Instead of Bonnard, I got patriotic

Inside and Outside by Polly Jones

I've been fiddling with this painting since I got it back after the April art show.  The more I looked at it, the more disenchanted I became.  It just didn't give the sensation of being thrown into another world by staring into the glass pitcher. I just finished a novel by Louise Erdrich, Shadow Tag, in which the characters argued about paintings by Bonnard.  This  reminded me how much I love love love his work...and so I copied a striped tablecloth from one of his paintings.  Still didn't satisfy.  Then I remembered The Red-checkered Tablecloth which I saw in all it's glory at the Musee d'Orsay several years ago.  The problem is, my version looks so red white and blue patriotic.  It's interesting that combinations of colors can have such specific associations. I do think it looks better in person where up close you can see the layers and the texture and all the other colors besides red, white and blue.  I'm letting it sit a while before it decides if it's finished.  These paintings seem to have a mind of their own.

Red and Redder original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Red and Redder by Polly Jones

If you've been following my work for a while, you may have noticed that I've been doing some small paintings that incorporate pages of poetry and old hymns from my childhood as a part of the image. Church is a big part of my life, and we just don't sing the older songs as often. I miss them. This one has the words "stamp thine own image deep in my heart" embedded in it. After finishing, I realized that the strawberries look like little hearts. 

4" by 5" acrylic painting on gallery wrapped canvas. SOLD

Cherry Stack and a messy studio

A couple of years ago this studio was featured in Studios magazine.  I posted all about it here.  Things have gotten a little out of hand and I'm hoping to do some reorganizing this afternoon.  The painting below sold.

Cherry Stack by Polly Jones

Georgia Peaches original still life acrylic painting by Polly Jones

Georgia Peaches by Polly Jones

Painting the usual suspects and listening to Nancy Griffith.  I hope your Monday has been a good one.

8" square.  SOLD

One Slice original mixed media still life painting by Polly Jones

One Slice by Polly Jones

Do pink and yellow together cheer you up?

Sold.

Slices and Stripes original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Slices and Stripes by Polly Jones

Stripes get to me. It's so fun to play with thick paint and collage pieces of paper (from a map and the Bible no less) to make a striped pattern. This little blue flow plate with a dragon image is one of my favorites to paint. In fact, it's broken, but I have duct taped it together so I can continue using it for this purpose.  

I tend to have a subconscious that's embarrassingly easy to decipher.  I must have chosen three slices of limes to symbolize our family of three reunited...our daughter is back home after study abroad for a semester!!!
  
4" by 5" acrylic and mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas. Sold.

Cloudy Day Lemon original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Cloudy Day Lemon by Polly Jones

I've been away from blogging for a while.  A lot has happened.  My brave mother who had struggled with health problems for many years died.  It's been a hard time made better by the faith that she is in a better place. Mixed in with the grief is a joy over all the blessings that have come in the shape of family and friends surrounding us.

Reception during ArtWalk tonight!

Carnival Glass by Polly Jones

30" x 40" acrylic mixed media painting on canvas.

I promise, this is the last time I invite you to our reception tonight!  It's from 5:30 - 8:30 at The ACU Downtown Gallery, 1133 N 2nd Street, Abilene, Texas during ArtWalk.  The painting above will be in the show.  It's my favorite one lately.  In fact, I'm about to go pick up some postcards with that image on it for handing out tonight.  Just a little bit last minute.

Punch original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Punch by Polly Jones

Here's a photo of the largest painting I have in our Terra Incognita exhibit.  It's 40" x 60"

My mother gave me this punch bowl that she's had for a very long time. Does anyone out there remember S&H Green Stamps?  This was bought with green stamps back in the day.  I had been meaning to paint the bowl for some time, but it seemed overwhelming.  It was just humming in the background until the day I noticed at the grocery store that a pineapple has a similar pattern to the cut glass pattern of the bowl. 

Finer Gravitations original mixed media still life painting by Polly Jones

Finer Gravitations by Polly Jones

30" x 40" acrylic and mixed media on canvas.  This is one of the paintings I have at The ACU Downtown Gallery right now.  For more details, please check out this post.

Channeled Babylon Shell original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Channeled Babylon Shell by Polly Jones

This is pretty small at 4" by 4".  I've had my work over on the Daily Paintworks site for a few months.  It hasn't been the greatest fit for me because I haven't been posting work daily.  You should check it out though, just to see the many other artists represented over there.  SOLD

Listening Shell original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Listening Shell by Polly Jones

Another painting on a poem.

