"Seascape"

"Seascape"

Acrylic on Canvas

11 X 14

As I worked on my 8 X 10 Van Gogh, I had so much extra paint from being used to larger pieces that I decided not to waste, but to play with another original. This is what came out of that! Honestly these colors make me feel calm, nostalgic, and energized all at the same time.. I could paint and paint and paint with just these colors.

I'm glad I was pushed to paint another one because I think the more I practice, the better! My hubby thinks my waves are improving =D

"Jessica's Van Gogh"

"Jessica's Van Gogh"
Acrylic on Canvas
8 X 10

Honestly I signed this after Monet thinking it was one of his and when I was checking the title of the painting for my blog, I realized I had the wrong artist!!! This feels alot like a Monet, but it is actually a Van Gogh. It is called "The Sea at Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer" and if you click the title, it will take you to a website with a picture of his piece for you to see.

I hope you like it! My first Van Gogh recreation and I didn't even realize it!

"Jessica's Monet #8"

"Jessica's Monet #8"
Acrylic on Canvas
11 X 14
Commissioned

This piece was delightful to recreate. Commissions can be nerve wracking, but I so enjoy Monet's work that this would've been one I would've chosen to paint for my own pleasure eventually. His pieces make you feel the weather. You can almost smell the air. The sea is probably just past the horizon. I can picture the cliffs Monet loved to paint and can even hear the waves crashing against them. Makes me really want to go to the beach!

The piece I referenced for this commission is called "Woman With a Parasol" or in typical Monet form (and other painters of the time) otherwise know as "Study of a Figure Outdoors (Facing Left)". I have to admit this latter name made me giggle a little. He seems to make sure there is no emotion brought into the painting through the name in any way, Which, I do admit, I appreciate greatly. Many modern artists give lavish or 'deeply thought through' names to their paintings... Monet operates free from emotion and sentiment which isn't found much today. And yet his paintings are full of feelings and thoughts and energy. I'm glad he left the emotion within the painting itself and allows the viewer to pull it all out on their own! This small thing makes me appreciate his work that much more... and is why you see me naming my work in a similar way...  Jessica's Monet #1, #2, #3 etc. , "Sailboats"... ha! Doesn't get much simpler than that.

I hope you enjoyed seeing and reading a little more about this and I hope you pull from my work some small pleasure and nostalgia as I greatly pull it from Monet's work and from the process of recreating his work for others to enjoy.

"Sailboats"

"Sailboats"
Acrylic on Canvas
12 X 24

It's rare for me to work without a reference photo, but since it is a goal to eventually be able to paint without one, I occasionally retest my skills. I have been working with alot of Monets and water and sailboats, so it seemed plausible to be able to put together my own piece now that I have had alot of practice! I am still in need of many hours (probably years) of practice before I will be satisfied with my own original pieces, but I see marked improvement and that is always a good step forward.

I will have to put together an album with just original work so you can see the progression. (Check it out on Facebook!) I usually end up painting over them, though there are a couple that are up on the walls. Still, they are the first ones on the list to scrap if I run out of canvas!

Hope you enjoy this most recent original!

"Jessica's Monet #7"

"Jessica's Monet #7"
Acrylic on Canvas
30 X 40

I decided a change above my fireplace was in order. I have a fall painting up there now, but am really into sailboats (and summer....); so decided to paint a new large one. This is another inspired by Monet. I would say recreation of, but I don't try to copy it exactly, so I prefer to say a new version of his piece. His is titled "Sailboat At Le Petit Gennevilliers". Click the link to see what his looks like!
The picture I've included of it makes it seem so small, so here are a couple pictures from my phone to give a better idea. (My son helped me with this!)

