HOME!!

Got back from my trip late last night.
So much to do today and I want to paint tomorrow! Hope I can! Can't wait to get back to it! I have some ideas for very large work in a landscape type piece. One of my students Sunday wanted to paint a landscape, quite large. It was of Big Sur, beautiful photograph. Big Sur is right up in back of me here on the Central Coast. I have been there many times and it was fun to help her with the painting and made me enthusiastic to try a landscape too. Great thing about teaching, it always inspires me. The inspiriation works both ways.She did a great job too!

I am posting a photo of Big Sur. From a 3 day trip that my girl friends and I took a while back. Such fun!What a spiritual place.

I would like to work up a small floral I think for tomorrow. I made a couple of sketches.

I spent alot of time with my daughter too, and grandson, fun!! Weather was gorgeous! Always great to be back home isn't it?

I cut a big bouquet of Rose Mary, and the house smells so wonderful! It is so uplifting!

See you tomorrow!! XO Susan

WINE BOTTLE

acrylic on 300lb paper /12x15. Fun painting for this morning!

SHOW, Fresno

Hello! I have been getting ready for a show in Fresno the 3rd of May. Small paintings and small things. My daughter Amber will be putting some of her beautiful shell mirrors in too. Should be a fun show. Always nice to see everyone over there. I will also be teaching Sunday.
So next week is a really big working week ,last minute du-das. I will try to get a new painting up for sure befor the week is out.
Hope the weather is nice where you are, we are having a heat wave here at the beach,odd, it does happen sometmes. Great fun to work in the garden at last!
Write me if you have a question, want to purchase or you have news!

susanjenkinsart@charter.net

XO , Susan

PEAR 2

5x8 acrylic on 300 lb paper. Another pear done in the same loose brush strokes. 125.

PEAR

Acrylic 5x7 pear. This little still life is very loose and fun. I like to do these subjects very fast, lots of vibrant color. I usually paint them on 300 lb water color paper cut in 5x7 sizes. A wash of red or orange on the back ground and then the painting. 125.00

Gayle's Red Wall

For the past couple of days I have been going to the Chamber's Gallery to help out with the big re- decorating! It has turned out just beautifully. If you haven't seen it you will have to take a bit of time and go. She has just done a spectacular re-vamp!.
The color is a sort of a burnt Chinese Red. Vickie Greene was in yesterday, a wonderful artist ( a former window display artist in Los Angeles) helping Gayle with displays. Gayle has a wonderful eye and it was fun for her to get another bit of input. Watching Vickie create was a real treat. I have seen pieces that I had seen in the past but in her hands and against the red wall, wow! She and I both have our work on the wall, we couldn't wait to see how it looked. Stunning! If I do say so myself!!

The other wall is going to be a sort of flesh color, very pale, a pink but not really pink. She picked large pieces of potterie from the other artists, in wonderful blues and pinks and found a pink in my large seascape that she sort of matched pieces to.
The wall is soft, compared to the red wall, a gorgeous look with all the red. Cool and calm. Linda Huggens beautiful plein aire pieces are on the wall in their quiet strength.

Paula Teplitz new pottery work is on the red wall and on tall cubes and it just pops! It belongs there. Janette Wolf has a wonderful bicycle painting, very loose and rich with the very same red color of the wall!! It is right by the door as you walk in.

Speaking of the door , instead of being red it is now a rich black! It looks like the doors in France and England and Gayles recent adventure to Ireland.
I have one of my perenial roosters hanging their to welcome guests.

Gayle has wonderful artists and their beautiful work is now displayed a new!! Come see!!

XO Susan

POND 2

24x30 oil on canvas. Abstract expressionist painting. These two paintings of the "POND" actually work well together , I didn't intend for that to happen but because I used the same pallette, pinks and greens they work well as a pair. These paintings are each priced at 1800.

POND

24x30 Abstract expressionist oil painting on canvas. Yep, back to the abstracts for a while. This is an abstracted lily pond. In my favorite pinks and greens with a lovely dash of orange! 1800.

