Jelaine Faunce Studio

Study: Honey with Lemon

2012-01-09T12:16:00.001-08:00

'Honey with Lemon' - 10"x8" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

At the end of each year, I do my annual studio purge where I get rid of the old and make way for the new. Then I tally up my canvases and supplies, make lists of what I need to order and start fresh with new paintings. 'Honey with Lemon' is my first painting of the New Year: simple, clean and making use of some leftover 8"x10" hardboard panels I had collecting dust through most of 2011. After completing 'An Unfair Advantage' and 'Do Not Stop On Tracks', I needed a simple painting to clear my mind. 'Honey with Lemon' fit the bill. Plus, we've had an unseasonably mild winter so far, the light being almost spring-like in its brightness, and I wanted to take advantage of that.

Speaking of 'An Unfair Advantage' and 'Do Not Stop On Tracks', they were accepted into the juried exhibition to which I entered them. Yay!!! As the exhibition date nears, I will make an official announcement. For those of you who sent me notes of encouragement, thank you. :o) For those of you who are still vacillating on whether or not to attempt entrance into competitions, get on it. When you do make it into one, it feels SO GOOD.

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And now for something completely different....

2012-01-01T19:33:00.000-08:00

'An Unfair Advantage' - 10"x10" - oil on canvas

'Do Not Stop On Tracks' - 10"x10" - oil on canvas

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful time ringing in 2012. I chose to stay home for the first time in ages, cooked a roast, drank some bubbly, ate specialty chocolates and lazed on the couch in my pajamas watching movies until 1am. It was GRAND.

In more pertinent news, I spent December completing new paintings for exhibition submissions and also finished several small commissions for clients for the holiday.

Exhibition season is starting up again, and I've got several lined up to submit to in the coming months. Looking forward to the challenge. In fact, that's the reason I even write about these, most of which I don't get into. I like to challenge myself to try for new things, to stretch and grow and stick my neck out despite not having a guaranteed outcome. And I like to encourage others to do the same. There's always something good to be learned from each attempt, always something worth the effort regardless of whether or not you get in. So, now and then you'll see me post about submissions, my intent being to encourage fellow artists who read my blog to just go for it. :o)

Above are two submissions to a juried gallery exhibition titled 'Planes, Trains & Automobiles', which will be held in March of this year. They asked for submissions early on, in December, and I had a couple months advance notice to try to come up with something different.

I expected there to be quite a few direct approaches to the theme taken by other artists, and quite a few playful approaches as well. I knew I wanted to play, and I also knew I wanted to try my hand at the soft vs. hard focus look I had going with the Coca-Cola bottle paintings I did back in October.

My first thoughts were on Matchbox cars, and then while cleaning out one of my closets back in October, I found an old Monopoly board and playing pieces. One of my favorite games, and perfect for the 'train' theme. So, over the next few weeks I mulled it over and found a way to combine the two.

I like how they turned out and I had an absolute blast arranging and painting them both. And again, like the Coca-Cola bottles, messing with the focus on each painting proved......challenging. BUT, it did go more smoothly than the Coca-Cola bottles because this time I had some previous experience and trusted my eye more.

Hopefully the titles of each painting explain the paintings themselves within the content of the exhibition theme.

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Doughnut Study: Plain Glazed

2011-12-20T18:02:00.001-08:00

'Plain Glazed' - 6"x6" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

- private commission -

Another venture into the territory of doughnuts. I could smell this one the whole time I was painting it. Very distracting. I'm gonna have to go do some cardio. Maybe a juice fast. Lettuce. Rice cakes.........

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Doughnut Study: Maple Glazed

2011-12-10T14:32:00.000-08:00

'Maple Glazed' - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

Technically, this is the study for 'Delicious III' which I've yet to post because I kept getting irritated with how I'd rendered the tissue (or whatever they call those wax paper sheets you use to grab doughnuts off the pastry shelves). Dissatisfied with my results, I decided to do a study before going back to rework the tissue. And this is why studies are so valuable- they help you work through blockages at a smaller scale so that you can more easily accomplish what you want at a larger scale. I should have done the study first. Turns out there is a whole protocol for tissue to get it to look just right, and it involves a tricky combination of wet on wet, wet on dry, dry on dry and neutral underpainting that was previously a mystery to me. Now I know. And the thought of painting tissue again does not scare me as it did two days ago when I started the study in a state of mild-to-moderate frustration. Oh, who am I kidding? I was cussing up a storm. Enjoy!

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Delicious II

2011-12-04T20:47:00.000-08:00

'Delicious II' - 10" x 10" - oil on canvas

The second of the 'Delicious' series. A favorite food, partly because it's just so darned pretty to look at!

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Delicious I

2011-12-02T12:52:00.000-08:00

'Delicious I' - 10" x 10" - oil on canvas - SOLD

One of three in a series I will be unveiling this weekend. I love painting food. I LOVE painting food. I think it's the feeling of abundance and comfort that arises within me when I do. It's a truly happy experience to paint. Anyone who has followed my blog over the years knows this about me, my love of food painting, and in the last year or so, my love of hamburger painting. A favorite treat.

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'All Things Great & Small' Exhibition

2011-11-10T17:13:00.000-08:00

I was recently contacted by Jeff Cooley of The Cooley Gallery in Old Lyme, Connecticut and asked if I would be interested in submitting some work for their annual small works exhibition. This year it is being combined with their annual 'Dear Santa' exhibition and thus titled 'All Things Great & Small'. I thought that was rather clever. And I was very flattered and happy to oblige them.

November 17, 2011 through January 3, 2012

On their website, Jeff Cooley describes Cooley Gallery's focus (partial excerpt):

While a primary interest of mine is the mid-19th century painters of the Hudson River School, we are inevitably linked as well to the painters of the Old Lyme Art Colony. Our proximity to the Florence Griswold Museum, one of our nations true gems of the museum world, has helped to promote the awareness and interest in the region's artists....
......
....Our move to a public space in Old Lyme, however, opened up myriad opportunities to present significant shows. We were also able to integrate contemporary representational art into our program.

From our extensive art and antiques show circuit, as well as our own exhibition schedule, to the various publications we produce, our mission has remained constant: to bring the very best quality art, regardless of the renown of the artist, to as many people in as fun and as welcoming a way as possible.

I had a chance to browse through their wonderful collection of artists past and present. It's quite impressive and eclectic and includes living artists such as Lisa Barsumian (Monotypes! I have long collected printmaker's works. A favorite of mine since dabbling in it in college and a dying art that shouldn't be, in my opinion.), Niamh Butler, Jefferson Hayman (Urban subjects, still life and silver gelatin print. Can't go wrong, there!), Walter Rane (I really do love urban subjects in art. Can never get enough.) and Maurice Sapiro.

For the exhibition, Jeff selected the following three works of mine:

From left to right: 'The Three Graces', 'Salt & Pepper' and 'An Overwhelming Majority'. All at 6"x6" in oil on hardboard panel except the two coin paintings also include actual antique dollar bills collaged onto their surface. I could paint the coins but there was no way I could manage to paint replicas of those intricate little bills. Uh uh. Not happening. I had never thought about putting them together before, but when I did, they actually looked like quite a handsome little trio! My not-so-humble opinion, of course. ;o)

The opening reception for 'All Things Great & Small' takes place Thursday, November 17th from 5pm to 8pm. If you are in the area, stop by and say hello for me!

Macaron Study IV

2011-11-08T17:27:00.001-08:00

'Macaron Study IV' - 6" x 6" - oil on 1.5" gallery wrapped canvas - SOLD

The last of the four part series featuring these particular macarons; the circus tent macarons, as I like to call them. Now, onto other forms of culinary-delights-meet-canvas-torture.

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Eggshell Study - 'Odd Man Out'

2011-11-03T23:16:00.000-07:00

'Odd Man Out' - 6"x6" - oil on 1.5" gallery wrapped canvas (no framing required)

SOLD

The title comes from the fact that only one egg is left unbroken in the carton. I took the photo for this the other morning while making breakfast. Am I the only one who marvels at the uniqueness of each shell, some speckled, some pale, others wobbly and oddly shaped as if the poor hen really broke a sweat in getting that one out? Anybody? Just me? Okay then. Moving right along.

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Artist.Blog.Critique

2011-11-01T17:37:00.000-07:00

Today I received an email from Tony Moffitt of Artist.Blog.Critique. If you haven't checked out his blog, do so. He's written up some very detailed reviews of several artists so far, a few of which I am already familiar with and very fond of, such as Michael Naples, Jacqueline Gnott and Stephen Magsig.

Tony was very kind to write a review of my work as well, and even more kind in his remarks. To be truthful, I blushed when I read it. I am deeply flattered. An excerpt from his post reads:

"The paintings of coke bottles, stacked glass jars, wine glasses and bottles are simply a stunning testimony to the artist's talent and powers of observation. Faunce combines her unique 'close up' views with a skill to easily match the most complex of artistic challenges.

