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

The kitchen's a mess!

"Lady in Red"   10"x8" mixed media on canvas

Last night, while painting the Spring rose, I listened to a podcast from last January when Leslie Saeta interviewed Lisa Daria. As a result I was inspired to try to wake up early (5 AM-ish) and paint a flower/rose. So last night before going to bed, I thought I'll get the coffee pot ready and have it automatically come on at 5 AM, the smell will help me wake up. This morning I woke up about 5:10, shuffled around and found my way to the kitchen. The coffee pot didn't come on, I didn't hit the "on" button after I set the preset. Oops, oh well, I hit the on button and away I go. Light, I needed a light for the rose... found one. Long story short, I struggle with that little rose painting and I wiped it off. I decided to work on this little girl instead. I started this in November sometime, well she is a lot closer. After seeing it as a photo, I may need to do just a little more. She also gave me a few more ideas for future paintings... time.

I may try this routine again tomorrow, maybe get a flower painted this time.

I taught a W&C painting with a great group tonight and I was going to use my painting as one of the 30 paintings in 30 days but I forgot to take a photo of it! Oops again!

Good Night...

-JanettMarie

PS:  The kitchen is a mess with painting supplies!

Thinking Spring

"Thinking Spring"   6"x6" oil on masonite panel

What day is it? Oh, January 14th, that means this is painting number 13, because I am still one day behind with my 30 paintings in 30 days. All good.  : )

This painting has three different or new elements that I introduced to my process/painting:

1)  Today I bought a tube of Winsor Newton permanent rose oil paint, sweet color. 

2)  I was inspired by Patti Mollica to use a larger brush, so I used a #10 (3/4"), yesterday I used a 1/2" brush, Patti used a 2" brush in her example but her canvas was a tiny bit larger too (8"x8" really a tiny bit).

3)  The panel I used is a smooth surface as opposed to a texture of canvas. The surface was actually quite slick. I have three more of the smooth panels, I'm going to try using acrylic on one tomorrow.

Well, The skyscraper didn't get painted today because I knew this little rose would not wait for me.

Let's see what tomorrow brings!

Good Night...

-JanettMarie

PS:  Thanks Myra, Hilda, Carolyn and Char.

Two is Okay...

"Above One"   6"x6" oil on canvas panel

"Above Two"   6"x6" oil on canvas panel

I think I have these mixed up as far as which one was on my left and which one was on my right. I painted these at the same time. I thought... "why not", I've painted several at a time before, remember the acrylic on paper with the apple and the coffee cup series. This was very, I want to say "freeing", is that a word?

Here is the rose I worked from, it was a bit unhappy because I had not taken care of it. I tried to make appear a bit more happy.

Unhappy model...

I couldn't help to not think about Georgia O'Keeffe while painting these close up flower images. She was all about that.

I missed the post yesterday, oh well, every once in a while may be better than every day any way, yes?

Maybe I'm crazy, 

-JanettMarie

Two Nutcrackers and a revision...

"Drummin' Up"   4"x2" acrylic on canvas

What better way to catch up then by painting two itty bitty paintings of nutcrackers! Yes, this guy is drummin' up all kinds of things to do. The Nutcrackers are fun to paint but yet take time because of all the intricate buttons and buckles and details nutcrackers have.

Here is painting number six, a nutcracker carrying a flag so I call him "Flag Man".

"Flag Man"   4"x2" acrylic on canvas

One more painting I have to share is a new version of yesterday's painting. I just couldn't leave it alone. I think I can now.

"January Four" v2   8"x6" mixed media on canvas panel

Well, I'm gonna take a break now and report again tomorrow.

Stay warm....

-JanettMarie

So much for two today...

"January Four"    8"x6" mixed media on canvas panel

I worked on several paintings at a time today and almost did't finish one! I'm not even sure if this one should be considered finished. Maybe tomorrow will be my day to finally get caught up, time will tell. And yes, I'm surprise with this painting, I had no idea... can you tell?

Oh, I thought I would show you how much snow is in our front yard.

When was the last time I trudged through snow that was almost up to me knees in Indiana? It's been a while and now it's 6ºF and windy like 30 mph, feels like -15ºF. Nope, I'm not going outside!

We will see what tomorrow brings.

Time for a change...

Rose Three  6"x6" on canvas

Wow, I think I need to start from the beginning again. This rose was so open there is so much going on I'm just overwhelmed!

This is three, today is day four, I bet I'll get two out tomorrow. We're supposed to get snowed in here late tonight, so what else will I have to do tomorrow but paint?

It is time for a change, don't be surprised if the next painting is other than a rose...   : )

Fun is good!

-JanettMarie

Do Another... ---Sold

Rose Two- 6"x6" oil on canvas panel

Another try at a rose painting. I have the underpainting to show you...

I'm not sure how I can go from here to up there, but I did.  I wanted to paint this rose simply like a Morandi, then I thought "How would Van Gogh paint a rose?", I ended up with this. Go figure, no, do another!

