Calling all horse lovers!

I just set up a blog for my Etsy team, Whoa Horse Art. I only have very basic information on there but am in the process of adding blog links, photos, websites and more. In the near future everyone on the team will be able to add sales info, new work, treasuries, fun stories, promotions, and more. I am really hoping that in March we will be able to coordinate a team giveaway. It's going to be very exciting and we have new artists joining the team every week. If you are a horse artist and would like to join the team just let me know.

All kinds of new!

If you're looking for the One World - One Heart giveaway you'll have to scroll down a few posts!
Okay...

New work, new photos, new CAMERA! I went a little wild the other day and charged a new camera, you know, trying to do my part to stimulate the economy. I didn't really need a new camera but it was calling my name. It's a Canon Powershot G10. I did all sorts of research and it was very highly rated. A lot of pros were saying that they use this camera when they want to have fun and not lug around a bunch of expensive equipment. I have just touched the tip of the iceberg with this thing, it's really amazing. I went from 5 megapixels to 14.7. I said it, 5 to almost 15!

So here's an example, right out of the box, indoors, flash on.



Same photo now look at the close up, you can see the hairs on the cat's tongue and the salivia string! Cool, huh?



There are so many manual features on this camera, it's going to take me awhile to figure it all out. I took several years of photography in high school but it's hard to remember it all again.

So, I was busy yesterday painting and finishing up a few pieces that I started ages ago. My DH had the day off of school since it snowed.
So in honor of Valentine's Day I created a lovely pink painted pony called "Muzzle Nuzzle".



And I finished a wooden box for the EHAG winter challenge with a snow witch out for a chilly sleigh ride with her white cats and horse.
Here's a look at the top on the box...


Both pieces will be on Ebay sometime today. I have the kiddo all to myself this afternoon and she doesn't like me to work on the computer so I have to sneak it in (like right now, shhh!).

Happy Belated Edgar

Happy Belated Edgar! Sorry I missed your 200th birthday on the 19th. I was too busy celebrating my daughter's 3rd birthday on the same day.

In honor of your birthday I created a "Nevermore Tavern" sign with one of your favorite animals, a raven. It also has a little tavern painted on it too, thought you'd like that.
The US Post Office thought you were cool enough to issue a stamp on the 16th.

I've bought a few sheets but I'm told they won't last long so I better go out and get some more. There have been celebrations in all the cities you once lived from New York to Baltimore. So sorry I didn't make it to one of your parties. I would have loved to toast to your mad genius. Some people even made very cool websites for your birthday like this one: EA Poe 200 Project.

Happy Belated Edgar! They broke the mold when you were made!

"I would define, in brief, the poetry of words as the rhythmical creation of Beauty."
Edgar Allan Poe

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Any fans of Poe would surely love the group I'm in called EHAG - Eclectic Halloween Artists Group. We're having a giveaway this week. Please stop by and leave a comment. You will be entered to win one of many cool prizes. You must leave a comment on the EHAG blog to win, not this blog (although I do LOVE comments here.).

Image by Lori Rudolph.

Thank you Ms. Rowling

I am always late to the party.
In December I thought it was high time I start reading some books I've always wanted to read but claimed I didn't have the time for. My husband, being a middle school teacher, has all the Harry Potter books and has read them all.
It was time I read those book too.
Thank you J.K. Rowling.
Thank you for 4195 pages of thoroughly entertaining, totally engrossing, magical masterpiece of my time. I laughed, I cried, I was angry, hopeful, sad, nervous and elated. And as silly as it sounds for a grown adult to say about a young adult series, I felt like I was friends with these characters for the last two months.
I cannot wait until my daughter is old enough to read these wonderful books.
Thank you Ms. Rowling.
Now what on earth am I going to read next?
Harry Potter artist, Mary GrandPré

Woo hoo, I won again!

I am getting really addicted to entering blog giveaways. I won another one!
This time I won a gorgeous pendant from Bee of BeeDazzles Gifts. The best part is when the prize arrives in the mail.



I love to see how other artists wrap and package their product. You can see the love and care with this one. Pretty pink paper, a nice card and a cute little metal box.


And here it is! A gorgeous dragonfly pendant with silver chain. Thank you so much Bee, I love it! Think I'll wear it today.
Bee would like me to pass along the coupon code: TenOff - to save $10 off a $25 or more purchase at her Etsy Shop. Good until April 15!

If you would like to enter to win fabulous prizes, the mother of all giveaways is happening now at One World - One Heart 2009. I am on the list, #60. If you scroll down a few posts you can enter my giveaway for a handpainted heart ornament. There are OVER 500 artists and crafters participating (I can't beleive it). I have entered many but the list is getting too large for me to get to them all.
Another great giveaway site is: Etsy Giveaways Blog. I may have won one or two I found there.
Now get out there and win some cool stuff!