Scrolling down through the images posted on the blog is a real delight. 'Glass & Floral I', 'Glass & Floral III', 'Gomphrena in Blue Glass', and 'Color Therapy' are must-see paintings. They are outstanding examples of contemporary realism art."

Another thing that happens when my work gets write-ups in blogs or in print, is that I am reminded to keep to my A game. I don't freak out. I don't lose my cool. But I remember that there are people out there paying attention to what I do, and I want to give them the best viewing experience possible. I want what I paint to have a positive impact. Tony's post both affirms that and also challenges me to continue to put forth my best effort. Thank you, Tony!

Day of the (Dead) Drunk - Artist's Challenge

2011-10-30T20:49:00.001-07:00

'Day of the (Dead) Drunk' - 6"x6" - oil on canvas - SOLD

' Vigilance' - Marcia Molnar

'Skullz' - Pablo Villicana Lara

Back in early September, Pablo Villicana Lara, an artist with whom I've been blessed to ~~discuss the merits of chocolate~~ know for some years now, invited me to join himself and another immensely talented artist, Marcia Molnar, to participate in a Dia de los Muertos challenge. I jumped at the chance to do so, finally having an excuse to buy one of those fabulous little figurines. And this is what I came up with. I know. I should be totally ashamed of myself.

What I loved most about this challenge was the combination of three very different approaches to the same subject. I love artist challenges for this reason, because it showcases every person's unique perspective and their creative process. It also showcases the fact that I am ~~going to Hell~~ immature.

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New Paintings, New Gallery

2011-10-28T18:24:00.001-07:00

'Return For Refund' - 10"x10" - oil on canvas - Mason Murer Fine Art

'Half Dozen' - 10"x10" - oil on canvas - Mason Murer Fine Art

'Glass & Floral I' - 12"x12" - oil on canvas - Dean Day Gallery

'Glass & Floral II' - 12"x12" - oil on canvas - Dean Day Gallery

'Glass & Floral III' - 12"x12" - oil on canvas - Dean Day Gallery

Hello, Everyone! Just a quick update on gallery paintings for the weekend. Rest assured, more studies are in the works and will be posted next week. I am particularly excited about Monday's listing. Mwa ha ha ha ha ha (urp) (hic). That's a hint.

Anyway, about the paintings above- Two of the five you've already seen. 'Glass & Floral I' and 'Half Dozen' both made appearances on my blog within the last two months. But it wasn't until today that I got around to showing you the other three, rounding out both series.

The 'Glass & Floral' series was much fun to paint and combined two favorite subjects. I won't lie- I want to go bigger with these and am talking with Dean Day about doing so. First things first, we will see how the smaller versions are received by their patrons.

'Return For Refund' joined 'Half Dozen' a few weeks back at Mason Murer Fine Art in time for a Coca-Cola corporate event. I had been working on four paintings in total, but could not find a way to be satisfied with the other two. They met a shredded and cursed fate in the recycle bin. Play 'Taps' for them when you get the chance, will you?

'Red, White & Rosé' - 12"x12" - oil on canvas - Elliott Fouts Gallery

In other news, I am pleased to announce that aside from taking part in Elliott Fouts Gallery's annual Still Life juried exhibition, I was also invited to become one of their artists. I was so flattered, thrilled and honored and still find myself giving my arm a little pinch now and again. I have been a fan of this gallery for the past three years since I discovered them through the wonderfully talented Christopher Stott.

So, now I am fiendishly painting for all three galleries. What you see above is the second of two new wine themed paintings I have sent to them, both of which are in the exhibition. I had talked with Elliott Fouts back in August about wine as a theme. Considering I like to drink wine, and love to paint images of glassware, it was a no-brainer to say YES to this. There will be other subjects on display there as well, one of which I am nearly finished with and will send them shortly for review. But the wine theme has got me all aflutter with delight the past couple months, I admit.

And that's about it for now. I have my weekend loaded with work and am happy to do it. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend and I will be in touch again come Monday when I post the "Mwa ha ha ha ha ha (urp) (hic)" painting.

Cocktail Study: White Wine

2011-10-27T17:17:00.001-07:00

'White Wine' - 4"x4" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

From the iPhone, the 3rd of 3 overhead view paintings of alcohol delights. Swear to God, I'm not a drunk. Honest.

On a wine tour back in June, we stopped at our favorite haunt, Ponte Family Estate. I remember having a beautiful bowl of steamed muscles in garlic tomato broth, Niçoise salad, crème brûlée and a glass of slightly chilled Vermentino (seen above). Perfect.

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Cocktail Study: Beer

2011-10-26T20:17:00.001-07:00

'Beer' - 4"x4" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

Another from the iPhone collection and cocktail #2 of what will be a series of 3 overhead views of alcoholic delights. This shot was taken at a microbrewery during the height of summer in balmy Las Vegas. In August. So unbearably, sizzlingly hot. My other half and I tucked ourselves into a booth under a blasting A/C vent and ordered a couple very tall brews. The one pictured above was a beautiful blonde with honey and wildflower undertones and a clean, crisp finish. Beer from a bottle just can't compare. And beer from a can.....well....ppppffffttt.

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Cocktail Study: Martini

2011-10-23T16:00:00.000-07:00

'Martini' - 4" x 4" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD

This week I've been going through all my iPhone photos and deciding which I'll keep and which I'll purge before storing them on the Mac and trading my old 3g in for a 4s. I have a lot of photos. A boatload. Photography, no matter with what type of camera, is my creative hobby. Pictures of food and drink are my favorite subjects. To those who've followed my work for any length of time, this should come as no surprise. In looking through all my pics, I've found several that I think would make great paintings and have set them aside.

Back in July, I took my dad out to dinner for his birthday. He ordered a martini and I thought the patterns created in the glass were so pretty that I made him wait while I publicly embarrassed him by hovering over the table with my phone for a moment or two. Then he ordered another. Because I'm one of THOSE people. Apologies, Dad.

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Macaron Study III

2011-10-21T16:34:00.001-07:00

'Macaroon Study III' - 6" x 6" - oil on 1.5" gallery wrapped canvas - SOLD

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Coffee Cup Study: Porcelain

2011-10-11T14:46:00.001-07:00

'Porcelain' - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

I needed another artistic palette cleanser after all the large, highly detailed paintings I've been doing the past several weeks. A simply monochromatic study of simply objects suited me just fine. I am now ready again to do something highly detailed (read: insane).

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The Still Life: Invitational Group Show at Elliott Fouts Gallery

2011-09-30T12:44:00.000-07:00

'End of Summer' - 24" x 18" - oil on canvas

I am pleased to announce that 'End of Summer' will be a part of the Elliott Fouts Gallery's group invitational realism show, The Still Life taking place October 1st through November 2nd. The official reception will be held on October 8th from 6pm to 9pm. If you're in the area, do stop by to see the wonderful collection of artist's work they've put together. I am flattered to have been asked and accepted into such a lovely show.

Gomphrena in Blue Glass

2011-09-27T17:03:00.000-07:00

'Gomphrena in Blue Glass' - 20"x20" - oil on canvas
(currently under gallery review - not available for direct sale)

Okay, swear to God I'm putting up some studies, but posting this to fill the blog until I get them done. Sorry about the wait! Long, long, long, long week(end).

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Red, White, Rosé & Waiting

2011-09-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

' Red, White, Rosé & Waiting' - 12" x 12" - oil on 1.5" gallery wrapped canvas
(currently under gallery review - not available for direct sale)

For the past several weeks, I've been working on - among other things like: desserts, floral, Coke bottles, glass, silverware and cherries - a series devoted to wine. (sigh) Here is the first of what I hope to be many, many more.

As an apology to my subscribers, I WILL be posting more small scale study paintings. I want to put at least one up this week. Just juggling between the large works for an upcoming show, my previous gallery commitments, and pulling my hair out. Okay, not really that last part. But close. I've got a lovely little coffee study in the works and the other two French macaron paintings yet to list. If anyone has a connection with a mad scientist who can successfully clone humans, I'm in the market.

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Real Things

2011-09-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

('Half Dozen' pictured on far right)

Friday night, September 16th, Mason Murer Fine Art opened a new show called 'Real Things'. Incorporated into that show along with its primary artists were the works of several other artists for a show to be held later in October for Coca Cola's shareholders. I am very honored to have been asked to submit paintings for this event, and to be among such a talented group.

Here's a list of a few of them. Do check out their blogs. Amazing: Neil Hollingsworth, Otto Lange, Chris Stott, Vic Vicini, Alvin Richard, David Malan, Teresa Fischer, Michael Naples, Sally Tharp and Todd Ford. Okay, that's more than a few. Sorry! They're all so good.

I was unable to attend, but Neil Hollingsworth was kind enough to send me a photo of one of the paintings I was able to complete and submit for the opening. The other three are still in progress (one of which is being redone because I am a perfectionist lunatic) and will be in Atlanta for the official shareholder's event next month.

