MOONLIT SOIREE

8"x10" oil painting on canvas    Choice is Everything!

MOONLIT SOIREE

8"x10" oil on canvas          ennie,meeni,miny,moe......... which one will it be?  Decisions that a cupcake loving crow must make.

MOONLIT SOIREE

8"x10" oil on canvas. No cupcake is safe in the eye of the crow!!
This is second of what may be a series of cupcake and crow paintings!! Such fun to paint!! Paintings for Claire's Bakery in Solana Beach Ca.

MOONLIT SOIREE

8"x10" oil on canvas       This is one of the pieces that will be going to Claire's in Solana Beach. Claire's is a darling place that offers wonderful hand made pastries and the best coffee ever! I'm sending crows of a varied assortment along with a variety of  painted cupcakes. I couldn't resist including a crow with cupcake!!

VINEYARD VIEW

30"x30" oil painting on canvas.
Living near the vineyards and enjoying and participating in festivals, I create many wine related paintings. The colors are just beautiful in the different seasons. Even when they are cut back I find the rows and surrounding landscape  a feast for the eyes. This new one just finished this morning, shows the view from a window upon the vineyard  with a glass for sipping the harvest.
This painting when dry will be going to the Chambers Gallery here in Cambria!

ART and WINE FESTIVAL

A quiet time to take a few pictures on the last day of the 3 day Art and Wine festival in Cambria this past weekend. What alot of fun!  I was demonstrating the three days in the Chambers Gallery and have one of  the paintings posted here. I just had to paint a vineyard with a crow!
Pam Derby of Derby Wines in Paso Robles poured  her wines  filling Gayle's desk with the best wine selection on the Central Coast ( what a treat) and Vicki Greene ( our wonderful seascape artist) brought fabulous cheese she discovered while in France! Thanks for sharing Vicki!! Julie Whitmore ( potter extraordinaire) added a huge ,beautiful hand painted wine bottle for the occasion and our resident plein aire painter Linda Huggins brought her luscious scones!  I am now the proud owner of one of Linda's landscapes!
Pat Riley ( of Pat Riley's hand painted clothing) made lunch for us the last day and it was fabulous. Our thanks to Shannon McNamara for the beautifully created cheese presentations.  The  wine bottle painting on the back wall  sold along with our wonderful artists work in the excitement and there was a flurry of buying in the gallery! All the artists were there along with their beautiful works and here also is a picture of Gayle Sewell proprietress of the wonderful Chambers Gallery.
If you haven't been to Cambria for the wine festival you have a treat in store next year! All the shops participate and there are dinners and auctions and  artists painting all over town!! Don't miss it next year!!

SOFT FLORAL

8"x10" oil painting still life on canvas
I have revamped my studio, more light, enabling me to set up still life more easily. This is a painting just finished , very loose,  in the tonalist method of muted values.  Had my spotlight to the right of my little garden arrangement which I hardly ever do. It was a fun exercise!

SUN FLOWERS and PEACHES

24"x30"    oil on canvas
Just finished on the easle. Very fun!! I just love the happy sun flowers!!

HEART LOVE WREATH

8.25"x9" Mosaic heart. I like this new design, a wreath shape. Glass, vintage shards and a bit of old jewelry.Hand painting and glaze.
Painting to do, have a wonderful floral subject to paint, more about that later, so much to do , the New Year, always exciting don't you think??

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!

I hope you have a wonderful Holiday!  Cookies in the oven and pies to bake!  Trees to be trimmed, presents to wrap with Christmas music filling the rafters!   Merry Christmas to all!!!

EGRET

6"x8" Egret  oil painting on copper.
I have been painting on copper for some time off and on. I love the feel of it. You have to put a  light coat of  underpainting  MG white (oil) but  the  glow of copper still comes thru. I was inspired to paint this after the rains that fill the grassy low lands here. Something so beautiful about a pristine white egret against the backdrop of greens, water and earth. SOLD!!

IRON BED

24"x30" oil painting on canvas. Finished this morning. It was on yesterday but needed to be tweaked. This painting is a tonalist type painting. I really love the gray. It's such a foil for the lights and color. Tried to keep the color muted even tho the pinks and greens I used can be very bright.
I have another canvas on the easel and want to paint another bed. Loving painting rumples of fabric.

Rocks on the Beach

16"x20" Oil on canvas.  Rocks on the Beach.  The rocks that wash up on the beach here are just so beautiful! People gather them, tumble them, put them in bowls to enjoy and prize the ones shaped like hearts. I collect heart rocks as do so many beach combers here. Glass and rocks, we hunt for our treasures and the ever coveted hearts!

GREEN PEARS

Pears    oil on canvas  9"x12"
I've been painting for the last couple of days. I went on Kathryn Glover's  blog ( her blog is right here if you scroll down to the right on my blog list)just to see what she was up to in her wonderful  loose painting style. She has painted beautiful yellow pears! Soft and loose and laying softly in the folds of cloth. I love it and inspired today to paint pears! Completely different style, which is fun!
Thanks Kathryn for the inspiration! http://kathrynglover.blogspot.com/  SOLD!!

