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Jacqueline Conway's avatar

Jenn, watching you make a painting is inspirational! I love the way that you work with the acrylics. I also paint, but mainly draw. I completely agree with you that acrylics are a lovely medium to work with. They are versatile and forgiving: it’s easy to paint out a mistake and rescue a picture. Your pictures, though, don’t need any rescuing because they are just beautiful! I love thé way that you make a plain background jump into life.

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Jenn's avatar

Oh my goodness, thank you so much, this is such a lovely compliment, I appreciate it. Drawing is my first love, too, but I

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Jenn's avatar

But I agree with you that acrylics are sooo simple and easy to use! Thank you again for such a kind compliment ❤️

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Jamie Millard's avatar

So beautiful Jenn! Your paintings always tell a story. I feel them. Thank you! Happy summer! 🙏❤️

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Jenn's avatar

Thank you so much, Jamie! That brings me joy that you feel them. I appreciate you so much. I hope you are having a beautiful day.

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Mohika Mudgal's avatar

Jenn! Your art is THERAPY! loving the same videos and although I can only manage to paint with my fingers, I'm beginning to want to pick up a brush and splash some paint around because of you 🪄

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Jenn's avatar

Finger painting is legit! Here is a finger painting by chuck close, if you are interested!

http://chuckclose.com/work120.html

But if you do feel drawn to a paintbrush, I hope you give it a try. I am deeply humbled to have inspired you so. Thank you so much ❤️

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Mohika Mudgal's avatar

I cannot believe this is a PAINTING. Wowowow!

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Jenn's avatar

I know, right?!?! It’s incredible!!! It blows my mind.

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Deborah T. Hewitt's avatar

Jenn, this is so awesome to share the process! I am intrigued! Especially by your use of the palette knife! Love your creativity and how it is perfectly, uniquely you! The cloud messages! So so good! Thank you for this! And. yes. No to finishing anything with kids awake! lol. ox

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Jenn's avatar

The palette knife is my favorite tool; it’s so fun and forgiving to scrape out a roadmap for the next step! Thank you, Deb, I so appreciate you, and I’m glad to liked my cloud words, too ❤️

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Deborah T. Hewitt's avatar

I know so little about painting that I found it so interesting! I love your creativity Jenn :) You are a beautiful soul. ox

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Jenn's avatar

Haha! Thanks for the internet hug ❤️

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Deborah T. Hewitt's avatar

🤗

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Jenn's avatar

As the kids say…. Takes one to know one ❤️. In all seriousness, thank you from the bottom of my heart, and you are a beautiful soul, I am lucky to know you!

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Deborah T. Hewitt's avatar

I do feel a kindred spirit here with you Jenn! But, if we're not careful, David Runyan will remind us again that we're in some kind of love-fest? ha ha!! I love it! I send your sentiments back to you. Sending you that big hug I wish I could give you in person... and my love always. oxox

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Jenni Madden's avatar

Your technique is so free! You use an extender for the acrylics? And yes, with children around, serious painting is pretty much impossible. I gave William my paintbrush just to see what he would do. Hmmm...yellow paint on my keyboard and on him. So I give him my brush but without paint and he pretends! I know you will get back into oils with little trouble. I find oils so much easier but you have to have a place to set it all up and close the door on it. Good luck with it anyway. Keep us in the loop. I enjoyed the videos. I admire the palette knife you used.

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Jenn's avatar

Thank you! I paint like I draw 😂. Maybe that’s why I like to start it that way, it’s like a paint drawing. That’s funny that William tried to paint all the things. I remember strapping all of mine into their high chairs for their first paintings. How fun to have that memory with him, though. I definitely use a slow dry medium, copiously because I like to work wet on wet. It helps a lot, I was using water before I discovered the slow dry stuff. Thank you for the boost of confidence for the oils! I remember really enjoying it, and it’s like you said, you’ve got to have a place to set up and leave it be. How is your acrylic adventure going?

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Jenni Madden's avatar

Acrylics for me are always a work in progress; I like the challenge though. Not easy. I liked oils a lot more because of the blending of colours with a fan brush to make such flawless skin tones. I have an art room, but it's also used for other things. I need to organize it and then set up oils. Someday... My friend works wet on wet. I haven't tried it yet. He swears by gouache and I haven't tried that either. I just need to buckle down and try these new things. I will though. I am inspired by other artists. It helps to talk to you and to other artists who are enthusiastic about the possibilities. I did some collage. Something I never thought about. It was fun!

