Jennifer Love Artwork BLOG

I had so much fun creating my "Kokopelli Song Woven Through my Dreams" woven painting for the Utah Watercolor Society (UWS) Two Star / Signature Member Show this year that I had to immediately create a new woven painting the next weekend (the process takes about two days). My second foray into the woven painting process, I decided to vary the weave a bit by making different sized strips for the cross sections. The second painting is titled "I Have the Experimental BLUES." Acrylic on 140 lb Arches watercolor paper. (size 13" x 19") Since "Kokopelli" was already heading to the Two Star / Signature Member Show, I entered "Experimental BLUES" into the UWS Spring Show. This is a highly competitive show that is juried by the guest artist who the UWS brings in for their week-long Spring workshop. These artists are often masters in their respective water-media fields, well-known, and making a living at their craft. The Spring...

I just read some commentary on Facebook from a fellow artist about working on a Wabi-Sabi series, and I decided I had to research this thing called Wabi-Sabi. I have some vague recollection of hearing the term in the art world before, but no real understanding of what it is or what it means. But, I found a great article online that helps explain Wabi Sabi - which basically sums up appreciating things (nature-made things, man-made things, all things) in your environment in exactly their natural state...often a state of wearing down or decay...and understanding the beauty of the natural progression. "It’s the subtle art of being at peace with yourself and your surroundings." These days, I think American artists also think of Wabi Sabi in terms of "recyled" or "upcycled" art. I haven't embarked on a Wabi Sabi art journey myself (yet), and maybe I never will, since I favor bright colors over muted. (I do have the occasional old barn or wagon painti...

After the paintings dried, I got out a stamp I had designed and carved several years ago but never used. The stamp is a Kokopelli with some ebellishments. I drew the design on a piece of linoleum (purchased from art supply catalog) and then carved around it with carving tools. It would seem easy, but actually carving the stamp was more difficult than I had expected.  Then, as many of my ideas do, it sat in a drawer for a long time...until I finally decided to pull it out and use it for my "breaking through" painting - six years later! Oh well. Better later than never! :) Here is the stamp I applied paint to the stamp with a brush and then stamped the two paintings - trying to apply it in a similar spot and direction on each paper. After the stamp paint had dried, I pulled the bits of tape off and rubbed off the masking fluid to reveal the saved whites. Then, it was time to cut both paintings into strips and weave together to make one...