A song will find its way to you as well. And hopefully it will help you to cleanse and free your mind, preparing it for what it really needs to hear and see.   What lies ahead could be amazing.



know me

When I placed the words gently into this painting I remember exactly what was on my mind.  Lately I've had a deep desire for those that I surround myself with to really know me.  Not just the bubbly, silly talking, stick-her-foot-in-mouth, art teaching, artsy, Mom, Wife kind of know me.  Know me.  I find the heart on the sleeve thing can be most annoying.  The constant noise and opinions of other's, well sometimes it can overhwhelm me to the point of breaking.  I have loads of courage though.  And good intuition.  I also have my feet firmly planted in the direction my heart and head are telling me to go.    My creativity is overflowing and so inspiring that I can not help but be positive.  Amazing things are around the corner....I feel it in my heart.  So.....I suppose that heart on the sleeve thing can be good for something afterall, right?