Tagged!

It's been awhile since I've been tagged so I thought I'd play along.
This time it was Sonia from the Dark Raven's Nest who got me. Be sure to check out her blog, she has some nice studio pictures up right now.

So, 6 random things about myself...

1. We lived above a horse barn for 8 years. I cared for the horses below in exchange for rent, electricity and board for my horse. It was a cute little two bedroom apartment that smelled like hay, had mice in the ceiling and lots of spiders.

2. I have always secretly wanted to be a mounted police officer. When I see one patrolling the streets in Lancaster I think that there would be no cooler job to have getting to ride around on your trusty pal all day making sure people are behaving themselves.

3. My mom had a little palomino mare when I was born named Gypsy. She bought her as a foal and did all her training. Partly the reason for the name of my studio and fully the reason for my obsession with horses:)

4. My favorite movie is Amelie. It has everything I like in a movie, funny, touching, whimsical, beautiful cinematography and fabulous acting.

5. My favorite subject in high school, besides art, was AP American History in my senior year. My great grandmother, Aimée MacNeill, was a historian specializing in Valley Forge and the Battle at Brandywine during the Revolutionary War. I find this time in our history the most interesting.

6. I LOVE music and can appreciate all genres however the older I get the more I dislike going to concerts. The crowds are unbearable. People standing instead of sitting bugs me. The long drive to Philly where most good concerts are. The long wait to get out of the parking lot. All I find very annoying and I hate to admit it.
If I had a bunch of money I would go see this upcoming concert though and brave the long drive to State College. To see all those musicians on the stage together would be a once in a lifetime event!

Now I'm supposed to tag some people and I usually don't do this but I think these fellow artists wouldn't mind playing along (if you do mind, you won't hurt my feelings:).

Linda @ The Briar Rose Gate
Kathleen @ Life Earth Sky
Ingrid @ Ingrid's Art
Jane @ My World in Pictures
Sarah @ Cottage Garden Studio
Zan @ Wild at Heart Art

Also wanted to mention I have two heart ornaments I just added to my etsy shop. Here's one of a little white rabbit. If they don't sell by February 1st, they will move over to Ebay perhaps.



Please don't forget to check out the treasuries I'm promoting too. They are listed on the right side of this page.

Have a wonderful day! ~ Jen

"There's no retirement for an artist, it's your way of living so there's no end to it." -Henry Moore

Loosen up!

It is my dream to be able to paint like Munnings. I know, I'm asking a lot of myself. It's just that I get so wrapped up in detail and I would love to paint a nice horsey landscape that is loose and painterly. I pulled out a little 8 x 10 canvas the other day and found a picture I took at Devon of a lovely grey jumper in the warm up ring. I don't know if I am accomplishing my goal. It just looks a tad sloppy to me. Maybe I should find a favorite painting of his and try to reproduce it. It's how a lot of the masters learned, right?



Here's another photo of my bay thoroughbred. The horse is about finished. Not sure how to proceed with the background. It's not my area of expertise. Either way it has to dry some before I add more.



Two more photos from around the house. One is of my finch feeder this morning. Count 'em, that's 8 finches on that thing! If it was full, I'm sure there'd be more.
The picture of my kitty, Zazu, shows her lying on the cat bed I made her with some very cute owl and pumpkin polar fleece.



Lastly I'd like to thank 3 wonderful blogger for recent awards. If you have the chance, please stop by their blogs, you will be happy you did!


Jane Augenstein ~ My World in Pictures

CTG Ponies

Mustang Diaries

One World - One Heart 2009

This year I decided to participate in one of the largest blogging events on the net, One World - One Heart. It's the brainchild of Lisa Swifka, of A Whimsical Bohemian. The idea behind his event is that bloggers will get together to share their stories and creations. Well see some old friends and make new ones and also have the fun of hosting a giveaway. In honor of Valentine's Day I am giving away a swirly, glittery, hand painted, wooden heart ornament. I also thought it fit nicely with the events title.



Here are the rules for One World - One Heart...

1. Giveaway starts today, 1/19/01 and lasts until 2/12/09.

2. You must comment on this post only to be entered.

3. Open to everyone, anywhere. If you are not a blogger, be sure to leave an email addy so I can get in touch with you if you win.

