Art and Life by Jessica Torrant

New stamp set! - no wait....

2009-07-11T00:00:00.005-05:00

Aw... I was so excited to announce my first stamp set but it came to light that I need a new glue. It's always painful for me to do it, but I have to beat on my test subjects. No matter how high my expectations for that little creation may be, I know I need to put it through a battery of tests before it's ready to sell to the public. I've been using a super glue pen to adhere the stamp to the glass base. It's a generic brand but plenty powerful nonetheless (I've actually been quite terrified of it because it sets in less than 30 seconds). The glue works great on lots of surfaces but I think the oils on the glass and rubber surfaces, no matter how clean I get them, are causing the problem. It seems like it's set firmly, but with some pulling at the stamp, it cracks and peels at the edges without too much muscle. Looking for some glue suggestions in the Etsy forums, I found a link to this site http://www.thistothat.com/ - plug in the surfaces you want to glue and it gives you an answer! So tomorrow it's back to the hardware store to test out the recommended glue and see if I can get this first set back in action.

Stamp sets coming soon and built to last!

Carving stamps is my latest obsession

2009-07-09T23:37:00.003-05:00

You're looking at a scan of a test page of hand carved stamps I made recently, with some cut out shapes made using the same stamp around in a circle at the top. So far I've made mostly garden forms - flowers and leaves - but it will be fun to keep exploring various subject matters. Once again, geometrical shapes that remind me of the Hungarian folk art patterns I grew up looking at are appearing in my sketchbook. The simple forms used together can create beautiful patterns and mandalas. I'm going to be offering these at livefunky individually and as sets very soon.

Spirit Guide

2009-07-06T15:32:00.004-05:00

Spirit Guide - Acrylic on 12" x 12" canvas

This piece took some time to really emerge and come together. At one point it was faceless and on the right side was a sky with birds and an abstract interpretation of the ocean. There was just too much going on and I liked the effect of the starry cosmos as a backdrop. Kendra Zvonik helped me realize some final details (thanks Kendra!). I hesitated to title this piece because I want the viewer to have their own experience with it. I see a female spirit guide encouraging me to move forward with courage and strength, but you may see a goddess, an angel, your own inner spirit or a mystic traveler.

Tests = Lessons Learned

2009-06-18T23:04:00.006-05:00

Test One, Test Two: Front, back

These two pendants are the best of the test subjects so far. I played around with using original art on paper and prints under the glass and I will continue to explore that, but I really like the look of these one of a kind reverse paintings/mixed media pieces. I worked with layers of acrylic paint, tissue paper, acrylic gel medium/varnish and a decorative paper backing. The whole look that I'm going for and the right materials to make that happen isn't quite there yet, but I learned a lot from these test works and they serve as a good taste for what you can expect in my Etsy shop shop very soon.

wedding anniversary

2009-06-18T13:01:00.001-05:00

June 17, 2009 - 3rd Anniversary, originally uploaded by livefunky.

Last night Rob and I celebrated our third year being married. In this long run of rainy days we managed to have a break of sun for our special day. I am so happy, I feel so blessed. I love you, Rob.

We Have a Winner!

2009-06-18T12:51:00.002-05:00

ELANA you are the winner of my magnet set! However I don't have your contact info so please leave a comment with a way to contact you or email me at jtorrant@aol.com - congratulations!

What I've Been Working On

2009-06-13T15:41:00.005-05:00

Ah lovely creative chaos. I've been having a lot of fun exploring new ideas, techniques and materials for my livefunky products. I'll explain this picture working my way down from the top.

Handpainted terracotta pots - These particular pots were painted years ago (2002) and I'd like to get back to working on them. At the time I used acrylic paint and acrylic gel varnish to seal them, but through years of wear and tear, the paint hasn't held up to the elements. If I make these again, I'll be using paints and varnishes specifically for this usage. But at the moment I've got plenty of other irons in the fire so the pots will have to wait.

