A still life Commission

 I'm excited to be working on a commission for a dear collector who has become a friend.  This is her great aunt's pitcher that she hand delivered to me!  I love the shape and the facets of it. 

Trumpet Daffodil original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

First Daffodil by Polly Jones

Trumpet Daffodil by Polly Jones

The first image is an old one from 2007.  Each year I try to paint a daffodil picture during their brief bloom time.  That first one is still a favorite of mine and I wanted to compare it to my last one, a totally different take on the subject.  Sold.

Two Clementines

Two Clementines by Polly Jones

Feeling really thankful for all of you subscribers who I can share my work with.  Thanks for looking at my work. 

SOLD

Strawberries in Hong Kong Bowl original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Strawberries in Hong Kong Bowl by Polly Jones

I have been a lazy blogger again and gotten behind on posting some paintings I did a couple of weeks ago.  This is my new yellow bowl from an estate sale that I am so happy with.  It seems like a good time for yellow during the beautiful, windy days we've been experiencing lately.

Love this quote from Van Gogh:  "These colors give me extraordinary exaltation. I have no thought of fatigue; I shall do another picture this very night, and I shall bring it off. I have a terrible lucidity at moments when nature is so beautiful; I am not conscious of myself any more, and the pictures come to me as in a dream."

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,867137,00.html#ixzz1oHGBSyBp

Strawberries in Hong Kong Bowl  SOLD

Two more from earlier.

Dot to Dot Strawberry by Polly Jones

Pear Standing Guard by Polly Jones

I'm feeling a little self conscious trying to paint in front of the plumber outside the studio window.  Here are some paintings I forgot to post earlier.  Sold.

The Big One original still life painting by Polly Jones

The Big One by Polly Jones

6" square original strawberry painting by Polly Jones.  Sold.

What you don't see is the tape on the bottom that is holding this little broken shallow bowl together.

 Here's my display booth from a week and a half ago at the T & P Valentine Vendors fundraiser for our local (wonderful) art museum, The Grace.  I have never done this before and it was quite an experience!  I sold a couple of paintings and met some fabulous people.  I may even teach some art classes as a result. 

 

Here is my friend Tracy Gand who had the booth across the way from me.  You can see her vibrant work here.  Isn't she cute! Sorry for the lousy camera photo.  Kenny and I are signed up for a  photography workshop in March in the Texas hill country. I am really hoping to increase my skills!

 

Last week I spent with my parents in West Texas.  I'm blessed with such a wonderful family. Here are some paintings I did a while back and didn't have a chance to post.  I'll photograph and list them in my Etsy store later, am having camera issues right now.

Taking My Art to the T&P

Another Pink Garlic by Polly Jones

Tomorrow is the Valentines Vendor Fair for The Grace Museum here in town.  It will be open from 10:00-4:00, February 11, 2012, at the T & P Building, 901 North First Street.  Individual tickets for the all-day event are $15.  This should be fun.  It's a beautiful space and there will be all kinds of items from art to jewelry.  I've been busy getting ready and have some new little paintings that I forgot to photograph today to share.  SOLD

Keep-a-way Marble by Polly Jones

I have a lot of marbles but have lost a few lately.

SOLD

4" acrylic on canvas.

Redo paintings

Did some reworking of these two.  The second one I cheated on the "wallpaper" and collaged wrapping paper as background. 

Sacred Pear original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Pear by Polly Jones

Here's another little one.  I'm trying to paint several for a Valentines Vendor Fair for The Grace Museum here in town.  It will be on Saturday at 10:00, February 11, 2012, at the T & P Building, 901 North First Street.  Individual tickets for the all-day event are $15.  I'm pretty excited because I've not really done this sort of art and craft fair before.  (except for jewelry eons ago)

4" acrylic mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas for sale in my Etsy shop here.

Tender original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Tender by Polly Jones

When Kenny and I rented our first house, I made black and white curtains for our living room/studio.  These striped curtains figured into a lot of my paintings.  I'd forgotten how much I love painting stripes until doing this one.  It's connected to the whole polka dot obsession I suppose.  I finally got up the gumption to tear into my antique book on prayer for collage purposes.  The language is so flowery it seemed appropriate.

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

Wandering Jew original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Wandering Jew by Polly Jones

12" by 12" mixed media painting on gallery wrapped canvas with 3/4" edge. 

This plant, named Wandering Jew, was growing out in my garden all summer long. I brought a cutting in to root before the freeze. It's as much a drawing as painting, and for me, expresses ideas about place and home.  Listed on Etsy here.

