Under the Influence of Louise...

I can't actually believe that I have something finished on this canvas.

It's gone through many many different transitions and different stages but I am absolutely in love with where we have find ourselves and I think I'm going to keep this one like this.

I think this has literally been unfinished for over a year.  It's a beautifully big canvas, my biggest one to date and I love the simplicity and yet at the same time, detailed patterns.

36" x 60" Wrapped Stretched Canvas

Inspired by being "under the influence" of Louise Bourgeois.  A lesson from Embrace Yourself Workshop.  I am still learning a lot about this incredible artist and I'm busy studying some other artists too.  I'm looking forward to see what else comes through.  I'm still unpacking the lessons from this class and I'm soon to start my new class with Gillian Lee on Portraits.

I'm loving being back in the classroom, for sure.

Much Love... Me xoxox

Expressive SelfPortraiture...

I did my draw up last night and it was pretty rough and a little scary, to be honest.

Not that I let that bother me at all, I like my paintings to lead me than be completely hung up by the drawing part because once I start laying down the paint, I know it's going to change a dozen times anyway.  She waited patiently #InMyStudio all day for me to come paint her.  I had to finish my day at the office before I could take out my brushes and I couldn't wait.

When I started painting, I could see my proportions were completely off and I was really struggling to get my eye in.  I am so enjoying working with reference and at the same time equally challenged.  I'm working hard to find what I need to but at the same time, still make it my own.

16" x 22" Stetched Canvas

I'm calling it a night though, I'm feeling a little exhausted but I'm feeling encouraged to finish her and do deeper layers.  There were moments tonight where I thought I might abandon her but I'm glad I pushed through.

I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying working bigger too.

Good night folks.  Love Me

xoxox

My 365Grateful project continues...

My project continues... slowly, very slowly but I'm still finding beautiful moments to capture.  It's not as easy as you would think.  Partly because my camera needs lots of light to work, so inside shots aren't always the greatest so it can be pretty limiting at times.  Plus when life and routine is a little humdrum, thinking out of the box can take a huge amount of effort.  But I'm determined to carry on and see what I can find as I go.

I do love how dreamy the shots can be. 

Long weekends and family gatherings and quiet farewells

Urban delights

Studio spaces

Great Finds

Cork's University

Painting big... well, bigger

14" x18" Stretched Canvas

First layers are down and I have to say I loved every minute of painting this.

I know I have still got quite a way to go and it's not as expressive as I would like it to be and I have many more layers to go but I loved the process.  It wasn't always comfortable and it was super challenging.  A reminder to me how much practice I need with reference work.

This is my first attempt of using my expressive self portrait references.  I know I am still way off but I learnt so much and I still have so much to learn but I'm excited.

Funny enough, I'm not really seeing myself here but I'm seeing my daughter.

And I just love that.

Excited, Jeanne-Marie

Expressive self portraiture...

Turning my Self Portrait photographs into expressive paintings using the DreamscopeApp.com - a great app Misty recommended to us in Embrace Yourself Workshop.  I could spend hours just playing with this app.  There are soooo many filters to try but I forced myself to stop after these six images.

I can't wait to use these images as references.

I loved this tip so much.  This is part of our homework assignment, to paint an Expressive Self Portrait using our references and I can't wait to play here.

Much Love... Me

xoxoxo

Long weekends and quiet studio days...

I love long weekends and April is filled with them.

I know it means I get extended hours #InMyStudio, which I'm always grateful for.  And this weekend I did just that.  On Friday, I did some packaging up... yes I'm still packaging up TeaBagGirls and Saturday I did my shipping and I needed some new paint brushes.

I rushed home to get settled into some much needed studio time.

While I was working through my class material, my hands were busy making armatures for a mini project I'm working on.

Filling this sweet box with SoulBearers...

I had one ready made hand left from my old figurine that I wanted to use in this unfinished terracotta piece above.  She was a rescued SoulBearer from a failed project from last year.  Her neck was broken and fell in such a perfect emotive way and I could immediately see how I wanted to remould her.  I broke off her legs and old arms and rebuilt her and there was so much restoration to her story.  A reminder to me, that anything can be rescued and not all is lost.

