Owner: Art & Life URL:http://www.janblencowe.blogspot.com Join Date: Sat, 19 Aug 2006 07:23:42 -0500 Rating:1 Site Description: Art & Life is a chronicle of plein air paintings, outdoor painting adventures and studio work from life. It also features my $100 Flower-a-Day series. Information and resources for artists and collectors is abundant. Lots of great links to other art rel Site statistics:Click here
BIG NEWS!! 2006-10-21 02:07:00 A few weeks ago I posted to let you know that 3 of my paintings were selected as finalists in the Paint America Top 100 Competition. The results were posted today! Both my large paintings were selected as the 2 paintings that will represent Connecticut in the top 100 landscapes in America, 2 from each state. Also, one of my small paintings was selected as one of the two that will represent Connecticut in the "mini" category. I'm thrilled to have my paintings represent my home state.
More good news. I was interviewed by USA Weekend Magazine today. They will be featuring my Painting a Day Project blog in their Dec. or Jan. issue.
Just got home moments ago from the opening of Madison Art Societies Dudley Farm Harvest Festival Art Show and Sale. I have 6 paintings on display. The Harvest Festival is tomorrow, Saturday Oct. 21st, 10-5. Dudley Farm is located on Rt.77 just north of Rt.80 in Guilford, CT. Come on down for a fun day if you're in the area.
paint america
October at Hammonasset 2006-10-16 15:52:00 Marsh Path-October
14x18, oil$425, unframedTo Purchase contact: jan.blencowe@comcast.net Beach House at Sunset6x8,oil, unframed$100, to purchase contact: jan.blencowe@comcast.netThere's a chill in the air! We're nearing peak color now and Hammonasset State Park was just beautiful on Saturday. Both of these were painted with a transparent red oxide underpainting a method I like very much especially at this time of year when the reddish underpainting lends a unifying glow to the whole painting. Enjoy!plein airpaintingartlandscape
Three Autumn Landscapes 2006-10-11 15:39:00
Late Afternoon Panorama6x8, oil, unframed$100
October Saltmarsh6x8, oil, unframed$100
Lake and Pines6x8, oil, unframed$100
We had some beautiful Indian Summer weather over the week-end.I went to a local state park and spent a wonderful afternoon painting. I'm really enchanted with these little 6x8 in. panels. The paintings seem like little jewels, with lots of rich color concentrated in a small space. To purchase any of these please e-mail me jan.blencowe@comcast.net
To see other small format landscapes please visit my website and click on the Petitescapes Gallery.
To view my auctions at ArtByUs.com please scroll down to the bottom of the page.
plein air
painting
landscapes
original art Read more:Three
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The Final Colors of Autumn 2006-11-05 16:30:00 Vertical Treetops, 6x8, oil$100, unframed, free shipping in the US November Marsh, 14x18, oil$450, unframed + shipping October Pond, 6x8, oil$100, unframed, free shipping in the US October Treetops, 6x8, oil$100, unframed, free shipping in the USTreetops at Noon, 6x8, oil$100 unframed, free shipping in the US These final weeks of autumn are busy time for me as I try to get as many plein air paintings done as possible before it gets really cold. I still go out in the winter but bitter cold, sleet, frozen rain and wind will keep me inside during many winter days. Of course when it snows there will the irresistable urge to get out and paint all the wonderful colors reflected in the snow. If your interested in purchasing any of these paintings please e-mail me at jan.blencowe@comcast.net you can pay safely and easily through Paypal.All the small paintings (6x8) you see here have also been posted at www.paintingadayproject.blogspot.com along with all my daily paintings, including f Read more:Final
, Colors
, Autumn
Capturing the Last of the Autumn Color 2006-11-05 16:12:00 Autumn
Stream, 6x8, oil Birdhouse in the Treetops, 6x8, oil Changing Weather and treetops, 6x8, oil A Bend in the Road, 6x8, oil October Morning, 6x8, oil I've been trying to paint as mauch as possible before the leaves are all down and the beautiful autumn colors gone. Soon a somber cloak of gray and brown will cover the landscape, and then the pure white os snow. To purchase any of these contact me at jan.blencowe@comcast.netEach painting is $100, unframed, shipping is free in the US Read more:Color
The Gray Days of November 2006-11-18 01:07:00 Hammock River-November
, 6x8 oil Kingfisher Morning, 6x8 ,oilEach painting is $100, unframed, shipping is free in the US, to purchase contact: jan.blencowe@comcast.net Busy, busy week and lots of news to share, but first the paintings. I did the top piece yesterday along the banks of the Hammock River. When I unpacked and began to set up I realized that I had forgotten to bring my white paint! Naples yellow made a great stand in though on such a gray and misty day. Fortunately my board was primed with Art Spectrum "Blue Haze" primer and I was able to save some of that for the water where the lighter sky was reflected. This is a technique that watercolorists often use to get those bright whites, they let the white of the paper remain untouched and that's essentially what I did here. The second one I did today also along the Hammock River. The tide was very high so high that the spot i usually park my car in was under a few feet of water!! While I was painting I had a noisy Belted King
Holiday Shopping Time 2006-11-18 14:12:00 If you know a plein air painter (or you're one yourself) and you're looking for great holiday gift ideas please visit my
Plein Air Painting Resource page, where you will find lots of information and great plein air books and equipment.