Back to the studio......

Macaroon Study II

2011-09-14T16:33:00.001-07:00

'Macaroon Study II' - 6" x 6" - oil on 1.5" gallery wrapped canvas - SOLD

The second of a study set of four, this one reminds me of childhood. I was big into color wheels, color charts and arranging my crayons like a rainbow all across the table when I'd do my 'work' as a kid. Had to revisit this when I bought all these macaroons. They looked so perfectly cute and festive stacked as they were.

After I started this series, I knew I had to do more, so I've also begun prepping several smaller 4"x4" hardboard panels that I'll use to explore these macaroons singly and in other arrangements. They are, for lack of a better word, addictive.

It's slow going though, getting new small study work painted. Been busy all summer working on paintings for several galleries and now for two group shows I'm hoping to take part in. I miss my little dailies, the satisfaction of their quick execution and completion, their simplicity and their fun. But, the gallery work at larger scale has been wonderfully challenging and immensely satisfying. Pro's and con's to everything, I guess.

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Half Dozen

2011-09-08T19:48:00.000-07:00

'Half Dozen' - 10" x 10" - oil on 1.5" gallery wrapped canvas

While taking the photos for this painting, I noticed that the closer I got to my subject without the macro setting turned on, the more everything not front and center blurred into the background. I have never before tried to paint something with an intentional blur; the human eye does that all on its own. However, in the photos the blurring made things seem so much more intimate and cozy. I figured this was as good a time as any to give intentional blurring a try. I kinda like how it turned out. Don't know that I'll ever make a habit of it, but it was fun.

'Half Dozen' was painted for a Coca-Cola corporate event taking place at Mason Murer Fine Art next month. It will be heading their way tomorrow. If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact them here.

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Macaroon Study I

2011-08-31T19:04:00.001-07:00

'Macaroon Study I' - 6" x 6" oil on 1.5" gallery wrapped canvas
(no framing required - sides painted white) - SOLD

One of four studies I have going featuring the very pretty and very delicious French macaroon (not to be confused with the coconut-covered variety).

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Untitled Cupcake Commission

2011-08-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

'Untitled Cupcake Commission' - 6" x 8" - oil on canvas - SOLD

In this case, I was spared the agony of having to buy, plate, photograph and then discard uneaten the cupcakes for this commission. The buyer provided a perfect photograph of their own. My thighs and arteries thank them.

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Glass & Floral I

2011-08-19T19:46:00.000-07:00

'Glass and Floral I' - 12" x 12" - oil on canvas

For purchase information, please contact Cathy Albright at Dean Day Gallery in Houston, TX.

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Rise and Shine

2011-08-18T09:05:00.000-07:00

'Rise and Shine' - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

It's like 'Now Being Served' revisited. There's a story in this which I never told. Back in December, when I was sending 'Now Being Served' off to get framed for competition, the framer damaged it. I only discovered the damage because they also did a super lousy job of framing it and it had to be redone. In taking it out of the frame, I noticed they had bolted (yes, BOLTED) it into the frame so tightly that the frame literally dug into the painting itself. It looked like someone had carved the painting with an Exacto blade. It was awesome. There was cursing involved, I believe. So, I repaired it and took it to another framer. It came out perfect. HOWEVER, I could not be persuaded to offer it for sale. I'm picky that way, I guess.

As it was never put out to the world for any reason other than exhibition, I felt okay to repaint a similar design when asked. 'Rise and Shine' is the end result, and, like the original, was a blast to paint.

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Study: Summer Cherries

2011-07-26T18:47:00.001-07:00

'Summer Cherries' - 6" x 6" - oil on canvas - SOLD

Having some fun with the little designer bags Whole Foods provides it's customers when they buy their overpriced cherries. If I sell this painting, I won't feel so ripped off. Help me.

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Cupcake Commission: Strawberry Shortcake

2011-07-22T19:57:00.001-07:00

'Strawberry Shortcake' - 6" x 6" - oil on canvas - private commission

My favorite thing about this cupcake was the frothy, light, whipped baby pink frosting. Which tasted lovely. Or so I'm told. ;o)

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Cupcake Commission: Boston Cream Pie

2011-07-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

'Boston Cream Pie' - 6" x 6" - oil on canvas - private commission

Unlike my apprehension regarding Red Velvet cupcakes, it takes only a millisecond before I attempt to stuff an entire one of these down my gullet. Because I'm classy like that.

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Cupcake Commission: Red Velvet

2011-07-19T12:11:00.001-07:00

'Red Velvet' - 6" x 6" - oil on canvas - private commission

Admittedly, I have never been drawn to Red Velvet cupcakes outside of looking at them and marveling over how much food coloring it would take to make them THAT RED. I always assumed they'd taste like sugar bombs, KoolAid nightmares or OtterPops (not that there's anything wrong with OtterPops). When I bought the cupcake for this commission, I decided to judge for myself and took a bite. It was surprisingly mild and really quite tasty.

Damnit.

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Rubber Duckie In Profile

2011-07-12T16:09:00.000-07:00

'Rubber Duckie In Profile' - 6" x 6" - oil on canvas - SOLD

It's that time of year again. This is the only time of year I'll willingly set foot in Walmart. I do it for the squeaky toys - the pool toys and play toys that send out their telltale polyurethane aroma which beckons my inner child. I love the colors. I love the shapes. And I love that fact that rubber duckies make a major comeback in the summer months.

This is one of my favorites, purchased some years ago and still a joy to paint. I lost count of how many times I've done so, but the experience never gets old.

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Dean Day Gallery

2011-07-07T18:43:00.000-07:00

I am very pleased to announce that I am now being represented by Dean Day Gallery in Houston, TX. I had recently submitted five paintings to them (the cherry and apple paintings seen here on my blog), all of which were accepted, much to my delight. I was thrilled and honored to have been considered for this gallery and am excited to be able to produce new work for them.

All five works will be available for viewing beginning this weekend, as part of the upcoming ArtHouston 2011 summer event which takes place this Saturday, July 9th. If you are in the area, stop by and say hello. If you would like purchase information on any of the five, please contact Cathy Albright at info@deandaygallery.com.

In the meantime, back to the studio. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Red & Green II

2011-07-04T15:24:00.000-07:00

'Red & Green II' - 18" x 18" - oil on canvas
(available through Dean Day Gallery in Houston, TX)

Happy Birthday, America! Go eat some fresh fruit. Your livers will thank you for it.

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Cherry Study: Red, White & Blue

2011-06-30T17:47:00.001-07:00

'Cherry Study: Red, White & Blue' - 6" x 6" - oil on canvas

Funny, the other day, while I was working on this painting, I saw the latest work from the very talented Oriana Kacicek, titled the same as my own. I wondered if I should find a new name for this, but in the last two days I've seen another four paintings with the same title, and I figured, "Eh." Sorry, Oriana! It's all in the spirit of the holiday.

If you'd like to purchase 'Red, White & Blue', please follow the Paypal link below. ($150 + $9 s/h within the U.S. Outside the U.S., please contact me for s/h charges)

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Cherries III

2011-06-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

'Cherries III' - 18" x 18" - oil on canvas
(available through Dean Day Gallery in Houston, TX)

The third and last in the cherries series - for now, at least - and also the least complicated design. After the first two, I needed something simple to clear my mind. Oddly enough, I like it just as much as the others, but in its own way.

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Color Therapy: Pink & Gold

2011-06-22T21:36:00.000-07:00

'Color Therapy: Pink & Gold - 16" x 20" - oil on canvas

This painting featured $2000 worth of very fine champagne, none of which I got to drink. Hmmmm. A friend of a friend is the manager of the nightclubs/bars at the Hard Rock and was able to give me an ample supply of shiny, bright Armand de Brignac bottles. The ultra-reflective surfaces were...daunting. Made the refractions seem like a cakewalk by comparison. (Hi, Jimmy!!!!)

'Color Therapy: Pink & Gold' will be heading to Mason Murer Fine Art in Atlanta, GA to join its fellow 'Color Therapy' paintings. For purchase information, please contact Mark Karelson at Mark@MasonMurer.com.

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Cherries II

2011-06-16T13:37:00.000-07:00

'Cherries II' - 20" x 20" - oil on canvas
(available through Dean Day Gallery in Houston, TX)

The second in a series of paintings submitted for review to a new venue. I'm really liking working with cherries and wish I had a chance to work with them year round. Actually, I can work with them more months out of the year than not, but I have to be ready to pay TOP dollar for them when out of season. Realistically, it makes sense if the work sells, but there's still that slight cussing under one's breath when at the cash register......

That was a lot of blue to paint, by the way. Not that I mind blue. I love it, really. However, the next in the series, 'Cherries III' has an unsurprising lack of blue in it. Thankfully.

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Cherries I

2011-06-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

"Cherries I" - 20" x 20" - oil on canvas
(available through Dean Day Gallery in Houston, TX)

It's been 39 days since my last post???? Wow. Oops.

