The Daily Spectrum - Gallery Wall Talks #22

The story behind this painting is rather unique - never mind that it's one of the very few works I've done where the subject is an animal. My youngest daughter, Catherine, absolutely LOVES horses. The last part of that sentence may even be an understatement. She has been involved with them, in one way or another, since she first laid eyes on one as a young child of seven.

After moving to Maine in the mid-90's, we searched out local farms as well as 4-H groups / clubs in order to find opportunities for Catherine to continue riding and learning about horses. One such place was then-called Hidden River - a large farm and horse boarding facility that, ironically, was nowhere near a "hidden" river. The facility was actually in Warren right on Route 1, which is the major thoroughfare in Mid-coast Maine. A wonderful woman named Marcy was the owner and riding instructor.

In 2003, Marcy purchased a 17-hand high horse named Extabi (pronounced Ex-tobby - rhymes with "hobby). The horse, from what I understood, was larger than the average in the breed, as they usually stand 12 hands high. Being the first and only horse painting I have ever done, I needed Catherine's help in drawing the legs, as she knew (by that time) a horses anatomy by heart.

The finished work was almost as big as the horse, comparatively speaking to other sized paintings. It measured 48"x48" on masonite board. My husband had to photograph it on the floor of our farmhouse due to the size and weight. This painting was given to Marcy in 2004 and is still in her possession.

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Daily Spectrum - Gallery Wall Talks #21

Throughout my Gallery Wall Talk series of blogs, I've mentioned several times that a major part of my art mission statement is the concept of beauty and capturing it on canvas or whichever material I happen to be painting on during any given day. Another love I've mused about is sunflowers. Certain aspects have always struck me about this particular plant. I love the colors, their boldness, and their uniqueness. Put the first two together and you can see why I love painting them!

Today's featured work is a watercolor on canvas, 11"x14" in size. Remember what I wrote about in regards to inspiration in yesterday's blog? That it can come from almost anywhere? This painting was no exception. I happen to me thumbing through a Woman's Day magazine (this was back in 2007) and came across a picture similar to my finished painting.

The bench in the painting was my personal one I had near one of my gardens. The watering cans were a combination of what was featured in the magazine as well as ones that a neighbor of mine had. I totally improvised in regards to the flowers.

I liked how the texture of the canvas could manipulate the run of the water below the red can onto the bench, then flowing onto the ground. Since the medium was watercolor, I had to be extremely careful not to use too much water for the effect, or the entire painting (or at least the bottom third) would have been ruined.

This pleasant, calming art work has a permanent place on my kitchen wall.

Until next time,
The Happy Artist,
Jill

The Daily Spectrum - Gallery Wall Talks #20

As I've written before, every painting - whether it be on canvas, paper, or masonite; watercolor, acrylic, or oil - is unique and different. Even if I produce a series of works, all created in the same medium on the same materials, no two are the same.

Some works highlight a subject that is readily identifiable, like a floral or seascape. Some not so much like my numerous abstracts. Some are a combination of both like my abstract "Hidden Words" series, some of which were featured in a gallery showing back in 2012.

The inspiration for these works can be a simple, basic concept - whether that inspiration is in front of me in real life or from a photograph. Others come from the deeper levels of my consciousness - in other words, I can explain the end result much better than the original thoughts. At times, there is no thinking process; the paint and brush just flow where they will.

The work featured today is called "Chinese Squares". The work is a watercolor on canvas, 11"x14" in size. I gave this painting as a gift to a co-worker and friend at a time when she was getting prepared to leave for China. She had been there before and had an opportunity to go back. She asked what my inspiration for this painting was. She then discussed parts of the Chinese language such as pictograms as well as simple and complex ideograms.

I told her the symbols in the painting represent all I wished for her to have in her life - hope, peace, love, and prosperity. I then told her I saw something similar in a magazine and was inspired by it. See what I mean? Plain and simple inspiration. No digging through history or complex choices. I saw something, I liked it, it inspired me - I painted it. She absolutely loved the painting and still has it to this day.

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Daily Spectrum - Gallery Wall Talks #19

I believe there are several stages that every human being goes through during their lifetime. Some are wonder-filled and joyous - some can be rather painful. The end of 2005 until late 2006, was a pain filled time for me. My left knee, which I was already having difficulties with for several years, finally gave out one day while I was at work. I made a doctors appointment, had my knee x-rayed, and was scheduled to have a total (upper and lower) knee replacement. That surgery occurred in June of 2006.

To deal with the sometimes incredible pain, I was prescribed Vicadin (a powerful pain medication). Due to the nature of the drug, I was unable to focus or relax. I existed in a drug induced fog.