TREES

5x7 a/p Abstracted painting of trees. This is a study for a large painting I will be attempting. I am thinking I will paint it in oil altho this was done with acrylics. You get a much different look with acrylic, it is a fun medium. SOLD!

Piquetassiette Bird House

Birdhouse 25"x5" Ok Barbara it's finished!!! Alot of handbuilding too. Birds and strawberries and all sorts of things. The perch is a small hand! I loved making it but happy to have it done! Now back to painting! XO Susan SOLD!

Where Does the Time go??

I haven't posted since Tuesday, I can't believe it! Well, finally the birdhouse is done, it came out just great, used a brown grout. I like to use the brown, looks like mud. Didn't get a chance to take a pic of it, will tomorrow. Was quite a job!

Alot of appointments and interruptions all week. Gayle and I did manage to go to the potter, Paula Teplitz studio in Arroyo Grande and Gayle picked up work for her gallery. I just LOVE Paulas work. She doesn't have a web site or I would put it on here for sure. Her work is just amazing to me. I have a few pieces , wonderful. This is one of her pieces, a cup, you can't see the handle, but it is really sweet. She does big things, owls ,rabbits and huge pots with paintings of wolves and elephants and anything else that she wants to do. Also fabulous hand building of women sitting in chairs with cats in their laps, it's endless! She uses engobes to paint with. High fire.

Paulas work is available at the Chambers Gallery here in Cambria. Some truely beautiful work.

Well, I am painting tomorrow! So I will have something posted in the late morning or after noon for sure! XO Susan

White Rooster

12x16 a/c Gayle of the Chambers Gallery likes to hang a rooster on her red door and it greets guests cheerfully when they walk in. This is the new one done this morning.185.

Rose Still Life

5x7 oil on board.
Back to painting , I think this looks very French!! SOLD!

Good Morning!

I am spending some time getting some projects done , several days worth. Finishing the giant bird house and about 100 wine medallions for a show in Fresno. I will be painting again soon. I have a sketch for the table with pears for a really loose almost abstract piece. It is really challenging to go back and forth. Good for your thought process.

So, see you soon with a new work!

XO Susan

Pears on Table Still life

24x30 oil painting on canvas. Just finished this today, this is a little tighter, going back to my roots hahaha, fun!

Timmy Montana

My son Tim is a folk artist,"Timmy Montana." I have put a link to his web site on my blog. I hope you will go to visit. His work is extraordinary. He does alot of shows. Very active in New York and Pennsylvania where he lives.
http://www.timmymontana.com/
Click on the place on the right of his home page that says "new work". If you like folk art, he is amazing! Enjoy!

Blue Tea Pot

6x6 o/b 125. This is a little teapot that I have had for the longest time. Blue is so spring!!

Piqueassiette

I am excited this morning about a lovely box of shard pieces that Joen Kommer brought to me yesterday! There is thee most lovely warm rich red from what was a flower pot. A lot of it too! I will be incorporating that red into my new pieces and also the huge bird house that is still unfinished!
There are some other neat pieces in there too but that red!! Thankyou Joen, so thoughtful of you.
I am going out to paint this morning, have an idea for a small and then a larger still life, have a big painting day ahead!!

Hoping for a day of piqueassiette next week.

See you this after noon,

XO Susan

Still Life Floral Encaustic

ok, just one more floral in encaustic. 9x12 on board. Moving hot wax around is way fun!! Click on the painting for a close up! Encaustic paintings are 400.

Floral Still life,Encaustic

9x12 encaustic on panel

Another painting using beeswax and pigments. I use a heat gun to paint with, moving it around as I add pigment. No paintbrush! Very different, but of course fun!

Rooster in Encaustic

9x12 encaustic on panel
Sharon Furner ( please see Sharons web site at Fine Art America)wrote to me about encaustic painting. I haven't played with encaustic for a while. Beeswax mixed with damar with pigment added. It is an ancient medium. Heat is used in some form ( I use a heat gun) to make the wax melt and allow you to paint. I thought it would be fun to put put this up for todays work.

