Street Art Find

Last week I was visiting the Met, always so much to be inspired by.
As I was walking in my eye was caught by one of the tables set up on
the sidewalk by artists selling their work. Most of it is pretty bad, typical
city photographs in bright colors, everything else is 100% unmemorable. Except
for this...

I was with my sister and Mom and they didn't want to stop but luckily he was still
outside when I was finished seeing the China and the Sargent show. The man
who painted this was from New Delhi and he said he started learning to paint
like this when he was 10 years old. He paints with only 1 hair on his brush in certain areas.
The detail in this one just screamed out to me..

I want to go back and hear more of his story. Amazing what you can find when
you wade through the muck..

He suggested I go back in and see the 4 Van Gogh Iris and Roses , paintings that were painted to
hang together but haven't until now. I'm so glad I did, they are exquisite. If you live in NY
I highly recommend going, it closes on August 16th.

Inspiration

I find my inspiration everywhere but sometimes it just hits me in the face.
I saw the spectacular costume show at the Met China Through the Looking Glass on Tuesday.
The show explores the impact and influences of Chinese art in current fashion and film.
It is only there through September 7th so if you can make it I highly recommend.

I just loved this Balenciaga dress (I'm pretty sure thats who designed it)

And then my painting of the same the next day.

Going with my Gut

I started this years sketchbook with the grand plan to use a much bigger 

sketchbook. 9x11".  I thought it would give me the chance to experiment 

with new techniques and I would have to loosen up more to fit a painting 

in more space in 30 minutes. It did do those things.. But I felt stressed and 

that isn't the point of this project at all. After a month and a half I finally gave 

myself permission to go back to a smaller book, 5x8". 

I could have increased my time limit, it is my project after all. But I have 

lots of other work,  paid work, other personal projects, getting ready for 

Surtex, living my life. It's hard to admit I can't handle what I set out to do 

but life is about making the compromises that make me happy. I am so 

much happier painting the sketchbook at this size. I can do larger paintings 

at other times. 

My moral is to go with your gut and do what makes you happy!

Here's to Good Health

I was struck with another killer migraine today... I start feeling sorry for myself but really I'm so lucky that most days I can make art and live my life. It reminds me to take as much joy in those days that I can.

I heard a story on This American Life today about a blind man who lives as if he can see. It was inspiring. So many people overcome so many extreme obstacles in their lives. I can do it too.

Reflections on a Year of Daily Painting

365 days of painting in a sketchbook

I am looking at 2 sketchbooks with 365 paintings in them. Last January I set the goal of a 30 minute painting a day in these particular books. You can read about my process here.

December 2014

I have never filled a whole sketchbook before but choosing to do this felt right and I knew it would happen. I enjoyed watched the girth of the book grow everyday.

It took amazing discipline and energy to do this, I had some migraines, I traveled, I was busy with other projects and some days I just didn't have the will to get up and do this. But I did it anyway, every day. And I loved it, even the hard times.There were only 2 exceptions where I painted the night before. I was beyond busy and didn't want to forfeit the day.

January 2014

The project is a little insight on my life, I paint what I see, what I'm feeling, who I spent time with, myself and my thoughts. I tried out color combinations and ways to work my paintbrush. I got lazy sometimes and didn't put my all into it, but those days I learned things too.

April 2014

Some days I just couldn't think about color and I just drew with gel pens on a color background, some days I started over 4 times before I realized my 30 minutes was almost up, then I just mushed paint around. But I found my style and my joy. I truly love to paint, I love color, I love creating something on a blank piece of paper.

May 2014

I learned that I have discipline, I wasn't so sure of that! I learned that it's really ok to make mistakes, to hate the piece I did that day, to find a little magic in the hated piece and move on and paint something I love.

I love my community of friends and followers on my social media pages. The encouragement and comments and "likes" all kept me motivated to get up every morning to paint more.
Thank you so much to Janine Vangool of Uppercase Magazine who featured my sketchbook way back in Issue 21 in the spring, And Lisa Congdon. who encouraged me and gave me so much exposure on her blog, and Laura Tarrish who interviewed me for the Design Observer blog. And so many others. (Now I sound like I'm accepting an Oscar) but I'm truly grateful!

I learned that I love to inspire others and I hope everyone will start a daily practice that fits their passion and lifestyle.

September 2014

I never really felt like an artist until this year, even though I've been painting and drawing since I was a child and spent many years working in the textile industry as a designer and stylist.

This year I found what I love and what I am seeking. It's a great feeling.

June 2014

In 2015 I plan to continue 30 minutes a day.. But I want to branch out from only painting in the sketchbook. I want to see what happens when I paint for 30 minutes but the paper is much bigger? What if I use the same paper 5 days in a row and build up layers.  What if I use more mixed media? What about using black or a different colored paper? I might draw more in the paintings. I haven't quite decided how to proceed with the details but I'm not going away, it's changed my life. The constant will be 30 minutes a day.

October 2014

I'm taking off January 1st and can't wait to start a new chapter on the 2nd, Happy New Year!!

You can see my whole year of paintings in the sketchbook section of my website here. I am reposting this there as well. xo Jennifer

December 2014

My Sketchbook, How I do it.

So, I'm in the 10th month of my sketchbook project. This project has become one
of the most rewarding things I've ever done. Really. I mean my husband and son
are really the lifelong part of me that is truly #1 but starting a sketchbook project has
made me a happier person and truer to my real self.
I've met so many wonderful people and have been told so many times that I'm
inspiring them, I feel so special and happy because of that.
Many, many people ask me all the time about how I do this and what supplies I use
and any trick that gets me going... So here it is.

