Hello to 2025, let it be magical!

Take a look at my ongoing series of painted selfies.

Happy New Year Everyone!

At the end of each year, I like to have a critical look at the work I created and assess my outcome. 2024 was very disparate and inconsistent to me. My Mom was very sick for the first half, and she died in May. There were a lot of distractions, visits to Florida, and all the emotions involved with that. I hadn’t thought about it before, but looking back, I am sure it affected my work tremendously. I left to teach in Portugal the day after she died. It was a beautiful but intense trip, it took me all summer to start feeling like myself and get on an even keel again. I painted and drew and created, but I often felt lost. I would stop and start, never getting into a flow or completing ideas. I kept up with my selfie painting series though; they are a balm for me to paint. I have been doing these for over 11 years now, it’s interesting to see the progression, I posted early ones at the bottom.

In my studio apron around my waist, the mess is not painted.

These selfies have been a very satisfying series for me; I am creating a record of what I’ve worn, my feelings, the weather, and the places I’ve been. I’m playing, imagining, and observing. I sometimes just put in a made-up background to be where I wish I was, rather than where I am.

I should have written down the details so I remembered them. It may have been cold out, and I was dreaming of a sunny day strolling through flowers.

Here, I was in Portugal and was the model for the students to draw from for a painting exercise. Interestingly, I put a bird in my hand. My sister and I always say the robin is Dad coming to visit, and we were wondering if Mom would be a bird, too. It turns out she’s not.

I was at a park in NYC in spring just enjoying the green and tulips. (These paintings aren’t posted chronologically because I usually didn’t put dates on them, except this one)

October 2024, I went with a bit more of a watery technique which I don’t love.

Election Day 2024, stressful.

And the day after, and I’m not very happy at all.

This one was done last winter but I already used it in a recent newsletter. This was the first snowfall after a few years of none.

This set is from my very first sketchbook in 2014. I was doing my daily paintings, and the selfies were strewn in throughout each year. I see a big advancement in skill; it’s the product of consistently painting and practicing what I preach. I like the added words and explanations; maybe I’ll try that again.

For the fun of it, here is a sampling of more from random years.

I’m pretty sure I did this one at home but was channeling days in Mexico. 2022, I can tell, my hair is longer.

Thats my cat Sushi with me who died in 2018 at age 19.

It looks like snow on this day, I often wear a scarf and hat indoors. You can imagine how bundled up I get for the outside! This was probably done in 2015 or so.

Here’s to a very magical and hopeful 2025, filled with play, experiments, new things, and an extra shot of joy.

xxxJennifer