If you have an artist and a book lover on your list (even kids) then you'll want to visit my
bookshop
page and if your looking for unique gifts featuring original art than take a look in the
giftshop
.
To give the gift of art you can visit my website to view complete galleries of my work or if your looking for something really unique visit
The Painting a Day Project to see what's new on my easel today, these small format paintings are $100, and the shipping is free in the US.
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, Holiday
Three New Plein Air Paintings 2006-11-21 18:26:00 Waterway, 8x10, oil Shorebird Sanctuary, 8x10, oil The Marsh Beckons, 8x10, oilThe whole feel of the marsh is changing now that we are well into November. It's cold and the colors have become muted. Even the air quality has changed, and on cold days it's dry and clear and I can hear the birdcalls and the sounds of wildlife from far over the marsh. I've had to begin wearing gloves when I paint and a few layers of clothing as the wind can cut right through you. Still I love being out there and it will have to get much colder before I stop going out. Enjoy!Each of the above paintings is $160, unframed. To purchase contact me at jan.blencowe@comcast.netplein air painting Read more:Three
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Over the River 2006-12-03 02:35:00
Over the River
9x12
oil on linen
$375
This was painted just before Thanksgiving and I took the title from that famous Thanksgiving song Over the River and Through the Woods. This is a small stream (not really a river!) that empties into a pond. The pond has a dam at one end that regulates the water flow and lets it back out so the stream can continue on its way. The whole reason for chosing this spot was so that I could give my new very small oxhair brushes a work out painting all those tiny bare twigs and branches. Usually I use bristle brushes, they're made from stiff hog hair. They're great for rubbing and scrubbing (yes, I'm a brush abuser LOL). I'm also an impressionist painter and don't like painting in a lot of tight detail. However, I'm moving into a bit of a new direction with my work and I want to include some well chosen areas of detail. The ox hair brushes are softer than the bristle but not a soft as sable (and not as expensive either!). This ne
The Falls River and the Marsh 2006-12-09 20:53:00 Sanctuary, 16x20, oil$600 The FallsRiver
Just Before Winter, 18x24, oil$1200Two new paintings to share today. The first I did as a demonstration at the Tracy Art Center a few weeks ago. I used an 8x10 plein air as a reference for this larger studio piece. You can see the plein air in a post below, it's called Shorebird Sanctuatry. The second piece I did on the grounds of a new gallery I'm represented by, Gallery at 85 Main Street which is in Centerbrook, CT. The gallery itself is a charming 200 year old barn that's been renovated and overlooks the Mill Pond section of the Falls River. The light at this particular location is really spectacular and it was a joy to paint there. To purchase contact me at: jan.blencowe@comcast.netplein air painting Read more:Marsh
Hidden Path and Hidden Path II 2006-12-21 16:48:00 Hidden
Path II 12x16, oil
Hidden Path 6x8, oil
Sometimes a scene holds so many possibilities that I need to paint it twice to fully explore what it offers. The second painting, the little 6x8 was the original one. Painted in the morning around 8:00 am on a day when the air was moist and full of water droplets. You can see how the colors are muted and lightened and the edges of things are soft and hazy. I went back the next afternoon around 2:30, and the weather was clear and colder and the sunlight stronger bringing things into sharper focus and expanding the range of values visable. This is one of the reasons that painting plein air is so fascinating to me, a scene can be totally different from one day to they next offering endless possibilities for an artist to explore.
