Whispering Shadows - Day 8 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Whispering Shadows"
10" x 8"
Acrylic on canvas
$65

Wishing on a Star - Day 7 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Wishing on a Star"
10" x 8"
Acrylic on canvas
$65

Carefree - Day 6 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"Carefree"
10" x 8"
Acrylic on canvas
$65

A Glimmer of Hope - Day 5 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days

"A Glimmer of Hope"
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
10" x 8"
$65

When I originally signed up for Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge I thought the photo I submitted was for my avatar.  Instead it was for the first day of the painting challenge, so here's a photo of the painting I presented.  Tomorrow will be Day 6 and with luck, I'll stay on track for the duration.  Sorry about any confusion -- so far I'm having fun with these small studies and look forward to painting the designs larger for my upcoming show in February at ArtHouse -- "Insights Beyond Form" with Taylor Gutermute and myself.

Dirty Laundry - Day 4 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Dirty Laundry"
Acrylic and charcoal on canvas
10" x 8"
$65

Secrets in the Wind - Day 3 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Secrets in the Wind"
Acrylic & charcoal on canvas
10" x 8"
$65

Violet Notes - Day 2 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge

"Violet Notes"
Acrylic on canvas
10" x 8"
$65

Mystic Sea - Day 1 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days challenge

"Mystic Sea"
Acrylic on canvas
10" x 8"
$65

Sleep?

Here's a favorite quote that describes how I feel about 2013:  

"I'm so optimistic I'd go after Moby Dick in a rowboat and take the tartar sauce with me." 

- Zig Ziglar

Out with 2012 and in with 2013!  A new year is upon us and so is the excitement that sparkles like a newly minted copper penny.  And in my gut, I feel that this will be a breakthrough year for me personally, as well as  a year of new beginnings.  How are you feeling about the New Year??  Is your intuition giving you a big thumb's up too?

I'm continuing to move full steam ahead with my art businesses and have promised myself at least two art-related "vacations" to further expand my art knowledge and learn new techniques.  And this morning I  agreed to participate in a "30 Paintings in 30 Days" challenge by the uber-talented artist, talk-show host and marketing expert, Leslie Saeta.  Really!

There's nothing like starting the New Year with a bang - I'm finishing a very fun commission for a cherished client of mine; getting ready for a 25-piece show at a hospital in two weeks; and prepping for a shared show with the amazing Taylor Gutermute in February at ArtHouse in Sacramento, CA.  

So of course I figured I'd have time to squeeze in a 30-Paintings in 30-Days challenge.....apparently the sleep gene isn't in my DNA!  There will be lots of new JJ art coming your way in the first quarter of 2013 -- stay tuned.  

ART

In placid hours well-pleased we dream

Of many a brave unbodied scheme.

But form to lend, pulsed life create,

What unlike things must meet and mate:

A flame to melt—a wind to freeze;

Sad patience—joyous energies;

Humility—yet pride and scorn;

Instinct and study; love and hate;

Audacity—reverence. These must mate,

And fuse with Jacob’s mystic heart,

To wrestle with the angel—Art.

-- Herman Melville

Some Favorite Things for Artists

The holidays have changed so much from when I was a kid - and to be honest, my anticipation of the season has shifted to a bit of anxiety and overwhelm.  So this year, my friends and family have agreed to simplify (or forego gifting altogether!) and do things that embrace the holiday spirit instead of lining the retailer's pockets.

Since a lot of my readers are artists, I wanted to "gift" all of you with a dozen of my favorite freebies, tutorials and articles.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to one and all!!

Virtual Paint Mixing application by Golden Paints - a FUN application on what color(s) you wind up with if you mix certain colors of paint

Making your Art Biz Legit - links and info on turning your art hobby into a legitimate business

How to Stay Inspired during those Artistic Lulls - fabulous article by the talented Joanie Springer

Wonderful How-to on making wood-burned kitchen spoons - easy tutorial on making some artsy kitchen utensils for your favorite chef by Alisa Burke

25 Handmade Christmas Decorations - make your own decorations for the Holidays by 36th Avenue

Gingerbread Caramel Corn recipe - YUM!

101 Healthy Soup Recipes - by Cooking Light

How-To Make a Distressed-Look Painting - by Little Blue Boo

How-To Draw Video - a 2-hour video from Betty Edwards, author of "Drawing from the Right Side of Your Brain"

A Random Tutorial Generator -- for artists, jewelers and anyone who wants to make things -- watch out, it's addictive!

101 Simple Hand-Made Gifts Tutorial - an amazing variety of hand-made gifts and how to make them!

Tutorials for Photoshop Newbies - how-to's for getting started with Photoshop

"Into the Light"
Mixed Media on paper

Some New Work

  There's something about painting multiple works at a time that inspires and excites me.  I recently

opened a package of ten 10"x8" canvases; laid them out on my dining room table; grabbed some 

supplies and started painting with wild abandon.  Here are some photos of how I started out:  

Supplies:  Acrylic paints, graphite, willow charcoal, Sharpie oil markers and India Ink

Mid-way point:  light gray and buff acrylic with charcoal, graphite and India Ink 