Hello, there! Remember me? I used to post here. May was a busy, busy month and one in which I got a lot of artwork done- large scale paintings that I could have been a bit more forthcoming with and started posting already. But, I am the human example of inertia. Once I'm in motion, I tend to stay in motion, and I have been in motion in the studio since the start of last month. In the process, I've neglected my blog, my website, my Facebook gallery, my family and friends.....etc, etc, ad infinitum.

So, "Cherries I" is a new painting in a new series for a possible new venue (more on that in the coming weeks), and one which I had a lot of fun painting. My love of detail and design got its time in the spotlight with this one and I made a special effort to go bright and happy with the colors, utilizing more white and yellow and bright red that I might otherwise. Because Summer was coming, I had a yearning for a palette that was appropriate to the season.

I'm going to post the completed paintings every few days over the coming weeks so that I don't neglect the blog quite so much. The cobwebs and dust I had to make my way through were just epic when I logged back on today. Amazing. So far, there's a total of ten paintings going between two galleries. Yes, I am a machine. Why do you ask?

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Sweet Nothings III

2011-05-05T18:34:00.001-07:00

"Sweet Nothings III" - 4"x 4" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

Sweet Nothings II

2011-04-27T18:18:00.000-07:00

"Sweet Nothings II" - 4" x 4" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

Budding Ranunculus. I decided to paint what I thought would be the most difficult of all my ranunculus images. I was right. Buds are tough! Or maybe I'm just too critical. LOL

Jackrabbit

2011-04-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

'Jackrabbit' - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

Pablo Villicana Lara - 'Bunz' - 10" x 8" - watercolor on paper

Chris Beck - 'Spring Peepers' - 8" x 6" - watercolor on paper

Pablo Villicana Lara invited me and Chris Beck to do another Peeps-themed artist challenge way back in February. We determined to post our finished paintings before Easter. It is now the day after and I am finally posting mine. Would you believe me if I told you I like to be fashionably late? The truth is closer to 'technical difficulties' which I affectionately refer to as 'Mercury Retrograde'. Either way, apologies for the delay. Happy Easter....sort of.

Weekend Update

2011-04-22T20:35:00.000-07:00

Today I was supposed to post a wonderful little challenge painting with my art buddies Pablo Villicana Lara and Chris Beck. BUT, because I underestimated how many layers I'd need to paint to get my challenge done to my exacting standards (read: anal-retentive), it is still drying. Gonna try to post it tomorrow. (hangs head in shame) I've seen Pablo's and Chris' and they are outstanding. I'm so impressed with their talent.

In the meantime, I thought I'd let you know about my week. I finally got word to reveal that Mason Murer Fine Art has asked to represent my work beyond the current Realism Group Show going on now. I am finishing and sending more paintings their way in the coming weeks, and I'm thrilled to death to have an excuse to do so. Look forward to seeing more of the Color Therapy series in the very near future!

'Late Night' - 12" x 4" - oil on canvas

And, saving the best for last, I just got word that my painting 'Late Night' has received Best In Show at the Richeson 75 Still Life, Floral & Abstract juried exhibition. I'm speechless. I had no idea it would even place. Truly flattered, humbled and grateful. I honestly don't know what to say but THANK YOU.

Ingredients For A Successful Endeavor

2011-04-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

Ingredients For A Successful Endeavor - 16"x 20" - oil on canvas

This painting is like a great big talisman. It represents every ingredient necessary for me to be successful in any endeavor, hence the title. Also, it likely won't make sense to anyone other than myself without some explanation. Below, I've included the meanings of each object within it:

Seated Buddha: a focus on abundance
Matches: the inception of an idea/endeavor
River Rock: grounded perspective/focus
Shell: intuition
Fortune Cookie: allowing of luck/synchronicity
Fishing Lure: setting a course of action
Prayer Paper: giving myself the blessing to move forward
Glass Bowl: self containment/heightened awareness
Large Fish: the goal

Having the bowl sit atop the fish represents self-confidence. The surface upon which the bowl sits is actually a large weekender bag made of recycled Vietnamese rice sacks. That in itself represents ingenuity.

And there you have it. My great big 16"x 20" talisman. Had to paint it because the bowl of items left out in the open would get continually knocked to the floor by my cats. (sigh)

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Egg Study: Hot Coffee

2011-04-11T16:21:00.001-07:00

'Hot Coffee' - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

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Realism Group Exhibition - Mason Murer Fine Art

2011-04-06T11:53:00.001-07:00

Andrea from Mason Murer sent this to me in email just now and I thought I'd pass it along. If you're in the Atlanta area, stop on by and wave hello to my paintings! Also, check out the amazing talent on that list. There will be some stellar work on display for this show. Very honored to be showing alongside them all. Sad I'll miss it.

Hamburger Study: Carl's Jr.

2011-04-03T15:55:00.001-07:00

'Hamburger Study- Carl's Jr.' - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

I did not crave one of these combo's while painting this. Not once. In fact, I think it may have made me less inclined to order something I usually enjoy getting.

Oddly enough, this disinterest does not extend to coffee when I do painting after painting after painting of it. I should run a test on cheesecake. Heh.

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Sweet Nothings I

2011-03-30T18:18:00.001-07:00

'Sweet Nothings I' - 4" x 4" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

I've got a bunch of 4" x 4" panels collecting dust in my studio. Thought I'd take the opportunity to use them up by painting some pretty/funny/pretty funny images on them, depending on my mood. So small, I often refer to paintings this size as "sweet nothings", the art version of appetizers (and compared to large paintings, they are just that, thankfully).

This particular painting came about after I'd cracked an egg for breakfast rather forcefully, then discovered that I really liked the pattern the fragments left, similar to shattered tempered glass. So, I grabbed my camera and took at picture. Liked it so much I decided to paint it, too. Brought back memories of my first job when I was still in high school.

I used to work in a stained and etched glass shop. I drew the patterns. Once in a while, a tempered glass pane we were working on would shatter. It's a shocking and instantaneous event, but once you've swallowed your heart back down, you have to admit the thousands of popcorn-like fragments scattered about are really quite beautiful.

If you'd like to purchase this painting, please click on the Paypal link below. If you are a buyer outside the U.S., please contact me for shipping charges to your specific country.

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Color Therapy: Warm vs. Cool Tones

2011-03-29T17:24:00.000-07:00

'Color Therapy: Warm vs. Cool Tones' - 20"x 20" - oil on canvas

Still waiting for final word on that announcement I was alluding to weekend before last. Decided I couldn't wait any longer to at least post SOMETHING, so here is my latest Color Therapy painting. So far, it's my favorite.

Sorry to be so cryptic. And it's not even like I'm gonna tell you I won the lottery or that I'm really Kate Middleton in disguise and that this blog will be closed right after my big, expensive wedding next month. Actually, William said I could keep it open. His mother is skeptical, though.

But, seriously, I can say that I have been invited to take part in Mason Murer's annual Realism Group Show, the reception taking place on Friday, April 8, 2011 from 7pm to 10pm. I am so excited to be a part of this show and especially to have the honor of my work hanging around with Neil and Karen Hollingsworth's, two lovely artists I've known for years through our online communication. Some day, SOME DAY, we will finally meet in person, I promise!

If you're in the Atlanta area, stop on by. I will, sadly, not be in attendance. My mother even offered to fly me out there for the show. So sweet (Hi, Mom!!), but I have several other commitments, including another show submission, due the following week, and I realized when I looked at my calendar that I can only manage it if I split myself in two. Boo. Being human sucks.

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P.S. New daily painting being listed for sale tomorrow evening. Was supposed to be this past weekend, but then I was reminded that I had to get my paperwork in order for my much delayed trip to the accountant. I hate tax season.

Weekend Update

2011-03-20T11:46:00.001-07:00

Where to start. Well, it's been a busy 6 weeks or so and it's not over, yet! A week from now I'll have some very exciting news to share, something I've been working toward these past couple of months that I can finally reveal at the weekend. So very glad when I'll finally be able to talk about it.

But, in the meantime, let me update you on a few things that have been happening:

Single Fare 2 was a resounding success, and I am so pleased to have been able to take part in it. Michael Kagan and Jean-Pierre Roy did an amazing job of assembling an eclectic and diverse show with submissions from around the globe, around 2000 entries in all (nearly three times as many entries as last year's show which itself had a surprisingly large submission count). Submission was open to all, and I thought that was incredibly generous in that it gives collectors a chance to see works from artists they may not have ever come in contact with otherwise.

Among other publications, both Reuters and the NYTimes online blogged about the show and provided us -including myself who was unable to attend- with video of the work hung. So, I got to be there in spirit, at least. :D

And, this afternoon, the lovely Alice Gao was kind enough to stop by and take a snapshot of my little entry, 'Abundance', where it hung on the wall. Thank you, Alice!

