The Canvas

Jam Camp

2011-11-14T05:21:00.000-08:00

The children and I have been a part of a jam camp. It had some great photo opportunities. I guess once your an artrist you look at every event as a art opportunity. Lots of musicians and musical instruments. I love mixing music and art.

The barn raising

2011-07-08T12:57:00.000-07:00

In the Looking Glass

2011-04-19T06:51:00.001-07:00

This is a picture of my niece. (Daryl and Robyn's daughter) She did a real great job! There is something in every little girl to dress up and pretend. I know when I got the picture developed the man behind the counter said to me ," This is just what my little girl likes to do". This is my first experience with working with the mirror. I choose to make her very detailed outside the mirror and more muted in the mirror. So, I pushed the color and outside the mirror. I also worked to keep the same colors floating around in the picture.

From wax to watercolor

2010-12-10T05:58:00.000-08:00

Color, color, color, This painting was a great color study. With complementary colors bouncing around. The crayon box held a wealth of beauty. This painting was challenging. It was also a lot of fun. I didn't have to be as detailed in this one, so I could concentrate on being bold with strong color. Everyone has memories of coloring as a child. These in many ways become peoples first art experience. So, keep getting out the box and allowing yourself and your children to increase their creativity with these wonderful tools. Have a great day. Jennifer

Cherries

2010-11-02T08:43:00.000-07:00

Just for fun. I was needing a brake from the big paintings I've been doing. I had taken a picture of these cherries this summer when they were in season. I was striving for strong color. It was a great little piece to work on. The size is 5 1/2 by 12.

Crafting Music

2010-08-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

Here is the finished product. I wrote about the painting on an earlier post. If you scroll down you can see it in progress.

Litiz Art Show

2010-08-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

July 31st my art work was in a show in in Lancaster Pa. It was a beautiful day. A lot of people came out to see and buy art. I was honored with a fourth place price in water color. The picture of the girl putting on the roller skates won the prize.

Work in progress

2010-07-14T11:34:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share with you what I have been working on. Jevon and Annika are taking violin lessons. We purchases violins from this man. He also makes violins in his work shop. Painting thoughts were running through my mind while we were there. He graciously agreed to allow me to take some pictures. This has been my project for the last few months. The painting is almost finished. Hope you enjoy this work in progress.

A Stitch in Time

2010-05-24T11:05:00.000-07:00

This ladies picture has been in my stack of favorites for a while. She finally found her way to the canvas. I did a lot of this painting in February which is black history month. You may not be able to see on the computer, but she is holding a needle and is sewing the doll.

To Carry Me Away

2010-01-20T06:01:00.000-08:00

This Picture was a new experience for me. The Lord brought this idea to my mind one day, and soon after a friend called me on the phone and mentioned that this girl was visiting her. So, I grabbed the roller skates and headed out the door. I enjoyed the realism part, but it took me a while to build up the courage to get into the loose part. This picture is to represent peace and tranquility in the midst of all that life can throw at us. God's peace exceeds anything we can understand.

School Days

2010-01-05T10:04:00.000-08:00

My daughter Annika posed for me in this picture. I was reliving some of those school day memories. When I was younger I thought those days would never end. Now some times I wish I could go back and take it more seriously. I guess that's what getting older does to you. Hope it will bring back some good memories for you.
This picture was a challenge for me because of the extreme contrasts between the dark and the light. I was striving to go from complete white to complete back .

Rain

2009-09-24T15:02:00.000-07:00

This picture was birthed this spring in the middle of all the rain we received. One rainy day the children I went out to take some pictures. Jevon followed me with an umbrella and tried to keep the camera dry. Annika walked in front of us with her rubber boots and umbrella. We got some great shots. It was fun to do together. This is one of them. I may paint another one latter on. We changed the umbrella color to mach the lime green rubber boots. It was also fun to do a little bit more of a wet style in the background.

A photo of my flowers

2009-09-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

I know I don't usually put on photos. But, I wanted to share my flowers with you all. Enjoy.

Gone Fishing

2009-07-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of my son Jevon. We went to a lake one day and he posed for this picture. Later on I was driving along and saw this covered bridge and The picture came together in my mind. Don't worry, I don't let my son go fishing by himself. But, he does enjoy fishing and Kerry and him have gone a few times this summer. This picture brings thoughts of a nice quiet

afternoon fishing.

The Red of Winter

2009-03-11T18:02:00.000-07:00

We take a group of people from our church every January up to Potter County, Pa. This year we had some beautiful snow. As I walked around the barn in the snow this spot just stuck out to me as an area with a lot of character. I love the wood and the hinge. The Cardinal is one of my favorite birds. One of them has been sitting on the tree right outside my front window. Sorry, this is getting posted so close to spring. You may not want to be reminded of winter right now.

Work, Home and Family

2009-03-11T17:52:00.000-07:00

This picture was also inspired from an afternoon spent in Lancaster County. My goal in this picture was to create a fuzzy background and have the man driving the team stand out.

I need a title

2008-11-15T08:12:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken by a friend of mine that spent some time in Thailand. She took this picture and I asked her if she would mind if I would paint it. It was a good study in skin tones. She has such an innocent look on her face. It was fun to see her come alive on my canvas.