I use this very basic notebook from MUJI. It's approx 5.5x7.5"  It's only $4.50! The paper
quality is not that different from a moleskin notebook in weight but its a little bit smoother,
less of a tooth. It really isn't meant for detailed watercolor, the paper doesn't absorb it well,
and you won't get subtlety.

I mainly use Windsor Newton gouache, but I'll add in Acryla Gouache or even just acrylic
paint. I'll use gel pens or sharpies sometimes. I try to do the 30 minute painting first thing
in the morning, I feel fresh and it helps motivate me for the day. I sometimes know just
what I want to paint.But many times I sit down and am completely flummoxed. I just sit
and think for a few minutes. I may pick up a vintage book of birds, old photos from my
collection. I may see something lying around and it just feels like the thing. I use flower
bouquets that I buy, or a new mug I may have gotten, I take lots of iphone pictures when
I'm out so that gives me ideas too.
I put in earphones, sometimes classical, other times current, maybe something that
makes me sing along. I'm pretty happy while I'm painting. I do a quick pencil sketch,
up to 5 minutes tops, very loosely, I decide the color palette and squeeze out the paint.
Then I put the timer on for 30 minutes
and go. I many times finish in 20 minutes or so but if the timer goes off, wherever I am,
I stop. I spray fixative on them when I'm done. I didn't the first 2 months or so and they
got very distressed looking, the paint rubbed off  the pages onto each other.

Sometimes the paint bleeds through to the other side. It doesn't bother me,
I just paint right over it the next day. I may paint the page a solid color and then
paint or use gel pens to draw over that but I'll also just use the colors that show in
the new painting. Most of it gets covered up anyway...
The whole idea for me is to experiment, have a good time and have a discipline.
The benefits are that I have gotten jobs from this, I have hundreds of pages of
personal reference material, I have tons of new friends, my
confidence has grown and I'm happier. I hope this helps answer some questions.
Please ask more in the comments and I'll answer them all!
you can follow all my daily paintings on instagram @augustwren and see them
on my website here.  Love, Jennifer

Ship in a Bottle

The mini of Month 4 Bootcamp
class is Ship in a Bottle and all things nautical. I really love the water, the beach, a boat ride but nautical isn't
my go to drawing subject. I put it off the first few days. Today was a beautiful day though so I brought out some scrap paper and watercolors and just played around, I think I'm starting to find some joy in this.. It's just hard to start sometimes..

It's just a matter of getting going.

I did pages of these and had a great time. It's good to venture into subject matter
that doesn't initially excite and explore it. I wonder what the assignment will be next Monday?

Book Launch Blog Party!

Remember High School? Well my fellow classmate from #makeartthatsells class has written a book 
How Being Stubborn, Unpopular and Depressed Saved my Life. Her blurb on the book: 
I wrote a super honest, encouraging, vibrant book with the intent to help others [especially teens!]
 feel less alone in this world. By using MY story, and LOTS OF colorful illustrations, I want 
others to realize they aren't alone on those dark, lowest of low days! This is my doodle dream!"

She is a vibrant, sweet honest soul and I'm so happy she asked me to do an illustration for her
book launch party! It's at her blog Nightly Doodles. Lots of fabulous artists have done 
gorgeous work for the party!!
This painting went through a few revisions to be honest. But the premise was there from the start. 
There is isolation and sadness when you are left out but  please, please remember who you are,
and you are special and have so much to offer. Believe in yourself!

R&R

My husband and I took Friday off, what a treat. We went to my brother's
new restaurant, IvanRamen Slurp Shop for lunch. It's so delicious and
what fun. I'm thrilled for him, If you're in NYC I recommend you go.
Our plan was to go to the Frick to see the amazing Dutch paintings, Girl
with a Pearl Earring among them but we didn't plan enough in advance and
couldn't get tickets. Instead we went out to PS1 MOMA in Queens. I hadn't
been there in so long. The show was a retrospective of Mike Kelley.
I admit I wasn't familiar with him and my first impression was not great.
There were lots of videos with screams and noise.. ughh I hated that part.
Then I saw this:

Tons of costume jewelry glued in to the canvas in an
incredible pattern. Gorgeous, we were both gasping!
and this:

Stuffed Animals all sewn together in big balloon like constellations.
It was a little disturbing because all of the animals were facing in so you
couldn't see their eyes. It is visually very incredible.
Then a long corridor of large portraits of poets and philosophers with quotes,

It was a complete turn around from our plans but I'm very glad we saw this.
The building at PS1 is also very beautiful

I'm taking the rest of the year to organize myself, spend a few days with my
son who will only be home for 5 days this holiday, and rest up.
I wish everyone a wonderful holiday and New Year!

IF-Spirit and Giveaway

In the spirit of the Holidays I'm offering a giveaway of
a print of this gouache painting. Just leave a comment here
or go on over to my facebook page, like the page, comment,
share whichever you like.
Thanks so much for looking at my work this year!
I will leave the giveaway open until Friday Dec. 20 at midnight,

Truth

As the end of the year approaches I'm thinking alot about finding
what I truly love, finding my joy and my voice. I was never one
for using inspirational words in my art but for some reason it's
resonating right now for me. So I'm going to explore it and see where it
takes me. This is still a work in process, it will say Truth. That is where
I am right now, to find my truth.