"Tyger 1" aka "Cool Cat" with a "splash" of color

20"x10" Hand painted fine art print. 

20"x10" Charcoal and clear gesso on canvas.

Thanks to all for the ideas and comments. As Hilda suggested, a "splash" of color! I was too chicken to commit it to the original painting, so I made a fine art print (one with pigment inks as opposed to dye inks that will fade) and added acrylic paint to that. Made me think I could do many versions of this Tyger now! Of course, I'll probably move on.....

Tyger nose or martini?

I posted this guy on Facebook and one of my artist buddies Nancy Beck made this comment about the nose/mouth looking like a martini. 

Oh the ideas are just everywhere!!

What next?

Have a great weekend!!

-jM

Another one started....

Oh wait! This isn't one started, I started three more! I'm debating if I should leave these as black and whites or add color.... Oh what to do?

Time will tell......

Have a nice Thursday!

-jM

A month of rest or not!

20" by 10" canvas with charcoal & clear gesso so far... 

Kitty Cats! Maybe this one looks more like a fox or something....

Last month was the annual Raymond James Stutz Artists Open House and I didn't really have a theme this year and people noticed. I felt bad, it was like they expected to see a series of paintings and I didn't have it. I think they may have been disappointed and I feel I let them down. Oh, I said this year was eclectic, but that was really a cop-out I think.

Well.... Myra, our lovely "Last Cup of Coffee" artist and I have decided to go with a theme and produce a series of paintings! I'm thinking Kitty-Cats, like 25 or 50 of them, then Puppy-Dogs, like 25 or 50 of them and then Roses, like 25 of them and cigar/drink paintings, 25 of them. That would be a nice 100 to 150 wouldn't it. Wow, better be careful, I could get carried away!

Oh Myra, what have we gotten ourselves into this time!!

Have a lovely day all. Oh, I will post the finished version of this Kitty-Cat One soon!

: )      -jM

This only took me a year....

"Invisible Woman"  Mixed media on canvas   30" x 24"

Wow. I finished this painting last night, it was one of those that just finished itself. I remember starting this painting like a year ago. It was inspired by a book I was either reading or had just finished by Jeanne Ray titled "Calling Invisible Women". It's a humorous book about a woman rediscovering herself. It was an easy read. This morning I found the book and the receipt is still inside (I often use the receipts as bookmark), it is dated April 21, 2013. That's where the "wow" came from to start this post, and now to end it. Wow.

-JanettMarie

How did I miss this? -Sold

"D.C. Serenity"  8"x10"  Mixed media on canvas. *Sold

How did I miss posting this painting? Today, I'm working around the studio getting ready for the big open house that we are having next Friday and I'm trying to remember the title to this painting. Well, I'll just look on my blog, right? It wasn't there! I never posted this little gem.

Well, here it is "D.C. Serenity", the D.C. stands for Diamond Crown, that is the cigar band that is on this one.

Hah! I love this time of year!!

Have a great day!

-JanettMarie

A Couple of White Roses in black, white & gray

"White Rose Two"  8" x 5.5"  Charcoal, gesso, conte on paper

"White Rose Two" is my second attempt with this little rose in a bottle after chatting with Derek Jones about gesso, paper and charcoal as mediums. I will definitely continue exploring this combination and maybe I will become as proficient as he is!

"White Rose One"  8" x 5.5"   Vine charcoal, conte on paper

"White Rose One" is my first attempt. Definitely a different look and feel.

These two are little studies I'm doing before the big brush painting I'm going to do.

In the meantime.... check out this video of the Maid of Honor toast given at one of the most beautiful and fun weddings I've attended!

Maid of Honor Toast by Brooke Bodner
Oh, just click on this photo to see the video on youtube.

And now as Myra would say.... "Bye bye."

-JanettMarie

"Shaken for Two" -Sold

"Shaken for Two"  acrylic on canvas  20"x16"x1.5"

A toast, to being happy!

Be happy.....

-JanettMarie

"Little Jar" -Sold

"Little Jar"   12" x 9"  Acrylic on canvas panel

This is painted mostly with a big brush. Okay, so big is relative right? This was painted with a 2 inch brush and at the end I finished with a 3/4 inch brush (I think it was 3/4").