Strip of Green

30x40o/c This is the finished absrtact. Took this picture out side this morning after playing around with it a little.
I am getting emails that the "comments" isn't working. It is a technical thing ,soon to be working...... fingers crossed!! You can email me at susanjenkinsart@charter.net XO Susan

Ok, fixed it!! Yay!!

New Abstract

30x40 o/c This has alot of flash back because I took the picture in the studio. Going to take another picture in the morning out side. Too late in the day and the shadows from the trees are doing a dance on the canvas! Anyway, this is different, wanted to do something in the warmer tones.

EASTER DAFFODIL

6"x6" o/p HAPPY EASTER !!! XO Susan

WORKSHOP!

Just spoke with Lynn Walsh at Cambria Coffee Roasting Co about classes and we have made a date for April 26th. That is a Saturday.

If you would like to participate please email me at susanjenkinsart@charter.net for info. I cannot emagine anything more wonderful than a class over a coffee place!! HA!! Thankyou Lynn!!

I don't know what we will be painting yet but I will be thinking on that!

More soon, XO Susan

Loose Floral

41/2x61/2 acrylic on paper 125.

New Web Site

I have been on the web all day looking for a new web address. I have found it.
Fine Art Studio On Line.

www.fineartstudioonline.com/susanjenkins I have some of the work that was on Artspan with some new work too. This is a fun opportunity to do more new works.Change is always a good thing!
So check out the site when you get a chance.

XO Susan

Crow in Sunlight

6x12 oil on canvas. Did you know that in Crow lore if a bunch of crows land on your roof and stay for a while it means change coming into your life? There is lots of Crow lore. I love Crows!!

Web Site Address

After many years of being on Art Span as my web site address I am no longer going to be there.

They installed new software and put up a security wall and my server and this wall are not compatible!I had to go into files and cookies and if you know what that entails, I had to delete history, everything, then use Internet Explorer as my route in. Sometimes it worked , sometimes not. So this morning in frustration after many tries I canceled my account. Rediculous!

I will have another web address soon. I am looking for a new site. I do have my work , the morning paintings on "Fine Art America". That site is listed on the margin on the right of my blog.Also the abstract work at "Yessy."

One of these days I will have my own web site!! For now tho, I continue to be a gypsy and settle in where I am comfortable.

Painting this morning, so I will have a work on this after noon!

XO Susan

Pink Lily

6x6 o/c photo with new camera TADA!! Oh I love this camera, Now I understand it, is very new! The concept is completely different. It is a Canon Power Shot. So as my daughter wrote, (she got one too), forget everything you know about the photos coming from the camera, completely new concept!!!
So between "Bill" at Staples ( who wasn't so magic after all)and my wonderful brother in law Kim 's help and my daughter Heather it is working!!! YAY!! SOLD!!!!

Good Morning!

I am going out to paint this morning,yes, finally a 6x6 ,will have it on this after noon!

All intensions were good yesterday, however,trying to get my new camera on was a frustrating entire day! Who has time for this???? I did everything it said, tried it 3 times, used every bit of techi experience I have (which is not alot) to get the computer to acknowledge the camera! Nothing!! Sooooooooo I disconnected my monitor, grabbed the camera and cd and flew off to Paso Robles to Staples to have Bill, (my new friend) fix it!!!! He did, he explained what he did and to tell you the truth I am afraid to try it for fear Bill had magic and I have , well, me.

Anyway, the camera takes dynomite pic's and it is now up to me to get them on here!!!

So off to the studio!! See you this after noon, fingers crossed that I can get my photograph on!!

XO Susan

Abstract: No Strings Attached

30x40 oil on canvas. Just reworked this, and only could photograph a portion. New Camera just arrived!!! Wahoo!! Setting that up and hopefully figure it out by tomorrow!!

Piquetassiette Birdhouse side view

This is a side view of the same birdhouse. the back is done now and i just have one side to go and then grouting it. I am thinking yellow grout......??

Piquetassiette Bird House

26" birdhouse on wood. This is what I have been working on for the gallery here. In between everything else. ( click on the picture and you can see it larger.)

