Jelaine Faunce Studio

6 of 1 (or half a dozen of the other)

2009-07-10T18:32:00.001-07:00

6 - 6" x 6" paintings in oil on canvas

For purchase information on these paintings, please contact Deborah Molinar at The Art Bar in Tiburon, CA.

This is a set I did for a gallery in Tiburon, California. A short series of cupcakes, some quick studies to go with the larger detailed dessert paintings I had sold through the gallery previously. Sometimes it does an artist's brain some good to do a few quick studies. These helped me immensely. Now, I'm ready to tackle more of the detailed works again.

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Have a great weekend, everyone!

Egg #14

2009-07-01T19:06:00.000-07:00

6" x 6" - oil on canvas - SOLD

I'm working on several paintings for three galleries and a couple commissions right now. Daily paintings remain a bit sparse at this time. Ideally, I'd like two posts per week in the coming weeks to be of daily paintings, offered up for sale directly through my blog and a Paypal link. Here's the first one for this week. My next one will be in the spirit of the 4th, or more specifically it will be an excuse for me to visit the fireworks stand down the street. Bet that narrows down the subject for you, doesn't it??? I'm a woman of little mystery these days.
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If you are interested in purchasing "Egg #14", please click on the link below.

Studio Overhaul 2009 ('Before' pictures not included)

2009-06-30T18:05:00.000-07:00

I spent the better part of a week going through my studio and reorganizing it to suit my purposes. Something that hasn't been done in about 3 or 4 years. Before this overhaul, my studio had gotten so cluttered that I could barely move, let alone find what I was looking for or painting. I had intended to clean it out this Spring, but other issues postponed it until this month. So, by the time I got to it, I was READY to get to it.

My studio is a small in-home space, a converted guest bedroom with a bay windows and a closet. I'd put DIY shelves in the closet a few years back, but that wasn't quite enough for all my stuff, mainly my canvases. This overhaul, my first order of business was to put shelves up in the studio itself. It never ceases to amaze me how much more room you have with shelves. What a relief. Yes, it made the room look smaller, but I chose to arrange my bookcases so that I could create little cubby's between them and the shelves where I'd arrange lamps and trinkets and tuck paintings I like to display as inspiration.
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Early May I had the opportunity to pick up a gorgeous wicker reading chair for the unheard of sum of $60. I did not know where I was going to find a place for it, but I insisted that when the overhaul started, I'd make room just the same. And now I have a lovely little reading place nestled against the bay windows, a perfect location to begin and end each day. In the week since I completed the overhaul, I've inhabited that chair good lengths of time with a good book, a journal or my notepad, marking my intentions for the next day. The cats are also quite fond of this chair. It gives them a high perch for sunning themselves and for pretending to stalk the birds and lizards that dart around outside.
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My dream studio will be much larger with less "stuff" all around me, but my present studio manifests the best the space has to offer me, and I am happy to let it be what it feels it should most naturally be. Eventually I will add a TV/DVR/DVD combo to the high chest of drawers that sits next to my studio desk. For now, though it's barely visible, closed up next to a lamp, I keep a portable DVD player that does the job nicely. And I still have my stereo on the other side of the room, and my battery operated replica Caddyshack dancing gopher.
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Oh, and one other thing. No studio would be complete without it's very own Pablo Villicana Lara Executive Junk Food Drawer, containing at least 50% chocolate.

Fun with Acrylic

2009-06-23T14:50:00.001-07:00

"A Wedding Portrait" - 6" x 6" - acrylic on canvas

Very recently, some friends of ours eloped to Fiji. Upon their return they held a reception at their home this past weekend. Not having given them a gift, yet, I decided to try a little acrylic painting representing them both in the form of their favorite snack foods. Spent the day on Saturday whipping this one up, then presented it to them in the evening. I'm not a natural with acrylic by any means, but I did appreciated the immediate gratification that it provides, much like watercolor. Sometimes I, too, can get a little impatient with oil paint.

