Day 17 - Studio Crescendoh

* Photos by Jenny Doh

You walk through a beautiful 1930's Art Deco building, to a room with high vaulted ceilings, wood floors and incredible light. Welcome to

  Jenny Doh's 

wonderful place to create - 

 The Painting Studio. 

Recently I painted at an Open Studio session --a room full of artists painting, the smell of acrylics, the gentle ping of rain against the windows, great music and -- me with my paintbrush working on a 30 x 30 canvas. Painting Nirvana! So you can imagine how honored I feel to have a painting hanging on the studio wall for the Creative Pilgrimage Launch Party.

 Saturday, January 7 from 7-9p.m. - Jenny Doh is opening The Painting Studio to celebrate the launch of her new book - Creative Pilgrimage.

Her new book celebrates 14 incredible artists,  projects, and a behind the scenes look at some the coolest art retreats around. 

Click on the link above for info - hope you'll be there!

Thanks for stopping by.

ox

Jenelle

Day 16

Day 16

"30 Days 'O Blogging" 

Quick rose sketch in my Moleskin journal. That's all I had time

to do today. I am finding very challenging to blog everyday and put out something that is interesting.

With all the holiday activities, there hasn't been much time for art. I think the season's events have quieted down, and I look forward to spending some serious time in my studio.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

ox

Jenelle

Day 15 Romantic Homes Published Tribute to my Mom

I am still so overwhelmed with joy, that it's hard to concentrate - I'm doing a happy dance in my studio - Romantic Homes Magazine published the tribute I wrote about my Mom and how she taught me to live romantically. When Meryl Schoenbaum, managing editor (pictured) gave me the February 2012 issue --I cried.

Mom is 87 and I can't wait for her to see it!! I can't tell you how much this means to me. Thank you Meryl and the RH staff.

ox
Jenelle

Day 14 - Summerland Cottage Studio

Sometimes I feel a lull after Christmas - but this morning my creative frequency felt supercharged. Where was I? At the magical Summerland Cottage Studio, home of the incredibly talented Paulette Adams.

Surrounded by glittery, shimmery objects of beauty- ideas whirled around the room. Soon projects were planned and then talk of a workshop...I left energized, inspired and renewed. Creative friends are such a blessing. Women Helping One Another...W.H.O.A.!!

Thanks for stopping by.

ox

jenelle

Day 13 - Happy Holidays!

Reworked an old Doxie Keller design that I've always loved

From my Moleskin Journal to yours,

Merry Christmas!

ox-

Jenelle

Day 12 - Currently working on...

Can't believe that Christmas Eve is tomorrow! Still have a lot of Holiday stuff to do, so today will be a short post  - I thought I'd share what's on my studio table this morning.  It's a coptic journal I'm creating for Glitterfest.  I'm layering two great fashion icons, Jackie O. and Marie Antoinette onto a vintage bookcover. Started with some stenciling and doodling, then added Jackie in her famous wedding dress. On top of that, I'm layering Marie's dress with vintage lace, crepe paper and rhinestones.

I'll post the complete journal as soon as I finish it, but for now, it's off to holiday baking.

Thanks for stopping by.

ox

Jenelle

Day 11 - A Creative Scrooge

Yesterday started out as a blissful Christmas shopping day with my hubby (rare!). We bought some gifts, had a wonderful lunch, watched a darling group perform a Holiday flashmob. Then, we walked by a vendor who was selling large oil paintings. 

I was stopped in my tracks. There it was. A painting I had painted in a workshop. A workshop that I had paid for. The signature was not my teacher's. Did he copy her? 

I took a photo of the painting. Perhaps I was mistaken. When I got home I made the comparison. Three main colors were changed, but they were EXACTLY the same painting- subject, background, texture. I felt like I'd been broadsided by Creative Scrooge.

