Roll with it

Hi.

I finished this piece up yesterday and it's title (Roll with it) has gained some new significance today. I just learned that I was not accepted into the MFA program at SIU. No grad school for me in the fall. I can't say that this rejection doesn't sting a bit, but I'm trying not to let it get me down.

I do have some thinking to do....... I was hoping that an MFA degree might eventually lead to a collegiate level teaching position. I have no desire to return to the K-12 art teaching world. So now what?

I do quite enjoy my current job, working in the art department at a trade show display/ graphic design company. However, I'm unsure if this will ever become a full time gig. I'm also pouring myself into summer art fairs, trying to see if this is a viable and profitable avenue for me to pursue. With booth and application fees, I'm worried that it's a wash.

I know that my next career move must be something creative. But that's all I know. Guess I'll just have to "Roll with it."

Embracing my new Swedish Family

Happy Monday friends! I've been enjoying a quiet day in the studio. They've been few and far between lately, so I'm really trying to make the most of it.

If you hadn't already guessed it when I took my husband's name (Johansson), I married a Swede. For our wedding, we received a small wooden Dala horse, an icon of Swedish folk art. Matt has been asking me for some time now to make something  Dala, so here it is!

I made "Dala" here as a baby gift for some Swedish friends of ours and I made a duplicate to bring with me to the Lower Town Arts and Music Fest in Paducah in a few weeks. I don't know how many Swedes live in these parts, but know this piece would go over big in Rockford, where at least half the population is of Swedish descent.

I'd love to make similar "folk art" pieces that reflect my Irish and Italian heritage. I'm thinking a 4-leaf clover or claddagh for the Irish, but I have no ideas for the Italian side Any suggestions out there? I'd love to hear them.

Have a great week. Ta-Ta for now.

Next Up: Paducah

Ciao, Ciao Friends! How are you?

We were able to enjoy 2 straight weekends at home, so I am in heaven! (We usually drive up to Rockford about every other weekend to see Matt's son Jack. That 6 hour drive really wears on this homebody.)

After making nothing but chairs for the last few months, I've switched gears and have been making some abstracts.

So, as you can see I was able to figure out the chevron thing. Yes, it's trendy, but they're cute aren't they?

The first two pieces shown here are available for sale as prints in my Etsy shoppe. I'm keeping the originals for the Lower Town Arts & Music Festival, which happens May 18-20 in Paducah, KY.

Hope you're having a fabulous weekend. Ta-Ta for now. 

Tinker Exhibition Success!

Greetings friends.

I wanted to share a few pics that I snapped at the Tinker Exhibition last weekend. It was really cool to see my work in the house, on the chairs that inspired it!

Thanks to all who came out to support me. It was a fun night!

I also have to thank my pal Cindy Karnitz, Tinker's Executive Director of Administration for offering me this commission. It was awesome to have a patron sponsor a body of work! I'm really proud of the work I did and feel like I've grown artistically in the process.

I'm now working feverishly to prepare for my first outdoor show of the season. I'll be at the Lower Town Arts and Music Festival in Paducah, Kentucky, May 18, 19, and 20th. Kentucky you say? Paducah has a thriving art community and is less than an hour away away from home. Very excited!

I'll be sharing some of the new work I'm creating for this show shortly. Wanna sneak peek? Check out my Facebook Fan page.

Happy Sunday. Ta-Ta for now!

Commission is done. Now it's time to party!

Hi! It's been a while. Sorry about that...I have been trying to put all of my effort into finishing up my Tinker commission....And now......It's complete!  What a relief!

Piece #9 features furniture that the home owner, Robert Tinker made himself.  This beautiful table and chair set is all made of root-wood, that was masterfully jigsawed together. This was a tough one to do....Lots of little nooks and crannies to render.

The last piece features a chair I found in the upstairs hallway, that overlooks the study.  The amount of care and craftsmanship put into this house is amazing to me....I mean, even this seldom seen hallway has a beautifully carved fireplace!

I will be delivering the works up to Tinker this weekend so that they can be installed for the opening on April 13th. I'll be there with bells on! Hope to see you there too.

Here are the details:

Opening Reception
Friday, April 13, 2012, from 5-9pm

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum

411 Kent Street, Rockford IL 61102

All 10 pieces will be on display inside the Tinker house.
Prints and greeting cards featuring my new Tinker works will be available for sale.
The works will also be on display on Saturday, from 3-9 pm in the Tinker Visitor Center.

The opening is in conjunction with Rockford's Spring Artscene, so make a night of it and see art all over town. http://www.springartscene.com/

To get a sneak peek of all 10 of my new works, visit my new website:
http://jenniferjohansson.com/

Ta-Ta for now! 

Tinker Swiss Cottage Commission - 2 More to Go!

Happy weekend friends! I hope that you were able to make the most of the amazing early spring weather. Matt and I just got home from a beautiful hike in Shawnee National Forest.

Since my last blog, I've completed 2 more pieces for my Tinker Swiss Cottage commission.  It was fun to get to use a new color (green) in this last one, which I've entitled "Sitting in the Sun." It's quite St. Patrick's Day festive, isn't it?  I remember the day I took this photo at Tinker, and I loved the way the sun streamed in from the windows and lit this little vignette.

"Window Seat" comes from the same room as my last work.  Wouldn't you just love to sit here for a spell with a good book?

All 10 of my pieces will be on display in the Tinker house on during the first day of Spring Artscene, Friday April 13th, from 5-9 pm. (And I'll be there too!) The works will be displayed in the rooms that they depict so you'll be able to compare the art to it's subject.  I'm excited to see how each piece stands up to the actual space. You will also be able to view the works during the Saturday Artscene hours (3-9) but they will be on display in the Tinker Visitor Center.

Time to get back to work.  Ta-Ta for now!

The Parlor Chair

Hi! Happy Monday.

I finished up my 6th commission piece for the Tinker Swiss Cottage. This chair, along with its mate, and a matching couch are found in first floor parlor/piano room. I was really drawn to this room, as it's light, colors and patterns are so rich.  I took a lot of great pictures here; It was difficult to choose what to work from.

All 10 of my pieces will be on display inside the house, in the rooms that they depict during Spring Artscene. More details coming soon. If you'd like to see the rest of pieces I've created check out my website.

Have a great week! Ta-Ta for now.