tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61931712295932980832024-02-07T17:31:06.401-08:00millward studiosPaintings by contemporary Tucson artist Jenna Millward CorkillJennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-65368982615198533202014-10-17T14:37:00.000-07:002015-03-22T21:52:36.726-07:00Colorado Dreaming, again.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4h5dx5hyHjCcQo9g-hjOnDSWl5LfUWaBC_gGUZL3LTBFnVESTVFPLQwDz1SEbomLlv8O6EwYDV2n-zAuwxzessKDXOUI6fTEY-LMiBeD3uF6XRR_RpxkBQy81dw2jLSLU-urLwGpTUFD-/s1600/P9020004imagekindcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4h5dx5hyHjCcQo9g-hjOnDSWl5LfUWaBC_gGUZL3LTBFnVESTVFPLQwDz1SEbomLlv8O6EwYDV2n-zAuwxzessKDXOUI6fTEY-LMiBeD3uF6XRR_RpxkBQy81dw2jLSLU-urLwGpTUFD-/s1600/P9020004imagekindcopy.jpg" height="400" width="395" /></a></div>
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I found out after I had sold and shipped this painting to it's new owner back east, that my daughter loved it and wished it was hers.<br />
I couldn't get it back, so I added it's image to my Imagekind store inventory and ordered the 16" x 16" canvas giglee version.<br />
Imagekind did a terrific job with the print and today I gave her the painting giglee for her birthday.<br />
She loves it!<br />
Yay!<br />
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If you'd like to hang this sweet little vintage VW microbus cruising through autumn's splendor on your wall too, <a href="http://www.imagekind.com/art/Colorado-Dreamingart_art?imid=661b99fb-9a30-40b4-b58e-ca4632e13a2c&IMID=0cdd7d92-34e9-418d-8d74-803267624986" target="_blank">click here to find it in my Imagekind store</a>.<br />
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Canvas or paper prints are available in lots of sizes.<br />
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Discount coupons for saving money and/or free shipping can often be found by Googling Imagekind Coupons or you can use this link- <a href="http://thecouponscoop.com/store/imagekind-coupon-codes?keyword=imagekind%20coupon&matchtype=e&gclid=Cj0KEQjw_IKiBRD7rPqut_OZ4qgBEiQASm4GAoo8OmFSeFkJUp-KwdZ1IoXZA72yiMG874mkTEVhP-caAkQD8P8HAQ" target="_blank">Imagekind Coupons</a>.<br />
If a current coupon is available, use the discount code at checkout.<br />
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Also, if you order the wrapped canvas print like I did, make sure that you specify what kind of border you want on the wrapped sides.<br />
It looks great with the black border which is what I ordered.<br />
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Thanks for visiting!<br />
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<!---here-->Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-76401961966401478402014-09-13T17:00:00.001-07:002014-09-15T08:36:33.514-07:00Meet Gigi, the giraffe.After more than a year away, I am finally painting again!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxDM84Kr5G_Wjhbvx5Fc5neAzubSqON2KltZmB0-xR575lYWMROpalicnNUTsVZm1I1sMU6IuBasuw4hnwOUE6yllVrL_YWw1y6Bw3b-1i_L4NoDxK76GKYn3fPI5q9bDoN5fwezzFPT2/s1600/gigi+giraffe+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxDM84Kr5G_Wjhbvx5Fc5neAzubSqON2KltZmB0-xR575lYWMROpalicnNUTsVZm1I1sMU6IuBasuw4hnwOUE6yllVrL_YWw1y6Bw3b-1i_L4NoDxK76GKYn3fPI5q9bDoN5fwezzFPT2/s1600/gigi+giraffe+face.jpg" height="640" width="492" /></a></div>
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Meet Gigi.<br />
A blue giraffe! Well, she's blue right now, but that will change.<br />
What you're seeing right now is her acrylic Phthalo Blue underpainting against a bright Yellow Orange Azo/Napthol Red mix (orangish) background.<br />
After roughly sketching her with a black sharpie (not something I usually do), I washed the canvas with these bright colors, the opposite of what the top coat colors will be.<br />
Ultimately, the sky will be shades of blue and Gigi will be shades of gold and orange with small bits of the bright underpainting peeking through here and there in the finished painting. I love that effect.<br />
Colorful and whimsical are my goals with this painting, and so far, I'm digging the results.<br />
I especially love her sweet face. She's got a dragonfly on her nose, and will be just slightly cross-eyed and grinning as she looks at it.<br />
And, did I mention she's a full 6 feet tall?!<br />
She's a diptych, two 18" x 36" canvases.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bUEVBEaZAd2bxod19lkAtqn9YhpBUEiNzp8oH6k9Nl7wvIx-eCPLLJ8T3YJKTl8BXJ75Ai3JCXd2wXVNBvC0UofBxVyblBEU-IJo2ZWkV6Njvh6suERJ5dLrmpIoogh7DTSjCKRyVLGf/s1600/giraffe+top+and+bottom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bUEVBEaZAd2bxod19lkAtqn9YhpBUEiNzp8oH6k9Nl7wvIx-eCPLLJ8T3YJKTl8BXJ75Ai3JCXd2wXVNBvC0UofBxVyblBEU-IJo2ZWkV6Njvh6suERJ5dLrmpIoogh7DTSjCKRyVLGf/s1600/giraffe+top+and+bottom.jpg" height="400" width="97" /></a></div>
How did I find my way back to my easel and paints again after more than a year away?<br />
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Well, I've been pretty much a full time caregiver for my hubby these last 3 years as he's fought Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and Myelodysplastic Syndrome.<br />
And he's doing pretty darn good now considering what he's been through, including intensive Chemotherapy in 2011 (which thankfully put his Lymphoma in remission) and a Bone Marrow Transplant 20 months ago that has put his Myelodysplastic Syndrome into remission as well, but he still needs quite a bit of care. I can't leave him alone for long lengths of time.<br />
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So.<br />
I did some minor remodeling of our home, which included converting our home office into a small (9'x10') studio inside the main part of our house.<br />
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To reach my other big ole studio (14' x18'), I had to go through two closed doors.<br />
It was way too far removed from the main part of the house and way, way too far away from Brian for me to feel comfy painting there.<br />
I simply couldn't relax or get in a painting zone not knowing if he needed me inside the house. I tried, but just couldn't do it.<br />
In my new smaller studio, I can see and hear him, so I am now totally relaxed when I want to paint.<br />
Yay!!<br />
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Yep, Gigi's going to be an adventure, and the perfect project to become reacquainted with painting again. I'm super excited to see where she leads me.<br />
I'll post progress pics as I find small chunks of time to work on her.Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-28368993465026233292013-08-24T13:11:00.000-07:002014-10-09T16:49:38.458-07:00Let Your Spirit Run Wild!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2sHZVnG_if9bXYIluDC8oy_DkQyKtQkcnO3Ely7iwxdfLrY27TZBVAS_Jz2u7JH4TpU6B_RDVWJgZhnWVpBoGDKq0oj-IwfKlKXgJvsD5JPm1bpn4tui0o3xuAMCFmusoNz3yHev4E_Q/s1600/P8240012+aconeqrcblogcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2sHZVnG_if9bXYIluDC8oy_DkQyKtQkcnO3Ely7iwxdfLrY27TZBVAS_Jz2u7JH4TpU6B_RDVWJgZhnWVpBoGDKq0oj-IwfKlKXgJvsD5JPm1bpn4tui0o3xuAMCFmusoNz3yHev4E_Q/s400/P8240012+aconeqrcblogcopy.jpg" height="221" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">'Let your spirit run wild!'</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">24" x 36"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">acrylic on canvas</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">sold</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">private collection</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Tucson, Az </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She's signed, sealed and delivered!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My
oh-so-patient client took delivery of her wild mustang Annie's portrait
this morning and I'm happy to report she was delighted with the
finished piece.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I am a bit sad to see her go, but pleased she's loved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
thought I'd find enough time to get her painted and delivered within 3
weeks of start, but life, well, life kept throwing me curves that kept
me out of my studio. So, it actually took six weeks to find the
necessary chunks of painting time I needed to get this portrait done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My wonderful client knew 3 weeks was a guesstimate going in, and was kind and patient with me needing the extra weeks. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This
first commission since B's been ill provided the perfect opportunity to
answer those questions I'd been asking myself a few months ago in this blog.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yes,
while finding studio time may be a challenge at times, it can be done,
and, yes, I didn't completely forget how to paint during those long
months away. Yay!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoupFRPlDKK-LZcWqp1JUl_MDC9wMBuUM3YuYEWyIEp36N0i6cshjKNbGOH4kZz1RDTOVDfTLEIAGM-8hzC6x1GQf-3Knq_PZmw4-fqbjYcw_-LTVPA-dPnRijiFLOikix1lP_dm0kIHe/s1600/horse+portrait+blogcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoupFRPlDKK-LZcWqp1JUl_MDC9wMBuUM3YuYEWyIEp36N0i6cshjKNbGOH4kZz1RDTOVDfTLEIAGM-8hzC6x1GQf-3Knq_PZmw4-fqbjYcw_-LTVPA-dPnRijiFLOikix1lP_dm0kIHe/s400/horse+portrait+blogcopy.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here's the reference photo the client provided for this piece. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You can see, in the finished painting, that I used creative license to liven the photo up in a way that suited the unusual cropping.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It also included, at the client's request, a painted script along a 4" black band across the bottom that read "Let your spirit run wild!", hence the title of the painting. These words pay homage to her love of marathon running and of course, her love of her wild mustang Annie. </span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-6046048522528229282013-07-28T22:09:00.000-07:002013-07-28T22:32:34.907-07:00More progress pics of Annie~Portrait of a Wild Mustang<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thought I'd get this commission finished by this weekend, but
chores, B's Scottsdale Dr. visit and an all day headache on Thursday
kept me out of the studio most of the week.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I did make headway though
these last few days and should (in a pe<span class="text_exposed_show">rfect
world) finish tomorrow. Finally got her 'eye' done just the way I wanted so
the rest should be fairly easy. Her mane is still just blocked in and needs finishing and a few value adjustments are needed on the shadow of
her muzzle, but that's pretty much all that's left to finish. </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DtA2M6lbfSgfHi0Y0taAWliM5d7o_Cs7LbjFsd3jVhACsFG7UJOvCpGcM2p5tisSUjtjhy05ZRcHqT5vHj0qPUG4R2Gtfy0p9REjdlsj5-7UnQA3FcQa_bWRHvKw23LrFAvblXk7OVc0/s1600/horse+wip+3+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DtA2M6lbfSgfHi0Y0taAWliM5d7o_Cs7LbjFsd3jVhACsFG7UJOvCpGcM2p5tisSUjtjhy05ZRcHqT5vHj0qPUG4R2Gtfy0p9REjdlsj5-7UnQA3FcQa_bWRHvKw23LrFAvblXk7OVc0/s400/horse+wip+3+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show">So, here's where I left you last post. </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnIMj7aqLPDU3YjerZIcR_50t_niM_U4ZBe2sw83B2eejkbSCkCEz3LYqBAxfKZrjbYl-ULf9p1FECBq_E2qFYstc5kqDbAMi9HNStWaac6EtQDHDk7o7finXQMDcYbjNpUNr003hWmuc/s1600/horse+wip+4+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnIMj7aqLPDU3YjerZIcR_50t_niM_U4ZBe2sw83B2eejkbSCkCEz3LYqBAxfKZrjbYl-ULf9p1FECBq_E2qFYstc5kqDbAMi9HNStWaac6EtQDHDk7o7finXQMDcYbjNpUNr003hWmuc/s400/horse+wip+4+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I started adding warm colors and definition to her mane while still leaving bits of blue peeking out on the hair's edges.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And I wasn't digging the far right sky area, so I rewashed it with the Phthalo Blue until I decide what I want to do there.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Her coat and eye are still roughly blocked in here.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here, I continue to fine tune her eye and mane.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've also softened her coat and almost have the shadowing correct.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The shadow area of her muzzle is still blue. That will be softened to a light, almost white lavender at some point. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've decided, before working on any other part of the painting, to get her eye completely finished.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's the focal point and the window to her soul. It needs to be just right!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yay! I finally have her eye just the way I want it!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It has so many pretty colors in it! </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And, she now follows me around the room with her gaze.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I love it when a portrait's eyes come to life!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Next, I'll soften some of the shadows on her coat and start working on her still blue muzzle. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show">This pic shows the
client's reference photo on my laptop.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show">You can also see the small blue monitor on the easel's shelf for helping me keep connected to B while I paint. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show">No Luddite here, I love technology! </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show">Her coat is now shadowed and softened just the way I want it, I've almost got her muzzle done and I added a nice sky blue to the far right area of the painting. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show">The value of the muzzle shadow is still a bit too dark so I will lighten it next.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show">I love the hints of lavender and violet in her eye, mane and muzzle shadow.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show">I've taken all these pics with my iPhone so far so quality isn't top notch but it's sufficing.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show">When the portrait is complete, I'll use the better camera for final pics. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show">So far, I'm digging the results of this commission, but I've decided I don't like painting with a deadline. If I accept another commission, I'll be sure to add a few extra weeks to the finish date so I can spend more time with B.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show">But, this piece has definitely got me 'back in the painting saddle' again. And for that, I'm grateful it came my way.</span></span></span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-9034913058433266002013-07-21T21:56:00.001-07:002013-07-21T21:56:48.036-07:00Annie~Portrait of a Wild MustangStarted a new commission piece. It's been a long time since I've accepted any commission work. As many of you know, B's illness has kept me out of the studio for quite a long while.<br />
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The gracious client of this commission is okay with me perhaps missing the delivery deadline if any issue with B's health pops up and keeps me out of my studio for a while.<br />
That said, I've got a few days of painting in and I'm actually making pretty good headway so far. Hopefully (in a perfect world) I will be able to deliver this portrait of my client's wild mustang, Annie, right on time.<br />
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Annie's owner wanted me to work from a photo she had with this unusual cropping of her horse's face.<br />
This cropping feels like pop art, so I'm taking a bit of artistic liberty, and will include very small hints of a contrasting color peeking out along edges here and there throughout the painting. This will add to the painting's modern, bold feeling, while still allowing me to be true to Annie's beautiful reds and golden white colors. It will be yummy!<br />
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Here, I began the painting by adding a black border on the<br />
24" x 36"<br />
canvas to accommodate the reference photo's unusual long, narrow size.<br />
Then, I blocked in most of her dark lines with black and purple. <br />
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Next I washed the whole canvas with transparent Phthalo Blue and a bit of Thio Violet.<br />
Almost all of the blue and violet will disappear as I add the opaque top coat colors. I will only let small bits of these under painted colors peek through here and there to add interest to the finished piece. I can control how much or how little I let show as I proceed and will let the painting tell me what is right. These hints of modern color will work great with the bold cropping.<br />
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Below I've started to add the opaque rusts and red tones of Annie's coat. I also worked a bit on her eye, although it still needs some tweaking to make it come alive. It is the main focal point, so I want it to be spot on when finished. It is, after all, the window to this beautiful horse's soul.<br />
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I still haven't worked on Annie's mane, which will be a warm golden color
with white highlights. I'll start that in my next session.
