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Jenn Avery Gourd Art
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My Watercolor Journal Tour

7/5/2022

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Did you know that July is World Watercolor Month?  This was started by Charlie O'Sheilds of Doodlewash.  So, this post is dedicated to my recent little foray into watercolor.  

At the end of May my family and I took a vacation to coastal Maine and then spent a few days in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.   I knew we would be spending the entire  vacation outdoors, biking or hiking and just enjoying God's creation all around us. This is such a beautiful part of our country and I was also looking forward to working some plein air painting in my little watercolor journal.

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Pens for 2022 PA Fest Classes

6/5/2022

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Howdy gourders!  If you signed up for any of my classes in PA for this year (2022) then you are probably wondering what pyrography pens you will need to bring along with you.  I have 3 favorite pens that I use in 99% of my work, and for my classes we use those pens.  Sometimes you can substitute pens and it is not a problem!

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The King & His Court

5/19/2022

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This month has been monumental for my family, our daughter graduated from college and we are celebrating her accomplishments.  In the midst of all the excitement, I have still been keeping busy working on a few new gourds. 

One of these has been over a month in the making of a pride of lions.  I had been wanting to do a big lion gourd for a while, and perhaps have it be part of a series of gourds with a theme of animals from the Bible.


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Inspirations...Rien Poortvliet

5/19/2022

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I have a lot of favorite artists, but the one that is most often at the top of my list of influences is Rien Poortvliet. Many who have heard of him are likely most familiar with his work as an illustrator.  His most popular book in the United States is Gnomes.  The book that I treasure is his work on Noah's Ark, and if you ever get the chance to page through it, you might agree with me that his paintings do not seem to fit the usual "illustration" category.  Not only finished paintings are shown, but also sketches and studies that let you see the world through his eyes as he studied and recorded on the page what he experienced.


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Inspirations...

3/4/2022

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I would like to start a new little series on different artists that have inspired me and shaped my own work in one way or another.  The first in this series is Beatrix Potter.
 
Most famous for her books for children, with characters such as Peter Rabbit and Squirrel Nutkin, I am particularly attracted to her nature studies.  These studies of animals, plants, fungi, landscapes, farmhouses and even furniture were indispensable to her training of observational drawing which led to her being able to create these believable characters, even though they were dressed in little jackets and pinafores!


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Some New Work

3/4/2022

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The past few weeks have been productive for me.  I am working on recording online courses, and finished up a few gourds, as well as some "non-gourd" artworks that I will share in another post.

The first was more of an opportunity for me to try out new carving burs that I received at Christmas, as well as trying out a weaving technique that has long intrigued me but I never gave it a go.  At left see a photo of my testing my new cup carving burs on an old gourd piece. 


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Preening Macaw Gourd

2/10/2022

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After taking some time off at Christmas, I found it difficult to get back into a routine.  There was just so much to do that was demanding time away from art, and instead of working every day, it seemed was only able to devote one or two days to art while the rest was... well all other stuff!!  I felt like I was trudging uphill and every day that started out in the clear, turned out the Lord had other plans for me!  These last couple of weeks I seem to have found my legs again and have been able to balance everything better.  

I started this Macaw gourd at the end of October, got it most of the way done and only finished it up just now.  I had wanted to work on a parrot for a while, I had taken some photos of some beautiful parrots at the Lake Tobias Wildlife park a few years ago that I was planning to use as reference.  Unfortunately, since the photos were taken through a glass window, they didn't turn out all that great.  I did, however find a nice shot on Unsplash (which is copyright free) that captured the macaw preening that I liked a lot.  


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7 Tips for a Successful Art Commission

1/20/2022

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Ornament commission of a pet Corgie.
New artists in the show circuit may be surprised, flattered, excited and then terrified when a customer asks for a commission.  Let me explain, as an artist, especially one just starting out, you have put a lot of work and time into your inventory, and it may surprise you when someone wants you to make a special piece just for them.  You feel flattered, that wow they like my work enough and trust my ability to make something so unique.  Then excitement, so much going through your mind as your customer enthusiastically tells you about their vision and you start to share in that enthusiasm.  Then comes the nitty gritty, what to do next and the terror ensues!

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A Time for Reflection... And Looking Ahead

1/3/2022

8 Comments

 
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​At the end of 2021 I took some much needed time off.  As the year came to a close, my commitments to finish special orders were completed, I opted to spend some time with my family, reading, playing music with my daughter, decorating, walking, and engaging in some “non-gourd” art pursuits. 

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Elephant Family

9/1/2021

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Elephants have long fascinated me.  The tight familiar bonds, high intelligence, ways of communicating with one another, and the apparent displays of emotions in these gentle giants make me in awe of the God who made them.  An elephant gourd has been in my mind to make for years but I wanted not just to feature one of these animals but a whole herd.

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    About me...

    Art has always been a part of my life, and I have worked in many different mediums. 

    My love of animals and nature, and love for God influences my work.   

    I hope you will be encouraged here.

    .........aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands.......................... 1 Thessalonians 4:11
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