It's about time I get back to posting on this blog

Wow, it's been a very long time since I've posted and since I've painted. I was busy with some art festivals in late September and early October and then went with my husband as he worked in Alaska for 11 days. A few days after getting home from there, we drove the 2 day trip to Omaha to visit kids and grandkids and family for 2 weeks. Just 2 days after arriving there, my retina detached and i had emergency eye surgery on that Sunday, November 1st. I was staying at my sister's at the time, thankfully and after spending the night in the hospital after the surgery I was able to recuperate at her house. I had to lay on my side, with no pillow for 7 straight days. It was awful, but at the same time, I felt so blessed that I was at Kelly's wonderful house and was being entertained by my daughter Jaimi and 3 little grandkids.
My eye is healing nicely, and after 6 weeks, although still red, it feels back to normal. I have to wear glasses instead of my beloved contacts, but hopefully in another month I can start wearing them again.
This is my first painting since the surgery. It is a commission from Jaimi's childhood friend, Norrisa. She requested the pink water. It is at my house, drying before shipping. I hope she enjoys it.
Water Lillies at Sunrise
24x20
sold

Art Festivals are over. I can paint again!!

I've had two art festivals in the past two weeks, which don't sound like much, especially for seasoned exhibitors, but, when you are just starting off, there is so much to do to get ready. After all the work getting ready for them, I wish I could say they were a great success, but, unfortunately they were just the opposite. The first one was two weeks ago, a total rain-out. It rained so hard that their was a little river running through my tent. It never let up. Unbelievable. The one today, was, thankfully just the opposite in that way. The weather was picture perfect. The problem was, that it was more of an arts and crafts type of show, in a sort of low income area, and well, no one bought paintings that weren't huge and very low priced, I'm talking under thirty dollars. Actually, that's not true, my friend Georgia sold a very nice one that was huge and 250 dollars. It was worth much more than that. I sold 4 cards. At least the entry fee was also very cheap.

I'm tired, not completely discouraged though. I did get alot of really nice comments and made some good contacts. Now, I just want to immerse myself into painting. I haven't painted for so long, because getting ready for these shows were so time consuming. During this past week i also joined an artist co-op gallery in Greer, a town about 25 minutes from my house. Today was it's first day open and I haven't heard how it went. I would have liked to have been there today, but I had that show. I spent alot of time running back and forth to the gallery this week, trying to figure out how to hang my paintings. S hooks didn't work, so i ended up bending wire hangers into hooks-also very time consuming. I just want to paint, no more show preparations. Just paint.

mango love

I love mangos. Here are four 8x8x1/2" oil paintings on gessoed boards. I actually did these way back in March and April. I had some mangos on a white plate sitting on my table. The were so gorgeous, I had to paint them. I love the rich colors and the bright cad medium yellow insides. I had them on display last weekend at the West Greenville Arts Festival. They seemed to get the most attention out of all my paintings, so I thought I should finally get around to posting them here.

If interesting in purchasing these paintings, email me at jacki.newell@gmail.com.
$75 each plus $10 shipping.
$280 for set of 4.

Thanks for visiting my blog!
jacki

Sunflower Oil Painting-Gazing into the Sun

This little sunflower looks as if it's gazing into the sun and is having to shade it's eyes because of the sun's brilliance. That is something that I appreciate about sunflowers, if you'ver ever seen a whole field of them, they keep their faces looking towards the sun. (Hence the name, I suppose:) They are devoted sun worshippers, and one foggy day I went out to get some photos of the sunflowers, and there they were, all with their heads bowed, as if sad and maybe, praying for the light they love so much. Sunflowers are a great reminder to me, to keep looking to God's Son, the Light of the World, and, of course, to pray in this dark world.


Thank you for visiting my blog.

Gazing Toward the Sun
10"x10"x1 oil on stretched canvas with gallery edges.

$200 unframed.
$225 framed.
Add $10 for shipping.

Sunflowers Oil Painting

Just finished this a few minutes ago. For some reason, this went so much easier than the last sunflower painting. Not much of a struggle at all, very enjoyable. Any ideas for a title? As I paint these guys, they seem to me to take on a personality. It looks like the big sunflowers are peering down on the poor little guy for some reason. Let me know what you see and what I should title this.
As for now, it's just going to be titled:

Sunflowers, Oil Painting
12"x12"x 1"
$250 unframed. $275 framed plus $10 shipping.

Email me at jacki.newell@gmail.com if you are interested in purchasing this painting. It has the nice gallery edges, so no need to buy a frame.

Patio at Mary's, Greenville, SC

Way too hot to paint outdoors. I know, I'm a wimp, and am choosing to stay inside my air conditioned studio to paint from photos. Not as much fun, but comfy.

This painting gave me so much trouble. I spent 2 1/2 days struggling and fighting with it. I'm so glad to be done. I blame it on the lighting in my studio, and the light in my house, for the most part is just too dark. It looks fine while on my easel with the easel light on but as soon as i turn off the light , the colors look so dull and dark. So, today, I went over it with my easel light off, going only by the light from my window. It looks so much better now.

I've been wanting to paint this scene for a long time now, and have gotten out of my system. It looks nice in a gold frame.

I'm getting ready for the West End Art festival in Greenville, in mid September. Come and see me there if you live in this area.
Patio at Mary's, Greenville, SC
9"x12"oil on gessoed panel framed in quality gold tone frame
$200 plus $10 shipping

If interested, email me at jacki.newell@gmail.com

Another One (SOLD)

Here's one I painted a few days ago. Very enjoyable, not a huge struggle like the last one I posted. It's the same size as that one.

















Singular Sunflower
10x10x1" oil on stretched canvas with gallery edges (no frame needed).
SOLD
If interested in purchasing this painting, contact me at
jacki.newell@gmail.com