Remember, most of the blue you see will disappear, with only smidgeons
peeking through around the edges here and there.<br />
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Here's a close-up detail of the eye. You can see the rough brush strokes
that will ultimately be softened as I finish bringing her to life. <br />
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My 60's painting (below) is on hold until the commissioned piece is done.<br />
I did block in a tambourine, VW microbus and another flowered square before I accepted the horse portrait, but those squares look like the pages of a coloring book, with just black outlined drawings. I still love playing with coloring books and it will be fun coloring in these new designs. <br />
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-34879346149149640902013-07-13T20:34:00.004-07:002014-08-28T11:03:28.282-07:00Let the sun shine in.<i>'When the moon is in the seventh house<br />And Jupiter aligns with Mars<br />Then peace will guide the planets<br />And love will steer the stars.</i><br />
<i>This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius.</i><br />
<i>Let the sun shine in.'</i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">excerpt from</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> the song-Age of Aquarius/Let the sun shine in.</span><br />
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I liked this song from the '60's musical 'Hair'.<br />
And it had nothing to do with the fact that I was born under the sign of Aquarius.<br />
Really.<br />
In fact there were several songs from that musical that I really liked. They had a fun vibe.<br />
Growing up in the sixties was a blast. All our music was amazing, and still is.<br />
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Anyway, when I walked into my studio today to paint the next 6" square (of my still unnamed '60's painting), I was going to add a cropped portion of a keyboard. Instead, I got a crazy urge to paint this.<br />
She was painted over one of the solid red squares, so you can see the red peeking out all around the edges.<br />
I kinda like her. Although painting a request to 'let the sun shine in' may have had an unwanted effect on our weather. I was hoping we'd have another fabulous, much needed thunderstorm like yesterday, but it didn't rain a drop today. Maybe my next painting session should pay homage to the Cascade's '<span class="st"><i>Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain</i></span>'. Just saying.<br />
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Today, while painting, I found myself listening to a lot of Pink Floyd, which gave me a crazy idea for another square that I may or may not use. It would always remind me of my son, so I may add it, but it may not fit with the '60s theme so we'll see. <br />
I think this painting will morph into whatever it's meant to be. Six of twenty-four squares are done. And so far, it's been a fun, whimsical painting, that's also allowing me to become familiar again with how acrylic paints behave.<br />
I'm not getting huge chunks of time to paint, but I'm getting enough. I'm trying to time my painting sessions around B's naps or when he's in his studio recording. If he's just chillin' with TV or something, I sit with him so we can be close. He's still numero uno to me.Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-33601646272913206272013-07-10T21:39:00.001-07:002013-07-13T20:35:46.216-07:00With a little help from my friends...<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;">...this painting might get a name. I've been having a heck of time
thinking of a clever title for this newest piece, so if any of you have
suggestions, please let me know, either in a comment here or on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Millward-Studios-The-Fine-Art-of-Jenna-Millward-Corkill/135000416599003?ref=hl" target="_blank">Millward Studios Facebook page.</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;">In my last post there is a pic of
the whole canvas with a few finished squares to help you get an idea of
where this painting might be heading. I'm sure as more squares are
finished and posted, a title will become more obvious, but for right now
I'll just refer to it as the 'Music and the '60's' piece. Boring. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;">I like clever twist-of-words or pun type titles.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;">I once named a painting of Brian's guitar slides 'Sometimes, you just have to let it slide', with a subtitle a la Rocky and Bullwinkle of 'No sense fretting about it.' </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;">I know there's the perfect title for this new painting out there and one of you will think of it.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">I've decided to reveal the 24 squares of my 'Music and the '60's' (yawn) painting a few at a time as I finish them.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Then, once all the squares are done, I'll reveal the entire finished piece. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">Here are first two completed squares so far:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">All the squares are 6" x 6". So far, five are done. There will be 24 squares total making up the finished painting.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;">To help you with name suggestions, a few other ideas I'm toying with including on this canvas are a paisley design, a VW bus, tuning keys, a keyboard, song lyrics (probably Beatles or Dylan), a Vox or Fender twin's knobs, more flora, a tambourine, a macro cropped portion of a drum, McCartney's Hofner, John's Ric headstock and....????</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;">That's just a portion of my list. There's a lot of neat stuff on this list and it remains to be seen what will make the cut design wise.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;">I'm having too much fun with this. </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;">Here are the 3 squares I completed today. </span></span>:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">The black and white checkerboard on this guitar square loosely represents the neat inner decorative strip known as purfling sometimes found around the front edge of a guitar's body. Martin & Co. uses a herringbone design purfling on their guitars that may show up somewhere on this painting too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZSo54FuobJE3W7VgViBINswP9bNrHof0-OfSy222BE7cFNNinUenaW9G2zKE8joBhPeYAPo1ex8uHS8CoK9LTLEF1yqtpSacbLo4-wgJIiU5ZDrK8G9mhBLpNY6Ehcjl8s-o2aXMavmu/s1600/guitars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZSo54FuobJE3W7VgViBINswP9bNrHof0-OfSy222BE7cFNNinUenaW9G2zKE8joBhPeYAPo1ex8uHS8CoK9LTLEF1yqtpSacbLo4-wgJIiU5ZDrK8G9mhBLpNY6Ehcjl8s-o2aXMavmu/s320/guitars.JPG" width="320" /></a> <br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Brian's every two week visit with his transplant Doc yesterday went really well.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">He's feeling good too so in theory I should be spending some quality time in my studio these next few weeks. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">After so many many months away, I'm painting again! Pinch me!</span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-30724354344843988112013-07-08T02:09:00.001-07:002014-10-27T16:25:28.810-07:00Just Playing<br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">I am playing with paint.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">That means that B is doing okay and I've been able to spend a few hours here and there in my studio. Finding a balance is making me a very happy girl. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Many years ago, I did several paintings on 24" x 36" canvases that had been divided into 24 equal 6" squares. The subjects of these paintings were varied and apparently popular as all of them sold.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Back then, I had also started an abstract 24/6 painting that never got finished. I didn't much care for how the randomly created patterns of each square were turning out, and my ADD took over, making me grow bored with it. </span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">So, I set it aside, intent on changing it someday when my interest reignited. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">Someday arrived a few days ago.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">I took that unfinished painting and gessoed over all the original squares to start new. Some of
the previous patterns are still peeking through, but they will disappear
as I add new pattern and paint.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">I want this reworked canvas to be all about music and the '60's, with each square painted with bright colors and loose brushwork.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">It will mostly feature musical things, but I do intend to include a VW microbus (of course) and a square or two of paisley patterns, and perhaps some text and.....who knows? ....the possibilities are endless. I will also probably leave a few squares of just yummy solid colors so it doesn't get too busy.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">I am having so much fun just playing with acrylic paint again. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">This
flower design is taken from an old 1969 hippie shirt I still have from a previous lifetime. It's
a classic 1960's beauty with the long pointed collars and wide cuffs on long
sleeves. I love this vintage shirt and wanted to give it's cool pattern a
nod in this painting.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnF2HhofkL8Fnmy6E5-vQYrjSmj72p33CUwO8NkkOs9Wgtt7glyIW4uZCOQ1835Kocn1YystYzzdy1WdVyepLgLpVfe07ysXrj7nvKY0KG0flR9v-2qyj31XKPiXdvgDnMk9An1C2hg6ky/s1600/P1010020+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnF2HhofkL8Fnmy6E5-vQYrjSmj72p33CUwO8NkkOs9Wgtt7glyIW4uZCOQ1835Kocn1YystYzzdy1WdVyepLgLpVfe07ysXrj7nvKY0KG0flR9v-2qyj31XKPiXdvgDnMk9An1C2hg6ky/s400/P1010020+copy.jpg" height="400" width="391" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #444444;">I'm letting the solid colors of each new square peek through from underneath the patterns.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Here I've used pink and white over orange.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">Here's a photo of the fabric of my old '60's shirt. Isn't it cool!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySCY-zc1Hwl0Xc6T_sv5lsIcPb2fI2-upq5WwngBivEKjd2h-jyQVvpQLTIOhoinJBv71tI5hxu9Jk9TtJ5X3gIeJDslplt3fWs1nfX_zyYr2Aq-5PwHoWNjmiXs1OkZBfnP64UqbWuPc/s1600/1969+purple+flowered+shirt+cropped+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySCY-zc1Hwl0Xc6T_sv5lsIcPb2fI2-upq5WwngBivEKjd2h-jyQVvpQLTIOhoinJBv71tI5hxu9Jk9TtJ5X3gIeJDslplt3fWs1nfX_zyYr2Aq-5PwHoWNjmiXs1OkZBfnP64UqbWuPc/s400/1969+purple+flowered+shirt+cropped+detail.jpg" height="400" width="353" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">Detail of acoustic guitars and a gold and white over red version of the 60's flower print. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">Below is another 24/6 painting I did back in 2006.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">This one was called 'California Dreamin' and featured 24 coastal scenes, including one with a VW microbus on the beach. I think it's Washington, DC owners have actually moved to California since it's purchase years ago. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/2010/10/california-dreamin.html" target="_blank">Here's my original blogpost for California Dreamin'.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #66cccc;">California Dreamin'</span></span><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>2006</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">24" x 36" x 3/4"</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">acrylic on canvas</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">SOLD</span> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Scolnik collection, Washington, DC</span></div>
Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-79154834072200913752013-06-29T17:36:00.000-07:002013-09-08T22:56:42.975-07:00It's been a long time.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sunflower revisited 2013</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">20" x 24" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Oil over Acrylic on canvas</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />Hello friends.<br /><br />Perhaps you're a new visitor here or an old friend. Either one, I'd like to thank you for stopping in today.<br /><br />Old friends will know that this Artblog of mine has been static for quite some time now. Two years ago, I became the full time caregiver for my precious husband Brian.<br /><br />His cancer returned in March 2011 and the treatments and complications that arose, necessitated huge changes in my life. My mission was to try to save his life. Anything I could do to help, anything at all, I would happily do to keep this wonderful human with me for as long as possible.<br /><br />That meant hanging up my paintbrushes these last 2 years as I've stood beside him in his fight for life.<br /><br />And now, after a Bone Marrow Transplant on February 13th of this year, I am happy to report he's on the mend. And while, he's not 100%, he's getting better. And he doesn't need my constant care anymore.<br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Which brings me to today.<br />And this post. And this latest painting.<br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Brian still needs my care, but not nearly as much. Yet, with some free time to finally get my paintbrushes wet again, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I was having trouble getting back in my studio. </span>I found myself befuddled and fearful as to how or where I should start.<br /><br />How was I to go about rediscovering myself as an painter, and finding a balance between caregiver and artist?<br /><br />I simply couldn't seem to get started.<br /><br />For the first year or so that I was away, I still 'thought' like an painter. Daily, I saw inspiration for paintings all around me, everywhere I looked. And, I'd have a good idea of just exactly how I'd translate those inspirations to canvas.<br /><br />But, as Brian became more ill, and life became heavier, I started losing that painter's vision, and gradually the inspirations and hands-on knowledge of my medium faded. <br /><br />You fellow artists know what I'm talking about when I say we see every little thing in the world through painters eyes. We see the way light plays with ordinary things, we see the magic in shapes and colors, the abstract of light and dark. It's a wonderful way to view the world. And we usually have a good idea of how we'd translate those visions into art through the medium of our choice. In the past, for me, that's been acrylic paint. I understood that silly, fast drying, paint. I understood my brushes. I knew how to get the look I wanted instinctively with these tools.<br /><br />But now, after 2 years away, I was feeling a lot like a beginning painter again. I hadn't a clue if I could even still paint. I felt like I had forgotten how.<br /><br />This scared me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I mean, who knows, after such a long time gone, how that first painting would turn out?<br /><br />And what did I want to paint?<br /><br />Art is emotion and emotionally I am definitely not the same person I was 28 months ago. Cancer and nearly losing my Brian (several times) have changed the way I view the world. No way around that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In the past, despite dark childhood baggage (the kind that some artists would use to fuel dark, introspective paintings), I've mostly leaned towards painting cheerful stuff. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And, despite the toughness of these last 28 months, I'm pleased to find I still want to paint happy things. If anything, I now want even more whimsy, more color, more life, more happy in my paintings.<br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So, I knew I wanted to paint something bright and colorful, but what would that be? Would I perhaps finish a previous work-in-progress that's been waiting patiently or would I begin with a new, start-from-scratch, fresh clean canvas? <br /><br />Should it be big? or small? Abstract or realism? Pure whimsy or contemporary? And how about maybe trying oils now? The possibilities were endless, I just needed to face my fears and start.<br /><br />And, while my fear that I'd lost my mojo was playing a big part in me not getting started, my biggest fear, was leaving Brian alone. It was downright paralyzing.<br /><br />My studio is somewhat isolated from our main living area. And from past experience I know, when painting, I become completely absorbed in the process, unaware of time passing or things around me.<br />So, fear I'd get lost in a painting and perhaps not be aware if Brian suddenly needed me, continually wreaked havoc on me starting. I'd walk into my studio, then turn around and walk right back out so I could check on Brian. After being by his side non-stop for 28 months, I was finding it almost impossible to let go, paint, and have faith that he'd be fine.<br /><br />So there I was. Befuddled. Fearful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ready to paint, but not painting.<br /><br />Then it occurred to me, use your Artblog, silly. Launched in 2008, this blog is an old friend.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Before Brian became unwell, I'd artblogged regularly and loved sharing my painting adventures here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So, I decided to brush the cobwebs off my static Artblog and use it as the catalyst to help me get started again. To get me painting again, to show me I can find the balance.<br /><br />I can be a painter, and a caregiver.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I just have to start.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So, I set a goal, to get me off my fearful, befuddled duff and start painting again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ten days ago, I posted the following note at the top of my blog:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">June 19, 2013-<br />After
more than two years away, helping my hubby through Non-Hodgkins
Lymphoma, Myelodysplastic Syndrome and a Bone Marrow Transplant, I am
full of questions. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Can I still even paint? </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">How has this incredibly
emotional experience changed me, both as an artist and a human being?</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I know I'm changed, but have I lost, or have I've gained sight?</span><br />As my husband's health slowly improves, it's time I find out.<br />Using this Artblog as a catalyst to kickstart my painting again, I've set my first goal.<br />Post a new painting here before the end of June.<br />Can I do it? Can I find a balance between caregiver and artist? 11 days will tell.<br />Baby steps.</span></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As this self imposed deadline rapidly approached, I was finally able to put together a few hours of studio time here and there these last few days and made the deadline.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It was a good exercise. Without this goal, I probably would still not have started.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now, I can't wait to paint again!<br /><br />No, I didn't start this painting from scratch, but I did put wet paintbrushes on canvas, and that was a huge step forward.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'd been curious
for quite some time about using oil paints over an acrylic
under-painting, but hadn't gotten around to trying it before B got sick
and I had to put my paintbrushes away.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Not feeling very confident with my rustiness and a new medium (oil), I decided to rework an old sunflower painting I'd originally painted in 2009, one that I'd never really liked. I figured if I messed it up big time with my oil painting experiment, no worries. <br /><br />Below is a photo of the way the 2009 acrylic painting used to look, and how it looks now with oil paint applied in areas over the old acrylic paint. I'm okay with the reworked sunflower painting now. It's colors are more subtle, and it's not as garish as it was, but it's still not on my list of favorites. Although, I do like it better than before.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BgB7wk8VOC1tfS0Qoax5K0MRJl4dzyI67IhuIWbSI-WgC9Jj7wZfku5dWmcwORLrSocRi7MoOQIB567pm920XJunwSXIxyUJaj-2L-EFSNUrP10NXOJRA1U_ZVbwho8KSHX0VN6YxcAt/s864/100_2841+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BgB7wk8VOC1tfS0Qoax5K0MRJl4dzyI67IhuIWbSI-WgC9Jj7wZfku5dWmcwORLrSocRi7MoOQIB567pm920XJunwSXIxyUJaj-2L-EFSNUrP10NXOJRA1U_ZVbwho8KSHX0VN6YxcAt/s320/100_2841+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IMoBMpPft8aUvezltty9iMsOJMAM8kBoa41z5-_Dke_fXpCrtux8YXX9yoVTFeiTnIJUCGHRJTKWx6w_NGBuybujAOGXUyKAkssdhvQG-IO0jOl9MykzwS5j65pH_FJrKSm13CzbxZXw/s864/P1010005+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IMoBMpPft8aUvezltty9iMsOJMAM8kBoa41z5-_Dke_fXpCrtux8YXX9yoVTFeiTnIJUCGHRJTKWx6w_NGBuybujAOGXUyKAkssdhvQG-IO0jOl9MykzwS5j65pH_FJrKSm13CzbxZXw/s320/P1010005+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After this first attempt at oil painting, the jury remains out on me using oil paints on any surface, much less an acrylic one. (Holy guacamole, this stuff is wet and messy and I'm not fond of the clean up, which requires strong smelling solvents).<br /><br />It was an interesting, and somewhat amusing experiment. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I had oil paint all over me because I kept forgetting it was wet. Then I'd have to use the odorless solvent (odorless? not!) to clean up. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It was really quite comical. I had paint everywhere.<br /><br />There were some things I really liked about the oils. And I'm not giving up on them. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But before I embark on any more oil painting experiments, my next few projects, as I try to regain comfort at the easel, will be done solely with acrylics, my truly odorless, water based old buddies!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hopefully using a familiar medium will help me find my painting mojo again.<br /><br />Btw, Brian was fine. I found small ways to keep in touch with him hourly so I wouldn't be so worried. Timers, monitors and such, gave me just enough connection to him to let me relax and get lost in painting for a few hours at a time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And he was delighted I am finally back spending some time doing what I love. </span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-62125005846295625382012-12-01T15:24:00.000-08:002012-12-01T19:38:17.457-08:00Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas tree, whose lights now shine so brightly!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">I started painting these trees in 2008. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">At that time, I was playing with heavy texture on canvas. I was also doing a lot of textured tree paintings. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">With this one, I sculpted the trees, sky and snowy foreground with a sculpting medium. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">I then added layers of glazed colors, coaxing the texture out of the canvas with these layers. I started with a dark ultramarine blue/black under-painting over the whole canvas. Then I highlighted the texture with lighter layers of turquoise and white just softly skimmed upon the raised portions of texture. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">I used warm highlights on the main tree and foreground reflections. I also painted colored lights on the main tree, and dappled some of those colors in the foreground as well.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">It ended up a simple, snowy winter scene, featuring a softly lit Christmas tree glowing in the snow. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">I liked it okay, but I set the canvas aside, thinking that someday I'd like to try to add real Christmas lights to the main tree. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Well, someday came today.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Because B's Bone Marrow Transplant is just around the corner, I knew we wouldn't be able to put up our normal Christmas tree this year. (<a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/p/bs-journey_26.html" target="_blank">Follow B's Journey here</a>)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">I found myself thinking this last week "Wouldn't it be nice if I had a painting of a Christmas tree to hang, so at least we'd have a tree of some sort up for this holiday."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">I was lamenting that I didn't have time to paint a Christmas tree painting from scratch, when I remembered this painting I'd started so many years ago. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">I found it in my studio this morning, still waiting patiently to be finished, so I set about lighting it up. I had purchased a mini light set several years ago with this idea in mind and was delighted to find I had conveniently stored them with the painting.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">The texture on the canvas was really thick, which worked out great for holding the lights. I punched holes through the textured canvas and pushed the mini lights through. I then used some gel gloss medium to attach a few shiny stars in front of the tree to mimic the lights reflecting in the snowy foreground.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">Okay, so now it's far more artsy craftsy than fine art, but I still like it. It will help make our home feel more festive and I have to say, it's the easiest Christmas tree I've ever put up. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyr4GSFwndh7nnrpgdjyG5KvIqge7YaohJ8zuYL7Bl5Aud3YctDVrNzWgnMtvSSywY4eGmrOfHSDGJKyzLtxNZj7DiLSmBQxohTAPhNXrU0wqfGFbnLBR4-fgcCv54eYUffVqJs3oGPAy/s1600/cu+blog+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyr4GSFwndh7nnrpgdjyG5KvIqge7YaohJ8zuYL7Bl5Aud3YctDVrNzWgnMtvSSywY4eGmrOfHSDGJKyzLtxNZj7DiLSmBQxohTAPhNXrU0wqfGFbnLBR4-fgcCv54eYUffVqJs3oGPAy/s400/cu+blog+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">This image shows the unlit mini lights poking through the canvas. The 3-D effect looks sort of neat unlit, as well as lit. You can also see some of the heavy canvas texture in this image too.</span></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxATdyrBrH_vCSQuCSbIU0e69azwWL6MHsC1TxX6LD99zY1ZLHMx_l_m0wzkLCoNB8ie1rHRTzPTuJ8O7kLFQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here's a short video of the finished painting with the lights on. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I had a frame on hand that suited the finished piece well and now, after a few hours of fun playing with this painting, it's hanging in our home, doing it's part to help make our season a bit brighter.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And, for the first time in almost 9 months, I got to spend some time playing in my studio. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Neato deato.</span></span><br />