She's so beautifully emotive and deeply soulful and I am loving her hands up close to her face, like she's holding onto something so precious.... memories or maybe quiet whispers.  She has buildings on her head like her crowning glory and these words are down her back...

I will keep you safe. 
Hold out your hand - can you feel the weight of it.
The whole world at your finger tips - don't be afraid.
Mistakes are bound to be made - but I will keep you safe.

I'll keep you safe by Sleeping at Last

They keep calling me to make more and I can't wait to listen.

Love Jeannie xoxox

A little glimpse of my TeaBagGirls / Packaging Zone and my Clay Zone -  I'm loving it.

It's written on her on back...

"In her quiet wisdom, she understood the value of humble autonomy and
with a maternal grace and a tenderhearted openness,
she embraced all she needed to".

I've been practicing poetry and word play as part of my homework in Misty's class and I'm loving incorporating that into my pieces.  Hope to continue practicing that daily or weekly.

Have a precious Easter Weekend.

Much Love, Jeanne-Marie

I waited all day to make her...

I pulled these 3D already made clay hands off my SoulBearer that I made last year.  I wasn't entirely happy with it.  I loved the hands but the piece was too big and clumsy.  I had been looking at it for a while and decided to start over. The girls get so cross with I do that but it's just the initial shock of it but they always come around.

So I had something in mind to do with these hands but I had to get through my morning at the office before I could start.  It's all I could think about all day.

I raced home and got started...

I knew I wanted to do toes and biggish feet to match the biggish hands.  I had no idea how she would work out but I'm so stoked with where we ended with each other.

My heart is overflowing because I just loved making her.  There is a tenderness to her pose, her head on her hand and holding her thin legs.

I think it's a bit of vulnerability.

I love how her hands lead this piece and it's the second time I've build a piece around the hands and I think I love this approach and I can recommend it... to make your hands first and see where it takes you.  I am loving her in this raw state with her painted hands.  It's quite expressive.

I loved that so much.  It feels so great being back in my studio.

Much Love, Jeanne-Marie

Painting from start to finish...

I filmed this for fun.  I'm a bit rusty with my filming and editing skills because I haven't turned on my camera yet this year.

I guess the renewed energy has me warming up and practicing for all the right reasons... you know... like for the love it and for the fun of it. 

Yup and it's making me ridiculously happy.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did painting this piece.

Sending much Love,  Jeanne-Marie xox

Come paint with me @ Kara's

I'm sooooo excited about this.

We ironed out all the finer details this past week and the class is up for registration.  I'm going to be hosted by beautiful Kara in her new studio space and I'm so excited, a little nervous but so excited.  I am so grateful for this opportunity and time that I will be creating with friends, some very longtime online friends and some new.  It's honestly a dream come true.

Counting down the days...

The days and weeks and passing swiftly and I know it's going to be here before I know it.  I have lots to prep and still so much to do but my notebook is close and I'm ticking off as I go.

Playing with Clay again...

I haven't played with clay since just before my exhibition.  I didn't have the capacity to start anything new because I know these Souls take time and my months have been filled with administration but now that is all done, the freedom has been tangible and that means one thing... yup... glorious, delicious creative play-time. And my heart is ready.

  Make no mistake, the longing was there and the clay literally calls me.

When I first started with my little Souls, new figurines used to wake me up at night for me to start making them or draw them out.  And I I woke up the other day after a glorious afternoon nap with these two on my mind.  I haven't had that for a while.

I'm a little smitten with these two...

I got up and made these two and they literally flowed right out of my hands.  It just felt so good to play with the clay again.  I'm rather in love with it.

I guess like my paintings - I'm always trying to capture, touch and find their tender emotion and I am feeling it between these two.  The sweetness of their hands, the birds and their close faces.

I am looking forward to painting them.

Even though they don't have faces yet - I can see their expressions and I just love that.