Artist's Challenge 6x6x2 - June

2009-06-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

"With the Worm" - Jelaine Faunce - 6"x6" - oil on canvas
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"The Early Bird" - M Collier - 6"x6" - oil on hardboard panel

This month's Challenge subject is the ever-popular gummy worm. Chosen by M, this little guy proved to be more challenging than you might think. You want to be creative with a subject matter that is already very different and unique. It's harder than it sounds, for me in particular since I like to take common objects and make them a little bit absurd. And gummy worms are fairly absurd to begin with. After all my fretting and worrying, my solution was to drop it into a jug of tequila. I can say, with fair certainty, that I am pleased with the result.
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I'd like to take a moment to explain the delay between this month's Challenge posting and our last Challenge in March. As many of you may know from reading my sparse blog entries and from my Twitter postings, I have been ill the past several months, particularly in April and May. Let's just pretend April and May never happened, shall we???? But, as June approached, I began to feel my old self coming back, and am well on the road to recovery now with new tools and skills which should be very helpful for my future physical stability. I'm learning how to moderate and balance, and it feels good, kind of like spoiling myself. But that's only because my previous life patterns were along the lines of "burn candle at both ends and try to set fire to the middle as well if at all possible".
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Speaking of burning the candle at both ends, Otto is a very busy man this summer, tackling show after show after show. In between this and his epileptic dog, his time is limited, and we understand his inability to participate in the Challenge. However, to keep things interesting, M and I will continue to invite guest challengers from time to time. We had a blast with Pablo Villicana Lara and Chris Beck, and we hope to work with other artists in the future.
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Our next Challenge will not be so long in coming. We are aiming for a mid-July posting of the next Challenge subject, and I'm revealing this now to keep us from shirking our responsibilities....okay, to keep ME from shirking my responsibilities.
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If you would like to purchase "With the Worm", please click on the "Buy Now " link below to be taken to a Paypal invoice page.

Penguin Having a Vision

2009-06-05T18:32:00.001-07:00

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Penguin Having a Vision - oil on canvas - 6" x 6" - SOLD
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Continuing on with my 2nd daily painting, I wanted to do another version of the wonderful little wind up penguin M Collier sent to me last Fall. Such a happy little face. Setting him on a table for photographing, light coming in through a window above him, he looked to me like he was seeing a vision of the Virgin Mary in the clouds above. I thought it was funny, so that's the way I painted it.

Two of a Kind - Daily Painting

2009-05-31T15:29:00.001-07:00

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Two of a Kind . 6" x 6" . oil on canvas . SOLD
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I really really really really really really needed to do a little daily painting. Nothing complicated or multi-layered (I'm finishing a long overdue Challenge painting that is quite detailed), I chose to grab something from my refrigerator. It was either this or a tube of anchovy paste. Okay, not true. But, cherries make me happy, so cherries it is.

Freesia Study

2009-05-08T13:25:00.001-07:00

"Freesia Study" - 12" x 12" - oil on canvas

On its way to Banks Fine Art in Dallas, TX, this painting, while long since completed, marks my return to posting. Forgive my absence. Things have been a bit off the past several months, and I am learning a different routine. In all the change that's taking place, I decided to be out with the old and in with something new, or older, you could say. For the time being, I have gone back to a basic blog layout while I contemplate where I want to take the design of this blog in the future. It helps to clear my mind.
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For purchase information regarding "Freesia Study", please contact Maloree Banks at maloree@banksfineart.com

The Happy Couple

2009-04-14T17:01:00.001-07:00

12"x 12" oil on canvas

This painting is one of the several on their way to Banks Fine Art in Dallas. If you are interested in purchasing this painting, please contact Maloree Banks at maloree@banksfineart.com.

Artist Challenge in Art Calendar May 2009 edition

2009-04-13T18:07:00.000-07:00

Back in December we found out our Challenge was going to appear in the May 2009 issue of Art Calendar magazine. We were very pleased to share our story with fellow artists, and on Friday I received my copy of Art Calendar. I thought I'd post the article here for all to read (in really large format, apparently, because I can't manage to scan an article in anything smaller than 'blind as a bat' size). Below is the article in its entirety:

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Thank you to Diana Moses Botkin for doing the honors of writing the article for us!

3....No, 4 Artists, 1 Subject - March - Now with Guest Artsits!!!

