..and relief washes over me in an awesome wave

I learned an important lesson the hard way.  Saying no upfront is a lot easier than living in agony for two months and then saying 'ok, no'.  I just want to go on record saying, no non-portrait commissions for me.  Anyway, happy day, I am free to paint for myself again.  

In celebration, please enjoy this pretty picture by Steven Meisel.

A productive and very fragrant day

Today I helped a friend put together her store on Etsy.  Tara handmakes her own soaps and they are AWESOME.   Check it out:  www.splintsanddaisies.etsy.com  

What are you doing here?

Two new products

Prismacolor colorless blender and the 005 Pigma Micron. (Somebody went to Michael's today!) I made this as a gift for someone's little girl. Thought it was cute. I'm obsessed with those neo-classical era miniature portraits, I'm channeling Jane Austen these days.

Mary Cassatt - Surprise! She's awesome.

I was perusing a bookstore a few months ago and ran across a book of prints by Mary Cassatt. I was stunned by these images. Apparently after studying here in Philadelphia at PAFA, she went to Europe and was exposed to an exhibition of Japanese prints, which prompted these works. I think they are beautiful and, dare I say, a little edgy!

As a young female artist, I always had a soft spot for her work, mainly because there weren't a lot of famous women painters to look up to, at least not that I was exposed to. The fact that I didn't know these existed until just this year really bothered me, they are amazing! I think you get a much better sense of her skill at composition in these prints. I am exploring the use of pattern in composition so I have been staring at these pretty frequently. There are several more, and many are even better, but I had a hard time finding great images for this post.

In my non-specific, ill-informed mind, the name "Mary Cassatt" always evoked a kind of school-marmish, aww isn't that sweet but a little pukey notion. Now I when I hear her name, I'll think of her more as my nineteenth century skanky-haired, bracelet-wearing, madonna-ish pop-icon painter.

Happily, art history is being re-written to include more women that we never heard about. Which I think is great, because damn-it, young girls need heros too.

UPDATE: see new images. Or, go visit the site: http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/cassatt/cassatt-main1.html

Something New

I liked this drawing and format because it looked like the girl is looking in the mirror on her way out the door. Matt thinks it looks exactly like me.

and the winner is......... ME!! with "Head Cheerleader"

OK, so maybe I'm just a self-proclaimed winner. For anyone who is interested, you can see photos of our 2nd annual pumpkin carving contest here:

http://junglist.org/images/gallery/v/2007/pumpkins/

We're an impressive bunch, I know.

Alex Katz - Freaking AWESOME American Painter

I love Alex Katz's paintings. They always seem so fresh, like they were just painted. Even when elements within them look dated (like clothing) the vibrant colors make them feel current and crisp. I am also fascinated by how absolutely American they feel. Thoughts?

I apologize for my lack of personal painting posts, I have been busy with other things. I have learned to accept the ebb and flow of my work style. Thanks for checking in!

Also, there is a movie about Mr. Katz and his process. I haven't seen it yet - but I hope to check it out soon.

Dawn - 8 x 10

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are my favorite days; I get to paint. I started this painting today using a a new process.

Elizabeth Peyton - American Painter

You can read a little bit about her here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Peyton

Or if you are really fancy and stuff, you can buy her book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Peyton/dp/0847827526

She's awesome. *sigh*

Fashionista #2 - Finished!

UPDATE: This painting is now available on ebay.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140162363416

Laura - Finished!

UPDATE: Laura is for sale at my etsy store:

www.painterjones.etsy.com

Laura

I'm posting this now because I'm about to attempt some detail work that might destroy it, plus I need to entertain my loyal reader(s) at work who are currently blocked from certain websites.  

UPDATE:  Paris Hilton is planning a humanitarian trip to Rwanda?!  OMG!  Derp! 

awesome boyfriend + prismacolor markers + free-time at work = greatest business cards ever

My First Ebay Item

I've never bought or sold anything on ebay, but have read about other self-representing artists who have been so successful they got to quit their day jobs. So I thought I'd give it a shot, at least in doing so, I figured out how to sell something. I posted the melancholy model last night, just for kicks. Check it out (or heck, you can even bid on it!) :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140156210939

UPDATE: SOLD!! My first ebay sale!! Thank you to everyone for your bids, it went to someone in Salt Lake City! I know a couple of you are a little miffed about it, but at least now I know someone other than my friends and family want my artwork! I'll have more up soon.

Lonely Girls

Really weird drawings...

Everbody Work! (or doodle)

I just found this notebook in my studio that is awesome for work doodles. Bring a few markers and your practically painting. *sigh*

This is the greatest gift anyone ever gave me. Thank you Kyle's mom. http://www.dickblick.com/zz103/65/

If Dawn and Matt Dallas from Kyle XY had a Baby

Young Woman of Nineteen

Hmm...

Progress..

Value Scale Practice

I was recently glared at by a teacher when asked if I draw regularly.  I never draw anymore.  I was also told to do a 9 step value scale at least once a day.  That's not going to happen, so I'm going with reproducing fashion magazine photos in pencil.  Much more fun.  I haven't done this in a while.  Looking at it, I do have a lot to work on, my drawings are as bad as my photo printing! Gray, gray, gray.  I have an amazingly talented 15 year old cousin who could school me in pencil drawing.  I recently looked at one of his drawings he had thrown out and I wanted to cry.   Ugh, why did I stop drawing?  Fool!

Everybody Work

I really want an eye patch to perform right brain experiments. I've discussed this with some of you. My birthday is coming up! Doodling at work again..

Work in Progress - Protest Annie

Sorry for the blurry photo. You can't use a flash with wet paint, and generally I am just shooting these quickly in my studio. I'll get better, I promise!

Work in Progress - Fashionista-a-month?

In addition to compiling old things, I am painting new things, I swear. To prove it, here is a painting I started today.  I am also working on a portrait of a friend at a protest that I may post later.  The above painting has been quite a challenge.  Sometimes when I start with a white canvas I feel as if I've forgotten everything I ever learned.  Today was one of those days. My palette is a piece of glass covered in mud and I just had to walk away.  I think it is an OK start.

A quick note about this young woman, she is always willing to pose for me, both in support of my art and well, her own self-proclaimed vanity!  She is fantastic.  Every artist should have shamelessly vain friends!  She and my sister are my two main models and someday I will have to do compilation posts for each of them.  (Yay! I love cataloguing.)

Thank you LK! You are absolutely lovely inside and out.

Who knew this would be so embarrassing? Self Portrait Compilation Part One

Speaking of Frida Kahlo

Well, I just absolutely love her. That's all.