Puppy love.. and painting #30

I must admit, that I didn’t really want a dog until this week. I mean, they’re cute and all, and sometimes I think I want one, but then I change my mind… but this time seems to be different. We’re dog sitting a puppy that my sister is trying to get me to keep. He’s adorable, he’s floppy, he’s smart, he’s gentle with Annalisa, he’s a sweetie! But… we’re just not sure. I mean, a baby, a puppy, and painting365!? We haven’t named him yet, because we don’t want to get to attached. Well, no, that’s not really true. I can’t really think of a name that fits him yet. So, for right now we call him “Hey You”, “Puppy”, “Buddy”, Buster” or whatever else comes to mind. Any ideas? Please help!

I spent a long time today working - and reworking this painting. I love the colors, the composition, and the subject matter (thanks again Kim!). It is oil on wood (I do believe that’s my favorite medium. That will change tomorrow though…) and is about 13x7 inches.

Because the idea for this painting was sent to me by Kim, I'm going to give her the chance to buy it before posting it on Etsy. I'll let you know if it goes on there in the next couple days. It will only be $30 if I list it, so check back soon! In the mean time, you can also find a couple other paintings that have not yet sold in my shop. EmilyJeffords.etsy.com


And…. I’ll be announcing the details for the give-away later today!!! Check back!



And here are some photos of "the puppy" and Annalisa playing together.  So cute!!!

Painting #29 Montana Landscape

I'm excited. Dan and I are going on a date tonight. Like, a real date. Dinner at my favorite restaurant; Bin 112 (a supper-nice, yet affordable, locally owned place in Greer... amazing!!!), a movie (I think we're going to go see Green Zone if we can choreograph dinner/movie times), and a babysitter (thanks Mom Jeffords!).


I spent the other part of today cleaning up after, walking, feeding, chasing, pulling, and playing with "the puppy" (no name yet, because we don't know if we're keeping him),  painting, and getting my house back into a bit of order, and of course, playing with little Annalisa way too much. I did this oil paint based on a photograph sent to me by Kim, whose sister got married at this site in Montana.  What a great birthday gift, Kim!  You've got class...  ; ) I've been to Montana once with some friends to go skiing one winter.  Apparently, it looks so beautiful in the winter as well as late summer! I really enjoyed painting this scene. It incorporated the landscapes that I love to paint, with some more detailed foreground objects as well.

Because the idea for this painting was sent to me by Kim, I'm going to give her the chance to buy it before posting it on Etsy. I'll let you know if it goes on there in the next couple days. It will only be $29 if I list it, so check back soon! In the mean time, you can also find a couple other paintings that have not yet sold in my shop. EmilyJeffords.etsy.com

Ooo-la-la!

I'm honored to have my artwork featured in these lovely "Treasuries" today!  Check them out!

HeatherKing Photography featured my "Continental Divide" oil painting #27,

and

"Meadow" oil painting #26 will be rotated in to one of Etsy's featured treasures named "Minty Marmilade".

Painting #28 Sunnier Days Reign - a watercolor

Sundays should never rain. It’s against everything they stand for. But, at least now I don’t have to water the garden tomorrow… or teach… or wake up early… or cook dinner… needless to say, I’m looking forward to tomorrow. I’ll have the added responsibility of puppy sitting for the first time! I have grown up with dogs my entire life, but really have no idea how to take care of them! My family is leaving the cutest German Shepherd/Rottweiler puppy at our house for a couple days while they go to Florida. He is such a sweetheart!

This painting is a tribute to sunnier days. It poured and hailed today and of course, today is the day I would have to go running through mud, puddles, grass, and rain to get to the car. With my child. But somehow, doing a watercolor felt appropriate. Wetness… all around me.

I have to admit that I really love this painting. It is painted on plastic Yupo Paper so watercolor paint dries in the more unique and beautiful patterns (it reminds me of tree rings). I love the way it makes colors stand out and sing. This watercolor is 5.75x11.5 inches.

You can buy this painting on my Etsy page for $28 (because it was painted on March 28th). EmilyJeffords.etsy.com

Thanks for following my blog! As I mentioned before, I’m working out the details to a give-away contest, so stay tuned! Come back tomorrow for painting #29!

Paintings #26 and #27 Earthy Oil Paintings on Wood - and little bits of real life.

Meadow, oil on wood

I must preface this post with an apology. I’m sorry for not posting a painting yesterday. Yesterday was just “off”. I actually started painting three paintings…. Finishing zero... My best excuses is that I taught art ALL DAY, and was away from my child far more than I would prefer. So, today, I made up for it by painting two paintings that are especially unique because they are painted on such beautiful and “earthy” wood. I love that the wood is covered in the tree's bark! My grandfather is a wonderful woodworker, and he salvaged them for me.  When I was contemplating what to paint on these beautiful wood blocks, an oil landscape felt perfect.

Growing up, we used to go to Colorado to go skiing, and I always loved looking at the mountain range. They are so majestic and strong looking and made me feel so small. There’s something awesome about feeling small, and knowing that there’s a God that created that mountain, and to Him, that’s really small… and yet… He knows me.     l i t t l e        m e…

My family arrived from Ohio this evening. They’re stopping by on their way to Florida. It’s so good to see them and I know they love seeing Annalisa!

