Timed Release - Oil & Cold Wax on Wood

"Timed Release"
12" x 9"
Oil & cold wax on cradled wood panel
$125

The vessel series continues with the oil and cold wax paintings.  I can't seem to stop making them nor the little "bubbles" that surround them!

Sounds of Silence

"Sounds of Silence"
7" x 5"
Oil & Cold Wax on panel
$45

Here's another oil & wax painting on hardwood panel.  I'm finally getting the hang of the oils and enjoy being able to "carve" into the surface even after it's dried.  The little drips from the bowl were done nearly a week after I had thought I had finished.  I also added some more bubbles to the piece before finally announcing "done!"  

Bathed in Sunlight

"Bathed in Sunlight"
Acrylic & graphite on paper
7" x 5"
$20

I decided to paint some more house paintings and for some reason  I keep putting the birds inside the houses.  I'm sure my counselor friends would have a field day with this obsession......but come to think of it, I have been feeling trapped lately......  Isn't painting the best therapy ever??!!

Hidden Escape

"Hidden Escape"
Wax & Oil Paint on board
7" x 5"
$45

I decided to explore the oil paints and cold wax on boards further and am having fun finding things around the house to use for making textures in the wax.  I used bubble wrap for the circles and a wooden skewer to carve through the various layers of wax, then took a dry, stiff brush to create some texture in the vessel.  I still don't like having to wait for what seems like FOREVER for this stuff to set and dry, but I do like the way the layers build up and the creamy look when it does finally dry.  I just got my shipment of small panels to practice on, so bear with me while I post my experiments!

Meteor Shower - 6" x 4" acrylic on paper

"Meteor Shower"
6" x 4"
Acrylic on paper
$18

Here's a tribute to last week's meteor shower.  The  meteor strike in Russia's Chelyabinsk injured 1000's and could have been even more disastrous than it was.  There is so much planetary activity going on in the Universe right now, and my gut tells me last week's event is just a preview of what's to come.  What do you think? 

PC-4 - "Valentine" - by JJ Jacobs

"PC-4 - Valentine"
4" x 6"
Acrylic on paper
$18

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone -- hope you and your loved ones had a wonderful time celebrating this wonderful day.

PC-3 - 3rd Postcard in series

"PC-3"
6" x 4"
Acrylic on paper
$18

Here's #3 in the postcard series......I checked to see how these looked in a 10" x 8" mat and have to admit they look pretty darn fabulous!!  Next step is to put the matted painting in one of my simple black frames.  I'll let you know how it goes.

PC-2 - Postcard on paper by JJ Jacobs

"PC-2"
6" x 4"
Acrylic on paper
$18

Here's another postcard in the series...I just bought some new gel pens and added some thin white circles.    I like using these new pens -- I see so many opportunities ahead!

PC-1 - Postcard on paper by JJ Jacobs

"PC-1"
4" x 6"
Acrylic on paper
$20

I had some 140-lb Fabriano watercolor paper that I'd started making some color studies out of and decided to  quit the studies and make some postcards instead.  Here's "PC-1" - short for PostCard-1.

When I name my paintings I usually have the name magically appear in my head during the last stages of laying down the paint.....nothing was coming to me this morning when I was throwing paint around, so "PC" was as good as I was able to get.  We'll see if something else happens with the other cards after I finish them!

Work in Progress -- Cold Wax & Oil Paint

Work in Progress
18" x 18"
Cold wax & oil paint on cradled wood panel

A couple of weeks ago I attended a demonstration at a local art supply store on cold wax and oil paint.  It's like painting with encaustics but isn't as toxic.  I love the blending you can achieve with the oil paints and the layering that is done with the cold wax.  I want to add some more texture to this piece and make a more neutral "cover" by using some creamy whites and adding some burnt umber and raw sienna.....and then I want to start scratching away the layers to bring back some of these vibrant greens and blues.  Stay tuned as I show the progression of this work in progress.  At first I wasn't too sold on this new medium, but as I've been working more on the layering, I think I'm going to like it!