Just before the surgery, we sold our 9-room farmhouse, packed everything up, and moved to a smaller, but spacious, two bedroom apartment, since both our daughters would be in college full time by that upcoming fall. This apartment was on the first floor of another old farmhouse and even had room for a small art studio.

After the surgery and while recuperating, I saw a vision on a blank section of my living room wall. I had begun a spiritual program that year, was researching numerous world religions, so my mind was filled with various images.

When I was able to move around more comfortably, I painted the vision I saw. While from a distance, it may look like one huge eye, but upon closer inspection, it represents my God who is all seeing and all love; caring for every need.

We are all on a journey. This work called "The All-Seeing Eye" has several key parts to it. The eyelashes represent humanity through life stages - birth on the left and death on the right. Somewhere in life hopefully everyone has a spiritual awakening and learns to live in peace and harmony in close contact with others as well as God.This painting is 30x40 inches on stretched canvas and is still in my possession. It has also been used for certain abstract designs in clothing and textiles.

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Daily Spectrum - Gallery Wall Talks #18

This painting was inspired by something that didn't exist yet. I had a grandiose garden plan for my half acre back yard / property. Fairly ambitious or downright crazy? You can decide and hold the comments please. In a nutshell, I wanted a Japanese pagoda with a dining area, a fish pond of some type, and a long circular garden path that wrapped around the perimeter.

While the plan never came to fruition, I thoroughly enjoyed the dream as well as creating the design. However, I received the most enjoyment from painting it. Painting the concept was also far easier than executing the idea. Looking back, I feel it had something to do with not necessarily using a shovel, but the fact that the entire back yard would have to be excavated.

2005 was a tumultuous year at our house; our oldest daughter was away at her first year of college (and all that entailed with that event) and our second daughter was in the full throngs of teenage-hood at age sixteen... need I say more?

I started reading books on Japanese tea ceremonies and long desperately for a serene escape. Like all things in life - whether a garden, teenagers, college, or what-have-you, "this too shall pass". I embrace the same concept with my paintings - even if I'm enjoying the process to the fullest, I know this moment will indeed pass. I can embrace it... and enjoy it... now.

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Daily Spectrum - Gallery Wall Talks #17

I have blogged this before - those who know me realize that I am, without a doubt, a flower lover! One of my favorite pastimes is to create gardens. Whether they are little (or not so little), I love creating an oasis of beauty in a sea of green grass. My gardens also provide me with inspiration to paint. I grow daises, irises, daffodils, roses, crocuses, hyacinths, columbines, hibiscus, tulips, and a myriad more.

I once had a garden of 100 daffodils while living in Massachusetts. My first garden was a circle of chrysanthemums. I patiently waited all summer for that garden to grow, not realizing that the mums were a fall blooming flower. Slight oversight, but what a burst of color when every other garden in the neighborhood was done for the year.

The following year, I re-dug the circle into a unique half moon shape and filled it with flowers that would bloom at different times during the spring, summer, and fall. With careful planning and a floral creative process, I achieved growth and color for approximately six months.

I must do the same with my paintings - have a loose plan and an effective creative process. The painting is more than just the paint. It's the canvas (or whatever material I'm painting on), the paint, the brushes, the thickness of the paint, the color mixing, etc. If I'm true to myself as well as my process, the work will be a success - whether in sale, or inspiration, or educational.

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill

The Daily Spectrum - Gallery Wall Talks #16

And so the conversation began - "... This painting was difficult to do." This particular work drove me almost to the brink on several fronts. Everything from contemplating to painting over it and creating something else, to making it more abstract, to putting the unfinished work away for several months and then tackling it again. One particular aspect that drove me crazy were the details. For example, painting in small windows using fairly large brushes.

I also learned what not to do. Even though I find the small town villages of Maine's picturesque and historic ports - I will not paint them ever again. Through my creative process, I have also learned my limits. One of those limits is when I realize that painting is no longer fun and it becomes a chore.

One of the allures of these ocean-side towns is that they have character. Many people fall in love with the "romance" as well as the history. We are one of the few areas left in the United States where these historic buildings and quaint houses still reside along the shore, and haven't been overtaken by condos and hotels.

I feel that the long, sometimes harsh winters, have preserved this area and these buildings from corporation take-overs. Local citizens, who also embrace the history and character of the area, help in this preservation.

Like the apple tree painting that was highlighted in yesterdays blog, this work was also done on canvas paper, measures 18x24 inches in size, and is still in my collection.

Until next time,
The Happy Painter,
Jill