Strange Delight original mixed media painting

This triptych is composed of three 6 inch cradled wood panel squares. I've used acrylic paint, prismacolor pencil, vintage Golden Book Encyclopedia pages, and wrapping paper.

I have a new exacto knife I'm really thrilled with that lets me cut narrow strips. It's perfect for what I've been wanting to do, saves me a lot of time. A Queen Ann's Lace flower skeleton in the middle with a prairie dodder weed image on the right. The title is taken from one of my favorite Laurie Anderson songs, "Strange Angels." SOLD

Studio Shot

I was going to post a new work but waited to late in the day to take a good picture of it. Since I like to see other peoples studios so much, I thought I would share one of mine. There's even a flickr group devoted just to shots of studios here.

Luxury Problems mixed media painting

24" by 36" acrylic and collage on gallery wrapped canvas with 1 and 3/4" profile.

It may be hard to see, but there are some still life elements in here, under the layers. I used one of my abandoned paintings from several years ago as a beginning point.

Daisy At Two Weeks original still life painting

8" by 8" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas.

This is part of a Valentine's day bouquet from my husband. I finished painting the flower part just in time, yesterday. Today it drooped. SOLD

It's Empty Bowls time again

Hi, just wanted to remind anyone living in Abilene that the Empty Bowls project is happening today.

"Last year some local caring people in Abilene came together and brought the Empty Bowls Project to Abilene. The concept for Empty Bowls is simple; artists create and donate ceramic bowls, guests receive a bowl and a simple meal of soup and bread in exchange for a donation to the Empty Bowls Project. 100% of the donations (yes, 100%!) go to hunger-fighting organizations. 75% of it goes to local organizations working to alleviate hunger."

There will also be a silent auction with many local artists works. The domino painting and a flower painting will be there.

Flowering Quince in a Blue Bottle original painting

8" by 8" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas. SOLD

The quince is flowering and has survived all the crazy ups and downs in temperature and the horrible wind. I am always so thankful for the early bloomers that make spring seem more likely.

Anything That Comes In Great Numbers original small painting

8 inch square mixed media painting on gessoed masonite. SOLD

I have a great marble and map collection. Marbles seem to be about going places, so, I mixed in some collage of maps and paint chips. There is also a random piece of print from a vintage science book with the words "Anything that comes in great numbers..."

Elsita

Papercut Print. The Ride. Here's a print by Elsa Mora that I requested for Christmas, and I got it!!! Fortunately I didn't have to do jury duty after all and have been using my exacto knife all day while working on a collage/painting. I am amazed at the finesse of Elsa Mora and her haunting images. I am convinced she grew up reading Grimms fairy tales and not Hans Christian Anderson. She has a great blog with links to many other paper cutting artists with incredible work.

Experiments With Inertia original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Mixed media painting on two gallery wrapped canvas, 60 inches by 40 inches total.

I thought I'd drag out an older work (from 2005 I think) It belongs to some lovely friends in Tennessee now. It's still one of my favorites. I wanted to show it because it relates to a painting I'm working on right now that also has an image of a coiled snake. The title fit with my lapse in blogging too, "Experiments With Inertia" which was taken from an old science book for children along with the image of the hand, glass and coin.

Thanks for the emails and comments! Hope to be soon showing a picture of the painting I'm working on.

More Limes In Blue Willow on Tile

A last picture of the tile mural. It has to dry a few more days til it can be baked. I have been a lousy blogger of late. Two pictures I did for family Christmas presents and forgot to photograph. Our holidays have been wonderful and I hope yours have too. Happy New Years!

Progress Photo on Tile painting commission

Here is an update to show where I'm at with my tile painting. I am using Porcelaine, a special paint made for use on china and tile. It promises to be durable and even dishwasher proof after you bake it in the oven. I have had to do a bit of experimenting to get the "feel" of the paint as it handles quite differently than any other paint I have used. You have to be careful about dragging back through almost dry areas with the paint brush or it will pick up paint and leave a terrible mess. Fortunately, it's easy to wash off the paint and start all over again.

BCAA Show

About a month ago my husband Kenny and I entered the Big Country Art Association Show. I had dropped our work off and Kenny was supposed to go pick it up if it was not jurored into the show and find out if we got an award. He forgot to go.

That night we had dinner with Dan McGregor who had also entered the show and ended up winning Best of Show and first prize. He thought that Kenny had placed also and I had gotten an honorable mention. The next day Kenny heard from someone else that I had won a prize and he had gotten honorable mention. I guess we have become interchangeable after 25 years. Most people don't understand how two artists with two sensitive egos can be married. You get to a point where it's about the same whoever get's what. We found out at the show opening that Kenny got 3rd place and I got an honorable mention. We forgot to take a camera and don't have pictures. I hope to post Dan's amazing pieces and my piece. Here's one of Kenny's on the studio wall, it looks even better in person and on a more pristine background. Here's a link to last years 2007 BCAA exhibit.