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Jenn's avatar

I have never tried gouache either, actually. That’s very cool that you made a collage!! I feel like collage is the thing I do to kickstart my brain; it’s soothing in the way putting a jigsaw puzzle together is. I have a huge collection of paper scraps that I love to dig through. Good luck with continuing in acrylics and getting your studio space set up. I love the way your describe blending oils, I can feel your passion for it from here ☺️

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Jenn's avatar

Oh, and yes, I Love that knife, it is my favorite and the only one I won’t let my kids borrow!

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Jenni Madden's avatar

Haha! I'll bet! I have paintbrushes like that.

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Jenn's avatar

Yes! I know you get it 😂

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Perry J. Greenbaum 🇨🇦 🦜's avatar

Nice explanation and accompanying videos of the artistic process.

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Jenn's avatar

Thank you so much, Perry! I really appreciate you taking a look and leaving me a kind comment.

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Kasandra's avatar

Wow! I really enjoyed this post ! The mixed art notes to your husband is so sweet! ~^^~ XO

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Jenn's avatar

Thank you so very much for the kind comment! I am really thrilled you enjoyed the videos and the cloud-word art, too. I am planning to make more of them, they make me happy ❤️

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Joel Wisniewski's avatar

Jenn,

I can't wait to watch the video! Switching media from oil, acrylic, and sketching to mixed media is reassuring. I read each step above and then viewed each on the canvas - so helpful.

Although I have never tried acrylic painting, I foresee it in the future. The bottles have a gentle luminosity, and the shadows bring everything to life. Art enhances everyday objects we take for granted every day.

I finished viewing the painting and then scrolled down to a wonderful surprise - Mixed media!

You inspire me.

Joel

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Jenn's avatar

Joel, thank you so much. And I’m so pleased you enjoyed seeing my process. “Art enhances everyday objects we take for granted” — this is so true and I particularly like how you worded it, thank you. I hope you enjoy acrylic if you give it a try! Thank you for this kind and thoughtful message.

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Andrew Jazprose Hill's avatar

Very nice to see your process, Jenn. Acrylic definitely seems a better option in a family environment for all the reasons you mentioned. It’s easy to see you love what you do. That shows up in the results.

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Jenn's avatar

Thank you Andrew, I am really glad that my love for my work is apparent to an outsider eye! You are too kind and I appreciate you taking the time to check out my work!

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BarkingTreesBite's avatar

Thanks for breaking down some of your process. Loving the sketching and shaping with the knife.

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Jenn's avatar

Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed seeing how I create!

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Ginger Stockwell's avatar

Jenn, I absolutely love your mixed media art work. So incredible and so creative. Thank you for sharing the oil process - truly inspiring to watch!

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Jenn's avatar

Thank you, Ginger! It means so much to know you find it inspiring! Thanks for taking a look and leaving me a kind compliment!

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Ayesha A.'s avatar

Wow. I really love your art. I've been painting for a long time (for entertainment) but I have not taken any classes so my paintings aren't very professional. I would love it if you could maybe give me some tips! I can share pictures of my paintings personally if you'd like to have a look at them and tell me how I can improve.

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Jenn's avatar

You may certainly send me some; though I’m not sure if I have the knowledge to fix what you perceive to be wrong! I find that my art improves if I practice consciously noticing the lights and darks and forms and shapes of all the things around me. And how they relate to each other in space. For drawing still life and people, landscapes, too, I often find I’ve gotten the perspective wrong; learning how to sight lines and angles is immensely helpful. Here is a you tube tutorial to explain what I’m trying to say!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UbTGAORFkKo

Thank you so much for the kind words and for checking out my art, I look forward to seeing yours, too!

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Ayesha A.'s avatar

Yup, I get it. I'll send you some pictures as soon as I can! You're welcome!

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Charlotte Pendragon's avatar

What a special treat to be given a

a chance to view the process of your creativity Jenn! Thank you so much for sharing the behind seen look at your incredible artd! You are amazing!

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Jenn's avatar

You are so kind, Charlotte, thank you very much. I am so thrilled you enjoyed watching part of it unfolding onto the canvas!! Thank you ❤️

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Joyce's avatar

Lovely as always 💙💫

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Jenn's avatar

Thank you, Joyce, for taking the time to look and leave me a few words ❤️

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Joyce's avatar

I love your drawings and paintings, Jenn. 💙🙏💫

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Jenn's avatar

That means so much to me, thank you, Joyce ❤️

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Ingrid Haring-Mendes's avatar

Your work is beautiful. Thanks for giving us an inside peek!

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Jenn's avatar

Thank You for taking a peek and leaving a few kind words! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

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Kristine Neeley's avatar

Loved this peek into your process!

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Jenn's avatar

Thank you so much, Kristine ❤️

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