Glass bubble magnets - (Glass piece shown over old sketch). The set you see here were made using my Mod Circles patterns (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23724210). I used the craft store bubble and acrylic gel medium. I've run into a couple of problems with these. First, the glass bubbles aren't perfect - it's hard to find one that is completely free of dings, dimples and air bubbles. The second issue is in the adhering of the image. I tried the gel medium but I think I'm going to have to use Diamond Glaze (which is what most people use when they do art to glass work). Which leads me to...

Glass art pendants - I just got my order from http://thosesweetsensations.etsy.com/ for a set of rectangular glass pieces and bails. This glass is "crystal clear" which solves the problem I found with the bubble glass. I'm going to wait until I get the Diamond Glaze before I start experimenting with these, but I'm very eager to get going.

Handpainted rock magnets - Like the pots, this isn't a new idea for me. But in the past my rocks were promoted as "pet rocks" or paperweights and I painted on collected rocks I found on walks in the woods. These new rocks are choice, flat, black river stones that are light weight and smooth to paint on. I think people are more likely to put a cool art object like this as a useful tool on the fridge rather than taking up more space on their desk. We all have more than enough "stuff" filling up our work spaces!

last but not least...

Mandala collage/painting on record albums - Being a music lover myself, this idea does at first sting a little - how can you destroy a classic album?! But no worries, it's my mission to use the least desired record albums ever made. The collection of records I recently picked up are actually quite funny, I'll have to do a separate post about them. One of my favorites is "Alabama Christmas" - you should see the inset pics of how Alabama spends their holiday. It's a laugh riot. Anyway, this is the first one I started and it's not done yet but I like where it's going. I'm working with cut out shapes of paper and craft papers as well as acrylic paint. I'm sure more mixed media action will come into play, adding a three dimensional element to the artwork. I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do with these. I think some will be mounted as artworks, others will be mounted as artwork. Perhaps I could offer both options to buyers... We shall see.

So yes, that's where I'm at right now. As I think of ideas for products and experiment with them, I'm also thinking about the total package for presentation. The whole process is a lot of fun to get into. Meanwhile I'm promoting my annual art (or yart in Etsy lingo) sale at http://www.livefunky.etsy.com/, having fun with family, gardening and all around enjoying life. Rock on.

(Psst - if you haven't already, leave a comment here to enter to win a free set of magnets!)

http://jessicatorrant.blogspot.com/2009/06/magnet-set-give-away.html

Yart Sale on Etsy

2009-06-11T14:52:00.003-05:00

Yard Sale + Art = Yart Sale!

The timing of Etsy's annual Yart Sale works out perfectly with my desire to revamp my LiveFunky shop. I'm working on projects to fill my shop with gift items, home decor goods, jewelry and more. (My gallery shop will continue to feature my original Fine Artwork.) So if you are looking for a crazy bargain, now's the time to buy at www.livefunky.etsy.com - 50% off of the listed price of everything in my shop. Now through June 16th.

Magnet Set Give-Away

2009-06-10T15:29:00.005-05:00

Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win this set of three glass bubble magnets with my original artwork! Be sure to leave a way to contact you if you don't have a blog. One week from today (Wednesday, June 17th) I'll put all of your names in a hat and pick a winner randomly.

This is the first test set of magnets that I made. I'm experimenting with various techniques and I'm looking forward to offering magnet sets soon in my shop at www.livefunky.etsy.com. Instead of using decorative papers, I'm using my own artwork underneath the glass. It's funny how this came about. Obviously this idea is far from new, I've seen lots of magnets and pendants on Etsy with art under glass. But it wasn't until one night, I was enjoying a glass of wine and put the glass on top of a piece of paper that I had doodled on. I admired how the drawing looked under the bottom of the wine glass and that's what got this ball rolling. I've ordered rectangular glass pieces and bails so I'll be playing with making pendants as well. Stay tuned as I reveal new products!

Vocal Inspiration: June Foray

2009-06-09T00:17:00.000-05:00

mocking bird

2009-06-07T13:48:00.002-05:00

whoa.

