15 Painted Selfies

I painted 15 selfies this year. Its fun to see the changes in seasons in my clothes.

 Here is a link to slideshow but I don't think it works very well....

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Here are a few of my favorites!

And I just found one that I left out....

Selfie in Yellow, brown and black

Meditation and other things

The May Bootcamp assignment turned out to be an editorial illustration for an article
on meditation. I really enjoyed this one, and the other benefit is that I've been meditating
daily since starting this which has had a very positive effect. A little more clarity. Now to
keep it up!
I've added lots of pages to my sketchbook.. You can follow me daily @augustwren on
instagram. This project has really been amazing for me. It's been eye opening for me to
learn that I can produce like this on a daily basis, that I have the resolve to do it
everyday. The best part is that I have inspired others to start their own sketchbook,
that is the best part by far, it makes me so happy!
Here are a few recent spreads..

Dolls and Faces

I don't think I could have more fun with an assignment! The mini this week at Make Art That Sells is
to draw dolls and faces. This is my go to!! I do it all the time, my notebooks are just filled with them.
So I had a fantastic week with this.

I saw this doll at the local church sale last week, just begging to be painted!!

And these are real people that look like dolls!! My sister in yellow and my Mom in the 40"s from
an old black and white photo.

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!

Jell-o, Jelly and Moulds

I can't believe its almost a month since I posted. I just can't keep up with
everything.. I try to do too many things and then sometimes nothing gets done.
Like the blog.
I'm in month 2 of Make Art that Sells bootcamp. The mini is Jell-o, Jelly
moulds. My first reaction on monday morning was Oh, Gross. It took a day
to sink in before I even could start the assignment. Once I got over the fact
that I wouldn't touch the stuff with a 10 ft pole it got more interesting, (and
disgusting) In the 50's and 60's people made Jello with other foods suspended
in it. Like fruit, meat, spaghetti, I don't know what else but GAG. But the good
side is that the shapes are sort of awesome and the colors are happy.
Don't they look like they could be cool hats? I did..

We'll find out what the assignment is on Monday morning. I'm sure a wrench
will be thrown in.

New Project

I have lots of ideas for projects this year buzzing around my head.. One is
the commitment to do a painting a day in my sketchbook which I started
about a month ago. I decided though to post them on my website sketchbook
section so they will all stay together. I will continue to add other work, projects and
ideas here. If you'd like I'd love for you to visit me there too.

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.

Nelson Mandela

Sometimes it's just hard being an artist, I've been having a
crises of confidence lately...
...and then we are reminded of a
man like Nelson Mandela who was a man of such dignity,
and courage.
This particular quote spoke to me.
"When people are determined they can overcome anything"

Paint Sketches for Fun

For relaxation I'm going to spend 1/2 hour every day with my sketchbook,
paint and play. Here are a few pages from Day 1. so much more to come.

On another note, I set up a directory at MOYO and If you'd like to click the
heart and give me some love it would be so appreciated!

Thanks so much xoxoJennifer

IF-Moustache

When the word moustache came up for Illustration Friday I just jumped
right on that bandwagon, what fun! I've been wanting to work on portraits
and flowers and incorporate the collage and painting techniques I've been
playing with the last month. Here he is, the urban farmer hipster as coffee
cup (?) and all the ideas brewing.

A Beginning of a Series

While I was painting my backgrounds the last 2 weeks for Mati's class,
I felt compelled to start a series of memory portraits. I don't know where
I'm going with the other paintings yet but I have a clear vision of what I'd
like to do with these.
I had a very bad spell with my migraines last weekend, basically not being
able to get out of bed. The pain gets so bad but I am still so aware of the
world around me, that it's a beautiful day outside, the birds are chirping, life
is going on around me. I always feel optimistic that I'll be back in real
life soon..(and I am better than I was last year, much better) I want to paint
my isolation, yet the activity and the beauty of nature and friends and family.
I had thought about doing migraine paintings before but I always thought
about them as being dark and dreary, that's not where I am with it now. I am
trying to make something good from the bad. Below is the beginning of a second
painting.

Off to the Beach!!

I'm so excited to take a week at the beach with my family next week.
My son will be leaving the next week back to college, he was so busy
this summer with work and friends I barely saw him. This will be the time
for all of us to take a well deserved rest. Of course I have big plans.. We
will all paint something together, I will sketch a lot, I will read and write.
Who knows, I may just sleep in the sun the whole time.. and that will be ok
too.

This painting is of my Mom many years ago, I found this great old picture
in my stash.
Here is a shot of the painting in progress. I messed up the eyes a little bit
and I don't have time to fix.. But that's what happens sometimes when you
paint..

Portrait 4th Day

Here is another painting taken from my sketches from Central Park
last week. The last few paintings were in ink and watercolor, This one
is gouache which is my favorite.

Portraits Day 3

Yesterday was the most beautiful day, it was the perfect temperature
with a nice breeze. (The rest of the summer has been boiling hot or raining)
I decided to get out of my studio and spend time sketching people. I sat in
Central Park in NYC for a long time and sketched the people sunbathing and
walking around.

This morning I started painting from my sketches, Just playing around and
having fun.

Portraits Day2

This is my Mom, her hair was coiffed and she was in a black
dress with a single strand of white pearls. I've been digging
through this giant collection of old photos, I just love drawing
the people and imagining what was going on.

Mom and Dad when they first got married.

I made these ones up.  Just painting to see what will
happen!

Portraits

I'm starting a new personal project. Daily Portraits. I learned so much in
April and May when I did the paintings a day.  I've been wanting
to explore different techniques and play with what I can do with faces
and expressions and stylizing.
I am painting here from my old photo collection. The top middle woman
is my grandmother when she was young, With a mean expression on her face!
The older man is my grandfather.
The lady with the sunglasses is my 5th grade teacher, She had an awesome
square bun smack on the top of her head.

Faces Paint Challenge Day 12

Today a hit a big wall on this challenge. I started and stopped
many different ideas that just were not going to pan out. I
finally settled on practicing some faces. I tried some new
techniques for me, like adding the lines and I like them.
Many times when I have a big block I'll just stop for a while
and do something else but I have promised myself a painting a
day this month so I just pushed through. Better than just posting
a big dot of paint for the day.

IF-Glasses

I'm always struggling to find glasses that
I like on my face. I love when I see people
wearing really cool big colorful ones. How
many pairs do you try on before you find
something you like? It takes me forever...

Dad

My Dad was the wise one, he had a big smile and big heart. He
would entertain us with stories, comfort us, advise us, teach us,
make us laugh and sometimes make us just roll our eyes.
He was a wonderful husband to my Mom for 57 years, a great
father and grandfather, a lawyer, a painter, a sculptor, and a great
friend. Dad died suddenly on Friday night, what a shock.
We will miss him terribly.

This picture is taken many years ago on the "Julian Trivers
Memorial Walk". We took it every year, he with his "Jack",
me with my wine, (I must be holding the photographers beer)
in honor of a neighbor with that name.
Bye Dad, I love you so much.

PS. I've just been reminded.. although Dad is a Jack Daniels guy,
the proper drink on the Julian Trivers walk is a Gin and Tonic.