Painting #27 is coming tomorrow! If you would like to buy either of the paintings I’ve listed today (or a couple left over from the past) go to my shop! EmilyJeffords.etsy.com

As always, I love your comments, suggestions, ideas…

Continental divide, oil on wood

Painting #25 Paradise

Well, the comforting thing about painting this painting was that I couldn't really paint an ugly painting... but the hard thing was that the photograph was so beautiful!!! How can I make something so beautiful into a beautiful painting? Won't the photograph be more beautiful....? Well, here's my attempt at capturing Maui Hawaii! I must admit that I wouldn't mind going there right now. Wouldn't mind at all. It was actually hard for me to paint this painting because the colors are so vibrant in real life! Usually, I take a scene or an object and enhance certain parts or colors, but with this scene, the whole photograph was screaming "I'm beautiful, paint me!"

Thanks for sharing your beautiful back yard with us Mark and Cherie! Because I painted this based on one of their photographs, I’m going to give them the opportunity to buy this painting before listing it on Etsy. I’ll let you know when/if I list it!

I would like to wet your palette with the news that I'm going to be starting a give-away contest very, very soon! I'm still working out all the kinks, so check back soon for more details. The painting I'll be giving away is Dan's (my husband's) favorite one so far... and he is a man of exquisite taste. ; )

Painting #24 Down by the Water - A little Oil painting

Today has been an excellent day. May be it was just the weather (75 and sunny? The best….) and I was able to stay home all day with my daughter, to paint, decorate my art room a little more, go on a nice walk, and do some gardening. Some days I feel more alive than others, and today was one of those days.


I’m posting something I’ve never done before…. Painting progress pictures! It’s kind of fun to see the painting “grow”. This painting was based on a photograph given to me by my dear friend Rebecca. Thanks for sharing this lovely scene Becca! It is an oil painting on a wood block.

Also, I had to share these photographs of my precious daughter, Annalisa Grace with you. I know that they have nothing at all to do with painting or art, but they have everything to do with my life! Just look at those eyes!  She is almost 7 months old, learning to sit up and grab things. Adorable…  Sorry about the little crusties on her nose.  She's had a little cold and she hates having her nose wiped. 

Painting #23 "White" an oil painting

White...  I love white flowers.  They are so elegant, simple, unassuming...  I had them in my bridal bouquet (which was breathtaking, thanks to the Floral Palette!)  I love white towels, white appliances, white curtains, white shirts, white gold...  My students always ask me what my favorite color is.  I tell them I can't pick one because they're all so incredible, which doesn't fly with them, so I tell them my favorite color is white because it holds all the colors (totally confusing as an artist.)  But I think it really is... well, at least one of my favorites... 

I hope this painting enhances your appreciation for white and all the lovely shades therein.  Because It's a commission piece, I'm not listing it on my Etsy page, but would still love your feedback on this painting!  And with that, I wash my brushes, and put my daughter to bed.

Painting #22, Burtonsville, NY

Burtonsville, New York. Doesn’t mean much to most people, but to me, it brings back memories of a family reunion held when I was 10 or 11. There I experienced crawdads, swimming in a muddy lake, crossing a VERY wide “creek” at night. I think it was about a mile wide, and full of rapids, deep holes, darkness, and the thousands of creepy unknown things… I was so glad my dad was with me! I also had my first encounter with a pig roast (my first, and last), sweat bees, 100 candles on one cake, and many relatives I had never met, but now mean so much to me. So, while Burtonsville may be a small town in NY, it’s pretty huge in my mind! This home has been in my family for many, many years. It is very historical, and I am honored to have been able to paint it! I hope this painting will help to endear this lovely old home to my family for years to come.

As always, I love your thoughts and comments!

Come back tomorrow to see painting #23!

Painting #21 A cheerful Oil Painting for a Rainy Day

Better late than never! I’m sorry I’m posting this painting so late. I mean, technically, it’s the 22nd… but I haven’t slept yet, so it’s not the next day to me! I’ve spent the last three or four hours (I don’t really know any more… time has blurred into a paint smudge)diligently  painting, listening to the health care debate on the radio (don’t even get me started), and the rain falling on the roof. Along with the white oriental flowering bush, the one I’ve been painting previously, we have this lovely red one growing in our yard. It is stunning. So much so, I had to paint it for you. It is a 7 x 9 inch oil painting.

Check out my etsy page where you can buy this painting for a petty $21 as well as a couple others that haven’t sold yet. EmilyJeffords.etsy.com

And with that, I’m going to bed. Tomorrow will be a new day, with sunshine (please, oh please), and a new painting!

Shades of Grey - a series of landscape collages

I am very excited to present my new series of black and white collages. They are inspired by landscapes, textures, fabrics, patterns, and most of all, shades of grey. By using textured papers, cloth, and thread, I created these collages to be very tactile. The landscapes are drawn with ink washes; very subtle, and peaceful, yet elegant and trendy.   I love black and white artwork very much.  It goes with every decorating concept and color scheme and makes a fantastic design statement.

I hope you enjoy these collages as much as I enjoyed creating them! You can buy these collages for only $15 on my etsy page: EmilyJeffords.etsy.com of by emailing me. If you buy two or more, they will only cost $13 each!  (Email me before buying two or more.  I'll set up a listing just for you.)

As always, I love your comments!!!

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