Jennifer Love Artwork BLOG

It's the time of year for the Utah Watercolor Society Spring Show (UWS). I was fortunate enough to be juried into the show this year, with one of my woven abstract paintings, "Stargazer," which also showed up on the event postcard! :)  The show was juried by John T. Salminen , who also presented at the UWS member meeting this past Tuesday evening. Wow! What an incredible artist and an entertaining speaker as well. The opening reception is tonight in Provo, UT. Here is the postcard. Here is my painting, "Stargazer."  "Stargazer"  Acrylic on 140lb watercolor paper This show is another important step in achieving Signature Member status in the UWS. I am already a Two Star Member (achieved after acceptance into two Spring Shows). Signature membership requires acceptance to eight shows (UWS Spring or Fall shows, or the Western Federation annual show). It is also required that your painting win an award at one of ...

My painting, Kokopelli Song Woven Through My Dreams , was accepted to the 2013 Utah Watercolor Society (UWS) Fall Member Exhibition. I am very excited! It's another step towards achieving Signature Member status in the society, which I have been working towards for several years now. This will be my 5th painting accepted to UWS qualified, juried UWS shows. I must have eight paintings accepted and also have one painting win a major award in order to achieve Signature status. :) The show opens this Thursday night at Michael Berry Gallery in downtown Salt Lake City, UT and runs October 3 - November 1. Robert Burridge was the juror for this exhibition. I am planning to create more woven paintings in the next year, but I am currently trying to focus on completing the illustrations I have been working on. This illustration project has proven to be more challenging than I expected, giving me an entirely new appreciation for those artists who illustrate...

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...

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...

As of last Spring, when my "King of Yellow Heart" painting was accepted to the Utah Watercolor Society (UWS) Spring Show, I became what is called a "Two Star" member of the UWS. There are levels of membership you can work for in the society. A Two Star member is someone who has been accepted to two Spring shows (which are very competitive). The shows are juried by a well-known artist the society has brought in for the Spring workshop. The next level (which I am still working towards) is to become a Signature Member, which requires being accepted into eight shows (UWS Spring Show, UWS Fall Show, or the Western Federation Show)...AND you must win a major award in one of the shows.  Obviously, this takes time to achieve as all the shows are very competitive, so this status is a mark of accomplishment. Currently, I have three of the eight shows required, but no major awards...and this has taken me 10 years of membership to achieve so far. Though, to be fair, there ha...

I just received notification that "He Dreamed of a Giant" was accepted as an alternate for the UWS Fall Show. :) There were over 150 entries. 79 paintings + 5 alternate paintings were selected by judge Christopher Schink . The hanging committee (of course) tries to make sure all the alternates will hang as well. I am very pleased! Another step towards Signature Membership. :) The show will hang at Michael Berry Gallery in Salt Lake. 163 E. 300 S. from Oct 7th - Nov 11th.                                             He Dreamed of a Giant  ©2010

"King of Yellow Heart" was selected by the Utah Arts Council to be part of their Traveling Exhibit Program for the 2011-2012 year (as part of the Utah Watercolor Society exhibit). Another good thing that came from being accepted to the UWS Spring show. So, this monarch will be flitting from one venue to another on display for the next 12 months. :) New exhibit schedule isn't posted yet, but you can click the Utah Arts Council website to find out the exhibit schedule for the show (when it gets posted).

My painting "King of Yellow Heart" was accepted as an alternate to the Utah Watercolor Society Spring Show! I am so excited. Competition is fierce for this annual show - and my acceptance will give me two-star status in UWS! :)