HANDS

Pique assiette Hands  4"x7" with my hand painted imagery and different colored grout. Porcelain and glass and ceramic. Vintage and antique shards. I'm loving the different colored grout, very experimental at this point!
I'm still painting and I have new hearts in the works too. Keeping busy in the studio!!

CROWS

5"x7" oils on board. Crows! How I love them! These are new today, happily back to painting all day. A beautiful sunny day and just so fun to be in my studio at my easel. I painted crows because we have so many here, I feed them and they know there will be lots of peanuts for them. They swoop down and grab a peanut as soon as I put them down. I love to hear the flutter of their wings and with about 10 of them there is alot of fluttering!! These crows are available at the Chambers Gallery in Cambria. CROW on lower left is SOLD!!

A BIRD IN THE HAND

Hand,wall decor, piqueassiette. 3.5"x7".  Yes, I did say I was going to paint....I tried, I really did. Since then I have made 3 more hearts and this hand!! It's difficult to break away!! My studio is used half for painting and half for clay work and mosaic work and  with all great intensions I end up at the back of my studio adding bits of china to a form laid out! I do have sketches and ideas....got that far anyway. Tomorrow....there's always tomorrow!SOLD!!

ROSES

I have been missing my painting time. This painting is a part of the large painting "The Bed" that was done some time back.Working with shards has been such fun and while I love it I do miss painting. I have an idea for new still life , rose buds in small vases sort of like the pink rosebud here on along the side of my blog. They will be 5"x7 '' in size and I may make them into cards too. Lots of ideas floating about and in my sketch book too. I must get started now while the roses are still blooming. My mothers garden is full of gorgeous blooms and buds at this moment. We have about 2 months before they are cut back to rest so the time is now!!
I have some work to finish up and then on to the new!! I'm excited!

Little Hearts and Little Crosses

Hearts measure 2.5 "x2" and Crosses measure 2.5"x3.5" made on my clay base.
These are tiny piqueassiette, mosaic and make wonderful gifts. Sweet in any decor! Water sealed so that they can be hung in your garden too! These are very special shards that I found in some very old antique and vintage china dishes.Pink crystals and gold accents, one with a green bead. I love the green and pink together. Hearts and Crosses are  one of a kind and available at the Chambers Gallery in Cambria and at my on line etsy shop http://www.susanjenkinsart.etsy.com/  Green Heart at top is SOLD!!

October Festival in Cambria!

In october in Cambria we have October Fest! Gayle has the chambers Gallery in Cambria. Her darling crow is a favorite in town. All made by her with the head made of paper mache' and painted. I think it is just precious and she has added my crow painting behind it!! Fabulous Gayle and thank you!!!

STRAWBERRY COTTAGE

8"x8" scalloped heart. Hand made and handpainted pieces with vintage shards and glass embellishments. The little cottage with it's red roof was inspiration for the addition of the little strawberry. Hence, the title "Strawberry Cottage"

BUTTERFLY GARDEN

8"x8" Heart. Mosaic,piqueassiette. Scalloped clay heart.Vintage shards, glass and hand painted imagery. Broken china cut to fit the design.
I love houses with a green roof. Many of the older homes have them, You don't see them on newer houses often. When I started this new heart I had a sweet cut out butterfly piece of china and it was my inspiration for this piece.SOLD!

HEARTS, Birds

8"x8" Hearts. Finished this morning! Hand painted imagery, and tiles. Vintage shards cut to fit my design.
Yes,these hearts are available on etsy.  http://www.susanjenkinsart.etsy.com/

Little Hearts

2.5"x3.5"  Little baby hearts. Pique assiette , mosaic hearts made on my clay base. Makes a sweet gift to tuck in anywhere! antique and vintage porcelain and China with a crystal bead. http://susanjenkinsart.etsy.com/ The top heart is SOLD!

BLUE BIRD GARDEN

8"x8" heart. Pique assiette. I will be making new pieces for the hearts. New flowers and birds and I have lots of sketches done. I so love making these hearts, it is a process of making,painting,clipping and grouting. It is difficult to stop and change ones focus to other things!New crosses to post and small hearts! I also have paintings to complete!! Oh what a blessing to be busy!! No idle hands here!!
 You will find this heart at
http://www.susanjenkinsart.etsy.com/    SOLD!!

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Heart   8"x8" I found some wonderful broken pottery and right away set to cutting and clipping!! Wonderful pinks and my hand painted house and porcelain  pieces.Grouted and sealed with a water proof sealer so that it may be also hung in your garden. This new Heart is available at the Chambers Gallery in Cambria!SOLD!