How To Cut A Lemon original mixed media painting

12" by 12" acrylic and collage on cradled wooden panel. SOLD

This looks kind of summery. The light in my studio with it's southern windows is getting pretty intense in the afternoon with fewer leaves to obstruct it. I painted this one at high speed, using lot's of thick paint. I'm still experimenting with the additive that keeps it wet longer. The painting is a light-hearted response to an overheard comment about free will and an argument about what is the best way to cut a lemon.

Deja Vu 119 original mixed media

18" by 12" mixed media on 3 cradled wooden panels, hung as group.

This work was part of a show at the CCA called Go Figurative. It was a fun challenge to do a piece that had a figurative element to it. Getting likenesses is definitely not my forte. I am so excited because it's image is to be included in a calender the CCA will be putting out this year. Etsy link.

For Marissa

I did this about a month ago and put it aside, the brushwork wasn't quite right. Sometimes when I overwork a painting the only thing left to do is work on it some more til it becomes fresh again. This is for Marissa. It has a yellow rose from the birthday bouquet she got from her dad.

Crushed mixed media painting by Polly Jones

18" by 24" mixed media acrylic on cradled wood artist panel. The theme for this years silent auction fundraiser at The Center for Contemporary Art is "Gaugin's Tahiti" It got me thinking about the concept of utopia. This painting has raised wooden discs that have all kinds of homes collaged from The Little Golden Book Encyclopedia volume 7. This piece and many other artist's works (including my husband Kenny's) will be on display at the CCA for the month of November.  SOLD

Charting Zinnias original mixed media painting

16" by 20" mixed media and acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, 3/4" profile, wired to hang. The painting extends around the edges and eliminates the need for a frame.

I love doing these mixed media paintings that allow me to explore subjects using layers and keeping interpretations ambiguous. Using printed matter from old books and papers broadens what I think about when I look at my work, gives more room for daydreaming. Daydreaming is highly underrated. SOLD

Here and There Zinnias original still life painting

6" square acrylic on archival wood panel.

I'm still having fun with the side view. This angle seems to show off the jaunty character of the flower best. I like thinking of these jars as lenses. SOLD

Studies for Tile Commission

I thought I'd post some of the studies I've done for a commission I've been working on. There is a really cool option on Etsy called Alchemy where people can contact artists and artisans to commission work. I have been commissioned through that (by a lovely customer) to do a painting on tile as a backsplash for her kitchen. After some research I found out about a special ceramic paint that can be baked in your oven to produce a durable surface. The final color study is what we're going with. I'll post the finished painting when I'm done.

Morning Glory original still life painting

5" by 7" acrylic on stretched canvas.

I'm taking this down to the Center for Contemporary Arts today for their "Little Masterpieces" fundraiser. That show will be up in a week or so. My mother always has a morning glory climbing up to the deck, always this lovely hard to duplicate in paint blue. Today is her birthday and I was wishing I could just give this painting to her. I've been meaning to experiment with getting a print or two made of some of my favorite paintings, so believe I'll try with one of these and give it to my mom. Happy Birthday Mama.

Open Arms Zinnia original still life painting

5" by 8" acrylic on stretched canvas. Another side view, it's becoming my favorite angle lately.  SOLD

Zinnia Polka original still life painting

I couldn't resist doing another zinnia painting before they are gone for the season. I consider blue bottles a part of light therapy so keep them in the window for catching that blue glow. This little Vicks Salve jar is one of my favorites. I actually remember when they came in the glass jar. I think we had the same one all through my growing up days. I'm experimenting with a gel retarder to keep the acrylic "open" or wet longer. The problem with it is it has a terrible consistancy and is hard to mix into the paint evenly. Any one out there with experience and advice for this material? Acrylic on 7 and 1/2 inches by 8 inches gessoed masonite. SOLD

Catherineholm Bowl With Plums original still life painting by Polly Jones

7 and 1/2" by 8" acrylic on gessoed masonite.

I found this little enamel bowl in a thrift store. I was curious about it and discovered (googling) that it is really collectible these days. It's the product of a famous mid century modern danish designer. I love to paint objects that have a history, and plums. SOLD

A Grape and a Glass original still life painting

Here's the finished painting. 8" by 8" acrylic on gessoed masonite. This little glass is a favorite, a "souvenier" from a hotel in Paris.

Sketch for Grape Glass Painting

Here is the under drawing for a painting I did today. It's overcast and rainy, which prevented me from getting a good photograph of the painting. I thought I would share how I usually begin. After setting up my still life, I draw directly onto the painting board or canvas. This one is an uncradled masonite board that I had previously painted with two coats of gesso. My favorite tool for drawing at this stage is vine charcoal. It's so soft that I can just rub off my mistakes. The charcoal is responsive and fluid. This is the time to work out the composition and get a nice gesture with the larger forms. (well, as large as it gets on an 8 inch square) I then rub off some of the excess charcoal so it won't muddy up the paint. I'll post the finished painting when I can.