"Wild Horses"

Photo by Kathryn Everett

"Wild Horses"
Acrylic on Canvas
16 X 20
Commissioned

I did this painting awhile ago and posted it on my facebook page, but realized I never wrote about it. This was my first black and white painting. (and only so far). The photo reference is also black and white. Photographed by Kathryn Everett. She asked equine artists to donate work to send to an auction in Arizona to support the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group. I am not sure if it made it in time! I was in such a hurry to try to get it to her before the most recent auction that I forgot to photograph it with my professional camera, so my phone picture will have to do!

Kathryn Everett's photo is included for you to enjoy as well!

"Harvey's Lake in Summer"

"Harvey's Lake in Summer"
Acrylic on Canvas
12 X 24

I grew up by this lake. I have painted a picture of it before which my sister now has on her walls. It was one of my favorite places while growing up! I learned to swim here, drive a boat, kayak, canoe, cook hot-dogs on an open fire. I learned to love the sound of water and even of boat engines. I learned to skate on this lake.. I skied across it, fished from it, swam across it, galloped my horses through it. It was a witness to my childhood.

Now my own children have splashed in it, my husband and I have walked by it, my grandparents were baptized in it. So many memories! 

Cedarbrook Studio on Facebook

I was delighted to discover a Vermont photographer who has taken many pictures of places I knew as a child. She has graciously given me permission to use them in my paintings. Please check out Cedarbrook Studio with photography by Sarah and enjoy the beautiful photograph I used for this painting.




Here is my older painting of the same location.

"Jessica's S. L. Booth"

"Jessica's S. L. Booth"
Acrylic on Canvas
16 X 20

Family put out an unintentional, friendly challenge to try something a little different. There is a piece of art by Samuel L. Booth called "Near Dean Wood, Rivington" that was shared on facebook. A lot of friends and family loved it, so I rolled up my sleeves and recreated it. Since it is a piece that is older, I am able to copy the work without breaking copyright laws. I would not be able to print the photo of the real painting, but I am able to paint my own copy and to even sell it so long as it is not produced as though it were my own idea (Forgery anyone??) (and is of a painting from someone who died 70 + years ago). I also sign my copied pieces with credit to the original artist and share a link to the photo of the original piece whenever I post about it to my blog (or at least the title so you can find it!). Click on the original's title and it will take you to a website with a picture and info on the original!

In any case, I hope you like this one!

"Jessica's Monet #6"

"Jessica's Monet #6"
Acrylic on Canvas
16 X 20
Sold

Now I wish it were summer! This looks so enticing! Reminds me of Vermont summers on the lake. Looks like a storm is coming though! I can't get enough of Monet's sailboats. He painted so many other things, but these are what makes me want to paint the most! His painting I referenced is called "The Red Boats, Argenteuil" you can take a look here!

It will only be on the wall for a couple weeks since my sister snatched it up before the paint was dry!
Glad she liked it! Now I need to find more sailboats to paint!

"Stallion"

"Stallion"
Acrylic on Canvas
16 X 20

So moods are weird. One day I'm trying something different and then next I'm painting over it. Same picture from couple days ago, but after it was dry I just couldn't visually pull the horse out enough when I was contemplating it, so I played around and made a few (okay a lot of) changes. Can't miss that it's a Rocky Mountain horse if you are aware of them! And, good or bad lighting, the horse pops off it now! Eventually I will do another detailed horse portrait; but this was a fun experiment.

Again, Thanks to my friends from Cedar Grove Farm for their photograph!

Here is the before version 

95% Finger Painting!

"Stallion"
Acrylic on Canvas
16 X 20

Photo by CGF

So I promised a finger painting of a horse with a photo reference this week. This is what came of that. Totally different from any of my other pieces. My other portrait pieces are more technical. I wanted to try something different this time. Something less intense, but more original and with movement. Part of what I do is EXPERIMENT! I only paint what I like (cuz you never know if you will sell something!) I have way too much fun, is all I can say and my walls have lots of color on them now!

Hope you like it.

p.s. Did I mention how much I love this horse???

Reference photo is by Cedar Grove Farm. Thank you for permission to use your photos!!




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