<br />Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-59222982497004698912012-02-10T11:20:00.000-08:002012-08-14T08:10:16.350-07:00My husband, my hero.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Jgw8KoLCVuE8fv_cSMvXK6eHfoI6obaWIYR_23a9N5DoJvGJvfK2D1A467fdoXxw54Gle_8sDRS0T3R5D5prFHehjCHzKYqMOGByRQMSyJ-5yvZ4IFeeHrJj40eZW4W9sjd1LI-bAsrZ/s1600/100_0502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Jgw8KoLCVuE8fv_cSMvXK6eHfoI6obaWIYR_23a9N5DoJvGJvfK2D1A467fdoXxw54Gle_8sDRS0T3R5D5prFHehjCHzKYqMOGByRQMSyJ-5yvZ4IFeeHrJj40eZW4W9sjd1LI-bAsrZ/s400/100_0502.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;">'You've Got A F</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;">riend'</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">16 x 20</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Acrylic on Canvas</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Detail of a work in progress.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I've always thought that the kids in this painting could've been me and Brian as kids, if we'd known each other back then.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">He's my best buddy in the whole world.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">And he's in a fight for his life right now.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I started this painting years ago and set it aside, unfinished. Perhaps because Brian didn't want me to sell this one, and I needed to be painting things that would help pay the bills.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">I'm currently still unable to paint at all (as many of you already know) because of Brian's need for full time care. There was a nano second last month, where it looked like he was getting better and I thought I'd be painting again soon, but that was not to be.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">He's really, really sick right now with a disease called Myelodysplastic Syndrome. He's transfusion dependent, unable to make blood on his own because of chemotherapy induced stem cell damage to his bone marrow.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">He's also the bravest, toughest person I've ever known, facing each adversity with determination and grace.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8__OOPtYiYsf6azKYVx_pbUie5uRCYBnYiOS1e1abWmytWvMRV2RITVTooShJXvnZePxNp7Wzij63FSwRoOBNOaUzfkJIfAjNMFPwEglBHx9Y-2kM6YZNZlJcb9_8tDCHyC9kRiGizRn/s1600/100_0370bcblogcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8__OOPtYiYsf6azKYVx_pbUie5uRCYBnYiOS1e1abWmytWvMRV2RITVTooShJXvnZePxNp7Wzij63FSwRoOBNOaUzfkJIfAjNMFPwEglBHx9Y-2kM6YZNZlJcb9_8tDCHyC9kRiGizRn/s320/100_0370bcblogcopy.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">So, I thought I'd send out this request, to all of my artblog friends and others who might wander in here for a visit.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">For those of you who pray, I'd sure appreciate it if you could put in a good word for our Brian. Please pray that his bone marrow starts working again.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">And, also, please ask that the painful peripheral neuropathy in his fingers, that's taken away his beautiful guitar playing, also heals.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">We'd sure appreciate it. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/p/bs-journey.html" target="_blank">Click here to see his complete, up to date journey, chronicled as a subpage of this blog.</a></span></div>
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-47321245614407078622012-01-01T11:19:00.000-08:002012-12-01T19:42:22.924-08:00We make plans... and the universe laughs.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FoXi9oOaDoIYAGzW3eY1rH4tsaBBLb1mqRk6lw9WScDR3QW7iNgraklDIMNQqPXiwItkZ1qUF5jWVHurRi0gRLCjhcmSByrKbmbLGwfXpFyRyyOJXGGasJhkpEzeGhToHWuT7AYm5q4f/s1600/100_2218wintertreesflblog+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FoXi9oOaDoIYAGzW3eY1rH4tsaBBLb1mqRk6lw9WScDR3QW7iNgraklDIMNQqPXiwItkZ1qUF5jWVHurRi0gRLCjhcmSByrKbmbLGwfXpFyRyyOJXGGasJhkpEzeGhToHWuT7AYm5q4f/s640/100_2218wintertreesflblog+copy.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: x-large;">'Winter Trees'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #666666;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">15" x 30"</span> <span style="color: #666666;">x 3/4"</span> <br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Acrylic on canvas </span><span style="color: #666666;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Livingstone collection- Tucson, AZ</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Happy New Year everyone!</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">2011 was a doozy, with many twists and turns we least expected.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">My Brian got sick early in the year. So, I put away my paintbrushes and spent much of the year helping him through some really difficult stuff.</span><br />
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<a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/p/bs-journey.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #45818e;">B's Journey is chronicled here</span></span></a><a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/p/bs-journey.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #666666;">.</span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">December started out with Brian seriously ill in the hospital, but these last few weeks he's been improving rapidly.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">He no longer needs constant care.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">That being said, there's even a chance I may be painting again within a few days.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">First I have to clean my very dusty (and somewhat cluttered) studio.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Then squeeze some paint on palette and dive in.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">I'm sort of nervous and excited about that. I literally haven't painted a single stroke in over 4 months.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">What if I've forgotten how?</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">I'm sure rediscovering painting will be quite an adventure and I'm curious to see what changes this 4 month hiatus may have created in my approach to painting in general. I've got a ton of ideas I've been chomping at the bit to paint. New subjects, different cropping, and maybe, just maybe I will try oils for the the very first time. Oooh, scary!</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">I'm hoping to recap my <a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20YEAR%20IN%20THE%20LIFE" target="_blank">'Year in the Life'</a> accomplishments within the next few weeks. I did get a lot done before Brian became ill.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">I'm also taking the optimistic approach in making my New Year's list of Art Goals for 2012. I believe Brian will continue to improve and I will find more and more time for painting and marketing. I've got a ton of new ideas to help get my art out there and look forward to getting those ideas up and running.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Wish me luck.... and...</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Happy Painting!!</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-18825067566318773152011-11-09T10:40:00.000-08:002011-12-01T18:47:49.297-08:00Win A Mug featuring my painting 'First Christmas'!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-large;">Congratulations to Nichol Boyle, winner of the December Mug giveaway!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;">My thanks to all of you who've become followers of this blog. You will all be eligible for all future contests as well.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">A print of this painting will be featured on the December Mug giveaway.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #559099; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 180%;">'First Christmas'</span><span style="color: #666666;"></span></div>
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11" x 14" </div>
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Acrylic on canvas </div>
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I'm having a Dec 1st contest for all followers of this Art Blog. </div>
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The winner of the contest will get one of my popular <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/jennamillwardcorkill?hhtest=true&promoVariant=new&" target="_blank">Zazzle Mugs</a>, this one featuring a print of my painting '<b>First Christmas</b>'.</div>
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If you're the winner, you'll get your mug in time for the holidays, to enjoy yourself, or perhaps
give as a gift.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's so easy to enter! </span> </div>
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Click the blue 'Join this Site' button found in the right margin over here. ►►►</div>
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Scroll down a bit, past my artist's bio and you'll find the blue 'Join this Site' button. It's just
above all the little thumbnail images of my Blog Followers so far.</div>
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Simply join this blog and be entered.</div>
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All my blog followers, old and new will be eligible.</div>
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If the drawing were held today, the odds would be 1 in 34 that you'd win, because that's my blog follower count at noon today, as I post this contest. The odds will be 1 in whatever that number is on Dec 1st.</div>
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All my Blog Followers, old and new, are eligible for <b>all</b> my Blog Contests.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Become a blog follower before Dec 1st, and your name will be entered in this drawing for the '<b>First Christmas</b>' mug giveaway.</span></div>
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Remember, once a Blog
Follower, you are eligible for all future contests
held on this blog as well. So, join today. Keep up to date on all my latest art happenings and be entered to win free stuff now and then.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #444444;">Thanks for visiting ... and good luck!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/first_christmas_mug_with_original_art_print-168630202800402559" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">View Mug here.</span></a> </span></span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-90276818689147810062011-10-29T14:00:00.000-07:002011-11-09T16:32:12.019-08:00Win A Mug featuring 'Emma's Fireflies'!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; text-align: left;">
Hi everyone!</div>
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I'm having a Mug Contest this month. Go to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/home.php#%21/pages/Millward-Studios-The-Fine-Art-of-Jenna-Millward-Corkill/135000416599003">FACEBOOK</a> and like my new <a href="https://www.facebook.com/home.php#%21/pages/Millward-Studios-The-Fine-Art-of-Jenna-Millward-Corkill/135000416599003"><b>Millward Studios-The Fine Art of Jenna Millward Corkill</b></a> Facebook Art Page and your name will be entered in the November 1st, 2011 (next Tuesday!) drawing to win a free mug featuring my painting '<b>Emma's Fireflies</b>'. </div>
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<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/fireflies_in_jar_mugs_millwardstudios_2011-168107267283196234">VIEW MUG HERE</a> </div>
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So, click the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/home.php#%21/pages/Millward-Studios-The-Fine-Art-of-Jenna-Millward-Corkill/135000416599003">FACEBOOK</a> link, LIKE the PAGE, and be entered to win this mug, featuring a print of my original painting:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Congratulations to...Jason Livingstone! He won the 'Emma's Fireflies' Mug on my Facebook Art Page contest.</span></div>
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My thanks to the 60 folks who entered the contest by Liking my Facebook Art page.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEGHg3k0eDo68nIiU7lui-ibOCebJQIj-OIC7wbjdhY4ddl9y3X9hi8M3U21j3GKCJrUwgNSSuJkUMJeB3CNKDZPfXMq_ReMtk707tcM6rtqJHPemNcT2MfiLpUMWAMysPJ0YAohdIpKN/s1600/P1270022+-200dpicopy+copy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEGHg3k0eDo68nIiU7lui-ibOCebJQIj-OIC7wbjdhY4ddl9y3X9hi8M3U21j3GKCJrUwgNSSuJkUMJeB3CNKDZPfXMq_ReMtk707tcM6rtqJHPemNcT2MfiLpUMWAMysPJ0YAohdIpKN/s400/P1270022+-200dpicopy+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #559099; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 180%;">'Emma's Fireflies'</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><span style="color: #666666;">2011</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">10 X 10 X 1.5"</span></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Acrylic on canvas</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Original not for sale,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">but prints are available </span><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Emmas-Fireflies-art?IMID=661b99fb-9a30-40b4-b58e-ca4632e13a2c">here</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">click image to enlarge</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEGHg3k0eDo68nIiU7lui-ibOCebJQIj-OIC7wbjdhY4ddl9y3X9hi8M3U21j3GKCJrUwgNSSuJkUMJeB3CNKDZPfXMq_ReMtk707tcM6rtqJHPemNcT2MfiLpUMWAMysPJ0YAohdIpKN/s400/P1270022+-200dpicopy+copy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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I'm also having a Dec 1st Mug Contest for all Followers of this Blog. </div>
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That Mug will feature a print of my painting '<b>First Christmas</b>',</div>
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and you'll get it in time for the holidays, to enjoy yourself, or perhaps
give as a gift.</div>
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All my current Blog Followers are eligible, old and new, for all my Blog Contests.</div>
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Become a new follower before Dec 1st, and your name will be entered for the '<b>First Christmas</b>' mug giveaway.</div>
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I'll be having additional contests periodically for all my Blog Followers, so start following now to be eligible for all future contests as well.</div>
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(Click the blue 'Join This Site' button found in the right margin, just
above all the little thumbnail images of my Blog Followers so far.)
