Final stage of the Monarch butterful series Painting 1

This is the first in a series on Monarch butterflies ad goldenrod done from photos I took in St. Ignais, Michigan in 1983 during the start of the Monarch butterfly migration.

I have started the underpainting for the second in the series which I will post shortly.  I am doing a series of three of these paintings and they will all be for sale.  I have been having lots of fun painting weeds again.  Weeds are just a flower that is in the wrong garden.  Lucky for them, I am a fan.

Hope you enjoy this painting and the ones to follow,

Happy Painting,

Jennylynne

Series:Weeds and other beautiful things

I am currently working on a series of "weeds" paintings.  These are done in plein aire and also from photos that I have taken trough the years.

This is the first of a series of three that are done from a photo taken in 1983 in St. Ignace, Michigan during the monarch butterfly migration from Michigan to Mexico.  The park where we stayed was filled with golenrod and thousands of monarchs.  They landed everywhere!  On the goldenrod, on us, on our camper, and even our little dog Wiggles.  It was an absolutely wonderful experience!

Sometimes, painting from these experiences and photos make a good place to start for inspiration.  Not only do you remember the feelings you had during that experience but also the fun, emotion and location.  This is the starting of the first painting in the series.  I will post my progress and the final painting soon.

Happy Painting,

Jennylynne

Art Exhibit and Sale at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph, Mo

These two paintings will be on display and for sale at the Annual Members Exhibit at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph, Mo. thru the end of February, 2012.

Took the painting up to the museum today and walked thru the current exhibit.  On the lower level is a wonderful exhibit of works by William Rose entitled "In Light-Faces & Figures".  His rendering of the faces and figures with wonderful lights radiating within are truly a joy to behold.  He is a Kansas artist known for his work in figurative works. 

This beautiful museum is a small gem of the midwest and well worth your trip.

Happy Painting,

Jennylynne

Painting a Tuscon Scene-A study in planes

This is the finished painting done from a picture provided to me by my sister, Beth.  It is of the mountains in Tuscon behind her house.

I have wanted to paint these mountains often, as the light on them is so facinating.  When we go to visit, the light in the Tuscon area is so different than ours here in Missouri.  I still am a firm believer that you should only paint scenes of locations you have visited.   The memory of those locations help you to paint the scenes as you remember the places you visit.  With photos, you need to be aware of the lies that photos tell.  If you have not visited the places you paint yourself, you will not know how to edit them and change them for your paintings.  

Have fun and enjoy the journey.

Jennylynne

Christopher Neal White-Fallen hero and his amazing family

This portrait of PFC Christopher Neal White was painted for his family and the new Lodge at the Chris Neal Farm. He was killed in action on June 20, 2006 at the age of 23 years old in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Our Grateful Hearts Project creates portraits of our fallen soldiers completely free of charge to the families of these heroes.

Their families are heroes too. They have given the ultimate sacrifice of their children, husbands, wives, sisters, brothers and cousins. Christopher's family have taken their grief and turned it into a wonderful tribute to their son and to all the soldiers who have gone to war and given of themselves to make our lives better.

Christopher's family started the Chris Neal Farm called Camp Hope in Farmington, Missouri where combat wounded veterans can come, at no cost to them, to have handicapped accessible experiences and activities such as fishing, hunting, hiking and skeet shooting. Their facitilities are first class handicapped accessible.

They are keeping the spirit of Chris alive in giving hope and enjoyment to disabled veterans. Please consider them this Christmas and donate to help them keep this facility going for our amazing combat wounded warriers. You can contact them at their website:www.chrisnealfarm.com.

If you know of a family that would like a portrait of their fallen soldier please have them contact us at www.gratefulheartsproject.com.

Thanks to all our soldiers who give selflessly to keep our country and our freedoms strong.

Jennylynne Gragg

Founder of the Grateful Hearts Project

Portrait of Boo

This beautiful boxer has crossed over the rainbow bridge. He was a much loved pet and constant companion of his owner, a little girl who was going thru cancer. Boo stuck by her side and offered her an escape from the rigors of cancer treatment. He would even let her dress him in all kinds of get-ups. He never saw this as an affront to his dignity. He was a true friend to not only the little girl, but her family as well.

It was an honor to do this portrait of him in the tiara that denoted his stature in the family. What a loving memory for them to keep of this amazing dog.

This is a 5"x7" portrait format.

Enjoy and happy painting,

Run free and be at peace, Boo!

Jennylynne

Heading to the Big Cedar Lodge Paint Out in Branson, Mo.

Wednesday, I will be heading to Big Cedar Lodge for the second Paint Out Event in Branson, Missouri. It is always exciting getting ready for such an event. Besides clothing(for all types of weather), you need to pack all your painting supplies, frames, easels for display, business cards, bio, bug spray, sunscreen,, ivy block. Well, you get the picture.

It also means that once again I will trying to reduce what I take and pare down my equipment so I don't have to unload so much stuff. This for me is always a challenge! When I was only doing pastels, it was a nightmare. I am not a minimalist when it comes how many pastels I think I need. I have over 3000 in my studio but obviously can not take that many on location. So, I have three boxes each loaded with around 200-300 pastel pieces. Each box is filled with pastels for a certain location. I have one for painting in Missouri, one for out west like New Mexico and another for seascapes locations. My hubby made a travel box for my supports and papers that work well for toting surfaces ready for painting and also the finished work, in relative safety. The downside of pastels on a paint out is numerous when painting in plein aire, but the results are well worth it.

Oils, on the other hand, are wonderful on paint outs. I narrow down my oil colors to just six, plus white and the Gamblin grays. My main colors are French Ultramarine Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow Light, Yellow Ochre,Cadmium Red, Burnt Sienna and Titanium white plus Art spectrum Clear. When painitng in Missouri, I will also include Olive Green and Phathlo Green plus cobalt blue and cerlean blue. I do on occasion take additional colors but these are my mainstay. By narrowing down my colors, I can create harmony throughout the painting right off the bat.

I usually take my break down table that folds all up in a little carrying case for easy packing.(You can find this marvelous table at Bass Pro Shops) I take my small easel and also my french easel, my umbrella, camping chair that folds in a bag, my backpack, a small box filled with additional paints, and my pallette box. I also include a small old rug or drop cloth for standing on while painting. I spray this with bug spray and have never had chiggers or ticks.

Hope this helps you and if you have any questions, just send me your questions in the comment and I will try and answer it quickly.

Happy Painting!
Jennyynne