I'm still in disbelief that anyone would steal so blatantly. I've read posts about corporations stealing an artist's work. A very talented friend found her work posted online with someone else's name. This issue is much more prevalent than I realized. Sorry to be Debbie Downer during the holidays, but I have been profoundly affected by this. 

Thanks for stopping by.

ox

Jenelle

Day 10 Review

30 Days 'O Blogging. Day 10. One third complete. Doing this 30 day jaunt has created a concentrated focus that is wonderful. Previously, I thought about blogging in "shoulds." I should be blogging 2 -3 time a week. I should have my camera with me. I should blah, blah, blah.

There has been a paradigm shift in my thought process. Now, I have a list of blog topics for the week, my camera is always with me AND I am doing more art --daily sketching, art journaling and doodling.

Blogging daily is a challenge. Creating the content and photos is the easy part. Creating the time has been the most difficult aspect for me.

So far, this is a very positive endeavor. I'll keep you posted :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

ox
Jenelle

Day Nine - Coptic Calendars

2010 Coptic Calendar Journal

*Thanks so much to everyone for their prayers and concern about Mike's Dad, who is now in stable condition and out of the woods :) 

What is a Coptic Journal? Coptic refers to the stitch used to bind the pages. The Egyptians were using the Coptic stitch to bind books as far back as the fourth century. In 2009, I took a class with Dede Warren and fell in love with making Coptic Journals. 

January 2010 A little doodling and painting

But what to do with them?  I made my first coptic journal, my day planner. I doodled, painted, sketched in it --I took it everywhere. And a funny thing happened - whenever I pulled the journal out of my purse, people would ask me about it, ask to look at it and flip through the pages. Note to self - don't write anything too personal!!

Each month I tried to do something different. For June 2010,  I enlarged a picture of an 18th Century proscenium theater (The Graphics Fairy). I cut out the stage and had the curtains pulled back to reveal the calendar.

June 2010

The musicians in the orchestra pit always make me smile.

I love the way these journals look sitting on my shelves

Next week I'll make my January 2012 Coptic Calendar and share the process.

Thanks for stopping by.

ox 

Jenelle

Day 8 About Being Published

Today will be another short post. Mike's Dad is doing okay, but is still in the hospital.

 I just wanted to share what a privilege it is for my Victorian Mixed Media Coptic Journal to be published in the December  issue of Victorian Homes magazine. A big thank you to Editor Hilary Black.

Day Seven - A Holiday Crisis

I write with a heavy heart. Mike's Dad is in the hospital. He has been declining for some time and has taken a downward turn. I normally would not post something so personal, but I've committed to blogging everyday and going where this journey leads me. This situation fills me with gratitude for the people in my life -the fragility of our existence and the importance of living earnestly.

ox
Jenelle

Thank You Pam Carriker

Homage to Pam Carriker Coptic Journal

While I started keeping a daily dairy in fourth grade ( important stuff like --played tetherball after school, have a crush on Jeff Current and like Marcia best on The Brady Brunch) -- I didn't start art journaling seriously until 2010. 

First art journal page from Shades of Grey

 I read Pam Carriker's Shades of Grey article in Somerset Studio and was mesmerized.

I immediately ordered the Shades of Grey Pitt pens from Dick Blick and took my first online course. I was hooked. A few months later I learned how to make coptic journals and the addiction intensified. I recently made a Homage to Pam Carriker Coptic Journal and put all the journal pages that I created from her classes. The above picture is my first art journal page from Shades of Grey. I'm very grateful that Pam has been so generous sharing her talent and techniques. 

Christmastide Tea at The McCharles House

In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron writes about the importance of Artist Dates. Taking time to replenish our inner well, restocking our artistic waters. Lydia and I meet once a month for an Artist Date at the magical McCharles House. Today was extra special because ChristmasTide Tea was being served.

 Located in Tustin, CA - The McCharles House is a beautiful Victorian Home that is lovingly maintained by Vivian and Audrey - an immensely talented mother/daughter duo. 

