Bluebonnets for April

This was a commission piece for a client who was originally from Texas. She wanted a painting of bluebonnets, the state flower. I don't usually do commissions anymore, but I was given free rein to come up with how and what I wanted to paint.   Never having been to Texas, I had to research to learn what the flower looks like and typical terrain where it grows.  This painting came to me from several images I saw while learning about the flower.  

Bluebonnets for April, 11x14, Oil 

SOLD 

 

STUDIO WALTZ this weekend!!

STUDIO WALTZ this Saturday October 4, 2014! ARTISTS' STUDIOS TOUR & SALE 

This is your chance to visit several prominent local artists' studios and see how they work - Demonstrations throughout the day. Visit as many studios as you want - free! 

As the plein air painter of the Waltz, my studio is the great outdoors. I will be set up at #7 on the map, across the street from Carol Sackman & Blake White's colorful house/studio. Please come by and see me !!!

Go to www.studiowaltz.com for a map and more information.

Watercolor class demos

Here's a watercolor painting I did recently as a demo for my WC Studio class, showing how to paint wet-in-wet sunset clouds.

This was a quick demo for a workshop I taught at the college  (Encore Academy, Pasco Hernando State College) last spring.  I was again demonstrating the wet-in-wet technique with watercolors, using it this time while painting trees and foliage.  I like loose, expressive paintings rather than tightly controlled realism.  Painting wet-in-wet is one way to avoid getting too tight, because so much of what happens is out of your control - and often surprises happen - known as "happy accidents" when they come out well!

Here's my painting for this year's Brush with the Blues plein air event for the Blueberry Festival in Brooksville.  I called it "View from City Hall" because I painted it in the parking lot there.  I won Third Place!    Below you can see it framed and hanging inside for the exhibit. The lighting there isn't great but you get the idea.  

Brush with the Blues - Brooksville FL - Plein Air Competition 2014

Here are my best plein air painting buddies after a delectable lunch at Mallie Kyla's cafe in Brooksville, FL.  I'm the one in the middle. Last week we were all  painting out in different locations around Brooksville for the annual Brush with the Blues Plein Air competition (except for Rhonda - at top of stairs - who was in charge of organizing the event and had to work during it )  In order starting from the top of the stairs are: Rhonda, Jana, Jenna (me), Anneke, and Phoebe.   The awards were presented at the Blueberry Festival at a Sunday morning breakfast for the painters, judged by Tom Jones -the well-known watercolor artist.  Anneke  won First Place this year!  I won Third Place!  Everyone did beautiful work!  I will post my painting soon.  

Morris the Cat

Here's an oil painting of my daughter's cat, Morris.  This cat has one of the greatest personalities of any cat I've ever known!  He's friendly to everyone and especially wonderful with my almost-one-year-old granddaughter Esme!  Sleepy time Morris, Oil, 16x20 "  .  

More watercolors ......

Violet Rose

Wood's Edge

Another Rose

Here are two of my favorite watercolors painted this year:

Lilies

Vase of Roses

And of course, if you are interested in buying any of these, or any other paintings you see on my blog,  please contact me and I will get the relevant information to you.  Thanks for visiting.  Paint on!

Time to Get Back on Track

Vase of Roses

Blue Jay's World    

I thought I'd put up some watercolors for a change.  Some are done during class demos and some during my own time, but most of them have not been named or sized or matted and so are not ready to be put on my website --
www.jennastarfriedman.com   --

                    

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted.  I'm always painting -- I have to! --but I'm not great at keeping up with the stuff that needs to be done to get my paintings out there.  Like photographing, filing, naming, sizing, signing, matting, framing, organizing, posting etc etc -- the stuff that's not actually painting.  I don't like to do the business side of art. I don't know many artists that do. Enough excuses. Here goes, I'm making another resolution to get consistent and organized.