Looking Back

2008-09-29T04:46:00.000-07:00

My husband and I took a visit to near by Lancaster County. We felt like real tourists with our camera in hand. We came up behind this buggy and I saw the little boy with his hat sitting in the back. It was screaming at me to be photographed. So I told my husband to drive slow and I stuck my head out the window. About that time the little boy turned and looked at me and he was caught on camera.
There were a couple of things that I strove for in this picture. To create the depth in the buggy by making the parents not look as dark as the dark of the buggy. Also, to have the red and orange sign without it taking over the picture. That was done by making a bit of a muddy orange and red. Hope you enjoy this Lancater County picture.

Amoung the leaves

2008-09-09T08:11:00.000-07:00

This picture was an experimental piece for me. The background was done by laying down color and placing fresh green leaves in the paint, then allowing them to dry for about 14 to 20 hours. The hardest part is not peeking. After the paint has dried you remove the leaves. The result is all kinds of fun imprints in the paint. The bird is a finch and was photographed in Indiana. We were there for a wedding this summer and I spent a morning with my aunt. She has several bird feeders in her backyard that a wide variety of birds visit. I had great fun taking pictures of them.

The Lititz art show

2008-07-27T12:44:00.000-07:00

I did my first full art show on Saturday, July 26th. The show was a juried show. We were able to choose three paintings each to be judged. I picked the oranges and the girls with pinneapples and the Piper. The Piper won 3rd place. Kerry told me He wished he could have taken a picture when the judges came asking for Jennifer Martin. He said my eyes got real big and my mouth dropped open. It was a real honor.

Lilly

2008-07-10T12:35:00.000-07:00

Just for fun. I have been doing so many large pictures and wanted to have a break. These Lillies have been blooming outside my house. The dragonfly flew onto the canvas and stayed. =)
He wanted to get into the act.

Market Days

2008-07-02T17:24:00.000-07:00

My sister Marcia came to visit us this spring. We spent one of our days at the market. We had fun wondering around the many stands. This stand captured my attention with the oranges sliced open. I enjoyed working on making this picture look 3D. Would you like a slice?

At a distance

2008-05-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

size 20x30

Here comes summer. This picture comes from a number of different places. We enjoy visiting the Chesapeake Bay as a family. I would say this pictures was inspired by the fun times we have had there. But, this bird was actually photographed in Canada. A combining of pictures created a feeling of warm summer memories.

The Piper

2008-03-27T13:46:00.000-07:00

Size 16 x 24
This is a picture of a friend of Mine. Her family plays celtic music together. She plays the violin, concertina and the bag pipes. She was in the Lebanon parade and she allowed me to take her picture. I enjoyed the challenge of working with dark colors and changing them up. Also the skin tones were a good study.

Memories of Childhood

2008-02-11T08:11:00.000-08:00

This picture is of my daughter Annika. I may be teaching a class this winter and this is the picture the class will be doing. The hardest part of this picture is the water. I worked it out myself to be aware of the problem spots. I hope to do one of Jevon by the water also.

A Malagasy Gift of Friendship

2008-02-06T08:33:00.000-08:00

26x26
This picture was taken by my friend Rhonda Slaubaugh in Madagascar. I fell in love with these girls and wanted to paint them. They are selling pineapple slices at a market.The picture is currently showing in Mechanicsburg, PA, at an art show.

The View

2008-02-05T12:42:00.000-08:00

This bird is called a nut hatch. It is known for the head first way that it descends a tree. It was also brave enough to come to the bird feeder with people near by.

Out on a limb

2008-02-05T12:30:00.000-08:00

10x20 I painted this picture after spending a weekend in January in Northern Pa. This brave little chickadee came to the bird feeder. He reminded me of the North and the chickadees we would see in the winter. He was just waiting to be painted. The backround on this picture was new to me but it gave a rather mutted effect which I wanted.

Sisters

2008-02-04T10:38:00.000-08:00

This picture was also inspired by our visit to Williamsburg. I dedicated this picture to my sisters.

A beat in time

2008-02-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

This picture was inspired by a parade at Williamsburg. These old drums had a lot of character. I loved all the little nobs on the drums. This picture was a lot of fun to execute.

Notes of Nature

2008-02-04T10:14:00.000-08:00

I have been learning to play the clarinet. In the fall I decided to do a picture combining the beauty of nature around me and the this beautiful instrument. I pushed color in this picture. We have a wonderful God of beauty.

A time to remember

2008-02-01T10:53:00.000-08:00

This painting was inspired by a cart in Williamsburg. Kerry and I were down there for our 10th anniversary. I loved all the colors and the way the shadows played with the hats.

A day of beauty

2008-01-31T17:38:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken when I visited my family and we spent the day on Mackinaw Island. It wasn't till a few years later that I actually got around to painting it. Kerry took the picture. I was inspired by this beautiful church. Dad and Mom are on the one bicycle and Annika and I are on the other one. This is the first picture I painted in transparent water color. A lot of good lessons were learned.