4. Visit the OWOH blog and visit all the other creative folks onboard the Gypsy Caravan!

Thanks for stopping by!
Jen

Sunday Studio Tour

One of the things I love seeing on artist's blogs are their studios so I thought I would show you a few pictures of mine. The best things about the house we bought is that it has three bedrooms and I could finally have my own space. It was getting very frustrating painting at the dining table and we could never eat there since it was covered in my paints. Not too mention that my husband hates clutter and disorginization. Now I can be as messy as I want without feeling guilty!
Also inclused is a photo of the painting I'm currently working on. I am not a landscape painter so that has quite a bit to go. The horse is nearly there though.
Have a Happy Sunday!

PS. - Take some pictures of your studio or art space, put them on your blog and leave a comment here so I can go and check it out (pretty please)!



Check out this link for something REALLY cool involving this photo. Apparently there is a similar scene in Germany!

Saturday

I've been featured in two wonderful new treasuries on Etsy. Both links are on the right under "treasuries I'm promoting". Thank you so much to Artwolf and Vicki Diane Designs for including me. Click on their names to visit their lovely shops.

Lucky me, I've also been featured in a Utube video of unicorn artwork. If you love horse and fantasy art, please check out all the artists involved. Thank you Jana for putting this video together for our Whoa Horse Art Group!

The passing of a great artist.

It is with tears in my eyes that I type that Andrew Wyeth has left this world early this morning. He was an amazing man and will be greatly missed by art lovers around the globe.
That's all I can write now.

"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show."

"I dream a lot. I do more painting when I'm not painting. It's in the subconscious."

"I'm a secretive bastard. I would never let anybody watch me painting... it would be like somebody watching you have sex - painting is that personal to me."

"I search for the realness, the real feeling of a subject, all the texture around it... I always want to see the third dimension of something... I want to come alive with the object."

"I think one's art goes as far and as deep as one's love goes. I see no reason for painting beyond that."


See you on the other side.

New Foal WIP

I had started this cantering chesnut horse painting over the summer but wasn't really happy with it. So yesterday I worked a little more and now I am satisfied. He just needed his coat shined up a bit:)

Also started work on a painting of a foal. I raised this guy at the Thoroughbred farm I managed for 8 years. Unfortunately he was put down after he broke his leg in a race. How incredibly sad! Since Eight Belles was destroyed after the KY Derby last year, I've stopped watching horse races.






I was going to post a finished picture of my Tunis Sheep painting but it looks pretty much like it did in my post below. We have one nice little gallery here in East Petersburg and it is going to hang there next month. Haven't had a piece in a gallery in AGES so it will be fun to have it there!

Also snagged a new treasury this morning. Here's a screen shot. It's called "Palomino".

Feeling Sheepish & Winter Sale

I was able to get more of my sheep painted last night since the kiddo and husband were out of the house. I am really happy with how he's turning out! Click on the photos for a larger image.
Here are some more pictures...


Just found out this is a Tunis Sheep. Somewhat of a rare breed. I took the photo I worked from at Landis Valley Farm Museum.




Also have 6 new pendants painted which will go up on Etsy soon. Here they are...


I'm feeling in the mood for spring so I want to clear out the winter items from my Etsy shop. Anything that involves snow or winter is 25% off, pendants and signs.
Etsy has no easy way to offer a sale so you will have to click "buy" and then let me send you a revised invoice that will reflect the discount.

Baaaaa... a WIP

My little one went to her Grammy's house today to spend the night so I thought I would really challenge myself.
I started painting a sheep... in OILS... on a big canvas! Okay, maybe 18 x 24 inches isn't that big but it seems like a house compared to the pendants I've been painting lately.
The problem I have with painting is that it goes through a stage were it doesn't look like my mind wants it to and I get frustrated and want to quit.
I really hope I can push though this one. Also hoping that since it's not a horse I won't be quite as picky and detail obsessed.

PLEASE, if you have ANY tips, suggestions, etc., leave a comment. I haven't any formal art training so I really have no idea what I'm doing. Thanks:)

So here's the work in progress (WIP) photos. I still have a bit to go so don't tell me it doesn't look finished, I know that:)

Treasuries

I'm promoting two great new treasuries I just made yesterday. Please take a minute to check them out. They will expire in 2 days!
Silver Dapples
Spring!

Coming tomorrow - 6 new pendants! Please check back.

A few more critters...

As promised here are a few more photos from the Farm Show. The building was a little darker than usual so I couldn't get any nice, in focus close up shots. Didn't want to go setting the flash off in their eyes.


Jamie Wyeth would like this guy.


Herefords out the wazoo.


Just hatched.


Horse detail on the Farm Show building.


Pile o' spotted piglets. How cute!



Newly shorn.


Handsome rooster.



Just two pigs in love.



Nice red barn near my house.


Stormy skies on the way home.