Feature Friday- Jennifer Leigh

Feature Friday! I'm not as excited today as I normally am (sure, I could fake it, but Jess tells me all the time I'm a bad liar! I'd rather just be honest :) ) I've just had a lot going on lately, and for those of you who missed my last post, we are getting ready to move as soon as we get everything in order! (You can read more details here.) I was off yesterday and had planned on getting several FF's typed up so all I would have to do is post them and not worry about it, but then I got called in to work anyway. And we could use every bit of extra money we can get. So, I'm not sure yet about the fate of next week's post, but here is this week's!

*Disclaimer: All images in this post are from Jennifer Leigh at SohoGallery. I claim no credit or responsibility for any of the art or photography in this post.

Magnolia Tree

Jennifer had a lot to say in her interview, so I'm going to jump right into it!

Where do you get your inspiration?
JL ~ I get inspiration from various sources, primarily from nature and emotions, but also from unexpected sources such as magazine articles, commercials, or a striking photograph........anything that can trigger that part of the creative brain that causes you to want to emote something on canvas.

How long have you been painting?
JL ~ I have been painting most of my life but did not start really immersing myself into it full time until after 2001. I lived in New York City for 16 years, and when 9/11 occurred, I reevaluated my life and relocated in the hopes of doing something positive full time that I loved, and something that would give me inner peace.

How/why did you get started selling on Etsy? Do you sell anywhere else?
JL ~ I started Etsy after an artist friend told me to check it out. It took me some time to get acclimated to the processes involved with selling your artwork, i.e., photoshop examples, how to ship large paintings, etc. But I wanted it so bad, that I just focused on the technical aspects relentlessly until I was able to comprehend enough to be able to then solely concentrate on the art. I also have a shop on Ebay under the seller name Gallery_Expressions, but most of my stock is on Etsy.

What's your favorite piece (of your own, someone else's or both)?
JL ~ I have a lot of favorites, probably because your paintings become like your children in a strange way. You put so much emotion into each one of them and they become very near to your heart. They all turn out differently (and some take on a life of their own) which is the joy of art. No painting can ever be exactly duplicated once it is finished. It is like capturing a special moment in time, forever preserved. I also love to admire the work of other artists. I never tire of seeing others' interpretations and emotions on display. And everyone is so unique. Some artists are extremely skilled and schooled at their craft, while others draw from a more visceral space from within. There is always something to admire and learn from other artists. 

Ready for the goodies? I am!

Unquenchable Spirit

This one is by far my favorite. There's so much passion in it!

Lilies of the Valley

These lilies are just so bright and fun!

Aurora Borealis

 I don't think this one really needs any explanation. Its beautiful!

Eagle Feather

Jennifer also does custom-painted horses like this one! Cool huh?








If you've seen something you like or want to see more, check out her store! She's offering a 10% discount, just enter code "ORIGINALART" at checkout.

MIA

I want to apologize in advance for being MIA for the next few weeks and maybe even months. I've had some drama going on to deal with lately, plus Jess and I have decided we are moving! Asheville, North Carolina to be exact, about 2 hours away from where we live now. Its something we have discussed for over a year now as doing 'someday', but now feels like the right time. The problem is that neither of our jobs will relocate, in addition to which there is the catch 22 that most housing wants employment verification, and most employers want housing verification. So we are throwing all of our energies into finding people who are willing to work with us on that. (So if any of you wonderful readers happen to know someone in Asheville who'd be willing to help, please let me know!)

Asheville's night skyline, courtesy of RomanticAsheville.com

I haven't yet decided whether I will still do the Feature Fridays, or postpone them for a while, but as soon as I do I will be sure to let you all know!

Feature Friday- Jennifer Smith

*Disclaimer: All images in this post are from Jennifer Smith at PicturesbyJennifer. I claim no credit or responsibility for any of the art or photography in this post.
 
Woot woot, it is time for Feature Friday again! Anyone else get as excited as I do? No? Well, that's ok, I think I get excited enough for all of you! This week's feature is on Jennifer Smith who runs an Etsy shop named PicturesbyJennifer. Her work is some of my absolute favorite. She is just starting out and has only made 3 sales so far, but I'm hoping I can help with that! :)

A Lady of Sparkle and Intrigue

Yall know by now I'm sure that I love mermaids and this is no exception! She is beautiful! She looks so coy.

