My Art Filled World

Hello beautiful artists! I know it's been a while and all I can say is, "Whew, I've been crazy busy!" So, three online classes and a trip to Los Angeles and I'm finally here. I've been keeping myself very busy with art plans and renderings etc. Working at beefing up my studio supplies of course (always) and neglecting to clean and organize the studio space. I must clean up in there today 'cuz I'm reduced to about the table space of 18" x 18"- yikes!

Here are a couple of things I've been working on...

She is one I worked on back in February using only Caran D'ache neocolor II's. Then this week I played with it a little more adding prisma colors to it. This photo really doesn't show the detail in the background or shading. Don't know why.

Then I made a journal out of two really thrashed antique book covers and filled it with fabrianao 140lb. hot press watercolor paper - my favorite! I decorated the inside covers with tape and decorative papers.

Well, that's all I'm going to tease you with for now, ha! I will be sharing some fantasy art over the next few weeks as I work in my journals. I have one larger piece I'm about halfway finished with so it will be up in the next post.

Kristin at Twinkle, Twinkle will be hosting her Colors of Summer play dates again this Summer and I am going to try and participate. Woo Hoo!

Please forgive me for not stopping by your blogs lately - bad girl I know. I am trying to get organized so I can manage all this stuff I've got going on, lol.

So until next time, keep scrubing that gesso off your fingers and I'll see you soon!

Forever in art,

Jessica

In like a Lion, Out like a Lion

Helloooo...from the studioooo! Wow, March was a windy, wet, frozen weather catastrophe here. Spring seems to be getting wilder here every year.  It's o.k. though, more time to spend indoors in the studio painting and sketching to my little heart's content.  Actually, I do my sketching in my magic chair. (As most of you know already, hee, hee).

I'm finishing up my class with Jane D. and then promptly starting a new one with her as well.  She's an awesome teacher and talent.  What I love about her is her ability to identify with every level of artist from the very beginner to the more experienced. Her teaching works for everyone.

My most recent homework was inspired by my desire to connect with fairy tales and the vast amounts of wooded area here. Also, Jane did a video where she was sketching out in the woods...

"The Harbinger"

Beware little girl...Something wicked this way comes...

Just to let you all know, I've been experiencing Internet connection problems for a couple of weeks.  I apologize if I haven't responded to your comments or stopped by your blogs lately.  The cable company thinks they've got it fixed - we'll see.  It certainly has opened my eyes to how important the Internet and all my blog buddies are to me.  Know that you are very much appreciated and loved!

Keep those paint brushes flippin' baby!

Forever in art,

Jessi

"Standard Issue" in progress

Good morning bloggers and friends!  Today finds me working on my unorganized household.  Got a major start yesterday and hope to have it under control by the holiday. 

I did manage to do a girlie from my comfortable seat in the magic chair.  I started with a simple water colored background thrown together in the studio then just drew over it with a black "stabilo all" pencil and added pastels and watercolor pencils - smoothing it with a small water brush.  Those little water brushes are the bomb for working outside the studio. 

She's not that interesting but I'm planning on adding some collaging layers and journaling to her.   Right now I call her "standard issue jessi..." ha!  Really been struggling with the creativity lately and my unorganized mess isn't helping.  So, I'm heading back into the studio to clean!!!

I'm not decorating for the holidays as Mom is unable to walk still after her fall on Thanksgiving and we will be spending our time at the doctors and rehab this season.  (Oh joy.)  She is now staying with friends which has freed me up a little this week to get caught up around here.  This year has sure set us back.  I am so ready for a fresh new year!

Looking forward to seeing what you are all up to this Christmas - that is if you have a chance to post!

Stay tuned for more adventures from butterfly girl too!

Forever in art,

Jessi

Forest Murmurings...

Hellooo from my studiooo...!  I hope this post finds you all doing well and arting to your hearts content.  

This is the latest painting I've done -

Forest Faerie

Forest Murmurings

Who softly treads these forest floors

And casts her charms to gentle wind,

Cause rustle of the turning leaves

When stretching velvet mossy wing,

By deadwood tree in quiet grove

A single bird begins to sing,

Of faerie tale by evening's light,

The moon's full glow in silver bring,

Enchanting visions fade to mist...

The forest sighs in echos ring.

