"Norwegian Santa"- Santa 5

7"x5" oil on paper

Merry Christmas Eve !

Santa number 5, Randy and I guessed Norwegian, but I'm going to leave that to the Norwegians!

Maybe Carolyn knows, but for sure this Santa knows!

Merry Christmas Eve!

-jM

Santa Four-"It's Time to Make the Kringles!"

8"x6" Oil on canvas panel

It is time to make the Kringles! Mmmm... I've only eaten them, maybe this year I try to bake one myself. Oh they are so good!

This is a Santa painted based on another one of my friend Carolyn's Santa Claus guys. His leg's are really long, so I just represented the top of them here. I thought about changing them but... I didn't want to confuse the grandkids Santa hunt too much.

Wednesday night we painted "Oh Christmas Tree" at Wine and Canvas!

We had a blast!

It's a "Sea of Christmas Trees!"

Merry Before Christmas!!

-JanettMarie

"Santa Three" -Sold

6"x6" oil on linen on panel

Here he is! Santa number three! This little guy was inspired by Christmas decor at my friend Carolyn's house. Hmmm, I wonder if she will be able to figure out which Santa this is... I can tell you that the physical ornament is carved from wood. I wonder what country this carved piece was inspired.

-JanettMarie

Santa 2-"Oh, Rudolph!"

8"x6" Oil on canvas panel.

When I started painting this, all I could see was Santa out here looking for Rudolph. Time for Christmas Rudolph! I added the white dots at the end. First they were stars, then I thought, oh, maybe it's starting to snow. I guess they can be what ever we want them to be! I love that about painting!

A big "thank you" to Carolyn, she gave me the nudge that I needed today, to get this painting finished!

How long have I been working on it, or I mean at it? Well, since I purchased a couple of "pot belly" Santa ornaments a couple weeks ago from Frazee Gardens in Brownsburg, when I painted the snowman with the kids! That was Sunday, December 2nd!

Frazee Snowman!

Hopefully, I will get the next one finished in a more timely manner.  : )

-JanettMarie

"Cadet Cracker"

8"x6" Oil on canvas panel

He found his place! Right there in the cold Russian Forrest! With the snow and the evergreens, this little cadet fits in here!

Okay, I'm looking for Santa, he is suppose to model for me!

Have a great day!

-JanettMarie

"Nutty"

8"x6" Oil Painting started...

This little nutcracker, I started last weekend and I can't seem to finish. What to do, what to do.
Time, time.

-JanettMarie

"Santa One" -Sold

8"x6" oil on canvas panel

Ho, ho, ho! This was painted Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving! I just couldn't put him up until after Thanksgiving. Something inside stopped me. Maybe the fact that I needed to have a turkey dinner before considering a Santa Claus! This cute little guy, I'm thinking about painting ten of them.... time will tell and I'll let you all know!

Happy Thanksgiving! Belated.... oh, how about Happy Black Friday!

-JanettMarie

A small idea...

6"x6" mixed media on canvas panel

I have a small idea... I'm thinking about posting here on this blog and the new wordpress blog too. Even if it is redundant.

What do you think?

-jM

I've got a new website!  And since that website has a blog

built into it, I'm going to be moving my blogging life over there.

My "JanettMarie's Little Paintings" blog will continue to live here, but if you want 

to keep up with my latest posts you'll need to follow me on over.

The new site is here:
janettmarie.com

Followers - you'll need to re-subscribe to this new blog.  There's a

subscribe option on the top of the blog sidebar.  And you can get my posts

emailed to you just like you could on this blog.
Please update your subscription.

-JanettMarie  : )

"Let's Dance" at home

"Let's Dance" at home!

Here is the 43"x53" painting "Let's Dance" in its home location. Nice, huh?

Perfect.  Hmm... I think I see a cosmo and a three olive martini there on the mantel.

Fun!

-JanettMarie

PS: Uncle Roy is finished. I will post tomorrow.

"Hot Tip" -Sold

16"x12" mixed media on paper mounted on canvas

"Hot Tip" completed just in time for delivery!

This is coffee cup painting number 101! Well, now these coffee cup paintings could go on forever!
Richard Diebenkorn painted over 140 in his "Ocean Park Series".

