Are we there yet?

El Dorado Motel, Modesto, California

St. Francis Motel, Modesto, California
 

On a previous blog I posted a picture of the St. Francis image unfinished.  Sometimes its the process and not just the product that becomes valuable.  My goal was to paint several images of aging neon signs, trying to complete them and get them all ready for a show.  It was the project that felt like it would never be done.  Late nights and lots of coffee helped me finish on time.  Its not only the paintings in process but I am too.  Im trying to step up to a higher level of production, more paintings, better quality, and a higher work ethic and attention to the business side of painting.  Using both sides of your brain at once can give you a headache!  I dont think Im there yet, but Im sure enjoying the trip!

Neither of these signs were lit.  Only the sun is illuminating the glass tubing.  They are both beautiful examples of an era of advertising that glowed with bold color and design.  These decaying icons stand as a reminder of the birth of the road trip.



When you are this beautiful, someone needs to paint a picture!

 

 

100 Dogs in a Year

Help me reach my goal of painting 100 dog portraits in a year. 

The first two portraits I did were of my two dogs, Spot and Coco.  It made me so happy to see them as paintings on my wall I knew I should do other people's pets.  While painting, I have had the privelege of hearing many stories of the amazing bond between pets and their owners.  Some of them are posted here on my blog.  In their honor, I contribute a portion of every portrait to the Greenhill Animal Shelter
so they can help more animals find loving homes. 

 Dogs have such funny faces,
 I never look at one of these portraits with out smiling!
  Give a gift of pure delight to someone you love-
 let me paint a portrait of your pet. 

All my paintings are done in watercolor and are 11 by 17 inches in size.  Most of my clients get their portrait in two weeks.
They come matted and ready to frame.

 

Contact me at joneilesart@gmail.com

 

Cost: $200.00

($20.00 from each portrait will be donated
 to our local Animal Shelter)

 

 



Luigi's Tires- Joneile Emery, watercolor

Seriously?!!  More Disney?!!  Oh Yeah.  I am certifiable Disney crazy.  On a recent trip visiting Cars Land in California Adventure I took a photo of the old vintage looking neon signs. (another passion of mine) and decided to try and paint it.  I abstracted it a little by the cropping and pushed the colors a bit. The photo was taken on a sunny morning with only the sun to illuminate the glass tubing.  I had so much fun I am now working on a series of neon signs with photos I took down old Hwy. 99 around the Modesto California area.  These old hotel signs are not in working order so they too are just illuminated by the sun. 

You can see this one is still in process.  The top of the sign will be a technical nightmare of shadows and reflections but will be a nice bright orange background which I hope will pop with the blue sky. I will post the finished product and you can decide if I succeed with this one.  As my dad used to say,  "Havent had so much fun since the pigs ate my little brother!"  

Sophie and other love stories

This is my little teacup Yorkie named Sophie.  She is possible the most adorable animal God ever made!  Why do we fall so deeply and sillily (a real word????) in love with our pets?  This dog wants to be with me all day.  She is constantly at my feet or laying next to me in the chair.  She is four pounds of love and fur.  I painted this watercolor portrait of her with very bold colors and strokes to convey her energy and intensity.  Her gaze reflects her scrutiny of my every move.  She keeps her eye on me!

My challenge to myself was to paint 100 dog portraits in a year and yet a few cats have slipped in.  This kitty is not with us anymore.  Her poor owners were so distraught when she died that I painted a picture of her so they could still see her and remember all the things she did to show them love and affection.  They now have this portrait framed above their mantle. 

 Could we live without our pets?  Yes, but the house would be a little quieter, we would sit by ourselves at night and we would miss their warmth and attention.  I have a quote in my house that says, "Be the person your dog thinks you are."   They believe the best about us and they are always glad to see us when we come home. If only we treated each other with the same optimism and affection that our pets show us-  we would live a gentler, kinder life!

A day in Disneyland produced this full sheet watercolor of my son and his friend Ashley.  The photo was so fun, with the reflections of the lines of people around them waiting to get on the rides.  It brings to mind all the sights and sounds of a favorite family vacation. (We are Disneyaholics!)  I also enjoyed the distorted perspective of the camera above them.  Almost like pop art!  My head will tell me I probably cant make them look they way I know them.  But once I begin I find the encouragement to stick with it and try.  I guess thats the only way we get anywhere in life is by trying.  We have to risk being humiliated or disappointed and give it a go!  A portrait of my kids always makes me smile.

Is it getting warm yet?!??

            Is it just me or are we getting sloppier weather?  I know they say we had a dry December but about this time of year Im beginning to dream of a nice warm beach somewhere.  This picture was started on the North Shore on Oahu and when I look at it I remember how relaxing it was to sit in the sand and paint.  Painting outside is always a trick but especially with watercolor, it dries so much lighter than it looks when wet.  The sun also changes the density of the pigment so when I got into the hotel that night I had to readjust the darks and lights.  The best souvenirs are the ones I paint- not because Im so pleased with the execution of them...I never think a painting is done, but because when I look at them I am flooded with the feelings and sounds of being there again.  Come on Spring!!!  Oregon needs you!