Saying Goodbye and Thanks to 2011

In recent years I’ve been surprised when the end of another year has arrived; usually trying to understand how 12 months passed so quickly, but not 2011.  It’s been a long, full year and I know exactly where all of my time went.

A year of conscious living and so many lessons, achievements, hardships, changes, blessings and everything in between. I spent a month in Italy to celebrate a big birthday and to make a long time dream become a reality. My month-long Italian residency was only the beginning of all that I would come to realize and the ways in which I would grow. I gained a different perspective of myself, the world,  and a greater understanding of my part in it that I’d not fully realized until this year.

2011 was quite a journey. My artwork grew as I grew…

I painted the Serenata series of works that are hands down the best pieces I have ever created. Following the changes in the  economy and feeling the effects much like everyone else, I had to come up with ways to make things work, shift, regroup and reinvent ways of continuing my work as a full time artist. My exhibitions were all a success in their own way and my exhibiting galleries and representatives have been such a light for me. My last exhibition for this year was entitled Ebb & Flow – it was a chance for me to help curate and partner with the gallery and the idea for the show mirrored the way in which I was able to follow my path.

My year has been intense and full of personal enlightenment. By Thanksgiving I finally completed my very first coffee table book, another dream of mine I have always longed to make a reality. The response to my work, the celebrations surrounding my exhibitions and the inspiration I have been able to give to others have all made my year one of the richest I can recall. Not every year that is “the best year” means it is necessarily the happiest or the one filled with romance or even lots of excitement. In fact, sometimes it is the darkest times that can show us the brightest light when we look for it.  2011 was a year to grow up in a way that I needed to… a way for me to become more of my authentic self. And that’s what made it so special for me. Learning how to be present and nourish myself allowed me to find a new depth in all things. I believe all of this is reflected in my relationships and translates into a journey that many who know me can see as positive change in me as a person and in my work.

My feeling of gratefulness is with me as I write this. My plan for 2012 is to continue on my journey and take the best care of myself and those around me as I can. If I can have another year as fulfilling as this past one, I know I will be heading in the right direction. I also feel a larger responsibility that I need to find as many ways to give back and help the less fortunate as much as I can. My heart breaks every time I hear about animal abuse and I believe it is an important time to take greater care of these animals – this will be where a large part of my donations will go. I believe it is our responsibility to protect and nourish the beautiful things in this world. That includes other people, animals and our natural resources.

With a new year, we are gifted more time to become better versions of ourselves… and a continued chance to make a difference in the world for the better. I pray that I will stay awake and present and conscious so that I may continue to do so.

With that I wish you all a very Happy New Year. I hope it is filled with blessings and above all,  PEACE.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support of me, my artwork and my efforts. Every little bit is important to me and very much appreciated!

Love and light,

Jennifer

My first book!

Serenata

Paintings by Jennif…

By Jennifer J L Jones

Book Preview

Awake in Autumn

Life is moving quickly… busy busy! The past two months have flown. Summer suddenly gave way to Autumn and fall in Atlanta has been gorgeous. Four art shows in two months and moving takes a lot out of a girl. So much going on that I must quickly jot it down.

For years I’ve wanted to have a coffee table book of my work published… and with our incredible technology today, we have access to self-publish. I finally decided to go for it a couple of months ago and after hiring a designer to help me, we have things quickly moving forward! VERY excited that I have such an incredible response and received essays from some very supportive individuals. They have all helped me by taking time to write about my work specifically for this publication. The enthusiasm around this is project is making me feel especially grateful. Look for this coming out in a couple of weeks! Perfect gift to put on your Christmas list, yes?

I’m exhausted, but also very pleased that I’m doing my best work to date. I just had a showing of my latest paintings at Environment Furniture in Atlanta and the response to the new work was some of the best I’ve ever received in my career. The work is shipping down to Florida on Thursday for a show on the 18th and I’m off to my next showing with even MORE new paintings for my Chicago show in a couple of days. It will be wonderful to see who ends up with some of these new paintings… the latest set is called “Ti Amo”- meaning I love you, in Italian.

