New Work Post the Cape Collection

 Autumn's Approach - Acrylic on 16" x 20" canvas - SOLD

Tangled Up in Blue - Acrylic on 16" x 20" canvas - SOLD

Saying goodbye to summer isn't ever easy for me but alas, time moves on and so must I. These two paintings were a couple of new works post my Cape Cod series that sold to a local collector. She happens to be super awesome and I love her enthusiasm about art and artists. Honestly, it's needle in the haystack people like her that keep me painting. (THANK YOU! You know who you are!) 

Shades of Love - Acrylic and oil pastel on 24" x 30" canvas 

Tropical Dreams - Acrylic on 16" x 20" canvas

I have been loving the delicate brushwork of circles, white in particular, and even bought a new brush to fully accommodate this look. That brush is the star of all of these paintings. I have since changed ever so much in what I want to create and so this particular brush, and its marks, may not be seen again for a little bit. Or not. You never know!

The Cape Cod Collection

Tide Pool Reflections 1 - Acrylic and oil pastel on 24" x 24" canvas, 2014

There is something that happens to you when you spend even just a couple of days by the ocean. That magic something happened to me this past June when my husband and I went on an anniversary trip to the Cape (where we married and honeymooned 8 years ago). 

Tide Pool Reflections 2 - Acrylic and oil pastel on 12" x 12" canvas

During this wonderful trip (now 3 months ago) I experienced a sense of peace that I really can't say I've ever experienced before. With some reflection, I now understand why. 

1. We camped. 

The media/entertainment/news-feed of our modern society can become not only addicting and something to obsess about, but also alter who we really are. It was so great to get away from technology - the television, the internet, our online businesses and who left a review for one of Rob's books on Amazon and who favorited one of my Etsy listings. Being in nature and connecting with nature's rhythm was so very good for the soul. #mediablackout

2. We were on the freaking Cape. 

Not only does it hold a bounty of good memories and heart strung connections for us personally, the flexed arm of New England is everything that a laid back traveler could want. There's room for every kind of New Englander to get their taste of the Atlantic - from the super wealthy (hello Kennedys?) to your average Joe and Josephine getting clam strips from a roadside stand. Life is good on the Cape. Whoever you are you can make it work... and thensome. #tartarsauce

3. The beach has magical powers. 

This is where I feel for my landlocked friends. If you've never been to "the beach", than you really do not know what you are missing. The ocean is the best anti-whatever-ails-you antidote that I've ever experienced naturally. People come to the shore to veg and let it all hang out. You could say that in the outer Cape, that is more true than other many other oceanside locations internationally. (he he - #nudists!) 

Tide Pool Reflections 3 - Acrylic 12" x 12" canvas, SOLD

If you've been paying attention, I've shared 3 paintings titled the same. Tide Pool Reflections 1-3. 

It was our last day on the Cape and we were at a bay side beach. The tide went out for as far as the eye could see, but in between here and there were many tide-pools - from knee deep to just barely covering the top of your feet. As any normal person connected to their inner child would do, I skipped my feet in the water, watching the beautiful patterns of swirls and circles of light dancing on the surface of the water before me.

And that was the beginning of a series. 

Serenity by the Sea - Acrylic and oil pastel on 18" x 24" canvas, SOLD

This series was yes, about the reflections of light on water, and New England earthy sand vs the salty sea BUT it was also about transcending petty problems and just living in the moment. It gave me the idea that hey maybe I could feel this way - this zenned out, happy and fullfilled way, any time I wanted. And wasn't that radical. 

Song of the Sea - Acrylic and oil pastel on 24" x 36" canvas

Check out all of the mellowed out, ocean inspired, Cape Cod Collection here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JessicaTorrant?section_id=15658933

Triptych Commission

Custom original acrylic and oil pastel painting on three 20" x 30" gallery wrapped canvases, 2014

This piece was commissioned by my cousin and his wife. Scroll down to see each canvas larger.

 

I'm so pleased with how this turned out and I can't wait to see it in its new home!