Jennifer was so kind as to answer a few questions for yall.

How long have you been painting?
JS ~ Art is something I have always done. Drawing was my first love, then I fell for the texture of clay and how I could make whatever I liked. I've been painting now for at least twelve years. I am mostly self taught but have taken a couple classes at some local community colleges. I really like the classroom atmosphere and having other students nearby to get opinions and ideas from. It's also nice to have people to talk to while I'm painting. 

Rolling Hills

Where do you get your inspiration?
JS ~ I get my inspiration from all over the place, but mostly from nature, other artists and photographs I see. I love the natural shapes of the earth and trees. Color is also very inspirational for me. I like to use odd colors to help set my artwork apart from other painters. One of my favorite color combinations is orange and bright blue, I love to use the contrasting colors next to each other to create emphasis in various areas. Curving lines are very alluring to me such as the lines in Rolling Hills.

[Curving lines are very alluring to me too! Maybe that's why I love her work so much? Well that, combined with how bright and colorful they are, because yall know I looooove me some color!]

How/why did you get started selling on Etsy?
JS ~ My friends and family have always been very encouraging about my art and have been suggesting I sell my creations for a couple years. It wasn't until my sister gave me a meeting with a psychic for last years Christmas present that things got rolling. I don't know why that meeting gave me the encouragement that I needed, however it was all very positive and eye opening. She said many of the same things my friends and family have, but two days later I had uploaded and opened the store. It's been really fun and exciting to see other peoples feedback and comments and even more exciting, even humbling, when someone buys a painting.

After The Storm

What's your favorite piece?
JS ~ It is so hard to pick my favorite piece. Usually it ends up being one I currently finished. There are a couple that I don't have listed on Etsy that I really enjoy. One is similar to Rolling Hills. On Etsy, I really like the Rhythm of the Turtle and the latest dragonfly piece [After The Storm].

Since this is a home decor blog, I'd love it if you'd include a picture of something from your home that you love!
JS ~ I love those home decorating shows and attempted to have a color theme in my bedroom. I'm happy with the low cost way it turned out. The art is mine. I decorate with my art cause it's cheap :-) . It's called Flowing Wonderment.

[I think its beautiful! The rug placement seems a bit odd, but its an odd room perspective anyway. I also asked her about the thing hanging from the middle of the curtain rod, and she said this: "The object above my bed is a hand blown glass lozenge shape that I got from the Corning Glass museum in New York State. I really liked the color combination and pattern. It's hanging on a double strand of hemp from my curtain rod."]

And because I can't resist, here are a few more beauties of hers:

Northern Peak

Tree of Life- Everything That
Goes Up, Must Come Down

See something you absolutely can't live without? Or do you love her style, but have something else in mind you'd like her to create for you? Before you go running over to her shop to buy it, you should know that she is doing a spring sale. Enter the code SPRING10 when you check out to get 10% off your purchase!

Let's Talk Art

I think most of you regulars are aware by now of my love for Etsy. Well this post is about a similar love of mine, one that I've been neglecting for some time now. Its called FineArt America, and its similar to Etsy in that artists can sell their work. There are a few key differences though.

 1- Many Etsy sellers sell supplies for various projects, others sell home goods such as pillows and lamps, etc. On FAA you can find any type of printed art, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics and glass products.

2-  FAA gives artists the option to let customers buy prints in various sizes, as well as pick out framing and matting if they desire, all from the same page as the painting they picked out. FAA even handles all the printing and shipping for the prints, using only the computer image uploaded by the artist, and pays the artist via mail or paypal. 

I'm ashamed to say I've spent nearly the whole day today browsing FAA. Sure, I can chalk it up to blog business because I found a dozen new artists for Feature Friday, but at the end of the day there is housework that has to be done too. So, shame on me. Maybe tomorrow I'll do better.

I figured the least I could do is share with you a few of my new favorite pieces :)

{ Source }

Maps are so trendy right now! Word map art is quickly becoming popular as well, and I love this super colorful version. I think this would be awesome to put in a kids room, what a fun way to help them learn their states!

{ Source }

I was in awe when I saw this. I seriously thought about ordering it in a small size and using it somewhere in my living room. And who knows, I still might!

{ Source }

I'm not sure what to call this style, but its gorgeous. It seems as if its just a bunch of strips all laid together that happen to make a picture, and some parts are lighter than others and some don't quite line up. I love it!