Some of the works in the show, such as submissions from established artists like Alyssa Monks, were raffled, and a portion of the proceeds will go toward charity, including relief for Japan. Very thoughtful of them. So, if you're reading this and live in the New York metro area and happen to be looking for some new art at a very affordable price (each card is just $100) and want to donate to a good cause, stop on by!

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Speaking of relief for Japan, I wanted to let you all know that Daily Paintworks is hosting an artist's challenge titled, appropriately, the "Help Japan" Challenge. The theme is "home" and it has been put forward by the amazing artist, Keiko Tanabe, who is from Japan and has family there whom she visits yearly.

If you would like to purchase one of the Challenge works as a means to donate, or are an artist who would like to donate one of your own "home" themed paintings to the cause, you can follow the link above for more information. So far, in just over 24 hours since it went online, the Challenge has raised over $1250 for this worthwhile cause.

I am so impressed with their efforts and even have my eye on one of the paintings available. I was unable to paint anything in time for the Challenge, and am considering making a purchase as a way to be involved in at least some sense.

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Speaking of Daily Paintworks, if you click on the link, you'll probably notice my name listed among the incredibly talented artists on their roster. Back in February, David Marine, head honcho of Daily Paintworks, emailed me and invited me to rejoin the ranks. I accepted immediately. For those who have been following my blog for a while, you know that I was once a member of Daily Paintworks, but due to health reasons and a necessary sabbatical from art in 2009 and the first part of 2010, I had to relinquish my membership because I was unable to provide the works necessary for membership. So, when I got the invite to come back, I believe I let out a loud squeal of delight that woke my neighbors.

I am still affiliated with Daily Painters and will continue to post my small scale studies there. But I will also be posting my small works with Daily Paintworks as well. I consider both to be valuable online resources for artists as well as lovely communities where artists can connect with one another.

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Speaking of connecting with other artists, it is my acquaintanceship with WonderArtist Karin Jurick that has allowed me to purchase what is, quite possibly, the best and most ingenious table easel ever invented. Ergonomic, versatile, a total spine-saver. Worth every penny. So popular, in fact, that they keep selling out as soon as she makes them available for sale. If you're in the market for one and want the best, I recommend you keep an eye on her blog for updates.

I managed to snap one up before the second batch was sold out and modified it just a bit to hold my larger paintings, and let me tell you.........has that easel ever been a blessing while I've been holed up in the studio trying to meet this big, secret deadline. LOL

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So, for those of you who are looking for some new small scale studies from me, you're in luck!!! Now that I'm finishing this big project, I have several small studies in the works which I'll be gleefully finishing and listing as early as next Friday. Funny, after working on nothing but large paintings for several weeks, getting back to the small stuff feels like playtime. What once seemed hard or tedious or strenuous now seems like sweet, sweet relief. I'd like to think the way I push myself with each new painting makes me a better artist, a more confident artist, a more risk-taking artist. In the end, all the strain and hard work is worth it, and I find myself appreciating the little things that much more.

On that note, I'll leave you with a preview of coming attractions:

Color Therapy: Purple & Blue - 20" x 20" - oil on canvas

Single Fare 2: Please Swipe Again

2011-03-09T18:54:00.000-08:00

'Abundance' - 3.25" x 2" - oil on MetroCard - SOLD

- card before painting -

I am very excited to announce that I am participating in the Single Fare 2: Please Swipe Again exhibition taking place at Sloan Fine Art in New York, New York. The opening reception will be held on Thursday, March 17th, 2011 from 5pm to 9pm. The exhibition itself will run from March 18th through the 26th. Below I have included the official flier as prepared by Sloan Fine Art regarding the exhibition.

Although in the middle of completing a body of work for another exhibition coming up in April, I had to take a few hours today to paint something for this highly creative endeavor. Having read their blog, I thought it was a marvelous and whimsical idea and was fortunate enough to be able to get my hands on a MetroCard.

If you're in the area, feel free to stop by and say hello to my little MetroCard Buddha. And, as a side note, while there is some money left on the card (supposedly), and if anyone reading this blog decides to buy it, I don't recommend using it as that will likely ruin the painting.

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Chocolate Study: True Blue

2011-02-14T13:03:00.000-08:00

'True Blue' - 4"x 4" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

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Richeson75 Small Works 2011 - 1st Place in Oil Painting

2011-02-11T18:27:00.000-08:00

'Now Being Served' - 6"x 6" oil on cradled hardboard panel - Not For Sale

I am very pleased (and completely ecstatic) to announce that 'Now Being Served' has been awarded the 1st Place prize in Oil Painting in the Richeson75 Small Works 2011 Exhibition. Thank you especially to the lovely people at the Richeson School of Art and Jack Richeson & Co., and to their guest juror Jan Smith, Director of the Bergstrom Mahler Museum.

Jan Smith's remarks regarding 'Now Being Served' as her choice for 1st Place were especially flattering-

"This work was not only well executed, with a striking central composition, it effectively drew your eye closer to examine technique and subject, creating surprise elements of discovery upon closer inspection that added a sly humor to the work as well."

Thank you, again. So flattered. So honored. Made my month.

Richeson 75: Still Life and Abstract

2011-02-08T18:47:00.001-08:00

'Late Night' - 12" x 4" - oil on canvas

I'm pleased to announce that my painting, "Late Night", has been accepted into the Richeson 75: International Art Competition for Still Life and Abstract. The show hangs April 18- June 10, 2011 at the Richeson School of Art & Gallery, 557 Marcella St., Kimberly, WI 54136. The opening reception is TBD.

Coffee Study for 'Late Night'

2011-02-07T17:25:00.001-08:00

'Late Night' Study - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

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French Fry Study - Remnants

2011-02-06T13:08:00.000-08:00

'Remnants' (study) - 6"x6" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

Do you think the IRS will allow me to write off my Fatburger bill if I manage to sell this painting?

Also, for those who don't live anywhere near a Fatburger, you have my deepest sympathies.

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SoCal Weekend: Day Three - Newport Beach

2011-01-27T09:00:00.000-08:00

(all images above are photographs. no artwork.....yet)

My final full day was spent taking a hike along the cliffs of Crystal Cove in Newport Beach. Followed by a couple hours of languorous dining and beach-combing. It's something of a local's secret because, unlike Balboa Island or Huntington Beach just up the road, it was not packed and I had a long stretch of shoreline to play with. I would describe the weather as "balmy", such a shock as it had snowed back home in Las Vegas just two weeks prior. Suffice it to say, I was a little sweaty by the time I sat down to lunch (not pictured), a large plate of swordfish tacos and a decent smoked tuna paste with crostini. And water. A girl can work up a thirst with all that sunshine and exercise (cue angry emails from snow-packed followers). Did I mention I got a sunburn???

I should clarify something. The out-of-place photo of the dog in a window is only there because I thought it was so funny. This is what I woke to Sunday morning before the trip to Crystal Cove. Lucky, my brother's chihuahua, bounded across the bed and up onto the window ledge, wedging himself between the glass pane and the blinds, so afraid he might miss something going on outside. At 6:45am. On a Sunday. While THE ENTIRE WEST COAST was still sleeping.

©Jelaine Faunce. All rights reserved.

SoCal Weekend: Day Two - West Hollywood

2011-01-26T08:57:00.000-08:00

(all images above are photographs. no artwork.....yet)

On my way to Newport Beach, I took a detour and visited my good friend Laurie in "WeHo" for lunch. She lives and works in an area that is fascinating to me, visually. Situated between Santa Monica Blvd. and Melrose Ave. on the steep hills that never quite feel earthquake-friendly, her neighborhood is an architectural soup unlike any other I've ever seen. Little Spanish-style bungalows sit across the street from modernist hipster condos, each and every one of them tucked away behind private drives and lots of flowering plants. It's a bit of a jungle. Anything can grow there and flourish. Year round. Coming from the desert, this makes my heart ache. I'll never "get" L.A. no matter how many times I'm there, but I'll always love the climate and the architecture. And the restaurants. One of which, a lovely Vietnamese cafe with outdoor seating whose name I can't recall, Laurie and I dined at Saturday afternoon. So good. Nothing beats a giant steaming bowl of phở, except maybe miso. No, phở is better. Sorry, Japan. You lose.

©Jelaine Faunce. All rights reserved.

SoCal Weekend: Day One - Temecula Wine Country

2011-01-25T09:03:00.000-08:00

(all images above are photographs. no artwork.....yet)

I worked straight through the holidays on an ambitious goal: seven juried show entries. I finished up last week, just in time for a pre-planned long weekend to Southern California where I have family and friends. The timing was perfect, I must admit. I was more than ready for a break, satisfied with what I'd accomplished, feeling good about myself and my efforts, but in need of a change in scenery.

Taking the time to clear your mind and relax your body after any endeavor is good for creativity. Amy Chua may disagree, but I've found it to be most effective for attaining long-range goals. This trip, I left my notebook, sketchbook and real camera at home. I vowed to live in the moment of each day I was away and document the experience only with my iPhone camera. No grand plans to take photos for potential paintings, I simply let myself roam. But after looking at some of the many images I captured, I may be tempted to put at least a few to canvas. It's amazing what those photo editing apps can do, and I have twelve, so far (sheepish grin). Ever the perfectionist.

