It's my turn!

I'll be the featured artist at Kennedy Gallery from July 5 thru August 6th!  I'm excited about it.  This is one that I'll be bringing; a 16 x 20 print of Wine and Grapes.  It's really pretty, a print from my first still-life - from life!

My works will also be decorating the walls at the Lake Forest Cafe in Folsom from July 12 thru Sept. 3!  Pretty exciting to be there, too!  It's a very nice little restaurant, only open for breakfast and lunch - fabulous, well-known, popular place to go!

Frosting the Cake PIP

Here it is, as promised and as requested, the photo of Frosting the Cake, painting in progress (PIP).  It's so fun to work on paintings in public!  I get so many comments!  Those comments help confirm that I'm on the right track in my goal with the painting!

Working the Gallery

I worked the gallery today; as always, I had fun.  I really enjoy talking with people who come in to look!  I worked on my painting, "Frosting the Cake", and that's something I really love to do!  I made some progress - didn't get a photo so I'll have to post one later.

The Three of Us

The original painting of "The Three of Us" was sold yesterday, but not to worry!  Cali Color is my print-maker, and they do a fabulous job!  The prints look very much like the originals!

July is coming up so fast!  I'm still hoping to have a couple of new pieces for my exhibit at Kennedy Gallery, since I'm the featured artist for July.  I'll be working on "Frosting the Cake" today before I go to the gallery to take my turn working there from 3 - 6.

Frosting the Cake

After work, I came straight home and painting on the new painting, entitled Frosting the Cake.  It took a while to get the initial layer of paint on - kept having to re-work parts!  First I had the hand too big, then the cake was too small - now it's looking pretty good, still in progress, obviously, but here it is.  It's 11 X 14 and I'm painting on linen canvas, which has become my favorite surface.  This one is stretched canvas, and I recently purchased a set of three linen canvas panels.  I also really like the firm surface.

3 Stages at Folsom Lake College Show

Dennis Cleary graciously shared his photo of me with my painting. The reception was very nice; Folsom has many very talented artists! Each of us could enter one piece, so the show includes quite a variety of styles and media. It was fun chatting with the other artists that I haven't seen for a while, too!

Sweet Charlotte

I worked on Sweet Charlotte today; the owner has waited so patiently!  It's coming along.  I feel that my weakest point in my painting is perspective, so I like it when I'm challenged with perspective.  The little pretend sink has lots of lines and angles - making it look "right", well, I'm working on it...by the time it's finished it'll be believable and I will have the learned from doing it!

3 Stages Show Reception

Tomorrow night is the reception for the 3 Stages Art Show at 10 College Parkway in Folsom, from 6 - 8.  Come join me if you want to see some terrific art by the members of  Folsom Arts Association.  I have one painting in the show.  I'm looking forward to seeing the show, old friends, and all the art lovers sure to be attending!  I chose to enter a painting of the building on the corner of Sutter Street and Riley;  I named it "Old Town Tower"; it was THE gas station many years ago!  I figured it was appropriate to enter a painting of Folsom.  It's a small piece, just 11 X 14, so it's a very affordable original oil painting, at $380!

New Exhibit at the Kennedy Gallery

I really love my new chairs and table set!

Marketing and the bookkeeping

Today I'm working on the books and the marketing - a time-consuming-but-necessary facet of my art world!  My online gallery at http://www.yessy.com/JennyBriggsArt is now up to date with all the pricing corrected, etc.

Yesterday was really fun, I really enjoyed spending time down on Sutter Street in Folsom!  Gloria and I had fun talking to people who were coming by to see us.  Then at Kennedy Gallery for the evening; it started out kind of slow, but we had a steady flow of art-lovers coming through!  My new table and chairs set looks fabulous in my space; I forgot my camera there, so I'll have to post that pic later.  I like that I can sit down and rest once in a while, and LOVE that I can sit down with a client and give them my full attention!

I now have 5 students signed up for my workshop - room for 5 more - I think it'll fill up.

It was a long day, but a good one!

2nd Saturday in Folsom and then Sacramento

First, just a little side note; a friend pointed out to me Thursday night that my pricing was inconsistent.  She was right; I hadn't realized I had gotten it so wierd!  Anyway, I corrected the problem, and while I was at it, I lowered some of my prices as well!  The original paintings of the first shoe series are now priced at $375 each, and the new little 8 X 8 paintings of the second shoe series are now priced at $125!

Tomorrow is 2nd Saturday, for which, if you've been following my blog, you know that I'll be at Gem N I Gallery in Folsom (815 Sutter Street), from 11 - 2:30, and then at the Kennedy Gallery Art Center from about 4 - 9.  I'm really looking forward to it spending time in Folsom - I found some really great pieces of furniture on Sutter Street for my wall at Kennedy Gallery and some cool clothes too!; there were lots of people in town, too!  Now that the renovations are completed, it's really nice!

The Kennedy Gallery is also looking great with all the resident artists taking their spaces back; it seems like a fresh new gallery!

My Wall at Kennedy Gallery

I have my wall back at Kennedy Gallery!  I took out all those nails, spackled, painted, and hung my art back on my wall!  It looks great - I'll post photos, but they're not very good ones.  I took them with my phone; didn't have my camera.  I'll repost the photos Friday, as long as I remember my camera Thursday!

I divided my wall in two; one side dedicated to the shoe paintings, all originals now!  It really looks nice!  The other half is other work that I do.  I don't know if it looks like two seperate artists or not - I wonder if my brushstrokes are recognizable now so you can tell when you see a painting that's mine.

The Shoe Lady

OK, so I guess I AM the Shoe Lady!  I have said I don't want to BE the Shoe Lady.  But in fact I AM the Shoe Lady!  I've decided that's ok, since they do make people smile, which is my main goal for my art.  I'm still going to focus on PAINTED MEMORIES now, but I enjoyed painting the shoes - it WAS fun!   Between the first set of 11 X 14's, and the 8 X 8 pieces for the 20-20 show, I've done 33 paintings of shoes.  I think that's enough for now!  Moving on is ok, it's the way to grow and learn! 

I've decided to release the originals of the first series of shoes, called "Going For The Look", in which there were 7 paintings, all 11 X 14.  I found matching frames, and painted the trim area to match the shoe, so they make a great set.  I'll be bringing them to Kennedy Gallery tomorrow for the June exhibit there.  They are now priced at $695 each.

My Workshop in July

I'm registering people for my workshop July 16th.  It's going to be really fun; I'll be discussing "The Color of the Air (setting the mood), Color-Mixing, and Color-Bouncing (reflected color).  I'll be including a small demo, talking about my way of color-mixing, showing how to bounce color around on a painting, and then guiding students through their own small painting.  I'm really looking forward to it!  Not that I think I'm a master painter, by any means!  However, I DO know more than some, and am excited about sharing with those who want to learn.  I plan to use my former teacher, Rick Leandro, as my pattern; he was so willing to share any and all of his knowledge!