Dancing Meadow

Dancing Meadow - Acrylic on 20" x 24" canvas, framed

Landscape painting on a sunny May day

(Above: First strokes of paint over randomly toned ground canvas. Usually I work with one tone and actually I prefer it that way, this was a bit of an experiment.)

After struggling with some new abstracts in the studio, I decided to try something different to challenge myself today. The intuitive source that I rely on so heavily for abstracts wasn't there and I thought having a subject (other than my imagination) would be a nice relief for a change. I'm lucky to have a cousin that lives right down the road from me in an old farmhouse on a large piece of natural property, complete with run down sheds (as seen above) and a stocked pond. Though some of the flowering trees in the yard were beautiful and added bursts of color, I was drawn to the pond for the strong lines of the tree trunks reflected in the water.

Here's the view from where I stood with my easel.

Working...

A visit from a duck...

Here's where I called it a day. I'd like to work on the left side more, creating more contrast in light/dark areas and everything could use a little tweaking, but the general concept is there. I haven't missed oils in my abstracts but boy that acrylic paint sure did dry fast in the open, warm air! I really enjoyed the experience and I think the fresh air and painterly practice did me good.

Horizon paintings

Horizon 6


Horizon 5

Horizon 4

Horizon 3

Horizon 2

Horizon 1

Here are my latest paintings - now available at www.JessicaTorrant.etsy.com.

Beautiful Dream

Textured acrylic/mixed media painting on 16" x 20" canvas, 2009
Available at www.JessicaTorrant.etsy.com

wax on, wax off

Horizon Line 2 - Acrylic on 24" x 36" canvas, 2009
Available at http://www.jessicatorrant.etsy.com/

This piece has had so many incarnations, but I'm pleased with the final product, though it's much different than I had expected. Lots of layering on paint and then wiping it away. I've been experimenting with various approaches to get the textural effects to pop. I'm in that mode where I want to consume paintings, hungry for more knowledge and experience. It's a thrilling feeling but I have to be careful to not get burned out. It's a very physical process and I'm focusing so intensely - it's exhausting, but in a good way, like a day at the beach. I'll be back at it tomorrow - time to relax and unwind for the night. Take care.

Texture is my new best friend

(Close up)

Horizon Line 1 - Acrylic on 24" x 36" canvas

I am LOVING my texture mediums! Today I finished this painting and the effect is truly lost in the photograph - you have to be standing in front of it to really enjoy the raw, rich texture. I love this look. Expect more where this came from.....

Available for purchase at http://www.jessicatorrant.etsy.com/.

Some older work

This diptych was created in NH when I was still living there in acrylic and watersoluable crayons on two 16 x 20 canvases. You can find this and a selection of other older work I rediscovered since moving out of my old studio in my Etsy shop at www.livefunky.etsy.com

Colorfields, Dreamscapes, The Vibrations of Color

Tangerine Dream
Acrylic on 8" x 10" canvas, 2007

Crack In The Earth
Acrylic on 6" x 6" canvas, 2007

Summer Sky
Acrylic on 8" x 10" canvas, 2007

All paintings available at www.livefunky.etsy.com