2009-03-31T20:35:00.000-07:00

Jelaine Faunce - "Saumons en Papier avec le Romarin" - 6"x 6" - oil on canvas

Pablo Villicana Lara - "Ghost Mail" - 6"x 6" - watercolor

Chris Beck - "Snail Mail" - 6"x 6" - watercolor

This month we decided to add a couple guest challengers, two artists with whom I am blessed to be acquainted- Pablo Villicana Lara and Chris Beck. They are outstanding watercolor realist painters and amazingly creative artists whose compositions never cease to inspire and amaze me. Also, after seeing our own monthly challenges, they started up one of their own and have produced some wonderful results (Yay!!!!!). I urge everyone to check out their blogs and get an eyeful of their handiwork. You won't be disappointed.
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We thought we'd mix it up now and then, spring some guest artists on our readers, keep you all nimble. I chose this month's topic - an envelope. Of course, I revealed the subject to Pablo and Chris AFTER I'd already received their acceptance to participate. Their replies went something along the lines of, "If I'd wanted a headache, I'd go back to fighting with my kids about doing their homework!" and "Wouldn't it be easier if we all just wrangled a herd of flies???" Then I double-dog-dared them and they relented.
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Good news! Otto's back from the dead!! (Yeti's said he tasted awful and spit him back up) Bad news! He's late with his entry for this month's challenge. So, check back here over the next days and weeks when we'll have the jpeg to add to our collection, making it an official 4 Artist Challenge for this month.
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M was unable to join us for this month's challenge due to an overwhelming work load. No worries. But, if it happens again, well.......ask Otto.
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Okay, so to explain my painting- I recently tried to cook a paper wrapped salmon recipe. It turned out okay, but if you're anything like me, you fear paper wrapped items in your oven. I have nightmares about folding the wrapping wrong and watching my kitchen go up in flames. That said, it's not all anxiety and nightmares. With the foolish idea to use a plain white envelope as our subject matter, I got it in mind to do a play on words on the recipe (paper wrapped salmon with rosemary). And that's how this crazy little painting came about. Ta da!!!

It's been awhile since I've painted apples....

2009-03-27T18:25:00.001-07:00

18" x 18" - oil on canvas

....so I thought I'd give it another go. Probably because I've been eating so many apples lately. Green apples are my favorite. But I bought some red ones to make a composition. The large glass bowl you see them in above is the actual bowl I keep my apples in, perched on my dining room table. I like the way the light comes into the dining room and casts pretty shadows with the bowl. And, since I like it so much, I decided to paint it.
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This painting is currently under gallery review.
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*****UPDATE on the missing shipment from the other week - it has finally arrived back to me and will be reshipped through another carrier. (grumble, curse, mumble...but, hey. At least it's back and not lost forever) Thanks to all who shared their own horror stories and offered well wishes and prayers for it's safe return.*****

Finally. FINALLY!!! A new daily painting.

2009-03-12T06:22:00.000-07:00

"Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cheesecake" - daily painting - 6"x 6" oil on canvas
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SOLD

Cherry Topped Chocolate Cake

2009-03-09T13:13:00.001-07:00

10"x 10" - oil on canvas
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Would you believe I no longer eat this stuff? No, really. I've bought quite a few desserts in the past few months and have eaten none of them. I photograph them and send them to work with my hubby who passes them around. I've got half a dozen cupcakes that will meet the same fate after I photograph them later today for another painting. I'm sure I've mentioned this before now, haven't I??? And this is all old news to you. And it should be old news to me, too, except that I can't wrap my brain around the fact that I'm NOT EATING the desserts I buy. I think I'm owed something for this. In the afterlife, my heaven will be a bakery. Ya, that sounds good. I can do that.
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This painting is available through Tiburon Fine Art Gallery in Tiburon, CA. You can contact the gallery directly for pricing and availability - tiburonfineart@sbcglobal.net

Breath. Just Breath.

2009-03-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

This is not a typical post for me. There is no artwork to include. Mostly, this is a post to vent my frustration with the shipping industry. You see, I have run into a little snag with a package I mailed this weekend through a reputable carrier. My package, according to the tracking number, is sitting in a main warehouse. Still. Now. Three full days after being mailed. Express. To a state that sits next to my own. Not Abu Dhabi. Just a state whose border is 30 minutes drive from my own.
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The folks with this particular carrier are being very nice and cooperative, and I'll give them that. I have only once before had something similar to this happen many years back. I understand that errors occur, but I was hoping not to have any snags with this particular shipment. My long suffering buyer has been waiting so long for these paintings to reach her, and now there is yet another delay.
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I'm trying not to freak out. I know in my heart of hearts that all will be well and she will receive her paintings very soon. But, I admit out loud to the internet right now that I am a bit flustered by this experience and would like some encouragement. If any of you have shipping stories to share, positive thoughts and vibes to send my way (and my buyer's way), feel free.
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I'm going back to breathing into a paper bag now.