{ Source }

I think Jess would love this one. She has a thing for phoenixes (phoenix? what is the plural form of phoenix?) and that's what this reminds me of. I seriously thought about buying it too, I definitely think I could tie it into my living room.


If you see something you like, and are patient enough to wait a month or 2, I've messaged all these artists about being featured, and one has already gotten back to me and wants to do a giveaway, so keep an eye out for that! If you just have to have it now and absolutely can't wait, then don't forget to tell them I sent ya!

I Am Earthy Casual

How many of you also follow Mandi over at Vintage Revivals? She is crazy, and so funny! I love that she is not afraid to try new things, despite when others might tell her she's nuts. She has a herringbone-painted ceiling for pete's sake! How many people have you ever seen do that? I don't always agree with her choices or her style (in fact I rarely do), but I ALWAYS admire her perseverance and spirit!

{ Source }

A few weeks ago, she decided to start a club. Sort of an online design club for anyone who wants to join. She's calling it the Fearlessly Finding Awesome club, or the FFA (not to be confused with the Future Farmers of America club lol).

I didn't participate in the first challenge because I didn't feel I could write a whole post on it. The challenge was to define what you want your home to be, to feel like. And I want mine to feel much the same as Mandy's (even if we do have very different ways of going about it). This is how she put it: "I want my home to feel like me.  Happy, energetic, a little strange, positive, and really really unique." The only thing I would change about it is that I want mine to feel like me and Jess both. She perfectly balances me. So basically, I'd like our home to reflect both of us. I want all of our closest friends and family to be represented, whether its through pictures or something they love. I want bright colors and fun pieces. Aaaand... that's all I've got! Told you I didn't think I could write a whole post on it!

Yesterday's challenge was to take a quiz on HomeGoods' website to see what your decorating style is. I LOVE quizzes, and Mandi said her results were spot-on, so I was very curious to see what my results would be. This is what I got:

Courtney, you are an Earthy Casual

You're interested in creating a welcoming home where people feel comfortable and happiness flourishes. You appreciate the warmth and individuality of natural materials and handcrafted things and are inspired by colors and forms from nature. You love mixing up different textures and are sensitive to the tactile qualities of objects. Your style is grounded and solid, not flighty or frilly. And you are never taken in by the trend of the moment.
You value creativity. You are stylish and fun loving, and can be an inspiration to others. You have a natural sense of drama, and you know you have to be willing to take risks—whether with colors, finishes, furniture choices, or ideas—for your home to stand out. Your home can be happy and lively and the place all of your friends want to be.

Most of that is very true. I find it interesting that I am earthy, because I've never really considered myself earthy. Maybe because when I think earthy, I think lots of brown and tan and green, neutral colors with a few pops of color here and there like blooming flowers. I do want a place where people are happy and comfortable, and I love all things nature and handmade. I am a hugely tactile person. I'm not sure about the grounded and solid part, you'd have to ask someone who knows me well. Personally I am very flighty, but I'm not sure how much my style reflects that. I do know that I am not big on frilly things. I do like to watch the trends, but I know what I like and don't like. I definitely value creativity and do have a natural sense of drama. I love taking risks, I think its something akin to being an adrenaline junkie and getting that rush when you jump out of the airplane.

It identified my biggest design challenge as being organization, which is dead on. I even chose the word ORGANIZATION as my word of the new year, which you can read about here!

There was a collection of 6 colors which are supposed to be my 'happy colors'. They were all oranges and yellows. While I do love orange and yellow, it would have been more accurate if it had included a bigger variety of colors such as green and blue.

The last segment I want to discuss is this one:

Putting Color to Use!

You are probably not one to go in for crazy color, and you may want to keep things fairly neutral and sophisticated overall. But try selecting a duo or trio of colors that work well together, and introduce one or more of them into your curtains, wall color or rugs. This will tie the overall palette together in a coherent way. You could even incorporate your color palette in smaller doses, like in your tablecloths, cushions, throws, or bedspreads, for example. 

This one I do not agree with. While I generally stick with neutral pieces for large pieces like sofas, and bring in color through the accessories, it is purely for practical reasons. My tastes change with the wind, and sofas get expensive to change out often enough to fit my whimsies. Had I the monetary means though, I would be all too happy to buy brightly colored sofas and other pieces and change them out as my heart desired.