Express Yourself

Play It Loud - Acrylic and oil pastel on 12" x 12" canvas, 2014

Lately I've been focused on creating my own take on abstract impressionist paintings (see previous posts). A certain style is calling to me this painting season and I'm rolling with it - scratch that - I'm loving it! But that doesn't stop me from having pulls in different directions that I can't help but indulge in. These two paintings are bold and bright and totally expressive and different from everything else I've been doing lately. Truth be told, I haven't been in the best mind set lately, and sometimes just letting it all out via the brush is great free therapy. If it happens to go outside the "what I'm working on currently" playground, so be it.

I recognize the validity of working in a series, but maybe it's the stubborn Taurus in me that wants to rebel against any kind of rule or expectation, even from myself. As far as I'm concerned, just painting, just making art in any form, is a mission accomplished. So hey - I made a couple of paintings that don't fit the current mode/zone/series/whatever you want to call it. Like them or not, they needed to be made. I will always paint what I feel needs to be made. Even if it's just for myself and no one else gets it or likes it. It's something I would tell young artists to do no matter what voices they have swirling around their heads about what to do and what no to do. Oh yeah... maybe you are a young artist reading this blog... in that case... JUST DO YOU! I mean it.

I think working in a series is a revelation for an artist. You have to do it, even if it's just one time (but once you do, you'll be hooked!). At the same time, during the time you are working on that series you may feel a little twinge to do something else, and all I'm saying is to follow that and see it through.

Take the time away from a series or project that you are committed to when inspiration calls from a different corner of the room. Allow yourself to invest the resources it takes to create this new thing that may not be anything ultimately but you've just GOT to explore it. In my experience, there is always an audience. If you are an online art seller such as myself, forget the business side of the equation, just go there, let yourself do it. Given my facebook page's responses to paintings, it is always very interesting to see who likes what. I am a firm believer that being a one trick pony artist isn't necessarily the right goal for every artist. You can put a lot of your various takes on subjects and styles out there for people to see and yes, sure, maybe it will turn some people away because of inconsistency, but who exactly would be all that bothered by it? In my opinion, let's just say it... art snobs. Let's just call a spade a spade, am I right? If you want an artist to be one dimensional, I'm sorry, but you must not know an artist personally. 

This blog entry is one part free form rant and one part call to arms for independent artists to go their own way and break the mold. But to sum things up - to the budding artists, my dear friends, if you happen to be reading this, my advice is this... attempt working in a series, give it a try even if you don't think you are "there" as an artist yet to do so. Just do it to get comfortable with the concept, give it a go. Who cares what the results are. Also, don't ever stop listening to the inner muse. Follow her voice, she's going to lead you in the right direction. If that direction deviates for a moment, go there without any regard to expectations or concerns about how you will be perceived. Paint it, make it, do it anyway.

She's On Fire - Acrylic and oil pastel on 16" x 20" canvas, 2014

Vibrant Meadow

Vibrant Meadow - Acrylic and oil pastel on 12" x 12" canvas, 2014

Original painting - https://www.etsy.com/listing/186603159/abstract-landscape-painting-original-art

Prints - http://society6.com/JessicaTorrant/Vibrant-Meadow_Print#1=45

Sanctuary

Sanctuary - Acrylic on 20" x 30" canvas, 2014

Original painting: https://www.etsy.com/listing/186225165/abstract-painting-original-art

Prints: http://society6.com/JessicaTorrant/Sanctuary-m9H_Print#1=45

Days Like This

Days Like This - Acrylic on 20" x 30" canvas, 2014 by Jessica Torrant

Original painting: https://www.etsy.com/listing/185687215/abstract-painting-original-art

Prints: http://society6.com/JessicaTorrant/Days-Like-This-RDk_Print#1=45

2014 Mojo

Hello! Is anybody out there?

I've sadly neglected my blog in such a major way that it has been almost a full YEAR since I've posted! Time to get my bloggin' boots on and just dive right back in.

After a rough, seemingly endless Winter in New England, Spring has actually made an appearance just recently and I've been able to get back into my backyard studio. That means painting season is officially back on for me and I couldn't be happier about it!

Here is my first painting of 2014.

 Radiance - Acrylic on 22" x 28" canvas, 2014

Original painting available here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/185634016/abstract-painting-colorful-original-art. 

Also available as a print in multiple sizes: http://society6.com/JessicaTorrant/Radiance-XX7_Print#1=45