The collage on the top half of this painting is pieces of an old coffee commodities chart from 1997. Of course, I had to put real coffee on this painting......so much fun!!

I'm on the road to more collage pieces!!!

-JanettMarie
PS: Myra, I owe you a phone call!

"Uncle Roy".... Relax.... -Sold

Uncle Roy is relaxing on his house boat, he really knows how to live.... I want to go there!

This is getting much closer! It needs to rest as much as I do... but it is... getting much closer....  : )

-JanettMarie

PS: Hey! I almost forgot and how could I forget! I won a new easel from Cheap Joe's. I think they shipped it today.... I can hardly wait! Here is the photo of my raggedy easel with buckets holding up the painting!

A couple of paintings I just started...

6"x8" mixed media on paper gonna be mounted on canvas!

A collaging effort started on a 12"x16" canvas....

Here are a couple that have just gotten started.... sure does help to look at a photo of the work. The boat painting I can see has a little issue with the back of the boat. Looks like it's going to fall off, doesn't it. Well, I guess I'll have to fix that!

The second one is the beginning of my collaging effort inspired by Lisa Graham and Myra Anderson. Shhh.... I've never done anything like this before.... I've got paper and glue stuck on my fingers!!

-JanettMarie

"Let's Dance!"

43"x53" mixed media on canvas

Here it is! The finished painting. This painting has subtle touches of glitter in the glasses and flecks throughout the painting. It's a large 43" tall by 53" wide, which would be a nice sized flat screen television!

In my last post, I told you that I was headed out to get some scrapbooking paper, well, I purchased some incredible glitter. I will definitely be using more of that! The scrapbooking paper, I thought oh, I'll just get a pad of that stuff and see what I can do with it. Well, wow! I had no idea that there are so many choices at Michaels! I was overwhelmed! I went crazy, just a little and I am fired up with all my new mixed media materials!

Oh, what will she do next?  : )

-JanettMarie

"August Moon"

24"x30" mixed media on canvas

"August Moon" this is the title of my next painting. In the little caption area, I typed in the size of the canvas and instinctively declared it to be a mixed media piece. Well, there you go, I really need to get to Michael's and get some of that scrap booking paper that Little Lisa told Little Myra about.

I am also very very close to finish with the martinis painting... I need a good title and a good photo before it leaves my studio Friday. Below is a small detail of the painting... I will post the full finish either tomorrow (Thursday) or Friday, when I get the finishing touches and a good photo of the painting!

Detail of 43"x53" mixed media painting on canvas

-JanettMarie  : )

These Big Martini's continue to develop.

The latest...

Yesterday (Friday)...

This painting is really coming along, I have another bunch of hours into this...

The top image is the latest version. I've changed the lime on the glass and worked on the background more.  I'm not sure if I have the lime quite right yet... I'll keep looking at it.

Man, this is so close, I can hardly stand it. Tonight, I needed to stop so paint could dry... tomorrow... more....

-JanettMarie

More of the "Dancing Martini's"

A little closer, but still more to go!

To give you an idea of the size, the canvas is 2.5" deep (sides) and it is here sitting on top of 5 gallon pickle buckets!

Here I started to add and remove a bit of color....

 Watch out! This painting is really moving along! See the shininess at the bottom of the first image, that's pools of water!

While I'm here in Dallas, I'm letting the painting rest! Or is it me I'm letting rest?

-JanettMarie  : )
PS: Suzi, Texas is great!

The Beginning Marks...

43" x 53" acrylic on canvas

This is the beginning of the large painting I'm working on. Thought it might be fun to post the progress.

I think I may get addicted to painting large. Building the stretcher frame, stretching the canvas, applying the coats of gesso. Takes a lot of time, but... I kind of like it. I'll post more tomorrow!

This week I'm off to Dallas to visit a friend. I hope I to visit an artist friend while I'm there. I've already checked the weather and it is going to be hot, hot, hot!

-JanettMarie

"One Olive Please"

8" x 6" mixed media on paper

Hi! My 100 days of vacation with no expectation is over! Ended yesterday, the 8th of August.

