I’m really Sorry that I’ve been absent for a couple of weeks. I fit painting ball jars on Harmony paper in between all my new exploration in paint. I’ve been busy starting a course on abstract painting! Yes, it’s totally fun. The course, called “Find Your Joy”, is with Louise Fletcher and lasts 10 weeks. I’ll be learning to paint abstracts in acrylic. One can also do representational painting in the course, which I may do a little of, but mostly I’ll be exploring my inner artist and trying to learn how to paint abstracts from my heart.
What I’m saying is that you are gonna be seeing a lot more acrylic work and play from me as I learn new methods and how to access inner knowledge. The key is to learn to let go and let art come through you instead of imposing your will upon the canvas. That’s all about learning to trust that inner artist. Sounds a little WooWoo but I can see that it’ll work as long as I do what I’m told and trust in the process of learning.
Please be gentle.
I’ll be sharing about my start in acrylics soon but just don’t expect cool, awesome paintings, lol. It’s all “play”. As Louise suggested we call it, R&D, research and development. I think this title is brilliant. I’m sure many of you feel just as I do, that “play” is somehow a wast of valuable time. That’s what our inner critic tells us but it’s a total fallacy. To get to what you like, you have to let yourself try, that’s play. So, I’m in the thick of Research & Development right now. lol.
Until then, I thought you’d like to see my latest watercolor. I’ve had this one drawn out, sitting around for a month, awaiting inspiration and time to just sit and paint it. I used cobalt turquoise (Da Vinci) and cobalt blue (Da Vinci) with some Payne’s Grey bluish (Schmincke) to deepen the shadows. For some of the light in the glass I also added a little sap green (Schmincke). I think there may have even been some PB60/Indanthrone blue (Daniel Smith) in the deepest shadows of the glass. The lids were a mix of Neutral tint (M. Graham) and Paynes Grey Bluish. Oh ya, I also used Prussian Blue (GS) (Da Vinci) in the midtowns to punch up the color, sometimes Payne’s can just dull out a color like cobalt turquoise so if you have to go darker, I love the deep shade of prussian blue green shade, it’s a deep teal.
The Ball jars was done on Hahnemühle Harmony CP paper. It’s in the Akadamie line, alpha-cellulose based and it’s 140lb. It’s also archival, natural white and surface sized to allow for easy erasure and correction of mistakes. Harmony comes in HP, CP and Rough AND is the only brand that makes their rough in a spiral pad.
The Paper:
I’ve already expressed my LOVE of this technically student grade paper (reviews here). But holy heck Batman, if this is student grade, then what are all the other, lesser papers?? I’m spoiled, I get to use 100% mould made cotton paper from Hahnemühle (Cézanne & Leonardo). But I would just as readily use this Harmony paper in ANY of it’s surfaces, I think it’s just that good. My favorite is the rough but the CP & HP are also stellar. It’s worth you trying it and it’s a great price too. If you’d like to see where to buy Hahnemühle papers in your local area go to “Where To Buy“.
I felt a little sloggy as I finished the glass.
- Paper great ✅
- Paint great ✅
- Subject always fun and challenging ✅
But I remember thinking, oh damn, I still have to do the lids. I think that’s coming from my ache to paint so differently lately. Watercolor, for me, is so controlled. I’ve noticed that if I know how to control a medium, I do. Like, before I knew how to control watercolors, I had more fun with them, allowing myself to be splashy. That’s why I’m trying to hold myself back from painting representational work in acrylics right now.
Of course I’ve painted some pears, lol. You knew I would! But now although I WANT to go make more representational work in acrylics, I’m trying to just PLAY, let myself learn how to do abstracts, which as I said above, is about tapping into an unconscious “flow”. Much like a river moves where it goes, I need to get out of my own way and not impose my will onto my painting. I just have to let my muse have control. She’ll know what to do. Ya, a little esoteric but I also think it’ll make me happier, dip into that joy I used to feel for watercolors. Then I can let that filter back through my watercolor work. That’s the plan anyway.
Talk soon? Promise!!
Jean Marmo
Your jars are amazing! Love the colors in the pears!
Laura Host
Ooh – love all the colors in those pears! And the ball jars…you know…I picked up a box of the reproductions at Target and then set them back on the shelf because I don’t really need them. You have me second-guessing that decision 😀
Kathy Delumpa Allegri
Excellent, Jennifer! I love your Mason jars. Since my husband and I retired and moved to the Arizona desert, from Oregon, I find the need to esplore more in acrylic, which currently resembles my watercolor style, and vice versa. 😀 I, too, am trying to express more abstraction. So, I look forward to seeing your new journey. Thanks for all your great tips. Have a wonderful week!
Mariam G.
Love the jars, Jennifer! (My first attempt at glass was a Ball jar for World Watercolor Month – fun, but certainly not easy) Can’t wait to see your acrylic work!
Laura
Your paintings in any medium are beautiful! Thank you for letting us join your journey.
Susan C
I’ve been following Louise Fletcher just recently and enjoy her blog posts and paintings. I think she’s right on with letting the painting come through you rather than forcing it to follow your plan. I’ve been having fun with experimental watercolours and I’ll be following your journey with acrylics. I find I tend to control acrylics more than w/c, but I haven’t been doing abstracts in acrylics………yet, (unless you count pourings and liftings) Your new journey should be lots of fun!
Susan C
I meant to add that your jars are fabulous!
Linda Kunsman
No “woo woo” here to me at all. I so get this and strive to let my heart guide my art. I have always loved the abstract concepts and acrylics of course so I look forward to seeing your “play” and what you think Jenn. Loving those pears. And your Ball jars- just amazing my friend!!! I’m going to soon begin a Watercolor Exlorations abstract course ( I may have told you this already:):) I really want to have a good relationship with my watercolors, and well, I could never do such meticulous and precise realistic art with them.
If I may ask, what kind of temporary tape do you use to mask off/ make borders on your watercolor paper?
Thanks for sharing!
Louise
Hi Jenn,
Those Ball jars are superb! Great job on the Pears as well.
Jennifer Rose
Great job with the glass jars and the pears look really good 🙂 painting is all about creating and having fun, no point painting if you are not