Sticking to a style? .

And a new zoom workshop FUN FACES!

It’s cold out..I just read an article about enjoying winter. Nope, that’s not me.. I haven’t worn a coat that wards off the pain of cold air, that thing people say, it’s not the weather, it’s your clothes (for me, even 20 degrees feels like a knife). I’ve tried supposedly warm clothes, but they don’t work. Coming back from Mexico was a shock to my system. I’m so lucky I got to spend time there, but it all disappears in a minute once the cold blasts in my face. But being a painter is the greatest because I can bring myself back into that colorful hug of color and warmth through my imagery. My February selfie is me in front of a bougainvillea wall, happy and comfortable.

One of the main questions I get asked is about finding your style. It’s hard, and you need to commit to creating lots and lots of art. As I started painting this week, all my angsty thoughts cropped up. Even though my “style” is well developed, it still can be a massive struggle. I range from a super loose, get it all on the paper fast sort of thing to more detailed and “tighter” paintings. I adore my super loose paintings, but sometimes I don’t feel like it, and then I do nothing. And then I feel guilty and unsure. Yesterday, while working, I realized (once again) that I love painting both ways. They each serve me in a moment that makes me happy and fulfilled. I don’t need to choose; I want to be present and work according to my mood. I commit to stop fighting myself. I’d rather make new work than worry about creating the right thing.

An example of super loose for me. I painted this outside with a small palette of paint, balancing on my knees, and paint tubes and neocolors on the bench next to me. There was no way to tighten up in this situation.

I did this one back in my studio from a few photo references. I took more time, and nothing was moving in front of me. It’s of a woman I saw in San Miguel.

This one started much differently. It was so much more considered and adhering to what I saw in the photo. It had no energy, so I slapped a lot of lilac paint down and painted over it fast. I was also trying to do a slightly oddball color combination. I had much more fun here than in the first version.

I also adore drawing in my sketchbook, It’s live, it’s quick. I’m trying to capture what’s around me, also looking at negative space and the composition and colors of the pages. The scenes are often not things I’m seeing at one time so I am working on blending them together in a way that makes sense, with color, line and space.

This example is because I am cold and I want to think about spring. This is a great example of what I mean about painting in a tighter style. It’s a puzzle I did for Galison. I enjoyed this as much as any of the loose stuff. It takes more time, It’s much more planned. Intuition vs intellect, I guess. We have both. I believe it’s ok to have a few different ways to work; If it’s coming from you, it’s legit!

New Zoom Class with me and

Gayle Kabaker

March 9th 1-3 EST : Fun Faces

We are excited to focus on painting faces. We will explain a simple way to draw faces as we work. I love trying to capture expressions and moods; there may be a few flowers and Mexican icons included. We will play! The workshop will begin with a short show and tell from each of us, showing our current work and our sketchbooks from San Miguel. For each of our 40-minute painting demos, we will paint faces with interesting features and in different ways. Join us!

I painted this one of my friends who who were in San Miguel.

Tiny faces, A perfect little meditative process.

Faces on stuff!

Have a great week

xxxJennifer