I still can't quite believe what has recently dawned on me that I never saw coming and yet feel absolutely driven towards experiencing. I'm thinking of embarking on a career addition, or maybe compliment, not a change (I will always paint). It's so crazy and random and I can't wait to tell you all about it.

I want to become a voice actor.

Yes, okay, you're thinking "huh?", "what?", "where did this come from?" or maybe "what does that even mean?". Voice actors record for cartoons, commercials, audio books, and on and on - heard not seen. It used to be that you needed to live in LA or NY to be in this business, auditioning in person, but like everything else, the internet has opened the marketplace with many people working from home studios sending digital files across the web for auditions.

I didn't know any of this three days ago. Not a thing. On Friday I went to YouTube and found a friend request from http://www.youtube.com/user/happyfatties - I checked out his channel and got sucked into his ridiculously goofy animations, all with his own voice doing each of the characters. Being someone that has always had a running cast of her own characters (my closest friends know them well), I daydreamed about doing my own similar thing - minus the animation. I would rather someone else do that, even though I'm an artist, the tedious nature of animation puts me off. Plus I'm better at painting big raw canvases, not detailed sequential scenes. Anyway, thinking about being specifically interested in the idea of doing the voice only got me started on a google hunt and I haven't stopped absorbing as much information about the whole world of voice over work since.

I listened to all of the podcast interviews on this channel http://www.youtube.com/user/interactivevoices, looked into www.voices.com where people audition online and who the most popular voices are and how they sound. It wet my whistle and then I had a lovely visit from my friend Mel and we talked about it, and of course everything else under the sun. :) Gotta love visits from your best pals. Saturday I jumped back on the research train with a general idea of what my first steps could/should be.

1. Get vocal training.
Once I looked into what's available in Connecticut I was delighted to find the Onyx Sound Lab http://www.onyxsoundlab.com/ and they offer really intensive training for 16 weeks, 28 weeks or a full year. It's also several thousand dollars and up so that gave me pause. I found another place in southern CT (not as appealing as Onyx which is just one town away from me) that offered similarly priced services. Then I found a studio in Vernon which is also just a hop skip from my home, with more affordable rates and plans. Interesting... I keep looking through this site, listen to the owner's demo reel and others he has on board. Nothing clicks with me until I go to this bio page http://www.voiceoverworkshop.com/about.htm and realize Stew Crossen is BEEF STEW! http://www.megablues.com/ He's the main man for blues on Hartford's rock station WCCC.

So ok, big deal, he's on the radio, right? But there's more to this connection. Six years ago I was off on a summer day adventure with my then puppy Leo. We were exploring the mountains and streams of north western CT and up into MA. We were swimming and having a grand old time. On the way back home I'm coming up to Hartford listening to CCC and Beef says he's got a few tickets left for the Allman Brothers playing that night in the outdoor music venue (it's always changing names, I don't know what it is now) and the next three people to show up at the radio station will get the tickets. He's telling the address on the air and it works out perfectly, I'm right at that exit, badda bing badda boom, I'm at the station. My wet bathing suit under my cut offs and shirt are coming through in all the wrong places, I don't care and go on in thinking I'll get the tickets and blast off. But the two other winners, two older guys and I were asked to go on the air. We all sat on stools and chatted with Beef Stew live on the air! And it was this wild moment - I would have expected myself to be nervous in that situation but I was cool and calm and ready to have fun with it. At one point I said "what's up, beef?" and it got a chuckle and the most memorable part of all was he commented on my voice!! Something like, "oooh hi Jessica, you've got a great voice". That memory is so magical to me because it felt like kismet - one thing beautifully leading into another. Getting home and calling Rob (we were in our early days) and it just happens that he can come with me and we enjoy a beautiful night for free at a fun concert outdoors. And now to think there is a whole new layer to that story that never clicked until now, as a little *wink* from a future mentor, in the past...