I'm busy practicing for my classes that are coming up in June/July.  I start putting my clay student packs together soon and I can't wait to start doing that.  I'm getting so excited.

#HappyClayDay

Much Love, Jeannie

Seeking deeper connections...

MotherDaughterLove / SisterLove inspired...

I think this might always be my favourite theme to paint, the togetherness and the preciousness and the complexities of these bonds is as intriguing to me as any other mystery.

I've always had the privilege of having beautiful, strong and caring women in my life.  Some younger but mostly older.  Some blood, some not. I've been shown immeasurable kindness through my life by extraordinary woman and for this I am so grateful.

Each one has had their place and what I do know is that each one has left their mark. 

I hope that my girls will continue to have this bond with me through their lives as much as with each other and with their own daughters or daughter-in-laws one day.  And that they will allow other remarkable women to show them immeasurable kindness as well as be that to others too.

Long may we share in our vulnerability and open ourselves up to deeper connectivity.

Much Love, Jeanne-Marie

JennyDoh's Studio... Sculpting Poetic open for registration

Sculpting Poetic @ JennyDoh's

I'm so excited to finally share the details of my time at Jenny Doh's Studio in Santa Ana.  

The links are there for signing up and I hope you will join us.

Thank you for those who have already signed up, I can't wait for us to meet in person and I can't wait for us to play with PaperClay together.

Getting super excited.

TinyBagsofLove in Etsy... at last.

Thank you so much for your patience and for giving me the space to catch my breath and sort out my admin and life a bit.

At last, I've managed to list some of my TinyBagsofLove.

There aren't too many left but I hope you can still find something there for you.

~ Thank you ~

Prepped backgrounds...

I've been prepping backgrounds from class.  It's not something that comes naturally for me.  But it's something I would like to grow more in.  I always seem to forget how great it is.

So I had a few prepped canvases like this and I've been dying to work on them.  I'm loving how they give such a different element to your work.  Working on a painted surface is completely different than working on a clean canvas.  Well, at least I find that and sometimes I find it harder but always a gorgeous outcome and one I'm always happy with.  I find I have to work with much thicker paint which is most delicious.

EmbraceYourselfWorkshop - Misty Mawn

 Working with scratching and stencils.  And I'm loving it.  I can't wait to play on more textured and prepped backgrounds.

As for this girl, I really love her.

These new pieces are going towards a body of works for an auction later in the year.

Happy painting, Love Me.

Italian Wax-Picture Varnish...

I've been using spray varnish for a while now and although I feel confident this is good enough, I've been desperate to test other mediums and products.  Especially on my paper pieces, mixed media pieces and I've also been keen to test it on one of my paper clay SoulBearers.  My problem is I couldn't find anyone to tell me how to do it.  Not even my local art shops.

When Annie came to visit earlier this year, I took her to the Italian art shop and while she was browsing, I found this gorgeous little Italian Wax-Picture Varnish.  I have been a little afraid to test it but this weekend past, I was ready.

I have been working on a collage piece that was rather uneven.

I did some research and watched some online tutorials and I struggled to find a solution that was making any sense to me, when I stumbled across WillKempArtSchool and it gave step by step instruction on how to varnish acrylic pieces.  I'm soooooo thrilled about this delightful find.

The best tip he gives is how you need to isolate your piece with gel medium solution before applying the varnish and thank goodness I read that....

Isolation and Varnishing - in a nutshell....

1. Make sure your piece is completely dry before applying your soft gel medium (isolation).
2. Make your soft gel medium solution - 2 part gel medium, 1 part water.
3. Use a wide synthetic brush and apply your isolation solution.
4. Allow to dry completely.  I left mine for a few days.
5. Use a wide synthetic brush and apply your Wax-Picture Varnish.
6. Work quickly and smoothly and allow to dry well.

For more detailed tips on isolation - read here

For more detailed tips on varnishing - read here.

I am keeping this website on speed-dial, it's full of great tips and lessons and help.  Thank you so much WillKempArtSchool.  As for my wax-picture varnish finish - it's looking lovely so far and as soon as it dries, I will share more.  I have also tested this on one of my small SoulBearers.

