Da Vinci Paint Co. asked me some interview questions to go with the launch of the new watercolor TRIOS project. Read all about The Da Vinci Watercolor Trios Project HERE and Jenn’s “Juicy” Trio (BUY IT HERE) of 8ml watercolor tubes that can now be purchased on Da Vinci’s website!
Why Do I paint?
I paint because I’ll go crazy if I don’t. Painting is my happy place, it isn’t my zen. Instead it speeds me up, fills me with energy and boils me over, like a bag of Jiffy Pop. I spent most of my life yearning to be an artist but I was afraid. I had a dream to be a great artist but what if I tried and I was only mediocre? Then I’d have no dream at all. I’d be a ship without a sail. My theory for the first eighteen years of my adult life was if I didn’t try then I wouldn’t fail, I wouldn’t lose my one true wish. I have never wanted anything like I wanted to paint. It was the one thing I’ve wanted since I can remember understanding that you could make something emotional happen on a canvas.
When I was five or six, I realized my mom was an artist. I marveled at what she could create with a paintbrush and I wanted to do THAT. I wanted to make people feel by just seeing my art. It is my greatest joy when someone loves one of my pieces. It is like breath to me, knowing that without the use of words, I can express myself. I want to make people look. I want them to feel and to think, “Wow, look at all that riotous color, that makes me happy, that makes me feel something.”
What’s My Favorite Thing To Do Aside From Painting?
Well, I tend to say I have thee loves. Painting, reading and hazelnut coffee so you’ll always find a paintbrush, book or cup in my hand. I had a lot of trouble with reading when I was a young child. I read incredibly slowly because of a case of mild undiagnosed dyslexia. Some of my words got muddled backwards and it took several years for my brain to catch up and start naturally unscrambling them. When that happened I became a voracious reader and thankfully my parents indulged me. They had been so afraid I would’t read and learn, so when I started devouring their library, they made me a deal that they’d buy any book I wanted. You should have SEEN me on the days our Scholastic orders came in at school! (Scholastic was kind of like a book of the month club for school children) I’d have a pile of a dozen books. The only rule was no comics or joke books.
Now in my downtime I read and review books for Publishers and authors before their books hit the shelves. I have another blog called Next Book In Your Hand where I review the books and giveaway copies of new releases. If you love to read, I’d be happy to see you join me over there.
My Favorite Things Trio
We’re continuing the theme started with the Da Vinci watercolor TRIOS by asking three questions with three answers each. It’s a cute way for our readers to get to know us better. Hmmm, three favorite things. Obviously excluding painting, reading and hazelnut coffee, since I already told you that above.
- Nature. I was raised in the Pacific North West of Canada. I’m Canadian through and through, specifically a B.C. girl at heart. In the West we refer to eco-oriented people as tree huggers. That’s me. I actually do hug trees, yep I’m weird. You can think that and I’m ok with it. :o) I love nature, it’s what grounds me, it is my zen. When we lived in the East for several of my teen years, I missed my mountains and water so much, I ached.
- On that note, WATER is my second love. In any form except snow. Snow is pretty as long as it’s out the window and doesn’t land. ;o) As a very young child I loved rain so much I was well known to be caught outside naked standing in my driveway, soaking it into my bare skin. As a result, the neighbors would call and say, Jenny is outside buck naked again! My mom would answer, “yes, I know, I’m watching her from the doorway. I’m gonna make her some hot chocolate to warm her up when she’d done.” you gotta love moms. My love of rain still blisses me out today although I tend to avoid the nakedness.
- My greying curly hair. I was sick for a long time with undiagnosed Celiac disease. My hair was thin and unruly/frizzy for a long time. I just thought it was my plight in life to have bad hair days. When I finally figured out the problem and got off all hidden gluten, my hair grew back thick and curly. I look like I have a perpetual perm and I don’t even have to blow dry it! It goes well with rain so I just let it dry and no more bad hair days. To me, when I see my curly hair I know I’m getting healthier. It makes me smile because it’s been a long road.
My Bucket List Trio
- I want to write a book. I’m sure I have one in me. I have a good imagination and would love to write a mystery. Ha! You thought I meant an art book. Ya, I want to do that too. I want to be an author some day. I have a five year plan. It’s not going to take me eighteen years to get to accomplish my dream this time!
- I want to move to Salt Spring Island. It’s off of Vancouver Island, where I live now. Why another island you ask? Well, Salt Spring is the largest artist’s community in Canada. It’s where Robert Bateman lives. Several Canadian authors I love to read live there. It’s like a small town atmosphere with nature all around it. There are even rules about cutting down trees! What a great combination and even though it’s a small population, they have a GREAT art store. Oh the joy! Nature, artists, art supplies, not much better than that. As long as they have a cáfe that serves hazelnut coffee, I’m all in!
- I want to sell my work. I have no idea how to promote it or “get it out there” but I’d love to know that there are people with my art on their walls. It would be wonderful to be in magazines and galleries etc. If I can figure out how to build an online store I’ll be able to sell my prints and original pieces to the public. That would make me so happy.
