Welcome to the blogspace!

Click on the post title to view and to leave comments. Thank you!

Published on
"Butterfly" - acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas, 16 x 20 x 1.5.  Ready to hang (Sides have been painted; no need to frame.  Hanging wire is attached)  Available here and at Artfinder.

I've got nothing but a butterfly,
I like to be inside your heart beat you,
I want nothing but just butterfly,
In my stomach everytime I see you,
I'm doing nothing but butterflying.
- The Chase, "Butterfly in my Stomach"


​Sometimes the universe surprises us - gives us little moments to tuck into our joy pockets and remind us why life is a delicious treat.  I realize these are more difficult to come by during a global pandemic, but those moments are still there to be savored.  

A recent  mushroom hunt yields  a bag filled with oyster mushrooms, along with the visual memory of my sisters climbing trees in the rain to reach the very best specimens.  Joy.!

A rescued kitty added to my sister's family looks like a frothed oat milk latte and her personality is just as fluffy and sweet.  Joy!

Butterfly


My son begins recording an EP with a producer in Seattle, and he lets me put on studio headphones and listen - whoa! A rare and unexpected treat.   Joy!

Our neighborhood restaurants begin erecting tents and filling them with tables and heaters in order to stay in business safely as the rainy season approaches. The neighbors pledge their patronage and (safe) support.  Joy!

A phone call that gives voice to the photo and texts of a sweet human dazzles my ears.  Grateful. Butterflies.  Joy.
About the art: Begin with a notanized selfie and restrict the paints to three colors (and a tiny accent color) and white.   Slowly develop the layers, paint in the negative space, drag the paint with a rubber wedge.  Resist the urge to smooth, to overly define or to fill in all the shapes.  Paint from the shadows instead of from the features.  And enjoy the feeling of butterflies. :)
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
8 Comments
Carl Stoveland - 5 years ago
Jen.
Yay for the bits of joy! They are there the trick is being mindful of them in these times when it’s so easy to go down the rabbit hole.
The portrait is stunning and says more than a 1000 page book could ever reveal. Wonderful!!!

Carl
jen - 5 years ago
Carl! You are so right....being mindful is the trick. Avoiding rabbit holes is a skill I am working on. :) And thank you! I am pretty tickled with this painting. It was painted from a very good place inside.
Dotty Seiter - 5 years ago
The air sure caught my wings when I saw this one, Jen. Masterful. Butterflies in each and every brush stroke and drag of rubber wedge.
jen - 5 years ago
Thank you so much, Dotty! Your comment made me smile. :)
Susan McClellan - 5 years ago
This is fabulous Jen....love it....Susan
jen - 5 years ago
Susan! Thank you!!!! I so appreciate your comment!
Carol Edan - 5 years ago
Butterflies or not, this is one determined lady!
jen - 5 years ago
Carol, you read her well. Determined, even from a place of butterflies. xo

Author

Lola Jovan

Picture

Learn more about Lola!

Get Mail!

* indicates required

Intuit Mailchimp