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<span style="color: #444444;">Thanks for visiting ... and good luck!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVJPdhRSW8bVLKbdl2yd0l6QrlCChGIDWDci_OdhaAlE887WWsOZMHLJPSoxnrqNMvPOmq5QEbVNCw6OPdeliPcBINMqjrKeZvmNqucbzlF0xE6E3itW6V-w21kez2zWCLjzsp-F1Aebn/s1600/100_0488+dpi+300smcopy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVJPdhRSW8bVLKbdl2yd0l6QrlCChGIDWDci_OdhaAlE887WWsOZMHLJPSoxnrqNMvPOmq5QEbVNCw6OPdeliPcBINMqjrKeZvmNqucbzlF0xE6E3itW6V-w21kez2zWCLjzsp-F1Aebn/s400/100_0488+dpi+300smcopy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #559099; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 180%;"></span><span style="color: #666666;">click image</span><br />
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to enlarge</div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">A print of this painting will be featured on the December Mug</span><br />
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<span style="color: #559099; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 180%;">'First Christmas'</span><span style="color: #666666;">2004</span><br />
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11" x 14" </div>
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Acrylic on canvas </div>
<span style="color: #ff6600;"></span><span style="color: #666666;"></span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-90616861617403462102011-09-17T15:49:00.000-07:002011-10-21T13:58:06.803-07:00'Sometimes, you just have to let it slide'<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-V-W1qyuOw0lFRlIpFGa1lTWsjzn6XekMChem2kxVDeboquYb6Vmwyceiu_yQuZwn2KccqAjF2uAVrj-xCTIexV6384Dj1r_6tR7CyxZi2HiRG-bUCFaPV7FUhqnjzXTrrxuDb76gBhXp/s1600/P9170010blog+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-V-W1qyuOw0lFRlIpFGa1lTWsjzn6XekMChem2kxVDeboquYb6Vmwyceiu_yQuZwn2KccqAjF2uAVrj-xCTIexV6384Dj1r_6tR7CyxZi2HiRG-bUCFaPV7FUhqnjzXTrrxuDb76gBhXp/s400/P9170010blog+copy.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">or ...</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #45818e;">'No sense fretting about it'</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~a-work-in-progress~</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">6" x 6" acrylic on canvas panel</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I haven't decided if this one will be for sale or not. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Morning light filters through our window blinds on a few</span><span style="font-size: small;"> of Brian's <a href="http://www.musiciansfriend.com/slides?source=3WWRTSTG">guitar slides</a>.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">(For those of you not familiar with what a guitar slide is,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">here's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErCfACTylvc">video of Bonnie Raitt playing guitar with a slide.</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Placed on your finger, you make notes by sliding it on the guitar neck. They create a very distinctive sound.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Brian's got about a dozen slides, each one unique, and I think they make cool subjects for still life paintings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I love the reflections in the metal slide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This painting is almost done. I still need to finish bringing the sunshine in with highlights here and there, as well as a few minor tweaks on the metal slide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I can work on these small canvases in the house, without being too isolated from Brian while I paint, so you will probably be seeing more of these smaller works from me for a while, although I am still working on the <i>giant </i>canvas <a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/search/label/Matheson%20Hammock%20Memories">'Matheson Hammock Memories'</a> too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">"Men plan and God laughs." <span style="font-size: x-small;">... old Yiddish proverb </span></span><br />
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I started this year with a plan. To chronicle, <a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20YEAR%20IN%20THE%20LIFE">'A YEAR IN THE LIFE' </a>, a year in <i>my</i> life as an artist, with a focused plan to grow my art business and expand my art endeavors. I looked forward to seeing where that new, more focused approach would take me.<br />
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Then, on a dime, in March, the plan changed. Brian's lymphoma returned and I had to put my <a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20YEAR%20IN%20THE%20LIFE">'YEAR IN THE LIFE'</a> project, along with a whole lot of painting, on hold.<br />
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Being there for, and taking care of this man, my best friend, my husband Brian, is (happily) getting almost every bit of my attention.<br />
So, in the spirit of this painting's title, I'm learning to let (the less important) stuff slide right now. And it's ok. It's been necessary to help me these last 6 months. <br />
My (<i>overgrown!</i>) flower beds are actually pretty, in a wild untamed sort of way, and adjustments with what chores are <i>really</i> necessary everyday, has allowed me to still find small snippets of painting time.<br />
Using these small canvases allows me to paint near Brian, to be close by if he needs me.<br />
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This newest <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001607/">Non-Hodgkins lymphoma</a></span> </span>journey has certainly had it's ups and downs.<br />
The most recent up- the chemo <i>is working</i>! (as per PET scan results).<br />
The most recent down- Brian, weak from chemo treatments, fell and <i>broke his back </i>last Sunday night.<br />
Our whole journey, thus far, is chronicled on my blog page, <a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/p/bs-journey.html">B's journey.</a><br />
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Thanks for visiting.... and please consider becoming a blog follower while you're here. (Click the blue 'Join This Site' button found in the right margin just above all the little thumbnail images of blog followers so far.)<br />
My (somewhat lofty) goal is to perhaps hit 50 followers by years end.Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-65254146257814537702011-09-03T22:39:00.000-07:002011-09-17T13:16:16.826-07:00Matheson Hammock Memories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A peek at the process.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyrIAA1YRq0JOqrrl7Gb3ec1XOwsMiw_OowIw4Esmtu9s4veYnOpdypPwRhG2QNj7lCNxTa_VSrMJPmUV0s_FO_Iz8XDMVf7M0bQ1xeMx_uI4YdGI0o9oPLu_A5ryK1Bm2R4nL75buIFgY/s1600/P9030004+blogcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyrIAA1YRq0JOqrrl7Gb3ec1XOwsMiw_OowIw4Esmtu9s4veYnOpdypPwRhG2QNj7lCNxTa_VSrMJPmUV0s_FO_Iz8XDMVf7M0bQ1xeMx_uI4YdGI0o9oPLu_A5ryK1Bm2R4nL75buIFgY/s320/P9030004+blogcopy.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>
I found time to paint today and was able to get the sky almost done on this big canvas. It just needs some minor tweaking where the black gesso is peeking through the highly textured areas a bit too much. Otherwise, I like it. My apologies, as this photo is not very good. It was taken tonight and the colors, brushwork and texture are lost in the poor lighting. It's much prettier in person. <br />
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As I was working on this big canvas, I got to thinking about some of the beaches I used to visit in the late 1960's as a teenager growing up in Miami. <br />
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One of them was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matheson_Hammock_Park">Matheson Hammock Park</a>. A man-made atoll on the Biscayne Bay, near my hometown of Coral Gables. It was built in the early 1930's, a part of President Roosevelt's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Conservation_Corps">Civilian Conservation Corp</a> that helped put unemployed men to work during the depression.<br />
Back in the day, it was a beautiful place to spend a day at the beach. I hear it's not quite as nice now, which is too bad, but I'm painting it as if it's still in it's heyday.<br />
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The only photo I have of me as a baby, was taken at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matheson_Hammock_Park">Matheson Hammock Park</a>. I'm in the water, being held by my mom. I've always been fascinated by that photo, probably because it's my <i><b>only</b></i> baby pic and because my mom looks so happy. All heck broke loose in my family a few years later, and I pretty much rarely saw my mom <i>happy</i> again. Heck, I rarely saw my mom at all. <br />
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Reminiscence emotions got a hold of me and I decided to change the random location of my original beach painting, to this beach at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matheson_Hammock_Park">Matheson Hammock Park</a>. <br />
I love it when I have an emotional connection to a painting I'm working on. It takes the painting experience up a notch.<br />
This change of location meant I had to add the sea wall/sandbar and a few palm trees <i>and</i> I had to make the water calm. It's almost like a tidal pool at this beach. The water softly meets the sand, so the big waves I had started in my original layout had to go bye-bye. <br />
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Before I added the sandbar and trees to the canvas, I used a technique I learned from artist <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/arts/design/robert-vickrey-painter-of-magic-realism-school-dies-at-84.html">Robert Vickrey</a>. He painted with egg tempera. When he wanted to add an element to one of his paintings, (such as a hat on a child) he would often place a piece of clear acetate on his (dry) canvas, painting the idea on the acetate first, to see if he liked it. He could move the acetate around, helping him with placement, perspective and such, before he actually painted the new element directly on his canvas. <br />
He, of course, did not use the acetate on wet paint. So, if you use this idea, let whatever medium you are using dry first. Because I use acrylic paint, which we all know, dries in a nano second, I usually don't have to wait long if I want to use the acetate.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidScOdsaBkg7grYamSsRMhZAtKdZgxvH3nJkLn3QzHJIntHUYdXnw-GNelO4UYyTq4deqXr13DLaucM3FNVEMIbhcPAw2cACTt1XGqh-waFxMhEal2TiWTcNRXSAegHQlnBL3uC6KOnbH9/s1600/P8290002+tpblogcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidScOdsaBkg7grYamSsRMhZAtKdZgxvH3nJkLn3QzHJIntHUYdXnw-GNelO4UYyTq4deqXr13DLaucM3FNVEMIbhcPAw2cACTt1XGqh-waFxMhEal2TiWTcNRXSAegHQlnBL3uC6KOnbH9/s320/P8290002+tpblogcopy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I use <a href="http://www.officemax.com/office-supplies/presentation-equipment-supplies/transparency-film/product-prod1810909">3M Transparency Write-On Film</a>. Sold in a box of 100 sheets (8.5x10.5) for about $22. Another neat thing about these sheets is they will static cling to the canvas. Just rub the sheet around on something to activate the cling. No tape needed. <br />
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Here are my trees, sketched on an acetate sheet to see if I liked the idea or not. I put the sandbar where one of the original waves was. You can see the lights in my studio shining on the acetate sheet.<br />
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The reference photo for my original beach/umbrella idea is one I created by mashing several photos together with photoshop.<br />
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I had a photo of a plain umbrella on the beach.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXVY5z99U_BaypQhDTTWo3JUZrb67oTxbepAiblcm8jH5GWuz4zL-GLDaXRKwo5F_g45-veL_lgzv_L1NOFHKEjkWMilo9m4SkRHBrIpzExpWEwufijoQxz6BpZPRRLoHtmrE8TCBsN_V/s1600/umbrella+7+turq+org+crp.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXVY5z99U_BaypQhDTTWo3JUZrb67oTxbepAiblcm8jH5GWuz4zL-GLDaXRKwo5F_g45-veL_lgzv_L1NOFHKEjkWMilo9m4SkRHBrIpzExpWEwufijoQxz6BpZPRRLoHtmrE8TCBsN_V/s200/umbrella+7+turq+org+crp.jpg" width="160" /></a> I wanted a patterned umbrella, one of my own design, so I replaced the plain umbrella with a polka dot umbrella I found in an advertisement. Fortunately it's perspective jived pretty good with the original (plain) umbrella so it fit in nicely.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xJ587F1QvrhcqZch2VxJgjiDGS2-UDZqKB-xOd8u_2jqgj5Gh_BHJLt08S2M7Wq9lwHML-2uMug-wzmmVfaFMjgSnqWsFvxfRcSD1Jhbey34uJSgWubsPMgc6uf9SIRpYDkrit-SHswX/s1600/umbrella+7+turq+gr+crp+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xJ587F1QvrhcqZch2VxJgjiDGS2-UDZqKB-xOd8u_2jqgj5Gh_BHJLt08S2M7Wq9lwHML-2uMug-wzmmVfaFMjgSnqWsFvxfRcSD1Jhbey34uJSgWubsPMgc6uf9SIRpYDkrit-SHswX/s200/umbrella+7+turq+gr+crp+.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
The polka dots became perspective reference points for me so I could create the patterned umbrella correctly. I wasn't worried about copyright issues using a published photo, since it was going to be SO different from the original. It was just a perspective tool for me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHwDt17GIRMlI6S1yQymjf3ZzAOQ42FAZFcYbmh9EfooFca1rHzW0CEwt19cQYZwZtxMiQQdA58_0Tzo8qz8_cjk0PJuilrfkhySFf4qfGCaheZ8cCIOVCMuOIr38Ak6oYt24ojF3FSqX/s1600/P8280017+blogcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHwDt17GIRMlI6S1yQymjf3ZzAOQ42FAZFcYbmh9EfooFca1rHzW0CEwt19cQYZwZtxMiQQdA58_0Tzo8qz8_cjk0PJuilrfkhySFf4qfGCaheZ8cCIOVCMuOIr38Ak6oYt24ojF3FSqX/s200/P8280017+blogcopy.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
Here's the painting from my last blogpost, before I added the sandbar and trees. I'm glad the silly cartoon clouds seen here are gone now.<br />
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<a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/p/bs-journey.html">Brian's latest battle</a> with lymphoma has kept me out of the studio quite a bit, so my painting updates will be sporadic for a while.<br />
I can't wait to find a chunk of studio time again soon as I'm really having fun with this painting.<br />
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Thanks for visiting!Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-78764936652899292012011-08-28T17:17:00.000-07:002011-09-03T22:59:57.118-07:00Paint it Black...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1KAnSo0J_38qilgWJxt8ZQscwqXA5FAtXH_HR6PLlvXtENF-wIUuDf8rMCpv5oyHmBapbRg6NI7W3dIYSf7mxJQyf0cEd3EW6REfovYLAdvXnze2kGxfE17jNCQ5osC9uFoHKtFv-h7M/s1600/P7240015+blogcopy+black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1KAnSo0J_38qilgWJxt8ZQscwqXA5FAtXH_HR6PLlvXtENF-wIUuDf8rMCpv5oyHmBapbRg6NI7W3dIYSf7mxJQyf0cEd3EW6REfovYLAdvXnze2kGxfE17jNCQ5osC9uFoHKtFv-h7M/s200/P7240015+blogcopy+black.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #444444;">or...</span> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/2011/07/underpainting-of-work-in-progress-rocky.html">'Rocky Mountain Bye'</a></span><br />