How To Buy & Where Else To Learn
All of the art was done using only my “Juicy” Trio (Hansa Yellow Deep, Red Rose Deep & Phthalo Green). All of these Da Vinci watercolor Trios, including Jenn’s Trio, are an exciting new launch for Da Vinci Paint. Tonya, Charlie & I are thrilled to be promoting the Trios with our names on them and they help herald the coming of the full line of 8ml tubes. But for now, only our trios will be available and we’d all be so thrilled for you, our readers, to go try Da Vinci watercolors by getting one of our sets. Please visit Tonya and Charlie’s post to see their art and their Da Vinci watercolor trios.
I used Hahnemühle Cézanne watercolor paper for all the art (review here). Da Vinci will be including a sample pack of Cézanne cold pressed watercolor paper with each purchase of an artist’s trio (Charlie’s “Shiny” Trio, Tonya’s “Nature” Trio, Jenn’s “Juicy” Trio). You will also get a postcard with explanations of the trio you purchase and a little info about the artist who chose the three 8ml tubes.
Da Vinci watercolors now come in two convenient sizes, 15ml & 37ml. Not every one of Da Vinci’s 111 colors will be in the smaller 8ml size since Da Vinci is making these 8ml tubes all Vegan! Please know the 8ml tubes will be coming soon but are not available now. Here is a list of the upcoming colors for you future reference.
Finally, if you would like to BUY MY “Juicy” TRIO, Please Click Here And Make Your Own #DaVinciMoment!
Da Vinci’s New Vegan 8ml Watercolor Tubes:
Da Vinci Watercolor Trios:
CLOSED (Jenn’s Trio Giveaway!)
I’m holding a giveaway for Jenn’s “Juicy” Trio of Da Vinci 8ml watercolor tubes. Tonya is also doing a giveaway to introduce Da Vinci Watercolor Trios, therefore, once you’re done here and you’ve entered my giveaway, head on over to Tonya @Scratchmade Journal and Charlie @ Doodlewash to read all about their Trio and enter Tonya’s giveaway! (Charlie may be doing a giveaway at the end of the week, so keep a watchful eye out!)
Thank you to Da Vinci Paint and Marcello for their generosity. I get to give away one of my sets! Here’s what you’ll get as your prize if you’re the winner.
Prize Pack:
- 1 Jenn’s “Juicy” Trio set of 8ml tubes (Hansa Yellow Deep, Red Rose Deep & Phthalo Green)
- My insert card explaining Jenn’s Trio
- 1 Hahnemühle watercolor book (8.5″ x 5.5″, landscape)
- 1 DIY Altoids Tin Palette (10 empty half pans, pencil, eraser, sprayed lid as mixing surface)
- 2 sample packs of Hahnemühle Cézanne watercolor paper (140lb, cold pressed)
- Pigma Micron Pens (black 01, 05 & 08)
- 1 Watercolor Brush, Medium
How To Enter (CLOSED)
- Subscribe to my blog HERE so I know who you are and how to find you if you win!
- Go and use the CONTACT form to answer this skill testing question:
Who is the maker of this watercolor paint?
a) Big Bird
b) I have no idea
c) Da Vinci, of course!
(Required for Legal Purposes because I’m Canadian, lol). - THAT’S IT!!
It would be nice if you’d follow me on Instagram but that’s not a requirement and there’s only one way to enter (subscribing to my blog and sending the answer to the skill testing question) so you don’t actually have to do anything else. :o)
So, if you would like to BUY MY “Juicy” TRIO, Please Click Here And Make Your Own #DaVinciMoment
THE NITTY GRITTY DETAILS:
Please remember that the email you use will be the one I contact you with. The Giveaway is open Internationally and is open from April 16 , 2018 until April 22 , 2018 @ 11:59PM Pacific Standard time. The winner will be picked in the 24 hours after the giveaway closes. He or she will then be notified using the email address provided in the contact form/subscription. The winner has three days (72 hours) to respond to my email. If there is no response, the giveaway will be redrawn.
June
Beautiful job Jen. The trio is on my wish list!
Jean Marmo
This is an amazing trio.
Chris
Da Vinci is The marker of the contest water paints.
Cynthia Mead
Happy to find your blog, your choices are my favorites of the bunch. Bright happy colors that say spring migration and flowers!
Barbara Hayes
I really love that you picked three transparent, single pigment colors (and they’re vegan!) The transparency is what makes watercolor such a beautiful medium. You’re sample pictures are amazing, and I really also like the ‘bee’ on your Instagram page. Please get your shop open soon!
Ciao Mary
There once was a TRIO that was Happy, Juicy, and Arty,
and the colorful TRIO made a Da VINCI Party Arty…
Nancy Kvorka
This is great, thank you! I ordered all three sets and expect to get them soon.
maria soto
I just want to say that when I read the paragraph “why you love to paint” it was like ready how I feel about art, I love, love to paint, I don’t do much on canvas, just started taking watercolor private lessons, so far I draw and doodle in my own personal way and then I take my original art and paint it on wood mostly, frames, plaques, etc. I too would love to sell what I paint, however I find myself getting so attached to what I make that it’s hard to part. I’ve sold a few pieces. I love to paint on just about anything I can, from wood, plastic, glass, metal to fabric, to paper and soon to canvas, just give me some color or black ink a brush and water and I’ll have FUN!