So beautiful.

I recently received this note from an artist after I sent out the email invites for my show on October 14th. Every once in a while I receive a note from someone who really touches me. This is one that made me feel really appreciated:

“I was in Environment last month and recognized your paintings (until then I had only seen them online)…they look absolutely gorgeous with their furniture! I hope you sell out! You are not only talented but genuine; how refreshing. I hope to some day meet you in person.”

How blessed I am to have such positive things and people in my life. Yes, there are hardships, but I’m choosing to focus on the positives! And work as hard as I can. To add to it, I spent a weekend in New England at the end of September to visit dear artist friends as well as meet my art collectors. The beauty of New England is really sticking with me… oceans and bays and meadows and marshes right next to farms? Truly a gorgeous place and I’m so glad to have had the chance to enjoy it with my good friends.

I’m also about to move in to a new loft and am thrilled because I need a change, but also because it’s literally only a few minutes from my studio. I can have a better view and be more productive? DONE and DONE.

So many wonderful things and it’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s feeling GREAT!  I even have a book-release party lined up and a special studio event scheduled for the beginning of December. AND I’ve started a ‘give back’ offer to collectors that will help a variety of charities. I really hope people take advantage of that as it’s such a great way to give back. Win-win-win.

A couple of new commissions were recently completed… I’m thankful for the art business as my inspiration has been in full gear. I am awake! It’s Autumn (my favorite time of the year) and life is GOOD! I hope this is the case for all of you, dear readers!

I wonder what is to come? I wonder what is next?? Maybe a little sleep first and then I’ll be ready for Winter.

9/11

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. The after-effects have been ongoing and literally affected millions of lives all around the world. As we remember those that lost their lives as well as gave their lives and to those who are still fighting and risking their lives…  thank you and bless you. I remember feeling disbelieve as did so many as I heard the horrific news that morning… we thought it was an accident. Then quickly realized it was so much more. Since that day, so many have lived with loss and pain, but also change and hope.

For weeks after the 9/11 attacks,  I was surprised to hear from total strangers via email. I received thank you notes from people who somehow found my artwork on the internet and let me know that at the end of each day, the only thing that made them feel better or brought them comfort from their grief was viewing my paintings. Some of them were counselors trying to help victims and their families cope with the 9/11 tragedy. They were trying to help others cope… but who was helping them cope? I remember crying out of sincere gratitude that something I created could reach people so deeply and bring them some kind of peace. The fact that they reached out to me to let me know how they were affected must have taken courage.

It’s been ten years and I hold this gratitude in my heart and mind every day. Knowing that I have been given a gift that can help others is a big responsibility and a wonderful opportunity. It reminds me that we all have an important role to play in this world and I challenge myself constantly. It’s important to me that I am contributing somehow… to somehow try to make my time on this earth as worthy as possible. I want to bring peace and joy to as many as I can… if I can continue to do this and keep putting love out into the world, I know I will have peace.

I think it’s important that we all ask ourselves how we are contributing? How are we participating? How are we making this a better place? How are we treating each other? What are we giving? What and how can we leave this earth and the people we are in touch with (and even strangers we may not ever meet) better by what we do and how we act? I think it’s important that we each take time to reflect and seriously ask ourselves as individuals how and what we can do NOW to be a positive participant of this world. I hope I can always create such beauty that will continue to make a difference.

“The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty and Truth.”

~ Albert Einstein

So long, Summer

Dear Summer,

I noticed the mornings started to get a little cooler last week. Are the days really almost over? You’re leaving so soon? I wish I’d done more with you. I had bigger plans for us and wish I’d spent more time with you playing and swimming and dreaming in your season. Sure, we had our days/nights and moments, and July was especially productive, wonderful and busy…but I see I didn’t really get a chance to fully embrace you.