To purchase either of these works please contact me jan.blencowe@comcast.net
Hidden Path II $425
Hidden Path $100
both are unframed
plein air painting
The Light of the World and the Winter Solstice 2006-12-21 17:26:00
The Holy Family
Winter Solstice
2006
These are both small 6x8 in. oils. Every year for the last couple of years I've tried to paint on the winter solstice, my way of celebrating the day and the certainty of longer days to follow. I find the rhythms and cycles of nature comforting and fascinating. Winter into spring, spring into summer, summer into autumn. The ebb and flow of the tides, the waxing and waning of the moon, the movement of the zodiac, seedtime and harvest, blossom and fruit, birth and death and on and on it goes with nature. In contrast to the constant change of nature we can find the changeless eternal One. At Christmas time we ponder the intersecting of time and eternity, the uncreated and the created joined with the result being that all in nature and all of humanity becomes scared.
" In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness but the darkness has not understood it." John:14-5 May we understand His light this Read more:World
Day is Done 2006-12-27 00:10:00
Day is Done, 7x9.5, oil
Sunsets are the most humbling subject matter to paint! It's while painting a sunset that I'm constantly reminded how inadequate my paints are to reproduce the glorious grandure of nature. The intensly glowing colors of a sunset can never be captured by mere paints and brushes. The best an artist can hope for is the recollection of a memory created by the splash of color and the juxtaposition of values on the canvas. While this painting pales compared to the actual event it does retain enough of the mood and feeling and a close enough approximation of the colors to bring me back to that moment.
If you are intersted in purchasing this painting for $100 please e-mail me at
jan.blencowe@comcast.net
plein air painting
sunset painting
Where is Winter?? 2007-01-07 22:33:00 Rock in a Puddle, oil, 8x10 Where is Winter, 6x8, oil Where is winter??? I don't know and frankly I don't care LOL ! It was another amazingly, unseasonably warm day here in southern New England. This morning I took my dog to the park/beach for a very long walk. She walked, ran, jumped over fences, rolled in the dirt and sand, went in the water(several times at different spots including a pond, a stream, a puddle and the sound itself), dug a hole, met scores of other dogs and generally had a wonderful doggy time. I found the long walk positively rejuvenating, especially the part where I sat on a bench at the edge of the dunes, soaked in the sun and warmth while listening to the rhythmic sound of the waves. The highlight though was seen two enormous blue heron fly into the pond, the sun was shining right on them as the flew and wow was their coloring ever beautiful. I also scoped out some new painting spots. I took the dog home, got some lunch and returned to the park to paint. It was
UPCOMING SHOW IN APRIL 2007-01-22 17:43:00 I'll be having a show April 26th, 2007 at Gallery at 85 Main Street, Centerbrook, CTfor a sneak preview click
here
.
Anyone in the area is more than welcome to attend the opening reception, if you're travelling from out of town the The Copper Beech Inn is just down the street from the gallery.
Hammonasset Paintings
Hammonasset art show
Jan Blencowe's Hammonasset Paintings
SPRING FLING SHOW 2007-02-09 18:25:00
If you've got the winter blahs, this show is guaranteed to give you spring fever !
If you're in the area please join us for an afternoon filled with springtime delights, even if there's snow on the ground it will be spring in the gallery!
