Jennifer Love Artwork BLOG

I was so lucky to attend a fabulous and fun Utah Watercolor Society mini-workshop with Nancy Maxfield Lund at the end of March! I learned about staining paper, reviewed composition and design, and how to create watercolor collage with the papers I had stained and/or other paper. Painting with paper! AWESOME! My work table Hand-stained papers Stained papers drying Stained papers drying and partially used I have long admired Nancy's work in the 12 years that I have known her, and have been wondering how she creates her wonderful collage work. Now, after a decade, the question has been answered! (At least on a basic level). :) Nancy demonstrating Nancy is a great instructor with helpful hints to share and she gives you straight-up feedback. I'll be honest...my brain was hurting by the end of this workshop! I only managed to get three paintings completed during my time there - ...

It has been one crazy summer...and now Fall is coming and the crazy hasn't died down. I am still alive! For those of you who read my blog regularly, so sorry I haven't been "regular" in my posting this summer. Now that our summer vacation is over (Yellowstone National Park and Mt. Rushmore...lots of fun!), and the kids are settle in new school/daycare, it is time for me to get into High Gear to get illustration work done! Meanwhile, here was a little ACEO I did for the September ACEO Theme Week on ebay (the theme was "Old Houses").  The auction did not sell during theme week, so I have now listed the ACEO at my Etsy shop here . For those who are unfamiliar with an ACEO - the acronym stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. It is any small work of art that is the size of a baseball trading card (2.5" x 3.5"). A great way to collect some original works of art when you are low on cash or wall space. :) This one is titled "Red Roof, Bl...

So...I know I did Sea Turtles for Nibblefest a few months ago. But, I just enjoyed them so much that I decided to take the opportunity to do another one for the ACEO challenge this month. I was also having a brain cramp trying to think of "cute" Beach Critters that I wanted to paint. The only "critters" I could think of were sand crabs and little sand bugs...none were really appealing to my painting sensibilities - so, here is a little turtle for the collection instead. True...turtles aren't really "critters" either. But, I figured since they come onto the beach to lay their eggs in the sand, then it qualified as "beach-ey" enough. :) Here is my offering for ACEO Theme Week July - Beach Critters: "Beach Crawler" Click here to go to the ebay auction. ACEO is an acronym that stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. The only rule is the size, which is 2.5 inches x 3.5 inches (6.4 x 8.9 cms) - just the ...

It's here again! ACEO theme week on ebay. The theme for June 2012 is "Zoomed In" which I thought would be a fun theme to participate in. Since I have been so inspired by the Spring flowers in bloom this year, I decided to do a couple of "zoomed-in" ACEOs based on some of the flower photos I have taken recently. The first one, "Eye of the Lilac" is based on one of the beautiful light violet lilacs I found blooming in Bountiful in early May. Luckily, I was able to take several shots of these beautiful flowers - some close up. Made for a perfect setup for the ACEO. :) The second entry, "Soft Rose" is based on a lovely pale yellow rose that I took photos of after a hair appointment. Just outside the door and across the parking lot from my stylist's salon, there is a lovely little rose garden at the business next door. The day of my last appointment, their roses were blooming in beautiful colors and they had also just watered, so I was abl...

I participated in this month's mid-month ACEO "Interpretations" challenge on ebay. The mid month challenge is for each artist to create their interpretaion of the same photo reference. Here is my entry " Spirit Island Sunrise "  the auction starts at just $0.99 and ends on the 17th. :)

May is already here! The 1st of the month always signals the beginning of ACEO Theme Week on ebay (search ACEO TW for all entries). This month the theme is butterflies, so of course I had to submit something on THAT theme!  Click here if you would like to go directly to my ebay auction for "Spring Monarch." This auction is starting at just $0.99. :) ACEO is an acronym that stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. They are mini paintings the size of baseball trading cards. Quite popular among artists and collectors alike! A great way to collect original art - especially when you don't have a lot of wall space! I also listed some matted prints of my other butterfly paintings to run this week as well. :) Click here (or search Jennifer Love Artwork on ebay) to see all my current auction listings. Also, don't forget to check out my Etsy shop periodically. I am trying to list some new things each week to keep it fresh! And, my larger (and some smaller) ori...