8" by 10" acrylic mixed media on wood panel. SOLD

Underipe and Overcrowded Strawberries original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Underipe and Overcrowded Strawberries by Polly Jones

I hope your weekend is full of beautiful times with family and friends and a sense of renewal.

4" by 6" acrylic mixed media on canvas. Sold.

Tiny Mandarin original still life painting by Polly Jones

Tiny Mandarin by Polly Jones

Part of my series of small paintings with an embedded poem.  The older I get the more I like poetry.  Sold.

Apple in the Yellow Bowl original mixed media still life painting

Apple in the Yellow Bowl by Polly Jones

I think I need a little help with my titles.
6" square mixed media acrylic on canvas. Sold.

Terra Incognita Art Exhibit at The ACU Downtown Gallery

You are invited to a three person exhibit at The ACU Downtown Gallery in Abilene, Texas.  This includes Robert Green's work, my husband Kenny's work, as well as my paintings. The address is 1133 North 2nd Street.  The reception will be during ArtWalk on Thursday, April 11th from 5:30-7:30.  Hope to see you there!

Grapefruit With Catherinholm Bowl

Grapefruit With Catherinholm Bowl by Polly Jones

8" by 10" acrylic mixed media on canvas, SOLD

Okay, back to my alternate universe, The Round House by Louise Erdrich.  I need to finish it before my book club meets.  So what are you reading these days?

Daffodil in Green Glass original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Daffodil in Green Glass by Polly Jones

8" by 8" acrylic and mixed media on wooden panel.  Here's one of the little signs of spring that have popped up in our back garden.  It's been a West Texas kind of spring this week with terrible gusts of wind.

Sold.

Show at The ACU Downtown Gallery

Upper Air, 30" by 40"mixed media by Polly Jones

 

We turned in the work for our show "Terra Incognita" which opens tomorrow!  My husband Kenny Jones, good friend Robert Green and I will be having work in The ACU Downtown Gallery through April 19th. The reception will be during Abilene's Art Walk on Thursday, April 11th.  More about that later too.  Above is one of my paintings in the show with some progress shots. 

Down to the wire

Our paintings are due at gallery in the morning!

Teacup with Parrot original still life painting by Polly Jones

Teacup with Parrot by Polly Jones

 This is a tiny little cup and saucer made in Japan.  It's from my mother's teacup collection. 
6" square mixed media acrylic on canvas, painted over a poem.  SOLD  

Daffodils, Faltering Light original mixed media painting

Daffodils, Faltering Light by Polly Jones

12" by 12" acrylic and mixed media on cradled wood panel.  I've been working on larger paintings for the upcoming (looming in my head) art show.  It was great to do a quick piece for a change of pace.

I'm not a terribly brave person.  I've never been sky diving or physically adventurous in that way.  Sometimes, however, something happens while painting that, for me, requires a lot of courage.  I get a huge thrill when I feel like I'm in over my head trying to capture an image or attempt something that's out of my skills range.  It doesn't always end well but it's exciting to try.  I've been having ups and downs lately, looming art show etc.  Originally, I planned to show process shots of the work for the show but have been too busy some times and feeling too vulnerable at other times.  Thanks for looking at my work and please stay tuned.

Sold.

Granny on Stripes original mixed media painting by Polly Jones

Granny on Stripes by Polly Jones

6" square mixed media acrylic on cradled wood panel.  Sold.

The stripes got built up a bit since I kept changing my mind about the colors.  I'm trying to use other colors than the blues that I tend to rely on.  However it still crops up in the map parts.

Thanks for the pinterest follows!  I have enjoyed seeing what you guys are pinning.  Now,  for tips on how not to spend entire days looking at everything over there.

Monsters, Googly Eyes and Inspiration

Monster Arilla by Eden

I absolutely love doing art with children.  When my daughter was young I did summer art camps and taught after school art lessons.  It was a way to earn some money and make sure she was getting all the creative indoctrination possible. 

Nowadays, there's a boys and girls club after school program at our church where I facilitate an art or craft time each week.  It can get a little crazy because of the wide age range and the come and go structure.  Last week, we did paper bag puppets.  My projects don't always go as planned.  A lot of times it goes far better.  For instance, the monster pictured above was made instead of the traditional paper bag puppet.  I would love to have such confident abandon with materials....no worrying about too many googly eyes! 

Here's my pinterest board for project ideas.  Please let me know if you have a board for that too.  I'm always on the lookout for ideas.

Process Photos of a big one

These are early days on a new 30" by 40" mixed media.  I'm in a hurry so can't say much...probably shouldn't say too much because that can really kill the energy of a piece early on.