Art of Jenna

West Coast Plein Air in the News

2008-10-01T21:37:00.003-04:00

My plein air group made the news! While we were out painting near Pine Island, a reporter and photographer from the St. Petersburg Times came out and interviewed us. The next day, Saturday, Sept. 27, this article appeared in the paper. Read here.

Palms at Green Key Beach

2008-09-27T11:30:00.001-04:00

Painted recently en plein air at Green Key Beach, New Port Richey, FL. Our painting group, West Coast Plein Air (a chapter of Plein Air Florida) goes out weekly to paint the landscape. I painted this during our stint at Green Key in New Port Richey. This oil painting is richly textured and colored and reflects the lighting and my impressions of that hot day.

Palms at Green Key Beach
Oil on board, 9x12"
$300, unframed

Contact me if you'd like to purchase this painting with Visa/Mastercard at JennaStarFriedman@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting!

Patio Garden 3, Watercolor

2008-08-28T14:52:00.001-04:00

This is the third in the series of paintings I did on my sister's patio in Phoenix. I just realized that I forgot to post this earlier with the others. If you look back a bit in my posts, you'll see two more watercolors of this view. These were all painted on different days of the same subject but with somewhat different focuses. In this particular painting, I used a few different watercolor resist techniques. Can you find them? Thanks for visiting!

Another Path in the Woods, Oil, 8x10" by Jenna Star

2008-08-28T14:39:00.005-04:00

I painted this tropical pathway near a kayak trail in Howard Park, Tarpon Springs, in July and recently finished it up in the studio. The paint is highly textured and glazed. If you'd like to purchase this painting through Paypal, contact me at Jennastarfriedman@gmailcom. Thanks for visiting!

Path in the Woods

2008-07-25T18:28:00.001-04:00

Lately I've been working on a few unfinished paintings to get them to a point that I'm happier with. I painted this path at Honeymoon Island in plein air a few months ago. I just didn't feel satisfied with it and put it away for a while. Now I've touched it up to where I like it.

Path in the Woods, Oil, 9x12"

Thanks for visiting!

Bird Sketches, Watercolor.

2008-07-24T17:27:00.001-04:00

I decided to post a few sketchbook pages that I painted in Phoenix while I was at the hospice with my mom. I usually carry a small drawing/watercolor kit with me anyway, and this turned out to be a good way for me to get through some of the long hours there. I tried painting some of the birds I see often in Florida, as well as a few doves that hung out in the garden there.

Patio Garden 2, Watercolor, 8x10

2008-07-15T11:49:00.000-04:00

I painted the same view of my sister's garden several times while I was in Phoenix. In this one, the colors are more intense and I included the view outside her garden wall. This being Phoenix in June, it was very hot, and I wanted to capture the intensity of the heat and sun.

Patio Garden 1, Watercolor, 8x10

2008-07-14T12:21:00.000-04:00

I'm posting a series of small watercolor paintings I did while in Arizona from May through June. I went back home to be with my mom. She spent her last month in the Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix as the cancer took over the rest of her body. I was with her every afternoon and night. I saw her pain and confusion and struggle, but also I became aware of a grace I didn't know she had. In the mornings, I painted on my sister's patio and walked her dog. The emotional anquish and impact of this time affected me deeply. I became aware of some changes I needed to implement in my own life, which I have started since returning to Florida. It's not easy. Anyway. Painting is my grounding and my outlet. I need to paint. The next few posts I'll put up some of the little watercolors and sketches I did while waiting with my mom for her next journey.

Path to Honeymoon Beach by Jenna Star

2008-05-15T14:16:00.002-04:00

Honeymoon Island continues to be one of my favorite painting spots. This view is of a path leading to the beach on the south side of the island. I am always drawn to places near water, and the gulf here is a beautiful turquoise blue.

Path to Honeymoon Beach
Pastel, 12"x 18" $400-

Email me at JennaStarFriedman@gmail.com if you're interested in purchasing with Paypal. Thanks for visiting!

Painting Award

2008-04-20T10:41:00.004-04:00

Here I am next to my painting, "Near the End of the Cotee River", which won an Honorable Mention at the Tarpon Springs Art Association show. The painting is in an exhibit at the Heritage Museum, located on Spring Bayou in Tarpon Springs, FL. You can see this painting in close-up in the previous entry below.

Near the End of the Cotee River by Jenna Star

2008-04-06T17:54:00.005-04:00

Painted en plein air recently with my friends of the West Coast Plein Air group. A couple of months ago, we discovered the James Grey Preserve right here in the middle of New Port Richey, FL. We've made many painting expeditions here and will continue to do so, because of the astounding beauty. This is where the Pithlaschacotee River ends. The river is tidal as it goes out to the Gulf of Mexico, so there are low and high water levels every day. The birds and vegetation here are varied and numerous. I did this on one of the first times we went there in February, and there were flocks of hundreds of robins flying and nesting overhead. So this is where they spend their winters, just like all the other (human) snowbirds that populate Florida in the cold months. I just wonder why would they ever want to leave?
"Near the End of the Cotee River" Oil, 11x14" contact me at jennalovesparrots@yahoo.com if you'd like to buy this painting through Paypal. Thanks for visiting!

