Brown-UPS might be onto something......

I opened a catalog of delicious fall clothes this week, and the line that caught me was "brown and black DO go together." Do they? Is brown the new black? If it doesn't hide 10 lbs then I am going back to my staple black. I like the color, but realized that I NEVER use it in my paintings. I don't wear it much-I only have black boots and shoes, no brown. In my never ending quest to be more streamlined and chic, I have removed all but white, black and gray from my wardrobe. If you can call it a wardrobe. Actually my wardrobe is anything that doesn't have paint splattered all over it, mothholes or kid related stains. If it does, I usually wear it out anyway, but my WARDROBE is hidden away for when I actually pretend to have a life.

This lack of other color in my life led me to try brown in a painting before I commit to a new sweater. I do have to say that it can be fun . There are so many nuances to it. I like it with turquoise. Not sure if I am ready to order the outfit yet. I wouldn't be able to wear it anyway, until I have hid it for 2 months from my husband and say "what this? I have had it for ages..." This painting is 40" x 40" and is available at Sunshine Limited in Watkinsville, GA.

Juicy Color

I heard the term "juicy color" this week and just love it. What a great description of those intense, saturated colors that artists are always struggling to find. It is the fun part of the painting, when you get to come in and put some bling on, some gorgeousness.

A gallery owner remarked to me yesterday that she feels the need to show paintings with color and happiness right now. The economic news can make anyone feel like they are sloshing around in layers of gray. My antidote to the gloom is to put on NPR for some beautiful music and get into these very happy, very juicy colors. I just have to turn the radio off when the news comes on!

This painting is 30 x 30 and is available through dk Gallery.

The cure for high blood pressure.....

This morning I was rushing around my house, trying to get ready for a VERY important appointment with a VERY prominent gallery. As always, the hubby had things to say, and the children were dragging, as they had been up all night. I had no clean clothes and had too much coffee. The school called just as I was parking in front of the gallery, which is across town from our house. Luckily the school nurse took pity on me and agreed to send the sick (allergic) child back to class until I finished my appointment. As I opened my car door in front of the gallery owner, a huge pile of my kids' McDonalds wrappers fell out from their nutritious dinner on the run last night. I dropped my purse. It flew open. I wanted to crawl under a rock.

Then I entered the gallery and every care I had just flew away. It was a sea of gorgeousness. Just as delicious as anything could be. That is when it hit me that I had a new cure for stress. Every doctor should send their patients to a gallery for an hour a day. They just need to sit and take in the beauty. We would all be so much healthier. Even more so if we stopped eating at McDonalds.

This painting is titled "Golden Moments" and is available at DK Gallery, my newest gallery. Donna and Mary are the coolest chicks around and know their stuff. Stop in for some destressing.

Growth

Recently, I was able to visit the studio of one of my favorite artists, Dennis Campay. The man is amazing, and his wife is one cool chick. I want to be them when I grow up. His art is so alive, and so fantastic. He is such a generous man. He discussed the mindset of a creative person and how to open yourself to what is really in your soul and in your heart. I felt like a lightening bolt had hit me. There was a true, giant, all encompassing "AHA" moment-Oprah would be so proud.

I came home from Dennis's funky, urban place of inspiration and looked around my suburban, white bread home filled with old english furniture. My surroundings cannot dictate my creative flow!! At least for now it will have to do. I ran upstairs to my in home studio and whipped out a wild and crazy painting with drips and scraping and splatters. I was scared, appalled and excited. What had I done?? One of my galleries had called needing more art. Dare I? I didn't have much else so I did. I took that wet & wild painting in there, full of trepidation and more than the usual insecurities. My friendly gallery owner took a look at it, kind of mumbled and smiled, then moved it to to the side of my pile of art.

At least I had tried to release that creative, wild thing inside of me. It was scary but I heard Dennis in my head saying "It's only paint-what are you afraid of?" Halfway home I got a call from my gallery. The piece had just sold.

There is paint now splattered everywhere in my studio. It reminds me of the first time I tried to cook spaghetti. I have strange things scattered around that I hope to use in my paintings. My next few attempts have had mixed results, but I am raging forward, opening that part of my self that is a little scared to come out. This painting is 24 x 36, and now dried and recovered from the violence of its creation and is available by contacting me at jschultz05@comcast.net.

A day painting....

Bad Bunny Studio is up and running! Our first real week of painting there
has been heavenly. We have also acquired the space next door and
2 more talented painters. We will be setting up a gallery space next week.

You will be able to stop in and see our work displayed and for sale!

This painting is 24 x 36 and is titled "Great Room Table". It is available at

www.etsy.com/shop/jennyschultzdesigns or you find can contact information for me at www.jennyschultz.com

Quiet Time...

I was up at 2 this morning, thanks to the dog AGAIN. Once I am up there is no turning back. I did get my groove on though, once the coffee was brewed. I walked into my studio and actually breathed. There was noone calling for me, needing me, demanding my attention. Not that I don't love being needed! I just love a quiet house and a fresh cup o' java. The studio is full of paintings that are different from each other. Now I am circling back to do series of my favorite subjects. My blue sap bucket is my current series. You will see it with different arrangements. Next look for the square dancing series. I have already posted The Fiddler on Facebook but will post him here soon. Now I am going to enjoy a fresh brewed cup and go back to my quiet to renew before the barrage begins.

come back to me......

We had spring for about a nano second before the fleece had to come back out. Here in the South it should be 70's again later this week. I wanted to give you all up North a little bright ray of hope that it is coming soon!! This painting is 24 x 24, gallery wrapped and will be hanging at the Restart Show April 6th- 8th at the Paces Gallery in Vinings.

Hang in there.....

Spring will come. I know it is hard to believe. Soon all of this snow will melt, the tulips will begin to sprout and women will begin spray tanning everywhere. It will happen, I promise.

Bucket 'O Color

Is it 'O or O'? If one is writing a blog, one should know these things. Speaking of O -my new favorite blog is Orangette-it is a wonderful blog, written by Molly Wizenberg. I have her book "A Homemade Life" which is just a very cool cookbook/ memoir. (even though she is not out of her 20s yet!!) Molly and her husband have just opened a pizza joint in Seattle and the menu makes me want to grab a flight immediately. Plus she is very witty.

The painting above was done while my husband was on a ski trip in Feburary of last year. It was dreary out, the kids were climbing the walls and I needed some happy. It is 18 x 24, oil on canvas, and will be listed on Etsy.com in a few minutes.