3 Artists, 1 Challenge - February

2009-02-28T14:44:00.000-08:00

"Camouflage" - Jelaine Faunce - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel

"Dice" - M Collier - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel

Coming in JUST under the wire here for February's Artist Challenge. M and I both departed from our normal course, trying imagery that was not typical for either of us.
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I must be jonesing for a trip to Target. At least that's what I decided after I'd finished my painting. I wanted to try something that was dominantly one color with the subject kind of mysteriously emerging from it. Except that red isn't exactly mysterious. Anyway, I created a little page with a red background and white polka dots in Illustrator that were the same size as the white dots on my single die. Then I photographed the die on the patterned print under bright sunlight. Ooooh. Ahhhhh. I had a whole "Where's Waldo" theme going on in my head.
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I don't know if I'll attempt to do something like this again, but I will say that I'm glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and gave it a shot. Always good to try new things. Never hurts.
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Oh, and in case you were wondering, Otto was unable to contribute to this Challenge. He left on a two week spiritual hike in the Himalaya's early this month and got eaten by a Yeti. True story.

Environmental Influence 10

2009-02-26T20:13:00.001-08:00

This is a photograph. It is not a painting.
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I am quite fortunate to have a large bay window in my home studio. Its actually 3 arched windows next to one another. While they do look out onto my street, they also look out onto my front yard which has a tall pine, a plum tree and a California white pepper tree. The plum tree is my favorite, and every Spring I look forward to seeing the blossoms appear. Well, there here.
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I get to look out at this every day for the next few weeks. This is truly cherished time. I love my blossoms. They make me feel reborn, anticipating the landscape waking from Winter, what little of it we experience here in the desert. Soon the trees will begin to reveal new leaves, all bright lemon-lime green, not quite darkened by extended exposure to the Sun. My favorite time of year is quickly approaching.
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My neighbor has apple blossoms. Major envy on this end, let me tell you. Maybe they'll let me photograph their tree as well.

Berries in Bowl - Complete

2009-02-25T20:57:00.001-08:00

A little extra highlighting in white and Berries in Bowl is complete. Turned out quite dramatic. I love the way the berries pop out at you.

In Progress - Berries in Bowl - Almost There!!

2009-02-20T17:20:00.000-08:00

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I've got one last go at this before it is complete. I'm getting antsy.

In Progress - Berries in Bowl - For Harold

2009-02-18T17:26:00.000-08:00

Harold mentioned in the comments thread that he'd like to see some in between steps on this particular In Progress painting. So, I've taken this photo of the painting with the first layer of shadow over the lower half of the bowl, and the first layer of what will be the gold detailing on the lid of the bowl. Yep, there's gold detailing on this bowl, or at least there will be when I'm done with it.

Daily Paintworks

2009-02-18T16:51:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned earlier, I am working a lot on larger gallery paintings and don't have as much time to devote to daily paintings. Between this and taking things a little slower, I realized I would not be able to keep up with the minimum requirements for membership with Daily Paintworks. It seemed only right that I should step aside and make room for another artist who could. And there are so many great daily painters out there. It was a very sad decision knowing that I'm not forever quitting doing small daily works, but that this is what I needed right now. It was a very happy decision knowing they were going to bring in someone new, someone great who could really shine. And, boy DID they!

Fragment: Mirror, Mirror - oil on panel - 2.5" x 2.5" - Jeff Hayes
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Jeff Hayes has become the newest member of Daily Paintworks, and I will admit that I did blush a little bit when I found out that he was moving into my vacant spot. His work is really cool. Jeff does the kind of realism that I like to refer to as "atmospheric". With soft brush strokes and strong light, shadow and color, he really does take his subjects to new levels. You feel like you could reach out and grab what you see on his blog. I've followed his blog for a couple of years now and I'm delighted to see the risks he takes and the complex, detailed subjects he tackles. Being a fan of painting subjects that make one reconsider one's own sanity, I appreciate his sense of adventure. Like the painting above. Jeff's got guts.
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If you don't already have his blog bookmarked, do so. You won't be disappointed. http://jeffhayesfinearts.blogspot.com/

In Progress - Berries in Bowl - v3.0

2009-02-16T23:05:00.000-08:00

We're in that strange transitional stage where part of the painting looks pretty and realistic (the berries and bowl interior), and the rest of it looks like your 2nd grade school picture which was taken the day after you lost your front tooth AND got a bad haircut by your Mom's friend who was a week into beauty school and needed the practice.
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Trust me, two layers from now, you'll see how glorious that bowl really is.