                               -Jessica Watson

The painting is mixed media on 12 x 16 canvas in mostly acrylic. I built the layers with decorative papers, antique book pages and vintage maps. Below her I've included the poem I wrote that inspired this work... 

I've been spending allot of time out of doors and wanted to share a bit of my art it inspired.  I hope you've enjoyed the little bit of fantasy I've brought to this blog post.
 
Additionally this post is dedicated to all the huge old trees that gave their lives up this week at the whim of misguided townsfolk and changed our beautiful vistas forever...from glorious green to desolate bleakness.
 
In response to such nonsense,  I've just purchased 9 new trees and will be transplanting 5 smaller ones ready for life in the solid earth.  My mom also gave me a tiny giant redwood volunteer from the huge one in her yard.  It will need another season of life in a pot and in the spring it will be ready to soar!  How's that for a one, two punch?!

Forever in art,
Jessi

Goodbye Summer of Color

Hello lovely blog friends!  This year we have had so many dragonflies in the garden - I love watching them hover and flit about.  I have also been tickled to see little bright green tree frogs in my hydrangeas! They always disappear when I go to get my camera though!  So with that inspiration I put together one last girlie in an attempt at compiling a folder for the color of summer.  I have to say I am pooped so this is my last contribution -  a redo of green week so I will have a green girlie for my collection...

 

Summer Days

The iridescence on the dragonfly does not show well but is pretty in person.  I have not added the lettering yet but I wanted to share her with you first.

Thank you to all my new blog friends and followers who I've met through Summer of Color and Willowing (see sidebar).  And of course, thanks to Kristin of Twinkle, Twinkle who developed and presented this gorgeous challenge for the summer!

Oh, the weather is dryer, the sun is out and I can feel the strength coming back to my muscles!  It's out to the garden for me!  I hope I am feeling more myself soon and can present a blog post that's a little more creative and uplifting next time!  Thank you all for hanging in here with me!!!

Forever in Art,

Jessi xox[

Tangerine Dreams - Summer of Color

It's our last color week of Summer of Color and that color is orange!  Not an easy color for me.  The only way I have ever been able to work with orange is to marry it with pink and maybe a little aqua and yellow. So I've done my girlie in hot pink to balance out the orange.

Tangerine Dreams



This has been a colorful journey and I'm glad I've been able to stick with it in it's entirety.  I've decided to do another girlie for green week even though I had done a different project for that week and I still need to do a brown girlie for the brown week I missed with my Dad's illness.

My plans are to make a Summer of Color art portfolio with all my girls in them.  These new girlies and the portfolio will be revealed within the next three weeks.  Kristin at Twinkle, Twinkle will be instructing us on how we are to present our projects.  Oh, and have I mentioned how fabulous she is?

I hope you are all enjoying the summer.  We've finally got our hot weather and some sun! Yay!  A couple of false starts but I'm hoping it's here for a good long stay.

You know what I like to say - keep the pens, pencils, crayons and paints flying and have a wonderfully artful week!

Forever in art,

Jessi xox

Frida Goddess - Channeling Frida

Hello Lovelies!  I am humbled and amazed at the outpouring of comments and good wishes for my Dad that I received from you all last post.  It warmed my heart so much to hear from all of you; Dad and Mom were very moved.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!  

So just a quick post to let you know what I've been up to.  I watched the beautiful art film "Frida" on the life of Frida Kahlo yesterday and decided to do a painted m/m girlie last night.  Well I'm still working on her today.  She's not done yet but I wanted to post her for the red week challenge on Summer of Color.  I missed last weeks brown challenge due to a very hectic schedule and I felt compelled to try and enter something this week.

I have yet to finish the background, add more shading, detail to her hair wrap and eyes and I wanted to be sure to add a butterfly somewhere. (Added three...) 

"Channeling Frida"

It's been raining for two days and quite dark so the photo is a bit washed out.  I will post another one of her when she is done and and the sun is shining.

Thank you again for all your support and positive outreach. It means more to me than you can imagine!

Have a wonderful rest of the day!

Forever in art,

Jessi xox

Summery Golden Yellow...

"Hellooo" from my studio!  What gorgeous weather we are having this independence day weekend!  Although I've been very busy, I've been able to enjoy the summer evenings the most.  It's my favorite time of day when the edge is off of the heat, the sun is low enough to put that wonderful lazy golden light on everything and the gentle breeze is just the tiniest bit cooler.  