You sun-kissed my cheeks and encouraged me to wear every sundress in my closet. Your intense heat brought me to exhaustion but also made lemonade taste better than ever. You brought out the color orange and clarity. You helped welcome new ideas, perspective and challenges that further opened my eyes and heart. You gave me time to express love and understand how to find peace in being alone. You offered me the unique state of being still and dissolving remaining illusions of what it means to feel valued by others and with that, how to truly value myself. You brought me confusion which brought the opportunity to regain focus. You brought me lessons and tears to let go. And you asked me questions that could not be answered honestly and fully without having gone through your full summer. Even if I feel loss from this ending, I am grateful for the experience to know myself even more than before and learning the ever evolving truth as it is revealed.

Only a couple of days remain until a new fall schedule… four upcoming shows to prepare for and limited time.  It’s time to get busier than ever. With hurricane season in full-swing and lots of talk about the beaches, I’m glad I at least made it to the shore and Cumberland Island. I had the kind of inspiration that helped motivate me to complete one of my largest gorgeous new pieces for one of my shows coming up in October. I got to hike and play in the ocean and wander along the powdery hot sand… take a boat ride in the river and stroll in sultry Savannah under the romantic protective oaks. I look forward to what your next summer season will bring.

Until then, so long, sweet Summer… And thanks.

Retrograde Amber

You know when things are going along just fine and dandy and then little by little things start to get bumpy and confusing and pretty soon everyone is comparing stories about how just about everything in their world seems to be either malfunctioning or discombobulated on some level? It’s called a retrograde. EVERY TIME things seem harder than usual or there are miscommunications or strange happenings with transportation, etc. at some point someone says, “well, you know we ARE in the middle of another retrograde.” And sure enough… I check and voilà. Retrograde. There really isn’t ever a good time for one. And some affect us individually more than others. This has made me a believer over the past couple of years because every time things seem like this… Yep! Retrograde in action. Ahh haaaa.

I think they should have names for each retrograde, the way they name the Hurricanes each year. I’m going to start naming them myself starting with this one. This one is Retrograde Amber. This way when I look back on things or share a story from this time I can reference it by saying… “oh yehhh…. that was during retrograde Amber! Yep, Amber was a little typhoon, wasn’t she?”

My joke about using the name Amber is from the bachelorette party I went to over the weekend. Without getting into a whole other story here, I think that name suits my past few weeks at least. July was a stellar month for me. And then August really slumbered down. Amber Alert! Something is missing! Like my mojo? Or the way things were wonderfully falling right into place up until a couple of weeks ago. Do you feel like people are dropping the ball? Things aren’t clicking?  I’m just ready to be over it already. Come on September 9th!!!!

In case those of you aren’t familiar with the retrograde… here’s a little taste of what it’s all about:

At 03:50 UT (Universal Time) Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011, Mercury the wise communicator—and universal trickster—turnsretrograde at 1°12′ Virgo in the sign of the Virgin, sending communications, travel, appointments, mail and the www into a general snarlup! The retro period begins some days before the actual turning point (as Mercury slows) and lasts for three weeks or so, until August 26, 2011, when the Winged Messenger reaches his direct station. At this time he halts and begins his return to direct motion through the zodiac.

Everything finally straightens out on September 9th, as he passes the point where he first turned retrograde. Mercury normally turns retrograde three times a year, but last year he turned tail four times, which is unusual, and his shadow phase was still active in early January 2011. The effects of each period differ, according to the sign in which it happens (see box for Retrograde Periods in 2011).

A planet is described as retrograde when it appears to be moving backwards through the zodiac. According to modern science, this traditional concept arises in the illusory planetary motion created by the orbital rotation of the earth with relation to other planets in our solar system. It’s a bit like travelling on the road watching another car beside you: when the other car slows down, or you speed up, it looks as though the other car is moving backwards. Planets are never actually retrograde or stationary, they just seem that way due to this cosmic shadow-play. Click here for some neat graphics and more on thescience of retrograde planetary motion.

The rest is much more interesting, so here is the link to the page.

Good luck with your next couple of weeks, everybody!!

