Hello, successful sweet summer

I'm back from Santa Fe and have to say that the show was a big success! A fantastic turn out (best I've had in six years at Hunter Kirkland Contemporary) and the exhibition looked gorgeous! I'm so grateful to my gallery, new collectors, existing collectors, clients, family, friends and new friends and fans! What a wonderful, magical weekend. I say this every year, and I mean it: Santa Fe truly is a place NOT to miss. My show will be up until June 12th, so those of you in the Santa Fe area, I encourage you to stop in! To view photos of the installed exhibition, please visit my new Artist Facebook Page.

Memorial Day weekend is always a celebrated weekend... it is my goodbye to spring and hello to summer. Oh what a sweet southern summer it will be. Hopefully a successful sweet summer. I'm ready to get back into the studio and create more beauty.

If you're in the Atlanta area, please mark your calendars for Friday, June 24th. I'll be exhibiting my paintings at a special event at John Folsom Studios. If you'd like a special invitation to this event, please let me know or contact Kessenich Contemporary directly.

I'll continue to keep you posted this summer... for now I'd like to shout out sincere thanks to my galleries for adding my artwork recently to the following collections:

St. Louis, Missouri (Private Collection)

Dallas, Texas (Private Collection)

Boston, Massachusetts (Private Collection)

San Francisco, California (Private Collection)

Orlando, Florida (Wicker, Smith, O'Hara, McCoy & Ford, P.A.)

Interview

A couple of weeks ago as the shippers were preparing my new paintings heading out to New Mexico for my solo show this Friday, I sat down for an interview with Veronica Kessenich. It was one of the funnest interviews I've ever had! Thank you, Kessenich Contemporary for your incredible support and belief in me and my work!

To enjoy this interview, please visit this link.

Solo Exhibition at Hunter Kirkland Contemporary

"Sera"

60"x48"

Mixed Media Painting on Wood Panel

©2011 Jennifer J L Jones

This Friday night I'll be attending the opening of "Serenata", my solo exhibition at Hunter Kirkland Contemporary in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I hope those of you in the area will be able to come to the show. Each new painting in this series has a special story to it and one I'll enjoy sharing with many of you in person. (To view these new series images, please visit my website.)

Thanks to all of you for your amazing support! If you'd like to show your support in even more ways, please visit my new Facebook Artist Page. I wasn't planning to personally maintain the page, but it turns out that I'm rather enjoying it and it's another great place to interact with those that enjoy the convenience of social networking. Check it out to see some updates and posts that might not be on this blog or my journal!

Rising Artists!

Yesterday I was a visiting artist for the first time at a high school. While many of the Advanced Portfolio seniors were already gone for the school year... there were a few juniors who were already in the advanced art courses and really made a difference in my experience as a guest. I want to thank Mrs. Johnson for inviting me to try and share my work and knowledge as a full time artist with your classes. I really do hope I was able to make a positive impression and inspire at least a few of your kids. (Mrs. J, you are doing an AMAZING job as a teacher... I was worn out after four classes and can only imagine the strength you must have over the past ten years. Congratulations, btw!)

Special thanks to my sister in law (Shelly), my nephew (Matt), Jessica Hedgepeth, Spencer Grady, Austin Winter, Hannah Merritt, and Wendy Adams. Jessica and Hannah, I really appreciate your openness and wonderful energy and sharing this artwork with me... I was really happy you agreed to let me take these photos and share on my blog. You are both invited as interns if/when the right time opens up. Be sure to keep in touch!

For the readers here: I think all of these kids mentioned have a great deal of talent. They are for sure just a few of the bright eyed rising artists to keep a close watch on! I see bright futures ahead!!!

This is a dress made out of paper airplanes by Jessica Hedgepeth.

(I wish I could wear this to my art opening next week! LOVE it!!)

This is an acrylic painting that really struck me yesterday by Hannah Merritt.

SUCH talent for beginning art!!! GO Hannah!!!

Visiting Artist

Last year I was invited to be a guest artist at my nephew's high school. My schedule has been such that it kept getting pushed back and back and back... until finally, the kids are almost out of school! Time to get my butt up to Knoxville and see what kind of inspiration I can hopefully offer to these rising artists. I'm looking forward to this opportunity... and I'd like to share this with all of you as well.

If any of my readers get this today, here is your chance to be a part of four artist lectures/interactive art presentations tomorrow!

Feel free to comment here if there are any messages you'd like to share with these future artists... What do you wish you had known early on that has helped you on your creative path/career?? Or in life in general? Let's give them the knowledge and tips that we can that might help them along the way... I WISH someone had come to my high school AP art class to do this for us. I think it would have really helped.

Please comment on this post... OR...If you'd like to comment on my Facebook Artist Page, please do so! Either way, we'd love your input. I'll be reading any responses you have to these to kids and know they'll appreciate it.

Exhibition Preview

JENNIFER J L JONES Serenata: May 27- June 12 Opening Reception With The Artist, May 27, 5:00-7:00 PM 200-B Canyon Rd., Santa Fe, NM

"Samsara II" Mixed Media on Wood Panel, 60 x 60 inches ©2011 Jennifer J L Jones We always look forward to seeing what Jennifer J.L. Jones has added to her evolving oeuvre, and this year is no exception. For her new series “Serenata,” which will be on display at the gallery from May 27 through June 12, she uses a richer palette than ever before, addressing ideas and emotions that are at once personal and universal. It’s as if she’s inviting us to journey with her into her inner world of contemplation but also to explore the all-encompassing realm of nature. The unique way she combines the two gives this work a particular urgency, which contrasts intriguingly with her paintings’ serene beauty. Jones continues to abstract her observations from nature while mining her own emotional life for inspiration, most recently drawing ideas from a working trip to Tuscany where she experienced the transition from winter to spring.

"Insieme I" Mixed Media on Wood Panel, 20 x 60 inches ©2011 Jennifer J L Jones

"Patience" Mixed Media on Wood Panel, 48 x 48 inches ©2010 Jennifer J L Jones “My work has to do with nature, energy, seasons, and emotions,” says the artist, “and Italy has had a profound effect on this series. My time there showed me what a major role the weather patterns and seasons continue to play in my painting. The ideas I’ve been working on for this series have been taken directly from my experience in the Tuscan countryside, where I witnessed all the enchanting nuances of living on top of a mountain. My sketches for the series range from brooding, moody, pre-spring storms to the abundant rain and the intense green grass of the hillsides, with blips of white sheep, colorful tulips, and daffodils.”

"Neci" Mixed Media on Wood Panel, 60 x 48 inches ©2010 Jennifer J L Jones Jones has refined her technique over the years, using less of the ridged papers and natural elements like leaves that gave her past work texture in favor of glazing thin layers of oil paint, acrylic, and tar, then sanding them until the desired effect is achieved. At first glance the surfaces appear heavily lacquered, almost to the point of impenetrability, but closer examination reveals a textured world of activity beneath the surface, the layering process subtly but powerfully highlighting an abstracted universe of natural elements and the feelings they evoke. The deeper palette of greens, browns, and clarets is deceptive as well, as the pops of light and color that animate the background introduce a sense of playfulness and optimism, of a lightness of spirit that’s grounded by, rather than immersed in, the darkness. Sincerely, Nancy Hunter, Owner/Director Hunter Kirkland Contemporary

PLEASE CONTACT THE GALLERY FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Hunter Kirkland Contemporary 505.984.2111 hunterkirkland@earthlink.net www.hunterkirklandcontemporary.com