I had this painting started but not finished, so.... here it is, just in time for the weekend! It is small compared to the first spirit painting I did, but wait until you see one that I am currently working on! It is 43" by 53" and it is fun! I have a deadline for that one so you will be seeing it soon! In the mean time... have a great weekend!

-JanettMarie

"Two" -Sold

3"x2" oil & glitter on canvas

Remember "Radiantini"? Yes, I almost miss that one too. I went back into it and add a few more elements... like glitter and changed the cherry into two olives, also added a stir stick. New painting! Like Flo says "Discount!", I say "New Painting!"

I call this one "Two", I can't decide if it is for the two olives or if I want to make this a part of my Spirit Series. I'm inclined this early in the game to just let it stand for the two olives!

Slowly, but surely, getting back into the swing. It has been 85 days since the Open House, closing in on my 100 days of "no expectations" : )

Have a lovely day!

-jM

Happy Fourth of July!

"Martini One"

30"x24" mixed media on canvas

Here is the finished product. One martini, one olive and number one.

It took awhile but that's okay. Even Georgia O'Keeffe didn't work all the time! Boy, but when she did though... look out!

The next one is a little smaller. Can't remember if it's 14"x18" or 12"x16".... I have two started, that size and that size!

-jM

Beginning of the "Spirit" Series

30" x 24" mixed media on canvas

Nope, nope, nope, it's not finished yet, but I promised I would post this as it is... so far....

Almost forgot to do this, I'm sitting on the deck out back of the house reading a book about Georgia O'Keeffe... it's a pretty good book so far.  An easy read.  The title is "How Georgia Became O'Keeffe" by Karen Karbo.

Anyway, here is the painting, so far, it just doesn't feel right to me yet.....

More later!

-jM

"Promise"

6"x8" oil on canvas panel

Hi! This is a crazy painting that I'm working on here and there, just playing around. Kind of like an instinct painting, if there is such a type. 

Looking at this photo on my computer here, I see a little something I can add already! 

Wow, taking a photo and posting may be a good way for me to see my paintings in a different way.

If you don't mind me experimenting.... I have another painting I am working on... that just isn't there yet... I'll photograph it tomorrow and post it. Maybe something will be shout out to me!

Tomorrow's painting, the one I'm not sure of... is number one of the "Spirit" series...  : )

-jM

"Spots" by Young Artists!

Logan, Reese and Ally! Cousins painting!

Today was a fun day of painting with young artists at the Cookies & Canvas Studio!

In the above photo you see three cousins that had a great time painting a Dalmatian puppy. Ally, the artist on the right side of this photo is the inspiration behind this painting! She asked in April if I did any Dalmatian paintings, I hadn't, but I told her that I would put one together for her!
So "Thank You, Ally!", we all had a great time painting "Spots" today! Great idea!

All happy artists! Beautiful work!

A good time had by all, and we all gave our puppy a ball to play with!

This is Kyle, he painted the Jolly Roger with me last month. Kyle knows really good jokes!

Thanks Painters!!!

-jM

A Movie Scene

6" x 8" mixed media on paper

This is a little ditty I finished last Friday, by signing and saying "done!"

I got a new camera and I haven't quite figured out how to get my reds again... oh, learning curves.
The couple at the top, one is yellow the other looks a little bit orange... the orange is supposed to be red!
Hmm... time! I beg for time!

Last Friday I also got started on three paintings for the spirit series, but this week I am playing in a annual golf tournament so I'm a little distracted from the studio. Sorry about that, I'll be back soon enough.
Just want to let you all know, I'm still around and life is good!

-jM
PS: Thanks for the nudge Angela!

"Spring Has Sprung!"

14"x11" acrylic on canvas

Here is my painting from Cookies & Canvas last Saturday. I had a great group of artists and all of the paintings turned out absolutely perfect!

This is Anita and Carol, they love to do "artsy" activities together. Saturday was another perfect time together for them.

And here are a few more young painters from Saturday. See the rainbows? The artists used their artistic licenses wisely.