Artists I Love

Two Artists I love died this month. Cy Twombly and Lucian Freud. They were in their 80′s and I imagine lived a pretty colorful/full life. Their work has inspired artists all over the world. Lucian’s work auctioned for what I believe was the highest amount for a living artist 3.4 Million. I can only imagine what his work will go for now that he’s passed.

When I was in my first year of school I had a horrible art history teacher at the community college level. I’m not exaggerating. If memory serves, she mispronounced every other artists name and even had a stutter. She was not really teaching us anything… the class was a complete BORE. How did she make art history a literal snooze? Well, mostly she was simply showing slides and saying the name and the dates. Not really intriguing in the dark. By the time I reached my dream of a four-year art college (The School of the Art Institute of Chicago) two years later, I felt like I was WAY behind on everything. I had a lot of making up to do. That’s why it’s so important to go to the right college!!! It’s fine to get a few credits out-of-the-way at the community college level, but if you really want the best education that will make a difference, you have to get to the higher places. This is based on my experience. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s worth it. I did it the only way I could to finally get to where I wanted and needed to be.

The School of the Art Institute was such an amazing place to go to school. I would literally cut through the Art Institute Museum daily to get to my classes. I was surrounded my masterpieces flashing by and when my friends and I had breaks and lunches… we often used our time to slowly wander the museum and take everything in. If we had more time, we’d walk down Michigan Avenue and go to the MOCA. Bliss! I admit I got pretty burned out on the conceptual work after a few years, but it was lovely to have so much exposure to such intriguing works of art.

I remember my first painting critique… a few of my peers said my work reminded them of Picasso. Well, since I’d had such poor art history classes prior to getting into SAIC, I was initially a little offended by their comment. I didn’t understand. When I finally learned the full scope of Picasso’s earlier work later that night… I was flattered. I had no idea he’d had such a major transformation. I simply hadn’t had much exposure to other artists at that time. That was my wake up call. I began to really look at other artists works. We were of course encouraged to do so, but I had only been looking at a few over and over before this that I’d already been exposed to. Over the years I would stumble upon contemporary artists that I enjoyed and informed our work in school. Once I was out of school and trying to figure out my style, I stopped looking at other artists works altogether. I didn’t want any more outsider influence on my work. I wanted my work to be pure. To come from my heart. I’d had so much stimulation from all the art classes from five years of college that I really couldn’t absorb anymore and still feel I was making something unique.

It took me years, but I did it. Sure, I have heard others tell me that my work reminds them of “so and so’s work” here and there, but that’s just people trying to identify with the work. We all want to connect it somehow with something we’ve seen before. I do the same thing sometimes. I’ve heard it plenty before when people comment on a musicians stuff… “oh! it reminds me of this mixed with that!” Labels help us feel like we know something. In almost all the interviews I’ve done over the years, I’m asked the question “What artists have influenced your work?”  It’s a great question, but I don’t really know specifically which ones. Perhaps ALL I’ve ever encountered? Maybe one or two if something is similar in the way we approach the subject matter or technique? Whatever the case, I don’t know if it’s conscious and I can’t really pinpoint anyone. I prefer to leave that up to the viewers if they need to identify it somehow with someone else. I think any good artist strives to have a unique and authentic style. It’s hard, but I believe it’s possible.

Here are just a few artists whose works I’ve always loved: Titian, Klimt, Bosch, Rothko, Kiefer, Frankenthaler, Starn Twins, Rauschenberg, Turrell, Kahn, Motherwell, Twombly, Freud, Goldsworthy, and dozens of others.  This doesn’t necessarily mean that they influence my work, it just means that there is something in their work that speaks to me on some level. Something I find personally satisfying. Some are masters and some are contemporaries. My taste changes over time and so some of the works I admire depends on my mood and what is current and relevant in my life. Lately I’ve started to look at my contemporaries again as there seems to be more of an obvious spiritually based awareness in the works that are being created in this decade. We are so lucky to have these voices and gifts of creation to share. Who are some of your favorite artists??