More Lemons original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

More Lemons original mixed media painting, 8" square acrylic and paper on canvas. SOLD

I like using collage as a way to explore ideas about randomness. The different pieces of text used together collide and are changed by the context. In my life it seems like the things that happen can seem arbitrary at times, meaningful at other times. My slant on this is that purpose is not always apparent and most of the time, chaos can add up to a good end.

Today I took a break while working on this painting and called an old friend who is going through incredibly difficult trials. One thing after another has happened to this dear family. I said "I'm praying for you" and wondered if it sounded hollow. They have heard that phrase so often lately. For me, painting and praying are very similar, so I will keep on doing both and hope it eventually makes sense.

Ginger Jar original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

4" by 12" acrylic and mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas. SOLD

This size of canvas was an impulse buy at Michaels. I must say it was fun to compose in this shape for a change of pace. Okay, question....what would you do with the edges. I usually have the 1 and 3/8" edge white but sometimes paint them black. Do you have opinions about this? Maybe you prefer standard canvas width which is about 3/4".

This painting and about fifteen or so more will be in an exhibit at The River Oaks Gallery, Abilene Frame and Art, in Abilene,Texas. I'm so excited! I'll be showing with Aaron Winters, a photographer, and Miles Mayfield who uses raku clay and mixed media. The opening reception is March 4th from 6:30 to 8:00 and I would LOVE to see you there.

Kalanchoe original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

8" square original mixed media acrylic painting on gallery wrapped canvas. SOLD

This is definitely a winter painting. I was snowed in, wanting a flower to paint. In a fit of desperation, I ended up breaking off a swig from my kalanchoe potted plant. Now that I have uploaded the photo I see the blue willow tea cup looks a bit wombly. I like some distortion to create movement but this looks like too much. I'll probably work on it again.

Well I found out "Wish You Were Here" got an honorable mention at the Stars of Texas Exhibit. My good friend Dan McGregor received the sculpture award. Sara Beth Clevenger and Tony Brown, both friends from The Center For Contemporary Arts here in Abilene also got painting prizes too. There's a link here to an article with photos. I wimped out and didn't brave the weather to drive to Brownwood for the reception.

Thanks for all the comments and well wishes on the last couple of posts!

A Romance original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

A Romance original mixed media painting. SOLD

Here's another 36" by 24" fish bowl painting I've been working on. We were snowed in for several days this week so I was pretty productive in the studio. I'm not sure if I'm done so will let it rest a while and try to look at it with fresh eyes. You can see my prized stash of Little Golden Book Encyclopedias and vintage atlas books in the background.

Hope you all are keeping warm and safe through this crazy spot of winter weather.

Wish You Were Here original mixed media painting

24" by 36" acrylic and mixed media painting.  SOLD

I've been working on this over several months, though not continuously. I was so happy to have it juried into the "Stars of Texas" exhibit in Brownwood, Texas this weekend. I went with a friend to drop off work at 12 and then check in at 4 to find out if they were accepted. We had so much fun killing time...going to antique stores and junk stores. That night, I got an email that the painting above has won an award but they won't reveal specific awards until Saturday at the opening. They requested a statement about it to show alongside the painting. I thought I'd share it below.

"I’ve had a fascination with fish bowls for a long time. In fact, one of my earliest memories is of my hand grasping a fish in a cold water. I’m not sure if that one survived but the deaths of subsequent pet fish (though not by my hand) were my first lessons in mortality. I think of “Wish You Were Here” as part of a still life painting tradition called Vanitas which dates from 16th and 17th century Netherlands. It’s a reminder of the brevity of life while enjoying it’s fleeting pleasures. While there are other ideas bound up in this painting, I hope the visual properties of it to be the most important. The text and map collage are woven into the paint like the many thoughts and influences that are a part of the act of looking."