Stormy weather

You would think by late June we would not be preoccupied by rain.  But alas, we live in Oregon!  I have been experimenting with mixing abstract techniques to convey images that are more subjective.  Skies are something I never tire of looking at.  Here are a few recent results.

Just paint!!!!!!

I recently took an abstract painting class. The instructor was Linda Rothchild Ollis and for three days she bent my watercolor brain into a pretzel! I admit I was skeptical at first that the only thing I would get out of it was a better understanding of design. I was not prepared to actually like some of the paintings. Her work was reflective and showed great depth. She skillfully guided us through uncharted waters, exposing us to seemingly random techniques with surprising results. Is it legal to have this much fun? I guess if you can't have fun, why paint, right? Here are some of my workshop pieces.......look for more abstract to come.

Who Let the Dogs Out?

I'm the annoying woman who wants to take her little dog everywhere. You've seen the dog in someone's lap at a restaurant or on a plane- that's me! When do they cease to be just an animal and become a companion?
Gus is a Jack Russell Terrier who has had boundless energy and has delighted his owner with his antics. He recently suffered some type of stroke and for days just layed around. He recovered and is back to his zippy self! I painted this watercolor of him to celebrate.
Farlin was a graceful Greyhound that went to work with her owner at a title company. Everyone at work loved her and when she passed, they all went together and commissioned me to paint her.
Tigger the kitty loved roses! She would attack them and play with them for hours. Her owners gave her a rose every year for her birthday. When she passed it only made sense to include a rose in the painting.

Have Brush Will Travel

I have been ruined for normal!
Ever since taking my first watercolor class almost two years ago- I can't go anywhere without my sketchbook, some brushes and a little paint. I have had an unhealthy hesitation about what to put in the sketch book. It had to be worthy of that beautiful paper. Which defeats the entire purpose of a sketch book. I had to get over myself and decide that the book could reflect IDEAS about masterpieces and be more about possibilities for studio works. There is fun to be had in just exploring the creative process with new images in new environments. Here is a peek into my sketchbook. Maybe it will encourage you to take your art on the road!

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!"