-jM

PS: These little painters keep my "spirits" high...   : )

Number 100! Café Blanco'

42" x 42" acrylic on canvas... white on white

Number 100, I know, I can't believe it. It's white on white, "Café Blanco'", very white. Number 98 and 100 make a nice pair. In the video that I posted of the open house, you get a glimpse of both these paintings. This one looks like a blank canvas or blank space in the video, but is is not. It is... the white coffee cup.

Need a little color? I did too after that, so I give to you a celebration painting....... a toast! To 100 Coffee Cups Paintings and the fun we had with this series!

18"x14" mixed media on canvas

This is titled "Thirsty" and I actually finished and sold it on April 27th. This painting and a few others that were hanging around it, gave me the inspiration for my next series of 100 paintings. 

"Spirits"... I've painted drink paintings that are mixed with spirits, figurative paintings that are spiritual and sometimes I paint where my spirit takes me! 

I was talking to Prairie Jill about this next series and she summed it up very well with the following words:  "Ooh, Spirits - I like that. Let's see, free spirits (like those wonderful abstract women you paint), blithe spirits, alcoholic spirits, ghostly spirits. Oh, yeah!! "

For now, I thought I would take 100 days of vacation with no expectation! This doesn't mean I won't paint.... I just may not paint anything I'm expecting (or is that expected?) to paint that is a part of any series!

Where is that cake Myra sent me? Mmmmm.... M&M's...... Thanks Myra!

Oh, I love chocolate! So good with coffee.....

-jM

Coffee Cup Paintings Finale!

42" x 42" acrylic on canvas

Okay, sorry for the delay, we need to get this party going! This painting of the splashy red coffee cup on this black background is a huge 42 inches by 42 inches! I think... I forgot to measure it today : )  This is painting number 98 of the 100 coffee cup paintings and is titled "Rouge Jackson (aka 'Party Boy')"! This big guy was hanging out on the floor in my studio and everyone that walked by said "Wow, I love this!", so I signed it and called it finished! Photographing it was my big delay for posting, oops.

Ready for number 100? This one too came as a result of viewers passing by.......

Give me a minute, I'll show it to you!

-jM

"Ghost of Coffee Past"

12"x12" mixed media on canvas 

Big brush, little bottle of paint, how's that for a bigger coffee cup painting! This is painting number 98 and since it's the "Ghost of Coffee Past" it only seems appropriate that I show you a quick movie of the open house from this past month! I did edit out a bit of the party, but I think you can still get the idea of the festivities from the two days!

Click on this link for the Youtube video of the Party!

I invite everyone to attend next year!

-jM

"Cup of Gyro"

12" x 12" acrylic on canvas

Hi, I'm back! This is coffee cup painting number 97, finished on April 26th. I finished quite a few on April 26th. You can see I got really, really loose with the paintings too. I was like a little Jackson Pollack.

I have video from the open house weekend, but I haven't figured out how to get it from my camcorder to my computer yet! Patience, I'll get there...

I have a picture of one of my Wine and Canvas painters that painted with me last Saturday. We painted "Poppies A.S. Poppies". The A.S. stands for Angela Sullivan because it is one of her poppies paintings that was the inspiration for this painting.

Above is Alee, she use her artistic license to make her painting extra special for her Father. She is sending this to him in Taiwan! Beautiful! I love the happy faces.

Here is a photo of part of the class with their poppy paintings:  

Thanks Angela!

-jM

It's May in Indianapolis!

Ayri and Mallory with their Indy Car paintings!

Above is a photo of two of my Cookies & Canvas painters from this morning. We painted an Indy race car that signifies the beginning of Race Month here in Indiana!

Ayri on the left is named after the famous F1 race care driver Ayrton Senna! How cool is it that she painted in my class today!! Too Cool! Thanks Ayri : )

May is a busy month for Indianapolis with the Indy 500 Race at the end of the month. This morning kicked off with the Mini Marathon, a 13.1 mile run that is a tradition in Indianapolis since.... forever.... just kidding. I know when I ran it in 1995, it sold out in January! This morning was so hot they put out a yellow flag for the remaining participants to slow down for health safety due to the high humidity and heat, wow.

Oops, I forgot to post this Saturday and now it's Sunday, well, I hope you all understand... it was the heat!

More tomorrow!

-jM