I love working on it and I keep it all set up in the back of the studio so I can just keep adding to it. This morning I worked on the wine medallions for Laura's Vineyard, they are firing in the kiln.

I am feeling better, thankyou so much for all of your emails. Still a cough, I hear that lingers for a while but mostly I am way better!

Going back out now to the studio, going to paint for a while!! XO Susan SOLD!

Small Abstract

10x16 o/c I reworked the small abstract I painted a few weeks ago. It just never looked right. I left it up tho so you can see what I did if you wanted to. I used my new sage green in it too. I can hardly wait to get my new camera, this one just does not adjust for the light! So it is a little dark. Would you believe I took this out side!!!!

Sage Green

I wanted to share a color with you and you probably already know this but I had to find it the hard way! As with everything it was easy, after I knew how to do it of course!

As many of you know, I use Thaylo Green as my green. I break it down with all sorts of colors but it is my green, except for skin tone, then Chrome green is used.

I was looking at Holbien colors the other day on line and they had a grey green on there. Well, it looked like the sage green that has swept the world and I could just never master!! I thought, wow, I can buy it!!! Well.....then I thought, that looks alot like a chrome green base with black. I went out to my studio, found an old tube of chrome green and mixed it with black and white and there it was!!!!! Sage green!!

Ok, I know this is a duh to those of you who knew it, it was a breakthru for me, and I used it for the White Lotus!! Of course now I will put it in everything for a while, isn't that the way?? Ha!

Just wanted to share! XO Susan

White Lotus

6x6" o/c Yes, I did say Monday but I managed to stop sneezing long enough to paint this morning. I just wanted to get to my easel! Now, some hot tea , jammies and an old movie! SOLD!

EXCUSES, EXCUSES

Well....... I am sick! I got a bug in Washington and I can't stop coughing!! Frustrating because there is soooo much I want to do! I have a bunch of new ideas and some darling little bottles Sue gave me to incorporate into my morning paintings.Everyone tells me this is the dreaded upper respitory flu that I got the shot for!! What???

Anyway....this is just going to be over soon, I have promiced myself!

Ordered myself a spiffy new camera! I was feeling sorry for myself and my camera is just the pits so I bought myself a present! In order to reconsile this expendature I must get work done!! I am resting until Monday and then NEW PAINTING!!! So stay with me, see you Monday.

XO Susan

Water Color Lily Pond

51/2x31/2" watercolor on paper.

HOME!!

Oh my gosh being gone a week can sure get in the way of ones business!! I got home yesterday from the workshop in Washington and of course have a million things to do to get my self back on track!
The workshop was just wonderful and met such nice new people and of course my dear friends who are always faithfully there excited for another go! Four paintings in four days and everyone of them was just beautiful! It is always fun to go to Bev's at Arts Desire. I bought some new paint as always and one of the tubes was Grahams new turqoise. Wow what a gorgeous color. There were only two tubes left and Vickie and I each got one. YAY! Don't know what I will paint with it but I am inspired to paint!
Just being back in town, so much to do. I will get a painting up as soon as I can. Lots of ideas spinning up there!
Barbara bought the Garden painting with the bench. Thankyou Barbara!

Sue sent me home with 3 new jars of jam , yee ha!! Thankyou Sue!

Thankyou to all of you who participated in my workshop, it was just so much fun!!

XO Susan

Loose Floral

5x7 a/p Yes, I know, I was not going to be posting but this morning I sent several photos of these florals out on request and thought it would be fun to post another one of them on my blog.These are very loose and fun to do. Worked in acrylic on archival paper. 125.

LILY POND

16x20 o/b This was loose and fun! Alot of color. This is from a photo that Bev Birdwell at Arts Desire http://www.bevelar.com/ in Vancouver Washington gave me. She gave me several from her beautiful lilly pond in her back yard. This was painted from one of those photographs, of course I exagerated it a bit!
I am leaving for a workshop in Washington next week and I have much to do before I leave. This will be my last painting until my return. I know I will be seeing alot of you at the workshop and I am so looking forward to that!
See you soon, XO Susan

LOTUS

6"x6" o/b yep,pink and green again! SOLD!

