Turtle Flight

It has been a busy week for me, and things are going to be even crazier next week. I will be heading off to camp with a few hundred LDS teenagers for Youth Conference from Monday through Friday, then we will leave immediately to Utah for our grandson's baptism. Whew! In the midst of all our preparations, I found a little block of time to paint today, but it won't happen again until after the 8th of July. Unless I'm sleeping that day. :)

Turtle Flight © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6 x 6" acrylic on wrapped canvas

Neskowin in June

Went to the beach yesterday with a Church Youth Group, and found a few minutes to set aside and do a quick ink and watercolor sketch. Should have brought tape to hold my paper down (forgot!), as I had quite a struggle with the wind blowing.... My attempts to paint and hold the paper at the same time were rather comical. I giggled at myself a few times in the process. It was a great day at the coast!

 

 

Neskowin in June © Dorothy Jenson 2014

5 x 7" ink and watercolor on paper

Cheery Robin

My photo reference was a simple little robin on a wall, and I had a really good time adding sparkle to this painting! All the colors and lines and dots made me smile, so this robin is now called a Cheery Robin.

Cheery Robin  © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6 x 6" acrylic on wrapped canvas

Spotlight!

I'm surprised and honored to be chosen as the Spotlight Artist of the week on Daily Paintworks! You can check out my interview with this link:

http://dpwnews.blogspot.com/2014/06/dpw-spotlight-interview-dorothy-jenson.html

Happy Quacker

When I'm painting, there's often a point about mid-way through that I am pretty sure the painting is a flop. It looks horrible and the temptation is to scrap it. This happens so often, that I have to tell myself at that point to "keep going....it will get better!" Today's duck nearly didn't make it past the mental blockade, but I'm so happy I pushed through. I love how it turned out. Surprise! That's another reason the word "Happy" is in the title. :)

"Happy Quacker" © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6 x 6" acrylic on wrapped canvas

Just Looking, Thank you

I wonder why this raccoon is digging in a tree stump? Did he hide something in there, or is he looking for food or treasure? While I painted him, he seemed to be telling me over and over, "Just Looking. Thank you!" Either that or he was saying, "Excuse me? I'm a little busy here!" I chose to go with the first title.

Just Looking © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6 x 6" acrylic on wrapped canvas

Ink and Watercolor

This summer, as usual, I'm going to be doing some backcountry camping. We will spend a week primitive camping at a canoe-in lake, and then a 10 day backpacking trip in August. I want to bring supplies for art, but it has to be small, so I got a tiny little watercolor kit to bring along on these (and other) adventures. The following paintings are my way of loosening up a little and practicing with line and watercolor. Fun!


Last fall we took a hike through Silver Creek Falls Park, and the colors were amazing. The DailyPaintworks.com challenge for the week is to paint a path, and a photo I took on that autumn hike was perfect to serve as reference for this painting.

 

Autumn Trail © Dorothy Jenson 2014

5x7" India Ink and watercolor on paper

A little home town art is up next. Here is our downtown municipal elevator in spring. The structure you see is the top of the elevator and is built on a bluff. Below is the main downtown area and the river in the distance. This elevator is 130 feet tall and is one of only four municipal elevators in the world! Pedestrians use this free elevator to navigate between upper and lower parts of town. (Or they could use the stairs.) Here's my whimsical view of the area with wildflowers blooming in early spring.

 

Elevator Spring © Dorothy Jenson 2014

5x7" India Ink and watercolor on paper

 

 

 

 

Standing on the bluff near the elevator, this is a view of the river and bridge below that allows motorists to cross over to a neighboring town.

 

River Crossing © Dorothy Jenson 2014

5x7" India Ink and Watercolor on paper

Who, Me?

I've never painted a monkey before, but when I found this photo to share on Paint my Photo, I couldn't resist giving it a try. This fellow seems to have so much personality. Every time I stopped painting to survey the progress, he would look at me and say, "Who, Me?" Ha Ha, so what else was I going to title this painting?

Who Me? © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6 x 6" acrylic on wrapped canvas

Hopeful Robin

Another little bird again, since yesterday's flew away so quickly to join some of it's siblings! Yep, it is the 5th bird in the collection for my buyer! I'm happy they can all be together in a cheerful little flock. :)

Today's bird has the look of someone who is looking ahead, or looking to the future without fear, and because of that I called her "Hopeful". When I first started working on the branch and needles, it seemed to be somewhat tedious. Then, surprisingly, it was fun! Watching the branch come to life while I painted blue skies around the needles was so interesting! Negative spaces are cool. :)

Hopeful Robin, © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6"x6" acrylic on wrapped canvas  $40

If you are interested in making a purchase, click on my gallery link at the right side of this page. Not a PayPal person? No problem, email me for other ways to purchase.  Thanks for looking!

Pleasant Robin

 

I have a collector who needed another robin, and this one was just what she needed. She is now the owner of five little robin portraits! This sweet robin just looked so pleasant, that I couldn't call her anything else but Pleasant.

 

If you have a favorite in my gallery, which has already sold, I am happy to do a commission just for you! Email me your request and I will paint another one like it. Naturally, it can't be identical, because I don't know how to do that, but you would not be under any obligation to purchase it unless you like it. How's that for a deal?

 

Pleasant Robin, © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6 x 6" acrylic on wrapped canvas
SOLD

Leaf Rider and Koi Face

Painting took a little break this week with some sweet houseguests. My son and his family were here for the weekend so I had plenty to do with the grand babies, Sen (18 months) and Ashton (5 months)! They have now moved into a new home in Vancouver, so I still get to see them often. Now that my house is quiet again (bittersweet), here are two more paintings to share.

I really enjoyed painting the frog from last week, so I looked around for another reference and chose this one. So much fun painting all the colors in the body!

 

Leaf Rider, © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6 x 6" acrylic on wrapped canvas

The DailyPaintworks challenge this week is to paint a fish. That's a new one for me! The Paint my Photo website had this wonderful reference photo that I couldn't resist. Look at all those lovely colors! I almost called this little swimmer "Joseph" for his "coat of many colors", but then changed my mind.

 

Koi Face, © Dorothy Jenson 2014

6 x 6" acrylic on wrapped canvas