Trail Ride, Starkey Wilderness Park, FL by Jenna Star Friedman

2008-03-15T11:35:00.005-04:00

My daughters and I rode through Starkey Park, Odessa FL when they still offered trail rides. Because of ever-mounting insurance (what else is new) they can no longer rent horses out to the public. We have always loved horses, but can't afford to own them ourselves. It's still a dream of mine to someday have a ranch with many kinds of animals, especially horses.

Trail Ride, Pastel, 12x18"

Howard Beach, 11x14, Oil

2008-02-07T20:02:00.001-05:00

This oil painting was done mostly in plein air at the beach in Tarpon Springs and I finished it up recently in the studio. The view is looking west toward Anclote Key in the Gulf of Mexico. This beach is a local gem, one of many I've discovered since moving to Florida a couple of years ago.
Contact me at jennalovesparrots@yahoo.com if you're interested in purchasing this painting through Paypal. Thanks for visiting!

Marsh View by Jenna Star

2008-01-30T09:53:00.000-05:00

Marsh grasses lead out to the Gulf of Mexico and a view of some distant palms.

Marsh View, 11x14" Pastel, $300

For more information or to purchase this painting through PayPal: Email me at jennalovesparrots@yahoo.com

Thanks for visiting!

Green Key Beach by Jenna Star

2007-12-31T19:23:00.001-05:00

Green Key. Painted in plein air at the beach. I was impressed by the colors and reflections in the low tide that day. The beach was nearly empty except for a few of us painters out there trying to capture its beauty.

Green Key, 9x12" Oil on hardwood panel. $250.

Contact me at jennalovesparrots@yahoo.com if you're interested in purchasing this painting. Thanks for visiting!

Snowy Egret, Pastel by Jenna Star

2007-11-18T11:16:00.000-05:00

A snowy egret searches the shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico near sunset. These egrets have black legs and bright yellow feet. I think one of the most amazing things about Florida is the great variety of birds here. And if you know me at all, you know I love birds.
Sorry for the long lag between my art postings recently. I've moved and am going through all the extra work that entails. Still painting often, but getting them up on the internet has dropped way back.
If you'd like to purchase this, or any of my paintings, you can pay by credit card through my Paypal account. Email me at jennalovesparrots@yahoo.com and I will send out the information to you. This pastel painting is about 8x10" and $50 unframed.

Great White Egret by Jenna Star

2007-11-04T16:44:00.000-05:00

A Great White Egret looks over a salty marsh, searching for his next meal. Click on button below to purchase, or contact me at jennalovesparrots@yahoo.com. Thanks for visiting!

Estuary, Oil, 9x12

2007-10-23T16:38:00.000-04:00

A great blue heron stands near mangroves in an estuary leading to the Gulf of Mexico.

Contact me for information about this painting at jennalovesparrots@yahoo.com. Thanks for visiting!

Path, Pastel, 9x12" by Jenna Star

2007-10-23T16:24:00.000-04:00

Pastel painting of drive near Clearwater Library. Path, Pastel, 9x12"
$100.00
Thanks for visiting!

Egrets

2007-09-03T11:34:00.000-04:00

I painted this along the edge of a bayou that leads out to the Gulf of Mexico.

Egrets, Oil, 11x14" $300. You can buy it through Paypal by clicking the button below. Thanks for visiting!

Tree by Bay

2007-08-21T11:16:00.000-04:00

I painted this looking northwest along Tampa Bay.

Oil on 8x10" canvas, with 1 1/2" deep edge also painted. $200.00.

Click on the paypal button below if you'd like to buy it. Thanks for visiting!

Country Store

2007-08-13T10:35:00.000-04:00

" Country Store" by Jenna Star. This store is one of the many restored old Florida buildings that are a part of Heritage Village in Largo. I've spent a lot of time painting there. I painted this on site a few months back, but was never happy with the sitting figure. I put the painting away for a while and recently got it out and touched up the man again. I like it now.

"Country Store" 9x12", Oil

$300.00.

Thanks for visiting!

Palm by the Bay

2007-08-07T11:26:00.000-04:00

Palm by the Bay by Jenna Star

I painted this view in Phillipe Park, looking south across Tampa Bay. It was a really hot day. I found a spot of shade and breeze, set up my gear, and got into the zone. I am inspired by nature and that is where I find peace.

Palm by the Bay, Oil, 11x14"
$300.00
Thanks for visiting!

Roseate Spoonbills, Pastel, by Jenna Star

2007-07-29T13:58:00.000-04:00

Two roseate spoonbills graze along a mangrove bayou on the west coast of Florida. I have only seen spoonbills twice in the three years I've been here. They are becoming more and more uncommon. When I heard there were some nearby, I rode my bicycle there and took some photos. I painted the bayou en plein air, and added the spoonbills later from my photo.

Roseate Spoonbills, Pastel, 9x12"

$200.00

Thanks for visiting!

Four Trees

2007-07-21T14:22:00.000-04:00

Four Trees by Jenna Star

This is a pastel I did near Lake Tarpon. Most of it was done in plein air, but it got so hot and humid I finished it later in my studio. It is getting very uncomfortable out now -- well it is July in west Florida after all! Always trying to find places that have a sea breeze and shade......

Four Trees

Pastel, 12x15" $300.

If you'd like this painting, you can click the paypal button below. Thanks for visiting!