New Work. New Inspiration.

Hi there. How are you?

For the past month, my studio time has been very limited.  Life has simply gotten in the way! Finally, things are slowing down and are mostly back to normal.  It's time to get back to work!  I'm looking forward to a productive July.

An new abstract drawing.

This new original drawing is shown here with a virtual frame. Click to purchase!

Virtual Framing is Cool!

I just finished up this new piece last night. With the power of Photoshop, I was able to show it here in a "virtual" frame. Adding that frame gives it a little more polish. Don't you agree?

Inspired by a Walkabout

You may notice that this hole motif is new. It was inspired by something I noticed along my neighborhood walk the other day.  Light was breaking through the leaves on a tree to create this pattern on the sidewalk. I'm quite taken with this idea, so expect to see more in this style in the future!

Ballpoint pen, Prismacolor marker, and a white gel pen were used to create this abstract work. Click to purchase!

An Experiment with Color

I also did a little experimentation with Prismacolor marker last week. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you probably read/saw the struggle I had with this piece. I almost ruined it when I added the marker!

I shared this artistic misstep online. (I think it's good to show the good, bad, and the ugly sometimes!) I was overwhelmed by the positive feedback I received upon posting. Some liked it as was, others had suggestions on how rectify the composition. All that virtual love was inspiring, and I decided to give this piece another shot. The next morning, armed with some good suggestions, I went back into the studio. With just a little bit of white gel pen and a touch more black ballpoint, I was able to resolve this composition.

All three of these original drawings are now available in my shop. Click to purchase!

Now Available

All three of these new original pieces are available in my shop. They all measure 8.5" x 11" and would work as a trio or could stand alone. I've decided to offer these drawings unframed for a couple of reasons. Framed pieces are difficult and costly to ship and I also think it's nice to be able to tailor frames to your own taste and decor. This pieces were all intended to fit in a standard 8" x 10" frame, which are available everywhere.

One More Thing......

Would you like to purchase these pieces as prints? Do let me know and I will be happy to oblige. Thank you for your continued patronage friends!

Ciao.

New Work, but Now What?

Hi there. How are you?

Just over a month ago, I set out to make some new original pieces. I was dying to make something new, something abstract and intuitive. Here are some of the pieces I've made:

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I'm really happy with these pieces and I have enjoyed the process of making them. They're very "me" and I plan to continue to make this type of work. I'm hoping to work with an awesome frame maker acquaintance to get these puppies ready to show and sell.

Now here's the tough part......

How will I market and sell this body of work? I know there is a market for abstract work, but it's probably not the following I have grown over the last 10 years. My current audience is interested in flowers, chairs, birds, and coloring books.

So have I shot my artistic career in the foot by changing direction?

I don't think so, but there is work to do. As much as I tell myself that it's not necessary for me to sell this work, that it's perfectly OK for me just to make art for the sake of it, I know I won't be content with that. I do want to sell this new collection and the real work is going to be finding the audience for it. This is where I'm stumped, or maybe just afraid? I've got to make a plan.

The Midwestern will be a testing ground.

I'm looking forward to heading north in a couple of weeks for the opening of the Midwestern at the Rockford Art Museum. As I mentioned a few weeks back, I've got an abstract piece in the exhibition. It's a big cool deal to be included in this show and being accepted was one of the things that inspired me to make more work like it.  I'm hoping I'll gain some exposure for my current work by having this piece in this well known museum show......It's a way to put my work in front of the right audience.

I know that buyers/galleries aren't going to come looking for me.

I need to do the work, and that work is hard and a little bit scary. But, if I'm going to be an artist who sells work and is successful, I need to make it happen and I need to put myself out there.

What I do know is that I am enjoying making this work. 

I'm enjoying the process much more than I have in a long while. It's meditative work for me and I can do it with very little thinking.  When I'm not making I'm thinking about making. That's a good sign! If I like what I do it shows in my work.

That's all for now. Thank you for continuing to follow me on my artist journey. Ciao!

Illustrated Stories - Gel Pen Obsession

Hi there. How are you?

This is an ongoing series in which I share original artwork from the past and tell their stories. Each piece then goes up for sale in my web shop. Click HERE to read all of the Illustrated Stories posts.

Ok, I admit it. I'm obsessive about my drawing pens. I find something I like and it's the only thing I'll use for a spell. Lately, I can't get enough of the Pilot Precise V7 RT. Before that it was a black Bic ballpoint pen and a Micron pen.

A collection of my favorite drawing implements.

And then there was the white gel pen.

If you've never drawn with a good quality gel pen, you're missing out! The smooth flow of the ink on paper is so damn satisfying! Plus the white ink against a dark background has such a great look. I've tried many different type of gel pens and the "Gelly Roll" pictured above is by far my fave.

Abstract drawings made with white gel pen on dark paper.

Quick Pop of Color

I made these pieces back in the early spring of 2014 in preparation for my appearance at the Art Fair at Laumeier in St. Louis. I needed some large blocks of color to break up a booth of mainly white artwork. Using a doodle technique that I used to teach when I was a high school art teacher, I created these bold but elegant pieces. It is a fun and addictive way to artfully fill a space.

Entitled, "Lucy in the Sky," this piece is sure to bring a pop of color and style to any space.

When Art Supplies Attack!

I've decided to only list the red version of this piece. The blue piece is bubbling up off of the hardboard panel. Ugh! This is one of the reasons I have stopped mounting pieces in this fashion. The varnish needed to protect the surface can do terrible things to a finished drawing! Water and paper don't mix friends. If I start selling works on paper again, I will be paying someone to frame for me.

Here's the listing. Go buy some art!

sale

Minimalist Abstract Drawing - Lucy in the Sky

Sale Price:$50.00 Original Price:$100.00

Add a bold pop of color to your space with this abstract drawing. Read more about this piece HERE.

THE DETAILS: This original drawing measures 10" x 10" was created with a white gel pen on smooth red paper.  It is mounted on a deep 2" cradled hardboard support and coated with a protective UVA/UVB coating, so that the papers won't fade over time. With a saw-tooth hanger on the back, it comes ready to hang or can sit on a ledge or shelf.

THE SHIPPING: Your piece will be wrapped in a handmade fabric bag, carefully packaged in a sturdy box, and shipped to you via USPS mail with insurance and a tracking number. I take great care to make sure my pieces are wrapped and shipped securely.

FREE shipping within the US and $10 flat rate shipping everywhere else.

OTHER INFORMATION: Please be aware that while I do my best to photograph the colors true-to-life, all monitors display colors differently, please allow some variation between what you see on your screen and what you see in real life.

Please contact me with any questions.

Copyright © Jennifer Johansson
All Rights Reserved.

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Until next week. Ciao