Oak Creek, 30 x 40, Acrylic on Canvas

Hello Daily Painters!  Her's a recent painting of one of my favorite places in teh world, Oak Creek Canyon in Sedona, AZ.    Now that my kiddies are one a "regular" sleep schedule, I can finally get back into the studio instead of crashing at 9!  Second shift, here I come!!!! :-)  Next up is the early shift, so I can catch some dawn light plein air.

As a side note,  my coworker shot a time lapse video while I painted this, and I hope to have that on You Tube sooner rather than later... let you know when it's posted!

SO GREAT TO BE PAINTING AGAIN!!!!!!!!

www.jennifervonstein.com



A Bit Different, But Fun by Jennifer VonStein

It's been busy busy busy in my life, but in a good way.  I've had lots of painting projects at work (the best part of my job!) I did this mural for our trade show booth on a fake brick wall, based off an image we purchased for the mural brochure.  I wanted an alien, but a killer clown was chosen instead!   Next up, some original mixed media, plein air, and finishing a new work for the Capitol Show!

Sheep by Jennifer VonStein

Sheep :: Acrylic on Panel (pastel ground) :: 18 x 24

For those that don't know, I am very, very, very intrigued by farm animals. Maybe it's growing up on the shore in New Jersey, or maybe it's their eyes or physical prescence...Anyhow, when all else fails, I find myself painting pigs, sheep, chickens, cows, etc. I don't show them often, because I don't want to be thought of as an animal painter, but I do enjoy my furry and feathered models!

This painting and others will be shown at the Vision Rehab Center Art Show this Wednesday, March 7, 7pm-9pm. Visit http://www.tricountyblind.org/ for more info.

3 Little Pigs by Jennifer VonStein

3 Little Pigs - Acrylic on Canvas - 12 x 16

Wow - it has been too long!! Where has time gone? I know my time has been spent chasing a 2 year old boy! So how to do more and be more productive? Paint smaller pieces I can get finished - like this one, 3 Little Pigs. This is NOT based off the story 3 Little Pigs, but instead it is inspired by one of my son's favorite books, Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton.

"The cow says "moo," the sheep says "Baa."

Three singing pigs say "La, la la!"

No, no, you say, that isn't right,

those pigs go "oink" all day and night...."

Over and over and over again, I read this book. So I painted some pigs!

In the Garden Of The AAH

In the Garden of the AAH - Acrylic on canvas - plein air

Yesterday I was able to do a painting in the garden of the Art Association of Harrisburg, prior to my workshop on Sunday. What a great place to paint! Now if I could just learn to work the digital camera.....

Sonshine - Final Version by Jennifer VonStein

I was away for a week, but I kept thinking about this painting and was excited to get back to it. I adjusted the "dead layer" with some opaque scumbles and glazes, and I did some more tweaking and all over glazes. Definitely different from my impressionist, alla prima style, but a good exercise and I'm pleased with this study of my son. Next up - my hubby... :-)

Sonshine - acrylic on panel

WIP - Sonshine by Jennifer VonStein

Things have been a little nutty in my house, but in a great way. In addition to work, visitors and parties, my hubby and I found out that we can officially adopt our foster son!!!! His name is Rial, and he truly is my "sonshine."

I have a vision, an idea for a family portrait that also portrays the adoption experience, that will not leave me alone. I started studies for the portraits. I want it to be more traditional and old worldy, so I am dusting off my art school brushes and doing some flemish techniques. Attached is the drawing, transferred to the panel and the umber layer. Tomorrow I plan to add opaque color, maybe make a dead layer, and then build up some transparent glazes. It's been a while since I've done this method!

And yes, that is a monkey in the background. It's a pattern form my favorite chair. It may pr may not make its way into the final study and painting. :-)

Jennifer VonStein - Chroma Workshop at the Gettysburg Festival by Mary Beth Brath

A huge thank you to Chroma International and Jennifer VonStein for the 2 free workshops and samples you provided at the Gettysburg Festival. Pictured here are fellow DPP members that benefited from the demonstration.  I also enjoyed trying out the new Interactive Acrylics and plan to finish the painting I started in the workshop so I can post it here on our blog.

Madeline Reilly and Amy Lindenberger sample Chroma Products during a free workshop at the Gettysburg Festival.

Jennifer VonStein teaching the Chroma workshop.

This workshop was held in the Historic Train Station that President Lincoln arrived at when he gave the Gettysburg Address.

Early Evening, Summer by Jennifer VonStein

Early Evening, Summer

24 x 36 :: Acrylic on canvas

This is a recent painting I am showing in the Capitol Exhibit. I had something completely different in mind when I painted this, but you know how paintings are - they have a mind of their own! I might try this again (it's based on a photo of the Susquehanna where I like to paint) and this time, I WILL get what I was after. :-)

Gettysburg Field by Jennifer VonStein

May 12 Gettysburg Field :: oil on panel :: 8 x 10

I was able to do some plein air painting last week in Gettysburg...and ran into Mary Beth, too! This is a view near "The Loop." It still needs a bit of touch up in the studio, but I just bought some teeny tiny brushes so now I can add some highlights to the trees, adjust shadows, etc. So many greens, so little time.... :-)

Thoughts of Spring

March - Early Spring :: 5 x 7 :: Acrylic on panel Although it feels like spring today (yeah!!!!). last week, when there was snow on my daffoldils, I created this tiny piece for work. It was based on a view in my drive to work, before there was snow. I certainly have spring fever! But seriously, it's always interesting to see work based on memory, and work based on what is "real," if one defines real by what is only visible with the eye. I think the Little Prince thought otherwise....

