Peaches for Tea original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Peaches for Tea by Polly Jones

detail for Peaches for Tea

12" by 12" acrylic and mixed media painting SOLD  Here I used one of my vintage tablecloths as a backdrop for the blue willow pieces.  Someone asked how I incorporate the collaged paper elements into my painting.  I use non-yellowing acrylic medium on the back of the paper and on top to protect it, with a final coat of protective varnish when finished.

I have a stash of papers from my favorite sources: maps from books or old traveling guides,  a huge old dictionary, and a set of vintage Little Golden Encyclopedia books.  I choose bits and pieces because of their color and also their words.  Sometimes I choose randomly because its so fun to see what unexpected associations result.  I like the idea of other people coming up with their own meanings.  Seems like a huge part of being human involves a need to make sense out of what we see and experience. 

A Nectarine original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Nectarine by Polly Jones

This is 4" square.  I wanted to push the texture and color in this small space.  I've been having a hard time getting back into a routine in the studio since our trip.  I've been massively reorganizing around the house, though. I'm trying to go by the advice to cull out that which is not useful or beautiful.  Ha, turns out I have a big imagination about how something could be useful in the future and a wide range of what I think is beautiful.

Sold.

Abilene Frame & Art Galleries Grand Re-opening Reception

Oooops, this is a little last minute to get the word out, but, here goes-- tonight is a reception at the Abilene Frame & Art Gallery from 6:30 to 8.  I did a few paintings this week in 4" square size and 4" by 6" size to take up and "refresh" my small area.  The strawberry piece and the mandarin oranges  were reworked a bit.

The address is 3301 South 14th Street, 26B.  It's located in the back area of the River Oaks Shopping Center.  Their phone number is 325 793-1616.  There will be loads of refreshments and a huge crowd is expected.  The walls are overflowing with work by many different artists!  Linda Stricklin, the owner and an artist herself, also carries clay work, mosaic pieces and one of a kind jewelry. Hope to see you there!

Watercolor Landscapes Overlooking Florence

Looking At Florence from San Miniata by Polly Jones

On our trip this summer, we spent the most amazing afternoon painting on top of a mountain that was home to an 11th century church, San Miniato al Monte.  It overlooked Florence with a view of the famous cathedral, the Duomo.  This little pair of watercolors was done on-site.  They have their flaws but I decided to just leave them as is and not push them into something they aren't.

View From Whitby, a landscape painting!

View From Whitby by Polly Jones

Hello again!  It's been a while.  I hope all is well with you. We've been blessed with a wonderful trip based in Oxford, England.  My husband was one of the professors for a study abroad group of students from Abilene Christian University.  We traveled to Florence, Rome, Switzerland, Paris and several places in England.  The students were there partly for art history credit.  Just imagine how many museums and cathedrals we might have visited and then double it!  It was hard to process everything...I'm still working on it and plan to share more later. 

 The students also learned painting, so I tagged along on some of the plein air painting times.  The image above is one painted on site,  looking down at a fishing village from a glorious place on top of a cliff.  This cliff is the site for Whitby Abbey.  One of the scenes from Dracula was set here.

Break from Blogging and Three Seashell Paintings by Polly Jones

Three seashell mixed media paintings by Polly Jones

Here are the last two in a series of six commissioned paintings I've done this spring.  These two were done for a lovely collector in Florida.  I have a pretty good seashell collection for someone who lives in West Texas and looking and painting these helped to mentally transport myself to the beach.

At the end of April,  I'm going to be putting my blog and Etsy store on vacation for a couple of months.   It seems like a good time to take a formal break from the internet side of art and see what happens.  I'll be sure and show you what I have been working when it's over.  I appreciate more than I can express those of you who come look at my little corner of blogdom. 

White Iris with Pears large commission

White Iris with Pears original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

24" by 36"  I think I might be done!  Hope you all have a wonderful spring weekend.

 

 Here are some stages of a commission painting I've been working on.   It's 24" by 36" 

Lemonade Pitcher original painting by Polly Jones

Pitcher with Lemonade by Polly Jones

Here's the finished 6" by 6" painting I did for a commission.  It is truly lemonade weather around here.

Lemonade in progress

 

Here are some progress pictures of another commission.  I absolutely love trying to capture the quality of light through glass. 

Final stages of the pitcher painting

The corn flake box is circa 1963 and was part of the request for this commission.  I love the graphics of that time and it was so much fun to paint!

Getting some paint down on the pitcher commission. 

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.