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There were several things I really liked about this painting, before <b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I gessoed the entire canvas black</i>!</span></b> </div>
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One was the tree canopy... the leaves.... another, the black edges peeking out here and there. I liked that concept. </div>
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One mistake I made with this painting, was tackling a <i>new style</i> <b><i>without</i></b> a reference photo <i>on a HUGE canvas</i> ...what was I thinking?</div>
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Whenever I changed my mind on a composition element, it was ridiculously time consuming to make the change <i>throughout</i> this gigantic canvas... and then my AAADD* would kick in, making painting a chore (painting <i>should not be</i> a chore!) 'til I finally said "enough!".</div>
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But the biggest reason (besides not having a reference photo) for starting over on this big canvas was I simply decided I didn't want a giant Colorado landscape in my living room. This painting is for our home and this canvas is meant to go back to the same area it's hung for 10 years. It's was an (unfinished) ocean scene for 3 years, and I didn't know how much I liked having a waterscape in that spot 'til it was gone. The forest was pretty, but it wasn't water.</div>
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This poor ole canvas has been gessoed over 3 times before. It's first two incarnations were colorful abstracts, then it was the simple (unfinished) sea scene. Each time I brought the Colorado landscape in from my studio to see if I liked the colors in my living room's east light, and I'd find myself wishing I'd stuck with an ocean theme. When I mentioned this to Brian, he simply said, go with your feelings. </div>
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Wow. Duh. I couldn't get the black gesso on the canvas fast enough. (except for a few parting photos of the spots I liked). At the time I decided to gesso the whole darn thing, I was happy with most of what I'd <i>finished</i> on the painting... so I took photos of the parts I liked and will use those ideas in future works.</div>
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This time, <i>with a reference photo in hand</i>, and a whimsical patchwork umbrella idea brewing in my head, I started this giant canvas's newest life. An homage to my hometown, Coral Gables and to the beach... my ocean. I miss the ocean.</div>
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This is definitely a work in progress. The umbrellas will all be COLORFUL, the sand almost white, and I think as soon as I'm done posting this, those silly cartoonish clouds are going to float right on out of the painting. </div>
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I'm trying to channel a soft, old fashioned vintage post card feel with this. Wish me luck.</div>
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Thanks for visiting! ... and if you like to see what this giant canvas <i>(finally</i>?) ends up being, please consider becoming one of my blog followers.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*AAADD- age accentuated attention deficit disorder :o)</span></div>
Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-73866296562973143132011-07-24T14:45:00.000-07:002011-09-03T23:00:11.255-07:00'Rocky Mountain High'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTQuaX9P7GyR5u3gbB7UEEn-gktLnA0mAbUys5rTyUWE3oxTs3-bg7_n9YNthZFgrk2i-_IKupzaA4xaJ0DU8BBMXzh8PIP70ccRGrByP59P0QYRxdbHBVeafOoZ69prEsYkbjfGL23Xp/s1600/P7240015+blogcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTQuaX9P7GyR5u3gbB7UEEn-gktLnA0mAbUys5rTyUWE3oxTs3-bg7_n9YNthZFgrk2i-_IKupzaA4xaJ0DU8BBMXzh8PIP70ccRGrByP59P0QYRxdbHBVeafOoZ69prEsYkbjfGL23Xp/s400/P7240015+blogcopy.jpg" width="321" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Under-painting of a work-in-progress-</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">3.5' x 4' Acrylic on Canvas</span></span></div>
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When I was a little girl, I loved crayons and coloring books.... I loved to color! I loved <i>COLOR</i>!</div>
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I spent a good deal of my childhood in a state-run orphanage. Sometimes, local charities would deliver donated toys and if those goody boxes had crayons and coloring books, <i>and if</i> I was one of the lucky kids with a chance to use them, I was thrilled. </div>
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Back then, using the black crayon, I'd carefully trace all the lines of the design. Then I'd fill each area with color. Lots of color. Layered colors. This look of beautiful colors, outlined in black, has always been a favorite of mine. I think that's why I was drawn to becoming a glass artisan as well. I love the brilliantly colored glass bordered by the dark lead came outlines. Simply love it.</div>
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A few weeks ago, I decided to explore this idea a bit with paint. Bright colors, darkly outlined here and there. I had this big (3.5' x 4') canvas that I'd gessoed black. I started drawing, using the medium and dark colors of the under-painting (this image didn't capture the Prussian/ultramarine blue sky at all), to compose a Colorado mountain scene. Currently, I'm just playing with colors and shape. Once I'm satisfied with the composition, I'll start adding more colors with an emphasis on brushstrokes. I want to play with light. I want this painting to shimmer! </div>
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I'm working top to bottom, and the bottom third of the painting, under the trees, is still unknown. I've got this vague image in my head of dappled light hitting the ground under the trees with a few flowers sprinkled here and there. I'm chasing that illusive idea, trying to capture it with paint. Right now, it's still mostly black gesso. </div>
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So far, there are a few parts of this painting I sorta like, and if nothing else, it's given me a chance to simply play with paint. A little escape from the reality of my Brian's ongoing battle with cancer. He's sick today, so to stay close to him, I'm on the computer in the house rather than out in my studio (it's too isolated from B). Since he was diagnosed, there's been no time to blog....little time to paint. I wasn't even going to show any work-in-progress photos of this random experiment, but I've missed blogging (it's been 3 months), so what the heck. </div>
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I'm only getting small, random chunks of time to paint, sometimes having to put my brushes away for days, at a moment's notice. With this newest experiment in style, I've been able to come back to this canvas days later and easily pick up where I left off. I need the flexibility this style is providing. It's allowing me to be creative....to paint.... and I need to paint. I don't know where this painting is going for sure, but if it ends up somewhere I don't like, there's always black gesso. In the meantime... I'm still chasing.</div>
Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-75235912587383517162011-03-26T14:45:00.000-07:002011-06-30T22:56:09.042-07:00<div style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Never take time for granted, and always, everyday, let the ones you love, know it, by your actions and your words."<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Jenna Millward Corkill</span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd17OGbmucSyz4DZxaJkruI6DV3pyeX9SV03pu9wo-1phyphenhyphennLqzoHD9aXouy3vqDOI-TJCh59y-lw486qWcKDcPzd1t2xeQRiYfsIBX-SCAuOY36bNnnq5aDWT4ApOZSzeu_1ZzTdyNnRxu/s1600/Lauren+%2526+the+Old+Piano-++500w-200dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd17OGbmucSyz4DZxaJkruI6DV3pyeX9SV03pu9wo-1phyphenhyphennLqzoHD9aXouy3vqDOI-TJCh59y-lw486qWcKDcPzd1t2xeQRiYfsIBX-SCAuOY36bNnnq5aDWT4ApOZSzeu_1ZzTdyNnRxu/s400/Lauren+%2526+the+Old+Piano-++500w-200dpi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #559099; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 180%;">'Lauren and the Old Piano'</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><span style="color: #666666;"> <span style="color: #444444;">2003</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Acrylic on canvas</span><br />
<div style="color: #444444;">Private collection- Tucson, AZ</div><div style="color: #444444;"><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #444444;">This is one of three paintings I entered in this month's CFAI art challenge. Two of them star our granddaughter, Lauren.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #444444;">Update 3/28- The March results are in and I didn't win, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Part of stepping outside my comfort zone this year is entering art contests and I'm doing just that. Who knows, someday, I may win one. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"> </span><a href="http://www.contemporaryfineartinternational.com/CFAI_Art_Challenge_Winner_Page.html">See all the CFAI entries submitted (including mine) here</a><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #444444;">This portrait is of three year old Lauren. She will be 16 next month, the 2nd oldest of our ten grandchildren. She is beautiful and talented young woman, who has starred in a few of my paintings. Fifteen year old Lauren is also the star of <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/2010/09/click-image-to-enlarge-girl-2010_17.html">'The Girl'</a></span>, a modern style portrait and another entry in the March contest. I am especially pleased that in the painting of the younger Lauren above, I was able to capture her Mom's piano and music books for posterity, as that piano is now gone and missed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #444444;">Now, on a different subject, I'm sorry to have to say, my wonderful husband, Brian, the light of my life, was told yesterday his Non-Hodgkins lymphoma has returned. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #444444;">We knew this day might come, as when they 'typed' his cancer in 2000, they told us the good news/bad news with his type of lymphoma was: </span></span><br />
<ul><li><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #444444;">Good news-it doesn't like to metastasize. </span></span><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br />
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<li><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #444444;">Bad news-it was a persistent type that almost always comes back. </span></span></li>
</ul><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #444444;">The docs were hoping he would get 10-12 years of remission, saying that with the advances in cancer care, if/when it came back, they would have new medicines to fight it with. We got 11 years remission.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #444444;">So begins another journey. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #444444;">I'm not sure how much time I'll get to paint or post, but I hope</span></span> <span style="color: #444444;">I'll be able to find time to do both. I hope through this blog, to chronicle another success story for him. He has been my Superman, fighting cancer (twice) and heart disease this past decade, with courage, determination and grace. We've had three miracles and now pray for another. If any of you speak regularly with your higher power, please put in a good word for my/our Brian.</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #444444;"></span></span><span style="color: #666666;"></span><span style="color: #444444;"></span><span style="color: #444444;"></span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-47936562243775765202011-02-20T11:44:00.000-08:002011-07-14T20:10:56.234-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-x6WczcMoeSQ5QhiirJdDJ-gS6ZeyUv2thsTqQHklzrMiWdfAu9IE31SpbhAuvp_GryQqLQH8e9ATum2qcDt2LFnip5-SaIft_Ep5c4zwsZiNTcACmsp5oSR9gThdTsjeCbo5luy1mRKe/s1600/Shortcakeblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-x6WczcMoeSQ5QhiirJdDJ-gS6ZeyUv2thsTqQHklzrMiWdfAu9IE31SpbhAuvp_GryQqLQH8e9ATum2qcDt2LFnip5-SaIft_Ep5c4zwsZiNTcACmsp5oSR9gThdTsjeCbo5luy1mRKe/s320/Shortcakeblog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #559099; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">'Strawberry Roan'</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #666666;"> <span style="color: #444444;">2005</span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">24 X 24 X 1.5"<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Acrylic on canvas</span></div><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #cc6600;">SOLD</span> </span><br />
<div style="color: #444444;">Wingate collection, Tucson AZ</div><span style="color: #444444;">This is <a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/search/label/Shortcake%20the%20strawberry%20roan%20%C2%A9">'Shortcake, the strawberry roan'<span style="font-size: x-small;"> ©</span></a>. She is one of 3 horses I created in 2005. She, along with 'LaLa, the appaloosa' <span style="font-size: x-small;">©</span>, and 'Firefly, the grey Chincoteague' <span style="font-size: x-small;">©</span>, have always shown up in my equine paintings since then. They are the horses I never got to have as a kid. </span><br />
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Today I seem to be stuck. Mired. Motionless. Blocked. I simply can't paint a thing I like and I'm pretty sure I know why. Today I find myself caught up in the dreaded comparison trap. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"You shouldn't compare yourself to the <i>best</i> that others do."</span>...<span style="font-size: small;">author unknown</span></span></div><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">That's the first line from</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/2009/02/55-yesterday-i-began-my-56th-year.html">55</a></span>, <span style="color: #444444;">a note I posted on my 56th birthday summing up some of life's lessons that I've learned while having the privilege of spending 5.5 decades living on this marvelous/perilous planet!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>You shouldn't compare yourself to the best that others do</i>. </span></div><div style="color: #444444;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #444444;">I find that if I start to <i>compare</i> my paintings with the work of those artists that I'm most in awe of, I open the door and invite in for a spell, one of an artist's worst enemies, the <i>self-doubt monster</i>. And while he's visiting, his influence on my painting is paralyzing. The faster I show him the door, the better. By allowing myself to be inspired, not intimidated, by the the work of my favorite artists, I come away lighter, free to let myself explore where I fit into the big picture.</div><div style="color: #444444;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #444444;">How boring if all artists painted exactly alike. I have a friend whose paintings hang all over her own house. She does <i>beautiful</i> landscapes. But her palette rarely changes, her style stays consistent. While I'm visiting, I find myself looking for that one painting that's a bit different. Her paintings, when hung with other artist's, stand out. But walls and walls of just her stuff leaves me searching for something.</div><div style="color: #444444;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #444444;">In this big old art gallery of a world, there's plenty of room on the walls for all of us. Explore! Learn from others. Be inspired by others, but be careful not to put out your creative fire by <i>comparing </i>your work to the best of the best. We all have something to offer!<br />