Oh and by the way, anyone else who wants to take the quiz can do so here! I'd love to hear about your results if you do!

Feature Friday- Jessilyn Million

*Disclaimer: All images in this post are from Jessilyn at JessilynJoy. I claim no credit or responsibility for any of the art or photography in this post.

This week's feature is about Jessilyn Million, a wonderfully creative lady. Her Etsy shop, JessilynJoy, includes a variety of things from handpainted clocks to cards. There are also original paintings and prints of her paintings. I caught up with her for a short interview.

Sunset Silhouette

What is your favorite item and why?

JM ~ My favorite item in my shop would be "Sunset Silhouette" It is a small version of a large painting I did years ago. It reminds me of a very wonderful time in my life.
[It's for sale in her shop here.]

Where do you get your inspiration?

JM ~ I have gotten a lot of my inspiration from my travels, I have spent a good part of my live in Asia and Europe and there is no shortage of interesting things to inspire creativity over there. When I am here I am usually inspired by nature.

How long have you been painting? How did you get started?

JM ~ I have been painting and doing some kind of art since I was a kid. I grew up in a very creative environment and I had a lot of freedom to paint all over my room and I took full advantage it.

[Wouldn't that have been AMAZING!? I wasn't allowed to paint or even hang pictures in my childhood room. I can't imagine how awesome it would've been if I could have.]

How/why did you decide to start selling on Etsy?

JM ~ Most of what is in my shop started as a gift for someone. I started taking pictures of the gifts I made and when I moved home from years of traveling, when I didn't have a job I started my shop to help get me through my period of unemployment.

Seeing as how this blog is mainly focused on home design, I'd also love it if you'd be willing to submit a picture of something in your home you wouldn't mind readers seeing, maybe a room you love, or a piece of art you adore, etc.

JM ~ It is a dresser [in my room] that I rescued from the Children's Art Museum that I work at. It is where we stored costumes from the previous exhibition. It is huge and heavy and a pain to move, but I love it!
[Btw, I asked her what is written on the chalkboard in that picture. She said it's a quote from a William Blake poem:

"To see the world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wildflower.
Hold infinity on the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour."

-William Blake

So now for the goodies! I love so many of her things, so I promise I will try to keep the image overload to a minimum!

  

First off are these cards. They are made using a lino cut, which is a printmaking technique in which, to put it in very basic terms, the artist carves the picture as a stamp. They are beautifully detailed, and she has 5 different cards to choose from. Each purchase gets you a pack of 5 of the design of your choice, plus the corresponding envelopes. What a fun way to personalize a little get-together! I would love to give these to, say, my bridesmaids for a bridesmaids luncheon, or my closest friends for an intimate brunch.

Sailing Cards

The item she has by far the most of is clocks. HANDPAINTED clocks to be exact. They are GORGEOUS! If I could put them all on here, I would. You'll just have to go check out her shop for yourselves! I will include a few here though, the few I narrowed down to be my absolute favorites. (And believe me, it was TOUGH!)

Bird in the Sun Wall Clock

Bird in the Vines Wall Clock

Queen Anne's Lace Wall Clock

Granted, her clocks are what some might call a tad bit expensive. (They range from $30 up to $75.) But the way I look at it is this: If you can find a piece of art that you love for less than $75 these days, you're doing awesome (or maybe you just have really cheap taste). These are works of art too, and they have the added bonus of being functional! These clocks are like the perfect mate: not only do they look amazing, but they are useful too!

If you've found one you love, but you still aren't quite sold on the price, maybe this will help push you off that fence: right now, Jessilyn is offering 20% off to all you wonderful readers! (That makes the price range $24-60, which is slightly easier to swallow. Yes, I even did the math for you!) Just enter coupon code 20OFF at checkout. Tell her Courtney sent you!

DIY Art Teaser

I have in mind some new wall art. And the best part? It could potentially be FREE! (I say potentially because it will depend on what color(s) I decide on and whether I have the paint on hand or not. I have everything else I need.)

My inspiration for it is this, a designer set from Horchow that hails for $275 for a set of 6 (mind you, those are 6 of their choosing- not yours):

Horchow- Six Asian Blocks

 I'm sorry for such a short post! I'm nursing a horrible migraine tonight, one of the worst I've had in a while :-/