Old Enough

Old Enough :: Vintage ephemera, paper and acrylic on paper :: 12 x 12

This collage is for a show I am in. The theme is "Fear." The show will be March 27 at Marion Court, 7 Marion Court, in Lancaster, PA. Lots of great artists participating!

I am also working on an assemblage for this piece. It will be a bit involved, and rather personal - I will post WIPs this week!

Our Little Guy - Finished by Jennifer VonStein

Our Little Guy - 12 x 16

Acrylic on paper

Well, this study showed me I have to do a LOT more figurative work soon! This is a little too tight and tentative for me, but I think it captures my foster son's sweet, curious, happy expression. While at a demo today, I worked on another version, but this time I painted alla prima on canvas, and instead of a photo reference from my iPod, I used this painting. I'll post version 2 when I get home and I can take a better photo.

Our Little Guy - Work In Progress by Jennifer VonStein

Our Little Guy - Stage 1 - Acrylic on Paper

Some of you may know, but I was not posting recently because I took a maternity leave. My hubby and I were blessed with the opportunity to foster (and hopefully adopt) this little guy, RX. I am currently at a convention in NYC, and instead of painting an abstract landscape like I normally do at a show, I decided to paint a portrait of our little guy for a Valentine's present for my husband. You get to see it before he does!

The lighting in the show is HORRIBLE, and I took this with my cell phone, but I always love to see works in progress, so why not! So far, I have been establishing the undertones and working on his eyes. (Yes, they really are that huge and he has the most incredible lashes! )Later I will smooth out his skin with some wet-in-wet blending, refine values and pump up color a bit. I used to focus on fihurative work, but it has been years since I have painted children.

Winter Field, 2011 by Jennifer VonStein

Winter Field, 2011 :: Acrylic on Paper

I may be one of the few, but I LOVE snow. The way it looks, the way it tastes, the raw bitter cold, fresh white snow, gray, dirty snow, even ice - as long as I am dressed for it and my head and feet are warm, snow makes me happy! And I love the colors and the way the light changes and looks, with stark fields and cool, crisp, achingly beautiful skies.

That being said, I witnessed one of those skies last week, when everything just burst into color. The scene was very vivid in my mind's eye, so when I was out in San Francisco giving some painting demonstrations last weekend, I painted it. Normally, I prefer to paint from life, so this scene has a bit more punch and is more expressive than usual. Still, I like the memory associated with it - home, on an achingly beautiful winter's eve.

View of the Mississippi by Jennifer VonStein

View of the Mississippi

11 x 14 - oil on paper - plein air

www.jennifervonstein.com

Hello all!!! I have been off the radar for a few months, but for a wonderful reason. In late October 2010, my husband and I were blessed with the opportunity to foster (and hopefully adopt) a wonderful 10 month old boy! I was on maternity leave for 2 months, and have just started back to work and painting again. When I was in college, I concentrated on figurative work, and now that I have new (moving) inspiration, don't be surprised if some images of small boys start showing up, possibly in crayon. :-) Of course, I have already started some paintings for his nursery - the theme is "animal sports."

This is one of the last paintings I did before I went to India in October 2010. Late fall, on my way to an afternoon workshop in Wisconsin, I pulled off the road to capture some of the beautiful autumn morning light. I liked how it reminded me of the Susquehanna, and the curve near Chiques Rock, one of my fave places to paint.

Journal Pages - India - Jennifer VonStein

Journal Pages - India :: Acrylic/Collage on paper

Here are some impressions of my recent trip to Udaiper, in Rajasthan, India. I had some time while at the trade show yesterday, and luckily, when it's slow at the booth, that means I get to paint! I'm not really an abstract artist, but all the colors and smells and non-western art are coming out in my paintings. On the left page, I used a transfer technique and transferred one of my photos of the Jagdish Temple, from the 17th century. On the right side is an interpretation of a statue of one the gods (I think it was Rama?) with some collaged photos of the temple. Anyway, I'm sure I will do some representational pieces too, but this one just had to come out!

Recent Plein Air by Jennifer VonStein

July 3, 2010 Plein Air

12 x 9 - Acrylic on Panel

This plein air painting of the Susquehanna makes me laugh. I had just set up my palette when a breeze - or my arm - knocked it into the shore. Do I put out new colors...no, too embaressed because I could hear fisherman behind me. Being an intrepid soul, I just mixed the dirt and sand into my colors and proceeded. I really like the texture this produced, although my colors did get a bit muddy - no pun intended!

This painting and 7 others will show at the 2nd Annual Outdoor Art Show at Marion Court Room/Courtside Lounge, 7 Marion St., Lancaster. The date of the event is August 29, 2010, from 11-9. Art, music, food, drinks - should be a fun time!

New Plein Air Posting from New Daily Painter! by Jennifer VonStein

Late Summer (plein air) by Jennifer VonStein, Acrylic on panel

Hi! I'm Jennifer VonStein, a new "Daily Painter" and I'm honored to be a member of this group! I am primarily a landscape artist, and I love to paint plein air. I am drawn to the envelope of light, atmosphere and color that surrounds me; the magic of memory and past experience often plays a role in my interpretations. As a resident artist for Chroma, a fine art paint manufacturer, I travel around the US giving workshops and demonstrations, so I'm blessed to see so many varied landscapes that inspire me. I work with oils, acrylics, pastel and mixed-media collages. You can see more of my work at www.jennifervonstein.com