spring art show
spring flower paintings
October Windmill 1970-01-01 00:59:59 OctoberWindmill
, 9x12, oil/linen$375, unframedTo Purchase: jan.blencowe@comcast.net Isn't this a beautiful scene? It seemed absolutely idyllic to me. The windmill, the river, the trees just beginning to turn, afternoon light, moody sky, sail boat and there were 30-40 swans in the river too, although they didn't make it into the painting LOL. Beautiful, except that I had to set up in a cemetary to get this view LOL. This is in Essex, CT and the windmill is authentic, and that's the Connecticut river. Enjoy! PS Yes, Yes I know it's not October yet. But I'm just one day off and I liked the way the title sounded!plein airpaintinglandscapeartessex windmill
The Dinner Hour 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The Dinner
Hour, 9x12, oil/linen$375,unframedTo Purchase Contact: jan.blencowe@comcast.net The marsh is now turning color! Many of the grasses have gone to seed, and their seedheads are golden and reddish. This is another late day painting, 3:30-5:30 pm, the beginning of the "golden hour" and also the "dinner hour" for the egrets LOL . These birds are so stately and beautiful, poised silently, intently staring at the water and then with lightening speed plucking their dinner out of the marsh. There were a number of them stalking about the marsh, then a large airdale terrier came through and they opened their magnificant wings and flew to safety further away. After a while they were back hunting for something to eat. They didn't seem to mind me at all standing on the edge of the water painting. That is one of the really , really cool things about painting outdoors, being right there with the natural world, in harmony and part of it. Painting is a pretty quiet activity, and for the most
The Colors of September 1970-01-01 00:59:59 September
's Colors
at Bauer Park14x18, oil/panel$425 In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil. And at no season, safe perhaps in Daffodil time, do we get such superb colour effects as from August to November.- Rose G. Kingsley, The Autumn Garden, 1905 Heser's Pond ~ September14x18, oil/panel$425To Purchase: jan.blencowe@comcast.netSeptember is a wonderful time to be outside painting! The weather is very pleasant, the sun is a little lower in the sky providing great light and shadows and the underbrush, wildflowers, weeds and grasses are beginning to turn fabulous colors. Then there is this overriding sense of warmth. I'm not sure how to explain it, but eventhough the temperatures might not be as high as in the summer(which just says "hot") the weather in September says "warmth". With that comes all kinds of positive feelings for me. When I'm outside nature seems full, and heavy laden with good
Priceless.com 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Hello to everyone who's visiting here via the link on Priceless
.com this week. Welcome to my plein air blog, which chronicles my outdoor paintings. If you're looking for my "painting a day project" click here. Looking for the Flower a Day Series click here. Both the painting-a-day and the flower-a-day paintings are $100, with free shipping in the US. To purchase contact me via email, jan.blencowe@comcast.net and pay safely through PayPal. Enjoy the art!
I'm a Finalist!! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 November Sunset Path Through the Marsh Cedars and Seagulls A few weeks ago I sent in my entries for the Paint America Top 100 Competition. For this competition artists submit landscapes representing a state, it could be their home state but it doesn't have to be. Finalist
s are chosen from each state. There is a category for large paintings and another for smaller size works. From the group of finalists 2 paintings are chosen from each state and thus you have Americas Top 100 landscapes, 2 representing each state. This exhibit of the top 100 landscapes will travel around the country for the next year. Yesterday I received a letter saying that all three of my entries had made it to the "finalist" category. WOW I never expected that!! I don't know if any of my pieces will be chosen to represent Connecticut, but I'm pleased to have been a finalist!!
For Vincent 1970-01-01 00:59:59 For Vincent
, 9x12, oil/linenSOLD Vincent Van Gogh has always been my favorite painter. I don't recall how I first came across his work but I do remember it was in junior high school. Many artists came before him and many have come and gone since, but his work continues to speak to me at a deep level. At first I didn't know anything of his tragic life and to this day I've never read his biography and though I own several books about him I rarely read the text preferring to look at the paintings. What little I've learned of his life and struggles with mental illness I picked up sporadically here and there. I'd rather let his works speak for themselves. Curiously, his work tells me of joy and life and energy, perhaps to a frenetic, manic degree. I sometimes get the feeling that I wouldn't think that if I didn't know of his internal struggles with mental illness and possibly bi-polar disorder. I think if I just saw his work without any knowledge of him I'd just see, joy and life a
Community Garden Sunflowers 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Community GardenSunflowers