Ok, before I get lost into some time travel explanation, the next year I got a birthday card from Beef Stew and called him the night of my birthday to request a song. Once again we chatted on the air. And wouldn't you know, it just works out that Stew is teaching a begginer voice acting class at Manchester Community College - it's six Wednesdays for 2 hours, falls right between now and our August vacation. It's a beautiful thing AND it's only $99.

So of course, I'm going for it! I am so excited and apologize for writing a novel like this but it's overwhelming how much I'm feeling it, like YES go in this direction! Everything just clicks... and it will compliment painting impeccably well. I forecast it bringing more balance to my life, the introvert in me can hide in my studio and zone out and far away from words. The extrovert can step away from my nest, be social and interactive with people, especially funny people (oh how I love funny people) and work on a totally different craft using other skills that I know I have. Not to braggy brag, but I've always had an ear and I can sing, but I'm not a blow your mind singer. I've more often blown a person's mind with a dead on impression (you should hear my Aaron Neville). It's the other side of me and I think there's been a longing for that to be attended to. I am realizing I need that balance, I just can't go to that place every day, the place that painting takes me. It's a wonderful place but I get feeling like I'm lost in space sometimes and need some grounding.

And here's the thing. Painting is my heart, my passion. Rejections really hurt. But voice over work, I am looking at it like this - I'm a total novice, I don't know what I'm doing so of course I've got to be all ears and just learn and listen and try everything out and be willing to fail, to expect rejection. And thinking about it, it's not personal. I haven't invested my whole life defining myself as this, this is a career path, specific skills to be learned - so much different than the life of an artist. Whoa. Heavy, right? It CAN get heavy. When you mix in depending on art for a living, the pressure and strain on your creative spirit increases, that is unless you are selling like a madwoman, but I'm going to be honest and admit that I'm really not anymore, not like I used to. The economy will turn around, sales will continue I am sure, but it's intense to think about how much I've been holding onto being a full time artist and if I'm not, somehow that means I failed or can't make it. That's crazy. And really, let's face it, being an artist is a full time experience ;). I've always looked at getting a second job as such a bummer, but I never considered a career that would interest me, that I'd be excited about and have FUN with. I'm not expecting overnight success or an over the top salary (though I'm not putting limits on goals either..:)) but if I work hard at it, take the steps that I need to and learn from mentors, I could actually make some money at it. I don't need to be rich, but to take some of the pressure off of my paintings? That would be a sweet relief! Less outside pressure leads to greater paintings, at least I find that to be the case.

I'm going to sign up for the summer class and be open to whatever happens next. At 32 I'm going to be such a crazy attentive student, pretty much the opposite of how I was in most of my non art classes in college! Learn from your mistakes right? Like actually go to class, don't be hungover, be prepared, pay attention and don't doodle through the whole class. Yup - I think I can do that. I also want to challenge myself with some exercizes at home. Like work on impressions, characters, reading in a real voice outloud. Study the music of language and speech and listen to other people's voices. Who knew that my years of mimicking speech, music, sound effects, birds, you name it, could someday lead to this!?

Something I'm going to have to have from the get go is no fear. Not getting embarassed. That's going to be tough but I've got to just dive into it and believe in it. So... I'm thinking maybe I'll start a new blog documenting my learning experience and introduction to the business? Maybe I could post some clips of characters and impersonations. It would be a good start to not being embarassed about it - just put it all out there for the world to see, no wait - hear. So, any requests for an impression? This can be one of my first at home assignments!

Finding New Ground Video

2009-06-02T17:27:00.001-05:00

Escape

2009-05-28T14:12:00.002-05:00

Escape - Acrylic on 20 x 30 canvas, 2009

Available for purchase at www.JessicaTorrant.etsy.com

This is the painting I was wrestling with the other day. I love how it ended up and of course had no idea it would work out this way. It just arrived here through many layers and attempts for something to click. The colors remind me of the butter yellows, violets and blues in pansies.

So my friends - I have a question for you. In the picture above you can see I've centered the full image of my painting over this square. The reason is to have the entire painting show up in the listings on the front page of my shop, www.JessicaTorrant.etsy.com. There are pros and cons to using this style as my first picture.