At the Dock - mixed media on paper

"At the Dock"
Mixed media on paper
5.75" x 7.5"
$45

This is a painting that I did while back in a Robert Burridge workshop.  With my show's premiere opening last night and playing catchup all day today with multiple tasks and errands, I didn't have time to pull out the paints to play.  Tomorrow is a workshop sponsored by Xanadu Gallery from Scottsdale, AZ on getting work into galleries.  Then tomorrow night is the official opening of the show, "Insight Beyond Form."  Maybe I'll feel like playing with paint on Sunday?  I hope so.

Insights Beyond Form - Opening Night

Gallery Opening Night
"Insights Beyond Form"
Non-objective works of art by
JJ Jacobs & Taylor Gutermute

Tonight was the grand opening of my show called "Insights Beyond Form" at the ArtHouse in Sacramento, CA.  I showed new paintings and metal/fused glass sculptures along with Taylor Gutermute, who displayed her amazing metal sculptures and monoprints.  The opening show was a huge success!!!  We had a great turnout and will have another opening again this weekend for our monthly artwalk called "2nd Saturday."  The show will be up at ArtHouse in Sacramento until March 4th.

 Putting a show together with 2 artists who did not really collaborate on any of the pieces was part of the challenge, and we're both pleased with the way our pieces seamlessly blended together in the end.   Our colors complemented each others work and overall the show looks fabulous.

I'll be uploading more photos over the weekend when I get them off my new camera.....it's been ages since I've gotten any good photos and I can't wait to see how my new Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 with a Leica lens does!

Sunrise, Sunset - cold encaustic & oil on wood panel

"Sunrise, Sunset"
Cold wax & oil paint on wood panel
18" x 18"
$225

I'm still trying to learn more about different mediums and was toying around with the cold wax and oil paints after I attended a demonstration with these mediums at a local art store.   There are things I like about the wax and oil (blending the colors is easy and I like the feel of the wax once it dries); and some things I don't care for (longer drying time!).  This piece I did with a brayer and some sharp objects for the lines, and I'm anxious to push the medium around a bit with some brushes and palette knives.  I liked the composition of this one so am going to leave it alone -- for now.

Hot Cherry Pie - another color study

"Hot Cherry Pie"
7" x 5"
Acrylic & graphite on paper
$20

I'm not sure what's up with all the pink, yellow, brown and white color studies but I'm enjoying
exploring the relationships with these hues.  I matted 3 of the studies;  framed them and have
to admit they look fabulous -- stunning enough to be in my new show at ArtHouse!!

I am so relieved the show is finally hung -- my show-mate Taylor Gutermute and I worked today
until nearly 6:00 getting the show coordinated and up on the walls, and I have to say it looks
amazing.  I just got a new camera today (Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20) and can't wait to
test it and take photos of the new show.  I'll post photos as soon as I get them!!!

Forgotten Footsteps -- Triptych on upcycled board

"Forgotten Footsteps"
19.25" x 30.75"
Acrylic, metallic powder & graphite on upcycled board
$ 395

This many-layered (at least 12!) triptych is done on 3 "upcycled" boards that I rescued from a demolition
site of a  project I did a couple of years ago when I was VP of a commercial real estate development firm.
There had been counters with lots of slots for maps and handouts, and the new owners didn't have any use
for them.  When I saw the contractors throwing everything away, I knew I had to grab some of these
shiny, hard particle boards for my art.  I absolutely love working with these boards & they're "green!"

I sanded each board then brushed 2 layers of gesso and a bunch of modeling paste before adding
several glazes  of color.  I then threw down some silver/bronze powder and added some graphite and
markers to the design and came up with "Forgotten Footsteps."  This piece reminds me of a map,
mixed with raindrops, skies and oceans with a few mountains thrown in for good measure.  

Shaken - Not Stirred

"Shaken--Not Stirred"
60" x 36"
Acrylic on canvas
$995

This big boy is going into a show at ArtHouse that opens this week.  I'm the featured artist along with a very talented sculptor and printmaker, Taylor Gutermute.  The show is called "Insights Beyond Form" and is multiple-medium non-objective work.  I'm an intuitive painter and have been struggling with the never-ending "when do I stop?" bug a lot as I'm getting ready for the show.   Part of me wants to add more to this piece but I fear if I start making changes I won't stop and to be honest - I like this the way it is.  The colors work; I've got my light and dark values in check; and there's enough mystery/intrigue to suit my fancy.  The shapes remind me of olives and martini glasses - hence the name.