Blueberry Games original painting by Polly Jones

Blueberry Games by Polly Jones

I did this earlier this week.  It's my last 4 inch one for a while.  I was forced to keep it loose and paint without my delicate liner brush.  I lost that old favorite down the drain recently when washing up.  It's really time to get some new paint brushes!  SOLD

Radish Pair original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Radish Pair by Polly Jones acrylic and mixed media on canvas.

4" square. SOLD

Done with radishes for now; the leaves have all wilted.  Tomorrow I hope to paint some tulips that are fast fading.  I'm trying not to worry about the pears that are over ripe by now.  Such is the life of a still life painter.

Radishes on Yellow original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Radishes on Yellow by Polly Jones

4" square gallery wrapped canvas with 1.5" edge.  SOLD

Trying a new size here and it's hard not to get fiddly with details on such a small scale. I've got another one of radishes against a white background that I'll post tomorrow.  You may wonder at my really creative titles!  I usually keep them descriptive just in case someone who is desperately googling for a radish painting on a yellow background can find my little painting.

Sugar Bowl Showing Off original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Sugar Bowl, Showing Off by Polly Jones

4" by 12" acrylic and paper on gallery wrapped canvas.  On Etsy here.

I think this silver sugar bowl looks like it's showing it's muscles off to the mandarin oranges.

Blackberries North to South original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Blackberries North and South by Polly Jones

6" square acrylic and paper on gallery wrapped canvas.  SOLD

Last weekend we had a great time with some good friends.  We went on a road trip to Houston to take our artwork accepted for the Houston Assistance League Show 2012.  While there, we visited The Museum of Fine Arts at Houston, The Menil Collection, The Cy Twombly Gallery and several art galleries.  Seeing great art in person always makes me more aware of surfaces in the work.  So many amazing paintings I've only experienced by looking at reproductions.  You sure miss a lot that way!  I came back more challenged to pay attention to the importance of differences in brush strokes and thickness and thinness of paint texture.  One reason I enjoy using paper collage mixed in with paint is that it adds a slickness and contrast that I have a hard time getting in other ways.

Aloe Vera original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Aloe Vera by Polly Jones

9" by 12" acrylic, charcoal, and mixed media on canvas boards.  I enjoyed using painting, collage and drawing to interpret the aloe plant that loves our sunny studio.  You can find it for sale on Etsy here.

Lemon Refraction original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Lemon Refraction by Polly Jones

6" square original mixed media painting on Etsy here.  I've been fitting in some painting here and there while enjoying time with my husband and daughter on their school holiday.  Hope all is well with you!

Lemon Sunshine in Depression Glass by Polly Jones

Lemon Sunshine in Depression Glass by Polly Jones

6" square acrylic and mixed media on canvas. Sold.

 The sun has been flooding into my studio again!  I haven't taken advantage of it by painting much lately, but have been doing some organizing.  We took Christmas down yesterday...so glad to have it put away but it's always a bit sad.  I grew up looking at my mom's collection of green depression glass, which is a great mood lifter.

Back to Three original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Back to Three original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

I have just put this mandarin painting in a blue flow bowl for sale on Esty here.  I painted this one before Christmas but have been too busy enjoying family to post it.  Hope all is well with you and that you and yours have had wonderful holidays!

Monday Afternoon original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

18" by 24" acrylic and paper on canvas.  It has been grey for a week so I had to use these colors. This was an exercise in not getting fussy.  Sometimes my work ethic kicks in and I think I have to keep refining.  That can be disastrous when it gets too tight looking.  SOLD

Free Shipping until Friday and Good News

Hybrid Rapture, 24" by 36" acrylic mixed media painting by Polly Jones.

 

 

 

 

The good news part is that this painting got accepted into a juried show in Houston, The Assistance League Show.  My husband also had a work accepted (marital harmony continues) as well as two friends....more on that later.

I'm having a promotion in my Etsy shop right now.  If you enter the code FREESHIPPING11 while checking out, you will automatically receive free shipping.  This sale will end on Saturday. If you live in Abilene and would get free shipping anyway, enter ABILENE11 for 10% off.  I'm happy to deliver locally.  Be sure and check out my sale section, I have added quite a few paintings, and am trying to make more room in my studio by clearing out old work.  The free shipping applies to all sale items as well.

Flow Blue with Pears original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Flow Blue with Pears by Polly Jones

This is an 11" by 14" acrylic and mixed media on canvas. SOLD

It's my new favorite bowl! (sorry, old favorite one)  I found it at an estate sale recently for a kindred soul; she had a huge collection of blue and white dishes. What a reminder of where all our stuff is headed some day! This bowl is soooo old, made in Maastricht, Holland and has been mended.  I wonder how many owners it's had. Maps, and dictionary bits, and wrapping paper are embedded in the paint. I was happy with the contrasting texture in this painting.  The sun is finally shining again after many grey days and some snow.