Environmental Influence 9 - The Lingering Malaise Edition

2009-02-16T22:38:00.000-08:00

This is not a painting. It is a photograph.

Tea. Tea is my salvation. It soothes. It calms. It heals. It puts to sleep. Tea has been a constant in my life, especially the last 2 months as I've bounced around between the doctor's offices being told, "You're healthy!! Except for this glandular problem....." And, take it from me, glandular problems don't FEEL healthy. In fact, they feel decidedly unhealthy until they choose to right themselves and I go back to feeling healthy again.
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Actually, truth be told, I'm feeling much better this past week. January sucked. But February is starting to feel better. I'm going to blame it all on Retrograde. Ya, that's it. Retrograde has been playing an extended joke on me and all my friends. In fact, compared to one friend, I've had it easy. Her car engine decided to off itself on the freeway, and then fleas moved into her apartment from an unknown source. And then her bathtub drain sealed itself shut. And now she lives with her parents until further notice. Not a good month.
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Between Retrograde and my glands, I'm working strictly on gallery paintings for now. I've got two big things coming up in April and May for which I am bound and determined to put out good product, on top of my other equally important commitments. Daily paintings are on hold for the time being, one here and there if time, but mostly on the back burner. I must choose my tasks wisely for the next several weeks while I'm not operating at full capacity. So the majority of what I post between now and the start of April will be for sale through my new galleries.
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Chamomile is particularly good for this sort of situation. I like the way it is politely implied that Chamomile calms the nervous system. What they mean to say is that it keeps the crazy at bay. I should know. It's been very helpful. At least that's what the voices tell me.

IIIiiiiiiiiitttt's SHOWTIME!!!

2009-02-13T11:17:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce that I have been added to the roster of the Miller Gallery and have two works in their new show, Rosemary's Babies 2, which opened tonight. The show runs February 13th through February 27th. If you wish to inquire about purchasing either of the paintings, please contact the gallery directly.

Choosing One Over The Other - 10" x 10" - oil on canvas

Black Tea & Freesia - 10" x 10" - oil on canvas

In other news, "Final Step" made it through the jury process and into the Contemporary Arts Center's 20th Anniversary Juried Show. That show runs from February 5th through March 27th. "Final Step" is not for sale. Sorry. She's mine. Mine mine mine mine mine mine.

Final Step - 10" x 10" - mixed media on canvas

3 Artists, 1 Subject - January

2009-01-31T17:39:00.001-08:00

"Female Pills" - Jelaine Faunce - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel

"Nectar Detectors" - M Collier - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel

"Son, we found this in your room, and..." - Otto Lange - 6" x 6" - oil on hardboard panel

This month's challenge subject was chosen by me, and I picked antique specimen bottles. I should note that they are also often referred to as antique pill bottles, and I chose to treat mine as such for my own painting.
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I admit that my painting subject might easily be considered sexist or insensitive except that, you know, I'm a woman. And I can say with great certainty that a handful of chocolate chips at certain times of the month is far more satisfying than a handful of Midol.
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I recently acquired several antique medicinal labels and thought this particular label was downright hilarious. Had to use it. For those wondering, it reads, "FEMALE PILLS - Take one at noon and two at bedtime". Pffffttt!!! As if three a day would be enough. Don't you wonder what was in those original pills???? Sodium Penethol? Heroin? Pot? Probably a placebo of grandma's baking flour sprinkled liberally with cocaine. Kind of like how Coca-Cola initially had that little extra KICK to it, according to Wikipedia. Wheeeeeee!!!
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I digress.
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You know what's also really funny to me is that, on the original label, the lettering is not as precise as our modern labels. The lettering really was kind of "off", the old printing press style. Actually, it reminded me of those woodblock print mass produced prayer papers like you'd get at the Chinese grocery just before New Year's. Sort of perfect in their imperfection. You have no idea how much I struggled to clean the lettering up. In the end my devotion to the true image won out over my obsessive nature. Yet I'm still twitching about it. That will likely never change. Maybe I should have been a graphic artist after all. LOL
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If your sense of humor runs a little toward the dark side like mine, and you'd like purchase information for "Female Pills", please email me at jpfstudio@yahoo.com