It's a little off but I think I'll try this again.... just because.....   I think I need the practice.

Have a wonderful day!

-JanettMarie
PS: I had fun with this one     : )

Has it been only a month ago...

"Roads to the City"  mixed media on paper  11"x15"

Remember the painting I started February 9th? You know this one?

Tomorrow I may change it or add to it ... or .... it may stay the same....

Have a great day!

-JanettMarie

Looking for MoJo!

"Help Me Rhonda!"   oil on paper  15"x11"

Whoa, this little painting may need a revisitation in the near future. Some paintings just need more time then others. I'm going to let this one rest for a bit, maybe it'll tell me what it needs later.

In the meantime.... I started this one....

The beginning..... 

Stay warm,

-JanettMarie

Can't win them all... or sweet victory...

"Win or Lose"  15"x11" oil on paper

I think I need a new model, no... I know I need a new model...

Gotta go... I'm kind of speechless tonight.  : )

-JanettMarie

Here we go again...

"February Flower"  15"x11" oil on paper

I had so much fun last month painting almost, just about, everyday, that I thought I'd go again. Let's see how long this lasts. I have some paintings I've promised, my goal is to finish those this month too.

Guess making a list would be a good idea for me, well at least it usually works for me. I'll keep you updated.

In the meantime....  here is a collage of the thirty paintings I did in January, in no particular order.

15 rose paintings in here, thanks Judy and Della Rose.

Have a safe super bowl weekend!

-JanettMarie

Ahhh, it's January 31st, I love it!

"Poppies of Oz v.2014"   16"x20" acrylic on canvas    nfs

I know today is the 31st but I didn't post a painting yesterday, the 30th, so I'm going to deem this painting number 30! Yes! And because it's "Paint Party Friday" I'm going to share a paint party with you. This painting is "Poppies of Oz version 2014" and here is the group I was painting/teaching with. Oh, we had a great time, too, too, too much fun!

I thought they all turned out great!

Tomorrow, I will post another painting for Feb 1st and also a collage of all thirty January paintings.

Good night!

-JanettMarie

PS:  Possible rose tomorrow...

"Mixed" It's day 29...

"Mixed"  15"x11" oil on paper

I was going to wait to post this then I thought why not, surely I'll go quiet again for a bit after Friday.

This flower doesn't know if it's a rose or a tulip! Like this flower, I have mixed feelings. I don't know if I'll keep going or if I'll stop!

Mixed...  good night...

-JanettMarie

Wow, this is 28 and only two to go, or thirty more...

"Tuesday's Rose"  15"x11"  oil on paper  -Sold*

I always thought a yellow rose meant "Friends", but I've learned from a friend of mine that it really means "infidelity". Here is the story:

Yellow roses express jealousy and infidelity. They may also evoke a finishing love. According to the legend, the Prophet Mohammed, while away fighting a war, was tormented by the idea that his wife, Aisha, was being unfaithful. He asked the archangel Gabriel for help. Gabriel suggested that when he returned home Mohammed should ask his wife to drop whatever she was carrying into the water as a test. If she was faithful, it would stay the same colour and prove her unconditional love. Mohammed finally returned from his battle and Aisha rushed to greet him, carrying a huge bouquet of red roses. She was surprised when he commanded her to drop them into the river, but obeyed and the roses turned saffron yellow. Eventually, Mohammed forgave his favorite wife but, for some, the yellow rose remains a symbol of infidelity." 
More recently, yellow roses have been associated with friendship, but this newer meaning was probably an invention by rose producers to promote this color, as no underlying legend or tale seems to corroborate this symbol. The original symbolic meaning being that of jealousy and infidelity be very carefull to whom you offer yellow roses as it may be interpreted as if you are saying: "I am not worthy"!

The site where I found this story has more stories about thee rose. Change is in the air! I wonder if this is the story Carolyn was telling me about. Hmmm...

Leave it to sisters. My sister Jane suggested today that instead of doing 30 paintings in 30 days that I do 60 paintings in 60 days. It's tempting, but I still have a few commitment to accomplish and my focus would definitely have to change. Maybe after April 26th I could try that. More food for thought.

Okay, I better stop now, this post is getting way too long. Especially for me!

Good Night...

-JanettMarie