Added some Nickel Azo Gold with dots & lines made with the Sharpie Oil marker

Put down some Lukas Fern acrylic paint for some finish accent color

I liked the composition and designs in several of these "finished" paintings, but felt there was more I could do (plus I wasn't ready to stop painting then!) so one by one, I took these little guys into my "finish studio" aka my home office, and began the adventure I call "search and destroy."  I grabbed some thick white paint and started working with the negative space; added some glazes and introduced some more color.  Here are photos of the finished works:

"A Peaceful Wind"

"A Time to Dream"

10 Finished Paintings

To see more photos of the finished paintings, check out my website  

For purchase information, contact me at:  jjjacobs@comingabstractions.com 

Time flies

It's hard to believe over a month has passed since my last posting.....and this after swearing I'd be more diligent in keeping up with my blog postings!  With one large commission behind me, and another exciting one that I'm about 75% completed with, I've been busy getting 3 new shows hung and my fused glass ornaments designed and fired for five local galleries.  

Below are 5 new paintings that I created for the shows - two of them are hanging at my solo show in 1075 Gallery in West Sacramento, and 3 are in my own new studio in Midtown, Sacramento.  The other show that I hung is going on at Synapse Winery in Placerville -- a wonderful and inviting boutique winery on Main Street.

"Searching for Something"
40" x 30" acrylic on canvas

"Day's End"
36" x 24" acrylic on canvas

"Time to Grow"
Acrylic on 36" x 24" canvas

"Waiting for the Fall"
Acrylics on unstretched canvas - 72" x 54"

"Dream"
Acrylics on 48" x 36" canvas

These are just a few of the works I completed for the new shows - I actually painted 11.  I didn't have time to photograph all of them but after posting these, I noticed some common themes and colors that I really hadn't paid much attention to before:  (1)  The color palettes are very similar;  (2)  They're all larger works; and (3) They are a far cry from my normally bright and vibrant colors.  

As an abstract expressive artist, I generally paint what I'm feeling......and when I stop and look at these newest works, I have to ask myself "what is going on inside of me?"  The overflowing bowl in the first painting; the bird inside the house in the second one; the ghost-like dress on a hanger scratched into the third; the title of the fourth; and the word "DREAM" stenciled onto the last one makes me wonder what changes are ahead for me?  I don't feel depressed, sad or lonely, but I've been finding myself doing more meditation, yoga and sketching and actually feel excited about some projects I've got coming up.  

11-1-12 marked my first year of being on my own after leaving the corporate world to pursue my art, and as I was happily painting away, I was reflecting on what this past year had brought me.  There was the interview by MORE Magazine; my recent interview with ArtsyShark Blog; some of my images were licensed by All My Walls; the closing of Bell'Arte Studios in June and the Grand Opening of my new studio at The ArtHouse in October; plus the Honorable Mention in the international Abstract Artist competition were just a few achievements I managed to have in my first year on my own.

There are more landmark events and accomplishments that happened this past year, but overall I'm filled with so much gratitude and appreciation -- and a tremendous amount of thankfulness.  The Universe supported my decision to escape my comfort zone and gently guided me along the way as I gingerly stepped into a new world that I've longed to be part of my entire life.  

While I'm not in the Fortune 500 or the Louvre just yet, I've managed to survive and thrive and am finally living my dream.  So the latest neutral colored, somewhat somber paintings were not created with feeling of sadness -- they're actually created with tears of joy and gratitude.  I had to let go of my safety net to move ahead, but I'm here to tell you the journey has been nothing short of amazing and I can't wait to see what's in store for me this next year!

 

New Studio for JJ!

Since the CAST Open Studio tours in September, I've been buried with getting a large commission completed; collecting rents for my property management and leasing business;  and organizing things to get ready to move into my new studio.  I started paying rent for the new place on the 1st, but found the inside needed to be completely repainted which delayed the process a week as I managed to talk my wonderful brother (a professional painting contractor) and adorable niece to paint it for me.

I'd have done the painting myself but had somehow managed to develop some painful muscle spasms in my back, neck and shoulder (stress maybe??) and was barely able to lift my right arm.  After a couple of visits to my fabulous chiropractor, I carefully made the move into my new digs and was officially open for business yesterday just in time for the 2nd Saturday Art Walk.

Here are some photos of the new space, which is located at the new ArtHouse (which is the same building I was in when I shared a space with the spiritual painter, Brenda Boles).  A special thanks to my former studio mate, Dianne Poinski, for letting me know this space was becoming available.  I hadn't planned on moving into a studio again, but when Dianne told me the news about the upcoming vacancy, something inside said "DO IT!" and I'm glad I did.

The new space is upstairs in a large industrial building, and has 18 wonderful artists including Dianne, Brenda and myself.  My new space has a beautiful window; 2 painted brick walls; high ceilings; lots of natural light; and a fabulous location near the stairwell.  The building is in a wonderful location in downtown Sacramento's industrial area, and downstairs has some fun tiny shops and a great restaurant that are a big draw to our space.  

While I'm physically and mentally exhausted from everything that's taken place over the last few weeks, I'm  thrilled to be back in an artistic atmosphere.  Tomorrow I am starting a very unique commission for a friend in addition to 2 solo shows coming up in November......so you can guess how the next few weeks will be for this busy girl.  I fully intend to avoid the muscle spasm incident again, so am having a nice, long massage on Tuesday.  

Ahhhhhh.......life is good :-)