Pros:
Professional looking
Entire painting is seen for the first impression

Cons:
Sort of goes against the "Etsy grain" - doesn't have that Etsy look (if you use Etsy, you know what I mean - macro shots, side shots, close ups, etc)

Less likely to be chosen for Treasuries

So on the one hand, I started out with this shop thinking "this is not about Etsy, this is about my vision and style". I want to present myself with professionalism and high quality work so you visit my store feeling like you're walking into a virtual gallery - not just a "shop". I want to cater to art collectors, not necessarily just Etsy customers. Please understand in trying to express my vision, in no way am I putting down the Etsy style, look, way, lingo, etc. etc. I just got a little too obsessed with it with livefunky and along the way lost a piece of my own vision as an artist. I'd like to keep challenging myself to market Etsy-popular items in livefunky and with this new gallery shop, I can free myself of those concerns and focus on the art, period. Allllll that being said, it brings me back to this presentation. What do you think of it? Do you like it? Does it turn you off? What sort of presentation do you like best or would suggest?

Catching Up

2009-05-26T15:50:00.001-05:00

garden shop in the berkshires, originally uploaded by livefunky.

I had a wonderful weekend that all came together rather impulsively, which is usually when the best adventures happen. My mother and I drove up to the Berkshires in Mass, an area that's only about an hour and forty five minute drive from where I live, but I have only been there once before years ago. It was such a delight exploring the towns of Lenox, Lee, Great Barrington - all so charming with lush green mountains surrounding every beautiful view. Even though there are tons of galleries and shops in each town, we focused more on the natural spaces visiting the Audobon sanctuary for a nice walk and soaking up the bird calls and fluttering things. We stopped by the botanical gardens and then went to this garden shop that was like heaven. We each walked away with a few plants for our gardens and just walking around all of the beautiful flowers and plants was rejuvinating. We came across many lovely people up there and had some great meals and conversation. On Memorial Day, my family went to Bigelow Hollow which is a state park with a large, beautiful lake that is great for swimming. So today I am still feeling refreshed and happy from my mini vacation and I'm looking forward to taking this energy into the studio. And on that note... off I go!

today was... productive? yes, productive

2009-05-22T00:08:00.001-05:00

experimenting with splatter painting, originally uploaded by livefunky.

I painted up a storm today. Covered all four limbs in the stuff and everything was in harmony - sun shining bright, blue skies, feeling good, I even had another visit with the butterfly (yup, he landed on my wrist again today!). I had a lot of fun playing around and testing things out. There were many moments of "yes! that's niiiice" but I would get a new idea to make it even better and that wouldn't work out exactly as planned and the cycle kept looping as more paint was squeezed out, brushed or splattered on, wiped off, repeat. I think it's hilarious that my last post yesterday was of this painting that I keep layering over - it really COULD have been done if I just LET it be done! haha It's ok. It looks totally different than in this picture too - seriously, this painting has lived more lives than an extra lucky cat.

Work in Progress

2009-05-20T22:15:00.002-05:00

This puppy is close. Really close.

Blue Mountains

2009-05-20T17:39:00.009-05:00

Blue Mountains - Acrylic and texture mediums on 30 x 40 canvas
Available for purchase at http://www.jessicatorrant.etsy.com/

This painting has layers of gritty pumice stone under the paint. Surrounded by all of the green foliage in the backyard, I'm just naturally drawn to using this color. Today has been a great day. I had a cool experience of going out to the studio to set up, getting giddy about the cleaned space and skipping back to the house to get something. On my way, this dark brown butterfly that I've seen every day since the first warm days of spring fluttered up to me and hovered a few inches away from my face. It startled me and I sort of dashed away from it. Seconds later I was saying out loud, "I'm sorry butterfly, I shouldn't have been scared of you". Once I got whatever I needed in the house, I headed back to the studio looking around for my butterfly buddy. I stood in the backyard looking around and then all of a sudden it fluttered towards me fast and I wasn't scared, I raised my hand up and it landed on my wrist! It stayed there for a good 45 seconds as I stared at it in awe whispering to the butterfly telling him how pretty he was. I took a step and he flew off, dancing above my head for a bit then flying off into the woods. It was a real connection and it boosted me up before I started painting. After that encounter I giggled realizing I all of a sudden had "The Sign" by Ace of Base in my head for no apparent reason.