ROSES

6"x6" o/b 125. My favorite, pink and green but with the addition of a yellow rose. Click on the painting and see a close up! SOLD!

Sun Flower

6x6 oil on board. Sun Flowers are such happy flowers. 125.

Vineyard

6"x6" o/c new painting for this morning! I'm back,block is over thank goodness!!!

Stone Heart

24x30 oil on linen canvas
I thought for Valentines Day it would be fun to put a heart painting on for today. The beach here is so beautiful.
There are certain areas here for moonstones, sea glass and rocks. I have my favorite spots to go looking and one of the beaches has beautiful rocks. For many years I have collected heart rocks. One day I sorted some of them out and decided to make a still life of them to paint. I painted 3 paintings of rocks and this was one of them. Click on the picture and see a close up!
Happy Valentines Day!!!!

New work

Well...I have been painting, have hit a block. It happens and it aggravates us when it does. I have something on the easel but nothing worth showing you sorry to say!

I got very inspired looking at Gustav Klimt. I have a book of the beautiful works of Klimt and decided I wanted to paint something figural and all I have done is rework the face! Thinking it is because I haven't decided if I want to paint it very loose or just a bit loose...I will figure that out!

It is all drawn in but slow going! It has been a while since I painted a figure piece. So, will keep going and hoping that tomorrow the block ends and I have something worth showing you!!

Until tomorrow!! XO Susan

SWEET SPRING

24x36 abstract o/c Todays painting. I am loving pink right now, well, I have always loved pink. I have several tubes of really wonderful pinks. Several different ones were chosen for this painting. SOLD!!

Good Morning!

I am heading out to the studio in a bit but wanted to tell you that I have placed these abstracts on my website at http://www.artspan.com/ and www.yessy.com/susanjenkinsart/

They are all cleaned up and in order. Much easier to view.
Abstracts for me are a way to clear my head of all the day to day minutia that clutters ones mind.
Abstracts are about balance. Color and non form. If you haven't tried to paint one give it a try. It is fun. Not easy but fun! Start by just placing a color you like on a canvas. It can be a mark or an all over smush. Big brush or small. You can have an idea in your head of where you may want to go or what you want to say and just start. You can use alot of colors or stay with a few. It is about the balance tho. A color one place needs to have it some place else and so on. You will get the hang of it.

Put some nice music on, maybe even rock and roll! Go for it! Right now I am just right where I want to be. Clear thinking and excited! Heading back out to the studio cranking up the cd player and going for it!!

XO Susan

Pink and Green

24x30 Abstract o/c Just finished this. This was tough, I think it is the smaller canvas. I had to get the balance and I added, reworked and added and took away and added! It was fun but gave me a challenge. That's what it is about tho right?? Should be a challenge and it should be fun!! I photo graphed it on the easel and just came in to get it on the blog. I think it works.

Abstract#4

This is todays work. o/c 30x40. I still have to tweak it a little.
It is super windy out in the studio and just too hard to continue...game called on account of rain!! So got a snap of it and will work on it tomorrow. To see a close up you , if you didn't know, click the picture and it will enlarge it.

CROW

30x40 o/c Finished this one last night. I love the crows and wanted to encorporate one into an abstract painting. This is photographed on the easle in the studio and really should have cropped it.........no time!!!

Abstract

30x40 o/c untitled. This is my newest abstract. Taken in my studio. I got a new light. Halogen, color true that house painters used for interior work. My brother in law Kim advised me to get this. Thanks Kim!I am reborn! Lighting is everything!

I know I have left some of you cold with this painting hahaha, but it is thee most fun!

ABSTRACT

30x40 a/c I am going back to abstracts for a while, all of my work is caught up for now and I just want to play! So mornings will be spent playing!! For now anyway.

Afternoon Repast, Tuscany

24x30 o/c SOLD

Wine Bottles

3"x3" The tinyiest painting I have ever done! This is on one of those little canvases I picked up several months ago. The canvas weave is very noticeable in these small works,not so sure about it. Anyway, it was a challenge! I used a #2 filbert bristle for this.

