Sizzling and Sedulous Springtime

One of my solo show paintings currently on display at Segil Fine Art Source

'Olvera St.'..............oil on canvas panel................ 9x12 inches

February saw the opening of my awesome solo show at the Segil Fine Art Source in Old Town Monrovia! I had so much fun, and it was great to see so many wonderful friends come out and support me. My other half Ben was zipping through the crowd in true Gemini fashion, making sure anyone who wanted to buy a piece didn't get lost in the shuffle, which was a true blessing, as it gave me a chance to chat and socialize to my heart's content! I haven't had a solo show in a while, so it was truly gratifying to do one again and I had as much fun as my very first time showing solo. The exhibition's still up until the 20th of March so make sure you get down there and take a look.
View online gallery here.

Here are some pics from the solo show opening. Enjoy!

L'Artiste on opening night

Gallery owners Bill and Laura Segil posing with Jennifer

Ben rubbing his 'full of hors d'oeuvres' Buddha Belly

Randy Higbee and wife Cynthia posing with Jennifer









Jennifer and the very talented Aaron Westerberg









Commingling guests......









Beautiful guitar music wafted through the gallery......











More commingling...









Jennifer, Jason Situ and Gwen Ballantyne striking a pose

Click here to view more solo show pics on my facebook.

* S o m e G o o d N e w s ! *

SOLD

In other news, my painting 'Urban Passage' was awarded 'Best of Show' by the illustrious January 2010 Fine Art Studio Online competition judged by the honorable and talented Brian Blood. Fine Art Studio Online (FASO) is the web server for many of us in the arts community. Their professional templates are extremely user friendly and reasonably priced. If you don't have them yet be sure and sign up with them here, it's the only way to go in my opinion.

~ 2010 WORKSHOPS UPDATE! ~

'Plein Air Painting in Sedona' (April 18 - 23, 2010) (FULL)

If you'd like to join me for my upcoming five-day intensive painting workshop at the Sedona Art Center be sure to register soon. Spaces are filling up fast! For more info click here.


'Plein Air Painting in Big Sur' Esalen Retreat (May 30-June 5, 2010)
If you can't make it to Sedona, join me in Big Sur at the end of May for another five-day intensive workshop, this time held at the legendary Esalen Institute! The only workshop I teach that has qualified massage therapists standing by ready to help remove any art-related muscle tension! Not to mention natural hot springs filled hot tubs perched on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean! For more info click here.

That's all for now gentle readers. Thanks for joining me in these adventuresome blog anecdotes which leaves my assertions feeling fresh as a spring day after a cold, harsh winter. 'Till the next time I say, blog on!

February Fruition

Here is one of my paintings which will be exhibited at my upcoming solo show at Segil Fine Art

'Urban Passage'.............oil on panel................9x12 inches (SOLD)

January is a month traditionally filled with pain and grief, sorrow and regret. January 18th was lauded as the most depressing day of 2010 by a renowned economist who used various mathematical equations and statistical theories to prove his veracity. But he was probably living in the North, possibly Minnesota or Canada, which is a certain extra level of pitiful as snow turns to icy wet slush crusted by brown layers of dirt. Anyway, thank goodness I'm in California now! Although I did have to put on a sweater yesterday, it gets pretty cold here too!

And to help cheer everyone up I'm announcing my super cool solo show entitled “Venerable Visions” held at the illustrious Segil Fine Art located in beautiful Old Town Monrovia right next to the brand new library! Opening reception is Saturday, February 20th, from 5 to 7pm! The exhibition will be on display through March 20th, 2010. Everyone try and make it, especially if you're living in the North, it's certain to brighten up your day!
For more info visit gallery web site here.

"Venerable Visions" solo exhibition - February 20th, 2010

*** HOT OFF THE PRESS ! ***

~ Feature Article in American Art Collector ~

If you're one of those literary types be certain to pick up a February edition of American Art Collector! I'm proud to announce that I have another fine feature article written about me, so hurry on down to the newsstand, there are only so many copies and February's a short month!
To view article click here.

And if that's not enough to cheer you up, here's a list of my 2010 workshops to help with your New Year's Resolutions!

'Plein Air Painting in Sedona'

April 18 - April 23, 2010

Join me April 18th to 23rd for my five-day intensive plein air workshop at the illustrious Sedona Art Center. Enjoy painting the raw beauty of the Arizona desert filled with flowering cacti, red rock mountains, blue skies and free range artists. For more information click here.
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'Plein Air Painting in Big Sur/Esalen Retreat'
May 30 - June 5, 2010

Join me in this exciting and re-invigorating environment, one of the few workshops I teach which comes with organic food, misty ocean air, and natural hot springs overlooking the Pacific. This very special five-day intensive plein air workshop runs from the 30th of May to the 5th of June, and (at an additional cost) has professional Esalen trained massage therapists standing by to undo any muscular knots or damage caused by educational related stress trauma. If you're a type A painting personality like me, book your massage well in advance before the Spirit Weaving class does!
__________

May February and the rest of the year bring you boundless inspiration, jubilation and relaxation!