Now I'm home, refreshed and ready to begin the New Year. I'm back to working on a series of new studies I prepped before leaving town and back to working on my new portfolio. I'll begin listing the studies by week's end. In the meantime, I thought I'd share my journey with you, to show you what inspires and re-energizes me.

(Added Note: Inspiration for this layout comes from Alice Gao and her breathtaking blog)

Sweet Inspiration

2011-01-24T20:10:00.000-08:00

"Gift Box III" - oil on canvas - 4"x 4" - SOLD

Last week I got an email from a fellow artist, named Brendy Vaughn, who now makes beautiful custom cakes. She has made a cake based on my painting, "Gift Box III". I was flattered. And then hungry. Below is the image from her site (Warning! NSFW! - Not Safe For Waistline):

I wonder if I can get a referral commission for this. One cake will do. Oh, okay, send me two. ;o)

Richeson 75 Small Works 2011

2011-01-19T18:29:00.000-08:00

"Now Being Served" - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel - NFS

I'm pleased to announce that my painting, "Now Being Served", has been accepted into the Richeson Small Works 2011 show. The show hangs February 7 - March 25, 2011 at the Richeson School of Art & Gallery, 557 Marcella St., Kimberly, WI 54136. The opening reception will be Friday, February 11, 2010 from 5-7:30pm.

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Black Coffee, Three Sugars (Eyes Wide Open)

2011-01-17T15:07:00.000-08:00

"Black Coffee, Three Sugars (Eyes Wide Open)"
12" x 4" - oil on gallery wrapped canvas

My final entry for the 5th of 5 juried shows I chose to enter since November. Breathing a huge sigh of relief. I will now get on with the next series of studies I've been wanting to begin. And back to my gallery portfolio. And regular posting. And possibly a quick trip to SoCal wine country for some R&R and photography. (sigh)

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Late Night

2010-12-31T12:20:00.001-08:00

"Late Night" - 12" x 4" - oil on canvas

My favorite mug makes another appearance. The part of this painting I like best? The coffee ring stain on the napkin. It's always the little details that get to me.

This one's heading to New York today to be juried (Jurored? Jured? Honestly, I SHOULD know this by now.) for a show. Once I know its fate, I'll update and add a sales page link. Assuming anyone wants to buy a painting of a coffee stained napkin.

Have a safe and happy New Year, Everyone!!

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Happy Holidays

2010-12-22T11:07:00.001-08:00

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday. I'm going to eat like a pig.

Color Therapy: Blue & Green

2010-12-20T11:39:00.000-08:00

Recollection - 18" x 18" - Oil on Canvas - Not For Sale

Every time I paint orchids, I have the same conversation with myself; it always begins with "Why?!?!?!". One orchid makes you question your patience, but three orchids make you question your sanity. Bright side is I made it out alive, in one piece, still forming coherent sentences. At least that's what my invisible friend Mr. Sparkles tells me. But, he's a rabbit, so what would he know?

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Egg Study - "Today's Specials"

2010-12-05T16:51:00.001-08:00

"Today's Specials" - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

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Sugar Study I - Revisited

2010-11-17T11:37:00.001-08:00

Sugar Study I - 6" x 6" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD

When I first painted this one, it had a yellow background. I was never quite settled on that yellow, but I kept it to challenge myself to experiment with new colors I don't normally use. Well, some months have passed, and I never took a liking to the yellow. This morning I decided it was time to address the matter, so I painted over it with a deep french blue. And now I'm happy.

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Egg Study - "Now Being Served"

2010-11-16T17:31:00.001-08:00

"Now Being Served" - 6" x 6" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - NFS

My love of mid-20th century ad art compels me to include it in my work whenever possible. A taste for refraction and the color orange makes this little study a perfect trifecta of awesome for me to paint. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.

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The Mouse Project

2010-11-09T18:56:00.000-08:00

"The Mother Lode" - 8" x 8" - oil on canvas - SOLD

Back in April, I completed a painting for Steve Worthington's Mouse Project (see above). I was honored to be a part of this wonderful adventure. The plan was to have 22 artists create paintings utilizing three of Steve's bronze mice, compile jpegs of the paintings into a beautiful book, then donate the proceeds from sales of this book to animal shelters. A truly worthy cause if you ask me. Below is an excerpt from Steve's own blog post on the subject:

"What's a WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN for 22 artists, you, me and a bunch of homeless animals in shelters?

The Mouse Project.

I never planned to call it that, people just started saying it.
And so it stuck.

In a nutshell, it's a book made up of 47 paintings, by 22 artists, each painting featuring one or more of my bronze mice, to benefit animal shelters.

Not wanting the fun to end there, I decided to see if the best painters I could find online might be coaxed into painting them so I could curate a book and donate the profits to animal shelters. I thought I'd start by asking only the best, not really sure what kind of response to expect. To my utter delight and disbelief the answers came back with a resounding, "YES"!

Top notch painter after top notch painter wanted in. So I dispatched a small army of mice to get their portraits painted! A PDF and a book are the end result. In the free PDF you'll only find 22 lower resolution images (one per painter).

There are over 60 high resolution images of 47 original paintings by 22 painters in the actual book. Hopefully it will sell like hot cakes and make a bunch of money for animal shelters.

In the PDF there are links for you to be transported to the artists website or blogs."

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Here are a few jpegs from the book featuring the work of some of the many gifted artists who contributed. If you'd like to see more of their work, clicking on their names takes you to their individual blogs:

Paul Coventry-Brown

Jeffrey Hayes

James Neil Hollingsworth

Chris Beck

The book is available for sale for $49.45 through Lulu.com. If you're looking for a unique Christmas gift for a loved one and want to help out a few furry critters in the process, consider this lovely collection.

Hamburger Study - "Animal Style"

2010-11-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

"Animal Style" - 6"x 6" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD

Anyone not familiar with In-n-Out Burger's "secret" menu, or with In-n-Out Burger itself, if you ask for a cheeseburger "Animal Style", you get Thousand Island dressing and grilled onions on your burger. These are the things which make life worth living. Apologies to Fiona (meekly waving hello to my acupuncturist who strongly urged me to stop eating these)

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Doughnut Study - Old Fashioned Iced Chocolate

2010-10-20T16:35:00.000-07:00

Old Fashioned Iced Chocolate - 6" x 6" - oil cradled hardboard panel

If you would like to purchase this painting, please contact me at jpfstudio@yahoo.com.

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Egg Study - "Odd Man Out"

2010-09-21T09:27:00.001-07:00

"Odd Man Out" - 6" x 6" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD

The carton of eggs actually came this way. Not sure how quality control missed this, but I brought it home anyway because I thought it was funny.

Coffee Study II

2010-09-10T15:55:00.001-07:00

6" x 6" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD

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Coffee Study

2010-08-13T16:56:00.001-07:00

Coffee Study - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

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"Imperial" Dessert Study

2010-08-12T17:02:00.001-07:00

Imperial - 6" x 6" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD

Today, the conversation with my acupuncturist went like this:

Acu: “Your immune system is really low right now. Have you been eating sugar again?”
Me: “Um…”
Acu: “That’s all I needed to hear.” (commences stabbing me with tiny needles)

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Triple Chocolate Study

2010-08-08T15:18:00.001-07:00

6" x 6" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD

One of four dessert studies coming up this week. What's the difference between this and a "non" study? About an extra 10 colors.

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Nectarine Study

2010-07-31T17:41:00.001-07:00

Nectarine Study - 6" x 6" - oil on canvas

Had to try it. Nectarines are HARD. They're a lot more translucent than I thought they'd be, but then I'm usually too busy stuffing them into my mouth to notice. Now I know.

If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact me by email at jpfstudio@yahoo.com.

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Half & Half

2010-07-29T22:34:00.001-07:00

6" x 6" - mixed media and collage on hardboard panel

After completing An Overwhelming Majority, I just didn’t have it in me to paint one. more. coin. in this four painting series. So I painted an antique watch instead which ended up being even more complicated……..You’d think I’d learn, BUT NO. Oh, well. (sigh)

And now I am working on another four, and this time I'm going to paint the bills rather than collage them!!! Kidding. Not gonna happen.

If you have any technical questions about the painting, feel free to contact me directly by email. If you are interested in purchasing the painting, please contact Bob Banks at Banks Fine Art.

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EmptyEasel.com Article

2010-07-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

Amaranth in Jasmine Tea - 12"x 12" - oil on canvas - SOLD

Last week I was contacted by the lovely Lisa Orgler from emptyeasel.com, asking if I'd tell her a little bit about my process and motivation for an article on their site. I was flattered, of course.