Beautiful surroundings, incredible food, wonderful conversation -

the ambience captured the feeling of my childhood home at Christmas.

Greeted with loose leaf hot teas, eggnog and my favorite McCharles House lime sherbet punch- 

we progressed to Roasted Tomato Basil soup, Chicken Magdelena and Wild Rice.

Dessert, I'll remember for a long time: Chocolate Truffle (seriously decadent), Bread Pudding and Fruit Cake that tasted just like my Grandma's...

Then it was time for a stroll through the delightful gardens-

It went by all too quickly. Santa waved goodbye and we headed our to our cars - my artistic soul replenished with rich images of a wonderful afternoon. Need to go - I have to make my reservations for next month!

Happy Holidays!

ox

Jenelle

Getting this in under the wire

Ruben Barajas, myself and Nancy Rosa in front of a pic
of campers at Paul Newman's Rowdy Ridge Camp

Wow, I just hit the wrong button and deleted my entire post!! I am sliding this post in under the wire. It's 11:00p.m - which is quite late for a gal who gets up at 4:00a.m. So, I'm just going to share my day - which was actually pretty incredible.

Managed to get some pages in my Moleskin gesso'd, textured stamps and rubbed with oil pastels. Had hoped to do some watercolor sketches, but the day took off.

Attended the Holiday Party for Paul Newman's Rowdy Ridge Camp held at the Scott Newman Center. I'm so honored to be creating a Healing Thru Art Program for the moms of the campers (more on that in the next day or so) It was a wonderful party - I met incredible people all dedicated to making this camp a transformational experience for the kids and their mothers. Everyone had a fun time :)

I can't wait to get up tomorrow and create some art. Been thinking about it all day. Okay, I'm going to sign off. See you manana :)

Thanks so much for stopping by.

ox
Jenelle

Day 3 - UFO Christmas Party

My Tuesday Morning Class (L-R) Jill, Dee, Jerry, Cynthia, Grace, Anna and Shelly

Once a quarter I host a UFO event - not to discuss Area 51, Roswell or the lights over Arizona--its all about UnFinished Objects. It's a thank you to my incredible students for painting with me. They bring their UnFinished Objects-canvases, glass items, journals, whatever - I host raffles, giveaways and food --and we all  have a blast.

Cynthia finishes up Christmas ornaments

This morning I hosted a UFO Christmas Party for my Tuesday class. This special group has been painting me with for a couple of years. It's been such an inspiration to watch their progress since joining the class as beginners. They graciously put up with my corny jokes and between the laughter and joking, we create beautiful art.

Grace working hard or is she eating???

No low blood sugar here :)

Anna gets ready to paint

A big thank you to my Tuesday Morning class.

Happy Holidays!

ox

Jenelle

30 Days 'O Blogging Day Two

From my Moleskin journal this morning

When I signed up for Jenny Doh's The Keys to Publishing and Building Creative Momentum class,  the phrase Creative Momentum leaped out at me. It got me thinking --where else in my creative life can I build velocity? Authentic blogging from the heart immediately came to mind. I committed to 30 Days 'O Blogging. Then, of course,  fear set in.

You see, I want you to like me. I want you to think my art is incredible and profoundly affects the planet--and as long as I come from that paradigm, I'm being inauthentic. It's also a very safe place --trying to do the right art to please you, writing to impress you ---as long as I indulge those sort of thoughts,  I am not living my truth as an artist.

The Artist's Way says "the need to be a great artist makes it hard to be an artist. The need to produce a great work of art makes it hard to produce any art at all". So, I am tossing all my "wanna be's" out the window. I'm sharing from the heart - good stuff and bad stuff. My art. My process. I hope you'll like it, and if its not your cup 'o tea--that's okay too.

I have no idea where this journey will take me - makes me wonder what your journey looks like. If you decide to share it (or are sharing it) please let me know:)

Thanks for stopping by.

ox-
Jenelle