Happy Holidaze!

One of my paintings on exhibit at the '7th Annual Holiday Show' hosted by Segil Fine Art

'Under the 6th Street Bridge'.......oil on canvas panel......6x8 inches

Ho! Ho! Ho!
This is the cry I heard cut through the misty air as we drove down Santa Monica Blvd not but a few weeks ago. "Was that Santa calling through the air?!" I asked Ben, who then pointed to a large jolly man in a red jacket bellowing at a transsexual street walker. "Nope", Ben said, "but it is Christmas time in Hollywood".
We where returning from a delightful birthday party of my good friend (and exceptional artist) Vadim Zang held at an awesome Hungarian restaurant. Not only was the food enchanting, but several of Vadim's friends and family performed for us. There was belly dancing, violin and piano playing!
A perfect ending to a perfect evening which had begun with a delightful opening at Segil Fine Art's '7th Annual Holiday Show' (which runs through December 31st). Jam packed with fine art and fine artists, it was a great way to kick off the Holiday season. For more info click here.
I am also participating in Abend Gallery's '19th Annual Miniatures Show' which also runs through December 31st. To view exhibition click here.
I have also been invited to participate in the illustrious winter exhibition 'Small Works 2009' hosted by Gallery 1261 in beautiful Denver, Colorado. For more info and to view exhibition click here.

On display at Abend Gallery's '19th Annual Miniatures Show'

'Summer's End'......oil on canvas panel......4x5 inches

On display at Gallery 1261's 'Small Works 2009' exhibition

'Wellfleet Dusk'.......oil on canvas panel.......4x5 inches (SOLD)


~ '11th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational' ~

A few months ago I participated in the '11th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational'. Definitely more upbeat (and prosperous) than last year's event! The only real obstacle to fun and painting was Mother Nature herself, who chose to remain cloudy and rainy for about 60 percent of the time which had been allotted to painting. Then, in a somewhat infuriating ironic twist, decided to clear up and become sunny and bright after the paintings were turned in a ready to sell. Oh well, I still love Mama Nature, even when she's a bitch ;-). Overall the event was a huge success! Ben and I had a delightful time taking in the sights and sounds of Laguna beach, mingling with the artists and locals and, well.... just breathing some fresh, unsmogged air for a change. Below are a few pics from the event. Enjoy!

Painting at Heisler Park beach









Painting for the 'Quick Draw' on Saturday morning









Jen and Ben at Collector's Soiree









Artist Jeffrey Horn and Jennifer









Newly elected LAPAPA Signature Members:
Left to right:
Daniel Aldana, Michael Situ, Carolyn Hesse-Low, Jim Wodark, Ronaldo Macedo, Jennifer McChristian, Greg LaRock and Kathleen Dunphy (not pictured)




Hangin' out with friends at the Laguna Museum Public Art Show and Sale








Artist Peggy Kroll and Jennifer









Jennifer at Laguna Museum









LPAPA's participating artists

...and finally, a few plein airs I did for the event:

'Incoming Storm'.....oil on canvas panel......8x10 inches (SOLD)

'Off Duty'......oil on canvas panel.......8x10 inches (SOLD)

'Hillcrest Drive'.......oil on canvas panel.......8x10 inches

~
Until the next post, I wish you all a resplendent, peaceful and magical Holiday and may the New Year bring you much happiness, health and inspiration!

Workshop Wayfarers

This is one of the demos from my five day plein air painting workshops in Ojai, CA

'Entrance to Library'......oil on canvas panel......7x9 inches (SOLD)

Hello all you Bloggitts down in Bloggittville, it is time for my blog-monthly bloggella, filled with horror, tears, and laughter. Halloween and the Day of the Dead may be behind us now, but my tale reaches further back in time, past such jovial occasions, far back to the third week of September, of the year 2009.

It was during this halcyon time of gaiety and youth that I boldly lead an adventurous team of students into the yellow fields of far off Ojai, beneath an unusually cruel and hot sun. Oh, how we laughed and jested, skipping merrily amongst the charming yurts of sequestered environmentalists and left-leaning elves. I shudder to think of what might had happened, had we by chance met a lurking troll, or some evil gnome with a head full of specially clever magic riddles, or even a banjo-plucking inbred hillbilly. But we didn't. Everyone was fine, and they all learned how to paint outdoors. No one even lost their keys, or general sense of purpose!
Here are some pics from my 5 day Plein Air Painting workshop in Ojai. Enjoy!
For more info regarding my upcoming workshops please visit my web site's 'workshops' page (or see right side bar of this blog for complete schedule).