My apologies for yet another crappy photo (taken with my iphone) - I just ordered a new Panasonic Lumix ZS20 with a Leica lens and I can't wait for it to arrive.  I'm NOT a photographer but I'm desperate to take better photos of my art!

No Boundary - cold wax & oil paint on wood panel

"No Boundary"
Cold wax & oil paint on cradled wood panel
12" x 9"
$100

Last weekend I attended a demonstration on cold wax and oil paint at the local art store.  I was intrigued and decided to purchase some panels and wax to see what I could make.  I had a set of old oil paints left over from college days that haven't been used and figured I'd give them a try.  Here's "No Boundary" done with several layers of wax and oil paints.  I think I like the wax but I'm not so sure about the process.  The jury is still out as to whether or not I pursue a whole series with the wax and oils.  I have 3 other wood panels to use so I may change my mind down the road......we'll see.  

"Outer Banks"
30" x 30"
Acrylic and graphite on canvas
$695

This painting reminds me of a trip I took many years ago with my best friend Lynn, her husband Curt and their little girl Stacy.  We shared a wonderful home on the beach and there was grass growing in the sandy dirt by the ocean.  The  faded white picket fences were scattered along the upper shoreline, and the waves were quiet and gentle.  Being a California girl, I was used to our ocean's light sandy beaches, loud pounding surf and miles of rocky shoreline.

I miss seeing the grassy shore, quiet breezes and distinctive fences......I think a trip to the Eastern shore is in order.  

Fallen Tides - February 1, 2013

"Fallen Tides"
Acrylic, silver leaf & graphite on canvas
24" x 18"
$375

What a fun painting to make!!!  There are so many layers of paint and medium on this  piece.....and I used silver leaf as well as some powdered silver that spread like butter when I hit it with the squirt bottle.  This is one of the new works for my big show at ArtHouse called "Insights Beyond Form" which opens next week in Sacramento, CA.

I did it!!!

30 Paintings in 30 Days
by JJ Jacobs

I'm proud to say I've completed my first 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge and I can definitely say this will not be the last!  I learned so much from these paintings, and after putting them all together in this wonderful collage made possible by PicMonkey I can see that a true style has begun to emerge for me.  Below are a few "stats" from the challenge I thought might interest you:

-- I seem to be drawn to circles (for me, they are a symbol of wholeness and/or completion) and I utilized them on nearly 100% of these paintings (if the circles aren't part of the painted design, they are in the texture underneath the paint).  

-- The favorite color used on over 90% of the paintings seems to be lime green - more specifically the chroma-dense "Green Gold" by Golden Acrylics (my preferred paint brand!)

-- The painting with the most "likes" and views on FaceBook was "Fallen" - the first floral painting in the challenge

Here are a few things I learned about my work:

-- I seem to have an affinity for non-objective work though there are a couple of landscapes and floral paintings thrown in for good measure.

--  Towards the end of the challenge I decided to try my hand at some small works on paper and used 140-lb Fabriano watercolor paper with acrylic paint and graphite.  I enjoyed working on this substrate and am definitely going to continue the color studies and works on paper!

-- During the challenge I was introduced to Micron markers which are wonderful archival permanent marking pens.   I decided to see what they'd look like with the acrylic paintings on paper, and came up with a bold look that I'm going to explore further.  (See "Roller Coaster" below)

Painting 30 paintings in 30 days seemed like a daunting task at first, but I learned early on to make multiple paintings at a time and schedule my uploads accordingly.  One of the biggest things I learned was how much I thoroughly enjoyed the  process and the networking with other talented artists from all over the world.  I surprised myself in the fact that I "stuck" with the program and didn't bail halfway through......and I'm really proud of myself for that persistence.

Stay tuned for more JJ originals coming soon......I'm in the process of painting several large paintings for a show at ArtHouse that opens February 7th and will be posting photos as they are completed.