(late) spring cleaning

2009-05-19T23:30:00.005-05:00

So fresh and so clean! The studio has been picked up, reorganized, sorted and thought through, and it's now ready to be torn up into a fine mess in the spirit of wild inspiration. Let the games begin.

New ACEOs

2009-05-19T14:33:00.003-05:00

Modern Castle - Mixed Media on archival matboard

Dream of Atlantis - Mixed Media on archival matboard

Popular Mechanics - Mixed Media on archival matboard

New ACEOs in my LiveFunky Etsy shop.

Delicate Illusions

2009-05-11T15:31:00.006-05:00

Delicate Illusions - 24" x 10" triptych on canvas, 2009

Available for purchase at http://www.jessicatorrant.etsy.com/

In this piece, I experimented with layering in embroidery floss. It has an interesting look on the surface. In this painting it serves as an accent, in the future I'd like to play around with covering the whole surface with swirling threads.

I'd like to say a belated Happy Mother's Day to all of you hard working mamas! I hope your families spoiled you rotten and showered you with love and thanks. Rob and I had a great day, first visiting my parents then going to a cookout at his parent's house with his siblings and our niece and nephew. They are SO much fun to play with and I wish I could bottle their energy! I am so incredibly thankful to have my mother in my life. We're planning a mother daughter get away soon which I'm really looking forward to. I love my mom so so so much. Thank you God for her continued health and spirit of optimism and faith.

Today is the last day I'll be 31 and I feel a little... off. I am not sad or anything to be turning 32, just sort of contemplative I guess. Life really does fly by. Whenever you hit a milestone it's only natural to look at your life and ask what have I accomplished? What am I doing right? What am I doing wrong? I don't know why today is any different than tomorrow or the next day and there's no reason to feel like I should be on top of the world by age X, you know? But still, it's in there. High expectations of yourself can drive you to be the best you can be, it can also overwhelm you and get the better of you. I've got to let those feelings pass right on by and welcome in the spirit of gratitude my mother has taught me so much about. I'm here. I have love, I have family, I have dear friendships. There is so much to be thankful for, and I am. I really am.

UPDATE: Ok, a mood adjustment was in order so I went to my cousin's house to get out of my head. What a relief! I helped him work on his gardens, gathered a few plants to take home to my own garden, laid in the grass, watched a hawk swirl over me, and took in a gorgeous sunset. Nothing like digging in the dirt to get you out of a funk. My momentary funk is now officially over. Let good things grow!

Mini Paintings on LiveFunky

2009-05-09T17:13:00.002-05:00

Acrylic mini abstract on 4" x 4" matboard, 2009
Available for purchase at www.livefunky.etsy.com

On a rainy day this week I worked in the basement on these 4x4 squares of matboard. I have stacks of archival matboard I inherited from one of my framing gigs years ago. They are in beautiful shape (did I mention archival? these boards will probably outlive me!) and for smaller sizes, you can display them "as is" on a mini easel.

I spent the day tediously going through my livefunky shop updating listings (free shipping in the US and Canada) and eliminating all paintings larger than 8" x 10". I've decided to focus on small scale originals for livefunky. ACEOs will be making a comeback and I'm going to be working with some recycled paper panels from Kendra of www.GreenPost.etsy.com. I like the distinction now. I'll always be doodling and working on mini projects when I'm not working on big bad canvases in the studio.