Empty Easel describes itself as "an online art magazine with practical advice, tips, and tutorials for creating and selling art". I couldn't agree more. A very nice, well organized and easy to navigate resource that I've been pouring over this past week especially, as I'm working up new ideas for my blog and website and Facebook profile and etc., and etc.... On every page I find something that is extremely useful and, as mentioned above, has practical application. It is now at the top of my Bookmarks list.

So, again, I am very flattered to be given an article on emptyeasel.com and have included it below. For those who wish to read the article on site (with pictures, even), please click here:

Jelaine Faunce: Creating Sensory Magic in Oil Paintings

by Lisa Orgler

Art is a very sensory experience . . . so much so, that some artists even seem to convey smells, tastes, and textures through their images alone. I think you’ll agree that Jelaine Faunce is one such artist.

Jelaine graduated from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas with a BA in Art. Now, she works meticulously to create exquisite oil paintings that you can almost taste. . . and for the past few years Jelaine’s subjects have been objects that make her feel good, creative, alive and happy: things like detailed tea cups, frosted cupcakes, lustrous coins, and sweet sugar cubes.

Her style is inspired by chiaroscuro, so she strives for as much contrast between shadow and light as possible. This contrast, paired with her luminous colors and reflections, is what makes her work stand out.

Jelaine’s oil painting process is quite time consuming and meticulous. She paints in very fine layers, sometimes up to 20 in her final pieces. Her goal is to eliminate all brushstrokes. A fan brush and a steady hand create the “deliciously creamy” surface on all her images.

These highly realistic paintings always have simple compositions and subject matter, and yet, although simplicity is at their core, her subjects are never boring.

Sometimes Jelaine even injects subtle humor, like in the image below titled “Choosing One over the Other”. Not only can I not decide between the cake and gift, but I can’t decide which of Jelaine’s paintings is the most captivating overall.

Currently, Jelaine is starting to shift into a new vein of work that is more personal, and will be launching a new website within the next month. I encourage you to take a peek at her blog, then watch for some exciting changes in the near future.

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Thanks, again, Lisa!!

The Three Graces

2010-07-26T11:07:00.001-07:00

The Three Graces - 6" x 6" - mixed media collage on hardboard panel

The first of the series, it was admittedly a struggle to avoid all the intense color and shadow I normally go for in my paintings. I wanted to respect the tone of the antique bills (I collaged this bill as well.)
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The textile design I painted beneath the bill is inspired by a 1940's wallpaper snippet I bought last year. I'd been looking for an excuse to incorporate it in something and finally found a perfect opportunity. It helped cement the highly feminine quality of this painting.
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The coins, both featuring ladies to complete the trio, are painted from my own private collection.
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One of the things I like best about doing these projects is the challenge of painting the coins and wood and other objects in as convincingly as possible so that they look like they belong with the bills. If they are not realistic enough, then it looks obvious right from the start and it detracts from the overall presentation.
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If you have any technical questions about the painting, feel free to contact me directly by email. If you are interested in purchasing the painting, please contact Bob Banks at Banks Fine Art.
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Orange Pekoe

2010-07-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

6” x 6” - oil on canvas - 2007 - SOLD

I realize now, after taking nearly half an hour to accomplish what should have taken only 10 minutes, that a little caffeine jolt in the morning is a good idea. At least if I’m going to be interviewed. This morning, I found myself stumbling over simple sentences and concepts while trying to describe my process for an online artist’s resource article. It comes out next week.

I want it to say this:

“I have a predilection for chiaroscuro, a technique most commonly associated with one of my earliest influences, Caravaggio.”.

I fear it will say this:

“I like dark stuff, with light, like that dead guy who painted his boyfriend a lot back in the 1500’s. And stuff.”

Propitious

2010-07-20T20:06:00.000-07:00

8" x 8" - mixed media on hardboard panel
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Until I did this painting, I did not know there was such a thing as a three cent coin. In the 19th century there was, apparently. Since the number three is considered lucky in Chinese culture and I already had a fortune cookie in the image with “lucky; propitious; auspicious”* as its message, it seemed a natural fit to add that unusual coin.
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As mentioned in my earlier post, the dollar bills are not painted. Everything else is painted. The dollar bills are collaged on. I have no desire to go insane trying to paint a bill's details. Uh uh. Not gonna happen.
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If you have any technical questions about the painting, feel free to contact me directly by email. If you are interested in purchasing the painting, please contact Bob Banks at Banks Fine Art.

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*Or so the Internet told me when I looked it up. For all I know, it could actually read “pretentious American idiot”.

An Overwhelming Majority

2010-07-18T19:38:00.000-07:00

'An Overwhelming Majority' - 6" x 6" - mixed media collage on hardboard panel
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Back in March, I was contacted by a lovely gallery with which I had worked in the past, Banks Fine Art (Dallas, TX), about doing a few samples of old money/coin paintings in the vein of Otis Kaye. It seemed a good challenge. I had only once attempted to paint coins several years back. And, as I had recently noted in my last post 'Full Circle', I wanted an excuse to do mixed media collage. My main body of work remains oil. This was a welcome little departure. I say "little" only because I've mostly been working on much larger oil paintings this year and to do a few smaller works at 8" x 10" and under is a relief.
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I had the liberty to create any stories I liked with the items chosen so long as each painting included depictions of old coins and bills (either painted by hand or collaged onto the panel surface). I decided to collage the bills and save my energy for the details of the coins and other objects I'd choose to include. Good call.
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This painting in particular, 'An Overwhelming Majority', created itself. The portrait of William M. Meredith on the 10 cent bill is hilarious. I Googled to see if this was a standard expression of his for all images. Yep. Looks to be so. In the 19th century, this was likely considered the proper countenance for an educated man posed for a portrait or photograph. Today we would say he simply looks miserable. In my estimation, he looks henpecked. So that's the direction I took with the painting. I surrounded his aggrieved and overwhelmed face with ten coins, all depicting ladies' profiles. Poor fool.
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With four paintings completed so far, I have a nice little foundation to branch off from. I'll be posting them every few days over the next two weeks in between other completed works and site/blog updates.
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If you have any technical questions about the painting, feel free to contact me directly by email. If you are interested in purchasing the painting, please contact Bob Banks at Banks Fine Art.

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Full Circle

2010-07-04T19:31:00.000-07:00

In college, I was constantly trying to tell stories with my paintings. I was also drawn to mixed media rather than just single media (collage vs. oil or acrylic or drawing). I didn’t want to be limited by a single palette. Oddly enough, when I finished school, I immediately began working exclusively with either oil or acrylic, depending upon the job. For several years I was working steadily, doing murals, or private commissions, or establishing an online client base with small works that I sold through public auction venues. It earned me a little money and a lot of practice. As a result I can, with full confidence, now say that there’s not much I can’t paint. I don’t question my abilities. That’s a big deal. That’s something for which I am very grateful.

You know what else I learned? I learned that boredom will kill you. No, literally. Turns out that assembly-lining for the sake of money is no way to stoke the creative fires. While I found some inspiration in doing strictly representational work of subjects which interested me, I also found that not telling stories with my work was enough to almost cancel out the joy of the other experiences entirely.

Last year I had some time off. I worked very little. I spent a lot of that time thinking about where I wanted to go with my skill set. I kept coming back to mixed media and to telling stories. I kept coming back to where I began before I got lost in the monetary aspect of it all. I looked over the archives of jpegs I have kept of my work from the past decade. That’s a lot of paintings. The ones that stood out to me where the quirky little detours I’d occasionally take every year or so, where I’d venture down the path of mixed media for the sake of my sanity. And where many of the other paintings (not all, in fact there was much about many of the paintings which were very inspiring and fulfilling), while beautiful, left me feeling cold and distant, those detour paintings made me feel alive, so very much alive. There’s another lesson learned - I have good instincts about myself. I should listen to them.

Early this year I was approached by a couple galleries wanting to see my latest portfolio. Problem is, what I did have was not representative of where I wanted to go. So I asked for some time to put things together and I scrapped everything I was working on and everything I had completed. To put it in perspective, pretend you’ve gotten most of the way through building a house all by yourself from the foundation up, and all you have left to do is to install some bathroom tiles and paint the den, and you say to yourself, “F**k it.” and bulldoze the whole thing to rubble instead.

And you FEEL GOOD doing it.

That was me in a nutshell at the start of the year.

And I started over. From scratch.

A few months ago, while going through the painstaking process of creating an entirely new portfolio of works, I got contacted by a former gallery I’d worked with that was looking for an artist to attempt some interesting mixed media ideas. Would I be interested? Gee, let me think. While my main portfolio in progress was not mixed media, it was highly personal and symbolic. To say yes to this offer was like a gift from the Universe, a way to get back into collage again, to expand my horizons, to play. Oh, to play and play and play. My inner four year old jumped at the chance to do this. So, now here I am working on two portfolios which, combined, complete the circle and bring me back to where I began all those years ago. I am home. It’s wonderful.

(New work to be posted soon on my official art blog and website, just as soon as I finish bulldozing the s**t out of them, too.)