Playing in the Surf

8"x10"  oil painting on canvas. This is after Edward Potthast . 1857-1929
I love to paint impressionism. I learned it by looking at paintings like this. Wonderful training. I love Potthast , the paintings of children at the sea shore. I painted this on an 8"x10" canvas as it was one of his favorite sizes. Mine too!

CHEESE and CRACKER'S

20"x24"   oil painting still life on panel.  One of my most favorite things in the world ,cheese and crackers!! Also still life.   I started out as a still life painter and this painting was fun to paint. It was done on a panel because I just love the way the brush hits the hard surface and glides. I'm taking this painting to the Chambers Gallery today.

Meredithe's Family

24"x30" Commissioned oil painting on canvas.
 It's finished and Meredithe is coming to pick up her painting!  This was fun and a challenge to get the family in and the dock  and keep it all loose. Everything in the painting has meaning to them and it was my pleasure to make sure it captured their memories of a day at the shore.  Thank you Meredithe!!!

LITTLE CROSS

2.5"x3.5" little crosses. I have some very thin lovely old vintage and antique shards and I had fun applying them to the clay cross base. These crosses are grouted in a soft linen colored grout and are then sealed with a water proof sealer. A cross makes a lovely gift for any occasion and something special to add to your home decor. Available at my etsy shop  http://www.susanjenkinsart.etsy.com/

LITTLE CROSS

2.5"x3.5" Pique assiette cross. Hand made and embellished with vintage shards of pottery and porcelain. My handpainted imagery. Grouted with a soft linen colored grout and sealed with a water proof sealer so they may be hung out side too!
I love making these little crosses, they can be tucked in anywhere and make sweet gifts.
I have put these on my etsy site    http://www.susanjenkinsart.etsy.com/ The little pink cross is SOLD!

GREEN BIRD

8"x8" heart. Pique assiette. Clay heart embellished with handpainting, glass,porcelain imagery,vintage pottery as broken shards. Original design. Grouted and sealed with a sealer so that they may be hung out side in your garden!! Love them inside too! This will be going on etsy this after noon.I'm running to an appointment, see you there (on etsy)!

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

8"X8" Pique assiette heart. Newest heart this morning. I have some lovely new shards and plates ready to work with. A little from here and a bit from there and help from family and friends!
I am painting. I'm working on a painting almost finished  and I will post it when done. Busy hands!!
SOLD!

FOR GET ME NOT

8"x8" Heart. Hand made and my hand painted imagery,English Bone China  floral piece of " forget me nots".  Vintage pottery and China shards cut to fit my design. Grouted with a soft linen colored grout and sealed to be water proof  in case you'd like to hang it in your garden!! I used mull berry colored broken plates and shards for this piece. There is some Chintz and majolica tucked in and about too! http://www.susanjenkinsart.etsy.com/ SOLD!!

Marquetry Table

I always have wondered about my love for mosaics and my facination with all the pieces fitting together to make a design. I t makes me happy to be challenged with the different sizes I clip and cut to fit. This morning I looked over at the library table my grand father had made in the 30's which is one of my prize possessions. It was always in the entry hall of my grandparents charming home. This type of work is called Marquetry, which is French for inlay work.Dating back to the 16 and 1700's. I call mosaic work Pique assiette French for "stolen plate".  My grandfather was a carpenter and in later years a contractor. He made many of these tables, during the depression as a young family man. He'd work in the ship yards and then home to his workshop to do his beautiful Marquetry.
I am so fortunate to have this table and several others he created.  This beautiful table isthe largest of his pieces and completely had made. Every piece cut and set piece by piece. Every type of wood was used. The sides, bottom, all, is covered with Marquetry.
So, I know now why I love piqueassiette and love the challenge. I think I'll go make something!

 

IN THE GARDEN

5"x10"  Bird Pique assiette New mosaiced piece this morning. Tiles, hand painted,porcelain,vintage pottery. I just LOVE making these birds!

FLY AWAY HOME

5"x11" pique assiette bird. Hand made fired clay base embellished with vintage shards, glass and my hand painted imagery. I've made birds in the past and I have been wanting to add some new ones to my etsy shop! I have more of them in the works as well as more hearts! these are really nice in your garden as well as home and front porch as a cheerful greeting!
This was fun to make, I love the little pieces of floral shards. Some of the shards are from old chintz plates my sister gave me. They were broken of course, they at least have to have a chip! I'm recycling!!
I have had a question as to how I hang them. Two nails, that's it!   http://www.susanjenkinsart.etsy.com/

NESTING

8"x8" Heart. pique assiette.
I love the idea of "nesting". Our homes and gardens are our sanctuary and our "nest". Of course birds have it wired!

 Original design, hand made heart from clay and fired. Embellished with my hand painted and handmade imagery and tiles. Completed with vintage pottery shards cut to fit the design. Grouted with a soft linen colored grout and sealed with a water proof sealer so that it can be hung in your garden!!SOLD!