Well, I am starting a new venture soon and excitement is running high for me.  I have negotiated a new space for a gallery.  My studio will also be housed there.  I am just in the planning stages.  There is sooooo much to do and get done.

The first step was negotiating the lease and terms.  That was a fairly easy task but a little tricky since my hubby owns the building that I want to lease.  But having gotten through that hurdle, I have been making lists of the required remodeling that will need to be done to turn the space into an art gallery.  It is actually the part I like best.  We have walls to move, paint, trim and flooring to install, signs to be made, a walker system and lighting to be installed.  The list gets bigger and bigger.  There is also outside work to be done. Some sprucing up of the facade and some new plantings.

There is also the name of the gallery to consider.  This has to be researched to ensure one does not currently exist with that name.  City licensing and state have to be dealt with in addition to all the other stuff.

Plans for the gallery exhibits, classes, openings, artists, etc. have to be laid out and formalized.

But, I'm getting ahead of myself.  I take possession of the new space on November 1, 2012.  The first thing that needs to be done is the cleaning and remodeling.  In the front gallery space, we are taking a dividing wall half way down to open up the room and let in more light thru the space.  This half wall will also divide the gallery space from my studio space.  We have to lay new flooring and tie it in with the existing flooring and of course, paint all the walls and trim.  I also need to have a store front door storm door installed on the entrance door.

This is just the first in a series of posts about the new gallery.  Stay tuned-
Busy and happy working away on new gallery plans,
Jennylynne Gragg

the new gallery space will be at 1100 NE Delta School Rd., Lee's Summit, Mo. 64064

Studios-Which is better-in home or away

Currently, my studio is in my home.  However, started in November 2012, I will have a new off site location.  It is exciting to have a new gallery/studio space but also a little daunting.  It is nice too be able to come down in the middle of the night(when sleep does not come) in your pj's and work in your studio.  However, open studios and classes can present challenges when working from home.

My studio space in home is small and cramped and my storage must compete with the household storage needs and available space.  While there is no additional costs for an in home studio, the distractions can be overwhelming.

A space away from home can be a god-send.  I am looking forward to having such a space again in November and will be posting about it's set up, location and planning as we go along thru the process.  It will also be exciting to have a gallery space, not only for my art, but for artists who I can feature as well.  The space will be much more conducive to classes than the livingroom of my home and I will be able to expand on additional ideas for sharing with other artists and clients.

So heads up and I'll post more soon,
Jennylynne

Happy painting!

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