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Ahhh..sometimes, just putting things into words helps. So now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a monster who needs to be shown the door.</div>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-64080164708610800262011-02-07T17:05:00.000-08:002011-06-30T23:03:16.926-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPY6YVOLq-tGknSiATb3ifrE69_jJOp-CLc4LAZBZMNfD6v1J_mPpMXUKIQpP5zBWxmDLJEM2AaQf0xoyGOmOD30vYbqjE0V0yd96-BjoDC1fB5BUK5E8o9uInqR9yJoVuiUv8MMBceRc/s1600-h/100_2039rooster+blogcopy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303437695806668562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPY6YVOLq-tGknSiATb3ifrE69_jJOp-CLc4LAZBZMNfD6v1J_mPpMXUKIQpP5zBWxmDLJEM2AaQf0xoyGOmOD30vYbqjE0V0yd96-BjoDC1fB5BUK5E8o9uInqR9yJoVuiUv8MMBceRc/s400/100_2039rooster+blogcopy.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #666666;"></span><span style="color: #559099; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 180%;">'Autumn Rooster'</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><span style="color: #666666;"> <span style="color: #444444;">2005</span></span><br />
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">18 X 24 X 1.5"</div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Acrylic on canvas</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #cc6600;">SOLD</span> </span><br />
<div style="color: #444444;">McCourt collection- Boulder, CO</div><br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Janie, the owner of this little rooster painting, called me today to let me know he was the star of a party she'd had recently. Asking me if I had any other barnyard critter paintings in the works, she reminded me of several ideas I've got along those lines. Thanks Janie. Great hearing from you my friend!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20YEAR%20IN%20THE%20LIFE">A YEAR IN THE LIFE</a></span></b>- <span style="color: #444444;">January recap and progress report</span><br />
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</div><span style="color: #444444;">I spent this first month going full steam ahead on this one year project to introduce myself to the online art community. There was way too much time spent at my computer, rather than my easel, and that was a bit disconcerting. I kept having this nagging thought that I was building a beautiful store, but with little time spent painting, the shelves were going to be quite bare. Then I would remind myself that every bit of what I was doing was important to the larger picture, so I stayed to task. Now as I do my January recap, I realize I really did accomplished quite a bit. I know my</span> <a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20YEAR%20IN%20THE%20LIFE">YEAR IN THE LIFE</a> <span style="color: #444444;">project kept me going in the right direction and I did finish two paintings.</span><br />
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</div><div style="color: #444444;">My list of online to-do's was extensive. After all, this was the first month of my journey. Many of the things on my to-do list, once established, will require minimal upkeep, but the process of setting things up does take a good chunk of time. I was pleased to discover I have some pretty good instincts and was already applying some basic fundamentals to my blog and art marketing.</div><div style="color: #444444;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #444444;">So, here's a recap of what I accomplished this first month. Blog building, using the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artistshelpingartists/2010/04/22/artists-helping-artists-how-to-sell-your-art-on-li"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">How To Create an Insanely Popular Blog for Your Art</span></span></span></b></a></span></span> broadcast, was the focus for January. My goals to tidy up this blog, as well as build a <a href="http://millwardstudioart.blogspot.com/">new blog</a> for my '<a href="http://dailypaintersofarizona.blogspot.com/">The Daily Painters of Arizona</a>' endeavors were among the things I completed. I also:</div><ul><li><span style="color: #444444;">Launched my </span><a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20YEAR%20IN%20THE%20LIFE">YEAR IN THE LIFE</a> <span style="color: #444444;">chronicle here, posting <a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-year-replete-with-promise-of-new.html">Part 1</a> and <a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/2011/01/hooked-2005-18-x-24-x-1.html">Part 2</a>. </span></li>
<li style="color: #444444;">Joined and started posting on '<a href="http://dailypaintersofarizona.blogspot.com/">The Daily Painters of Arizona</a>' blog~ for this I created a second artblog dedicated to posting only on DPOA. Probably spent more time than I should have on the header for this blog, but I liked the way it came out. And I learned a few more photoshop skills along the way, so the time was well spent. <a href="http://millwardstudioart.blogspot.com/">See this new blog by clicking here.</a></li>
<li style="color: #444444;">Redesigned this blog~ Wow! This took a big chunk of time, but blog-building <i>was</i> this month's focus. I changed templates, creating a customized version of 'Watermark'. I also played around with a new header for this blog, and although I'm still not crazy about it, it'll have to do for now.</li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;">Created a </span><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/jennamillwardcorkill">Zazzle store</a><span style="color: #444444;"> and an</span> <a href="http://jennamillwardcorkill.imagekind.com/">Imagekind store</a> <span style="color: #444444;">for my paintings. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;">De-cluttered and organized my blog's margins. I got rid of outdated links and added links that are currently relevant for me, such as links to my newly created </span><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/jennamillwardcorkill">Zazzle store</a> <span style="color: #444444;">that sells greeting cards, mugs and totes with images of my artwork on them and my</span> <a href="http://jennamillwardcorkill.imagekind.com/">Imagekind store</a><span style="color: #444444;">, where prints of my paintings are available with a variety of sizes and options.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;">Became a professional member of Contemporary Fine Arts International. I had to write and send a bio of myself along with 15+ images of paintings for </span><a href="http://www.contemporaryfineartinternational.com/Jenna_Millward-Corkill_Arizona_Fine_Artist,_Contemporary_Fine_Art_International,_Portrait_Artist,_Landscape_Paintings,_Figurative_Art_Paintings,_Horse_Paintings,_Flower_Paintings.html">my Artist Page found on their website</a><span style="color: #444444;">. All the images needed resizing before I could send them (more photoshop time), but writing the bio was the hardest thing for me. I waited 'til the morning it was due to write it and I'm sure a few months down the road, I'll be wondering what the heck was I thinking when I wrote it. But it is what it is for now.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;"> <i>I also entered 3 paintings in the CFAI monthly painting challenge.</i> This is a first for me! These are all archived works, but were relevant to this month's challenge theme, FRIENDSHIP. </span><a href="http://www.contemporaryfineartinternational.com/Art_Challenge.html">See all the paintings (including mine) submitted here.</a><span style="color: #444444;"> Submitting art to be judged is not as scary as I thought it would be. The results of this competition won't be announced until early March. I've got my fingers crossed</span>.</li>
<li><span style="color: #444444;">Had some success with my blog building adventures, increasing my blog followers 20% this month.I'm at 25 now. I am also timidly approaching a few other artists who's blogs I love, asking if they might consider adding my blog to their blogroll lists. I am surprised and delighted by the friendly reception I'm receiving. My humble thanks to </span><a href="http://carolnelsonfineart.blogspot.com/">Carol Nelson</a>, <a href="http://danacooperfineart.blogspot.com/">Dana Cooper</a>, <a href="http://jenniferwoodburn.blogspot.com/">Jennifer Woodburn</a><span style="color: #444444;">, </span><a href="http://lisawalshstudio.blogspot.com/">Lisa Walsh</a> <span style="color: #444444;">, </span><a href="http://carolschiffstudio.blogspot.com/">Carol Schiff</a> <span style="color: #444444;">and <a href="http://gwenbellsdailypainting.blogspot.com/">Gwen Bell</a>.</span></li>
<li style="color: #444444;">Speaking of blogrolls, I expanded and improved mine, adding more great artists. I've also added links to some fun Art Challenges I've found online. My plan is to also add links to suppliers and art resources as I put together my lists of companies I love doing business with.</li>
<li style="color: #444444;">I only completed two paintings, but did play around on a few others. I organized and cleaned my studio, and I created a new still-life staging area, that's going to be great for my daily paintings of everyday stuff. Yippeee! </li>
<li><span style="color: #cc66cc;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"L</span></span><span style="color: #cc66cc; font-family: georgia;">ife is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" - John Lennon <span style="color: #666666;">~</span></span><span style="color: #444444;">A lot of life stuff went on in January, including two of our granddaughters' birthdays. I read a book. I gardened (well, I cleaned up my garden after a pack of javelinas tore it up). And, I spent almost a week paralyzed, watching, along with the rest of the country, the events unfold here in my beloved Tucson, after a madman went on a shooting rampage. </span><a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-love-my-tucson.html">Read my related blogpost.</a> </li>
</ul><span style="color: #444444;">When I started</span> <a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20YEAR%20IN%20THE%20LIFE">A YEAR IN THE LIFE</a><span style="color: #444444;">, I thought I'd be covering two radio broadcasts a month. Well, I can already tell that's not a pace I'll be keeping up with. I spent way too much time away from my hubby and my painting this first month. Time spent applying what I'm learning from each broadcast to my own endeavors, <i>as well as keeping up to date with the chronicle</i>, is a bit much. Instead, I'll cover one broadcast a month, relevant to what's next on my list of things I need to do. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">Website building is on my list for February. My website is self-built, and embarrassing. I hope to find the resources I need for building an affordable website I can be proud of through Artists Helping Artists. I especially need to have a gallery to display my available (and sold) paintings. Do any of you artists out there have any recommendations for a Fine Art website builder? I could sure use some suggestions for a good one, or warnings if you've had a bad experiences with a bad one. Oh, and I need to be able to post and edit my new paintings myself as needed, so it needs to be somewhat user friendly. (I do have a grasp of html and css)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;">Once again, thanks for visiting....and happy painting!</span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-55285064571610638762011-02-01T10:12:00.000-08:002011-06-30T23:07:09.621-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEGHg3k0eDo68nIiU7lui-ibOCebJQIj-OIC7wbjdhY4ddl9y3X9hi8M3U21j3GKCJrUwgNSSuJkUMJeB3CNKDZPfXMq_ReMtk707tcM6rtqJHPemNcT2MfiLpUMWAMysPJ0YAohdIpKN/s1600/P1270022+-200dpicopy+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEGHg3k0eDo68nIiU7lui-ibOCebJQIj-OIC7wbjdhY4ddl9y3X9hi8M3U21j3GKCJrUwgNSSuJkUMJeB3CNKDZPfXMq_ReMtk707tcM6rtqJHPemNcT2MfiLpUMWAMysPJ0YAohdIpKN/s400/P1270022+-200dpicopy+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #559099; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 180%;">"Emma's Fireflies"</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><span style="color: #339999; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 180%;"></span><span style="color: #666666;"> 2011</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">10 X 10 X 1.5"</span></div><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Acrylic on canvas</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">Original not for sale,</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">but prints are available </span><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Emmas-Fireflies-art?IMID=661b99fb-9a30-40b4-b58e-ca4632e13a2c">here</a>.</span></span></div><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Yesterday, our oldest granddaughter turned 17. An amazing, gifted singer, songwriter, piano and guitar player, she already 'glows'. She likes fireflies, so I decided to do a little painting for her birthday. As grandparents, we love to pass on words of wisdom to our grandchildren and I feel that through this painting that I will be able to 'speak' to her for many years to come.</span></div><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm making prints to give to my other 6 granddaughters. If there's someone in your life you think would also like to have one of these, you can <a href="http://www.imagekind.com/Emmas-Fireflies-art?IMID=661b99fb-9a30-40b4-b58e-ca4632e13a2c">ORDER PRINTS HERE</a> through Imagekind. I also have </span></span><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">matted, signed prints of this painting available by<a href="mailto:jennacorkill@cox.net"> contacting me directly HERE</a> . This painting is also available <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/jennamillwardcorkill">HERE</a> on mugs, greeting cards and totes through Zazzle.</span></span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-53855907176021490312011-01-24T20:49:00.000-08:002012-12-01T19:38:47.634-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #559099; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 180%;">'Red Sentinels'</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #339999; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 180%;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">January </span> </span><span style="font-size: small;">2011</span></span></span></div>
