So here are 30 new paintings, created for the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge put on every year by blogger, podcaster and fellow artist Leslie Saeta. Leslie had to have surgery on her foot and is still on crutches so didn't get to even paint this time, but she was still there to root us on and graciously allow us to post our offerings. Thank you Leslie!!
When I began this series I didn't have a clear picture in my mind what it was going to be like. I had been gravitating towards the neutral colors, and hadn't picked up a brush in ages, so being back in the studio was refreshing, fun and cathartic.
People have asked me how I name each piece, because the words seem to be instrumental somehow with the finished design. Well, the words and titles just pop into my head while I'm painting and it's my signal to stop and say "you're done." In other words, they just tend to name themselves. I have no idea why but the words seemed to be precognitive - mirroring events happening in my life or ones that hadn't even begun.
Painting in abstracted styles can get overworked and end up with muddy colors, so whenever I started feeling the painting was getting this way, I'd stop and start painting on another one. At one point I had 7 paintings happening at one time!
These are abstract expressionistic designs, with asemic writing on many of them. I used acrylics (Golden, Lukas, and Blick) along with powdered charcoal, pastels and graphite. I used 140# Canson watercolor paper measuring 18" x 24" and I worked "intuitively" which means I just reached for things without knowing why, laying down designs with no conscious decision whatsoever. The paintings just painted themselves.
Several of the pieces have sold already, but if you're interested in purchasing one, just send me an email: jjjacobs@comingabstractions.com They are $295 each which includes free shipping, and generous discounts are given for multiple purchases.
The title of the series "Silence Between the Noise" was actually another serendipitous naming because midway during the challenge, some personal things happened with my family and painting helped me think when my mind was a scattered mess.
I still don't have all the answers I need to resolve what lies ahead (my Mom is very ill now and looks like there will be some residence changing for her and myself coming up soon). But I can tell you the painting was cathartic and healing, and reminded me why I need to have art in my everyday life. Some people write; others play music or cook; and I make art. Painting is my way of putting things right with the world again.
