Share art

In times of uncertainty, we must remember that there is always art. 

Art has always been a place of expression, a safe place to share your thoughts, feelings, hopes, and fears; to find like minds. The human experience is a precious and unique one: it cannot be replicated through machines; animals do not experience it. It is sad and beautiful and often frightening and it was created by God; we need art to better understand it and to survive it. Whether it be through music, dance, theatre, film, creative writing, or the fine arts - create it; experience it; share it. Books, poems, operas, installations, internet cartoons, puppetry, break-dancing, a capella singing groups: it's a gift, an outlet. 

Even historically through times of oppression, the artists found ways to still create, to come together and give hope to others: the Renaissance, Dadaism, Modernism, Swing Kids, the AIDS Memorial Quilt (and so many more not mentioned). 

So go to bookstores, to the library, to the movies, to the theatre, to museums and galleries and concerts. Go to church. Sing in your car and in your shower. Read. Write. Paint. Crochet.

There are so many different ways to express yourself and there are so many ways to share it with others. 


Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 



Peace and love and good.  

Summer Weddings

It's time for summer weddings and engagements!

Fine art prints and original paintings make wonderful gifts for couples building a new home together! 

 Shop wedding cards, shower cards, engagement cards, and thank you cards here. 

Valentine's Day

I've added some great new prints to the shop just in time for Valentine's Day!

 La Vie en Rose

I don't usually do the same pint in multiple color ways, but I just couldn't choose for these!

 You are so Loved - blue

You are so Loved - pink

And my newest floral print:

 (Remembering) Italy in Early Spring

   

Gift ideas for the one you love:

Gift ideas for a friend: 

Valentine's cards, prints and art now in the shop!  

Order by February 7 for Valentine's delivery! (U.S.)

Love for today

New cards

New greeting cards now in the shop!

 best wishes

 Happily ever after

 Happy Birthday

 I love you

 You are awesome

Snapshots of a Wedding

The past few weeks: 

 

So to sum up: I really love desserts. 
Also, my new husband. 

New art to come soon! 

Capitol Romance

Jason and I had our engagement photos, taken by Emily Porter Photography, featured on the DC weddings blog Capitol Romance. 

You can see the post here. 

Scroll down the post for a peek at some of the illustrations Jason made for the engagement book he made me!

I featured 2 of them before in this post, but below is my favorite, for good measure:


This is Jason's interpretation of our first date, which took place at the Corcoran Gallery of Art:

#findsomeonewhomakesyoulaugh 

Crafting Some Love

For Valentine's Day, Jason and I went to Pork Barrel BBQ. Yes, smoked meats is our kind of romance. Though in all seriousness, give me good BBQ and some Cheerwine, and I'm smitten.

Anywho, there happened to be a crafting station set up to make a valentine and leave it there for all to see.  
Construction paper, glitter (oh so much glitter), markers, glue, feathers, and pipe cleaners? 

Yes, please!

I can never resist an opportunity to incorporate the kitties...

And, yes, I added some "obligatory glitter" (and I have handwriting like an 8-year-old. The 3-D dangling pipe cleaner hearts were a nice touch, I thought, though).

 
Jason wanted to guarantee that his valentine would "be chosen" for the wall, so he was not-so-subtle with his, uh, brown-nosing. 

And for good measure, some lazy kitties:

 (this is Red with his monkey... he doesn't like it. Jason keeps forcing it on Red for photo opportunities)

Hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day, whether you spent it with a human or a kitty.

Thoughts on Doing What You Love

 or "Why I Am An Artist When I Could Have Made Way More Bank As A Lawyer"

 “It is very important that you only do what you love to do. You may be poor, you may go hungry, you may lose your car, you may have to move into a shabby place to live, but you will totally live.  And at the end of your days you will bless your life because you have done what you came here to do. Otherwise, you will live your life as a prostitute, you will do things only for a reason, to please other people, and you will never have lived.  And you will not have a pleasant death.” 

― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

 Being an artist is not easy, especially in a serious, political area like D.C.