, 9x12, oil/linen$375, unframedContact: jan.blencowe@comcast.netBauer Park has community garden plots where folks can grow vegetables and flowers and as you can see sunflowers of every variety are very popular. There's a bit of glare in this photo making things appear a bit sharp, the original has a very warm mellow feel to it. I think it's the texture of the linen this is painted on that causes the light to catch the raised fibers and pick up the sunlight reflecting off the wet paint. Anyway this has such a warm, summer's end feel to it I think it's one of my favorites of this year!plein airpaintingartlandscapegardensunflowers
Early Autumn 1970-01-01 00:59:59 EarlyAutumn
, 9x12, oil/linen$375, unframedTo Purchase: jan.blencowe@comcast.net What an absolutely magnificant day it was yesterday, perfect weather, light and color! This is such a great time of the year to be a plein air painter, you can literally watch the changes in nature day by day. It's a subtle time before the riot of color that is yet to come. This was a real challenge and I'm glad I decided to paint on a smaller size board rather than a 16x20. It was so challenging because I only began to paint after 4 o'clock and at that hour of the day the sun is sinking fast and the light and shadows changing considerably over two hours. There were many decisions to be made as I painted, whether to stick to the original plan or "chase the light", and deepen the shadows as they deepened before me. The end result is that this painting shows multiple moments in time, taking those elements that worked to harmonize the painting as the presented themselves to me in real time and combining t Read more:Early Autumn
Arts & Crafts Fair 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Arts & Crafts
Fair, 12x16, oil/panel$400, unframedcontact: jan.blencowe@comcast.net This weekend is the big arts & crafts fair in Old Saybrook. A tent city springs up overnight and then disappears Sunday evening!! I don't rent space and set up a tent , but the Tracy Art Center where I teach is right across the street. They have a tent with fun activities for the kids and information about classes at the center. They asked if I would come and paint and give a demonstration. In the morning I did this plein air of the fair. Always lots of fun painting unsuspecting people!! In the afternoon I gave a demonstration, enlarging a small plein air I did last summer into a larger painting. Met some nice people, and enjoyed being there especially since we were set up under a large shady tree.plein airpaintingart
A Brand New Look 2007-03-14 01:47:00 Art & Life has a brand new look ! A New Blogger template has allowed me to create a colorful, streamlined better organized blog. Hopefully you'll enjoy your visits here even more than before. Coming soon are Paypal Buy it Now buttons making purchasing art even easier.Thanks for stopping see you soon! Read more:Brand
, Brand New
April Trail 2007-04-15 00:11:00 April Trail
- Plein Air Impressionist LandscapeAbout This Painting:Painted on location, the colors are still subtle in New England this time of year though the red cedars retain their richness. This was painted at Hammonasset State Park. It's part of the hiking trail that follows a rocky moraine at the Meigs Point at the eastern end of the park.Media: oilSize: 12 in X 9 in (30.5 cm X 22.9 cm)Price: $350How to Purchase:Price: $350Or, send me an email Read more:April
First Place 2007-04-30 13:19:00 Backlit Trees, 7x9.5, oilI am pleased to announce that this piece has been awarded FirstPlace
in the Madison Art Societies state wide juried art exhibition. The show opens Friday evening, May 4th, 6pm-8pm in the community room of the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Road, Madison, CT. It's going to be a wonderful show filled with some of the best artwork from around the state. If you are in the area please come by and enjoy the art.
Spring Hedgerow 2007-05-06 13:58:00 Spring HedgerowAbout This Painting:Aaaaah Spring! Soft colors, and the anticipation of renewal and warm weather. I took a one day workshop in Durham, CT and had a wonderful time. The setting was lovely, with forsytheia, trees budding, many birds and farm animals nextdoor. We began the day with Ten of Zen, 10 minutes of sitting quietly and getting touch with our surroundings, listening, observing and writing down our impressions. Here are a few of my thoughts from the morning:The sunlit areas are warm but the sky still seems cold.The brush piles are purple gray.The cabbage white is dancing, 2 are at play.The mouring dove and the red wing blackbird call as the laundry shifts gently in the breeze.Dandylions and purple flowers in the grass are giving compliments to one another.Terry Oakes Bourret was the instructor, she has a wonderful website, well worth a visit!Media: oilSize: 12 in X 9 in (30.5 cm X 22.9 cm)Price: $300 USDHow to Purchase:Price: $300 USDOr, send me an email Read more:Spring
Westbrook Dunes 2007-05-08 19:04:00 Westbrook Dunes
, 16 x20, oilTo Purchase contact: jan.blencowe@comcast.netThis painting was done as a demonstration for my landscape painting class at the Tracy Art Center. I'm pleased with the variety of earthy colors in this and the composition. I think it really captures the lonley, rugged feeling of the dunes in the off season. Sand DunesSea waves are green and wet,But up from where they die,Rise others vaster yet,And those are brown and dry.They are the sea made landTo come at the fisher town,And bury in solid sandThe men she could not drown.She may know cove and cape,But she does not know mankindIf by any change of shape,She hopes to cut off mind.Men left her a ship to sink:They can leave her a hut as well;And be but more free to thinkFor the one more cast-off shell.Robert Frost
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