-JanettMarie

Piano "Flash Mob"

Click on the photo below to see some "Heart and Soul"

JanettMarie at her transformed piano.

The Go Ahead & Play students gathered around "Out Loud in the City" with Indianapolis' Channel 8's David Barras.

Here is the link to the Women's Fund Facebook page for all of the latest with the piano's around Indy.

Have a great day.

-JanettMarie

Before and After Myrtle Beach

"Before Myrtle Beach"

Mixed media on paper (forgot to measure 15"x22" maybe)

"After Myrtle Beach"

Water media on paper (I think 22"x30")

Busy, busy time of year. Just finished the big studio open house last weekend, we had just over 5000 people in our building. Not just people, nice quality people. My sister Suzie shot some video, one of these days I will get it You-Tube-able.

In March, I went to a water media workshop in Myrtle Beach and got myself abstracted. You can see the above before and after paintings. Some of the patrons at the open house thought it was the martini's that caused the crazy looking after painting. It really wasn't that easy. 

Lately, I've been painting larger, and larger paintings take a little longer to finish. My friend Myra, suggested that I show some "in progress" images. She's right, so I will work toward that goal and try not to be such a stranger.

Beautiful day today, enjoy!

-JanettMarie 

"Coffee Kup Hundred and 3" -Sold

12"x16" Mixed media on paper mounted on canvas

Hello, remember me, JanettMarie?

Just delivered this painting today, so I feel it's safe to post now. This coffee cup is a gift and I didn't want to take any chances to let the cup out of the bag!

The background has coffee commodity charts in there. The letters KC is the coffee symbol and the H is for March, so this is really a 2003 March Coffee symbol. TMI, right? Although with all the coffee cup paintings I've done, maybe it is number 103! You know, I think it is, how fun it that!

Have a great coffee day.

-JanettMarie

"Perfect Little Manhattan" ---#22 -Sold

3"x2" mixed media on canvas

Oh, one more "Perfect Little Manhattan" for me then I'll tell you a little story. Yes, that is what they say when it's very late, you're tired, you want to go to sleep, but you're just too polite to ask them to go home.

Ah, those were the days. The above doesn't happen anymore, you just go to bed and let them sleep on the sofa!

Enjoy a perfect little manhattan tonight!

-JanettMarie

"Kiwi Me" ---#21

4"x2" mixed media on canvas

This small martini painting has a bit of glitter on it, you may be able to see the speckles. It really shines in the light, wow, it's festive! It just looks like if it had a kiwi fruit in with it, it would be a happy drink.

This is number 21, I'll have 22 a bit later today to stay on track. It has been a busy week, but I'm hanging in there!

Have a lovely day.  : )

-JanettMarie

"Manhattan Monday" ---#20

4"x2" acrylic on canvas

It's Monday, a good day for a nice Manhattan. I'm sensing a theme here for the Monday's. I realize that I painted "Monday Manhattan" last Monday! Or maybe it has something to do with the fact that they both start with the letter "M".

I wanted to show you all the grid of martini paintings as they are slowly being finished.

The grid is slowly being finished.

Enjoy your Manhattan!

-JanettMarie

"Yesterday's Martini" ---#19

7"x5" mixed media on paper

This little painting is a day late, but not too late. With the 30 paintings in thirty days, we are given a grace period of 48 hours to post. I figure I'm not late at all and I have plenty of time today to paint another. I do think I will have to add a bit of glitter to this one and #17_"Cosmic Friday". Time will see/tell.

Have a nice Martin Luther King, Jr Day.

-JanettMarie

"Saturday Night" ---#18

7"x5" acrylic on paper

Well, when it comes to Saturday night, anything goes... almost.

My martinis are getting pretty abstract. Hey, it's Saturday, I'm okay, you're okay. Nope, I never read that book. Maybe I should. Oh, what will Sunday bring?

Oh Carolyn, I tried to keep the abstract martini in the glass this time. No splashing out all over the place! Who knows, maybe the next one will be splashing out.

-JanettMarie

"Cosmic Friday" ---#17

7"x5" mixed media on paper

This painting is fighting me a little bit, but I'm gonna keep fighting back. It's really close but I decided to post it anyway, because "it's fun!"

I'll update this again I'm sure, but for now it's in cosmic space and one day it will come back to earth!

Have a fabulous Friday!

-JanettMarie

"Celebration Bouquet 2" ---#11

8"x6" mixed media on paper

Number 11 for the 30 day challenge and the third of the bouquets, so I guess something newer tomorrow. I'm using this painting to give myself a little breathing room to get through today. If I finish a painting today for this challenge and still have fun I will have won. I like to have fun and I like to win so let's all have fun today and I'll report back.... tomorrow!

-JanettMarie

PS: Eleven is a magical number, today should be magical.  : )

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!