Wine Bottles #2

16x20 o/c Started this painting Friday and finished it today. I like the light background in this for a change but people seem to like the darker backgrounds. A bit earthier I think. Two left the Gallery this weekend with brown earthy backgrounds and one in a sort of "Tuscan" dark red.Also a tiny 5x7 one of the morning paintings! Great weekend for wine bottles!!!

Wine Bottles

16x20 o/c This painting was painted Saturday in the gallery and sold at the end of the day. It was a really fun weekend , alot of people enjoying art and fine wines!

Stuff

Demoing this weekend at the Chambers gallery. What fun we had, not over yet, today too.
Fun to see so many of you there and fun too to see alot of the wonderful artists that are in the gallery.
Many of Cambria's artists out painting for the Wine Festival and the weather couldn't have been nicer! The rain stopped and the sun came out!
Pam Derby owner of Laura's Vinyard in Paso Robles was pouring her wonderful wines in the Gallery on Saturday and Lynn Walsh, owner of the Cambria Coffee Roasting Co kept us supplied with coffee!
Lots of visiting and laughter and the friendliest people visiting Cambria. Some for the first time!

Lynn would like to have classes above her Coffee shop and if you have been up there it is really cute. Deck looks out over the town. Thankyou Lynn!! I am looking at that for this summer if you are interested let me know.

Today looks like a very blustery day but I will be back in the gallery painting so come and see us!! XO Susan

Wine Medallions

Just delivered these to the Chambers Gallery for the Wine Festival Today. I have made them in the white earthen clay and also terra cotta. They go on the wine bottles and announce the name of the wine. They are about 2" wide. $10.00.They have copper wire and metal wire with glass beads.
Gayle has graciously invited me to paint inside the gallery today because the weather is not cooperating!! We remain undaunted however and the show must go on!! Come see us!
XO Susan

Making Stuff

Out in my studio all day today (roof leaking) wet out there and cold. It has been raining all night and all day today. I have a heater but my kiln is going and I can't have the 2 on at once with light too! So it was very damp!The kiln kind of warmed things up with the door closed. ...kind of...

I am working on a Piqueassiette bird house. It is very tall! The kiln is full of items that I will be selling at an upcoming show. Some for the Gallery here and then a show in Fresno in May. I will be posting those dates soon.The bird house is going to be quite a bit of work and I will post it when it is done.
I am not painting for several days so I can get these new works done. Not that I really want to give up my seascape practice!! HA!

The wine festival is going to be on this weekend and if you are around I will be demonstrating an oil painting at the Chambers Gallery on Friday and Saturday. ( The forecast is for rain, hope not!)There will be a wine pouring too. Pam Derby will be doing the honors with wine from her winery. So come by and say hi! See you soon, XO Susan

Seascape # 3

24x30 o/c Yep, another seascape. Just can't seem to pull away from them! You have to indulge me a bit longer, just having way too much fun!

Rain!

Very gray here today, I just cannot get a picture! I am sorry, will try again tomorrow. We are supposed to have rain for the next few days however. It is frustrating but my digital only takes shots out doors.
We do need rain however but it does wreak havoc with my photography! I will keep painting and have something for you soon!!

XO Susan

Seascape

24x30 Another humble attempt, this time my teacher is Gardner Symons. A wonderful California Impressionist. 1862-1930.

Sea Scape

24x30 o/c This is painted after Paul Dougherty, my favorite sea scape painter. I took a few libertys with this. Had alot of fun. I am so inspired by his work. Living here by the sea I want to be able to paint it and when I study and practice I turn to Paul Dougherty.

Paul Dougherty was an American painter, 1877-1947. An oil painter, concentrating on seascapes. Born in Brooklyn NY setteling in California in 1931. He was world famous by this time.He became actively involved in the formation of the Carmel Art Association and was president in 1940. His etchings,watercolors,pastels,monotypes along with his beautiful oils of the sea are viewed in Museums all over the world.

Garden Rest

24x30 o/c SOLD
Back home yesterday after a fun workshop and a visit with my daughter. I will be back painting tomorrow morning with a small and then on to more work for an upcoming show!