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20 x 24 x 3/4</div>
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From my <a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/search/label/Tall%20Trees">Tall Trees</a> Series. Highly textured tall trees with many layers of glazed colors, this style has been a favorite for my collectors for years. I've done these trees in many different colors, including greens, golds, rusts and reds. I think this latest warm red version has a rich, Old World look and feel. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFW09yv4Km0eKSkwQTXJ7JOaG4t3xcPmEgrOrv1mkcl299ws7RRMylQbzXcQSz-ZFjw5vcX0hHXyMSm5hXPmK2DqVTcdt5AoQy9b_NeV5KiIYtReYbMx7XNbrgRKoQw31wDARGTqWJb4N/s1600/P1240076+blogcopy+2.jpg">Click here to Zoom</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU59Ys0sCzDauRdZblmi_YGzwwoDge0kFsyTqeDxe8yCc-qy6-nxnQl2FPCdz9vsJlBdYlQNhK782Kp0z3MfBaI6wC2R1_tKZNImUvzoHQ-G56OvpqbKlJRmCm-9FqkYpZZrWgO9FNXue4/s1600/P1240076+blogcopy+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU59Ys0sCzDauRdZblmi_YGzwwoDge0kFsyTqeDxe8yCc-qy6-nxnQl2FPCdz9vsJlBdYlQNhK782Kp0z3MfBaI6wC2R1_tKZNImUvzoHQ-G56OvpqbKlJRmCm-9FqkYpZZrWgO9FNXue4/s400/P1240076+blogcopy+2.jpg" width="330" /></a></div>
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<b style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;">SOLD</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Dawson Collection, Tucson, AZ</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngJZ0OAZYkgadSx8xL6AyIrM7qkD2wepI_42cU2SLEfYKEKzn5_HSuz0WuvfZWOwbbKEVDjZu6G5_ttztqwx9_DrjkKQJqcFSQg_qn4To3VwOXKPF4Qrhu65UlI2Z8wDpeEPlV87NGlzm/s1600/PA010079blogtxt+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngJZ0OAZYkgadSx8xL6AyIrM7qkD2wepI_42cU2SLEfYKEKzn5_HSuz0WuvfZWOwbbKEVDjZu6G5_ttztqwx9_DrjkKQJqcFSQg_qn4To3VwOXKPF4Qrhu65UlI2Z8wDpeEPlV87NGlzm/s320/PA010079blogtxt+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Here's the canvas during the texture phase. Trees are loaded with texture and there is a subtle fern-like texture throughout the canvas.</span><span style="color: #666666;"> Glazes of color are added a layer at a time. This one has rusty, warm red tones.</span><span style="color: #666666;"> The gloss finish really highlights the texture, especially the fern relief. Camera isn't doing this one justice.</span></div>
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-66205738579646842582011-01-18T12:54:00.000-08:002011-06-30T23:06:01.422-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtluQ2A442FWSVaHsI21mgVmgIlZ81MUvE5YsRwnPb_PNcumruNAYhOR6_HSYWv6c33e1oVLP5jUeoApnr81-uehPXZB_pV6uyOcEsVa33UwXQUWIdLY5ALiRtSur2F9r2WHjtHoSzdWME/s1600/100_1223+hookblogcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtluQ2A442FWSVaHsI21mgVmgIlZ81MUvE5YsRwnPb_PNcumruNAYhOR6_HSYWv6c33e1oVLP5jUeoApnr81-uehPXZB_pV6uyOcEsVa33UwXQUWIdLY5ALiRtSur2F9r2WHjtHoSzdWME/s400/100_1223+hookblogcopy.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #559099; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 180%;">'Hooked'</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #7d8a57;"></span></span><span style="color: #666666;"> 2005</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">18" x 24"</span> <span style="color: #666666;">x 1.5"</span> <br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Acrylic on canvas </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">SOLD </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #ff6600;"></span><span style="color: #666666;">Smith collection- Iowa City, IA</span><br />
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</div><div style="color: #666666;">Thanks to my cousin <a href="http://www.hapgooddesign.com/portfolio.php#1">Tom Hapgood</a> for the awesome black and white reference photo of this old hook in Chad's Ford, PA. </div><div style="color: #666666;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: #666666;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20YEAR%20IN%20THE%20LIFE">A YEAR IN THE LIFE</a></span></b>- part 2</div><div style="color: #666666;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #666666;">Joining <a href="http://dailypaintersofarizona.blogspot.com/">The Daily Painters of Arizona</a> meant creating a separate blog dedicated to art posts only. With that in mind, I was looking for ways to make the blogging experience better for my visitors. An entertaining, informative, less cluttered, more functional, pleasant blog experience. One that will develop a good following with visitors who are also willing to leave a comment or two now and then. We art bloggers gotta admit, we love comments. They help us know we've found an audience who likes what we're doing.</div><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">So, I went to my trusty new friend, <a href="http://artistshelpingartistsblog.blogspot.com/">Artists Helping Artists</a>, and found just the show to help me tidy up my blog sites. Originally aired on 4/22/2010 I found </span><span style="color: #666666;"><a href="http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/" style="color: #b45f06;">Leslie Saeta</a><span style="color: #666666;"> and</span><span style="color: #666666;"> </span><a href="http://dreamatolleperry.blogspot.com/" style="color: #b45f06;">Dreama Tolle Perry's</a></span><span style="color: #666666;"> broadcast,</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artistshelpingartists/2010/04/22/artists-helping-artists-how-to-sell-your-art-on-li"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">How To Create an Insanely Popular Blog for Your Art</span></span></span></b></a></span></span>. <span style="color: #666666;">That sounded like just the ticket, so I grabbed my java and my notebook and started listening. Fun and informative! What a nice group of artists! An hour well spent!</span><br />
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</div><div style="color: #666666;">I found tons of good ideas for improving the overall appearance, feel and functionality of your blog. ( If you have an hour, I encourage you to listen to the broadcast). In the meantime, here are the highlights. I've already started applying these suggestions, and I'm liking the results:</div><ul><li style="color: #666666;">Look at your blog as if it's your very first visit.</li>
<li style="color: #666666;">Put beauty in your blog- include photos of your art. Use consistency in style and post format. Put your art photos in the same spot on each post. Make return visitors feel comfortable. </li>
<li style="color: #666666;">Talk to your audience through your blog. Your audience will probably include other artists, collectors, friends and family. Talk about your feelings, your passions, and opinions. Be yourself. Let people know what you're thinking.</li>
<li style="color: #666666;">Art is an emotional buy, so tell stories about your paintings. Use humor whenever possible. People like to chuckle.</li>
<li style="color: #666666;">Use a creative, intriguing blog post title/headline to draw your visitors in from other sites.</li>
<li style="color: #666666;">Revisit and simplify your blog's sidebars with a new eye now and then. What may have been relevant 6 months ago may not be anymore. De-clutter. Simplify.</li>
<li style="color: #666666;">Review other blogs you like. What do you like about them? Would these ideas work for your blog? Are they using widgets and gadgets you like that you could apply to your blog? Mentioned on this broadcast was the<a href="http://www.linkwithin.com/learn?ref=widget"> 'Link Within'</a> widget. At the bottom of every new post this widget shows 3 links with photos to archived posts from your blog. Great way to increase visibility of past work.</li>
<li style="color: #666666;">Make your blog easy to navigate. Use labels, and links, that can take you to and fro whenever possible. Make it easy to return home to your blog from your other sites.</li>
<li style="color: #666666;">Use keywords to increase your web search engine visibility.</li>
<li style="color: #666666;">Add links to your blog. To other artists, galleries and the art suppliers you love.</li>
<li style="color: #666666;">Share the great tips, ideas and art secrets you've learned. I've provided a link on my sidebar taking visitors to my blog page <a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/p/how-i-keep-my-small-canvases-from.html">how I keep those small, unruly canvases in place </a>while I'm painting.</li>
<li style="color: #666666;">Edit your posts. Give the maximum amount of info with the least amount of words. (Ahhhh, I need to work on this.) :O) </li>
<li style="color: #666666;">Have a contest. Give something away. Notecards or a mug featuring your art, or perhaps a print of one of your paintings. </li>
<li style="color: #666666;">Use Facebook and other social media to promote your blog.</li>
<li style="color: #666666;">Ask to be linked to other artist's blogs.</li>
<li style="color: #666666;">Leave comments on other blogs. </li>
<li style="color: #666666;">Visit other non artist blogs and sites that relate to your subject matter. I paint VW vans quite a bit, so I'm going to visit a few sites where other VW enthusiasts like myself hang, let them know I'm always looking for neat photos and invite them to send me a photo from one of their van adventures. Offer a free print if you use their photo for a painting. Or maybe they'll want to buy the original.</li>
<li style="color: #666666;">Add your blog's URL to your business cards. Mentioned on this broadcast was <a href="http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/ns/default.aspx?mk=vista+print%27s&ad=e&Query=vista+print&GP=1%2f18%2f2011+3%3a40%3a34+PM&GPS=1440833560&GNF=0">Vista Print</a>, where you can get 250 free business cards online. They have quite a few freebies on their site. I'm going to order the free business cards using an image of one of my paintings as the background.</li>
</ul><div style="color: #666666;">Comments on our blog posts are a way to help us know we're connecting with our audience.</div><div style="color: #666666;">Here are the highlights of the ideas and tips they mentioned to help get the comments flowing:</div><ul style="color: #666666;"><li>Make it easy to comment. Make sure you enable comments through blogger. It's easy to do and the settings will still let you filter SPAM. None of us like <i>that </i>mystery meat showing up unannounced! Enable email notification to yourself when a comment's been left so you can respond in a timely, courteous manner.</li>
<li>Find a few blogging buddies willing to comment with some regularity on your blog. They'll help break the ice for those who don't want to be the first to comment.</li>
<li>Ask a question. How does the painting make them feel? What do they like about it?</li>
<li>Ask for suggestions. Encourage. Suggest they share their own story.</li>
<li>Ask people to help you name a painting. </li>
<li>And last, but not least, acknowledge all comments left on your blog posts. Show gratitude for comments left. Say thank-you. </li>
</ul><div style="color: #666666;">Well, that's all for this installment of <a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20YEAR%20IN%20THE%20LIFE">A YEAR IN THE LIFE</a>. I'll fill you in along the way on how these tips are working for me. One positive sign would be an increase in my blog followers numbers (currently at 20), and more comments of course (currently about 1 or 2 a post).</div><div style="color: #666666;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #666666;">Let me know if you like this chronicle along the way. Any ideas for making it better? Any idea that's worked for you on your own blog that I didn't mention? If you've been here before and can see the changes taking shape, let me know what you think of the new look... oh, and.... ahhh, leave a comment if you'd like! :O) ...thanks for visiting!</div>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6193171229593298083.post-69833277136678994032011-01-15T11:55:00.000-08:002011-11-15T18:51:53.675-08:00Tucson's tragedy<div style="color: #666666;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK94bOjwbZT326TUHbg3f5MPBE4NXXT-OGVFZgh_nw4ieAYvsa_fEo59IwFSboEuFmzW2v9EkOlROZfREFkRcP-kRXiUjSMSB4BeJFf_D964uTBOTy3-rZ6ZtuXPy8d34dVYeXdlCRg-OQ/s1600/100_2394flmaxcon+blogcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK94bOjwbZT326TUHbg3f5MPBE4NXXT-OGVFZgh_nw4ieAYvsa_fEo59IwFSboEuFmzW2v9EkOlROZfREFkRcP-kRXiUjSMSB4BeJFf_D964uTBOTy3-rZ6ZtuXPy8d34dVYeXdlCRg-OQ/s400/100_2394flmaxcon+blogcopy.jpg" width="392" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #559099; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">'Shortcake and Jen'</span></span><span style="color: #666666;"> 2005</span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;">24" x 24"</span> <span style="color: #666666;">x 1.5"</span> <br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Acrylic on canvas </span><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">SOLD </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #ff6600;"></span><span style="color: #666666;">Walker collection- Ruffin, NC</span><br />
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I love my Tucson. I have lived here since I was 17 years old. 40 years this December.</div>
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Because of last week's Tucson tragedy, I won't be posting the second installment of <a href="http://millwardstudios.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20YEAR%20IN%20THE%20LIFE">'A YEAR IN THE LIFE'</a> quite yet. <br />
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The events that occurred here, a week ago today, have caught me so off guard, I've just been sort of going through the motions all week.<br />
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Our granddaughter's 11th birthday party was scheduled for that same day. While the kids played at the local pizza place, the adults' attentions were fixated on the TV screens mounted everywhere. It was surreal. In this noisy pizza arena, surrounded by dozens of simultaneous celebrations of life, we learned that one of the victims was a 9 year old little girl. Surreal...and so incredibly sad.</div>
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A word about our town. We are a vibrant, eclectic mix of cowboys, college kids, retirees, young military families and everything in between. And, we are the biggest small town you could ever live in. There's not even 6 degrees of separation here. I'd say about 3 at the most. Everyone here really does know someone who knows someone.</div>
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I hope my Tucson isn't to be remembered just for this horrible crime, but also for our wonderful townsfolk who showed us their amazing courage, their decency and the resilience of the human soul. We will never forget the victims, the survivors or the heroes.</div>
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We stand strong and proud of our city, bent by this forceful wind of crime, but not broken.</div>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13103820269296022152noreply@blogger.com3