Typical conversation with someone new:

Them: So, what do you do?
Me: I'm an artist.
Them: .... like an actor?
Me: No, an actual studio artist. I paint and stuff. 
Them:... but, what's your job?  

In those people's defense, I do have a day job (because girlfriend needs health insurance), but that's not my passion, my identity, my future.  It's not what makes me wake up excited in the morning to start a project or stay up waaaaay too late at night to finish sketches or spend an entire day locked in my room/studio experimenting with new mediums and techniques until my fiance comes home and wants to know what we're doing for dinner (um, food?). 

 My studio

Art makes me happy... but more than that, it's simply how I express myself and find meaning in the world. There's something in me that NEEDS to create, that only feels fulfilled when I'm sketching or painting or sewing or MAKING something. 

If it were about money or fame, I would have gone into another career, something that doesn't have a prerequesite of being DEAD before your work is worth money. 


Actual email conversation I had with my dad several months ago:

Dad 5/2/12

to Jennifer 

 Keep painting.   The Scream sold today for $120 million.

____________________________________________________________________

Jennifer 5/2/12

to Dad

Yeah that guy's been dead for 200 years. He's making $0 dollars. 

____________________________________________________________________

Dad 5/2/12

to Jennifer

Good point. 

____________________________________________________________________

I mean, really, everybody's gotta do something. You may as well do what brings you absolute joy. 

For some, that is being an attorney.
For some, that is being a parent.
For some, that is playing competitive sports.
For some, that is educating and shaping today's youth.
For some, that is healing the sick.
For some, that is saving the environment from preventable human destructions. 
For some, that is lobbying for policies to protect those who cannot protect themselves. 
For some, that is giving hope to those who feel lost and alone. 

For me, that is creating something new; capturing a truth; expressing my loves, fears, doubts, confusions.

For me, that is art. 

 
And, hopefully, if you are good at what you love, someone will pay you to do it (assuming it's, ya know, legal and somehow contributes to society).

The ultimate dream, no?
 
Image of The Scream by Edvard Munch from here  
All other images by me
 

Engagement Photos

Our engagement session was done in DC by the husband and wife team Emily Porter and Bobby Oberlander that are Emily Porter Photography

Since Jason and I met in DC, we wanted iconic DC photos. And also, I can't resist a good art museum (we were at the Modern (East) Wing of the American Art Museum, the Sculpture Garden, and in front of the Capitol Building)

We had a great time and the photos are GORGEOUS 

Is it too braggy to note that I went to high school with Emily? Hometown pride! 

While their posed photos are gorgeous, they take some pretty amazing candids, too. 

They will be our wedding photographers, too, and we are so excited for April! 
(the photo below is from a wedding Emily and Bobby did this past year of actually another lovely lady that I went to high school with - I just had to add it because it's such a cool shot - hope you don't mind, Emily!)

 Emily Porter Photography is based out of Charleston, WV, but they LOVE to travel (they actually spent 3 weeks in Italy this fall and got back the day before our engagement session). You can find more info on their engagement and wedding packages here 



all photos shown by Emily Porter Photography

Hedgehog Games

Jason, like so many of you out there, held onto his childhood beanie babies thinking perhaps one day they would be worth MILLION$$$!!!

Well... sadly they are either selling for only $0.05 on Ebay or not at all... doh. 

Anywho, I finally convinced him to get rid of the giant box of worthless nostalgic stuffed toys, but he decided to keep one. His name is Pierre, and he is a cantankerous French hedgehog. (note: we have no qualms with the French, it's just more fun if Pierre has an accent and an attitude problem). 

Pierre likes to hide places... 

It started with my bed.
I would be all snuggly and then my foot would hit something beanie and lumpy and I would scream... because you don't want to be finding things in your sheets at night. (and also, he kind of looks like a rat)

And then he was in my purse. 

And the other night, I found him here when I went to brush my teeth before bed:

I gasped.... and then laughed... a lot. 

And then I thought about how lucky I am to be marrying a man that makes me laugh (and shares my ridiculous sense of humor). Because, really, that's the kind of stuff that lasts. 


#mushyover
#gottafindsomeplaceawesometohidethathedgehog