The neighbors in our circle are out puttering around their gardens and outdoor projects and the kids are playing in and around our yards.  I love it!  I've my soda can in one hand and hand pruners in the other with Jasper running loose and wild...  Every now and again I pop a tiny strawberry from my garden into my mouth.  Yummmm!

And here is what I've been doing late at night or early in the morning...

Of Summer...

This is my entry for yellow week at Summer of Color.  Things have gotten pretty complicated in my life lately and I may have to slow down for a while with this challenge.  My father is not doing well and my focus is spilt.  Mom and Dad need my help now as things are getting very serious for him.  His pancreatic cancer is moving into a more advanced stage and I will be setting up Hospice for him this next week.  I ask that you send us some positive and healing energy as these rough times come upon us. 

I have enjoyed everyone's projects and blogs and am thrilled that so many of you have taken the time to come and visit my blog too!  I may not be able to visit as often for a while but I will try my best. 

Have a wonderful lazy summer weekend!

Music in the studio this week was:  Taylor Swift and Pink's Greatest Hits

Forever in Art,

Jessica xox



In to P!NK!

It's almost time again to post our art for Summer of Color and for once I am ready! This next week is pink week.  To get inspired I put in my     P!NK'S Funhouse dvd and rocked out for a while with my latte' this morning.  Interestingly enough my painting turned out rather soft in spite of the raucous fun sound and visuals. 

I was inspired by P!NK'S performance of "Glitter in the Air" and picked up on the softer nuances of of the visuals and the song itself is a lovely one.  It is one of P!NK'S stunning aerial performances.  So anyhow, here is my entry...

 Glitter in the Air

This one I stayed with from start to finish without a break except to make another latte'.  I wanted to make sure I kept the same inspirational vibe I was riding on.

I want to thank everyone for their lovely and encouraging comments this last week!  You all kept me focused on this challenge - thank  you!  Also I want to welcome the new followers to my blog.  I get so excited when I have another like-minded soul link up!

In the news - Jasper has recovered nicely from his eye operation 12 days ago.  He is happy and in the pink!  He is well enough to be rousting the cat and she is not thrilled!  Poor little girl - she is getting on in years and wants to play on her own terms!

We've been having beautiful weather and I have been running around trying to catch up on all the stuff that got pushed aside for wintertime (almost 8 month's of it this year)!  So I will be starting to engage in summer cleaning as spring cleaning doesn't work well in the pouring rain, lol.

This next week it looks like I might have a little more time for arting in between the cleaning sessions.  I can't wait to spend a little more time at home around the house and garden and less time running to the vet and doctors appointments etc., etc...!

Sung-Hee  http://sungheereginahong.blogspot.com/ is having a Silly Me Doodle Party link up at her blog.  Check it out!   

I'll be stopping by your blogs to enjoy your art for pink week and to and visit all my regulars as well!  Keep on arting everyone!

Forever in art,

Jessi

The Heavenly Blue Fairy and Blu Garden Faerie

Hello all you colorful artsy types! It's Monday and our first time to submit our project for Summer of Color, the 1st week of Blue! Yay!

Well, as you can see, I did not step too far outside of my comfort zone for this first one! Ummm, a fairy journal spread, of course, done with caran d'ache w/c crayons and acrylic paint.  I did her in my hot press watercolor paper journal using golden gesso, crafter's workshop stencil, colorwash spray, glimmer mist, and clear stamps with distress ink and white paint. 

Underneath it all I journaled both pages with thoughts on blue and garden treasures in blue.  After writing about the garden, my tiffany blue fairy ended up masquerading as the heavenly blue morning glory fairy for this week, ha!

The mantra reads...

Heavenly Blue

Morning Glory Faerie and Vine,

Disease and depression you will bind

With cool, calming peace of mind.

- Jessica Watson -

My second project was another fairy, Blu Garden Faerie, done in my doodle style on painted and stamped background...

Blu Garden Faerie

Although I had fun doing them both, I think this one is my favorite blue fairy.  Viva la Summer of Color!

Stay tuned for next weeks' color and entry!

Music in the studio this week was Zen collections.

Forever in art,  Jessica xox