~

Here is a brief time-lapse video of my demo at the Krotona Institute Library:













...adding finishing touches to demo










Monday morning's orientation (all caffeined-up and ready to go)









giving student Ann Carlock a few pointers during an afternoon painting session










....still teaching











demo'ing by the Krotona Library fountain










critiquing student Claire Hill during morning session











finishing up another demo








trying to maintain my composure while conducting a demo in the brutal and unforgiving heat (98 Fahrenheit with humidity!!)




My awesome and wonderful students!
front row (left to right):
Luisa, Diane, Laurie
back row (left to right):
Ann, Andrew, Gwen, Brian, Cary, Marilyn, Jung, Jennifer, Ben, Claire (not pictured)

'Krotona Gardens'.......oil on canvas panel.......9x7 inches (SOLD)

....and finally, here's the demo painting that I raffled off the last day of the workshop! The lucky winning student was the talented Gwen Ballantyne, whose name was plucked from my husband's straw hat!

~

A BIG thanks to Ben (our own personal GPS) who kept us hydrated, entertained and on schedule throughout the workshop.

Summer's End and Southwest Art Article

'Haven'.......oil on canvas panel.......8x10 inches

Summer has passed, and with it the tumultuous cloud of toxic smoke from the unfortunate California wildfires which has so harassed the locals in my Los Feliz neighborhood. I was fortunate to have been vacationing briefly during this time in the lovely town of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, which is a little further than halfway up Cape Cod, and so benefited from the refreshing ocean air of the Atlantic. Ben and I lucked out this time, and lingered long enough to miss the bulk of the noxious California air, the extra time spent affording us an opportunity to catch the large pack of wild seals which lounge en masse upon the sandbars at Head of the Meadows Beach during low tide. Love those seals! (see pics below)


~WELLFLEET WHIMS~

Ben and Linda collecting shells







No fires here!!








What the phoque!!!








the forever popular and pulchritudinous
P Town....Gimme some!











....FEELIN' THE LAGUNA LOVE....


I could write at great length about our August trip, but it is now October and I mustn’t tarry on the distant past. It has been a fantastic summer, with several noteworthy developments in my creative journey that I would love to share if you are so inclined as to read on. First and foremost, I am now a newly elected Signature Member of the venerable Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, and as such will be participating in the 11th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational. They are an amazing organization that I am honored to be a part of, and I look forward to painting amongst the cliffs and beaches of that fine locality.


**EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!**


My second big piece of news is Southwest Art magazine has kindly seen fit to feature me in a full length article in the October 2009 issue! For those of you without subscriptions be certain to pick up a copy at your local newsstand or bookstore! To read online article click here. Enjoy!

Lazy, Hazy Summer Daze

One of my entries from LPAPA's 'Best of Plein Air' show

'Santa Fe Ave.........oil on canvas panel.......7x9 inches (SOLD)

Greetings Gentle Bloggillians,
It's been another mellow summer in la-la land as I float down the river of life in my inner tube of the arts. Some exciting adventures occurred around me this summer as I yawned, napped and scratched my back with a river reed which floated past me.
This past month I participated in the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association’s (LPAPA) 'Best of Plein Air' show held in Laguna Beach. To view all accepted entries from LPAPA’s wonderful artists click here.

Also, my painting ‘Ol' Blue’ was accepted into OPA’s (Oil Painters of America) '2009 Western Regional Exhibition' held at the Howard/Mandville Gallery in Kirkland, WA. This exciting show continues through August 30th.

'Ol' Blue'........oil on panel........11x14 inches (SOLD)

And finally, ‘Paper Cup Blues’ placed as finalist in the FineArtViews online painting competition for the month of June with the wise and extremely talented Greg LaRock as the selected judge.
You ROCK Mr. LaRock! ;-)

'Paper Cup Blues'........oil on panel........12x16 inches


…and Le Denouement

WORKSHOP UPDATE!!

As the summer of love is winding down I am anxiously awaiting for September, when I hope to harvest all the honey and trout from August! Which reminds me, my five day Plein Air Painting workshop in late September has reached full capacity. If you missed out on this one be sure and register early for my 2010 workshops! Check out my workshops page on my website for more detailed info and links! (or see right side bar for schedule)

May the rest of your summer be magical, delightful and exuberant!
Happy Painting!