So, I started this little painting in February in the Marian Dunn workshop. My first try at using YUPO as a paint support material. What fun, vibrant colors! YUPO is so unpredictable...you never know exactly how the colors are going to pool and dry. Because it is plastic, the color does not absorb into it (like on paper), so the color stays on top and as vibrant as it is in the mixing tray. With that in mind...like Marian says...once your YUPO painting is dry, "Don't sneeze!" You have to handle these paintings carefully and get them protected in a frame. If the surface gets wet, the paint will run. I LOVE bright colors and so had lots of fun with this painting! I named it "Bright Harvest" and it will be up on auction on ebay starting tonight about 6pm Pacific time (7p Mountain/8p Central/9p Eastern). I will definitely be doing more "fun with YUPO" in the future! "Bright Harvest" - watercolor on YUPO  ©2012 ...

The ACEO TW group organizers decided to issue a mid-month challenge - "Interpretations"One photo was posted for all the participants to create an ACEO from. Many interpretations of the same picture (rather than interpreting a theme). Here is my entry titled "River Walk."  :) (Link to my auction is below the pic). http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200726792805 ACEO is an acronym that stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals . The ONLY rule is the size, which is 2.5 x 3.5 inches (6.4 x 8.9 cms) just like sports cards but far more addictive.

Right on the heels of Nibblefest comes ACEO Theme week. This month even sooner, since Feb has fewer days than most. ACEO Theme for March is "Signs of Spring." Listings for theme week will all start on March 1st. You can search "ACEO TW" or "ACEO TW MAR" in ebay to see all the offerings from participating artists. If you want to find my listings, they will be posted on March 1st. You can search " Jennifer Love Artwork ACEO TW MAR " to see them. :) Here are my "Signs of Spring" ACEO paintings...

February's ACEO contest is coming up on ebay (ACEO TW). The theme week always starts on the first day of the month. Like Nibblefest, there is a monthly theme. ACEO is an acronym that stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. What qualifies an ACEO is the size, which is 2.5 x 3.5 inches (6.4 x 8.9 cms) just like sports cards. The theme for February is "Winter Wonderland." Since I am preparing to do a commissioned painting of Delicate Arch...and since Delicate is wondrous and beautiful, I decided to do a little ACEO of Delicate, but make it winter time. This took a little imagination on my part, since my photos were taken in July, but I thought the results turned out okay. :) My auction will start on Feb 1st at 6:30pm Pacific time. :) http://www.ebay.com/itm/200707614318?ssPageName=STRK:MESCX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1554.l2649

Here are my entries for this month's ACEO Theme week: " Tree Frog " " Flutter By "

ACEO Theme week again! (Right on the heels of Nibblefest). This month's theme is masks. I was stumped for ideas, but thanks to my friend Cheryl who emailed me a good idea to get started and then I decided on two more. This is the first time I have had three entries to ACEO. :) Here are my Art Card Editions & Originals Theme Week Entries for "MASKS" " Greek Mask " " Venetian Mask " (scan doesn't show the decorative glitter parts very well, but they are there) " Comedy & Tragedy "

SOLD!  :) Another little ebay group I participate in is the ACEO Theme Week. Again, there is a monthly theme. Auctions must start on the 1st of the month and last no longer than 7 days. Artwork must be created to ACEO size. ACEO is an acronym that stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. The ONLY rule is the size, which is 2.5 x 3.5 inches (6.4 x 8.9 cms) just like sports cards. The ACEO theme for September is "Bridges" so I created a little painting of Rainbow Bridge at Lake Powell.  “Higher than the nation's capitol and nearly as long as a football field” describes Rainbow Bridge. It is the largest natural bridge in the world at 290 feet/88 meters tall and 270 feet/83 meters across. Rainbow Bridge is considered sacred by the Navajo culture as a symbol of deities responsible for creating clouds, rainbows and rain--the essence of life in the desert. Rising up at the edge of Lake Powell, it may be reached by boat, on foot, or on horseback. Rainbow Bridge is loc...

Another ebay group I am recently participating in is ACEO. This stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. They are mini pieces of art that are the size of a trading card or baseball card. I prefer to only make originals, but some artists will do prints. June theme was "Beach." This month (July) is "Patriotic." I am using these little ebay contests to try to loosen up my artist's brain a bit. Work quickly and loosely, and stretch into arenas I wouldn't normally creat in. It has been a challenge, but also fun. Here is my July ACEO: "Red Stars" ~ Acrylic & Mixed Media. (You can click the pic if you want to go to the ebay auction page). :)