I'm excited to see how these two pieces are now sealed and protected.

Much love, Jeanne-Marie

I'm a student again...

It feels so great to be back in learning mode.  Can I tell you how much I love it.  At the end of last year I signed up to a lot of new classes, that I haven't started yet.  But it was for this year because I wanted to get back to learning.  It was my objective for 2017 and it's what I've set this year aside for.  I learnt a lot last year and tried a bunch of new things too but I knew this year, I needed to go deeper with my painting and push myself to do new things and learn new skills with my art.

EmbraceYourselfWorkshop - Misty Mawn

I know I've taken a while to get going because of all my art admin and exhibition / auction but I am finally here.  When I take a class, I don't flip through it.  I have a journal and I take notes and document it all and I usually try most of the class.  So last week I watched a lot of tutorials which was completely inspiring and this weekend past I started my book and did my first lesson / homework.  I'm rusty for sure.  For me there is skill taking a class, the skill in courage, in trying new things and trying everything.  The skill of showing up even when there is fear and my fear is tangible and real and I'm uncomfortable.

 But I know it's a good thing and I'm thrilled about that.  Can't wait to do more.

Love Jeanne-Marie

Lost in the Olive Branches

I love how this pieces speaks to me so much of forgiveness... Lost in the Olive Branches.

This piece has changed 3 times for me and I finally love these two girls.  I'm enjoying the gentler colors and script across their chests and the additional hand that is bigger than the other hand.

I know the hand is perspectively too big but I'm not minding it, at all...

I love how it appears to the be a protective hand of the bigger sister.  There is so much story here for me and it's a personal story of grace and of forgiveness.

I'm loving being able to finish pieces and loving being able to paint again.  My heart is overflowing and my equilibrium feels like it's returning and all might be right with the world again.  Happy Studio Day

With much love and grace,

Jeanne-Marie

#InMyStudio play...

As you may have heard me mention, after all my commitments, I was was going to be heading back into the classroom.  Well this finally happened this week, properly.

Just starting has got me so motivated and inspired, I can't even tell you.  it got me motivated to finish these two pieces.  I started them in December but they both just seemed to me lacking something.... "feeling" perhaps.  I was so flat and exhausted by the end of December.

There is something so precious and sacred about allowing rest to bring new energy and perspective.  I always forget this and it always seems to teach me so much, in the art of waiting and the art of patience.  I tend to feel guilty and frantic when I'm not painting daily but giving myself time to truly rest and time away from my easel has brought something new back to me.

And I'm so grateful because besides finishing pieces, joy has returned and that's always a good thing.

Painting at last...

These past few weeks have been all about TinyBagsofLove local Interviews and Auction admin/shipping but come Thursday, I get to exhale a big sigh of relief.  It has been a MASSIVE few weeks and long long days (and nights) and I am, needless to say, exhausted.  Being shy by nature, it's not easy to put myself out there publicly, it takes a lot of energy from me.

The relief of knowing all my commitments are almost done, is HUGE.

You know what that means, right? That I am at last for the first time in months, free to create.  Create for me and to create for create's sake.  And it's made me completely giddy with excitement.

My heart has been more than ready.

I had my final interview today with eTv. and it was such a great time.  They asked me so kindly to paint this girl in front of them and on camera and it was daunting but it was enough to be me excited to paint.  

I did not expect to paint another TeaBagGirl so soon.

After they left, I had paint left on my palette and I managed to get this beautiful girl out onto my canvas.  She was quick and she literally just flowed right out of my brush.  Which is always a beautiful feeling.

There is something haunting about her, to me.  And I kind of love her.

I originally drew up this piece with my left hand.  It was an incredible exercise to do because I had no idea my left hand was capable of anything.

My heart is happy and my schedule is clear for the weekend.  I'm heading back into the classroom to be taught and inspired and I can't wait.  I will share soon, the classes I've signed up for.

But for now, happy heart this side of the world.

Much Love, Jeanne-Marie