It just worked out that these became abstract semi-landscape studies but in the future I'll be playing with my more linear and atmospheric abstracts. Your feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Jess :)

Greatest Aspirations

2009-05-08T16:28:00.005-05:00

Greatest Aspirations - Acrylic on 18" x 24" canvas, 2009

Available at www.JessicaTorrant.etsy.com

Finding New Ground

2009-05-08T14:08:00.006-05:00

Pulse - Acrylic on 18" x 24" canvas, 2009

Available at http://www.jessicatorrant.etsy.com/

In this latest painting, I like the contrast of the horizon line that closely follow the lines of the texture vs. the rough surface of the bottom three quarters. As opposed to Horizon 2, this piece evolved pretty quickly and the moment to call it quits came surprisingly fast. For a moment I doubted it thinking, 'but-but-I haven't wrestled with this for days, it hasn't had fifty different lives before this one, is it really done??' but yes, it is. Not all paintings need to rip your heart out, stomp on it, then put it all back together again for you just when you've come close to giving up. Some paintings mess with you like that, others are eagerly awaiting completion and will help you get there any way they can. Those are very polite paintings. I'd invite them to a dinner party.

I've been thinking about the series that I sort of canned for now that was very thought out (was going to be called Relations - maybe it will resurface someday at the right time). I had sketched out all of these painting ideas and then when it came time to actually PAINT I was drawn in totally different direction. I do, however, have that painting Leaning (first painting of Relations) to thank for this new textural direction. It's hanging in front of me unfinished and that's just fine.

I think these new paintings are THE series - they came to me unexpected and deserve some kind of recognition as a group. Thinking about this yesterday as I was working on a bunch of new canvases (one is close to done - can't wait to share it!) I came up with the phrase "Finding New Ground". Part of this is a nod to the technical process - the painterly sense of "ground". It's also of course related to landscapes and my attempt to express a sense of space, teetering on the edge of reality and dreamworld/imagination. Lastly it's sort of a personal declaration, finding my own footing in this new phase of my life. Sensing changes, good changes, shifting priorities and desires, letting go of ways I've defined myself in the past and embracing the unknown of the present and the future.

Time to go back to the studio. Hope everyone is having a great day.

wax on, wax off

2009-05-04T17:43:00.005-05:00

Horizon Line 2 - Acrylic on 24" x 36" canvas, 2009
Available at http://www.jessicatorrant.etsy.com/

This piece has had so many incarnations, but I'm pleased with the final product, though it's much different than I had expected. Lots of layering on paint and then wiping it away. I've been experimenting with various approaches to get the textural effects to pop. I'm in that mode where I want to consume paintings, hungry for more knowledge and experience. It's a thrilling feeling but I have to be careful to not get burned out. It's a very physical process and I'm focusing so intensely - it's exhausting, but in a good way, like a day at the beach. I'll be back at it tomorrow - time to relax and unwind for the night. Take care.

I Keep You In My Heart

2009-05-02T16:34:00.005-05:00

I Keep You In My Heart - Mixed media on 18" x 24" canvas, 2009

This painting was an absolute thrill to create from the very first splash of paint to the final details and the voice that said "STOP!" as chills ran up my spine. I actually shed a few tears writing this for the Etsy listing...

"I am head over heals for this painting! I poured my heart and soul into this piece - every element was finely considered and worked over until it was just right. The overall canvas has layers of acrylic texture medium and the mystical blues and purples illuminate the surface with a translucent layer of silvery mist. The rectangle is a piece of linen adhered to the surface with gel medium and painted over in silver metallic paint. The finest details of all are the three freshwater pearls suspended in the rectangle, handsewn onto the canvas. I believe this is the first time I've ever sewn something onto a painting and I absolutely love the effect.

This piece is all about love. I look at the pearls and think of my husband, my three step kids, my best friends, my parents and grandparents, and those that are no longer in my life but most certainly in my heart and spirit. I do believe that art is infused with the energy and spirit of the creator - their mood and emotions upon creation are imprinted within the fibers of the canvas and layers of paint. This painting was a meditation for me that led to feelings of bliss and pure love. I think that energy will reside and shine out of this piece for as long as it exists, and that makes me very, very happy."