Salt & Pepper Study

2010-06-28T21:59:00.000-07:00

"Salt & Pepper Study" - 6" x 6" - oil on cradled hardboard panel

I have a set of salt and pepper shakers which I inherited from my grandparents. I'd say they date back to somewhere around 1950. I really can't be sure. I only know that they are magnificent in their retro look and feel. I don't actually use them at home, but I do have them placed prominently in my studio for inspiration.
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Sugar Study III

2010-06-04T17:54:00.000-07:00

Sugar Study III - 6" x 6" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD

The third in a series of sugar cube studies, piled high in a copper and bronze handled tea service dish. Warm sienna against soft gray is such a perfect contrast in my estimation. I love to work with these colors together. After having finished the copper salt and pepper shakers, I wasn't finished working with copper as a subject, so I began this one immediately afterward.

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Salt & Pepper Study

2010-05-28T16:00:00.001-07:00

Salt & Pepper - 6" x 6" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD

The desire to make a study of copper wares has been present for the past month. I decided to pull out some shakers last week I'd not painted in about 5 years. Forgot about all the color that shows through on copper. Phew! Glad that's done.

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Sugar Study II

2010-05-19T18:09:00.001-07:00

"Sugar Study II" - 6" x 6" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD

This is an espresso cup and saucer I was given by a client a few years back. I don't drink espresso, but I do love the bright golden yellow color of the set. It soaks up other colors so well and has a genuinely rich and creamy quality to it that I find intriguing.
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For purchase information, please follow the Paypal link below.

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Teacup Study: My Mother's Collection IV

2010-05-02T13:14:00.001-07:00

"My Mother's Collection IV" - 6" x 6" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD

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Believe it or not, the Japanese teacup was actually more difficult, but not by much.
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Teacup Study: My Mother's Collection III

2010-04-30T12:18:00.001-07:00

"My Mother's Collection III" - 6" x 6" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD

Studies such as this are a perfect opportunity for me to test the limits of what I can accomplish at such a small scale. This is quite possibly the most difficult 6" study I have ever undertaken. The primary result is the immense satisfaction I feel knowing that I made it all the way through without any major catastrophes.
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After several months of working my way up to starting this one, I had trained my eye and my hand to work together in harmony and was able to create a final study which I am very comfortable showcasing on my blog. Don't get me wrong, it was laborious. But it was also worth it. I am much more confident in myself as an artist because of this experience.

If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact me directly at jpfstudio@yahoo.com.

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The Mother Lode

2010-04-22T19:45:00.001-07:00

"The Mother Lode" - 8"x 8" - oil on canvas - SOLD
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Here is the final product from my time with Chubby, the little bronze hellion Steve Worthington so kindly lent me. I think the title is fairly self-explanatory. It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of Steve's project. I can't wait to see what the other artists have come up with.
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Did I mention Chubby shaved my cat before he left town? Specifically he gave it a mohawk, wrapped it in Christmas lights and referred to it as 'Dynamo'. So I guess Chubby is a Schwarzenegger fan. What a shock.

Study - Gift Box IV

2010-04-12T16:46:00.001-07:00

'Gift Box IV' - 4" x 4" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD

If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact me directly at jpfstudio@yahoo.com.

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Easter Challenge: Peeps

2010-03-31T20:02:00.001-07:00

"Late Bloomer" - Jelaine Faunce - 6" x 6" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD
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"Me & My Peeps" - Pablo Villicana Lara - 5" x 7" - watercolor on paper
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"What did you expect from marshmallow eggs?" - Chris Beck - 6" x 8" - watercolor on paper
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So, last month I was chatting with two of my favorite watercolor artists, Chris Beck and Pablo Villicana Lara, about how it had been so long since I'd done a Challenge painting, and how much I wanted to get back to doing them. Turned out they, too, were chomping at the bit, and it was Chris who brought up Peeps as a subject. "Great minds think alike!!" was my reply. Just the day before I had bought a package of Peeps for the sole purpose of creating a fun little painting. Not having a reason, I really didn't know when I'd get to it, but the desire was there. And, after my conversation with Chris, the excuse was there, too. And so, with feverish hands (and a few mishaps - coughPablocough) a Peeps painting was born. Or three, to be exact.

Study - Gift Box III

2010-03-27T14:06:00.001-07:00

"Gift Box III" - 4" x 4" - oil on cradled hardboard panel
SOLD
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I like the push my boundaries now and then, really test what I think I can combine in the way of color and pattern. Here I took a very bright, stylized, floral patterned wrapping paper and combined it with a very bright, stylized, floral patterned gift bow.....of a very different color.
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The wrapped gift itself looked great right from the start, but when I began the layers of the painting, it made absolutely no sense to me. There was much doubting, squinting and recoiling. I couldn't get a feel for it until I got to the final layer of highlights and shadows, and then it all fell into place. And this is another reason why I do studies. If I'd attempted this with no previous run-through...........mmm mm MMM! Heaven help that poor canvas. I'm sure I'd have taken a knife to it.
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Study - Lemon Raspberry Tart

2010-03-18T23:18:00.000-07:00

"Lemon Raspberry Tart" - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

Don't go blaming me if you suddenly gain 10lbs looking at this painting. I've got my own tales of woe where this delicious treat is concerned.
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One of the large scale paintings I have in progress includes this tart, and I wanted to be certain I was able to capture the sheer quality of the raspberry jam smoothed evenly over bright lemon custard. Oh, look at that! Another 10lbs reading the previous sentence. Sorry about that.
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If you'd like to purchase this painting, please contact me directly at jpfstudio@yahoo.com.

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Teacup Study: My Mother's Collection II

2010-03-16T15:06:00.001-07:00

"My Mother's Collection II" - 6" x 6" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD

It seemed appropriate to paint this one next. After all last week's rain and cold, we have had warm, Springlike temperatures in the Las Vegas valley since the weekend. Outside it looks a lot like what you see on this cup, flowers in bloom, birds everywhere. Only thing I left out was the....ahhh CHOO!!!.......pollen floating in the breeze, but why ruin a good study with pollen, am I right?

My next painting subject will be a box of Claritin. Or Kleenex. One of the two.

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Study - Gift Box II

2010-03-12T11:44:00.001-08:00

"Gift Box II" - 4" x 4" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD

THIS is why I do studies of highly detailed subject matter. It all started out yesterday, harmlessly enough. It went late into the evening. It continued this morning. And now it's done. As straightforward and simple as painting semi-sheer ribbon over striped paper seems, IT'S NOT. Had I attempted this at large scale without first wrestling it to within an inch of its life in small scale first, I don't know that I wouldn't have tossed the painting into the trash. Suffice it to say, this was a great learning experience, and I now feel confident in approaching this ribbon again. I'm sure I could win the fight. I have the battle scars to prove it. Here, let me show you.....

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Study - Gift Box I

2010-03-04T18:39:00.000-08:00

"Gift Box I" - 4 " x 4" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD

I've moved to painting mostly on hardboard panel the last couple of months - once I found a panel I liked - a move with which I am quite happy. I noticed in the process of painting my usual 6" studies that I could get much better detail with much less interference from the canvas weave. At a larger size, this weave is no issue. At 6" or smaller, it can become one depending on the amount of detail I want to put into the painting.
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As a result of my success with the 6" panels, I ordered some 4" panels late last month, and this is my first offering. Of course, knowing me, I chose something really squint inducing, and my chiropractor just LOVES what my bad habit of slouching down over the painting does for my neck. Oops. But, who cares. LOOK! Pretty stuff!!!!!
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So, the reason I chose to paint a gift-wrapped present: I'm working on a rather large composition right now with a lot...no, let me amend that.......a METRIC TON of detailed, wrapped presents utilizing the blasphemously large supply of wrapping paper I own (for just this purpose, mind you, so don't go calling the 'Intervention' people on me.) Nearly all of this paper is of the intricate variety, and if I'm going to make it through this painting, I need to do studies. Here's the first. May I survive to the last. Wish me luck.
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Orange Swirl

2010-02-28T18:58:00.001-08:00

"Orange Julius" - 6" x 6" - oil on cradled hardboard panel - SOLD

The third and last in the series of cupcakes on a blue and white plate. Your eyes do not deceive you; I have indeed added quite a bit of gold painted detailing in the plate that was absent from the previous two cupcake paintings. In this painting, the design seemed appropriate, so I did not eliminate from the final work. In the others, it was overbearing - at least to my eye - and I left it out.
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By the way, this cupcake is delicious...or so I've been told. ;o)
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Teacup Study: My Mother's Collection I

2010-02-22T15:27:00.000-08:00

"My Mother's Collection I" - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel - SOLD

After having painted a 4 piece series of teacups in late 2008 as a private commission, my mother shipped me about a dozen of her favorite collectibles for reproduction. Very thoughtful of her! And now, more than a year later, I am finally getting to them, one by one, although there are a couple I may have to forego. The details are much too mind-numbing, even for me. Sorry, Mom!
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