A New Direction-From Plein aire to Studio-Going Bigger

I am starting a new painting which is a little (okay a lot) different for me. I am using a plein aire painting and reference photos to create a larger studio painting. I will be posting my progress into this new journey of unknown. I have long wanted to go "BIGGER" but always been a little reluctant. Not sure entirely why but probably just time, money and FEAR! I have finally decided that this will afford me an opportunity to expand my market and hopefully expand my collectors in the process. Plus-let's face it-it's just FUN!

I also want to encourage my students to expand their horizons and lunge forward into the unknown. I have discovered that a few things are evident-like more expensive canvases, more paint(definitely using my limited palette range), more time(but this is actually a plus by not feeling "rushed" to finish like when I do plein aire), and I can paint at 3am if I chose in relative comfort-even in my pj's if I chose.(not really an option in plein aire).

So, here goes-
Hope you grab a chair and join me on this journey-
Jennylynne

The Stems Paintings from the Overland Park Arboretum

These paintings were created on site at the Overland Park Arboretum during the Stems Plein Aire Event. This is an annual event and fundraiser for The Arts and Recreation Foundation of Overland Park. This event is in its third year.

I have participated in the first years event which was an invitational event by the MidAmerica Pastel Society. The second year, I was out in Taos, New Mexico painting in plein aire there and didn't get back in time to due that year even though I had signed up. This year, we got back from the Augusta, Mo. Plein Aire event in time to hit both the George Owens Nature Park plein aire and the Stems plein aire events.

One of my paintings in the George Owens Nature Park event received an honorable mention in the judging at that event.

The painting of the water lillies and rock wall named "Tranquility" and the painting of the water, rock and willow called "Willow, Rock, Water" sold during the VIP events at the Rice Gallery in Leawood, Ks.

The first day we went out was nice and very pleasant. The second and third it rained but we were used to that from the Augusta Mo paint out where it rained almost every day this year. It is nice to be painting in oils instead of pastels cause oils don't mind the water. Pastels, on the other hand, are not fond of water.

There were wonderful paintings created by all the artists during the Stems event and you can still purchase some of the paintings that will be at the Tomahawk Ridge Community Center or at the Stems A Garden Soiree Event in the Stems Plein Air Paint sales tent.

So get out and support the arts!

Happy collecting,

Jennylynne

Plein Air in Augusta, Mo.-Fun in the outdoors

These are the paintings that I painted in Augusta, Missouri at the Plein aire event last week. It was wonderful to paint there again and revisit some of the places I painted before and discover new ones. These are only the ones that I think should see the light of day, the rest shall remain a mystery(probably even to me).

The first painting is of a cliff in Klondike Park. This park is not included in the paint out but it is a beautiful park in an old quarry along the river and the Katy Trail. It has so many places that cry out to be painted. There is a lake and beautiful white sandy beaches. Of course the bluffs are amazing also and if you are willing to hike, a expansive view of the Missouri river.

The second painting is a different view of the entrance to Blumenhof Winery in Dutzow. I had several people stop and ask what attracted me to this painting. In truth, it was the light on the concrete culvert. It is always strange to me how we humans seek to channel nature and how nature always wins out in the end.

The third painting is of a church in Augusta, Mo. The red dogwoods against the white building were enchanting and the stained glass windows mimicked the colors in the trees. I painted there with about four other artists and it is wonderful to see our different versions of the scene.

The fourth painting is of the old farm across from Balducci winery. This painting was done done during the sunset paint sponsored by the winery. I paint this view every year and it is amazing how it changes but remains the same. The light in the sky was so subtle. This view does not get the brilliant reds and oranges of the main sunset but more the "left overs" of the sunset.

The fifth painting was painted at Blumenhof also. This is the view of the creek which runs along side of the entrance to the winery. The foliage was such a brilliant green along the creek and the sun lit it up like it was on fire. I tried to capture the feeling that I had while standing there and looking at such brilliant beauty.

Hope you enjoy these paintings and if you would like to purchase any of these just contact me through facebook or my website at www.jennylynnegragg.com.

Happy Mother's day everyone. Giving art, especially the ones created in plein aire, is a wonderful way to sustain our view of nature which can often times disappear forever after we capture it on canvas.

Jennylynne

New Student paintings-today's work by the students is awesome

The top two paintings were done by Joyce and the lower painting by Chrissy. They both did great today! Joyce was working on two paintings for an upcoming exhibit at Advanced Surgical in Lee's Summit, Mo. Joyce has decided that she does better under pressure, at least as far as completing paintings in a timely manner is concerned. I must agree. She has finished three this week alone-GO JOYCE!

Chrissy has been working on getting faster from concept to finished painting. She will need these skills to make her a faster plein aire painter. Today, she took a painting from idea, to concept, to drawing to completion in around two-three hours. Well, done Chrissy! I think she is ready for our Augusta Missouri plein aire trip coming up at the end of April.

These two students have been with me the longest and are really coming into their own as artists. I am so proud of both of them. Great work today gals.

See you next week in class for more fun and games-

Happy Painting,

Jennylynne

If Life Gives You Lemons----

Well, here in Missouri the weather can take unexpected turns. Yesterday, it snowed after a lovely spring day the day before. I had planned on painting in plein aire and when I woke up to big fat flakes of snow coming down everywhere, I was disappointed. However, remembering my Grandma's words "If life gives you lemons-make lemonade". I donned my coat and braved the cold. This is another painting from the series "Paintings from the Porch". This painting is a 12"x16" and is now available on my website at www.jennylynnegragg.com.

Happy Painting-looking forward to spring,
Jennylynne

Painting on a grey day

My students have been complaining about all the grey weather we've been having lately and the fact that winter is dragging on forever. The 50 degree days we get every once in a while is not helping. We even had a wonderful 70 degree day right before it snowed and iced like crazy. With this welcome back to winter, I decided to paint some oils from my porch. These were created looking into the backyard and across the cove. I had a great time painting these and just wanted to share what you can do on a wintery grey day. You need to watch your values, as they will be limited in this kind of atmosphere, but they still provide a nice range of color to work with and capture the mood of the day. These paintings will be up for sale on my website soon. If you are interested please contact me as I have a special "without frame" price and they are hot off the easel.

Hoping your winter is coming to an end,

Jennylynne

New art venues coming up

Well, it will be a busy spring and summer. I have posted the art shows and plein aire events for the spring, summer and fall on my website at www.jennylynnegragg.com. Check it out and I hope to see you at one or two of them.

The first one coming up will be the Robert Tindall IAA show at George Owens Nature Park, followed by the Blue Springs Art League show at Vesper Hall in Blue Springs, Mo.

Check out the other events on the website under "events".

Well, Buddy and I are headed out to paint on the porch, so enjoy your day,
Jennylynne